I am not the man today I was 25 years ago and I am thankful for that fact! I am no longer ruled by my temper, full of self-righteousness, quick to judge others, and proud of my puny achievements. I don’t hate those who wrong me, fear those who attack me, or seek to destroy my enemies. I regularly experience the Holy Spirit’s " love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT) Please don’t read this as prideful. Only God could do what is being done in me! And, don’t think I am deceived about having attained goodness by my own efforts!
I am a long, long way from perfect, but I am growing in grace. Temptation stills worms its way into my heart and mind. Too often I allow ungodly thoughts, words, and actions to be my choice but I rejoice in the process described in the Word as being " transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory!" (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV) Praise God I am not who I was and I look forward to who I will be under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit! Religion didn’t do this for me! Immersing myself in church culture and work did not change my heart. The transformation is gradual, the Truth of God replacing the deceptions of evil, the Spirit working to bring understanding, and repentance bringing change. I am unwilling to resign to life and say, “I am what I am.” To do so, would be to get stuck in a rut!
One of the more pathetic sights in this world is a person who has stopped developing emotionally and spiritually. That 45 year old man who is still trying to wear his high school football jacket, who is trying to make what hair he has left look cool, and who is still working to impress ‘chicks,’ is a joke to everyone but himself. Being a teenager is fun, but unless we grow out of that stage we look and act increasingly foolish! Same principle applies to a Christian who refuses to grow in Christ, to develop character, deal with his hang-ups, and move forward. Disciple, if you’re making the same arguments and fighting the same battles today that you fought 20 years ago, I urge you to go to your knees and ask God to rock your world! Engage in a fast, dig into the Scripture, find a spiritual director and; for God’s sake – grow up!
Perhaps all this sounds like too much emphasis on ‘works religion’ and not enough reliance on God’s grace. Let’s be clear. This is not about perfecting one’s self with guilt, psychological tricks, or thumb screws! This is about pursuing God whole-heartedly. Genuine spiritual depth is not about superficially looking better, nor is it about mastery of Scripture trivia! It is about walking with God, being more and more His intimate friend, giving larger and larger chunks of Self over to His mastery. He leads, we follow! To be sure, such intimacy will not just happen to us. He will bring us into situations where we come face to face with some part of ourselves and give us the choice – live to Me or choose to live for Self. By the Power of the Spirit we say, “Yes,” and grow on… to the next challenge point. And so it goes. The Light of Christ shines into the dark places of our lives and we discover the pain of our sinfulness. But, with genuine repentance, we also find the incredible joy of forgiveness and serenity of walking with God. The result is a beautiful holiness that others sense is heart deep, not just a pious affectation that we adopt for certain situations.
Here’s how Paul described the process of spiritual maturation. Ask God to help you to choose this Way and together, let’s make His Name glorious. Take a few moments to soak in his testimony and be challenged by it.
"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection (read – completeness or maturity) for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. (Simply put – I am growing up!)
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting
the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." (Philippians 3:8-14, NLT)
___________
He gave me beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise
For the spirit of heaviness,
That we might be trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord,
That He might be glorified.
Beauty for Ashes
Robert Manzano © 1976, 1979, 1983 Maranatha! Music (Admin. by The Copyright Company)
CCLI License No. 810055
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
It just isn’t natural!
“Nobody ever comes through for me. I am so lonely. My only friend isn’t even human.” The words were sad, pathetic even. While I understood the person’s genuine emotional pain, after just a few minutes of conversation it was clear that he had wrapped himself so tightly in self-pity that no one could get through to him. Even sincere offers friendship were seen through a distorted lens that caused him to sabotage relationships. “Nobody will ever love me,” was an accurate, self-fulfilling prophecy!
John Maxwell writes that ‘a major cause of poor mental health is self-absorption. Selfishness ultimately hurts not only the people around a self-focused person, but also the selfish person himself. … That is the reason that Dr. Karl Menninger (renowned psychiatrist) responded the way he did when someone asked, ‘What would advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?’ Most people expected him reply, ‘consult a psychiatrist.’ To their astonishment, he said, ‘Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.’” - Failing Forward, Nelson, 2000
A young husband wept as he talked with me. “How could I have been so dumb?” In counseling, a year ago, his wife had begged him for attention, asked him to be tender, and to take an interest in her. Stupidly, he responded ‘just deal with life. I am who I am and don’t plan to change.’ Months later, with a broken heart, she walked out on their marriage. Only then, did he realize how selfish he was; too late! If he had been willing to learn to give, to forget his need to ‘hang out’ with his friends, his wife would surely have met him half-way. But, he wanted to live on his own terms and now he could, alone.
The wisest Counselor said - "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" (Luke 9:24-25, NLT)
Gain by giving. Win by losing. Forget yourself, find yourself!
It just isn’t natural!
Perhaps not, but, it’s the truth!
In these troubled times, most of us will struggle with the instinct to protect ourselves, to hoard our resources, to feed Self first. Take the way of Jesus Christ Who said, "Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38, The Message)
___________
There are two kind of folks,
There's takers and givers.
There's gripers and complainers
and big-hearted liv'rs.
It depends on how we choose
to spend our days.
'Cause we can hoard up all we´ve got
or give it all away!
If you want more happy
than your heart will hold,
If you want to stand taller,
if the truth were told,
take whatever you have
and give it away.
If you want less lonely
and lot more fun
and deep satisfaction
when the day is done,
throw your heart wide open
and give it away
Copyright – Bill Gaither
John Maxwell writes that ‘a major cause of poor mental health is self-absorption. Selfishness ultimately hurts not only the people around a self-focused person, but also the selfish person himself. … That is the reason that Dr. Karl Menninger (renowned psychiatrist) responded the way he did when someone asked, ‘What would advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?’ Most people expected him reply, ‘consult a psychiatrist.’ To their astonishment, he said, ‘Lock up your house, go across the railroad tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.’” - Failing Forward, Nelson, 2000
A young husband wept as he talked with me. “How could I have been so dumb?” In counseling, a year ago, his wife had begged him for attention, asked him to be tender, and to take an interest in her. Stupidly, he responded ‘just deal with life. I am who I am and don’t plan to change.’ Months later, with a broken heart, she walked out on their marriage. Only then, did he realize how selfish he was; too late! If he had been willing to learn to give, to forget his need to ‘hang out’ with his friends, his wife would surely have met him half-way. But, he wanted to live on his own terms and now he could, alone.
The wisest Counselor said - "If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?" (Luke 9:24-25, NLT)
Gain by giving. Win by losing. Forget yourself, find yourself!
It just isn’t natural!
Perhaps not, but, it’s the truth!
In these troubled times, most of us will struggle with the instinct to protect ourselves, to hoard our resources, to feed Self first. Take the way of Jesus Christ Who said, "Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (Luke 6:38, The Message)
___________
There are two kind of folks,
There's takers and givers.
There's gripers and complainers
and big-hearted liv'rs.
It depends on how we choose
to spend our days.
'Cause we can hoard up all we´ve got
or give it all away!
If you want more happy
than your heart will hold,
If you want to stand taller,
if the truth were told,
take whatever you have
and give it away.
If you want less lonely
and lot more fun
and deep satisfaction
when the day is done,
throw your heart wide open
and give it away
Copyright – Bill Gaither
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I’ll take one portion of ‘Jesus’
Americans are consumers! We buy stuff to make ourselves feel better, to enhance our status, to make life easier, and just because everybody else is buying it! We are self-centered, our selfishness fed by a whole economic system that depends on creating a sense of entitlement and want so we will spend more to get the things that somebody else says we must have in order to be happy. That’s an issue bigger than I want to tackle today. What’s bugging me is that we bring our consumerism to our spirituality. The practice of Christianity has been hugely changed by responding to consumer demands. “Give me a Jesus Who works for me, makes my life better right now, and promises me customer satisfaction.” While few actually say these words, aren’t they usually just below the surface of our conscious thoughts?
In an article “Jesus Is Not a Brand” published in Christianity Today, January 2009, Tyler Wigg-Stephenson responds to that idea. He writes, “This attitude inhibits the disciple’s growth into living God-centered, neighbor-focused life. Yes, the Christian life brings fulfillment beyond imagination, but such fulfillment is strangely elusive if it is your main priority as a Christian. Indeed it only comes when we seek God instead of ourselves. Those who come to the Church expecting to find brand satisfaction or seeking to save their lives will find neither. … How do we convince people who are dedicated to self-creation that life is really about the grace and power of God?”
It requires a major overall of perspective that can only be accomplished by the Spirit. The Bible calls it conversion and I am convinced that few of us have experienced that in fullness! We love Jesus, but more for the practical things we believe He can do for us (think – “Does it work for me?”); than for the simple delight of knowing Him! Perhaps the current economic crisis in America may prove a boon for disciples by breaking us from our love of stuff and self and driving us into the arms of Jesus.
Then, too, Christianity cannot be all God wants it to be for us, if we are unwilling to radically love others! Over this past year, my travels to central Pennsylvania to care for my Dad, brings me into contact with a culture that rejects consumerism, that is committed to communal living, and that uses material goods less to pursue illusory happiness, than to simply live. Who are these people? The Amish! They have no need for dozens of shoes or outfits. They dress the same- for market, for church, and at home! Nobody impresses their neighbor with a designer name brand. They have no need to buy a new something because it’s fashionable, for fashion is a meaningless concept to them.
Meaning in life for the Amish is not about ‘things’ at all! It is about people. If their neighbor’s barn burns down (as one did recently) the whole community gathers resources, comes together, and rebuilds the barn in days, making a celebration of getting their brother back in business. In Amish culture (admittedly I have a limited understanding) it’s seldom about ‘me’ and always about ‘we.’
We cannot take just enough “Jesus” to make life work! We cannot hold onto our selves and cling to Him at the same time. Ponder these words of Jesus, familiar though they are. Really think about them. They will rock your world.
“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference?
Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
(Matthew 6:24-33, The Message)
In an article “Jesus Is Not a Brand” published in Christianity Today, January 2009, Tyler Wigg-Stephenson responds to that idea. He writes, “This attitude inhibits the disciple’s growth into living God-centered, neighbor-focused life. Yes, the Christian life brings fulfillment beyond imagination, but such fulfillment is strangely elusive if it is your main priority as a Christian. Indeed it only comes when we seek God instead of ourselves. Those who come to the Church expecting to find brand satisfaction or seeking to save their lives will find neither. … How do we convince people who are dedicated to self-creation that life is really about the grace and power of God?”
It requires a major overall of perspective that can only be accomplished by the Spirit. The Bible calls it conversion and I am convinced that few of us have experienced that in fullness! We love Jesus, but more for the practical things we believe He can do for us (think – “Does it work for me?”); than for the simple delight of knowing Him! Perhaps the current economic crisis in America may prove a boon for disciples by breaking us from our love of stuff and self and driving us into the arms of Jesus.
Then, too, Christianity cannot be all God wants it to be for us, if we are unwilling to radically love others! Over this past year, my travels to central Pennsylvania to care for my Dad, brings me into contact with a culture that rejects consumerism, that is committed to communal living, and that uses material goods less to pursue illusory happiness, than to simply live. Who are these people? The Amish! They have no need for dozens of shoes or outfits. They dress the same- for market, for church, and at home! Nobody impresses their neighbor with a designer name brand. They have no need to buy a new something because it’s fashionable, for fashion is a meaningless concept to them.
Meaning in life for the Amish is not about ‘things’ at all! It is about people. If their neighbor’s barn burns down (as one did recently) the whole community gathers resources, comes together, and rebuilds the barn in days, making a celebration of getting their brother back in business. In Amish culture (admittedly I have a limited understanding) it’s seldom about ‘me’ and always about ‘we.’
We cannot take just enough “Jesus” to make life work! We cannot hold onto our selves and cling to Him at the same time. Ponder these words of Jesus, familiar though they are. Really think about them. They will rock your world.
“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.
“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds. “Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference?
Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. “If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?
What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met."
(Matthew 6:24-33, The Message)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Do Only Perfect People Go to Heaven?
The answer to the question in the title is ‘yes!’ Our Holy God will not tolerate sin, will not let Heaven be tainted with the anything short of His perfection. I do not know anybody that is perfect, do you? We both have known a few who thought they were perfect or that worked hard to create the impression of being 'perfect' but once we really get to know them, there are no illusions, are there? Each of us is sadly aware of our sins and failures. We readily identify with David who mourned his sinfulness saying, "I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. … I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born." (Psalm 51:2,5 The Message) Our own life story has more than a few blots on the pages, doesn't it? Depravity is the universal condition of humanity. Scriptures inescapable indictment is brief and clear: "For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Romans 3:23)
So, is Heaven a place we dream of, but where only God and the angels dwell?
Can we, should we, hope for a home with the Lord, or is that just a dream, beyond our reach?
Only those who are perfect live with God, but reaching that blessed state is not the result of our effort! "God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:24, The Message) In the opening of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes of the amazingly stupendous love of God for you and me. Then in chapter 2, he seems to abruptly change tone. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3, NIV)
Then, he writes, "But, God..." There is the Divine Exception, the Immanuel Intervention, that makes our hope of a home in Heaven (and a life in His Presence right here, right now) possible! "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. ... God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." --Ephesians 2:3-10 NLT
The Perfect God did not take the “Grandpa” route in dealing with our sins. When my grandsons disobey I’m a marshmallow – “Ah, come on. Let it go,” I tell their dad. I’m not charged with forming their character, with helping them become better. I just get to love on them! God is our Father, not our Grandpa. He cannot look at our sinfulness and brush it off, overlook it, or excuse it. But, He can offer a sacrifice that forgives us, an atonement for our guilt debt, and the power of the Spirit that changes us from sinner to saint. That is exactly what He’s done for us.
Disciple, do not abuse His grace. Do not mistake His mercy for approval of sin. Rather, let Him lead you through the tests and trials that perfect your faith, that bring you to maturity in the Way. Invite the Spirit to work deeply in you to produce the ‘beauty of holiness in you’ which will honor your Savior. This ‘perfection’ thing is a process – a work of our Deliverer and the disciplines of the Spirit.
Take this thought as your statement of purpose-- "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -- Phil. 3:12-14
____________
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed,
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory.
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open,
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When We All Get To Heaven
Hewitt, Eliza E. / Wilson, Emily D.© Public Domain
So, is Heaven a place we dream of, but where only God and the angels dwell?
Can we, should we, hope for a home with the Lord, or is that just a dream, beyond our reach?
Only those who are perfect live with God, but reaching that blessed state is not the result of our effort! "God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ." (Romans 3:24, The Message) In the opening of the letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes of the amazingly stupendous love of God for you and me. Then in chapter 2, he seems to abruptly change tone. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins… All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3, NIV)
Then, he writes, "But, God..." There is the Divine Exception, the Immanuel Intervention, that makes our hope of a home in Heaven (and a life in His Presence right here, right now) possible! "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. ... God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." --Ephesians 2:3-10 NLT
The Perfect God did not take the “Grandpa” route in dealing with our sins. When my grandsons disobey I’m a marshmallow – “Ah, come on. Let it go,” I tell their dad. I’m not charged with forming their character, with helping them become better. I just get to love on them! God is our Father, not our Grandpa. He cannot look at our sinfulness and brush it off, overlook it, or excuse it. But, He can offer a sacrifice that forgives us, an atonement for our guilt debt, and the power of the Spirit that changes us from sinner to saint. That is exactly what He’s done for us.
Disciple, do not abuse His grace. Do not mistake His mercy for approval of sin. Rather, let Him lead you through the tests and trials that perfect your faith, that bring you to maturity in the Way. Invite the Spirit to work deeply in you to produce the ‘beauty of holiness in you’ which will honor your Savior. This ‘perfection’ thing is a process – a work of our Deliverer and the disciplines of the Spirit.
Take this thought as your statement of purpose-- "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -- Phil. 3:12-14
____________
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed,
He'll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory.
While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we'll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open,
We shall tread the streets of gold.
When We All Get To Heaven
Hewitt, Eliza E. / Wilson, Emily D.© Public Domain
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Last Enemy
For just over one year, mortality has met me just about every Monday when I visit Dad’s sick room! On January 10, 2008 my Dad went through surgery for a blocked intestine, which revealed a mesenteric carcinoma that was well advanced. And, in the year that passed, he has gone from thin, to weak, and for the last several months to confinement in his bed. His dignity and independence has been taken away, little by little; and now he requires ‘round the clock care like an infant, dependent on others to meet even his most basic needs. Even as I write this, I am sitting at his side, getting sips of water, replacing the comforter that he keeps pulling off. This experience, though new to me, is a common road for as the Bible says, “man is destined to die.”
In many funerals, while standing next to a casket holding a lifeless body, I have observed that death leaves us with an abandoned house. I point out that an empty house quickly loses its glory, that it falls to ruin, leaving us to wonder what it was like when it was a home to a family that tended the lawn, planted flowers, and fixed the fence! At death, the spirit leaves the body, and we are left with a shell, nothing more! Death is ugly- both in the process and its apparent finality. And yet… Oh, how thankful I am that death is not the End!
The Bible says, "So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. … And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. … It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 26, 42-44, NLT) This is the wonder of our Christian faith. My Dad’s body is broken, his physical life ebbing away. But, our hope is strong, for we see Jesus Christ once dead, now alive. He is our Prototype, His experience promised to be our experience.
Again from the Bible: “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. … Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever." (1 Corinthians 15: 45, 49-50, NLT)
Do I understand how all this happens? No! It is faith-based. How can such an ugly process lead to such a glorious triumph? Only God knows. "But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57, NLT) My hope today is not shaped by science, though I value the knowledge it brings me. My hope does not grow from philosophical systems that explain mysteries to me, though I appreciate the importance of wisdom! I trust in God!
Here’s a word from the Word. It gives me courage to face this last enemy – death – and I pray it will encourage you, too. Jesus gave this Promise to His disciples the night before He went to the Cross. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." (John 14:1-3, NLT)
_____________
The kingdom of our God is here,
Heaven is in my heart.
The presence of His majesty,
Heaven is in my heart.
And in His presence joy abounds,
Heaven is in my heart.
The light of holiness surrounds,
Heaven is in my heart.
His precious life on me He spent,
Heaven is in my heart.
To give me life without an end,
Heaven is in my heart.
In Christ is all my confidence,
Heaven is in my heart.
The hope of my inheritance,
Heaven is in my heart.
We are a temple for His throne,
Heaven is in my heart.
And Christ is the foundation stone,
Heaven is in my heart.
He will return to take us home,
Heaven is in my heart.
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!"
Heaven is in my heart.
Heaven Is In My Heart
Kendrick, Graham© 1991 Make Way Music (Admin. by Music Services)
CCLI License No. 810055
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