Immanuel!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

I can still recall a moment when I grieved with my friend, Joe, over the death of his dad, Joe Sr. After our phone call, I went outside and looked up at the same moon Jesus had looked at and was reminded that the cycle of life and death continues. The words of Solomon came to mind, “Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless!” (Ecclesiastes 1:1).

The cycle of life does continue, only to be stopped in its tracks by Genesis 3:19. We grow, we learn, we work, we serve, we die.  To what purpose?  At first glance it does all seem meaningless.

I struggled with these thoughts as I grieved.  Christians who say “You shouldn’t doubt,” are really out of touch with the true human experience.  Come on, let’s be transparent.  If we are honest, all have doubted at one time or another, even to wonder Is God true? Is Jesus real? Is any of it real? 

But when Philip said to Christ, “Show us the Father,” the Lord replied, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father” (John 14:8-9). How can we deny He spoke of His being 100% Human, and also 100% fully God?  We can only agree with CS Lewis’s statement that with what Jesus said in regard to Himself we’re left with three choices:  He was either a Liar, a Lunatic, or He is Lord. 

Joe’s last words to me were, “I’ll see my Dad again.  When I do, I know he will be smiling the BIGGEST smile I’ve ever seen and it will be just for me.  It will be alright.” The greatest meaning of life is ever-present in the witness of Joe’s daily experiences with Christ.  When we see life through the eyes of the God/Man, Jesus Christ, we find meaning in our search for significance.

In His humanity Jesus grieved and wept, not for Lazarus, but for his two sisters’ pain and torment.  Yet His words still rang in Martha’s ears, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Meaningless or meaningful?  He was about to answer that question for all eternity when He cried, “Lazarus, come forth!” Who else holds that Power and Authority?  Who else has loved us like that? Jesus Christ alone is the Resurrection and the Life, and He, being called Immanuel-God With Us (Matthew 1:23), loved us enough to lead the way. I would call that Meaningful.

Ken

Gravely Mistaken

We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2^nd Corinthians 5:8

One of the hardest jobs I ever had was working for a large cemetery as a pre-need sales agent. My job was going door-to-door and getting folks signed up to pre-arrange their funerals and gravesites.  People would slam the door in my face when they realized I was talking about their own mortality.  I came to understand we, as a people, are scared to death of death.

The Bible is our guide through this mortal journey as we pass from a body of death and decay into eternity, as we all must.  And what is left except coming face-to-face with the eternal God?  The trite and often used statement “All roads lead to God,” is basically true, but never in the sense it is often hoped.  We can say all roads eventually lead to God, either to live with Him in peace, or in judgment and separation for our sins.  Our own goodness isn’t enough to satisfy Him.  When it comes to the Ultimate Perfect and Holy Person, how good is good enough? Is this where the real terror lies?

If we worry about what it’s like to pass through the veil, we need not slam the door on the Creator we all must meet. Jesus took on a body of flesh to bring us into fellowship with God the Father where we can choose to stand eternally in His presence with joy and peace. To experience this knowledge can help us understand we need not be afraid. In suffering and dying on the cross, He went first, and overpowered even death (Colossians 1:18.) “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?” (1^st Corinthians 15:54-55). Death will be its own last victim (Revelation 20:14).

We don’t have to be gravely mistaken about dying, for in Christ, if our bodies die, our conscious souls will live with Him (John 11:25-26).  No doorbells, no paperwork, no fear.

Ken

If you fear death, ask the Firstborn from the Dead to give you the peace you want:

Jesus, I am afraid of dying, and I really want Your peace in the matter.  I ask You to forgive me of my sins, come into my heart and be my Lord.  Let me place this burden into Your hands, once and for all, and find rest in You, in knowing to be absent from this body, I can be present with You. You are the Firstborn from Among the Dead. Thank You for hearing this prayer.  Amen

Your Labor Day Standing Ovation

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Acts 7:55 (NIV)

There’s a lot of talk going around about “White Privilege.” To be honest, the only White Privilege I ever got was handed to me in the form of a broom with the instruction, “When you’re done with that, take out the trash.”

There are many examples in both Old and New Testaments of people with a servants’ attitude.  Probably two of the most well-known are Jacob’s son, Joseph, and Stephen, a First Century Christian.  Joseph was falsely imprisoned, yet was faithful to do every job given to him, giving it his best, with God blessing him for his ability to accept delay, frustrations, suffering, and trouble with a spirit of grace and trust. Stephen waited tables to distribute food to widows (Acts 6:1-5).

Stephen started with the smaller, less attractive tasks, which sat outside the spotlight on the Apostles. Yet because of his faithful service he was elevated to a position of supervision in the widow’s care.  And it’s necessary to add, received a Standing Ovation from Christ, as he was willing to suffer and even lay down his life for his faith (Acts 7:56).

Paul admonishes us as servants to act with respect, fear, and sincerity when business takes the boss out of the building.  He calls us to do our jobs as servants of Christ, knowing if the boss isn’t watching, His eyes are. Do it wholeheartedly, as though we’re doing it for Christ, Himself, knowing He will reward us accordingly (Ephesians 6:5-8).

To be great in the Kingdom of Heaven only takes a sincere and willing heart to finish the little tasks fully.  Being faithful in the little things pleases God and exemplifies His will. To be great in His eyes can mean taking care of the unattractive, yet necessary jobs, emptying the trash or picking up a broom, not to be people pleasers, but to please your Master in heaven.

If you’re doing the kind of work that you may feel is small and unappreciated, with a willing and humbled heart, you can be certain that at the Right Hand of the Throne of Heaven you’re getting a standing ovation.

Ken

A Higher Standard

Today, let us remember our American citizens, families, and allies in Afghanistan, and continue to lift them up to the Lord in our prayers.  If anyone needs to know there’s a Battle Standard of the Hosts of Heaven, it is they.  Grace, Peace, and Mercy to them from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from Jesus Christ, our faithful witness.

So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun.  When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.  Isaiah 59:19 (KJV)

Many know of the most famous American battle standard, the Star-Spangled banner.  Sewn, not by Betsy Ross, but by American patriot Mary Young Pickersgill of Baltimore, and her 13-year-old daughter, Caroline, in the summer of 1813.  It was delivered to the U.S. Government in August of the same year, for $405.90. 

What the British Bombardment of Baltimore, the night of September 14, 1814, could not do to our Noble Banner, the years have. Souvenir seekers, mishandling, and age, have left it cut, clipped, and in deterioration.  The flag is currently under restoration in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Restoration costs in 1999 were estimated at between $18-$25 million USD.

The Bible speaks of an eternal battle that is waged against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12, Daniel 10:12-13). There is a Righteous Standard raised against this evil onslaught and it proclaims “Redemption.”  Redemption of the human race, and heaven and Earth, to pristine and holy newness, where God comes down and lives among mankind (Isaiah 66:22, Revelation 21:1-3).  This banner will never wear out, nor will it fade or be rotted by the ravages of time.  It is the banner of the LORD of Hosts. The advance of this banner and this holy host may be withstood by a deluded enemy, but through the Power and Authority of its Commander, it can never be fully resisted.

At times it can feel as though you are trapped between heaven and hell, facing an onslaught by an invincible enemy. But just the moment you fear being overwhelmed, a Standard appears out of the smoke of battle, with a host who takes up the fight on your behalf, redeeming your time. It won’t be the Star-Spangled Banner raised to defy your enemy.  It will be the Banner Above the Stars, with the King and Commander of the Host of Heaven leading it.  It’s His highest Standard for you. Look up, Beloved!

Ken

Still as Sweet

But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2^nd Corinthians 2:14

When I first moved to my current town, one of the first things I did was look for employment.   A couple of local men I’d met suggested some companies to apply to.  “Just tell them I sent you,” both of these fellows said, adding with a wink, “and you’ll be in like the snap of the fingers.”

I did apply and after filling out the applications mentioned their names.  At both places the managers arched their eyebrows and said warily, “Yeah, I know him. I’ll be in touch.”  It’s been 30 years, and I’ve not heard a word back. I walked away from those experiences wondering if what Shakespeare meant was a rose by any other name just smells?

However, there’s one name that will always hold its fragrance. No one in history, great or small, can say they’ve even shared a smidgen of the Glory, Majesty, and Sweet Aroma this man’s name brings to us.  His birth name is Yehoshua, which means “God is Salvation.”  In the Greek, Iēsous, to us, Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wanted believers to understand how perfect and elect the name of Jesus is. To understand it is a name that bears all authority in heaven and on earth, for all will bow their knee and confess He is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).  He is worthy of our praise, worship, and trust.

We will never be disappointed in that name.  He who bears it is blessed by our Heavenly Father Himself, in a very special way (Matthew 3:17, Mark 9:35).  It’s a name that’s as good as gold and its sweet odor spreads to us so that we might spread its sweetness to people everywhere. It is a name above every name. A name that, even Shakespeare would agree, will always smell as sweet as the rose.

Ken

When Christians Collide

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Disagreements happen between Christians.  When Peter disingenuously stopped eating with gentile believers to please the Jews, Paul publicly stood against his hypocrisy (Galatians 2:11-21).  At another time Paul disagreed with Barnabas over John Mark, to the parting of their ways (Acts 15:36-41).

Both times it was a disagreement and not a smackdown. Christ admonishes us to be agreeably disposed to one another in love. Paul may have disagreed with his fellow Christians, but he didn’t allow a spirit of bitterness to divide them. He continued to see them in the light of God’s love and remained in fellowship with them as his brothers in Christ, and they with him.

We as Christians will, at times, collide in the viewpoints or personalities of other Christians, but division is a tool of the Devil. When we disagree and a spirit of bitterness or spiritual division seem to be forming, we can stand firm in the faith wherewith Christ has made us free, forbearing differences, or if need be, forgiving any trespass as Christ forgave us. When strife and division reign on the throne of our lives, Christ cannot be King.

So Paul had disagreements with Peter and Barnabas? Yes, however they never allowed them to end their friendship, nor their eternal brotherhood in Christ, and it never affected the outcome of the preaching and teaching of the good news of Jesus.  When collisions come, we can bear one another with love, patience, and a gentle spirit. It is what Christ did.  It is what He calls us to do, because it is what He’s done for us. 

Ken

Without Your Asking

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. Luke 24:15

On the day of His resurrection Jesus met two of His disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, not yet revealing His true identity to them.

The two men were distressed as they discussed the news of the one they thought would save Israel, but had died at the hands of the chief priest, rulers, and crucifixion by Rome (Vv 19-20).  They even said they’d heard that very morning how some women found Jesus’ tomb empty, and spoke of a “vision” of angels there saying He was alive, with some of their companions confirming the empty tomb. 

Then Jesus began explaining to them from the Scriptures, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, what they said concerning Himself, until their hearts burned within them.  The amazing thing to me in all this is Jesus appeared to them in their crisis of faith without them asking.

The Prophet Isaiah, wrote, “I [the LORD] revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.  To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ’Here am I, here am I.’” And goes on to say, “Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. Is. 65;1, 24 [Emphasis added].”

For you who are feeling you’ve shed your last tear, or exhausted your last breath of prayer, I want to hearten you to remember the Lord isn’t asleep, neither is He dozing (Psalm 121:3-4).  He sees all all the time.  Even as He appeared to His disbelieving disciples, when they considered Him dead, He’s with you right now in your own Road to Emmaeus experience.

I can only speak from what He’s done for me.  At times when my foot might have slipped into the mud, He kept me out of the sucking quicksand.  If the experience gained was a lesson learned that ended in His perfect will for me, then I accept the truth of His work in my life (Romans 8:28). I’ve learned the person with the most wisdom bears the most scars.  But scars or not, He’s willing to help us and the faithful One, who calls into being things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

Beloved reader, listen to me.  While things may seem to be falling apart around you, look up and in your mind’s eye behold that God is still on His throne-and He’s awake and alert.  You may have mud on your boots, but He will never allow you to slip into annihilation.

He is Real.  He is Sure.  His promises hold true and He is with you, even now.  He neither slumbers nor Sleeps, and His throne will never fall into decay.  He’s always Mighty to Save, always to your good, and for His Glory.  He’s always willing to come to your side, even, at times, without your asking.

Ken