Immortality

"For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality"- 1 Corinthians 15:53 (NIV).

Death can be a scary topic, but it shouldn't be for Christians. Dust turns to dust and returns to the ground, but your spirit returns to God. It was He who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7). Every soul belongs to and returns to God, but the soul who sins will die (Ezekiel 18:4). Through His one time sacrifice and death, Jesus was victorious over death. Death has been swallowed up! "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" (1 Corinthians 14: 54-55). Immortality, eternal life in Christ Jesus, is a free gift to those of faith. Christians are pardoned from the wages of sin: death (Romans 6:23). Christians, do not fear that which can kill your body; your soul is safe. Instead fear Satan, who can lead you into a life of sin that will destroy both soul and body (Matthew 10:28).  

Invitation

"The child grew and was weaned, and on the day Isaac was weaned Abraham held a great feast"- Genesis 21:8 (NIV).

Abraham and Sarah were thrilled to have a son born to them in their old age. Weaning the child meant he was no longer a baby, so a celebration was declared and the feast arranged. We celebrate life events with feasts: births, weddings, anniversaries, deaths, etc. Jesus instituted a feast, the Lord's Supper, which was a Passover meal, before He came to the time of his Crucifixion and Resurrection. There is a future feast, however, we do not want to miss. Jesus told the parable of the wedding feast, symbolizing His return, and the invited guests weren't willing to come. They were punished and replaced with those who were willing. Jesus ended the parable by warning many will be called but few will be chosen (Matthew 22:1-14). A feast is a time for celebration of an event. The feast Jesus referred to is a future celebration, one in which the invitations have already been extended. The question is whether we will be willing when the trumpet signals the event ready? 

Embrace

"The Lord will keep you from all harm-He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore"- Psalms 121:7-8 (NIV).

There's the story of the young boy who told his mother he was old enough to walk to school without his mother. She agreed with him, kissed him goodbye at the door and waved as he turned the corner. The young boy walked to school doing things young boys do: kicking rocks, stopping to pet a neighbor's dog, eating his lunch snack along the way. He felt quite triumphant when he arrived at his school. Little did he know, you guessed it, his mother had been following him from a distance, ready to intervene if he needed her. Oh, the power of a parent's love for their child. We would die for them. How much more the love of God for His children? The Lord faithfully watches over us now and will throughout eternity. And He did die for us...but death could not hold Him. Even now He sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us until we come home. Can you imagine the hug that young boy got when he returned home? Children of God, there are mighty loving arms awaiting your return home. Embrace that thought. 

Pardon Me

"Moses said to the Lord, "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue"- Exodus 4:10 (NIV).

Who was the shepherd, Moses, that he would go before Pharaoh, who was seen as a god (3:11)? What if the oppressed Israelites refused to believe God had sent Moses and refused to follow him out of captivity (4:1)? If the downtrodden Israelites won't listen, why would Pharaoh, King of Egypt, listen to someone with a speech impediment (6:30)? Why would Moses, with all these doubts and evident poor qualifications, not feel like the wrong choice? So, Moses asked God to be pardoned. Gideon was hiding from the Midianites when an angel called him to be a mighty warrior (Judges 6:11-12). David, the youngest brother, was taking a lunch to his brothers on the battle line, when he was empowered to grab five stones and face a giant (1 Samuel 17). Esther was called to save her people, at risk of her own death, by approaching the king without being summoned (Esther 4:11). Whatever your excuse, however evident, you are not pardoned. Yours may be that weakness through which God displays His strength (1 Corinthians 12:9).   

Bullied

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you"- John 15:18-19 (NIV).

We should anticipate being "bullied" by the world if we are in Christ. The more we reflect the Lord Jesus, the more resistance we will encounter in this world. Count it a blessing, brothers and sisters, a symbol of truth, that the world sees Christ in you. It sounds absurd that we would feel joy, even relief, to know the world hates us. Jesus foretold that the world would hate us because of Him, but if we stand firm to the end we will be saved (Matthew 10:22). The temptation to follow the ways of this world, to feel accepted, will cause many to fall away and abandon their faith as time draws nearer to Jesus' return (1 Timothy 4:1). That's why the Apostle Paul encouraged us to be on our guard; stand firm in our faith; be courageous; be strong...to the end (1 Corinthians 16:13). You do not belong to this world, brothers and sisters, because Jesus chose you out of this world.

Fellow Ambassadors

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of His household"- Ephesians 2:19 (NIV).

Established in part by the Vienna conventions, diplomatic immunity gives immunity to foreign ambassadors to work in host countries, but they are expected to respect the laws of the host country. We are to be responsible members of our community. Christians have diplomatic immunity while here on earth. Our citizenship is not of this world; but, while we walk this earth, waiting on our going home, we are Christ's ambassadors. Our conduct is part of our witness, God's appeal through us, to lost souls of this host country, to be reconciled to Him, defect you might say, and become citizens of heaven (2 Corinthians 5:20). I urge you to walk worthy of your calling, fellow ambassadors (Ephesians 4:1). 

Oh Happy Day

"But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness"- 1Thessalonians 5:4-5 (NIV).

All of us have been the unsuspecting victim of a mischievous individual hiding and then jumping out to scare us. The shock runs the full length of our body and nerves because we were unprepared for the sudden appearance. Paul was instructing the new Thessalonican Church to be ready for the unknown day that Jesus returns. How can you be ready? By watching! Paul encouraged then, as I encourage now, that believers build each other up to wear the full armor of God and walk worthy of their calling, so that we may live together with Him (vs. 6-11). Do not let the day when Jesus comes take you by surprise. Oh happy day!  

Maranatha

"[Jesus] replied, "When evening comes, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,' and in the morning, 'Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times"- Matthew 16:2-3 (NIV).

Maranatha! The Aramaic word means "The Lord is coming." Jesus gives us the 'signs of the times' in Matthew 24:26-31. He warns us not to be fooled by people saying the Messiah is here or there; don't go (for even some of the elect will be deceived). The sun will be darkened and the moon will cast no light. The heavens will be shaken and stars will fall from the sky. Then Jesus will appear in power and glory. A trumpet will blast and Jesus will send his angels to gather the His elect from all corners of the earth. Jesus said, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come" (v. 42). He will come on a day we don't expect Him and an hour we are not aware. Jesus message is to be ready. Maranatha! 

Destiny

"[Jesus] is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and power being made subject unto Him"- (1 Peter 3:22 (KJV).

"No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me. From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny" (emphasis mine). Do you recognize the lyrics to "In Christ Alone?" Today's message is clear: Jesus commands all power. Everything, all creation, is subject to Him. Jesus tells us us we can do nothing apart from Him (John 15:5); but, with Him, all things are possible (Mark 9:23). So pick up those five smooth stones and face your giant. As you go, know that the power of Christ is within you. He alone commands your destiny.

The Goal

"So if you have been raised with the Messiah, seek what is above, where the Messiah is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on what is above, not on what is on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with the Messiah in God. When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory"- (HCSB).

Our goal is to be like Jesus. We are, even now, being transformed into the image of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). This goal doesn't happen by accident. We have to take off the old worldly self and put on the new heavenly self (Colossians 3:9-10); get rid of your old ways and take on the nature of Christ. A life centered on becoming Christ-like is a lifelong pursuit. Now more than ever we need to set our minds on what is above; spread the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to all Christ brings our way; anyone who is willing to allow you to share the reason for your joy. Let God change you for His purpose, and your glory will become His glory.

Unbreakable Covenant

"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know"- Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV).

God's promise was to bring Judah back from Babylonian captivity. God promised to restore them as they were before (v.11) and said the day was coming that His covenant would be fulfilled...to send a Branch from David's line, the Lord our Righteous Savior (vs. 14-16). Jeremiah's prophecy was over 500 years before the fulfillment of Christ's birth; but, wait, that was the beginning. God's chosen now watch and wait; we know there is more to come. "And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky...and they will see the Son of Man coming..with power and great glory. He will send His angels...and they will gather His elect...from one end of the sky to the other" (Matthew 24:30-31). God has told us great and unsearchable things. Brothers and sisters, God's covenant cannot be broken.  

Always Pray

"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up"- Luke 18:1 (NIV).

The parable was about a widow who continued to cry out for justice from an adversary to an unjust judge. Her relentless pursuit caused the judge to finally yield to her requests to keep her from continuing to bother him. Jesus asked, "And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?" (v. 7). God chose us before creation began (Ephesians 1:3-4), to be His own possession (1 Peter 2:9), and the choosing was God's doing; we didn't choose Him, he chose us (John 15:16). Learn from the way Jesus prayed: early in the morning while it was still dark (Mark 1:35), alone on a mountainside (Matthew 14:23), and one time all night long (Luke 16:12). He is our example. Do not give up praying. Make your requests known and please pray for all His chosen ones (Ephesians 6:18).