"In One Hour"

"For in one hour such great riches came to nothing."  (Revelation 18:17a)

The end of the second quarter is near, and the reading in the Book of Revelation is coming to a close.  Our text gives us one of the most solemn and "fear-of-the-Lord" statements in the Bible, "in one hour...."  The riches of this world will, "c[o]me to nothing," and, it will happen, "in one hour...."  What, my friend, are you laboring for?  Soon our text will describe those who have rejected Jesus Christ and His Reign, "For in one hour such great riches came to nothing."  It is not wise to, "labor for the food which perishes."  

Even people who don't have much of this world's goods still labor far too much for, "great riches," because, "the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."  Jesus said, "Do not labor for," such.  Rather, "Labor for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."  No time/space conditions can bring, "to nothing," What and Whom we have in Jesus Christ, "the Food which endures to everlasting/eternal life."  

There are far, far too many today as those in the time of Peter who say, "Where is the promise of His coming?"  They are in churches in the United States of America and around the world, people who have spent more time laboring for things which, "in one hour," will come, "to nothing."  The Day is coming; keep prepared; keep in Jesus Christ; keep serving, loving, doing good deeds as, "the light of the world," and, "the salt of the earth....Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear...."  In so doing, that, "one hour," in that one day of that one month of that one year will not catch us by surprise or unprepared, "to meet Thy God."

Father, in Jesus' Name, in this world of "oh-that-will-never-happen," help me to live and proclaim, "Yes it will."  Amen.  

  

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"WOW,...What A Ride!"

"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." (Mark 8:35)

"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty, and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'WOW,...What a ride!'"  My first reaction to this when I read it was just laughter.  I thought of my first parish.  When I arrived to serve there, three of the four churches were only having 2 services per month, and only the main church had a Bible study.  I thought, "This is not right;" so, I started 4 services on Sunday and two Bible studies per week, all while taking a full load at the university and our first child on the way.  I thought of some of the early "renewal" years when I was averaging five meetings per week.  I thought of the years smuggling Bibles into Eastern Europe and later Iran.  I thought of landing in Israel in September, 2000, the very day the latest Intifada began.  I thought of getting on the plane in Pittsburgh, heading for Israel just five days after September 11, 2001 with one other guy on the plane.  I thought of North Korea, and I thought---------------------- "WOW,... What a ride!"

It is only natural for a man to, "desire[] to save his life," to survive at least, to avoid anything which would make life less comfortable at most.  But the Follower of Jesus Christ does not live a "natural" life.  Rather, he lives, "deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me," i.e., throw off the selfish and safe life style for, "deny.., take up.., and follow...."   I know I quote the following passage a lot, but the Follower of Jesus does, "not look at the things which are seen (the natural world), but the things which are not seen (the impossible, the challenging, the "I-can-only-live-this-way-in-the-Power-of-The-Holy Spirit)."  It is quite natural to desire a safe, cautious, and protected ride.  The Disciple of Jesus Christ, however, would "rather...skid in broadside thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming, 'WOW,...What a ride!'" 

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want to arrive in Glory with a, "WOW,...What a ride!"  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"In This Manner, Therefore, Pray"

"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come.  Your will be done in earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9, 10)

"If all we ever pray for is what we need or want, we are shaping ourselves to become narrow and selfish.  If we pray for the things of God's kingdom, we will also be drawn into the concerns and realities of that kingdom.  Thus our lives will begin to reflect these new values.  Change the focus and concern of our prayers, and our values and lifestyle will also begin to change." (Bonhoeffer)

"God's name, God's kingdom, God's will must be the primary object of Christian prayer.  Of course it is not as if God needed our prayers, but they are the means by which the disciples become partakers in the heavenly treasure for which they pray." (From Bonhoeffer's The Cost of Discipleship)

Father, in Jesus' Name, I want to pray as You teach me to pray.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2