Jesus

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WE REFLECT THE LIGHT THAT JESUS BROUGHT TO ALL MANKIND

(John 1:4&5) In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

(John 15:5) I am the vine you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

It dawned on me as I was contemplating these words from the book of John that God has placed for us, from the very beginning, an example of how the power of Jesus flows through us.  The sun, which provides us with light, is a ball of nuclear energy of amazing power and endurance.  The moon has no power of its own, but it reflects the light of the sun.  We only see the moon’s light when it is in position to reflect sun light.

Jesus is the all-powerful source of life, and he shines the light of life for all mankind.  We his disciples reflect his light, so that many will be able to know his light. Just like the moon, we don’t have the power of the light, but we can reflect that light.  Without him we are powerless; with him we can reflect the power of life.

The enemy would love for us to get caught up in imagining we have our own power.  It’s a trap of pridefulness, and we know that pride comes before a fall.  Trying to shine the light of life without maintaining our connection to Jesus, the source of power, will indeed results in a powerless display of pride and be useless in God’s kingdom.  That’s why Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

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EASTER, CELEBRATING WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US

(Philippians 2:6-11)  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used for his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

From the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, till the time when Jesus died and rose again, God’s plan of redemption was unfolding.  The plan, as far as I can understand it, was to bring about a population of living beings, created in his image, which would be recipients of his love and live forever in his presence.  These living beings are identified as the ones who have chosen to receive the redeeming actions of Jesus on the cross, and they have entered into the resurrected life he gained for them when he rose from the dead.  We are celebrating the climax of God’s plan this Easter weekend.

  On Good Friday, we bend our knees and mournfully weep as we acknowledge the suffering and death that Jesus experienced for us.  Who can comprehend what Jesus, God the Son, suffered when he took on the sins of the whole world?  What we can comprehend is our own sins for which he died.  In humble gratitude, we take time to remember what he went through for us.  He has given us freedom from our sins.  He died that we might live.

Then comes Easter Sunday, joy springs forth, and we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Death has been defeated, and eternal life is given to those who will put their trust in God and receive his offer of eternal life.  No other event on earth bears the weight of this day of celebration. 

As we celebrate God’s plan, we invite those around us to join in; for God’s plan is offered to all who will receive what he has prepared. 

There is a final act in his plan, but he’s waiting for you who have yet to come to him.  Don’t put it off.  The time is now.  Open your heart and seek him.  He promises that if you seek him with all your heart, you will find him.

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GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS WORD

(Matthew 6:31-33) “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Back in the year 1976, give or take a year, I was listening to the sermon my pastor was giving on these words from Jesus.  As I listened, this thought came to me, “I think Jesus really means this.”  In the spring of 1980, as I was driving on interstate 40 heading for California, the Lord spoke to me with these words, “Now is your chance to find out.”  I knew immediately what he meant.  He was pointing out that I could now find out if indeed he meant the words of this passage.

When I arrived in California, I began to pursue my new life looking for the freedom, relationships, and purpose I so desired.  I forgot about God and set out on my own to fulfill my life.  I failed miserably.  In despair, I sat down on a rock and said to God, “I’ve made a mess of this; I can’t leave this rock without you.”  That was all he was waiting for.  In an instance, I felt his presence, and from that moment on, my life changed.

You may be waiting for me to say since then I’ve had a perfect life.  Well not exactly, but it has been great!  God set me free in ways that I never knew before.  Within a few months, God sent me the lady that has shared this life with me for 43 years.  I’m still fascinated with her.  She is more than I could have ever imagined.  Together, we have a loving family, and a good relationship with each of our adult children, and with their children.  We all walk with the Lord. So our faithful God has blessed our family to the third and fourth generation (well, we’re still waiting for the fourth, but with complete confidence).  God lead me to fulfill the purposes he’d planed for me.  He has given me a rich, full life.

Putting our trust in God has proven to be the right choice.  We have never gone hungry, thirsty, or been without sufficient clothing.  Far beyond that, we have lived in homes and driven vehicles that were nicer than our income would dictate.  We have traveled the country, had many adventures, and enjoyed fun beyond our apparent means.  God has sustained us through tragedy and loss and shown us his love continually. 

I invite you to reread the above scripture verses, and then join me in the realization that God really means what is recorded in his Word.  I have found this to be true, and I share this truth with you in great confidence and without reservation.

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GODS TIMING IS PERFECT

(2 Peter 2:5-10) If he (God) did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.  This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority…

Those who criticize God for allowing horrible things to happen on the earth are confused.  First, they are confused about whom God is, and secondly, they are confused about what God has planned for those who continue to perpetrate evil and fail to repent.  The flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are two excellent examples of what God will do about the evils of sin perpetrated by us humans.Those who think God should continually intervene might consider what that could mean.

We humans are the center of his creation, yet we fail to comprehend that we belong to him who created us.  This verse reminds us of God’s ownership, (Psalm 24:1) “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”  This verse is the base scripture for godsworldandus.com.  I write about God’s world and those of us who live in it.  What we see happening on the earth is God carrying out his plan for his creation.  He is not unaware.  He knows everything that is occurring moment by moment.  He is continually working toward his ultimate goal, and that goal is to have eternal fellowship with the ones who will respect him and return his love.  He is patiently withholding judgement to allow for all who will embrace his plan of redemption and enter into a loving relationship with him.

God’s timing is perfect.  I state this in full confidence because I know him and love him.  I have great faith in his ability to carry out his plan to the fullness of his desired outcome.

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GOD IS FOR US

(Ephesians 1: 3-5) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.  In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

Yesterday morning, I got up, got dressed, and drove to the Costco gas station which opens at 6:00am.  I’m trying to retire form the busy mindset of employment. So as soon as I got on the road, I reminded myself that I had no need to hurry. Even in retirement, I still have built into me the American need to rush, take the quickest route, and drive there as fast as I can.  I’ve found that listening to the Christian radio station distracts me from the “I’m in a hurry syndrome”.  On my short trip to get gas, I heard encouraging songs that reminded me of God’s love for me.  This caused me to remember the above Scripture from Ephesians that I had read the day before. 

It is interesting to note from this Scripture that God created the universe with us in mind.  Of all that seems important through the history of man, nothing compares to the purpose for which God created us.  He chose those of us who now love him before he began his creation. So that we, his adopted children, might live eternally as recipients of his fatherly love.

You may ask yourself, “What have I done to deserve such love?”  The answer is: you have accepted his redemptive gift through Jesus Christ his only begotten Son.  In humble repentance, you have received his offer of forgiveness and put yourself, along with billions of others, right in the center of his purpose for his creation.  Nothing else in all the universe compares to this truth.

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 OUR CREATOR AND US

(Psalm 8:3-5) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?  You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

I love this passage of scripture.  It speaks volumes to me.  The vastness of the heavens directs my thinking to just how limitless is our God who created them.  Who is mankind in the midst of the universe?  Well, it turns out that we’re quite important to our creator.  Mankind is the focus of creation to the point that he sent his only begotten Son to die for us.   I pause to think about this, and I am overwhelmed by this thought.

The great creator of all that we know is loving, personal, and sacrificial in relationship with his created ones.  I desire to take this truth into the depths of my soul.  Sometimes, I ignore God and take for granted his presence in my life.  As I consider these thoughts, they become important motivators to stir me from my complacent self-centeredness and remind me just who I am serving.  He is the creator of the universe in whom we live and move and have our being (see Acts 17:28).

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THE VALUE OF FORGIVING AND LOVING YOURSELF

(Matthew 16:14) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also for give you.

(Matthew 19:19) Honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.

In my post last week, I mention the freeing experience of forgiving yourself for the sins that God has already forgiven.  Once you’ve embraced God’s forgiveness, you are freed to truly love yourself.  This is vital for carrying out the commands Jesus gave us: to forgive one another and to love one another.  If you haven’t accepted God’s forgiveness for yourself, how can you forgive others? If you don’t love yourself, then your ability to love your neighbor as yourself is obviously hindered.

I’m not encouraging narcissism.  I am encouraging the humble acceptance of the forgiveness that Jesus made possible for us.  I am also emphasizing the freeing awareness that God loves us and has renewed us.  We are new creatures in Christ.  We are God’s children who have been given a fresh start.  We can love ourselves with the full recognition that God’s love for us made it possible. 

When I was lost in my sins, filled with pride and arrogance, I relied on the false ideas and deceptions of this fallen world to judge my self-worth.  When I finally came to the end of myself, I cried out to God to save me.  Now I have a completely different view of myself. I am a redeemed sinner – fully depended on God my savior.  There is no bondage in this new way of seeing myself.  There is actually great freedom.  I can love myself because God first loved me.

There is true value in forgiving and loving yourself.  We can be effective examples of what it is like to be a child of God.  Through the power of his Spirit living within us, we can reflect God’s love for his created beings.  Best of all, we can be content knowing we don’t have to strive to feel worthy.  Our worth is in God our Father. 

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YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN

(Psalm 103:8-12) The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

When Jesus’ work of taking on the sins of the world was finished, he ascended into heaven.  I like to think that he left behind a vacuum that draws away our sins.  This vacuum is available for all those who receive him as their savior.  This vacuum takes our sins from us and sends them to the place of forgotten.  Unfortunately, through pride and inability to accept this forgiveness, we hold on to certain of our sins.

I speak from experience when I address this subject.  Nothing good comes from holding on to already forgiven sins.  Going back and fixing those sins is only possible in the imagination.  I definitely would change things if it were possible, but holding on to sins only kept me from experiencing the freedom for which Jesus paid such high price. Jesus paid for all sins no matter how egregious.

So, I humbled myself and surrendered those sins to my savior.  It took some time, but eventually I was able to receive the forgiveness God had afforded me.  The value of this struggle with accepting forgiveness brought me closer to my Savior and improved my understanding of his love for me.  It was worth the effort because I learned to forgive myself.  Forgiving yourself is a humbling experience that leads to realizing freedom in Jesus.

If you are in this situation, my advice is to let that vacuum finish removing your sins.  The damage your former sins caused is done.  You can’t fix the past.  Don’t let pride keep you from accepting forgiveness. God has forgiven and forgotten all our sins.  It is alright to live in the freedom Jesus bought for you.

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DO NOT LOSE HEART

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

In these verses, the Apostle Paul is reassuring us so that we might be encouraged to stay the course of our lives.  Look at your body.  It is aging.  If you are young it’s not so concerning, but at my age wasting away is a good analogy.  Paul reminds us that the Holy Spirit is constantly at work within us renewing our souls and preparing us for eternity. 

Our troubles are sometimes overwhelming, yet compared to what they are achieving for us, they are light.  I don’t understand how our troubles in this life achieve eternal glory, or what our eternal glory is exactly.  This is where we trust in faith the one who is establishing eternal glory for us.  “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.”

Paul reminds us that our troubles are momentary. Compared to eternity, the time of this life is quite short.  Our troubles will not last forever.  Even here and now, we have a great advantage.  We can take our troubles to our Heavenly Father.  He will help us through whatever comes our way.  Troubles come and go; Our Father is always with us.

“Therefore we do not lose heart.”  Paul was simply reminding us of what Jesus said to his disciples, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”  So we stand encouraged dear friends, remembering, “…What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

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 WHEN THE TIME HAS FULLY COME

(Galatians 4:4-5) But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

I have always been fascinated by the idea that God has a plan. This quote from Galatians 4:4, “But when the set time had fully come…” tells us that the timing of Jesus’ birth was planned.  Even today, in the midst of our daily life, God’s plan is unfolding. 

From the Christmas story, found in the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel, we can read the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah. As you may recall, they were the parents of John the Baptist.  Zechariah was a priest; he and his wife Elizabeth were upright in the sight of God, yet they had been unable to have children.   In their daily life, they were faithful and trusted in God.  They desired to have a child, but they did not abandon God for his seeming failure to answer their prayers, even though they were both well along in years.

One day, at the appointed time, when Zechariah was ministering before the altar, an angel of the Lord appeared to him.  The angel said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard.  Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John…” 

Have you prayed for something and thought that your prayer wasn’t heard?  Maybe, it just wasn’t the right time.  God has a plan that he is working out through history.  We only have a broad, very general insight into his plan, yet each of God’s children has a part in his plan. We are usually unaware of how we fit into his plan.  We just patiently trust in his infinite wisdom.  Don’t lose heart; stay faithful.  In faith we trust that God will complete his plan, and our part will happen as it should when the time has fully come.

Happy New Year!