I Will Show You

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

-- Jeremiah 33:3

The Holy Bible records many instances of the direct works of God before men. The Old Testament, especially, bears frequent witness to people having contacts with angels, conversations with God, God's handiwork in the world. Whether from a burning bush or a cloud overhead, people sometimes heard the voice of God in answer to their pleas or giving them direction.

Today, those who do not believe in God, or who struggle with their belief, often express their disbelief by pointing to these instances of direct divine intervention in Biblical times and asking why not today? They smugly note that if God indeed existed, why does He not show Himself today like He did then?

The simple answer also comes from the Bible, this time from the New Testament. God gave His own Son to the world, that through Him we might be saved. Once the ultimate sacrifice was given, and we became washed clean of our sins by the blood of the Lamb, salvation is within our grasp if we only believe. God made the final direct intervention to mankind through Jesus Christ.

The answer that unbelievers or those weak in their faith may find a little more difficult to accept is that God still speaks to us, directly. He still shows Himself to us so that we might glorify Him. All we have to do is call to Him, and He will answer. Not that we can expect to hear a voice say "Yes?" when we shout "Lord!". We need not stand on the mountain heights and scream at the top of our lungs for God to listen to our pleas. No, we need only stop, be still, be silent, and listen with our hearts for the soft whispers of our Father's comforting voice. If we do shout for His attention, He may answer simply with birdsong, or a baby's laughter. If we scream out our needs, He may answer years later, silently giving us what we truly needed.

And if we stand upon the mountain and lift our eyes to the heavens, He may show us the wonders of His rising or setting sun, of His beautifully painted landscape, of lightning crackling through the air. On the palette of a cloudless night sky, He displays for our viewing pleasure the vast infinity of the universe He made come into being. He gives us glimpses into the very nature of life which He designed.

We sit in our laboratories doing all manner of scientific endeavor, splitting atoms and mapping the human genome, and we think we are so clever. Yet we sometimes forget that God created the very atoms we study, He laid out the human map we decipher. All we have seen, all we know, He showed us in His own due time. All great and mighty things are the result of God's loving hands, and He presents His majestic works for our wonderment, our awe, and sometimes just to show us things which we do not know.

Stop for a moment. Be silent and listen. Look around you. Pay attention: God is talking to you.

Create In Me

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

-- Psalm 51:10

"Lord, send a revival.
Lord, send a revival.
Lord, send a revival,
and let it begin in me."

-- from the movie "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit"

I love the two "Sister Act" movies because I love music and the way music is used in those wonderful little films to glorify our Lord. At first the church choir struggles with poor pitch, bad timing, and many sour notes. But they make dramatic improvements when a Vegas show girl, hiding out from her gangster former boyfriend and impersonating a nun, leads them, using modern, even secular pieces to sing to God. They don't just sing God's praises, they sing to Him. Church choirs everywhere, yours most definitely included, delight in lifting a joyful song unto the Lord. We sing to our Father, and by doing so, praise Him.

The lyrics above were not performed by that little choir, instead sung by a high school choir in competition, and though only a short piece included mainly to give the primary teen actors in the second film something to admire and talk about before taking the stage themselves, it nonetheless struck a chord within me (if you will pardon the pun) and stayed with me over the years. Today those words seem to resonate even more clearly within my heart, for our dear Lord has most certainly sent a revival that began in me.

Spring is the traditional time of renewal, of life emerging once again from its winter slumbers. Easter personifies this with the resurrection of our Lord and Savior and His ascension to His throne and dominion over all the universe. Renewal, rebirth, revival. We all feel it to some degree. I am experiencing it first hand.

While perhaps not completely lost, I had certainly been hiking further and further off the straight and narrow path Jesus teaches us to follow. But the Good Shepherd knew I was in peril, so He came looking for me. He sent some earthly angels to take my hand and bring me back to the safety of the fold. I am still a sinner, and there may be times when you think that, like the character in the movie, I am impersonating something I most certainly am not. I am just so filled with the Holy Spirit that I fear it often overflows and comes flooding out of my mouth (or fingers, as the case may often be). My prayer is to excite everyone I touch with just how much our Savior loves us and how much He offers.

I would like to encourage everyone to not only attend your regular Sunday morning worship services, but to also join a Sunday School classes if you do not already attend one regularly. Jesus taught that one of the best ways to keep Him in our hearts and to stay on His path is to spend as much time as possible with others who seek the same goal, so that we provide support to each other and reinforce positive Christian beliefs. Sunday School offers not only an opportunity to learn something new, but also the chance of teaching others, of helping them, of sharing insights. In this way we all benefit and build a closer relationship to Jesus. By discussing confusing passages or even controversial subjects that Christians are faced with today, we can gain a better understanding of our own goals, our own purpose in life, and the ideals we should strive for. Please, join us. Please take advantage of every opportunity each week to unite with your friends in worship, inspiration and prayer. Take advantage, and take a closer walk with God.

The Lord sent a revival. Now let it continue in us.

What Does It Mean to be a Christian?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
-- John 3:16-17

John 3:16 - probably the best known of all verses in the Christian Bible. While it could just as easily speak of the greatest love that mankind could ever be shown, it also gives testimony to what it means to be a Christian.

As I began preparing this message, I immediately thought of the "You might be a redneck" comedy routine made famous by Jeff Foxworthy. You know how it goes... "If your hound dog gets the queen-size bed all to himself while you and the wife share the pullout sofa, you might be a redneck." Here's what I had in mind:

If you help feed the hungry, you might be a Christian. Jesus Himself said this, as recorded in Chapter 25 of Matthew, verse 35: "for I was hungry and you gave Me food".

If you give a glass of water to someone thirsting, you might be a Christian. That's from Jesus again: "I was thirsty and you gave Me drink".

If you take in a stranger in need and provide shelter for them, you might be a Christian. Are you starting to see a pattern here? Jesus yet again: "I was a stranger and you took Me in".

If you offer clothing to the needy, visit the sick, homebound, and infirm, or give hope and inspiration to those incarcerated in jail or in prison, you just might be a Christian. Why do I say this? Matthew saved for us the words of the Christ as He related to His disciples some of the events that will occur at the end of days, when Jesus shall serve as Judge of man:

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'
"Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" -- Matthew 25:31-40

Christ is telling us right there that He fully expects us take care of all of mankind to the best of our ability and capability to do so. Those hungry, those thirsty, those poor, those ill, those incarcerated. None are beneath us. None are any less deserving of our compassion and caring and love. For how we treat even the very least of these our brothers and sisters, that is how our wonderful Savior sees us treating Him. For we are all His children, all of us. Those of us more able to help others less capable are called upon to do so. And you'll notice that Matthew did not quote Jesus as making exceptions for those who may have had it coming to them, or those who brought it all upon themselves, or those who deserved whatever they got. When you care about even those some might consider the worst of human trash and filth, you care about your Savior.

And that is why I say you might be a Christian if you do these things. I would tell you that there are many people in this world who do great works for their fellow man, who feed the hungry and clothe the naked and give aid and comfort to the neediest of mankind. Yet they are not Christians, and they will not take their place at the throne of glory Jesus spoke of. Why not? Simply put, they do not accept John 3:16.

The Gospel as recorded for us by John, perhaps more so than any other book, overflows with examples of God's love for His children. And in verse 16 of chapter 3, he gives us the best expression of this: "God so loved the world". Can you even begin to imagine how terrible it would be to watch as your only child, tried in a farce of a court of law, found guilty without benefit of defense, humiliated, tortured, beaten, and finally put to death in a horrible, most painful manner? How would you feel? What would you do? And what if, all the time this was happening, you had the power to stop it, but knew in your heart that you must allow these events to transpire for the good of all those you love? This is God's love, that He would offer up His only Son as the ultimate sacrifice, place all the sins of the world upon the One without sin.

So, what does it take to be a Christian? There are a few things we must understand. First, we must remember what Jesus instructed us while He still walked among us. John, in the 34th verse of his 13th chapter, relays this instruction to us, telling us Jesus said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." So there is the first phrase of the definition of a Christian: that we love others the way that Jesus loves us. Of course, simply loving others is not a sure sign of a Christian, but it is definitely a requisite.

A more important requirement is to understand that we are sinners. All of us. We are born into sin because of our heritage, as the offspring of Adam and Eve. We sin when we knowingly and willfully do others harm. We sin when we think ourselves better than others, and by doing so think we know more than God, who created us all and loves us all. We carry the original sin with us as baggage through the airport. Unfortunately, we collect and amass even more baggage as we walk along through life. We Christians know we are sinners. But we also know how to get rid of all that unsightly luggage.

We must understand that Jesus was persecuted, beaten, nailed to a cross, and died so that His blood could wash away our sins, so that we might stand pure and clean before the throne of God on the day we are judged. This is the crux of John 3:16, that we believe, truly believe that Christ died for us, that He sacrificed Himself that we might live forever in His Father's house in heaven. If we only believe. Jesus did all of this for you and for me. He gave completely of Himself, for you and for me. Believe it.

Next we must realize that our Savior defeated death, rose from the depths of hell, and lives to this day. Not only did He die for us, but He came back from death to prove to all who would see that we too can live forever! He told us that we need not fear death, for a greater life awaits us. He showed us that this is not all there is, that the grave is not permanent. All the promises He made while walking among us were immediately and thoroughly authenticated by the act of His fulfilling just this one of them. The very fact that He rose from the dead, just like He said He would, proves that we can trust everything else He told us. In His Father's house are many rooms, and He has already prepared one for us, where we will dwell with Him forever.

And finally, we have been charged by Jesus to spread the good word. Mark, in chapter 1 verse 17, and Matthew, in chapter 4 verse 19, both recorded the words of Christ as He directed them: "Come, follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." The emphasis and importance of being repeated in two Gospels clearly marks our Lord's expectations, that His followers help bring in the greatest catch of all - His children back to His arms. Of course, He did not mean for them to cast nets over the heads of people and drag them off to church. No, their task was to go out into the world, sharing Christ's message with all they contact. Mark confirms this in the 15th verse of his 16th chapter, quoting Jesus as directing "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." John puts a slightly different spin on this in chapter 17, verse 18, as Jesus prayed to His Father: "Just as You sent Me into the world, I am sending them into the world." And John reports on Jesus speaking to the disciples in chapter 20 verse 21: "As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." And in chapter 1 verse 8 of the Acts of the Apostles, Paul relates Jesus saying "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

In the Greek language, the word "martyr" is derived from the word for "witness". During the first century AD, those who dared serve as witnesses to the risen Christ were persecuted, jailed, and often killed for their beliefs. Jesus calls each of us to be His witness. He knows there are potentially deadly ramifications to doing so, but He promises great rewards. Today, for most of us here in Mt. Pleasant, we will never have to face death for our belief in the Lord. The worst we may experience is embarrassment from facing a group of people, or ridicule from those who serve Satan. But being a witness is more than just seeing, in it also reporting what has been seen. Being a Christian means you have seen the truth, that Jesus is your risen Savior. Now complete the task and report to others what you have seen.

Christ has risen! Jesus lives! Hallelujah!! Amen.

A New Creation

If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.

-- 2 Corinthians 5:17

When writing his second letter to the people of the church in Corinth, Paul tried to explain the permanence of the next life that awaits us as compared to the fragility of this life on earth. He wants to assure them that even "if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens." (2 Corinthians 5:1) He wants to comfort them, to help them understand that no matter what happens in this life, that what is to come will be all new, not formed by human hands, not subject to rot or decay or erosion. All we have to do is believe in Christ as our Savior and follow His commandment to love each other, and we will be recreated anew! We don't even have to wait for the next life, it happens as soon as we become one in Christ.

Think about that a moment. Let me repeat this simple sentence. When we are in Christ, when we know Him as our Savior, the true Messiah, then we become a new creation. The old us is gone and a new person stands in our place. Now, of course, this does not mean that we change dramatically physically, although we will be prone to smile more often, to weep more often, to show care and feelings on our faces more often. No, the change occurs within us. We are new, no longer created by hands, but formed of heaven. Our souls are no longer subject to the rot and decay that is the domain of Lucifer, but can better resist his attempts to erode our faith in the Lord.

This eloquent verse carries even more beauty in other translations. The New Living Translation of the Bible gives it as "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!" This tells us that our old life, our old ways, are over. What we did in the past is long gone. We have begun a new life, and with it come new ways of dealing with life, of treating our brothers and sisters in this walk upon the earth. When we are filled with Jesus, when we follow His commandment, we must look upon others with a new heart. We feel the blessings of our Lord, and the urge to share those blessings grows ever stronger with our love of Christ, with our new life in Him.

The Contemporary English Version offers blessed assurance when it presents this verse as "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new." This carries the addition, and most wonderful message that all our past sins are not only forgiven once we truly proclaim our faith in Jesus, but they are also forgotten! Jesus has stood for us and God will now not even remember our past failures! By our Savior's grace we are made clean, fresh, and new before His Father.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for making of me a new creation! Amen!

Up To Jerusalem

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

-- Luke 18:31-33

In the first chapter of his book of Revelation, John speaks of Jesus as "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8b) In previous books, by other authors, God is often referred to in this manner, as being the beginning and the end and all in between. But John makes the definite correlation between God and His Son, describing Christ in the same words as those used to describe God. By this, then, we are made aware that Jesus knew everything that was to happen to Him long before it occurred. He knew of His capture, torture, and death, and why events had to unfold as they did.

In our reference scripture, Luke gives further evidence that Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, and the consequences His actions would bring. This exchange took place after He and the disciples left the area of Samaria and Galilee, after He had healed the ten lepers yet only one returned to give thanks. He taught with the parable of the persistent widow and the humble tax collector. He rebuked His followers to let the small children come to Him, He admonished the wealthy man to sell all he had and give it to the poor so that he might find treasure in heaven. He assured all who listened that with God all things are possible. And then He took the twelve aside, and gave them a glimpse of the future.

Jesus, ever the Teacher, spent His last days on His journey to Jerusalem and His fate trying to give His disciples the understanding they needed so that they could continue His works, teach His word, start and nourish His church. As usual, they could not fully comprehend the full extent of what the Son of Man planned for Himself and for them. No mortal could, as Christ knew. Yet just as He could foretell what Jerusalem held in store for Him, He was also aware that His followers would indeed understand their role, and His, once He returned to His Father and they were left to tend His fields and see to His flock.

Our Christ knew. Before the first hand raised the first palm branch, before the first Hosanna lifted into the sky, Jesus knew how this trip to Jerusalem would end. Before the crowd could even begin to think that the Son of Man would free them from the hands of the Romans, He understood that He must die at the hands of man to free them from death. He knew the heartbreak and humiliation and suffering that lay at the end of this dusty path. But on He continued. His feet never once shuffled, His step never once showed a moment of hesitation, He never evinced a second thought as He and His beloved disciples strode through the gates of Jerusalem. Only He realized this triumphant entry into the city could only truly be deemed a victory when viewed from the cross.

And still He came. With holy men and leaders just waiting to take Him captive and make an example of Him, still He came. Even as a man of flesh that can be torn and bones that can be crushed and muscle that can be strained beyond endurance, even with the absolute knowledge of just how much this would hurt, physically and emotionally, still He came. Our Savior loves us so much, just as His Father loves us. He understood only the greatest sacrifice would be worthy before God to redeem us of our lives of sin. Only the blood of the Lamb could prove sufficient to wash us clean enough to stand before the throne of His Father.

So still He came. Up to Jerusalem He came, to die so we may live.

Hosannas to our Savior! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

Thank you, sweet Jesus! Amen.

The Good Shepherd

"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."-- John 10:14

In the tenth chapter of his Gospel, John relates how Jesus described Himself as the good shepherd. His audience would have been very receptive to this analogy since tending to and caring for sheep were very critical to the lives and livelihoods of many Israelis of this time period. They understood the examples Jesus used when comparing Himself to a shepherd. He took advantage of this so they would also understand when He spoke of sheep while actually describing the people. For just as a shepherd loves and cares for his flock, so Jesus loves and cares for the children of God.

Jesus chose a number of comparisons to assure His listeners. He noted that anyone who enters the sheep pen other than through the gate is not to be trusted, but that the shepherd enters through the gate, calls his sheep by name, and they follow him. One can easily see here a reference to Lucifer and his minions, to false prophets and others who would lie or steal while doing Lucifer's bidding. Yet when our Lord enters, He will call us by our true names and we will follow.

Our opening verse above also assures us. Jesus quite clearly states that He knows us, He knows our name. And by this He also states that His true followers know Him. Christ knows you, He knew you before you were even born. He knows your real name that He will tell you when you sit by His side. And if you fully believe and follow Him, if you have a real and good relationship with Him, then you know Him too.

Jesus provides reassurance to those of us not born descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when He says, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." (John 10:16) If the flock in His sheep pen are the chosen of God, the Israelis, then the other sheep he seeks to bring into the pen are the rest of us, the Gentiles. Although we may not be part of God's original chosen people, Jesus still wants us in His fold. He longs to bring us all together into one flock, one people, with Him as the one shepherd.

I purposely used the word "seeks", for in His parable of the lost sheep, Jesus notes that the good shepherd would leave his flock to go in search of one lost sheep so that he can find it and return it to the safety of the fold. And so it is with Christ. He knows His followers are safe in Him, so He can leave them to go seek out those who are lost. He will find them and lift them carefully upon His shoulders and carry them back to the full flock, the one flock.

The good shepherd knows each of his sheep by name. He loves them and cares for them. If one goes astray, he will search until he finds the lost one and bring it back to the fold. And when the wolves attack, he will fight to defend his sheep, even laying down his own life if necessary for the survival of his flock.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd. He knows each of us by our true name. He loves us, just as His Father loves us, and He cares about our immortal souls. When we stray, He guides us back to His way and path through the Holy Spirit within us. And if we become lost, He searches until He finds us, lovingly takes us in His arms, and brings us back to dwell with Him.

And the greatest assurance our Good Shepherd gives us through John is that He has already given His life so that we need not fear the wolves of the world, so that we might forever be saved. He laid down His life, and in so doing defeated the wolf. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, our Shepherd. Forever and ever. Amen.

By One Offering

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

-- Hebrews 10:14

When writing to the Hebrews, Paul explained how once, priests made sacrifices of living animals as offerings to God. Lambs and calves were often slain and placed upon the altar, as well as fruits and crops from the harvest, all to seek the pleasure of God that He might take away their sins. Sacrifices and offerings served as rituals of cleansing, the blood intended to wash away the sins of man.

Yet when Jesus came and walked among us, He became God's sacrifice on our behalf by the will of God the Father. Paul writes: "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God." (Hebrews 10:10-12)

What had once been commonplace and, according to the scripture quoted above, ineffectual became obsolete and unneeded with the one sacrifice Jesus made of Himself. The blood of this purest Lamb washed us all clean, with one stroke brushed clean to stand before God. The One who bore no sin of His own took upon Himself the sins of the world so that we would be free of sin when we approach the throne of our King. One death, that death would be defeated forever. One bloody sacrifice so that no more must die.

The one perfect being this world has ever known perfected forever those who He sanctified by His suffering and sacrifice. We, who are so imperfect, so riddled with worldly woes, so lost and separated from God, are made clean and perfect in the eyes of God by this one great and awesome and wonderful act, that the Son of God gave His life for our salvation.

As Easter approaches, we remember the final days of Jesus upon this earth. We honor the sacrifice He made for us. And we rejoice in the promise of our salvation in the fact of His resurrection. Share the news with those who may not know, or who may have forgotten.

Christ has risen! Jesus lives! All praise be to God! Amen.

Stand Against the Devil

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

-- Ephesians 6:11

The pages of the Bible abound with images of battle, including the imagery of the ultimate war between the armies of God and the forces of Satan. Paul makes good use of one such visualization to encourage us to take up the armor of God so that we might withstand the advances of the devil.

Satan is the greatest schemer this world has ever known. Created by God, he chose to defy his Creator rather than worship Him. Cast out of heaven, he took up residence in our mortal world, intending to draw as many of God's children away from their Father as he could, and in that way defy God. By pulling us away from God's side, the devil hurts the very One who created him. God loves us so much that He feels pain each time we turn away from Him. So each of those turns becomes a small victory for Satan, another tweak of his Master's cheek, another slap at the Lord's face. And that gives the devil pleasure.

Satan is very good at luring us away from our heavenly Father. He offers us wanton pleasures, frees us from personal responsibility, opens doors to our material dreams, sets buffets for our earthly lusts. And all we need do in return for such largesse is to enjoy it, to forget about tomorrow, to ignore the Holy Spirit within us until we become adept at no longer hearing God's voice in our hearts. It all sounds too good to be true. Because it is. For if we succumb to Satan's wiles, if we accept the devil's gifts, if we turn our backs on God and follow the path of the Evil One instead, we pay the ultimate price of eternal damnation; a high price indeed.

The devil usually takes small steps when luring us to his side. It isn't like in an old movie, where he promises us wonderful riches, anything our hearts desire, if we simply sign a contract giving him our souls when we die. No, he works more skillfully than that, more secretly and seemingly innocently. He whispers that there is really nothing wrong with taking home some office supplies, the company will never even miss them. It's understandable that you refuse to give more of your hard-earned money to the needy, nobody ever gave you anything. Go ahead and flip off that driver that just cut you off, he was rude first and deserves to be shown he can't get away with it. It isn't really lying if you don't tell your spouse about that little kiss with an old flame. Little things - sharp words, sudden spurts of unwarranted anger, small inhumanities shown to others. Small baby steps, leading to ever larger acts, increasing your pace along the path to the lake of fire at the end of days. This is how Satan works. Slowly, slyly, constantly. He is stronger than you. But he is not stronger than God. He cannot get to you when you wear the armor of God.

When Satan tempts you, when he whispers in your ear or offers a glimpse of earthly paradise, turn instead to the Lord. Don the full power of God as your protection against the devil's schemes and lures.

Your Labor Is Not In Vain

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

-- 1 Corinthians 15:58

Earlier, we looked at how we are granted entrance into heaven only through the grace of Jesus Christ our Savior, only through His blood shed upon the cross to wash away our sins and make us pure so we may stand before the throne and kneel at God's feet (see Paid In Full from September 11, 2006). We, and the scripture of Paul, noted that our good works here on earth would not pay our way, but that Christ had already paid for us. Yet lest there be any confusion, the knowledge that we defeat death solely through the grace of our Savior should not deter us from performing those good works even if our efforts here will not get us into heaven. Why? Simple: We will be judged based on those very works!

These two concepts may seem contradictory on the face of it. First, we are granted salvation only by the blood of Christ, and our belief in Him as the Messiah. Second, we will be judged according to what we did on earth. If we are passed through into heaven because of our belief, why do we need worry about being judged?

The easy answer is that we need not worry. Heaven is our ultimate goal, and to reach it we need only believe in Christ. But as we discussed before, if you truly believe in Christ, truly know Him as your Savior, you will want to follow His path, you will feel a compulsion to live your life as He lived His, and as He directed in the Gospel. In effect, you will want to do good deeds, to help others, and especially to try to help others find their way to Christ.

The scripture is replete with evidence of admonitions for us to do good. In his 25th chapter, Matthew provides us with the words Jesus spoke, listing many ways the Lord will view our actions, including these:

"I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

-- Matthew 25:35-36

He further explained these words by saying:

"Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."

-- Matthew 25:40

We should take these words as a cautionary warning, a directive, and a blessing in that our Lord gives us a clear set of guidelines to follow.

In his Revelation of Jesus Christ, John provides us with a view of the end of time, when Christ shall again come, and come into His Kingdom. In the 4th verse of chapter 20, John assures us Jesus will come as a judge:

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshipped the beastor his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

-- Revelation 20:4

And by what are we judged, even those that have believed in Jesus as their Savior and followed His teachings? John tells us:

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

-- Revelation 20:12-13

"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil."

-- Revelation 2:2

So if we are judged, and found worthy in our Lord's eyes, what then? We received entry to heaven for our belief in Christ and adherence to His way, so what do we gain from this final judgment? Again, the scriptures answer:

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

-- Colossians 3:23-24

"The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth."

-- Revelation 11:18

"Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven.

-- Matthew 5:12

As those trying our utmost to live our lives for Christ, to follow the path He laid, we can only study so as to learn from His teachings and the words of His disciples, and await His return to take His Kingdom and redeem His children. But in the meantime, we can follow His directives to go into the world and repeat His message, to bring others to His throne, and to do good works.

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."

-- Revelation 22:12

Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad.

He Strengthens Me

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
-- Philippians 4:13

Sometimes life just gets us down. Many of us go through periods when the troubles and woes of the world weigh so heavily upon our shoulders that we wonder how much more we can stand, not knowing where we might find that little extra courage to face another day, that little boost to get over the next hump. During those stretches, that can go for weeks, months, or even years without a true break, it is all we can do just to climb out of bed every morning. In the past during such lows, I always took some small measure of relief from the words of the Psalmist:

I will lift up my eyes to the hills --
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
-- Psalm 121:1-2

This passage always comforted me, for it does not say that I go to the Lord for help. No, it says that my help comes from the Lord. My gracious Savior comes to me in my time of need and helps me. I only have to go to Him in prayer, then He comes to my aid. How moving is this thought, that the Creator of all would come to me, one of His many children, a sinner, a small sheep lost and confused? My help comes from the Lord. This became my mantra, an oft repeated phrase, when times got roughest.

Until recently, when my dearest friend presented me with a most wonderful gift - a lovingly used New Testament Bible. This pocket Bible had been presented to her earthly father many years ago, shortly before he departed this life to go be with his heavenly Father. This was a man who I happen to share a good bit in common with, including love of our Father and a deep compelling drive to learn more about Him and our own purposes in life. My friend could give me no better gift than this precious piece of her father, one which he carefully annotated with notes, thoughts, and the highlighting of meaningful verses. His favorite is the subject of this particular missive -- "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I now cherish this small Bible and this verse, which I have also adopted as my own.

So now, during the darkest of days when the world crushes me with each turn, I can take comfort in knowing that my Lord and Savior not only comes to me and brings me help, He also strengthens me when I have no strength left. Through Him, I can survive. Through Him, I can rise from my bed and face another day. Through Him, I can do all things, for He gives me strength.

When I think I can go no further I look to heaven, for my help comes from the Lord who strengthens me.

Learn, Share, Teach

Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
-- 2 Timothy 2:7

As we close out 2006, many of us make resolutions for the coming year, usually to improve some aspect of our physical appearance, our general conduct, or our behavior. Our good brother and Pastor John has given my fellow congregants a challenge: to attend Sunday School as well as the regular worship service as many Sundays as we possibly can. This correspondent has accepted his challenge and hopes all of you, my kind readers, will join me if you don't already attend as many worship and learning services as possible, including any held weekday evenings, such as Bible studies and prayer and inspiration sessions.

Our longing to be reunited with God often compels us to want to learn more and more, as much as humanly possible, about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and His Father. The Bible is the best source of knowledge and history, but we can also gain helpful insights from our fellow sojourners in this life. You may be surprised at how much someone you share a pew with each Sunday morning knows about certain events during those times Christ walked among us, or the interesting angle and background they can provide. We can all gain more information, and we all have something we can impart for others.

The old saying, "You learn something new every day!", still holds true. How many times have you heard someone say, or said yourself, "I never knew that" or "I didn't realize that" or "I never looked at it quite that way"? We've heard those words, or similar phrases, a number of times the last few weeks in my Sunday School class, and we aren't exactly spring chickens any more. No matter the subject, there is always someone more knowledgeable than ourselves, there is always someone with a slightly different viewpoint, there is always someone with an experience we have not had. We learn from each of these, and by sharing, we help others learn.

So join us Sundays and Wednesdays and any other day some opportunity presents itself to gain a better understanding of our Savior and thus build a more fulfilling relationship with God. Come to learn, come to share, and come to teach.

Rejoice and Pray

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
-- I Thessalonians 5:16-18

As I write this, we recently celebrated the birth of Jesus. But first we observed the annual Advent season, where we anxiously awaited that wonderful day when our Savior came down to earth to walk among us. Some of us may look at the weeks leading up to Christmas as a mere formality, another season of observance on the Christian calendar, simply a prelude to what is to come. We know how the story goes: how the angel appeared to Mary, and later to Joseph; how they traveled to Bethlehem for the census; how they could find no room at the inn and were forced to seek shelter in a lowly stable; how the heavenly Babe was born, wrapped in cloths, and laid in a cattle manger; how the shepherds and then the wise men visited and paid homage; how the angels sang. We know the story, and celebrate the joyous day each year.

One of the meanings of the word Advent (with a capital "A") is "the coming of Christ into the world", and that is why we observe the season of Advent. But there is another chapter of the story, and we know it as well although we have not yet celebrated it. For there will be one more Advent, one more time when Jesus Christ will come to earth and walk among us. The first Advent heralded the Messiah, come to offer mankind a path to salvation. This time He will come as our King. He will reward His faithful and punish evil. This second coming, this second Advent, is the one we look forward to with all that is within us. For it will usher in the thousand year reign of Christ the King, a millennium of true and lasting peace on earth. We long to see the face of Jesus; we feel we know Him from the witnesses of the Gospels. We truly anxiously await the second Advent.

Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, offers us instruction on what to do while we wait. In other writings, he admonished us, all of us, to be steadfast in our faith, and to grow our faith. He tells us to become even closer to Christ, to seek out the company of other believers and draw strength and support from them, to encourage others to know and believe in the one true God and his risen Son. Here he provides insight into a few activities we can participate in to gain a closer relationship with Jesus. While we await His coming, we should rejoice in Christ our Savior. We should pray to Him and His Father with every breath we take. We should give thanks to God for everything that He gives to us, for our Salvation, for His Son, for everything. Paul tells us this is what Jesus want us to do. And how would Paul know? Because Paul knew Jesus personally, he spent three years with Him, following Him, listening to Him, learning from Him. And Paul blessed us by recording everything he knew about Jesus, so that we can know Him as well. Through God's great grace through His servant Paul, we know the rest of the story, and we know what we must do while we wait to see the face of our Christ.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in all things give thanks. For Christ is coming to earth again. Amen.

And on Earth Peace

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace,
goodwill toward men!”

-- Luke 2:1-14

God With Us

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
-- Matthew 1:23

How do you show someone you really love them? How do you tell them that they mean everything to you? Not with words, for words are easy to utter and can be used to hide true meaning. We give them something that shows great consideration and care in picking out the gift. We make great personal sacrifices, do for them what others would not even think of. We give of ourselves to them.

That the Creator of the universe and all within it would love us, part of His creation, is incredible enough. That He would go to such great lengths to show us His love would be unbelievable had we not the very evidence of the birth of Jesus. First He chose a young, devout couple, engaged but not yet married, that He trusted enough to raise His own Son. Then He sent His emissaries, the angels, to convince them of His intent, to ensure them of their part. The teenage girl, so clean and pure, would bear His seed and bring forth into this world the Son of God, the Son of man, the Word made flesh. The young man, devout in his love of God, would take the girl as his wife, shelter and support her and her child. Together they would raise the boy as their own, preparing him for the greatest role ever played on the stage of life. And God allowed His Spirit made flesh to be born into lowly squalor, a food trough for cattle serving as his bed, a few simple shepherds watching over him and his parent as he slept.

God gave us Himself, made His Spirit to walk among us, born of woman in the most humble of settings. Emmanuel, God with us. God chose to walk among us, as one of us. He chose to suffer and sacrifice for us, that we might be washed clean by the blood of the Lamb so as to be pure in the presence of God, forgiven of the very sin we were born into. The greatest gift imaginable, only to show us God's love.

Emmanuel. God with us. Then, now, and for ever and ever. Amen.

Come, Jesus, Come

"And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
-- Matthew 1:21

When they learned that Mary was with child, Joseph did not wish for her to be made a public example, and so considered hiding her away until the child was born. But an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel told him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife, for the baby within her was conceived by the Holy Ghost, not by man. He assured Joseph that Mary would bear a Son, who would be the Savior of mankind.

What a glorious message! What a wonderful dream! Can you imagine how the weight suddenly lifted from Joseph's shoulders, how the burden left his heart? Can you imagine the joy he must have felt? The woman about to become his wife would bear God's own Child, Whom he would raise as his own for the Lord! What a marvelous thought!

And what a wonderful time of year for Christians the world round. We know the story, we know the history, the beginning, even the ending. More importantly, we know the story actually has no end, for our Savior defeated death, arose from His grave, and rules in heaven forever. But that is getting a little ahead of the story, the wondrous story of Christ's birth. We await that birth, anxious, yet filled with hope and praise and glorious expectation because we do indeed know how the story goes.

We await the advent of our Savior. We walk alongside the burro that Mary rides to Bethlehem, keeping pace with Joseph. We plead with Joseph's voice for some small room for her to rest within. We fill the stable manger with the softest, freshest hay we can find, covering it with clean rags for the One whose birth was heralded by angelic host. We hold Mary's hand, grip Joseph's arms, as she delivers the small Child. We look in awe upon the Messiah, the Christ, the One named Jesus. We bow, with the oxen and lambs, and honor Him. We greet the shepherds who have heard of His birth, the wise kings from far off lands who have followed a star. We watch as Mary lovingly coos and comforts the small, precious baby that is our King, God in human flesh, our Lord.

For now, we simply wait. It is all we can do to patiently sit by, for we know how the story goes. Come, Holy Spirit, come. We welcome you into our hearts. Come, baby Jesus. We await you.

Fear Not

"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
-- Isaiah 41:10

All of us have fears, some minor, some very major. Some fears are of physical things, like spiders or snakes. Some arise because of our dread, our not being prepared for what may come. We may know something difficult lies ahead in our day and all we want to do is crawl back in bed and hide under the covers.

Our fears grow as we age. As children, we were afraid of monsters in our closet or under our bed, or the upcoming math test in school. As teens we felt dread and near panic on our first date, our first kiss. Later our fears arose from more intangible sources: our jobs, our futures, our own abilities. Will we be able to reach retirement, and will we be able to live on what we retire with? Can we protect our loved ones when the need arises? Will the boss like our proposal? Will my spouse still love me when I tell them what I did?

Questions. Fears. Dreads. Our heartbeat quickens, our breath comes in ragged gasps, our hands tremble, our spirits flag and grow weary.

Many of us fear death, for the unknown that it carries. Even those prepared in every possible way still wonder and worry about their last breath, for they fear the pain that may come with it. Yet there are some who walk among us that are not afraid of death, they may even welcome it. No, they fear life, and living one more day. Their fear is of the known, for each and every day for them is filled with pain, with suffering, with loss. They find no rest and little joy, their worlds closely resembling the trials of Job. They fear that each tomorrow may offer simply more of the same, and that becomes unbearable.

We all have fears, we are all afraid of something. But God tells us not to be afraid, that He will hold us, help us. Don't be afraid, don't despair, for He will lift us up and uphold us by His mighty and righteous hand. When we are weak, he will strengthen us. That is His promise, as relayed to us and recorded for all time by His servant Isaiah. Our Lord is there, all the time. We need only reach out to Him when we are afraid. Trust in Him when our fears threaten to overcome us. Relax and rest in His loving hands, protected from worldly woes. How can we fear death, when Jesus our Christ conquered death by His sacrifice for us? How can we fear life, when our Savior went before us to prepare a place for us beside Him for eternity? What fear or dread can life or death hold over us, when our glorious and awesome God holds us in His loving hands?

When our child awakens in the night, frightened from some nightmare, we rush to their side, hold them in our arms, and say "Hush, don't be afraid. I am here with you. I will protect you." God is saying the same thing to His frightened children. "Don't be afraid. I am here." Reach out, take His hand, trust in His strength and righteousness and grace, and fear no more.

Doing Good Pays Afterall

"Treasures of wickedness profit nothing.
But righteousness delivers from death."

-- Proverbs 10:2


How many times have you looked around you and wondered just how life works? How can some people appear to reap such great rewards, to own so many things, to have so much going for them in life, yet you know they have hurt other people along the away, you think they have lied to their own benefit, you have watched as they climbed to greater heights only by standing on the backs of others around them. And then you see someone who has done no wrong in their life, has inflicted no harm on others, yet they seem to have nothing at all to show for their lives; no grand mansions or fancy cars or remote island vacation homes. Have you even asked the Lord why this could be, where is the justice in allowing one who has wronged others to possess so much while one who stands blameless has nothing to show for it, no material rewards for goodness and doing good?

We're used to being rewarded for doing good. From an early age, some form of payment has been used to reward us for doing the right thing, and to encourage us to keep doing the right thing. Maybe our mother complimented us for cleaning our plate, or gave us a nickel for helping to set and clear the table. We got higher grades in school, and maybe a bit of cash, for studying hard and doing all our homework. We get promotions on the job, and subsequent pay raises, for working hard and helping the company stay profitable. If we do good, we expect some form of reward. So why do some who surely do good in the eyes of God not also benefit in earthly rewards?

In Proverbs, the wise king Solomon tells us that our reward for doing the right thing will be our delivery from death, that our righteousness will deliver us. This is not mortal death Solomon speaks of, but the eternal death reserved for those who do not receive God's grace, the same death that Jesus defeated after three days in the tomb. King David reiterates this message, giving additional weight to Solomon's words, when he sang, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer." (2 Samuel 22:2) God and only God, through His grace and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus the Christ, can deliver us from eternal death and allow us to live by His side in heaven for ever and ever.

Solomon tells us that the one who compromised the commandments of the Lord, who hurt others on his climb to earthly wealth, will profit nothing from the treasures he amassed. He may enjoy them on earth, during this fleeting mortal life, but his wickedness will be revealed and he will suffer death for eternity. But the humble one, the righteous one who seems to have nothing, instead has gained everything, and will live with our Lord and Master forever.

What greater reward could we ask?

Find Stillness and Pray

"So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."

-- Luke 5:16


Luke was reporting on yet another busy time for Jesus. He had just healed a man of leprosy. Jesus charged the man to tell no one, but to show himself to the priests and make an offering for his healing in their honor. But somehow the news spread throughout the area and the word grew and the people flocked to Him. Luke notes that "great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities". (Luke 5:14)

So Jesus once again found Himself surrounded by people, engulfed by the very ones He strove to teach. He knew He needed to talk with God, to seek counsel from His Father. Yet how could He do so when so many crowded around? How could He even hear Himself speak over the noise of the throngs around Him? He could find a quiet place in the wilderness, away from the mass and the sounds of humanity, in the stillness of being by Himself. And there He prayed. He lifted His voice to God, and quietly listened for His Father's reply.

It isn't that Jesus didn't love the people and want them around Him. Just the opposite is true, for He truly loved them, and still loves us today. And He needed them around to hear His word, to learn His way. But He needed the solitude He could find only when away from the crowd, He needed the stillness of being by Himself so He could hear His Father's reply.

When we pray, we need to find our own place of stillness. We must stop for a moment and listen for God's answer. We should strive for open communications with God, and that requires listening to Him as well as talking. So stop what you are doing, find some place of stillness and pray. God wants to answer.

Where Were You?

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding."

-- Job 38:4

Job lost everything, and could not understand why. He sought counsel from his friends and leaders of the temple. How could so many bad things befall a believer such as he. He even questioned God, that He could allow this to happen to him, of all people. Job knew he did not deserve such a fate. When seeking counsel of the wise religious men, in his arrogance he counted off all the good he had done. And he spoke as if astounded that the Almighty did not listen to his pleas for help, did not hear his cries, would not answer his prayers.

After many tried to chastise him for such questioning of God, it is recorded that "the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind" (Job 38:1). And the Lord held nothing back, pulled no punches, in quickly putting Job in his place. I can almost hear that thunderous voice now: "Who are you to question Me? Who are you to doubt My intentions, to second-guess my promises, to call Me to task for what you think I do or don't do? Who are you to think himself smarter or more capable than the Master of Creation?"

There are a few instances recorded in the Old Testament where we can see God angry at the behavior of His children. While anger is certainly a human emotion, we can surely understand how even He could suffer it, considering how frustrating it must be for the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Ever Present to have to deal with we silly humans. This is surely one of those times when God was just downright mad. How dare Job think he knows better! And in His frustration he finally answers, saying "Where were you when I created everything you see? If you know so much, tell me: Where were you and what did you have to do with any of it?"

Sometimes I hear God asking me "Where were you?", usually when I start to question Him, wondering why so many good people seem to suffer so much. In my heart I can see Him shaking His head and saying "If you know so much, tell Me where you were when I created the world you live in. Don't question Me, child. Just do those things you know you are supposed to do and leave the world to Me." And of course, being the intelligent adult male that I am, I don't much appreciate being told what to do. But I eventually open my heart and listen and obey, realizing how little I truly understand about the known universe. There is so much I can see with my eyes that I cannot fully understand. How could I even hope to grasp all the marvels that my God has created?

But other times I hear God speak those words, "Where were you?", when I have forgotten to do just those things His Son instructed. When I miss the opportunity to speak up for Him, when I pass by someone I know desperately needs my help, when I can't take time to get involved and make a difference in this world, I hear those words. They start as a whisper, barely audible above the breeze. Then they grow, in strength and intensity, until they thunder throughout my very being, echoing in every corner of my soul. "Where were you?", He shouts, His frustration with me building. I know God loves me, and I also know He can be disappointed in me when I do not choose the right course. "Where were you?", He accuses! "Where were you!?!"

Sometimes it takes me a while, for I am human, but I finally do get it, I finally understand my own lack of understanding. And I put my trust in God. I am here, Lord. Right here. Use me as You will.

That We Might Have Hope

"For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope."
-- Romans 15:4

So many of the passages in the Bible carry great meaning, including this one which, in essence, tells us why the Books themselves were written - so that we might have hope. And this one sentence conveys many impressions. Paul wrote these words within his ministry to the Gentiles, where he taught of the wonders of Christ, the basis of the church, and even the reason for the scriptures recorded through time. He taught as if his students knew little of the subject, and in that manner covered the material thoroughly. And we benefit from its reading.

Paul starts out by assuring us that everything was written for our learning. It is easy to consider that when he says "our learning", he is talking about us, you and I and all that try to follow the teachings of Jesus, that try to walk His path. But Paul was not speaking to Jews or converted Jews. He was writing to Gentiles and referring to himself and them as "our", to a group that could have included as its majority those who merely showed curiosity in this Jesus of Nazareth and wanted to learn more. So by this pronouncement, Paul lets us know right off that the Bible, the inspired word of God, was written for all mankind, not just some subset known as "believers" or another called "God's chosen people". No, it is provided for all of us mortal humans, so that we may read and learn.

Separating the second half of the sentence two pieces, Paul next uses a rather curious phrase: "through the patience and comfort of the scriptures". Patience is a trait normally attributed to a living being, usually a person. So is Paul saying we should be patient while reading the scriptures? Perhaps. But more likely, Paul is applying the word patience to the living word of God as recorded in the scriptures. As we learned earlier, the Word is God, so here we see yet another example of God's steadfast patience with us and love of us. His word offers us patience and comforts us even as we read it. As we read, we learn and are comforted by the word through God's own patience and love.

Finally, we come to the answer to the unspoken question: Why was all of this done? Why did so many people take the time, the trouble, even the risk, to record all the scriptures, to preserve the word of God? What other benefit comes from our learning? That we might have hope. We learn that God loves us, that He is ever patient with us, that He will comfort us when our hearts are heavy. We find hope in His words through the darkest night. He provides refuge from the storm. And He prepares a place for us at His table, so that if we only believe in Jesus the Christ as our Savior and Lord, we shall live forever in the glorious presence of God. What more could any of us hope for? What more could be given?

God gives us so much, while asking for so little of us in return. Yet even though He offers us Heaven, He knows how weak we truly are. And thus he provides us with one more wonder. He gives us His word, that we may learn the truth of life and understand the price He paid for our salvation. And that we might have hope; hope that will drive us onward when the path grows difficult, hope that will light our way when darkness falls, hope that can make us push one step further, hope that can sustain us when others turn against us, hope that we will see His face, His glorious face, and sit by His side forever.

That we might have hope, God give us His all.