Good News! A Transition in Leadership

Recently in Zimbabwe, the 37-year presidency of Robert Mugabe has come to an end. He has not left the country, and his most likely successor has not yet been sworn in, but the transition appears certain. The streets have been

Eyes on the (Real) Prize

Have you ever seen any of the Rocky movies? It's the saga of a hard-working guy who decides to pursue his dream of winning as a boxer. In the first film of the series, Rocky goes into an intensive training program, finds a trainer, and takes on the local champion, winning against odds in the actual bout. Americans like

Jesus Is on Time

I'm enrolled in a Master's program, and I'm behind in my class work.  Last semester was supposed to be over around the first of December, but I didn't finish the papers I was to write, and now I'm having to do those papers plus all the other stuff I'm supposed to be doing now.  I may procrastinate, but God is never late.  His timing is always "just right."

We Christians have been hoping for the full, visible establishment of Jesus' kingdom for almost 2,000 years now.  His disciples thought it would be right away after his resurrection:  “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” (Acts 1:6), but Jesus ascended to heaven instead.  Hundreds of people over the centuries have calculated or guessed at the date of his return, and they've all been wrong, (including the ones on television who move the date forward every time the last one passes.)  In Springs of Grace, and Living Grace Christian Fellowship, we'll get to hear a sermon  this weekend, going over some of the detail in Matthew 24 that I think will help with some of those concerns. 

The pressing question is, since we're still here, what we do while we're still here?   One thing we don't want to do is forget that God is with us, and Jesus is continuing to work out his will through us, individually and as his Body, the Church universal.  He encourages us in Matt. 24:45-46, "A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward."  Our job is to continue doing whatever part of that work God has given each of us to do.  

The warning Jesus gives next, in Mat. 24:48-50 is the reverse:  "But what if the servant is evil and thinks, ‘My master won’t be back for a while,’ and he begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk? The master will return unannounced and unexpected" (and this guy is not rewarded).  Why is the master's "return" unexpected?  Because that servant focuses on physical pleasures instead of the joy of serving his master faithfully.  We don't want to make the same mistake.  

We have plenty of distractions in this life, but serving our Lord brings the most joy of all.  And when Jesus appears -- at just the right time -- the reward of having served faithfully will be worth the wait.  He's already promised us that.  What exactly has God given you to do?  Whatever it is, today is a good day to be doing it!

Home

The Amazing Joanne and I have been in Denver for going on a year now, living in a lovely apartment God found for us, but we're beginning to believe that it's time to take the next step to settle in -- finding a house to purchase and move into, and start putting down roots.

I have mixed feelings about it. Our apartment has been a place to meet a bunch of new people, and we've enjoyed having people over here. We've made friends with the management and staff, and taken time to welcome new tenants to our building and some of the others too. Whenever we leave, I'll miss this place that welcomed us to Colorado. But then again, we could do the same things in a new neighborhood -- inviting people in for coffee or lunch, and welcoming new arrivals, maybe hosting a Bible study and introducing people to this amazing God who loves us so much.

The Bible talks about home too, of course. Many of God's servants were wanderers, not having a place to call their own. Take Abraham, for example, along with Isaac and Jacob, as told in Hebrews 11:8-9; or Moses, who left his home in Egypt and moved to the desert, then came back and wandered with the Israelites in tents for another 40 years. All of these, the writer tells us, were looking for something beyond just this life: "Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." (Hebrews 11:10) And all the other people of faith were hanging on for something none of them ever completely received: "All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised." (Hebrews 11:39) Even Jesus had to do without a home sometimes, he said (Matthew 8:20).

And Paul wrote that this physical life is, after all, only temporary and he was looking forward to a different 'home' after death, in 2 Corinthians 5: "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands...We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." The here-and-now looks so solid and real, but the true reality and permanence is in the final home we get to have with God.

I don't know if we'll find the perfect house or not, or if God will call us to stay in the apartments awhile longer, or whether if we move, we'll stay there until the end of our days. But I do know that God has a home for me that won't need paint, a new roof, or even heating in the winter -- and that's the one I'm really looking forward to.

And the best news of all, God has reserved a 'new house' for all humanity, not just the nice kids -- Jesus died and was resurrected on behalf of every single person. We've all got that permanent home waiting for us. Isn't that great news?

Do you believe that? Or is something holding you back from being sure what God has waiting for you? If so let's talk.

My place or yours?