Good overcomes evil. Right triumphs over wrong. Justice prevails over injustice. Most films and theater productions have that heroic climax. Writers weave it skillfully into their work and audiences love it. There must be something in the fabric of our being that longs for what is good, right and just to be victorious in our own life and world. I believe the Christmas story embodies that.
The ancient, but true, story takes place in a small Israeli town. One starlit night the world was forever changed when the face of evil met its arch enemy. The Baby Jesus. He was not just any child. A series of miraculous events surrounded His birth. Before His conception, an angelic being appeared to His mother saying, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:31-32). There were many such messages. They continually pointed out this Child would rise one day to become a great King and Deliverer. It all seemed a bit strange, but the news brought glimmers of hope to a world imprisoned in darkness.
Was this Child a mere mortal like you and me? On the outside He looked like one of us, but on the inside He was much more. The seed of Baby Jesus was literally sent from heaven. His seed was placed in the womb of His mother, Mary, by God’s Spirit. She was a virgin having never been with a man before. It was the miracle of all miracles. This seed of Jesus was divine. He was the very image and nature of the God who ruled the universe in heaven.
What a story! God left His throne, with all its splendor, and took on the form of a common human being. He became one of us, coming to deliver us and the world from sin. He came to establish a new kingdom on earth over which one day He will rule. That day all evil, wrong and injustice will be destroyed.
The theme of the Christmas story is hope. No matter what your world is like at present, may Jesus be your hope for today.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
HOPE FOR TODAY: The Year of Protests
“It appears that 2011 is the year of the protest – both foreign and domestic”, according to Julia Edwards from the National Journal. I agree. The Arab Spring and Union uprisings are the face of many. The United States has seen hundreds of thousands protest across the country including the states of New York, Ohio and Wisconsin. Across the globe we have seen protests in countries throughout the Middle East and in Europe.
Each of these uprisings swells from a deep divide protestors have with their opponents. Differences have moved beyond discussion to all-out public opposition. The protestors feel their cause and actions are justified in order to give voice to the evil they see. Is public opposition like this the only answer to the evil and injustice we see in our world? I believe there is a better way.
Centuries ago Jesus rose up among His countrymen with great prominence. Thousands followed Him. Many had hopes He would be their national savior and overthrow the evil Roman Empire.
How did Jesus handle the pressure to use His influence to lead a rebellion? He told His followers “the Son of Man (Himself) must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22). Jesus’ intent was never to topple a government or fight against a corrupt system. When His ministry began He said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Clearly, Jesus lived for something beyond this world. He was not given to the lure of money and power nor did He cower in fear of others. He was courageous, but His fight was against the very seed of injustice. He fought against the powers of sin, death, the devil and pride in the human heart. He did not come to take up a battle against government and religious leaders. Rather, it was to lay His life down that others might be saved from their sin and live to the glory of His Father in heaven.
Rather than rising up against people and institutions may we rise up against the power of sin in the human heart. Let us bow before God and pray for our enemies before we rise up and demonstrate before them. Let us give voice to the good news of Christ before we give voice to our grievances. May Jesus be our hope for today.
Each of these uprisings swells from a deep divide protestors have with their opponents. Differences have moved beyond discussion to all-out public opposition. The protestors feel their cause and actions are justified in order to give voice to the evil they see. Is public opposition like this the only answer to the evil and injustice we see in our world? I believe there is a better way.
Centuries ago Jesus rose up among His countrymen with great prominence. Thousands followed Him. Many had hopes He would be their national savior and overthrow the evil Roman Empire.
How did Jesus handle the pressure to use His influence to lead a rebellion? He told His followers “the Son of Man (Himself) must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22). Jesus’ intent was never to topple a government or fight against a corrupt system. When His ministry began He said, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). Clearly, Jesus lived for something beyond this world. He was not given to the lure of money and power nor did He cower in fear of others. He was courageous, but His fight was against the very seed of injustice. He fought against the powers of sin, death, the devil and pride in the human heart. He did not come to take up a battle against government and religious leaders. Rather, it was to lay His life down that others might be saved from their sin and live to the glory of His Father in heaven.
Rather than rising up against people and institutions may we rise up against the power of sin in the human heart. Let us bow before God and pray for our enemies before we rise up and demonstrate before them. Let us give voice to the good news of Christ before we give voice to our grievances. May Jesus be our hope for today.
Monday, October 17, 2011
HOPE FOR TODAY: The Wrath of God
Our American culture encourages one another to accept a diverse range of beliefs and lifestyles. This tolerance in our houses of worship and on the streets of our cities has failed miserably. It has bred an unaccountable culture.
How will such a society respond to the wrath of God? There are literally hundreds of verses from the Bible that speak directly about this from both the Old and New Testaments. One passage says “whoever does not obey the Son [Jesus] shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
What does the wrath of God mean? Theological scholar, Dr. Leon Morris, writes that it is the “active opposition of God’s holy nature to everything that is evil.” What is evil? It lives in the heart of all mankind and it is every thought, word or deed that violates the glory, honor and holiness of God. In simple terms the wrath of God is His anger against our sin.
No matter how we feel about something is not important, it is how God sees it. If we are engaged in behavior that violates the holiness or justice of God we ought to tremble. God is invisible, is everywhere, reads our thoughts, can control the weather, dispatches unseen forces, can alter the course of daily events and possess the power over life and death. What is the ultimate expression of the wrath of this God? Hell. Hell is the full manifestation of His wrath for an eternity. Truly, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
What shall we do? One thing - call out for the mercy of God. What can save us from God’s wrath? Jesus. Have you ever heard of the term “Jesus saves”? What does He save from? A follower of Jesus once wrote, that we “shall be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9). When we admit our sin then desperately appeal to the mercy God in Christ then we can be covered and ultimately saved from God’s wrath.
Individually and as a country may we flee from our sin. May we be rescued from the coming wrath of God before it is too late. May we turn to the love of God in Christ and receive Him as our hope for today.
How will such a society respond to the wrath of God? There are literally hundreds of verses from the Bible that speak directly about this from both the Old and New Testaments. One passage says “whoever does not obey the Son [Jesus] shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).
What does the wrath of God mean? Theological scholar, Dr. Leon Morris, writes that it is the “active opposition of God’s holy nature to everything that is evil.” What is evil? It lives in the heart of all mankind and it is every thought, word or deed that violates the glory, honor and holiness of God. In simple terms the wrath of God is His anger against our sin.
No matter how we feel about something is not important, it is how God sees it. If we are engaged in behavior that violates the holiness or justice of God we ought to tremble. God is invisible, is everywhere, reads our thoughts, can control the weather, dispatches unseen forces, can alter the course of daily events and possess the power over life and death. What is the ultimate expression of the wrath of this God? Hell. Hell is the full manifestation of His wrath for an eternity. Truly, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
What shall we do? One thing - call out for the mercy of God. What can save us from God’s wrath? Jesus. Have you ever heard of the term “Jesus saves”? What does He save from? A follower of Jesus once wrote, that we “shall be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9). When we admit our sin then desperately appeal to the mercy God in Christ then we can be covered and ultimately saved from God’s wrath.
Individually and as a country may we flee from our sin. May we be rescued from the coming wrath of God before it is too late. May we turn to the love of God in Christ and receive Him as our hope for today.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
HOPE FOR TODAY: In Money Do We Trust
What is the root of the economic mess plaguing our country? Everyone seems to have an answer. The political talking heads says it’s the fault of President Barack Obama or President George W. Bush, the Democrats or the Republicans, or Wall Street executives. The economists say it’s due to the fallout of the mortgage crisis, high oil and gas prices, or the increasing trade deficit. The man-on-the-street points toward a growing national debt and says, “We need to reduce our debt and get our spending under control.”
The Great American Experiment is now 230 years old. We have gone from 13 colonies to 50 states and from millions to trillions in national wealth. No doubt about it, the hand of God’s blessing has been on our country. Yet, what have we done with His blessings?
Our government, along with local businesses, families and churches across the country have managed to take the bounty of God and squander it in prodigal-son-fashion. Instead of being stewards, we have become owners. Instead of being thankful we have demanded more. Instead of managing wisely, we have spent and financed foolishly.
Our money is imprinted with the national motto “In God we trust”. Maybe we ought to change that to “In Money We Trust”. We believe that with enough money we can solve our government’s problems, build a larger congregation, have a happier home, or grow a more profitable business. Really? What about the God factor? A wise King once wrote, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous [those who trust in God] will flourish like a green leaf” (Proverbs 11:28). Notice, it’s not the possessing of, but trusting in riches that predicts the downfall of people and nations.
Maybe God is strategically working through this financial crisis to humble us so we will turn from trusting in paper and ink and turn to the fortress of Almighty God. May we recognize the error of our ways and receive His gracious healing on our land that is so desperately needed. May He alone be our hope for today.
The Great American Experiment is now 230 years old. We have gone from 13 colonies to 50 states and from millions to trillions in national wealth. No doubt about it, the hand of God’s blessing has been on our country. Yet, what have we done with His blessings?
Our government, along with local businesses, families and churches across the country have managed to take the bounty of God and squander it in prodigal-son-fashion. Instead of being stewards, we have become owners. Instead of being thankful we have demanded more. Instead of managing wisely, we have spent and financed foolishly.
Our money is imprinted with the national motto “In God we trust”. Maybe we ought to change that to “In Money We Trust”. We believe that with enough money we can solve our government’s problems, build a larger congregation, have a happier home, or grow a more profitable business. Really? What about the God factor? A wise King once wrote, “Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous [those who trust in God] will flourish like a green leaf” (Proverbs 11:28). Notice, it’s not the possessing of, but trusting in riches that predicts the downfall of people and nations.
Maybe God is strategically working through this financial crisis to humble us so we will turn from trusting in paper and ink and turn to the fortress of Almighty God. May we recognize the error of our ways and receive His gracious healing on our land that is so desperately needed. May He alone be our hope for today.
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