Read Through The Bible

Jesus claimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  How do we know this claim is true?  Who is this Jesus that He could make such a claim?  Unbelievers question “Isn’t it offensive to claim Jesus is the only way to God?”  The answer to that question is one of logic.  “If we believe that the claims of Christ are true, claims in opposition to Christ cannot also be true!”  As a believer, we ought to be raising this question:   “Isn’t it hypocritical to trust in Christ and not believe He is the only way to God?”  His death, if there is another way, is absolutely unnecessary.

The proof about Jesus is in His life and His resurrection.  The Gospels tell us that Jesus is fully human and fully divine.  Since Jesus is both human and divine, He is the only one capable of being our Savior.  The message about Jesus both from His lips and the lips of others clarify that He is the Savior of the World.  For example, to the woman at the well, Jesus said in reference to the Messiah, “I am He.”  Thomas, for example, upon seeing the resurrected Christ, said, “My LORD and my God.”  Then the miracles of Jesus confirm who He is, what He said about Himself, and what others said about Him.

So, what about you?  Who is Jesus to you?

This week we once again mark the anniversary (strange word for this occasion) of the Roe v. Wade decision making legal abortion in the United States.  My message Sunday contained these three principles.

1.    God creates all human life uniquely.

2.    God cares for all human life equally.

3.    Because these first two are true, God calls those who fear Him to compassionately pursue a culture of life.

As I continue to think upon these principles, I think about where God has had us thinking in the early part of the year—on the subject of procrastination.  It seems to me that as believers we have been procrastinating on this issue of helping our country pursue a culture of life.  What can you do?  What does God want you to do?  Make a donation?  Volunteer?  Write a well thought-out letter?  Begin the application process to adopt?  Do it!  Don’t delay!

When we think about spiritual procrastination, I believe that there are at least these two universal truths that are at work.  First, procrastination does not take into account the uncertainty of life.  Second, procrastination does not take into account the uniqueness of conviction.  These two foundational principles are extremely important as we consider the most dangerous form of procrastination—delaying a decision concerning Jesus Christ.  

The book of Acts gives us a sad, yet revealing example of this most dangerous form of procrastination.  In Acts 24:22-27, we read of Paul’s address to Felix and Drusilla.  Felix and Drusilla, although having accomplished much in their professional lives, were bankrupt in the most important area of life—their spiritual lives.  Like everyone, Felix and Drusilla were in desperate need of a relationship with Christ.  Though curious about Christ (Felix sent for Paul…and listened to him on the subject of faith in Christ Jesus), they did not decide to follow Christ.  Though convicted about their relationship with Christ (Felix became afraid), they did not decide to follow Christ.  Though Felix called for Paul often, the governor never (at least as we have record) chose to follow Christ. 

Though we are always promised forgiveness, we are not promised tomorrow.  Today is the day to decide to follow Christ.  If you are already a believer, today is the day to talk to someone about following Christ.

Thank you for joining me in this blog.  Here’s the plan.  This year I plan to recap my previous week’s sermon.  In addition, I hope to be able to give you a little extra.  I trust that this format will benefit your walk if you have heard the sermon or if you have not.  Thanks for coming along for the ride.

In order to communicate the truth of putting a stop to procrastination I shared the following story:

Years ago there lived a missionary named John in Hong Kong.  John had a reputation for being able to get things done.  Because of his reputation, the CEO of a toy squirt gun company offered him $200,000/year to go to work for the toy company.  John turned the job down.  When asked about it, he said he called it “living under the umbrella.  If you get out from underneath the umbrella, you will get wet.”  Great advice!   Call it vision, purpose, focus, or living under the umbrella.  If we are going to redeem the time, we must stay with it or else get sidetracked and waste a lot of time along the way.  (Mark Demoss, The Little Red Book of Wisdom, 7-9.)

In order to “Live under the Umbrella,” Ephesians 5:15-20 gives us three distinct instructions.

1.    We must follow the Lord’s will.
2.    We must be filled with the Spirit.
3.    We must focus our lives around worship.

Now, here’s the question for mid-week.  What is your umbrella?  What has God given you to do?  What is the purpose of your life?  We must get this figured out if we are going to solve the issue of procrastination in our lives.

This brings us to the end of the New Testament.  Notice the final words of the Bible.  First the words of Jesus:  “Yes, I am coming soon.”  To that wonderful announcement, we can say as did John, “Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.”  Until that time, as John prayed as a blessing, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.”

Note to readers:  As of this writing, I do not feel as though that I can continue writing daily.  I hope to post on a weekly basis in 2010.  Thanks for joining me these last two years as we have walked through the Bible.

The scenes of Heaven as described in Revelation 21 are beautiful and descriptive.  As beautiful as the imagery is, we ought to contemplate, as most important of all, two things about Heaven.  First, the glory of Heaven is not the streets of gold or the gate inlaid with precious jewels, but rather it is the place of Jesus.  Second, we must heed the warning of John that the residents of Heaven are only those “whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  (21:27)

Meanwhile, back in the living room of someone’s home, a college dorm room, or corner classroom in the local church, some group debates the precise meaning of 666. For my energy, not much is gained by these exhausting discussions. Life is no better; faith is no better. However, when focused on the idea of God, the Almighty, seated eternally upon the throne of the universe, life and faith could hold no greater meaning. Mitchell Reddish gives the concluding hope of this scene. “All of creation has seen who sits on the heavenly throne. The occupier of the throne is not the Roman emperor or any other earthly ruler. The one who sits on the throne is God. For that reason, John is certain that ultimately everything will be alright—certainly not now, but one day.” Ah, one day! Until that day, the disciples of Jesus are called to endure, knowing that the day is coming.

This final worship scene is more fragmented than the other worship scenes. If the brief, “Amen, Hallelujah,” in Rev 19:4 is counted, then the scene contains five distinct hymns. All of the worship scenes’ participants encountered before emerge for this final time of worship. The content of the hymns is reminiscent of the hymns of the first seven worship scenes.

The first hymn of the worship scene revisits the theme of salvation belonging to God. The content of the second hymn reiterates the Hallelujah of the first hymn and continues, “her smoke rises up forever.” Just as God’s reign is forever, the overthrow of the forces of evil is a permanent action. An unidentified voice coming down from the throne produces the next hymn fragment. The voice is peculiar because every other mention of the throne suggests that God is on the throne. Since the hymn calls for praise to God, the voice cannot be God’s voice. Because the emphasis is on the worship bearers rather than on God, the theological nature of this song is not as significant.

The final hymn conjures thoughts of previous themes. A simple hymn, “Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns,” includes three important aspects of the revelation. First, the title by this point in the apocalypse refreshes the memory of all that the Lord God is and has done. Second, the title Almighty reminds the reader of the omnipotence of the Lord God. The aspect of reigning suggests God’s sovereignty in the present world and in the world to come. The last worship scene’s theological impact is in the last hymn. Captured in this final hymn is God’s sovereignty, his omnipotence, his holiness, and his rule. Missing from this hymn is a direct link between the worship of God and Jesus. Present, however, is the constant reminder of the Apocalypse that the Lord God reigns.

Good!  You kept reading.  Babylon falls!  I read one book about Revelation (a book by Eugene Peterson who also wrote The Message—a paraphrase of the Bible) that sub-divided the book of Revelation into a series of statements all beginning with the phrase, “The Final Word about…)  Well, in keeping with Peterson’s analysis, here is the final word about the enemies of God—they are crushed!  You have probably heard the cliché:  I’ve read the final chapter and we win!  Well, that’s what we get as we begin to read the final chapters of Revelation.

With the close of chapter 16, the judgment cycles of Revelation give way to some concluding aspects of the revelation of God’s plan for the world.  Chapter 17 describes that because of the reign of evil, the governments and powers of this world will seem as though they are in charge.  As citizens of Heaven, we must remember that God is always in charge.  Every time we get discouraged, we ought to keep reading.  Chapter 18 brings the fall of Babylon the Great.