Same Jesus

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Same Jesus

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:11 NIV

This is an unusual moment. Jesus has been resurrected for 40 days and now before his disciples and the public he is ascending into heaven.  This event is so amazing. The only time in the history of mankind we see another realm of existence interact with our physical world.

It is our hope in the concrete form of our future.  It is the actualization of the totality Christianity. It is what we live and breathe for.  The resurrection and transformation of our lives to our permanent, eternal life.  Jesus is ascending into a different life. A different existence.  

He is showing us what the future holds for us.  In this amazing moment, he leaves the audience captive. So much so that angels in human form have to address them and tell them what has happened. They pronounce or define what they have just seen. These two witnesses give humanity a hope that is not equaled anywhere in the world. He will return in the same way he left.  

Christ will return. It is what separates Christianity from any other belief system in the world.  The subject of our hope and faith is actually coming back for us. He will return. This moment this occurrence is beyond the imaginings of anyone.  The risen savior of humanity has ascended to His home from where He came. He left us with a promise of His return and our reuniting with Him.  

The really amazing thing is this we, those who believe in Him are the only ones with this hope. The rest of the world is hoping in what? There is no substance for their hope.  We have the substance of the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus. We have the testimony of many an eyewitness. We have the fulfillment of prophecy. We have the witness of the Holy Spirit in us. We have a hope and faith In the one that defeated and conquered the grave. 

".......This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 NIV

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One Thing

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One Thing

4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,

that will I seek after:

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord

and to inquire in his temple. Psalms 27:4

This is the perfect picture of contentment. Being in the presence of God. No fear, no want, perfectly secure fully provided for, in the presence of all mighty God.  To be in His presence would make us whole.

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Long Term Rewards

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Long Term Rewards

17 Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Revelation 1:17-18

Our prize, the only significant one that matters. Is when we live with Jesus in eternity.

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Valley

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Valley

In the next 36-48 hours some of the residents of Florida will feel like they are walking through the valley of death. Many people will be in the throes of fear, confusion and anxiety. But for us who believe in the Lord we will fear no evil for God is with us. He will comfort us. It does not mean we will pass without concern or trial. It means despite our trial and concerns; we have a God who can and will bring us through.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

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Even Now

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Even Now

We in Florida are facing a serious and dangerous situation with Hurricane Irma. We have to do what we can to prepare for this event. We also need to take a moment and remember God is with us even now even when we are in the midst of the storm. 

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV 

Do not fear, do not be dismayed our God is with us, and He has the last word in all things.

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28  (NKJV)

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Let's Eat

Let's Eat

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Eating together is one of the most satisfying things you can share with other people. Sometimes meaningful conversations occur in these moments. Other times laughter and joy can are shared. It is a time when you relax and communicate. It is a place of safety and wonderful memories.  Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, anniversaries are often celebrated with a meal. Sharing a meal is not just symbolic of good relationships and close personal ties. It is healthy not just physically but in every way.  Good relationships share meals together.  Never have I shared food with an enemy or with someone in anger. It does not happen. 

Jesus says in this verse "I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." What he means is everything I described. He wants you to get to know Him as He knows you. He wants to have a meaningful, purposeful conversation with you. He wants to laugh and have a joyful cry with you. He wants to enjoy the taste of a good meal with you. He wants to spend time talking with you. He wants to express His love for you in an intimate and personal way. He wants to let down His hair with you. He wants you to experience Him in this personal way.  Every good thing you have experienced while sharing a meal with someone He wants to share with you. Can you imagine a more effective way to get to know someone than sharing a meal with them? He is knocking on the door of your heart saying to you I want to get to know you. I want to have a relationship with you.

Today we cannot have a dinner with Jesus. We cannot have steak and eggs with Him. We can have a spiritual dinner we can have a spiritual relationship. We can enjoy His presence by the spirit the comforter He promised us. He is no longer here physically, but He is available to us spiritually. We can commune with Him by his spirit. We can know Him by His Spirit in us. We can know Him by the time we choose to spend with Him. He is knocking on the door of your heart saying; Let's have dinner. Let's eat.

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7 Times 7

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7 Times 7

22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven. Matthew 18:22

I am not writing about forgiveness. I am writing to ask. Does forgiveness include acceptance? Until recently I have never had a problem with this. I have always been or at least tried to be quick to forgive. Simply because it serves me to forgive. It is better to forgive than to hold on to the bitterness of unforgiveness. But a recent event has caused me to question not the importance or value of forgiveness but the extent of it. Does forgiveness include acceptance of the offender? When acceptance of the offender would be detrimental to me. As in; forgiving a junkie for stealing, lying, and causing you harm. You should forgive them all their trespasses. However, you should never allow them back into your home for your own well-being. Does a battered woman after forgiving the perpetrator accept him back into her life? Knowing that it is in her best interest to forgive him. Does forgiveness extend to acceptance? Now those are extreme examples, but it helps to crystallize my predicament.

Do I allow someone who I have forgiven back into my life? What about your teenager when they do something against you. Are you going to forgive them and accept them? How does that mesh with the way we would treat a junkie of an abusive partner? The easy answer is no you do not accept those that have grievously hurt you.

That answer is diametrically opposed to what Christ has done for us. He has forgiven us not just our past sins but our future sins and has accepted us as part of His family. He has forgiven us knowing that we would injure Him again. He has accepted us knowing that we would cause Him harm. Is that an example of Christ I cannot follow? Or are forgiveness and acceptance two separate issues?

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Be Kind

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Be Kind

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4 31-32

Our society is determined to live out, bitterness, anger, slander, malice, brawling and rage. We are encouraging and edifying the adverse aspects of our nature instead of practicing kindness compassion and forgiveness.  If we continue to behave and practice the self-destructive aspects of our nature, the only logical result is the demise of our society. We need to practice kindness, compassion, and forgiveness in every area of our lives. We must embody the example of Christ and live up to His example of forgiveness, compassion, and kindness.

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Abide

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Abided

⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 

This is not a verse about you receiving everything and anything you want in your life. Rather is about you receiving everything that glorifies God in your life. The prerequisite is that you be in Christ before you even ask.  The result is that you bear fruit or lead people to Christ, and by doing so you prove that you are a disciple of Christ. "Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you," is limited to those things that will help you to accomplish verse eight.  In the end, these verses are about us being empowered to glorify God, and to exemplify Christ and to identify ourselves as His disciples.

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