End Of Days

Matthew 27:50-54 KJV; Worrying about the end times is small stuff! It is a distraction from what we are called to do and that is to go and share the Good News of Jesus the Christ who lived and died and yet lives for us.

He Died For The Good We Do Not Do

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:8 KJV)

It is a joy to worship and to serve the Lord. Yet, we often find that we are doing exactly the opposite. This is part and parcel of the sinful nature of humankind. We know what is right. Yet, we find ourselves being steered in the wrong direction. 

St. Paul, the great missionary and evangelist found himself in the same situation. He wrote: 

For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Rom 7:16-20)

There are days when we can be torn between which direction to go in. Is one way wrong and the other way right? Which is which? Which way will lead me to appease the flesh and which way is the way that the Spirit of God would have me go?

When Peter, James and John witnessed Jesus transfigured on the mountain and speaking with Elijah and Moses they heard a voice coming from the cloud that hung overhead: "This is my beloved Son: hear him." (Mark 9:7) 

Listen to him and follow in the way that he would have you go. Sometimes, that still is easier said than done. The world, our flesh, our sinful natures sometimes want to shout over the Word of the Lord and it can be confusing. We can be pulled in many directions by all of these voices. Like Paul, we will do what we ought not do even when deep inside we know that there is a better way; even when we don't want to do it. 

Thanks be to God for his mercy is great. He has sent his only begotten Son to take away the sins of the world. Thanks be to God for the Lamb of God, "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Gal 1:4-5)

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-49 NIV)

Rip! The temple curtain was torn in two. Do you recall how St. Mark described what happened after Jesus' baptism? "Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove." (Mark 1:9)  So what exactly is the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two at Jesus' death?

I was taught, as a child, that it meant that we now all have direct access to God. We are free to directly communicate and relate with and to God. The High Priests are no longer needed to stand between us and God. In the Christian church on earth, it meant that regular lay people, not just the pastors and priests could approach the altar and even go beyond the altar rail without fear of God's wrath, at least not too much fear. As a child, I was taught that it was such a holy place that it was really best not for me, a young female with no business behind the altar to dare enter that area. That was just a little too much law because as Jesus died on the cross for all of us, he freed us from our sins so that we are worthy to come before God, even at the altar in a church building! That is good news, indeed!.

But, let us rejoice for there is even more to that curtain being torn than that. When a door is opened it is open to everything and everyone on both sides of the door. Behind the temple curtain was the Holy of Holies; God's earthy dwelling place. Only the High Priests could enter and have access to God.  Just as when the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus; when the temple curtain was torn the Spirit of God rushed out upon the world. God's dwelling place on earth was no longer contained to a specific place. His dwelling place; his Kingdom, rushed out into the world as Jesus breathed his very last breath. 

The Kingdom of God has come near. It is truly at hand! (Mark 1:15) Live in it!

God's Peace - Pr. J