The Bible Records Jesus' 100 Year Walk With One Man

"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing."  (Genesis 12:2)

I am reading from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 consecutively during these last two months of the year.  It is a departure from my regular program.  I noticed something this time after reading the first 20 chapters of Genesis yesterday and 21-40 today.  For about 100 years of history (chapters 12-25) it was only one man and the Living Triune God Himself, walking together in fellowship, God taking care, guiding, etc.  And people have the nerve to say, "I just can't understand how God could care about me, a nobody."

Big Universe?  "Big" does not begin to describe the endlessness of "space."  And right now the "arms" of the Eternal Godhead are guiding human history, "dealing with" men and nations, and, so too your daily life, right there where you are, right now.  Never forget just how much truth there is in Jesus "walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own."  You do matter.  Nothing about you and me is too small for "The Eternal One."  He took Abraham as a relatively young man and walked with him for 100 years, one lonely creature in the universe. 

So, the next time you read in the Bible of Jesus as, "King of kings and Lord of lords," His dealings with rulers of vast empires, remember that He is also your Ruler, King and Lord and Savior and Deliverer and....  Evangelicalism uses the term "personal Savior."  Yes, Jesus died for all, and He also died for you as an individual, "This is how God loved the world, He gave His Only Son, that whoever...."  Our Lord Jesus wants me to remind you today that you are His, "whoever."

Father, in Jesus' Name, so small am I.  So "large" are You.  Yet You have chosen to live in me.  Thank You.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Never," Means, "NEVER!"

"Let your conduct be without coveteousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'"  (Hebrews 13:5)

Think of it.  "[Jesus] Himself has said," to you and me, 'I will never leave...nor forsake you.'"  May the Holy Spirit ever keep this powerful covenantal promise before us.  These Words of Jesus will keep us throughout our sojourn.  I wonder how many times, however, the latter part of this verse is quoted "out of context."  This happens far too often to many of us, and as a result, we miss the powerful message.

All of us revel in, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Yet the context reveals just how very specific is this promise.  The context reveals our tendency to place too much emphasis on money, you know, pay checks, social security, investments, just how much is our house worth if we have to sell, etc.  The Interlinear says, "Be satisfied with the present manner of life."  Are you?  Am I?  What is it in our life which keeps us from, "content/satisfied"?  That can be as big an enemy as, "principalities and powers." 

In our text, our Lord Jesus commands us to be "satisfied with the present manner of life, and, I can add, These Words are, as Jesus said to humanity millennia ago, "for our good."  It is indeed, "easier said than done," but that is only if we are living, "in the flesh," and not, "in the Spirit."  Walking life's journey with our, "....eyes fixed on Jesus," which is synonymous with reading, believing, and obeying His Words, will find us with contentment an "obtainable" virtue. 

No one knows what the future is for the economy of our respective nations, or the global economy; there was 1929 and 2008.  Many Followers of Jesus lost huge amounts of that which, "satisfied," them and gave them some sort of, "content."  I in no way minimize any suffering which those "melt downs" caused.  Yet the promise is in today's text that no matter the severity of the "crisis" around us, "I will (literally) positively never, no, never leave you nor forsake you." 

Father, in Jesus' Name, You have so faithfully fulfilled these Words to me so very many times.  Thank You.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

Our Birth Was Only The "Beginning" of Our Eternity

"And he showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb....The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations....They shall see His face, and His Name shall be on their foreheads....And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!'  And let him who hears say, 'Come!'  And let him who thirsts come.  Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."  Revelation 22)

You are kept, preserved, saved, healed, delivered in the Blood of Jesus Christ, yes, because the Living Triune God loves us, and because of so great a Love, our text is awaiting you and me.  No matter what happens to you today or the remainder of your earthly sojourn this is the reality.  This is the "work" of Jesus, and He did all of this, "in His Cross."

Because He declared, "It is finished", our text awaits us.  This is not a negative "escapism."  This is running, "....the race set before us, looking unto Jesus."  How can anyone be so stupid as to say this is escapism?  The glorious truth is that we are already, "seated in...Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."  When we leave Planet Earth, we are only relocating in Jesus Christ.  In, "that Day," all Scripture, those, "God-Breathed," words which so, so many have neglected, will be fulfilled. 

Enjoy the remainder of your day, but never ever forget that this brief sojourn of this present age is just a very small, small "beginning."  When you and I surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ, at that moment we stepped into, "Eternal/Everlasting life."  Glory with me today in the reality that, "They shall see His Face, and His Name shall be on their foreheads."  You will really look great with the Name of Jesus on your forehead.

Father, in Jesus' Name, thank you for Your Words which keep me from earthly despair, and keep me in

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"Great And Marvelous Are Your Works"

"They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

    'Great and marvelous are Your works,

    Lord God almighty!

    Just and true are Your ways,

    O King of the nations!

    Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your Name?

    For You alone are holy.

    For all nations shall come and worship before You,

    For Your judgments have been manifested.'"  (Revelation 15:3, 4)

There was an older woman in our church service this past Sunday who lives right across the street from our building.  She had never been in one of our meetings.  She told one of our members that the shootings in the synagogue of Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, so filled her with anxiety that she had to try to find some consolation.  Think of that.  Someone instinctively finding her way into a meeting of Followers of Jesus.  I preached that morning and felt that the message was exactly what she needed.  I know; sometimes that happens and sometimes it doesn't.  Pray with me that she comes to Jesus and surrenders her life to Him.

Our text proclaims, "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty!"  Even after this past weekend?  Yes.  The Bible tells us that, "The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's; but the earth He has given to the children of men."  I am not going to attempt an "exegesis" of this verse, but there is a theological truth here.  Jesus, "The Word of God," spoke, "In the beginning," and the Earth was created.  He told Adam to take care of it.  It is as though the Living Triune God said, "Here is is.  What will you now do with it?"

History reveals how terribly we have failed.  We failed because of disobedience.  And when, "[Jesus] came to His own, but His own did not received Him," it was as though a further "plague" was released.  Again, there is so much to say here perhaps, but my illustration which I have used many times of humanity in the large river of history, flowing in various currents, backwashes, and eddies, yet always guided and kept in the framework of the "banks" of that river, applies likewise to the tragedy of last weekend.  Beware, those who "blame God."  Beware, further, the statement,  "God has everything under control."  I come back to, "....but the earth He has given to the children of men."  Man controlled last weekend; Jesus did not.  It was man guiding his own little boat down that river of history, doing whatever he wished, "....but the earth He has given to the children of men."

Sorry for the length today, and perhaps opening a discussion which should be best conducted in a "seminar" environment.  But I really pray we realize that you and I, and all of humanity have been entrusted with this life on this planet.  What are we going to do with the time we have left?  For the day is coming, "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  All the nations will be gathered before Him...."

Father, in Jesus' Name, help my friend and me to understand what we are able to  understand.  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.'"

Hebrews 12:2

"The Pittsburgh Declaration"

"After a  period of glory, the Lord of Heaven's Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you.  For He said, 'Anyone who harms you harms My most precious possession.'"  (Zechariah 2:8, NLT)

I may have published this before, but can't remember.  Regardless, I publish it again here because of the events over the weekend, events which occurred only 10 miles from where I was born, and 50 some miles from where I now write this.  My article has been called, "The Pittsburgh Declaration," and appears in a book entitled, Breaking the Silence, written by Jobst Bittner, a German pastor.  The steering committee of the Pittsburgh "March of Remembrance" asked me to write something for its inaugural march on May 1, 2011.

To the Jewish Community of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We know that the Jewish People throughout the centuries have borne the greatest discrimination, the worst persecution and the most barbaric atrocities of any people group.  We are aware that much of this has been done by those who called themselves "Christians," sometimes while even calling upon the Name of Jesus.  While those of us standing with you here today deplore and condemn in the strongest terms and way those crimes perpetrated against Jewish People throughout history, we nonetheless ask for your forgiveness for all crimes against you which were perpetrated by those calling themselves "Christian."  These atrocities in no way reflect Jesus, Who Himself a Jew, embraced the Law and the Prophets.  As His Followers, we too affirm them and embrace them, and in that affirming and embracing we say to you and to the world that we will stand with the Jewish People as long as we have breath.

The concentration camps in Europe stand as silent sentinels to the past barbarity of the human race, not just some "Christians."  Anti-Semitism knows no ethnic, creedal, or political bounds.  But we repeat the words engraved and openly displayed at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, "Never Again!"  By that we mean we are yours.  You will never be attacked as a People while we who are Christians stand by and do nothing.

We covenant with you that while others have stood silent during your times of great sufferings, we, the Community of those who follow Jesus, will never be silent, never abandon you, and covenant to supply you quarter should any present or future events make that necessary.  The number of those in the Church of Jesus Community increases your Community.

Our prayer, as part of the Christian Community in Pittsburgh, is that you will always remember this commitment we make to you this First Day of May, 2011.

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.'"

Hebrews 12:2