2023-07-14
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit directs me to write about patience as we await glorification. Remember that glorification is defined as that moment when God decides a person is ready to be taken up to heaven and dwell there for eternity. COL 3: 2-4, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you have 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.” If that doesn’t blow one’s mind, then nothing else will! The promise of living eternally with Christ and sharing His glory is the greatest motivator I know about for living righteously and making Him the Head of one’s household while here on earth.
Will everyone be glorified? That’s like saying, “Will everyone make the choice to be followers of the Lord Jesus?” The truth is a subset of the population will reject Jesus and refuse to be Christian. To eventually be glorified, one must walk through the door marked “Faith” at some point in his earthly life. The road from “rejection of faith” to “gaining faith” is longer for some people than others. Because Judaism rejects the Lord Jesus as part human, part Deity, coming to belief in Him is more difficult than it is for someone raised in a Christian home. But even some of us born to Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism are chosen by the Father to become followers of Jesus. That was my experience when I was given this faith by the Holy Spirit at the age of 25 after being raised in a Conservative Jewish home.
JN 18: 1-11 tells the story of Christ’s arrest. He and His disciples crossed the Kidron Valley to the Garden of Gethsemane. At this time, Judas Iscariot, then one of the disciples, the one who handled money for the group, betrayed Jesus. Judas guided a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and Pharisees to the same place, bearing torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew what they wanted but asked Who they wanted. Then, He identified Himself as Jesus of Nazareth. Then Jesus said, “I have not lost one of those You gave Me,” speaking directly to the Father. Suddenly Peter [Simon] who had a knife, whipped it out and sliced off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus. Jesus commanded that Peter put his sword away. Then, Jesus asked a key question: “Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
What followed was a “kangaroo court” trial, Christ’s being judged guilty, and His crucifixion and burial in the crypt of Joseph of Arimathea. On Easter morning, the stone before the entrance of the crypt was rolled back to reveal that this tomb was empty, except for the linens Jesus wore, seen folded neatly on a bench. The familiar story followed of Mary Magdalene not recognizing her Lord and thinking He was the gardener. Jesus was resurrected and returned, the Father keeping His promise. Jesus appeared to the disciples and others over a period of 40 days, speaking about the Kingdom of God. On one occasion while eating with them, Jesus gave this command: AC 1: 4-10, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then, they asked Him, “Lord, at this time will you going to restore the Kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When Jesus was finished speaking, He was suddenly taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. Just as suddenly Christ ascended to heaven, two dressed in white stood in front of the group. AC 1: 11-12, “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 go into heaven.” Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.” The resurrection to heaven is the same promise Christ has made to all who believe in Him and live righteously. As for the presence of the Holy Spirit, that was made true at Pentecost when He appeared in the upper room to the apostles. He came in the form of tongues of fire and touched each one of them, Matthias replacing the betrayer, Judas Iscariot [AC 2:1-4].
PRAYER: O Lord, the suffering Servant, the Lord Jesus, left us with the most comforting promises He could give us. It was His gift of the Holy Spirit, to guide and intervene in our lives. The other promise is that of the strength to yield up leadership of our lives to You, as we wait for the time when God, will call us home to heaven [our glorification]. Can we trust that the Father will keep these promises? We say a resounding, “yes!” and will attest that You, Lord Jesus, have given us the Holy Spirit. As for the hope of eventual glorification, we can know that You have given us the power to wait for the Father’s perfect time and way. PR 16: 3-4, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.” In the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: There is more to write about patience as we await glorification. It came as a welcome surprise that these promises are in place. We, who believe, have been given the Holy Spirit already. The other promise will be fulfilled, but we don’t know ahead the date, time, and way our physical lives will end, and our spiritual lives will continue. Frankly, I would rather not know, as worrying about it would only serve to be a source of pain. For now, we know what tasks the Lord prepares ahead for us to do, and the skill set to do it that He has given us? At my age, and in 6 months, I’ll be 80, I’m at the stage where the Lord has left me with the question of what kind of legacy I want to leave behind? Both my brother and my son have said that our lives are a series of segments to which we must adapt. They are right, I can say, with perfect hindsight. It’s that we must reinvent ourselves to fit into what life requires of us, a power God’s gives us to make these adaptations. And yet, it should be recalled that God’s teaching is wholly consistent and perfect to take at whatever segment of life one is in. JOB 15: 8-11 leaves us with important questions to ponder. “Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you have a monopoly on wisdom? What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have? The gray-haired and the aged are on our side, men even older than your father. Are God’s consolations not enough for you, words spoken gently to you?” Praise and thanks to God for all His blessings!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24:15
© Lynn Johnson 2023, All Rights Reserved
<-- Back to Archives