It seemed fitting given the state of the world to finish 2015 with Jesus' own words about the end times. Luke records two instances when he spoke of the signs of the end of the age. Luke 17:20-36 we ran through a couple weeks ago but went back to it Tuesday.
Everyone's main question is "When?" and Jesus' answer is always "Don't worry about it." The main thing is just to be living a Kingdom life now.... and in that way to be ready when He does come.
His comparison of lightening to his coming is clear as can be. "Do not go running after [people falsely claiming to be the Christ], for the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other." When He comes we won't be able to miss it! So don't worry about when. Worry about living the life.
Chapter 21 contains a pretty long discourse about the end. We decided to work our way through the passage looking at his commands to us. How are we supposed to behave at the end? That's the important info if the end is near.
Vs. 8; Do not follow them. [Again with the false claims!]
Vs. 9; Do not be frightened. We find this idea both here and in Matthew's version of the discourse. The main thing is for us not to be afraid. The church so needs to hear that today. We appear to be so afraid, almost in a panic mode! If something doesn't change, if a certain person doesn't get elected, if certain immigrants are allowed in, if guns are taken away/allowed to remain, if the world doesn't change.... it's going to hell in a hand-basket! That is absolutely not true! It's going to Glory! We should not be afraid and should be communicating our hope to the world, not our fear!
Vs 14; Make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. What a beautiful promise that God will defend us, giving us the perfect words and actions.
Who Jesus is talking to in these difficult passages. In chapter 17 the Pharisees ask him the question and his answer fits them....the Kingdom of God will not be brought about by your external actions, the Kingdom of God is among you.
Even when Jesus is talking to his disciples it seems the ideas he presents have to do with Jewish prophecies. Luke mentions the church age in 21:24. "Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." See how the time of the Gentiles or the Church Age is interjected into Jewish history?
Although it's relatively clear in the Old Testament that God is interested in reaching the whole world, the way it happened surprised most everyone. The Messiah was a baby, who grew up and taught and did miracles and then died? The Jews were caught so off guard the majority of them rejected Jesus altogether, and the mystery of the church age as proclaimed by Paul and the other Apostles seemed to be a new revelation. In this passage Luke, who spent years with Paul, is reassuring the Jews that the day of the gentiles will end and God's attention will return to the Jewish nation....but in judgement. As Handel's Messiah quotes the surprising OT passage, "Who can abide the day of His coming?" We think we want Jesus to come back? He'll come back as a refining fire.
Yet even in the midst of natural disasters, war, signs in the sun, moon and stars, and the earth in anguish and perplexity at all that befalls it, Jesus admonish is "Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." vs 28. For those who are looking for Jesus, his coming will be Glory.
Jesus used two examples in chapter 17 of falling judgement; the days of Noah and the days of Lot. In Noah's day the people living near him had plenty of warning. They watched him build the ark. Yet they were "eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark." They didn't care about God's judgement. They were busy. They had their own lives....they thought. "Then the flood came and destroyed them all."
In Lot's day we don't know of any warning except the angels who came to rescue Lot. Again people were "eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all."
And Lot's wife, knowing full well judgement was HERE, looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Even running from the wrath of God, she was so absorbed in her own life that she wanted to hang onto it.
Sad. Sadly the story of many.
The parable of the fig tree is very straightforward. When the tree gets leaves, summer is coming. So when you see these signs happening, you know the end is coming. The generation that sees the leaves sprout will see the end. Yet it's been more complicated than it appeared. Every generation that has lived has had circumstances they interpreted as signs of the end. Anyone who knew Rasputin during the Russian revolution believed him to be the Anti-Christ, as did many believe of Hitler. For my whole life the 1948 return of Jews to a Jewish State of Israel has been interpreted as the sprouting of the leaves. Yet that generation, too, is almost gone.
We're left with Jesus' guidelines to help us navigate the confusion: don't be deceived, don't be afraid.
I have found myself looking back at 1 Peter as the world gets darker around us. Last spring when we were studying Hebrews and Peter terrorism was confined to the Mid-East. Now ISIS has clearly set it's sights on the whole world. Yet the Word for us has not changed.
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because you were called to inherit a blessing. For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your heart set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the HOPE that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."1 Peter 3:8-16.
This does not describe the way the world sees the church today. We have to get it together. We have to hang onto our hope. We have to hold that hope up as a light in a dark world! That's why we're here.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Thursday, December 10, 2015
An aside
I was able to share at the leadership meeting last night how much I was amazed and thankful to God that he's lifted some of the burden I've been carrying this fall. I was able to say that it was surprising to me, not that God helped me out, but that he helped me out when I couldn't ever get my attitude together or feel like I was handling things the way he wanted me to.
The thing I didn't get out, so I'm trying to express it here, is what that shows me about how I think about myself and how I think about God.
About myself....I really think I should be able to handle everything and not in a prideful way but that's what I think about being a Christian...that I can do all things through Christ is some kind of one size fits all band aid that makes everything feel better. I could only handle things by constantly redefining what it meant to be handling it! I have to rethink that now. I assumed God was displeased with me because I was in so much pain and was so frustrated with my life. I assumed he wanted me to smile and say Praise the Lord and get on with it. Maybe all he hoped for me was that I would be able to keep walking along the path holding on to his hand. Maybe he just felt great compassion for me.
Which leads me to the important truth... did I believe God only helps me out when I'm being some kind of super christian? And more importantly, do I after all these years still believe that there is a right way to pray and a pious way to live which [and this is the key] will get God to act in my behalf?
It seems I was thinking that, or at least the opposite, that God would never work in my behalf when I had such a bad attitude. I have to say I'm surprised to see that belief about God in myself. I seem to still have in me the feeling there is a magic button to push or lever to pull which will make God act, and furthermore that the fulcrum balancing that lever is my righteousness.
I do not believe that in theory. Yet, when some of these current burdens were lifted, my second thought (thankfulness was truly my first thought!) was, why now? Why, when I'm behaving so poorly, would you bless me now? The attitude of earning his blessing clearly lingers. Yet the evidence clearly suggests that God is always acting out of his compassion and wisdom to give us what we in no way deserve.
In the face of such grace, one surely is drawn to love and follow him. But obedience and trust are not magic buttons. They are simply the only sensible way to respond to a God who is so much bigger than us.
The thing I didn't get out, so I'm trying to express it here, is what that shows me about how I think about myself and how I think about God.
About myself....I really think I should be able to handle everything and not in a prideful way but that's what I think about being a Christian...that I can do all things through Christ is some kind of one size fits all band aid that makes everything feel better. I could only handle things by constantly redefining what it meant to be handling it! I have to rethink that now. I assumed God was displeased with me because I was in so much pain and was so frustrated with my life. I assumed he wanted me to smile and say Praise the Lord and get on with it. Maybe all he hoped for me was that I would be able to keep walking along the path holding on to his hand. Maybe he just felt great compassion for me.
Which leads me to the important truth... did I believe God only helps me out when I'm being some kind of super christian? And more importantly, do I after all these years still believe that there is a right way to pray and a pious way to live which [and this is the key] will get God to act in my behalf?
It seems I was thinking that, or at least the opposite, that God would never work in my behalf when I had such a bad attitude. I have to say I'm surprised to see that belief about God in myself. I seem to still have in me the feeling there is a magic button to push or lever to pull which will make God act, and furthermore that the fulcrum balancing that lever is my righteousness.
I do not believe that in theory. Yet, when some of these current burdens were lifted, my second thought (thankfulness was truly my first thought!) was, why now? Why, when I'm behaving so poorly, would you bless me now? The attitude of earning his blessing clearly lingers. Yet the evidence clearly suggests that God is always acting out of his compassion and wisdom to give us what we in no way deserve.
In the face of such grace, one surely is drawn to love and follow him. But obedience and trust are not magic buttons. They are simply the only sensible way to respond to a God who is so much bigger than us.
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Choices
Jesus has set a series of choices before his disciples in the last several chapters of Luke. That's not exactly right. He's used a series of sermons and stories to set before them A Choice. He's in the last six months of his ministry by now and the question looms large: will you love me or love something else?
In chapter 12 he tells the parable of the Rich Fool, who says, "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and there I will store all my grain and my good. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him...."You fool...." And Jesus comments, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The next story is the "don't worry" passage. The sparrows and lilies don't need anything but what God gives them. And Luke records [12:32] "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there our heart will be also." The only treasure is the kingdom; John calls it the pearl of great price.
Jesus has set up a "first place" discussion that he presents over and over until he reached Jerusalem. What will take first place in your life? The discussion comes to a point in 14: 29. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes even his own life--he cannot be my disciple." Then he gives the two famous "count the cost" illustrations; a man building a house without having funds to finish it and a king going to war against an army that heavily out numbers him. They are fools. Just like the man who thought he had it made because he had wealth, these who begin something without thinking through if they could finish it were fools.
"In the same way (!) any of you who deoes not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple," Jesus says in conclusion. It raises a huge discussion about what it means to be a follower or disciple of Christ. He's given us a kingdom and a mission to spread the kingdom, and if we chose to answer his call to follow him [call...another big discussion] we are making a life choice.
That involves two things, I think.
1) Following Jesus cannot be one of the things I'm doing with my life. It has to be the thing.
2) Following Jesus cannot be a "short term mission". It is a lifetime choice.
In this context I finally begin to grasp the illustration of the salt. "Salt is good," 14:34, "but if it loses its saltiness, how an it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. it is thrown out."
We are the salt of the earth. We are worthless (in following Christ and spreading the kingdom) if we lose the saltiness. The point of the story is not salt; it's following him. If we say we are disciples of Christ but lose the truth of that being lived out in our lives, what are we worth? Nothing. We thought we could follow Christ and then when it became complicated we could change our minds? We are like the ones who did not count the cost and are fools.
Chapter 15. Luke records the three "Lost" parables. Lost sheep. Lost coin. Lost son. The point of the kingdom is finding the lost.
It really brings into focus the scathing judgement Jesus brings upon the pharisees and teachers of the law back in chapter 11. Their life is caught up in external cleanness; ceremonial washing and fanatical tithing. Vs 42: "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God." The end result is in verse 52: "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Woe... painful, sorrowful expression of the wrong choice. External vs internal. And in chapter 12 Jesus warns his followers about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They were supposed to be representatives of the Kingdom of God, but not only did they refuse to go it, the kept others out!
I am writing in circles a little bit here, but this is what I've learned. The kingdom is about finding the lost and it will always, until I die or until Jesus comes back, be about finding the lost. This is not short term missions. This is a life choice. Turning back on this choice hurts the mission. It hinders the progress of the gospel.
And the powerful tool God has given us in being part of that mission is our lives. Not rules. Not judgements. Not programs. Not church meetings. Lives transformed from herb counters to people lovers. God is in us. All we have to do is live so people can see Him.
I found myself back in 1 Peter this week, both because of the impact of Luke's teaching and because of world events. Peter calls us to be Holy lights in a dark place, and remember he wrote during the reign of Nero. "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good. he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? but even if you should suffer for what is right your are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 3:10-15.
What does it mean to follow Christ today? It means having hope, not fear. It means seeking to find the lost, not rallying against them. It means not loving other things... wealth, security, status, comfort, easy living, having our own way.... It means loving Him as the only thing that matters.... because it is the only thing that matters.
In chapter 12 he tells the parable of the Rich Fool, who says, "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and there I will store all my grain and my good. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God said to him...."You fool...." And Jesus comments, "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
The next story is the "don't worry" passage. The sparrows and lilies don't need anything but what God gives them. And Luke records [12:32] "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there our heart will be also." The only treasure is the kingdom; John calls it the pearl of great price.
Jesus has set up a "first place" discussion that he presents over and over until he reached Jerusalem. What will take first place in your life? The discussion comes to a point in 14: 29. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters--yes even his own life--he cannot be my disciple." Then he gives the two famous "count the cost" illustrations; a man building a house without having funds to finish it and a king going to war against an army that heavily out numbers him. They are fools. Just like the man who thought he had it made because he had wealth, these who begin something without thinking through if they could finish it were fools.
"In the same way (!) any of you who deoes not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple," Jesus says in conclusion. It raises a huge discussion about what it means to be a follower or disciple of Christ. He's given us a kingdom and a mission to spread the kingdom, and if we chose to answer his call to follow him [call...another big discussion] we are making a life choice.
That involves two things, I think.
1) Following Jesus cannot be one of the things I'm doing with my life. It has to be the thing.
2) Following Jesus cannot be a "short term mission". It is a lifetime choice.
In this context I finally begin to grasp the illustration of the salt. "Salt is good," 14:34, "but if it loses its saltiness, how an it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. it is thrown out."
We are the salt of the earth. We are worthless (in following Christ and spreading the kingdom) if we lose the saltiness. The point of the story is not salt; it's following him. If we say we are disciples of Christ but lose the truth of that being lived out in our lives, what are we worth? Nothing. We thought we could follow Christ and then when it became complicated we could change our minds? We are like the ones who did not count the cost and are fools.
Chapter 15. Luke records the three "Lost" parables. Lost sheep. Lost coin. Lost son. The point of the kingdom is finding the lost.
It really brings into focus the scathing judgement Jesus brings upon the pharisees and teachers of the law back in chapter 11. Their life is caught up in external cleanness; ceremonial washing and fanatical tithing. Vs 42: "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God." The end result is in verse 52: "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering."
Woe... painful, sorrowful expression of the wrong choice. External vs internal. And in chapter 12 Jesus warns his followers about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They were supposed to be representatives of the Kingdom of God, but not only did they refuse to go it, the kept others out!
I am writing in circles a little bit here, but this is what I've learned. The kingdom is about finding the lost and it will always, until I die or until Jesus comes back, be about finding the lost. This is not short term missions. This is a life choice. Turning back on this choice hurts the mission. It hinders the progress of the gospel.
And the powerful tool God has given us in being part of that mission is our lives. Not rules. Not judgements. Not programs. Not church meetings. Lives transformed from herb counters to people lovers. God is in us. All we have to do is live so people can see Him.
I found myself back in 1 Peter this week, both because of the impact of Luke's teaching and because of world events. Peter calls us to be Holy lights in a dark place, and remember he wrote during the reign of Nero. "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good. he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? but even if you should suffer for what is right your are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 3:10-15.
What does it mean to follow Christ today? It means having hope, not fear. It means seeking to find the lost, not rallying against them. It means not loving other things... wealth, security, status, comfort, easy living, having our own way.... It means loving Him as the only thing that matters.... because it is the only thing that matters.
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