"Eternal Life After Worldly Death!"

 Scripture:   Luke 24:1-12; 1 Corinthians15:19-26

Holy Week is an important time for Christians, for many reasons.  We celebrate a variety of events, with each containing unique emotional attachments, the sum total being concluded with the unexpected gift that we know as Easter.  

 For the people of that day, the emotional strain that occurred on each and every day  of the preceding week was varied, depending upon the level of their involvement and their personal expectations surrounding each and every event.  Whether you were a legalist who was committed totally to the law of Israel, or a follower of Jesus Christ, some of whom had been touched after listening to His teaching, or others who had been healed through His words and presence, or even for those within the Roman occupying forces and administration whose sole responsibility was to maintain control throughout the region.

 From the day of Jesus’ grand entry into the City of Jerusalem when many cheered and honored His arrival, things would grow steadily worse, from the Jewish celebration of Passover; through the last few opportunities that Christ had to teach about God’s love and grace; to the arrest and contrived trial that was based solely on false accusations and charges; in the sentence of death that came from the Romans, even though the Governor had come to the conclusion that Jesus had done nothing to justify crucifixion; and finally in the horrific beating, the humiliating walk while having to carry His own Cross, and finally in the excruciating means of execution.

 There were some who rejoiced that this thorn in the side of Jewish authority had finally been done away with (or so they thought!), but there was far more agony and heartbreak burdening the hearts of those who loved Jesus the best.  Then came Sunday morning, with its unbelievable discovery that the tomb where Jesus had been laid was empty  There were countless mistaken explanations of what had happened to the Body, but none would even come close to what the reality was!  No one would know the truth of what had actually happened, until a woman was approached by the Risen Christ, who revealed not only the truth of the Day, but the hope that surrounded the life’s gift that was given to all through faith in the living Son of God.

 Read Luke 24:1-12

 It was certainly a confusing and unbelievable day, this third day of death, which had, surprisingly, turned into one of resurrected life!  The women who had come to complete the burial process discovered instead, the opened and empty tomb, with only two unexpected and indescribable “men” waiting for them with a message that didn’t make much sense whatsoever!  Living!?  Risen!?  It was only then that they began to remember the stories they had heard about Lazarus and how Jesus had brought him back to life, but this was totally different – after all, Jesus was dead, so how could He possibly bring Himself back to life?

 Those men, who we know were actually heavenly beings, would be offering the words that reminded the women of all that Jesus had been preparing for this day.  But they were still amazed to discover that the prophecy had now come to fruition! 

 And when we read of the women who carried this message back to the disciples, we read of a name that is not all that familiar to us – Joanna.  As far as I know, she is only mentioned one other time in scripture – in Luke 8:1-3.  It appears that she was married to the manager of Herod’s own household, and not only was she a follower of Jesus, but there were other women who were all supporters and providers for Jesus and His disciples as they carried the word and promise of God throughout the nation.

 And when the women returned to the Upper Room to let the men know of their glorious discovery, the men also had difficulty in comprehending all that they were hearing!  Even Peter, who ran to see for himself, needed more time to let this truth settle into his heart and soul.  Peter always was the one who didn’t seem to get Jesus’ words until he had some time to think about it!

 But is this struggle with understanding so unexpected?  After all, how would we react if it had been us who were experiencing these strange happenings on that Sunday morning?  How many folks do we know who continue even today to deny and question all that scripture reveals, simply because it just doesn’t make any sense to them?

 Read 1 Corinthians 15:19-26

 In the verses that lead into this passage, Paul addresses an apparent concern that some in the Corinthian church may be questioning the truth behind “resurrection of the dead”.  He tells the church that if this is questionable, then how can we even begin to believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead!  And if Jesus’s body is still laying dead in some unknown place on Earth, then our faith is meaningless, and we will never be freed from our condemnation in the sinful lives that we have always lived.

 As Paul continues, he makes the point that the resurrection that Jesus experienced was truly a physical one, and not only a spiritual event.  And since it was a human body that was risen into new life, we, too, are being promised that resurrection of the dead is available to all who will follow Jesus in life, through death, and into a resurrected and eternal life with the Lord.  But the point that Paul makes is that while a resurrected life is available to all, it will only be those who welcome Jesus Christ into their lives who will know the new life that awaits them.

 And there will be sorting, a Judgment, between those who have never come to Jesus in faith, and those who have given their life to the Lord by faith and love and trust in Him, and in Him alone.  For it will only be members of the Family of God who will be able to follow Jesus into glory, while all others will be left wondering as to what just happened!

 If you have yet to give your life to Christ, or wish to recommit your life to Jesus, won’t you pray the words that follow:

 Lord, I’m a sinner, condemned by the life I have chosen.  I freely confess that my only hope of salvation lies solely in You, Lord, I seek your forgiveness and Your Spirit’s leading, that I might live life anew in You.  Help me to believe and trust in You and Your ways, that my life will become a reflection of Your love, Your word, Your way, and Your truth.  Lead me, Lord, into Your life eternal.  I pray all things in the precious Name of Jesus.  Amen.

 

 

"Washed in Glory!" (Maundy Thursday)

 Scripture: John 13:1-17

This passage speaks of several issues that are interconnected in our relationship with God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  First, there is our discipleship that grows through our commitment to learn from the words He taught and the life He lived, second, in our discovery of the Gift that Jesus became for all who would come to Him, and third, the love that God has for His created order will always remain true and firm, and will never be renounced, even when we live in ways that deny and betray His word and way.

  Tonight, we celebrate that relationship in two ways – first through Holy Communion, and second by the washing of each other’s hands, which Jesus tells us that we should do.

 Read John 13:1-9

This will be the Lord’s final Passover celebration; but will it?  The Jewish Passover celebrates the time when Israel’s Jehovah God saved the lives of His people through the gift of a lamb’s flesh and blood! (Exodus 12:1-13)  At Calvary, Jesus would become the flesh and blood of the Lamb, who would become the means to salvation for all who would come to Him by faith!

 But there was a second gift that Jesus presented to His disciples that evening – He knelt in front of each person to wash their feet just as a servant would do.  This was God Incarnate – the Supreme, Almighty, Infinite, Perfect, One and Only God - showed His faithful that in addition to the Power and Majesty that was inherent in His Spirit, a servant oriented-heart was what made Him a personal and loving God.

 But in addition to the relational aspects of the washing, it was also a sign of welcome to all.  The point is that Jesus even washed the feet of His betrayer, Judas Iscariot.  The Lord was letting Judas know that he was loved, in spite of what he was about to do.

 The truth is, though, that none of those present at that meal fully understood the significance of the washing that they had received, especially Peter! 

 Read John 13:10-17

 Jesus knew that they all were having trouble connecting what they had already come to know about Him versus this most recent act of washing by their Leader.  And those additional words about cleanliness must have also caused them some further consternation!  But could His reference to being “clean” refer to those who would remain faithful to Jesus and His word throughout their life, regardless of the trials and temptations that would soon begin coming against them? 

 And then, just to add more complications to the mix, they also hear that they needed to develop the same heart for others that Jesus had just demonstrated!  If we really think about it though, why shouldn’t all of Jesus’ followers treat others in the same manner as the Lord does?

 A life inspired by the Humble Heart of Christ is so unlike the ways of the world, that it will become obvious to all that a greater power than they, has led you to live in a way that is totally different from the one that they live in!  That’s what comes to all who have chosen to be “Washed in the Blood of the Lamb”!

(Note: Message was shorter, as the service concluded with both Holy Communion and Hand Washing.)

"Cry Out Before the Stones Have To!"

 Scripture:   Luke 19:28-40

Today is Palm Sunday, the day when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem in the most glorious way!  We remember that in previous encounters with the people, the Lord always seemed to caution them to keep His identity to themselves.  Perhaps, the time had come to proclaim Jesus as Messiah, but for some reason, Luke’s account of the triumphal entry only tells us that the masses praised God for sending this “king” to bring blessings to their lives.

 The other gospels recount the more familiar phrases of  “Hosana to the Son of David” and ‘Hosana in the highest heaven!” It’s uncertain as to why Luke didn’t include the call for rescue and salvation that is implied through the word “hosana”.  But still, the praises that Luke does report let us know that the Lord is being recognized and glorified for Who He truly is just the same.  Regardless of the report, it’s unfortunate that the people’s praises didn’t last longer than these few short days, for it wouldn’t be long before the praises would be exchanged for shouts of “Crucify Him!”

 And even though I’m sure that the Lord’s heart broke as He realized the temporary nature of those adorations, He must also have been encouraged when He remembered the countless billions of praises that would be lifted up throughout the many centuries to come.

 Read Luke 19:28-31

 After all of the walking that Jesus did during His years of ministry. traveling back and forth between Judah and the Galilee, it makes you wonder why He would need a ride at this time when He was about to enter into the City of Jerusalem - and not a ride on just any donkey, but a young colt who had never been ridden before.

 Traditionally, many victorious kings would enter the home capital of a conquered nation riding on a donkey instead of on his war horse.  It was intended to be seen as an offer of peace, of personal humility, and gentleness toward the people of the conquered nation.  Not that a peaceful and rewarding existence would necessarily last very long for them, but at least it was being offered as a possibility!

 But perhaps a more significant aspect of Jesus’ request was because the colt had never been ridden, or used for any other purpose until this moment.  The world’s imprint had never been imposed on the animal, implying, if you will, that the colt had yet to be claimed in a worldly way, which made it the perfect ride for the Perfect Savior.

 In Zechariah 9:9-12, the prophet also proclaims this very thing - that peace will come from the Lord in a humble and loving way, and that the implements of war and destruction would no longer be used as an everyday occurrence that aroused fear in the lives of God’s people.  And the prophet says that this promise will be shown to be true through the Lord’s covenant in blood!  This passage begins by telling us that this person who is coming on a young donkey will be 1) their king, 2) who will be righteous, 3) victorious and never defeated, 4) lowly, or humble!  Does this sound like someone you know? 

 Read Luke 19:32-40

 It seems that the donkey was waiting for the men in exactly the place that God needed it to be.  Some have tried to explain this entire event away by claiming that Jesus had probably met with the owner previously and arranged to have the donkey available for the disciples to bring it back to the Lord.  But we all know that the Lord doesn’t work that way – that God is the ultimate inspiration in everyone’s life, and that the Holy Spirit will always work to enable God’s Holy Plan to be completed in divine glory without question!

 Throughout the gospels, as well as in all of the epistles, all that Jesus ever did, and all that the disciples and other faithful people experienced, must never be explained away in terms of worldly understanding or happenstance.  God is always at work to not only accomplish His good, but also for the good of those who are faithful in Him.  When we strive to bring praise and glory to our loving God, He will be faithful to us.

 And in this passage when we read that many spread their cloaks on the road, and that some put their cloaks on the donkey, we see that each act was intended to be an expression of the individual’s adoration and praise for Jesus.  The rejoicing that so many offered that day was incredible – to the extent that the Pharisees were infuriated by all of the rejoicing and praising that was being directed toward the Man who they had been planning to do away with!  And Jesus tells them, in response to their calls for silence, that when these stop praising, that “stones” are going to cry out!  

 In Luke 3:8 we read that John the Baptist told the crowds who were coming to receive his baptism that they needed to begin “producing fruit in keeping with repentance”, and not to depend upon their heritage as descendants of Abraham to deliver them safely to glory.  John continued to chastise the people with these additional words – “For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”  The significance of this proclamation is that God can allow people, other than the Israelites, to receive the covenant of inheritance that was given through Abraham.

 And on this Palm Sunday, it’s important for us to understand that we are those stones who have been raised up out of the world, that we might become worthy of the covenant that God made for Abraham and his descendants.  Too few of Abraham’s descendants have given God the glory that He deserves, and because the “chosen” of God have found the obligation that God asked of them unacceptable, the very “stones” that Israel rejected have been raised up to serve Him as His children– “chosen” in a new way – the way that is by faith, in order that we might accept the covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ. From Galatians 3:7-8 - ⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. ⁸ Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham with these words: “All nations will be blessed through you.”

   Out of those stones, we have been raised up to become children and heirs of God’s grace through Abraham.  But the question for today is - are we living and serving and praising and blessing others as “stones for Jesus” should be? 

 If not, when are we going to begin?

"Redeemed Once, and Worthy Forever!"

 Scripture:   Philippians 3:4-14; John12:1-8

As we read through Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi, we discover that it is primarily a letter of encouragement and an expression of love and joy at their obvious growth in faith and service in the name of Jesus Christ.  This isn’t to say, however, that their faith is all that it should be, or that they have arrived at perfection.  But that, as John Wesley might have commended them, their steps in faith are leading them ever higher in their journey of “going on to perfection”.

 And even while Paul languishes in a Roman prison, he is still thinking of and preparing to provide for the welfare of this church.  Earlier in this letter, he lets the Philippians know that Timothy, who he holds in a very high regard, will be coming to them soon to serve as their pastor.  And he offers them his personal testimony as a means of encouraging them as an example of what true faith does for our life. 

 Read Philippians 3:4-14

 In the lead in to this reading, Paul tells the church that those who are the true faithful are those who worship in the Spirit, and who see circumcision as a spiritual measure, not a physical one.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes that God has no need for circumcision of the flesh, but rather for an inward one of the heart that can only be accomplished by the Spirit of God. (Romans 2:28-29 and Jeremiah 4:4)

 As he continues in his letter, he begins to show just how much he has had to give up so that he can follow in the way of Jesus.  But he also admits that those things that he had previously depended on and rejoiced in were worthless, now that he has put his life in the glory and love of Christ.  He used to trust in all that the world was impressed by, but now all of that has become useless to him.  And he suggests that the church should learn from his example – that they should never give the desires and ways of the world any importance or prominence in their life.  He wants that we should just lean on the Lord Jesus, who sees us and loves us in a totally different way than the world does.

 Interestingly, the only items in his entire list of prestigious advantages that he gained through his own decisions were his obedience to the law and the honors that he received for being faithful to them.  But he had now come to the realization that obedience to Jesus was far more important for both this life as well as for the life that is to come.  He offers the concept of profit and loss as an example – that he now know that everything that was formerly to his “profit”, was all a lie.  For now the only profit that can mean anything to him comes in knowing the greatness that resides in his Lord Jesus Christ.  Everything else is nothing more than “trash”!

 We also need to grow in trust and obedience to that very attitude!  Any time that we put our dependency in some belief or aspect of worldly glory, we are beginning to walk further and further away from the glory of God!  Prestige in our human positions, the benefits that come from personal wealth, the honors that others heap upon us, the achievements, opportunities, and advantages that are gained through our own human efforts, any of the worldly attributes of this life, that others may see and desire for their own life – those things that may look good but will never bring us any closer to the life we live as a member of the family of God.

 As Paul continues, He lets us know that human perfection can never be our goal, but that a closeness in and to the love of God, all that we find through a life in Christ Jesus, will be the greatest decision and will bring the greatest joy, that we could ever imagine.

 Read John 12:1-8

 John’s gospel reminds us that any profits of worldly value will only have true worth when we refuse to hold them as a benefit to our own life, and instead, use them to bring glory and honor to our Lord Jesus.  This gospel passage contains several references that closely connect us to Lent and Easter.

 The first is John’s mentioning that the time was less than a week before Passover.  The first Passover in Egypt was an obvious herald to the coming of Messiah, as well as to the Judgment.  So who was saved from the sentence imposed by the Angel of Death, and what did the Hebrews have to do to receive the Lord’s salvation?  They feasted on the innocent Lamb that had been sacrificed on their behalf, and they smeared the Lamb’s blood on the front door frame of their home.  Do you see the connection to Holy Communion?  And who did not survive the angel’s task?  Anyone who wasn’t protected in a home covered by the blood of the Lamb!

And Jesus would become the final Passover in just a few more days.(Exodus 12:1-11, 21-30)

 The second is the reference to the raising of Lazarus from his tomb.  We read that Lazarus had been dead for four days before Jesus called him to leave the tomb, and Jesus would have been dead for 3 days before His resurrection.  Upon the man’s return to life, Jesus ordered the people to “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”  And at Jesus’ rising from the dead, He, too, left His grave clothes behind, before leaving His place of death. (John 11:1-44)

 Fourth, a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor.  The Passover meal was also a time to honor all that the Lord God had done for the people that night in Egypt by freeing them to begin their journey to the land that God had promised them.  Easter is God’s promise that we, too, have a new home waiting for us.  And our promise is evidenced by the resurrection that raised Jesus into a new life.  So when you celebrate Easter with a great meal, be sure to give the Lord all the praise you possibly can – for this should be the time when we praise God for our passover -  which will be the Lord’s promise to us of eternal life!

 Fifth, Mary anointed Jesus’ feet, with a large amount of expensive nard.  We remember that Jesus also washed, or anointed, the feet of His disciples at the Last Supper.  As the Lord washed their feet, He told them “¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Mary had anointed Jesus just before the most critical days of His entire ministry – the completion of His Passover blessing at Calvary – The gift He gives to all who will come to Him by faith! (John 13:1-17)

 And the final connection would be the moment when Judas revealed his cold, thieving heart!  Judas’ feet had been washed, just as Jesus washed them all, and he also received Jesus’ gift of bread before Satan took him, and just before he then left to complete his evil betrayal. (John 13:18-30)  And yet, he would still go to his evil work.

 In John 13, the Lord Jesus also gave this advice to all who will follow Him – ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”  These are words for all, throughout the ages, who have ever welcomed the Lord into their life, and who have shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with another.   And for those who refuse to accept those who proclaim Jesus as Lord, Savior, and Redeemer, they will never know the salvation that accepting Jesus will bring.

 If you have never made a first time commitment to Jesus Christ, won’t you please pray this prayer today– 

Lord Jesus, I’m a sinner and am unworthy to ask you into my life.  But I am lost, and in need of your forgiveness and your saving grace.  Lord, I want you and need you to be my guide and stay for this life, and I will follow and love you for the rest of time.   Amen.

"Recreated and Reconciled!"

 Scripture:   2 Corinthians5:16-21, Luke 15: 11-32

As Easter comes closer and closer, we consider the mission that led Jesus to its fulfillment at Calvary.  And while the drive behind the Pharisees’ desire to get rid of “Jesus the radical” was founded in fear and hatred, it was the love of God that enabled Jesus to live out God’s plan of salvation for all of humanity.  And while many folks have never allowed themselves to experience that love in their own lives, it will always be revealed when we open ourselves up to the Lord’s incredible love.

 But the most interesting part of that love, is that it is not for us to keep within our own heart!  Rather, it is for us to share with those who have yet to receive it, for that may be the only way that they will ever understand.  From the Lord’s point of view, the time that He spent among us was all about you and me.  In Romans 8:31-32; 38-39 we read  – “If God is for us, who can be against us?”.  And in John 3:16-17 - ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

 Our Lord God has done it all for our benefit, and all that we need to do to receive God’s gift of salvation, is to simply accept it through faith in Jesus Christ.

 Read 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

 When Jesus surrendered His life for us at Calvary, everything changed.  The ways of the world no longer hold any importance for those who continue to live there.  It is certainly the default position for life, but a life with God is now based on whether you now live in Christ, and He in you - or not!  No longer should we strive to live the “good life”, for the efforts that we can make can never bring us even one step closer to God, for now it all centers on the depth of our faith in Jesus.

 The point of faith, is that this is the means for a total change in our life!  When Jesus surrendered His life at Calvary, He gave up His humanity in sacrifice for our sin, and His divinity enables everything that we need to live a righteous and renewed life by faith. All who have given their life to Christ have become a new creation.

 At creation, God made humanity in His own image, that we would live and serve in the Godly way - unfortunately, sin turned us away from the Lord and kept us from living in the way of God’s plan! (Genesis 1:26-27)  But now, by faith in the Son of God, we are again seen us as one who lives in the image we were created for.  This doesn’t mean that faith has made us perfect, but rather, that we are now seen in the perfection of Christ.  This is what reconciliation by faith will do for us and what it enables us to be, when we, as the reconciled of God, reach out to the lost and struggling people of this world, in the name of Jesus. 

 And we can no longer see others as people confined in the flesh, for that would be as if Christ had never left His worldly form.  We have changed, and no longer should be seeing others in a worldly sense or understanding – we need to see them as God sees, meaning that we must love them in the potentially recreated form that the Lord once saw us in.  When we see and love and witness through the image of God, others will experience the love and way of God through us.

 This is why our human efforts can never accomplish what God has promised.

 Read Luke 15:11-32

 This parable is sometimes referred to as “The Parable of the Loving Father”, which is actually what the lesson is all about.  But first, let’s consider the condition of the hearts that exist within the two sons.

 The Younger Son.

This is most likely the story of our lives, from the days of our worldly living until the day we came to our senses, and sought God’s forgiveness.  When this son demanded his inheritance early in life, there was a significant message behind it.  It was totally disrespectful and went against all of tradition, as inheritance was, and still is, divided after a person is no longer living.  In demanding his share early, the young man was, in effect, proclaiming that his father was no longer living – that as far as the son was concerned, their relationship had come to an end.

 Since there was nothing left for him at home, he left behind everything that it had ever meant to him, and took up a new lifestyle that ran counter to all that his life had ever stood for.  But he soon came to the realization that this new way was a total loser, and that it gained him absolutely nothing of value.

 As soon as he discovered the truth behind the decisions that he had made, he began to understand that he had exchanged the best that life could give him, for the emptiness that had become his choice, and his heart broke over the difference.  What could he do about it?  He would go to his father, and while he still could, he would seek forgiveness for his hasty decision, and ask to be reinstated, not to his previous position as a member of the family, but as a poor and humble servant in his father’s household.

 He had wasted his life and all of the blessings that had once been his as a member of his father’s family.

 The Older Son.

 He had given up nothing, and still possessed all of the benefits of being an integral part of his father’s life.  But how did he treat those benefits?  Even though he still had the affection and presence of his father to guide him, and that the entire estate would one day be his, he was still jealous of the welcome that his father showed to the brother who he had grown to hate so much.  He saw no purpose in his brother’s return, and even less in his father’s willingness to receive his youngest back into the family with no hope whatsoever for a full restoration to his former position.

 This son desired only punishment and rejection for his wayward brother, and totally denied any thought of forgiveness and reconciliation.

 The Father

While it isn’t actually mentioned in the story, the father must have been heartbroken when his youngest denied all of the relationships that he had, and decided to make his own way in a foreign world.  But did he ever give up hope that the young man would come to his senses and return back home?  Never!  Was it to remind the son of all the wrong that he had committed?  Not in the least!  There wasn’t a single word of hurt, or disappointment, or damage or anger – the only words were of welcome and loving kindness.

 He even showed love and compassion to the older son who didn’t have even an ounce of forgiveness or compassion to offer in his brother’s return.

 Consider

That the father acted in a Christ like way when he loved both of his children equally, regardless of what they had said or done to hurt their father deeply.

 That the older son had enjoyed everything that his father could offer throughout his entire life, and yet he apparently never learned a single thing that his father had been teaching about how to live a righteous life.

 That the younger son, in discovering the painful brokenness that his life’s decisions had caused, was humbled and contrite in his soul, and only asked that his father would receive him back without any thought of granting even a token of the love that had been his before.

 Do we see ourselves as one of the sons? 

How do we treat those who would return to the church after years of sinful living?  Are we welcoming?  Loving?  Compassionate?  Would we act any better than the older son did, or would we too be judgmental and spiteful? 

 What is our attitude after living apart for years of being far from the way that Jesus represents?  Would we willingly be humble and repentant?  Would we be willing to be received back by our Lord without any thought or promise of being welcomed as a blessed member of the family of God?  Or would we expect to be welcomed back right where we left off?

 Are we prepared and willing to be recreated to live in God’s way without question, and to accept the Lord’s reconciliation without hesitation or demands? Or is our “flesh” still giving off signals that are too strong to deny?

 We need to give it all over to the Lord, and to begin living as He has always lived for us.

 

“Crushed by the Rock of Jesus”

 Scripture:   1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9

 As we have discovered during our life with Christ, sin is on the rampage and has been since before the first two people were ejected from the Garden.  Those two had personal relationships with their Creator, and even though they had firsthand knowledge of God and His desires for their lives, they still succumbed to the Tempter’s deception. 

 But as much as some would like us to believe that Original Sin, as well as the sin of our parents and of all who came before us, are the continuing causes of our own downfalls from God’s Grace, our personal submission to Satan’s call is still a choice that we all make from time to time!  For myself, I cannot honestly blame anyone else for the sin that I commit.  They have always been of my own decision, and even though some one else may have been an integral part of the temptation that led me to step out on the path to perdition, I have always had the right, and even the obligation, to say “No” to those other ways!

 By God’s grace, we have all been given the entire story regarding the ways that the Lord has set down for us to learn, accept, and follow.  But grace is not only active on the front end of our decisions, but is just as active after our heart and mind fail to remain loyal to our Lord and His word.  Our gracious God has left nothing to our imagination, for we have not only been given His commands, but also some real life examples of what came to the lives that those who have disobeyed them in the past. 

 Today, we consider the writings of both the apostle Paul and the gospel writer Luke, as to why we should be ever vigilant in our decision making when it comes to our choice between obedience to the ways of Jesus versus our acceptance of the ways of the world.

 Read 1Corinthians 10:1-13

 Paul offers the church at Corinth a refresher on some of the problems that Israel experienced during their time in the wilderness.  Everyone who had come to faith in Jesus in the Corinth church may not have heard about those 40 years of ups and downs, as many would have been gentiles, while much fewer would have been Jewish born believers.  But in the telling, he made the connection between the God that the Jews knew, and Moses the leader who, in faith, brought the people through their many trials by following the Lord and constantly warning the people of their tracks that seemed to be taking them further and further away from the righteous way of God. 

 And then he also makes the connection that Jesus was also present in their entire story of struggle with sin.  But he never gives the impression that faith must only be spiritual in nature, and never that it must come from our spiritual side!  We are worldly beings, born and living in the flesh, and susceptible to the same temptations that the first couple of the Garden had to deal with.  Paul understood the weakness that comes from our “fleshy” side, for that was a struggle that he was always fighting against.

 For as Paul brings Jesus Christ into the picture, he is also showing the church that while we are in this life, that the Lord, through the love that He has for all people, is gentle and merciful.  But even as God will one day be the God of Judgment, He will always be the Lord of Peace, and of Justice, and in passionate love of all people!

 We all have heard the expression “In the world, but not of the world”!  This is basically Paul’s intent throughout this passage, especially in verse 12 when he tells us to be sure to stand firm so that we don’t fall.  In other words, stand firm in the Spirit, so that you don’t fall in the flesh, and don’t become arrogant in your faith, for that will certainly result in a fall that will, most assuredly surprise you!

 And Paul’s final words in this passage are ones of promise and encouragement – that God will never allow the temptations that come against us to exceed our capacity to resist them.  Of course, the point here is that temptations will defeat us every turn, if we don’t have Christ in our life!

 Read Luke13:1-9

 The first point that Luke was making was that sinful people are not necessarily the ones who we think they are!  Israel had always believed that illness, infirmity, birth defects, injuries, as well as the general calamity and chaos of this life, were all because a person had fallen out of favor with the Lord!  And actually, some people, even today, still believe the same thing, that if our faith is strong enough, that illness and injury will never attack our fleshly bodies.

 The truth is that God doesn’t work that way!  Our flesh is weak and susceptible to worldly conditions, but that does not necessarily mean that our faith is insufficient!  In the gospels, we read Jesus’ words  - “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!” (Matthew 26:41  In this, Jesus isn’t only referring to our inclination toward sin, but also to our physical inability to fend off all illness!

 But Luke continues to remind us of Jesus’ words, that if, and when, we fall to Satan’s temptations, that it does not have to be a permanent “sin stain” on our soul.  For if we confess our failure to walk faithfully with our Lord, and honestly repent of those ways, He will forgive us and restore us to His loving grace.

 Luke offers one of Jesus’ parables as an example of the time we have left to repent and prepare for the coming judgment.  If I may slightly rephrase the parable to put it into the context of our need for repentance, think of the three years of fruitless existence for the tree, and compare it to the years of sinful living that confined our lives.  And then, consider the caretaker’s abrupt decision that the effort is useless, and that the tree should be cut down and destroyed. 

 But another wants to have the sentence of condemnation held off for a time, so that, with some help, a second chance might bring about a crop of good fruit.  Now, consider the parable as one in which the Lord Jesus’ desires to give all sinners, who are also devoid of “good fruit”, another chance through His nourishment and forgiveness.  And in His loving act at Calvary, and by our faith in all that the Christ has done and taught on our behalf, we can also have a brief and fulfilling second chance.

 But the final point of the parable, is that our time is limited, and is rapidly coming to a close.  The tree only had 1 year to produce good fruit, and our time is also limited, not only by our continuous aging process, but also by the day of Christ’s return which is also coming closer every day.  Holding off on a decision to come to the Lord’s way, and delaying our repentance for the sinful life we have chosen, is not an open-ended offer.  If our fruitfulness doesn’t quickly match God’s desire for our lives, Paul’s words in Galatians 5:16-25 will become our story all too soon. 

 As indicated previously from Mathew 26, the Holy Spirit of God and the flesh that encases our lives, exist in constant conflict.  And our only chance is to invite Christ and the Spirit into our lives, and to repudiate the work of our fleshly side.

 And as Luke writes, if we are to live and depend upon the Spirit of God for His good work in our lives, then we must also walk in the way of God’s Spirit.  And today is the day to begin by surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, and to allow Him to be our Guide throughout this life and into the life that is to come.

 During this time, will our sin be crushed and our life be nourished to live in Christ, or will we be crushed in judgment and condemnation?  It’s in our own hands, and by our decision, but it must be made - sooner than later!