Friday, December 02, 2005
Sunday, March 27, 2005
After the Sabbath, around dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to take a look at the tomb. Suddenly there was a powerful earthquake. For an angel of the Lord had come down from heaven, stepped forward, rolled the stone away, and was sitting on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. Because they were so afraid of him, the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Stop being afraid! For I know you're looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee, and you will see him there. Remember, I have told you!" (Matthew 28:1-7)
Today, of all days of the year, the Christian community celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike the birth of Christ, His resurrection can be pinpointed to when it took place. There is no doubt what day of the week Jesus again walked among men.
I find it interesting that of all events that have taken place, this most important event can be identified on the calendar. It is as if the Lord wants us to know when His Son rose from the dead more than when He came to this world.
And rightly so...because, as Paul stated, "Now if we preach that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you keep claiming there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:12)
The basis of the religion that has become to be known as Christianity is the fact that God came to earth, suffered for our sins , died for those sins and rose again, to show us the way, the life. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man."(1 Corinthians 15:21)
Many call this day Easter, but do not look for the word in your scripture. What you will find about this day are the words resurrection, died for our sins, rose again, new birth, and a new life. The most powerful act in the history of man that was given to us as a gift, handed to us with no strings attached.
A gift that caused the Son of God to take all of our sins, all sins of man, place them "on his shoulders" and be sacrificed for those sins.
Paul wrote that if this resurrection was proved to be false, then of all men, Christians are to be the most pitied (I Cor 15.19), but this event is not a false event, but a true happening that has caused men and women to do great things down through the ages for a truly great God.
The greatest gift to man, freedom from our sins, a life with the burdens of the heart lifted is here, now to all--to be accepted.
Until next time on my front porch.
Today, of all days of the year, the Christian community celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unlike the birth of Christ, His resurrection can be pinpointed to when it took place. There is no doubt what day of the week Jesus again walked among men.
I find it interesting that of all events that have taken place, this most important event can be identified on the calendar. It is as if the Lord wants us to know when His Son rose from the dead more than when He came to this world.
And rightly so...because, as Paul stated, "Now if we preach that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you keep claiming there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:12)
The basis of the religion that has become to be known as Christianity is the fact that God came to earth, suffered for our sins , died for those sins and rose again, to show us the way, the life. "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man."(1 Corinthians 15:21)
Many call this day Easter, but do not look for the word in your scripture. What you will find about this day are the words resurrection, died for our sins, rose again, new birth, and a new life. The most powerful act in the history of man that was given to us as a gift, handed to us with no strings attached.
A gift that caused the Son of God to take all of our sins, all sins of man, place them "on his shoulders" and be sacrificed for those sins.
Paul wrote that if this resurrection was proved to be false, then of all men, Christians are to be the most pitied (I Cor 15.19), but this event is not a false event, but a true happening that has caused men and women to do great things down through the ages for a truly great God.
The greatest gift to man, freedom from our sins, a life with the burdens of the heart lifted is here, now to all--to be accepted.
Until next time on my front porch.
Friday, January 28, 2005
For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night.
(1 Thessalonians 5:2)
The world we live in is chaotic and ofttimes unpredictable. Looking at the news proves this point.
And yet man tries very hard to control his destiny, to predict his future, to peer into the darkness looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. There is only one outcome for man... and for many it is not the future they desire. . .
Do you have an alarm system on your door? Does the company that installed it proclaim that it will summon aid and assistance when you need it, all just a phone call away? Well, that is good, but often, when we least expect it, when we think we have it all together, the thief strikes. We cannot predict when he will come nor can we often prevent it. It is with a sudden shock that we have found that the thief has entered our lives.
And so also will it be with a shock when the day of the Lord comes, to many it will come as a surprise:
"But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-7)
Note what Paul writes about concerning those of the church. We are not surprise, nor are we asleep, but watchful, not for a thief to steal from us, but for Christ to return and take us home.
We are not asleep! We are of the day and we know what this is about! Many will say, Jesus is coming! and will not be true. Remember Paul writes to us and tells us that we do not nor do we need to know the day.
I remember reading about a sect that, in the 19th century, quit their jobs and sat on a hillside in July on a certain day to wait on the return of the Lord. From current events in the news, their leader had figured out the exact day and time of the coming of Jesus. Needless to say, they sat for a long time before they gave up. And still they came back a second time!
In our lifetimes, people have predicted Jesus’ coming, always wrong, and sometimes their mixed up doctrine has caused dire consequences for those that have followed their leadership.
God doesn’t want us to worry about this subject. The coming of Jesus is for Him to decided, not us and trying to figure it out is a useless waste of time.
Again, scripture is quite clear:
"the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for Him, and in an hour which he does not know. "(Matthew 24:50)
"For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. "(1 Thessalonians 5:2)
So the question remains to be asked. Are you ready to met the Lord? Will you be watching for Him or will you be surprised?
(1 Thessalonians 5:2)
The world we live in is chaotic and ofttimes unpredictable. Looking at the news proves this point.
And yet man tries very hard to control his destiny, to predict his future, to peer into the darkness looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. There is only one outcome for man... and for many it is not the future they desire. . .
Do you have an alarm system on your door? Does the company that installed it proclaim that it will summon aid and assistance when you need it, all just a phone call away? Well, that is good, but often, when we least expect it, when we think we have it all together, the thief strikes. We cannot predict when he will come nor can we often prevent it. It is with a sudden shock that we have found that the thief has entered our lives.
And so also will it be with a shock when the day of the Lord comes, to many it will come as a surprise:
"But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm. For those sleeping sleep in the night, and those being drunken are drunken in the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-7)
Note what Paul writes about concerning those of the church. We are not surprise, nor are we asleep, but watchful, not for a thief to steal from us, but for Christ to return and take us home.
We are not asleep! We are of the day and we know what this is about! Many will say, Jesus is coming! and will not be true. Remember Paul writes to us and tells us that we do not nor do we need to know the day.
I remember reading about a sect that, in the 19th century, quit their jobs and sat on a hillside in July on a certain day to wait on the return of the Lord. From current events in the news, their leader had figured out the exact day and time of the coming of Jesus. Needless to say, they sat for a long time before they gave up. And still they came back a second time!
In our lifetimes, people have predicted Jesus’ coming, always wrong, and sometimes their mixed up doctrine has caused dire consequences for those that have followed their leadership.
God doesn’t want us to worry about this subject. The coming of Jesus is for Him to decided, not us and trying to figure it out is a useless waste of time.
Again, scripture is quite clear:
"the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he does not look for Him, and in an hour which he does not know. "(Matthew 24:50)
"For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. "(1 Thessalonians 5:2)
So the question remains to be asked. Are you ready to met the Lord? Will you be watching for Him or will you be surprised?