Not For The Fear Of Hell

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 

                           (John 1:12-13 KJV)

I was reminded this week of something a confirmation student once asked me. That question was:  "Why do I want to go to heaven?"  Why indeed!?  What brought this to mind was something I heard this week. Not a direct quote; but, what I understood this person to imply strongly was: "We need to repent so that we do not go to hell." 

Hmmm....  Still knots in my stomach, days later, over that one! That reasoning is really hard for me to grasp for it certainly is not my reason for wanting "to go to heaven."  You see, I am a child of God. We have a tremendous Father in heaven who truly loves us. By faith alone in Christ alone we have been reconciled to our Father in heaven. I love Him and I want to be in his presence every moment of every day. That why I want to abide in heaven.

On the night in which he was betrayed Jesus told the disciples that he would be leaving them; but, that they should not be worried. He was going to prepare a place for them in his Father's house; our Father's house. He told them:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

                                                                                    (John 14:1-6)

The truth is humankind was kicked out of paradise for despising God's word. They did not listen to him. What a great loss that was! Humankind could no longer walk with God in the place he had prepared for humankind. But, through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us we can now live with God in paradise; in the heavenly kingdom. 

It is not for the fear of hell that we should desire to go to heaven. It is for the opportunity to live in our loving Father's presence for all of eternity. After all, who doesn't want to love and be loved?

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Work For Six Days?

 

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 

                                                                             (Ex 20:8-11 KJV)

I have always stressed observing the Sabbath Day and our need to actually rest. But, today I am going to get a little legalistic and say something about the other six days. Lately, when doing any type of business, whether in the stores or offices or on the telephone, it seems that the employees aren't really thrilled that they have to do their jobs. They can be rude and appear to be most unhappy that they have to even be there. There seems to be a lot of people who really don't care about the quality of the services their work provides. 

When Adam and Eve were placed in the garden they actually had no work to do. God took care of their daily needs. There was an abundance of food in the orchard. But, they sinned by disobeying God and eating from the one tree they were told not to eat from. The consequence was that humankind would have to work for their food. They would also have to work so that they would have a home since they were cast out of paradise.

God had labored for six days to create heaven and earth and then he rested. In the beginning humankind had to do nothing like that; at least not until they decided that they should eat of the tree that the serpent told them would make them like gods. We could say that in part that came to fruition as now we get to work six days and rest for one even as our God worked for six days and then rested.

Today, most people (at least in the United States) would be offended by the thought of having to work six days. They simply would not do it. It seems it has become an imposition to have to work to earn an income in order to live. It takes away from the way more than one day of rest that we think we deserve to mow the lawn or otherwise take care of our homes and property. So many end up stressed out because they don't have enough time to do nothing. They end up worried about how they are going to manage financially.

Although I cannot recall the original early American author of the quote, it would do us all well to remember that we should "work not worry." If in fact we would focus more on our work; our vocations, then we will have a lot less to worry about.

May God bless your work days and grant you refreshment on the Sabbath.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Don't Cut The Tree Of Life Out Of Your Life

And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. (Gen 2:9 KJV)

Last night I had a most disturbing dream. It was disturbing because I love the woods. I enjoy walking among the trees, lots of them. The pleasure I get from being among anything that reminds me of God's natural creation is great. In the dream, we had just purchased some very wooded property with a partner (not known to me in real life). Near the edge of this property there were two beautiful, huge fruit trees on it. I have never seen fruit trees that large. The lower branches were barely within my reach. The fruit on one of the trees was oval shaped and about a foot long. The fruit on the other tree was not quite so large. I had reached up and poked one of the foot long fruits. It was soft and juice poured out on my fingers. I tasted the juice. It didn't taste like anything. 

As I was standing there admiring the trees the co-owner came over and let me know that the fruit on that tree was poisonous. Feeling a bit stupid, I didn't tell him that I'd already tasted it and I wandered away to check out the rest of the property. It wasn't long before I heard heavy equipment and a power saw running.  I ran to make sure those two trees were still standing. It was too late. They were not. The co-owner of the property had cut them down. Where two grand trees once stood there was now only two huge stumps. I was (as I always am when Howard cuts down trees that I didn't want cut) very upset. 

I imagine the dream probably surfaced due to my sermon last night. It was about mankind being kicked out of Paradise over the two trees that God had planted in the middle of the garden. They had eaten of the tree that God had warned them not to eat of or they would die. 

We have all partaken of those things God warns us will destroy us. We are sinners. But, Christ has given us the antidote to the poison that we think we have to try. He is the remedy.  As I consider the dream this morning, I cannot help but wonder if it was a reminder to make sure that we do not cut the tree of life, who is Jesus the Christ, out of our lives. 

May God grant you the knowledge, the love, and a burning desire for the tree of life, Jesus the Christ that you might live in the garden of paradise with him for all eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J

From Dust To...

"By the sweat of your face

    you shall eat bread
until you return to the ground,
    for out of it you were taken;
you are dust,
    and to dust you shall return.”

                        (Gen 3:19 NRSV)

Once a year we mindfully return to the beginning. We remember who is actually in charge. It is God. He who formed us from the dust of the earth has the ability to return us to that place. As children of Adam and Eve, we remember, that like our parents we also have rejected the will of God for us and are subject to death.

Fortunately, we can look at all of this with hindsight. We can look back and know that even as the first man, Adam, chose to do his thing and not God's will; the second man who is from heaven, did accomplish God's will on earth for us. This man, Jesus the Christ, came so that; although we must return to the dust, all who believe in him will be raised from the dust, even as he was raised from the dead. That is the Good News on this day of sorrow and repentance.  

Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven. (1 Cor 15:45-49)

It is always an emotional time for me to make the ashy sign of the cross on the foreheads of people that I care about; knowing that we must all return to the dust that we have come from. That reminder that we must die can be very heart-shaking. For those few seconds death overshadows the hope of life. But, in the grand scheme of things, I know that all who believe that Jesus died for our sins, will be raised imperishable. Therein lies the hope within this perishable, sinful life.

Death is inevitable. For all who believe, so is life eternal in the presence of God. God's creation; His children, will walk in paradise once again.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jesus, Remember Me!

   

   Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 

   One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

   But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
   Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

   Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

                                                                                                (Luke 23:32-33, 39-43 NIV)

Whenever I hear or read this promise of paradise to the criminal, I cannot help but smile. It is such good news! The criminal hanging on a cross next to Jesus asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into His Kingdom. The criminal knows that Jesus is about to die. They are both being executed. The criminal knows and acknowledges that he is a sinful man and deserves the punishment that he is receiving in this world. He will die to this world for his sins. Yet, his request of Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom testifies to his faith in the Kingdom of God where Jesus will reign is met with good news. Jesus comforts the criminal by assuring him that he will enter into paradise. What good news! He is forgiven his sins. Although; he is about to die, the criminal will live in the paradise of God for all eternity.

Thanks be to God! All who believe, who trust in him, will enter into paradise; into His Kingdom. It does not matter what you have done or what you have left undone. By faith, your sins are forgiven. The promised paradise is received and entered into by faith that we are forgiven our sins and welcomed in the home of our Father, through the sacrifice of Jesus for us, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Tree of Life

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

                                                                     Genesis 2:8-9, 15-17 NIV

There you have it! God planted trees in the garden so that the first people would have food to eat that they might be nourished and live. In the middle of this garden he planted both the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. One tree brings life and the other, the one that ensures knowledge of good and evil, brings death. He warned Adam and Eve not to eat from that latter or they would surely die. What would you do? Would you eat from the tree of life or from the tree that makes you like a god to know good from evil? Adam and Eve ate from the tree that they were told not to eat from; but, apparently neglected to eat from the tree of life which they were allowed to eat from.

After Adam and Eve ate from the tree that brings death, God kicked them out of Eden so that they could not eat from the tree that brings life. The gate to paradise was closed and fierce looking cherubim were set there to guard paradise. The good news, the awesome news, is that when Jesus died on the cross, the gates were flung wide open for all who would believe in him. We have access to the Kingdom of God! We have access to the tree of life! Will we eat the fruit of the tree that brings life? 

Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) He is life. He is our only way to eternal life. We can enter the Kingdom of God into our Father's eternal presence only through him.

Jesus also said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (John 6:53-58)

Jesus is our tree of life. Would we turn up our noses at the food that Jesus provides and partake of those things which will only bring us death? I pray not.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Guarding The Gate To Paradise

Vernon Weand 1938-2017

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."   (John 14:1-3 NIV)

I have been preparing a funeral service for one of the many faithful members of Christ Lutheran Church this morning. Vernon was also a Marine. It has been many years since Vern actively served as a Marine. But, the Marine Corps has a saying "once a Marine, always a Marine" so today we are commending into the hands of Almighty God a U.S. Marine.

There is this rumor that says that U.S. Marines guard the gates to paradise; to our heavenly home. But, I assure you that it is just a rumor. I do not think that God would make any Marine who believe in Him guard His gates while the rest of us are inside walking around and talking with Jesus. Marines usually don't mind a celebration and I am also pretty positive that they will be at the great banquet feast in our Father's house; rather than outside guarding the doors. 

Jesus told his followers that he was going to prepare a place for them in our Father's house. He has and he returns for all who believe to take us to our heavenly home.

May God grant comfort and peace in the knowledge that all who believe; even though they die; yet, shall live.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jesus, Remember Me!

"We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
                                                                                                                       (Luke 23:41-43 NIV)

The criminal on the cross was about to be executed alongside Jesus. He knew enough to confess his sins. He made his death-bed confession. He also believed, even knew, who Jesus truly was. This criminal had enough sense to confess his sins and ask Jesus to remember him when he came into his kingdom. Jesus answered his plea with an affirmative. Today, today you will be with me in paradise.

Jesus has come into his kingdom. It is not something that going to happen at a later date. He lives and reigns now. Why is it that humankind has such a hard time recognizing this? Jesus is King. Why is it that humankind, even Christians, have such a hard time recognizing that their egos are preventing them from confessing their sins; from receiving forgiveness; from entering into the Kingdom of God, even today? Is it lack of faith? Or, maybe it really is overinflated egos that prevent us from believing that their is someone greater than ourselves; one that can save us; one that can bring us peace?

I don't have the answers as to why one would rather lift up themselves and deny Christ and not enter into the paradise; the Kingdom, that Jesus has prepared for all who believe in him.

One criminal refused to repent and derided Jesus as they both hung there. The other confessed and turned his eyes toward Jesus that he might live, even though within hours he would die. Egos must die in order for us to live.

May God help us to live life in unity in His Kingdom, even today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

To Know Him

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Eph 1:17

That is the goal... that we might know Him better. Here is our Father in heaven. Here is the one who created us. Here is the one who saves us. Why would we not want to get to know Him better? The purpose of being reconciled to God our Father through the blood shed by our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, is so that we can come before God's presence. It is so that we might walk with Him, not just in this world, but for all eternity. The gates to Paradise were closed. Humanity was exiled. But, now the gates to Paradise have been flung wide open. Your sins are forgiven. Enter into the Kingdom that has been prepared for you. Enter into His presence and get to know Him better. He is; after all, your Father in Heaven!

May God give to all the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that we might know Him and His good will for all people better.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Choose The Right Path

He made the moon to mark the seasons,    and the sun knows when to go down.

Psalm 104:19 NIV

Then what of man? If the sun and the moon have, for all these years, followed the course that God laid out before them; then, what of man? Why is it so difficult for humankind to follow in The Way that the Lord would have us go?

That would be: free will. God gave us the ability to make choices between loving Him or not; between serving Him and honoring Him or not; between listening to Him or the serpent. Adam and Eve chose to listen to the serpent rather than to God. In spite of God's command, they chose to eat of the tree of knowledge and avoided eating from the tree of life. Adam and Eve and all humankind were exiled from Paradise for their wrong choice.

And, so... it continues down to this age. God has opened wide the gates to Paradise for all who would believe in and follow His Son. Yet, many choose to follow in a way they have chosen for themselves and reject The Way that God has prepared for us.

May God open our hearts to follow in The Way, the only way, that can save us from ourselves and our own wrong choices.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Do Not Fear That Old Snake

Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. Acts 28:1-5 NIV

The other evening, I was walking around the yard barefoot, as is a habit of mine. People keep warning me about it. But, I don't pay much attention to them. As I walked under the tree in the front yard I heard something drop to the ground in front of me. As I put my foot down to take the next step I felt it slither out from under my foot quickly . It was one of those snakes that the neighbors and my husband had been warning me about. No, it did not strike me nor did I crush it's head. But, that old snake took no time in disappearing.

The snake has become symbolic of temptation as well as the evil one. Unfortunately, we all succumb to temptation from time to time. We get just a little too close to temptations. Often, we don't even see him coming before that old serpent is upon us. Sometimes he's come and gone before we realize that we've accepted his invitation to stray from The Way.

There was no avoiding that viper by St. Paul. He had no way of knowing that it was in the fire. But, it doesn't sound like he panicked; doesn't sound like he screamed. He just shook it off and continued as if it was nothing. Because it was nothing worth getting excited about.

It is sometimes difficult to see temptation as it advances. There are things we can do to avoid confrontation with the old snake. But; sometimes, it cannot be helped and when temptations do come it is best to send them quickly on their way. Don't play with them. But; neither, let them cause you to tremble in fear.

There is no need to fear. By his death, Jesus overcame the power of sin, death, and of the devil. When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit that the serpent had convinced them they should eat they were kicked out of paradise. But, paradise was opened for all who would believe when Jesus died on the cross, in our place, for our sins.

The serpent did not escape consequences for his part in this turning their backs on God.

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
    and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
    and you will eat dust
    all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity
    between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

                                  Genesis 3:14-15

Jesus crushed the head of the serpent when he died on the cross, descended into hell, and rose again; taking away the power the evil one had over us. Do not give that power back to the serpent by yielding to his whims. Neither should you fear that old snake. Jesus has crushed his power over you.

May the Lord, keep us from straying; delivering us from all temptations and all evil.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Knock And The Door Will Be Opened To You

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matt 7:7

Castles and forts were once used to protect the people of a community. There were usually very large doors that were meant to keep danger out. One had to knock, introduce themselves, and possibly know a password in order to gain entrance during times of trouble.

After Adam and Eve's fall the doors to Paradise, the Kingdom of God, were closed. They were guarded by fierce looking angels so that no one could enter.  But, you and I don't have to sneak past them. We don't have to know any passwords to get into the Kingdom of God. Jesus revealed to us, by his death, that he wants all people to enter into his kingdom. God, our Father, wants you in His Kingdom. He will not force anyone to enter against their will. But, through Christ, God, has made it available to all people. He has opened the doors to the Kingdom for all who would be believe in him. You don't have to earn the right to enter. Jesus did that for you as he took upon himself the sins of the world.

Knock and you will find that the door is not locked. It will swing wide open for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J.