I have found myself longing for heaven in a way I don't think I ever have before. The desire to see Jesus overwhelms me at times...
It was a month or two ago, that we heard the news. A dear friend of ours was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Each day she grew weaker. Every update told us she was even sicker. But one thing never changed. Her joy in Jesus lit up her face like it always had... Earlier today, she fell into a coma.
Six months ago, a family of five rejoiced at the news that they were expecting their fourth child. Last week, the ultrasound showed that their baby had no heartbeat. Even in their flood of tears, it is still evident that Jesus is their anchor... Yesterday was their second day of labor. Labor without the joy of a healthy baby in the end.
I have experienced similar suffering before, but that doesn't mean it gets easier. Each time I hear news like this, it is still hard to understand. But, one thing I have found is that death, sorrow, and pain give me a deeper longing for my real Home. A longing for the place where tears are wiped away and the grave is overcome by victory in Jesus, where the presence of Jesus casts out fear and overwhelms us with joy and peace.
David Brainerd, a missionary to American Indians in the 1700s, wrote about his suffering in relation to eternity. "Such fatigues and hardship as these serve to wean me more from the earth; and, I trust, will make heaven the sweeter."
It's true. Suffering loosens our grip on the world and strengthens the longing and desire we have to be with Jesus...
"Oh, that I might not loiter on my heavenly journey!"
I'd rather have Jesus
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Spirit, now living and dwelling within me, keep my eyes fixed ever on Jesus' face. Let not the things of this world ever sway me. I'll run till I finish the race.
O how easy it is to lose sight of Jesus and fall in love with this world! It's like a runner getting so caught up in the outfit he's wearing or the brand of shoes on his feet, that he forgets about the prize he's running to win. The silliest things steal our focus from where it ought to be.
The Bible says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
Ipods, cell phones, fashion, friends, money, fame...it doesn't last forever. Let go of it. Throw it off. Don't let it slow you down or distract you from the race you've set out on. You're running now for a greater prize than what this world has to offer.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine Inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart. High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Not only do we run to wear the cool jersey, but some of us are running to hear the fans cheer. We long for the praise of man. It drives us - spurs us on. O that we would solely long to hear Jesus say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
May Jesus be our fortune, our prize, our desire. May we keep our fixed on His face. May we run just to hear Him say, "Well done." And may He be enough.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
O how easy it is to lose sight of Jesus and fall in love with this world! It's like a runner getting so caught up in the outfit he's wearing or the brand of shoes on his feet, that he forgets about the prize he's running to win. The silliest things steal our focus from where it ought to be.
The Bible says, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
Ipods, cell phones, fashion, friends, money, fame...it doesn't last forever. Let go of it. Throw it off. Don't let it slow you down or distract you from the race you've set out on. You're running now for a greater prize than what this world has to offer.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine Inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart. High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
Not only do we run to wear the cool jersey, but some of us are running to hear the fans cheer. We long for the praise of man. It drives us - spurs us on. O that we would solely long to hear Jesus say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
May Jesus be our fortune, our prize, our desire. May we keep our fixed on His face. May we run just to hear Him say, "Well done." And may He be enough.
I'd rather have Jesus than anything this world affords today.
easter isn't over yet
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This past week I've been meditating a lot on Jesus. Yes, it's been Easter, and naturally you tend to contemplate His death and resurrection then. But I think the thing that has challenged my heart most is how Christ's death and resurrection should change us. The gospel shouldn't be just a celebrate-on-Easter kind of gospel. It should be a daily-rejoicing, thought-consuming, heart-adoring kind of gospel. Jesus is just as good of news today as He was yesterday. Why don't we celebrate him today too?
Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-3:
Richard Baxter says it this way, "Why are not our hearts continually set on heaven? Why dwell we not there in constant contemplation?…Bend thy soul to study eternity, busy thyself about the life to come, habituate thyself to such contemplations, and let not those thoughts be seldom and cursory, but bathe thyself in heaven’s delights."
I've always loved the words Paul writes in the next verse "...Christ, who is your life..." Every time I read this passage I have to ask myself, is Christ really my life? Yes, I'm saved. I've died to the old self and am hidden in Christ, but do I live like Christ is my life? So often, I find myself getting distracted by the things of this world that I lose sight of Jesus. When Christ is your life, everything is about Him. School, work, play, or whatever it is...it's all about, because of, and for Jesus. Everything. I believe Paul is trying to show us that celebration of Jesus, which we tend to save for Easter, ought to be our life. It ought to be what we're living for.
Easter isn't over yet. Let's celebrate Jesus again today!
Paul writes in Colossians 3:1-3:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.Paul doesn't let us get away with saying, "Ok, Easter break was fun. Now back to school." No, he gives us a response to the resurrection. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. " It's like Paul is saying, don't let Easter become a one-weekend event. Since Jesus is alive and you're alive in Him, you've got to set your heart and your mind on Jesus and the hope you have in Him continually. Meditate on Him. Let eternal things consume your thoughts. Don't think too highly of school, money, or friends, that your mind wanders from heaven and Christ who is reigning there. Let Christ be good news to you even today. Keep celebrating!
Richard Baxter says it this way, "Why are not our hearts continually set on heaven? Why dwell we not there in constant contemplation?…Bend thy soul to study eternity, busy thyself about the life to come, habituate thyself to such contemplations, and let not those thoughts be seldom and cursory, but bathe thyself in heaven’s delights."
I've always loved the words Paul writes in the next verse "...Christ, who is your life..." Every time I read this passage I have to ask myself, is Christ really my life? Yes, I'm saved. I've died to the old self and am hidden in Christ, but do I live like Christ is my life? So often, I find myself getting distracted by the things of this world that I lose sight of Jesus. When Christ is your life, everything is about Him. School, work, play, or whatever it is...it's all about, because of, and for Jesus. Everything. I believe Paul is trying to show us that celebration of Jesus, which we tend to save for Easter, ought to be our life. It ought to be what we're living for.
Easter isn't over yet. Let's celebrate Jesus again today!
live it
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What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without living them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.I was greatly challenged by this passage this morning. I've heard it many times before but realized that I have to consistently check my life to make sure I'm living out what's in my heart and mind. So often we gain knowledge that piles up in our brains collecting dust or boosting our self esteem. It becomes our life to simply know more of the God in heaven, to unveil the mysteries of His character. We go to church on Sunday mornings and listen to sermons about Jesus and then spend every morning during the week in the word simply trying to understand it better.
But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
I'm not saying those are bad things, because they aren't. I'm saying faith can't simply be that. Show me that you believe in God by how you live. In other words, don't let your faith be head knowledge and that's it. Display it by reaching out to the world.
Faith without works is dead. Live it.
[James 2:14-26]
don't give up
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"As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good"2 Thessalonians 3:13
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary."Galatians 6:9
at the first pop of the popcorn
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This last week, a Japanese friend of ours from church came over for popcorn and a movie. She had never had popcorn before or seen it made over the stove. I pulled out our metal popcorn pot and poured into the pan some hard kernels. She looked in the pan before I closed the lid and then I started stirring while the kernels heated up. We couldn't see inside the pan, but we listened for the pop of the corn. Soon, it sounded like fireworks were going off in the pan. She looked at me with wide eyes and asked, "Is it safe?" I reassured her that it was, and once the corn had finished popping, I opened the lid and let her look inside. White fluffy corn filled the pot.
When she asked if it was safe, I couldn't help but think of when Jesus will come back. We don't know the hour when Jesus will arrive, but we can only keep our ears and hearts open to that day. When we hear the first pop of the corn or the first shout of the trumpet, I believe it will be terrifying and people will ask, "Is it safe?" And I guarantee you that for those who don't know Jesus, it will be the most frightening and dangerous day of their life. The bible says that every knee will bow on that day, whether that person believed in Jesus or had nothing to do with Him. The magnificence of Jesus will demand glory from us whether we like it or not.
When she asked if it was safe, I couldn't help but think of when Jesus will come back. We don't know the hour when Jesus will arrive, but we can only keep our ears and hearts open to that day. When we hear the first pop of the corn or the first shout of the trumpet, I believe it will be terrifying and people will ask, "Is it safe?" And I guarantee you that for those who don't know Jesus, it will be the most frightening and dangerous day of their life. The bible says that every knee will bow on that day, whether that person believed in Jesus or had nothing to do with Him. The magnificence of Jesus will demand glory from us whether we like it or not.
Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready."
Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' " And he added, "These are the true words of God."
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. "
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
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