Escaping to Heaven?

“You just have to turn off the news and get your eyes on Heaven, Brother.”  My friend’s response was serious. It was part of a conversation about the unrest that is gripping our nation, the polarization over events in Ferguson, Staten Island, and Cleveland.  In the past, when confronted with social and/or political issues that were hard, I have jokingly declared it was time to move to Idaho and form a small community of like-minded people, hidden away in the mountains.  Both responses reveal a similar choice – to step away and turn a blind eye.

Is the real aim of the Christian life to escape the world, to abandon it to pain and destruction?

Does Jesus invite us to isolation? 

Look at His words to the first men He sent on a mission.  "Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! … Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as snakes and harmless as doves. But beware! For you will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues." (Matthew 10:6, 17, NLT)  The sick, the dead, the outcasts; yes, even those who were under the control of evil – these were the people Jesus sent them to seek out. It was and is a TOUGH and risky mission. When a Christian is fully submitted to the King and completely committed to establishing His rule in a rebellious world, conflict will follow.  One kingdom does not overthrow another easily.

Paul counseled a fearful young pastor to get involved, to be confident in the work. "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So you must never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for Christ. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the proclamation of the Good News." (2 Timothy 1:7-8, NLT)  "Timothy, my dear son, be strong with the special favor God gives you in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 2:1, NLT)  "Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. Follow the Lord’s rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize." (2 Timothy 2:3-5, NLT)  "I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen." (2 Timothy 2:10, NLT)

Does that sound like retreat to you? I sure do not find any hint of running from the battle there.

Now let’s finish the thought. My friend was partially right.  Even as the battle rages, even as we are up to our eyeballs in serving the needs of the sick and sinful in the Name of Christ Jesus, we must NEVER lose sight of the finish line which is in the Presence of the Father.  That is why we observe the season of Advent.  Every year this season reminds us that Jesus entered the world, embraced the call to suffer, died to save us, and rose from the dead to assure us of the promise of eternal life.  Advent’s message does not stop there, however.   We also remember that He will return to this earth, not on a rescue mission to remove us; but on a final mission of redemption to defeat evil fully!  John wraps up the story of faithful Christians by reminding us that  we are waiting the arrival of "Jesus Christ—Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings. Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us, who blood-washed our sins from our lives, Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father, forever—and yes, he’s on his way! Riding the clouds, he’ll be seen by every eye, those who mocked and killed him will see him, People from all nations and all times will tear their clothes in lament. Oh, Yes. The Master declares, “I’m A to Z. I’m The God Who Is, The God Who Was, and The God About to Arrive. I’m the Sovereign-Strong.”  (Revelation 1:5-8, The Message)

When His mission is complete, He will welcome us into the mansions of Glory, prepared for the children of God.  There is a rest for the children of God.  We are secure in His love, but our Gospel is not one of escape from the world, it is about salvation, the defeat of the Devil, and bringing light to darkness.  “And when the battle’s over, we shall a wear a crown in the new Jerusalem.”  

Here is the word from the Word. "What can we bring to the Lord to make up for what we’ve done? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and tens of thousands of rivers of olive oil? Would that please the Lord? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for the sins of our souls? Would that make him glad? No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6-8, NLT)

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Who Is On The Lord's Side

Who is on the Lord's side,

Who will serve the King?

Who will be His helpers,

Other lives to bring?

Who will leave the world's side,

Who will face the foe?

Who is on the Lord's side,

Who for Him will go?

By your call of mercy,

By your grace alone,

We are on the Lord's side,

Savior all Your own!

Fierce may be the conflict,

Strong may be the foe,

But the King's own army,

None can overthrow.

‘Round His standard ranging,

Victory is secure.

For His truth, unchanging-

Makes the triumph sure.

Joyfully enlisting,

By Your grace alone,

We are on the Lord's side,

Savior all Your own!

Frances Ridley Havergal

© Praise Trust

Keep them clean!

My wife keeps a clean kitchen… and I am glad!  Certain utensils are for food preparation only. They are ‘holy’ in the sense that they are set apart just for that purpose. I am NOT to use the sharp scissors in the utensil drawer to cut the dog’s hair.  I object that they can be washed thoroughly, but there is no argument.  If it is used for serving our food, there is no other use allowed.

God made you and me to be holy, vessels of His Spirit. Paul says that the Lord places His "treasure in jars of clay.”  (2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV)  Despite being very ordinary vessels, the Presence of the Spirit in us gives us great value and holy purpose. Question is – do we live nobly, holy, honoring Him?

Belshazzar, the profane king of Babylon, gathered a thousand of leading citizens of the city for a party.  The Persian army surrounded the city but the king was unfazed, believing his citadel beyond breach.  As the party went on with the wine flowing and the debauched behavior growing, he sent a directive to liven up the event. He "ordered that the gold and silver chalices his father Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from God’s Temple of Jerusalem be brought in so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines, could drink from them." (Daniel 5:2, The Message)  "They drank the wine and drunkenly praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone." (Daniel 5:4, The Message) Cups that were to be used exclusively for holy rites in the worship of the Lord were desecrated – and quite purposefully.

God took note!  The party atmosphere fell deathly silent as a supernatural Presence invaded the hall. "Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. The king watched the hand as it wrote." (Daniel 5:5, NIV)   In terror the king asked for answers from his advisors.  “Read the inscription. Tell me what it means,” he demanded, but none could. Then the queen mother remembered Daniel, now an old man, long retired from the palace service.  “He told your father the meaning of his dreams,” she said.

Daniel was found and when he arrived, he told the king he knew the meaning of the handwriting on the wall.  Before he read it, he issued God’s indictment. "Look at you, setting yourself up in competition against the Master of heaven! You had the sacred chalices from his Temple brought into your drunken party so that you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines, could drink from them. You used the sacred chalices to toast your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone—blind, deaf, and imbecile gods. But you treat with contempt the living God who holds your entire life from birth to death in his hand. " (Daniel 5:22-23, The Message)  He finished with the judgment – “God has numbered your days and they’re over. Your life has been weighed and found wanting. Your kingdom is done, divided and given to another.”

That night the Persians entered Babylon and Belshazzar perished, the Assyrian empire done.  And it was arrogance, pride, and refusal to honor the living God that brought the judgment.

We are saved by the blood of Christ, baptized into His life, and filled with His Spirit. The Word urges us to remember - "that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, CEV)  If we fail to use these vessels to honor Him, if we corrupt them with sin, He will not ignore our willfulness. He is a holy God who corrects us for our good and His glory.

So let’s look at the dramatic end of Belshazzar and let it speak to us.  Here’s the word from the Word. "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, NIV)  "For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:6-7, NIV)

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Refiner's Fire

Purify my heart,

Let me be as gold

And precious silver.

Purify my heart,

Let me be as gold,

Pure gold.

Refiner's fire;

My heart's one desire

Is to be holy,

Set apart for You, Lord.

I choose to be holy,

Set apart for You, my Master,

Ready to do Your will.

Purify my heart,

Cleanse me from within,

And make me holy.

Purify my heart,

Cleanse me from my sin,

Deep within.

CCLI Song # 426298

Brian Doerksen

© 1990 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)

Vineyard Songs Canada (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)

A Friend of God

Just about all of us knows about ‘friends’ that are not who we hoped they might be. Sometimes they walk off when somebody ‘better’ comes along. Some disappear without a reason, leaving calls unanswered. Some use us in their time of crisis and when we need them, they’re not available.  Thankfully, there are many friends who are great people – who love, who stand with us, who are the richest treasure in the world.

God’s people broke His heart. Isaiah speaks for Him, describing His desire for them, and His justice for their sins. "I made them my own nation, so they would praise me. I, the Lord, said to Israel: You have become weary, but not from worshiping me." (Isaiah 43:21-22, CEV) "You have not brought delicious spices for me or given me the best part of your sacrificed animals. Instead, you burden me down with your terrible sins." (Isaiah 43:24, CEV)   His love would not ignore their treachery, their fickleness.  The Lord said that He would bring the Babylonians down to be His hand of correction.

But …  we can be encouraged by the next word from Him. “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25, NIV)  "This is what the LORD says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants." (Isaiah 44:2-3, NIV)

Mercy, forgiveness, grace, and love – these are His heart towards us. It’s not a sloppy, emotional love. His is a deep, just, and enduring love. Can He become angry? Yes.  Will He correct and discipline us? Yes, again! Because He loves us too much to just let us do as we please. 

Every year in Advent we remember – The Lord is coming.  Remembering that He came, a Babe in a Manger, God in Flesh, we take hope that He will come again – the Lord of Glory!  The stories of the unfaithfulness of His people of long ago become lessons for us.  Isaiah’s ancient words invite us to come near, to remain faithful, so that God’s delight is our inheritance.  "So turn to me and be helped—saved!— everyone, whoever and wherever you are. I am God, the only God there is, the one and only. I promise in my own name: Every word out of my mouth does what it says. I never take back what I say. Everyone is going to end up kneeling before me. Everyone is going to end up saying of me, ‘Yes! Salvation and strength are in God!’ ” All who have raged against him will be brought before him, disgraced by their unbelief." (Isaiah 45:22-24, The Message)

What kind of friend of God are you, Christian?

Be the best kind – faithful, loving, and true.

_____

Friend Of God

Who am I that You are mindful of me,

That You hear me when I call?

Is it true that You are thinking of me?

How You love me, it's amazing.

(It’s amazing it’s amazing)

I am a friend of God.

I am a friend of God.

I am a friend of God.

He calls me friend.

God Almighty, Lord of Glory,

You have called me friend.

Israel Houghton | Michael Gungor

© 2003 Integrity's Praise! Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI))

Sound Of The New Breed (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (IMI))

Vertical Worship