2002-01-01
Good Morning Dear Ones,
I am led to continue discussing the details of God’s plan as it relates to Christ’s resurrection and its aftermath. To truly appreciate the heart of God’s plan, it is very helpful to look at the most concise statement of the Gospel that appears in the Scriptures, 1 COR 15: 1-8. A lot of people stop at verse 4, but I choose to go on to verse 8, because it includes the witnesses to this supernatural and crucial series of events. “And now I want to remind you, my brothers, of the Good News which I preached to you, which you received, and on which your faith stands firm. That is the Gospel, the message that I preached to you. You are saved by the Gospel if you hold firmly to it-unless it was nothing you believed. I passed on to you what I received, which is of the greatest importance: that Christ died for our sins, as written in the Scriptures [IS 53: 5-12]; that He was buried and that He was raised to life three day later, as written in the Scriptures [PS 16: 8-10]; that He appeared to Peter, and then to all twelve apostles. Then He appeared to more than five hundred of His followers at once, most of whom are still alive, although some have died. Then He appeared to James [Christ’s own half-brother who didn’t come to faith and write his little book in the Bible until after Christ’s death and resurrection], and afterward to all the apostles. Last of all He appeared also to me [Paul]-even through I am like someone whose birth was abnormal.”
Paul’s last comment here refers to seeing himself as inferior to the other apostles due to his past life of persecuting the church. Many of us are familiar with IS 53, that marvelous prophecy about the suffering Servant, which Christ fulfills in toto. The PS 16: 8-10 reference bears citing here, so we can see David’s understanding of this part of God’s plan. “I am always aware of the Lord’s presence; He is near, and nothing can shake me. And so I am thankful and glad, and I feel completely secure, because you protect me from the power of death, and the one You love You will not abandon to the world of the dead.” The believability of events that are beyond complete human understanding and defy the laws of physics is dealt with in stories such as told by the witness to these events who actually saw them and are supported by the story of doubting Thomas in JN 20: 24-29. “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (called the Twin), was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ Thomas said to them, ‘Unless I see the scars of the nails in His hands and put my finger on those scares and my hand in His side, I will not believe.’ A week later the disciples were together again indoors, and Thomas with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and look at My hands; then reach out your hand and put it in My side. Stop your doubting and believe!’ Thomas answered Him, ‘My Lord, my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Do you believe because you see Me? How happy are those who believe without seeing Me!’” It must be remembered that this event takes place before the Pentecost. We have the advantage of the gift of the Holy Spirit, which Thomas had not yet received. But that takes nothing away from Christ’s point that we must have faith.
In AC 1: 6-9, we have the story of the ascension. “When the apostles me together with Jesus, they asked Him, ‘Lord, will You at this time give the Kingdom back to Israel?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The times and occasions are set by My Father’s own authority, and it is not for you to know when they will be. But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ After saying this, He was taken up to heaven as they watched Him, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.” Christ would rise to and sit at His Father’s side, and the disciples had access to this information as we do from PS 110: 1, “The Lord [God] said to my Lord, the King [Jesus Christ], ‘Sit here at My right side until I put Your enemies as a footstool under Your feet.’”
We must meditate today on two questions that arise from these citations. 1) Where does Satan and his evildoing fit into this construct? 2) What is the meaning of Christ’s resurrection to my personal life today? The first question brings us back to the reason for God having a plan in the first place. It forces us to put in higher perspective, one closer to God’s, the pain and suffering that we must endure at Satan’s hand now so as to become perfected by God to spend eternity in joy and fellowship with Him. RO 8: 18 and other citations help us to reach that perspective. The second question must be answered by each individual as he continually re-evaluates the status of his faith in God and the Son without guilt. That is what God wants us to do-to understand where we are on our faith walk and be willing to take the steps necessary to expunge even the most subtle sin from our lives. God both our Father and our Best Friend. We must take the time to get to know Him in both those capacities. Listen, pray, serve, confess sin, use the gifts He gave us, let Him lead, yield up human agendas-all of this and more are points along that hard path that leads from the narrow gate [MT 7: 13-14], the path that leads to eternal life with Him.
PRAYER: O Lord, we are all skeptical and learn from Satan to distrust before we come to faith. Sometimes it’s human agendas, and sometimes it’s lack of interest that lead people to unbelief. Only the Holy Spirit leads us to the joys of faithfulness. It is through Him that You grant faith to us, those whom You have called according to Your purpose. When we believe, Your plan of salvation is in place in our live, and Your purpose is to bring Your goodness to them. We do not understand why some people are called and others are not. That is for You to know, Dear Lord. Our purpose is to have faith in You, to trust You, and to obey You. We stand before You today to say, “Thank You from the depths of our hearts for choosing us to have faith and bringing it to us.” We really do believe that the Day will come when Christ’s enemies will be as a “footstool under His feet.” When that Day happens, we want to be there to rule beside Him in His Kingdom as You have promised us in RO 8: 17. The words of thanks in PS 138: 1-8 express the feelings of our hearts. “I thank You, Lord, with all my heart; I sing praise to You before the gods. I face Your holy Temple, bow down and praise Your name because of Your constant love and faithfulness, because you have show that Your name and Your commands are supreme. You answered me when I called to You; with Your strength You strengthened me. All the kings in the world will praise You, Lord, because they have heard Your promises. They will sing about what You have done and about Your great glory. Even though You are so high above, You care for the lowly, and the proud cannot hide from You. When I am surrounded by troubles, You keep me safe. You oppose My angry enemies and save me by Your power. You will do everything You have promised; Lord, Your love is eternal. Complete the work that You have begun.” We pray this in Christ’s name. Amen.
In tomorrow’s message, I am led to examine the citations that reveal the presentation of the gift of the Holy Spirit and the meaning of this momentous event to our lives today. We can joyfully dedicate our lives each and every day to the Lord, knowing that His love is eternal, His guidelines for us consistent, and His purpose for us is always righteous. That allows us to have a heaping measure of comfort in our faith in Him, even through He takes us to places on our walk in which we never expected to find success. Real peace comes from Him and not other sources. It is one more example of His love for us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn