"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way."
Ephesians 1:18-23
Our Savior, Jesus has been given such amazing stength that it is beyond comprehension. God exerted all his mighty power through Christ. He gave him dominion over every rule and authority. There is no title that matches his. This position of honor and power is his through all ages. He will be the same even when his kingdom comes to earth. He will never change. All things have been placed under his feet. He sits at the right hand of our heavenly Father. There is no other authority that can compare to the magnificence of Jesus.
If it were left at that, we would be the most blessed people ever, for we have been given the privilege of serving him. But this is not the end of the story. There is far more to this incredible authority. Through his amazing love for us, he has given us the same power and authority. The apostle Paul prayed that we may KNOW the incredibly great power that Christ has given us who believe. He went on to say that this incomparable power is like the power that God exerted in Christ, when he raised him from the dead. We have been given the same positional power that the Father gave Jesus. The problem we sometimes have is this: We don't BELIEVE we have that power. Notice the verse says, "His incomparably great power for us who BELIEVE." (Emphasis mine). We must believe we have the power he has given us. Only then will we walk in the same power Jesus did.
All spiritual rulers, authorities, powers and dominion are under the feet of Jesus. Therefore, they are under ours as well. I understand that this is a difficult truth to understand. Sometimes we feel more 'beat up' than victorious. But we must realize the power that has been given to us as believers, disciples, and followers of Christ. The last part of the scripture passage says that the church is the fullness of Christ. When we read that in the context of the passage, we understand that Jesus is exerting his power through us, his church. We are his body, getting his work done on the earth.
Let's take the authority given us. Let's believe that we have the power of God in our lives. Let's believe that we are the church, the fullness of Christ. We are getting his work done on the earth. Although he certainly has the authority to do it himself, he has always chosen us, his body, to do the work. He prepared us for it, he equipped us for it, and he empowered us for it. He is the head of the church and we are the body. We must choose to take hold of the authority he has given us before we can use the power that comes along with it. Believe for it, receive it, and then release it so his salvation will go forth into all the world.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Looking for Jesus
"When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, 'Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?' On hearing this, Jesus said, 'It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'"
Matthew 9:11-13
The Bible tells us that in the last days, many will claim to know where Jesus is. They will say, "He is over there." or, "There he is in that church!" Even though many people reject the reality of Jesus, all are looking for him. The desire to see him has been placed in every heart by God himself. You and I have the desire to see him. We long for his appearing. We want to see him come and remove us from this world with a display of power and authority. We may even want to say to the doubters, "I told you so," under our breath. But I wonder if we are looking for Jesus in the right places.
When Jesus walked the earth, he spent much less time in church than he did in the secular world. He was ridiculed for this. The religious people thought it was terrible that he would associate with 'sinners.' He spent much more time with them than he did with those who were deemed 'righteous.' Virtually all his miracles and healings took place outside the temples. He touched those who followed him, those he met on the streets, and those who lived normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill lives. He came to the world to set us all free, and he quite literally lived his life in the world.
If we are looking for the manifestation of Jesus in the church, perhaps we should rethink. It is not the healthy who need the doctor. I think we sometimes look at churches as shelters, a place of refuge from the world. Surely Jesus is there to lift us up, refuel us, and relieve our pain. Of course he is there. He is present because each of us bring him in when we walk through the door. He lives in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. But he is also working in the world. He is manifesting his presence all over the world, not just in the church.
Jesus can be found anywhere you look. He is in the work place, the schools, movie theaters, clubs and bars, sporting events, political meetings, concerts, and homes. Anywhere people are, Jesus can be found. He wants to heal the sick, both spiritually and physically. He wants to redeem those who have yet to receive him. Most of the time, these people are not found in the church. They are found in all the places already mentioned. When we are there, we are bringing Jesus with us. His presence is then found in places we would never think possible. Many more people come to the saving grace of Jesus outside the walls of the church than inside them. So we must adjust where we are looking for him. Just think how powerful it would be if we took Jesus to worldly places. What if we decided to look for him there? His attention is on those who need him the most and they are found in the most unlikely of places. When we begin to think like Jesus, we may find ourselves in those places as well. I'm not suggesting that we compromise our convictions. I believe we won't be tempted to partake of the sin found there, because we are empowered by God to carry our crosses to them, just as Jesus has. Make a decision to look for Jesus to be manifested outside the church. I'm sure you will find him if you look.
Matthew 9:11-13
The Bible tells us that in the last days, many will claim to know where Jesus is. They will say, "He is over there." or, "There he is in that church!" Even though many people reject the reality of Jesus, all are looking for him. The desire to see him has been placed in every heart by God himself. You and I have the desire to see him. We long for his appearing. We want to see him come and remove us from this world with a display of power and authority. We may even want to say to the doubters, "I told you so," under our breath. But I wonder if we are looking for Jesus in the right places.
When Jesus walked the earth, he spent much less time in church than he did in the secular world. He was ridiculed for this. The religious people thought it was terrible that he would associate with 'sinners.' He spent much more time with them than he did with those who were deemed 'righteous.' Virtually all his miracles and healings took place outside the temples. He touched those who followed him, those he met on the streets, and those who lived normal, everyday, run-of-the-mill lives. He came to the world to set us all free, and he quite literally lived his life in the world.
If we are looking for the manifestation of Jesus in the church, perhaps we should rethink. It is not the healthy who need the doctor. I think we sometimes look at churches as shelters, a place of refuge from the world. Surely Jesus is there to lift us up, refuel us, and relieve our pain. Of course he is there. He is present because each of us bring him in when we walk through the door. He lives in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit. But he is also working in the world. He is manifesting his presence all over the world, not just in the church.
Jesus can be found anywhere you look. He is in the work place, the schools, movie theaters, clubs and bars, sporting events, political meetings, concerts, and homes. Anywhere people are, Jesus can be found. He wants to heal the sick, both spiritually and physically. He wants to redeem those who have yet to receive him. Most of the time, these people are not found in the church. They are found in all the places already mentioned. When we are there, we are bringing Jesus with us. His presence is then found in places we would never think possible. Many more people come to the saving grace of Jesus outside the walls of the church than inside them. So we must adjust where we are looking for him. Just think how powerful it would be if we took Jesus to worldly places. What if we decided to look for him there? His attention is on those who need him the most and they are found in the most unlikely of places. When we begin to think like Jesus, we may find ourselves in those places as well. I'm not suggesting that we compromise our convictions. I believe we won't be tempted to partake of the sin found there, because we are empowered by God to carry our crosses to them, just as Jesus has. Make a decision to look for Jesus to be manifested outside the church. I'm sure you will find him if you look.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Valley of Dry Bones
"Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones and say to them, "Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.""
Ezekiel 37:4-6
the prophet Ezekiel lived a completely submitted life before God. He was used to speak the words of God to the people of Israel. Ezekiel testified that God brought him out to stand in the middle of a valley full of dry bones. God asked him a question: "Son of man, can these bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3). Ezekiel did not have the answer, in fact he said that only God could know. But even though he did not know the answer to the question, God used him to speak to the dry bones. As he spoke to them, everything that God said would happen, did.They came to life and joined together. Tendons did come upon them and flesh did indeed cover them. Finally, breath came to them and the word of the Lord was fulfilled.
As is always true of Old Testament prophecies, there is an application for that day and an application for us today. This was a spiritual event. God showed this to Ezekiel so that he would understand the condition of Israel. I think for us, there is a great application as well.
There are many Christians who have been damaged. Some of them because of their own sin, others because they were hurt by other Christians, and some because they were heart by the church. There is figuratively, a valley consisting of brothers and sisters who have become dry bones before God. You may have encountered some of them. They may call themselves 'atheists' or 'agnostics.' They may say, "I will never enter a church again." They may avoid any contact with Christians and even be hostile toward them. Still other people have never come to a relationship with God. It is foreign to them and they want no part of "religion." You may feel like there is little help for these people. They have made decisions that have alienated them from God. They have forsaken God's salvation to live another life. But even though they may seem far away from him, they are not beyond his grace and power.
God desires to gather up these dry bones and create new people out of them. He longs for them to be restored to relationship with him. God is strong enough to give them spiritual muscle and flesh and breath. He is more than enough to fill all their needs. You see, each one of us were also like those who are dry bones. Yet, God reached into the valley, brought our lifeless bones together and created a new person to live in love with him. And just as was the case when he brought Ezekiel to the valley, he used someone to speak that life into our dry bones. Someone spoke the word of the Lord to us and his power was released. He will do the same for others.
Be like Ezekiel. Speak the word of the Lord into the valley of dry bones. You can do this through prayer and you can do it by speaking to those who are hurting. God never gives up on the dry bones, neither should we. No matter how far away from God they seem to be, there is not one who is beyond the redemption of our Lord and Savior. Allow God to use you. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. He will use you to speak and just like Ezekiel, you will see the dry bones come to life. It is a magnificent thought, isn't it? It will become a magnificent reality!
Ezekiel 37:4-6
the prophet Ezekiel lived a completely submitted life before God. He was used to speak the words of God to the people of Israel. Ezekiel testified that God brought him out to stand in the middle of a valley full of dry bones. God asked him a question: "Son of man, can these bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3). Ezekiel did not have the answer, in fact he said that only God could know. But even though he did not know the answer to the question, God used him to speak to the dry bones. As he spoke to them, everything that God said would happen, did.They came to life and joined together. Tendons did come upon them and flesh did indeed cover them. Finally, breath came to them and the word of the Lord was fulfilled.
As is always true of Old Testament prophecies, there is an application for that day and an application for us today. This was a spiritual event. God showed this to Ezekiel so that he would understand the condition of Israel. I think for us, there is a great application as well.
There are many Christians who have been damaged. Some of them because of their own sin, others because they were hurt by other Christians, and some because they were heart by the church. There is figuratively, a valley consisting of brothers and sisters who have become dry bones before God. You may have encountered some of them. They may call themselves 'atheists' or 'agnostics.' They may say, "I will never enter a church again." They may avoid any contact with Christians and even be hostile toward them. Still other people have never come to a relationship with God. It is foreign to them and they want no part of "religion." You may feel like there is little help for these people. They have made decisions that have alienated them from God. They have forsaken God's salvation to live another life. But even though they may seem far away from him, they are not beyond his grace and power.
God desires to gather up these dry bones and create new people out of them. He longs for them to be restored to relationship with him. God is strong enough to give them spiritual muscle and flesh and breath. He is more than enough to fill all their needs. You see, each one of us were also like those who are dry bones. Yet, God reached into the valley, brought our lifeless bones together and created a new person to live in love with him. And just as was the case when he brought Ezekiel to the valley, he used someone to speak that life into our dry bones. Someone spoke the word of the Lord to us and his power was released. He will do the same for others.
Be like Ezekiel. Speak the word of the Lord into the valley of dry bones. You can do this through prayer and you can do it by speaking to those who are hurting. God never gives up on the dry bones, neither should we. No matter how far away from God they seem to be, there is not one who is beyond the redemption of our Lord and Savior. Allow God to use you. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you. He will use you to speak and just like Ezekiel, you will see the dry bones come to life. It is a magnificent thought, isn't it? It will become a magnificent reality!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Good Intentions
"'I tell you the truth,' Jesus answered, 'today--yes tonight--before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.' But Peter insisted emphatically, 'Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.' And all the others said the same."
Mark 14:30&31
There is an old phrase that says, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." This certainly could apply in the context of the above scriptures. Jesus had revealed that he was going to be betrayed into the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. Of course, Judas was the one who betrayed him, but Peter wanted all to know that he certainly would not betray Jesus. I believe that Peter said this with all sincerity. He believed in his own heart that he was willing to die with his master. But the coming night would tell a different story.
Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the chief priests. Judas had already agreed to do it. In the garden of Gethsemane, it happened. He was arrested and taken to stand before the council. Left outside in the courtyard was Peter. After being asked three different times if he was a follower of Jesus, he denied it. The prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled and Peter wept bitterly. Peter wasn't the only one to deny and desert Jesus. All those who were following him also left. When Jesus was taken before the religious jury, he stood alone.
I know that all of us have said the same thing to Jesus as Peter did. We have declared our loyalty to him. But when the pressure is on, do we remain faithful to our promise? For most of us, it is relatively easy to live a Christian life. We are not persecuted, we do not face the death sentence if we declare our faith in Christ. Yet even in this non-threatening environment, we sometimes cower. Like Peter, we deny our allegiance to Jesus. Fortunately, our failed intentions do not need to lead us to hell. The day Jesus died on the cross, the way was made for us to live, in spite of our failures. Peter experienced it, and we experience it today. It is the precious salvation of our lives that Jesus purchased at the cross.
There are many who have remained true to their promise. The disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, endured hardship and persecution even unto death. There are many places in the world that still persecute those who profess their relationship with Christ. And yes, some die for their faith. How can we be so weak that we would deny him when we live in a place of freedom? We are not threatened, but our commitment sometimes lacks depth. Jesus has never forsaken us and he never will. Our covenant relationship with him requires us to be faithful. Let us live in love with Jesus. Let us lift his name high. Let us declare his majesty to all mankind. It is not a time to fail in our good intentions, it is the time to follow him with all our strength. And if we are ever called to give account of our faith in the courts of men, he will stand with us.
Mark 14:30&31
There is an old phrase that says, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." This certainly could apply in the context of the above scriptures. Jesus had revealed that he was going to be betrayed into the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. Of course, Judas was the one who betrayed him, but Peter wanted all to know that he certainly would not betray Jesus. I believe that Peter said this with all sincerity. He believed in his own heart that he was willing to die with his master. But the coming night would tell a different story.
Jesus was betrayed into the hands of the chief priests. Judas had already agreed to do it. In the garden of Gethsemane, it happened. He was arrested and taken to stand before the council. Left outside in the courtyard was Peter. After being asked three different times if he was a follower of Jesus, he denied it. The prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled and Peter wept bitterly. Peter wasn't the only one to deny and desert Jesus. All those who were following him also left. When Jesus was taken before the religious jury, he stood alone.
I know that all of us have said the same thing to Jesus as Peter did. We have declared our loyalty to him. But when the pressure is on, do we remain faithful to our promise? For most of us, it is relatively easy to live a Christian life. We are not persecuted, we do not face the death sentence if we declare our faith in Christ. Yet even in this non-threatening environment, we sometimes cower. Like Peter, we deny our allegiance to Jesus. Fortunately, our failed intentions do not need to lead us to hell. The day Jesus died on the cross, the way was made for us to live, in spite of our failures. Peter experienced it, and we experience it today. It is the precious salvation of our lives that Jesus purchased at the cross.
There are many who have remained true to their promise. The disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, endured hardship and persecution even unto death. There are many places in the world that still persecute those who profess their relationship with Christ. And yes, some die for their faith. How can we be so weak that we would deny him when we live in a place of freedom? We are not threatened, but our commitment sometimes lacks depth. Jesus has never forsaken us and he never will. Our covenant relationship with him requires us to be faithful. Let us live in love with Jesus. Let us lift his name high. Let us declare his majesty to all mankind. It is not a time to fail in our good intentions, it is the time to follow him with all our strength. And if we are ever called to give account of our faith in the courts of men, he will stand with us.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Healer
"I am the Lord tht healeth thee."
Exodus 15:26 (KJV)
God spoke these words to the Israelites when they were about to leave Egypt. They had been in bondage to the /Egyptians for hundreds of years. God sent Moses to lead them, but he was not their deliverer, God was. So healing is not simply physical, it is really a deliverance. He told them that he was their healer, which assured them that he was going to release them from slavery. In God' s eyes, healing in multi-faceted.
All of us are in need of some kind of healing. It may be physical, emotional, or spiritual. There is only one source for our healing, God himself. Whatever our needs are, we must present them to God and allow him to provide the necessary healing. The Israelites had been crying out for deliverance and God responded by calling Moses to their aid. From the most unlikely of sources, the healing was extended.
Some are struggling with the promise of healing. I have talked to many people who have told of miraculous healings in their bodies. I have also spoken with many who have cried out for healing, but not received it. So what is the answer? Why are some healed and others not? The only one who can truly answer this question is God himself. His will is so far above what we can understand that our only choice is to leave it all in his hands. I understand this is difficult. We read about the many healings Jesus performed and we believe for the same things to happen to us. Yet sometimes the healing doesn't come. Let me reassure your heart today.
If healing hasn't presented itself in your life, it is not necessarily because you are doing something wrong. God knows your need better than you know it yourself. His timing is perfect and his plan is unshakable. Even if he chooses to draw you to heaven, it is his decision, his true healing for you. Remember, the healing process is far more inclusive than just our bodies. God is concerned about eternity. He is concerned with the best outcome for us and others. Be persistent in prayer, be honest with God, but leave the results to him. He truly is the God who heals us and he has the perfect answer. Trust him, the day of healing and deliverance is on its way!
Exodus 15:26 (KJV)
God spoke these words to the Israelites when they were about to leave Egypt. They had been in bondage to the /Egyptians for hundreds of years. God sent Moses to lead them, but he was not their deliverer, God was. So healing is not simply physical, it is really a deliverance. He told them that he was their healer, which assured them that he was going to release them from slavery. In God' s eyes, healing in multi-faceted.
All of us are in need of some kind of healing. It may be physical, emotional, or spiritual. There is only one source for our healing, God himself. Whatever our needs are, we must present them to God and allow him to provide the necessary healing. The Israelites had been crying out for deliverance and God responded by calling Moses to their aid. From the most unlikely of sources, the healing was extended.
Some are struggling with the promise of healing. I have talked to many people who have told of miraculous healings in their bodies. I have also spoken with many who have cried out for healing, but not received it. So what is the answer? Why are some healed and others not? The only one who can truly answer this question is God himself. His will is so far above what we can understand that our only choice is to leave it all in his hands. I understand this is difficult. We read about the many healings Jesus performed and we believe for the same things to happen to us. Yet sometimes the healing doesn't come. Let me reassure your heart today.
If healing hasn't presented itself in your life, it is not necessarily because you are doing something wrong. God knows your need better than you know it yourself. His timing is perfect and his plan is unshakable. Even if he chooses to draw you to heaven, it is his decision, his true healing for you. Remember, the healing process is far more inclusive than just our bodies. God is concerned about eternity. He is concerned with the best outcome for us and others. Be persistent in prayer, be honest with God, but leave the results to him. He truly is the God who heals us and he has the perfect answer. Trust him, the day of healing and deliverance is on its way!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Whose Strength?
"You have eaten the fruit of deception, because you have depended on your own strength."
Hosea 10:13b
If there is one thing I hear God speaking to me as I enter the new year, it is this: "Stop depending on your own strength." I have been doing this very thing for the majority of my life and I have found that doing so is a miserable failure. I have believed the deceptive illusion that my strength is absolutely necessary to be successful in life. But the truth is exactly the opposite. To be successful in life requires me to lean on and fully receive the strength of God. My strength is not sufficient. It never has been, and it will never be.
There have been times when I have believed I was depending on the strength of God, only to find out that I was really filtering it through my own strength. This too, fails me. There is a great step that I must take. I must forsake my own strength for the sake of his. Once I do this, I need to exercise my faith to know that He is more than enough for me. Sometimes I think God's strength is not being exerted properly. He doesn't seem to be doing what I need him to do. So I engage myself into the situation and begin to live by my own strength. I think things like: I can get more money. I can be a better husband and father. I can make the necessary changes to my life. But reality strikes me like a hammer: On my own, I can do none of these things.
Let me make this clear: I am not shirking responsibility. I know that ultimately, I must make the choices that will change my life and circumstances. This is the way God has ordained it. It is not responsibility I must give up, it is the false pride of my own strength that I must forsake.
God has given each of us an incredible gift. The gift is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that he (the Holy Spirit) would be our Helper. This is where the strength of the Lord comes from. When I was young, I sometimes helped bring bales of hay into the barns for winter food for the animals. The bales weighed 70 to 80 pounds. It was difficult to hoist them over my head to the hay loft above. In some barns there was a pulley system. It consisted of ropes wrapped around moving steel pulleys that rolled as the rope was pulled. One person could easily pull a bale of hay into the hay loft. The rope pulley did the majority of the heavy lifting. The person simply provided the initial momentum. It was a help that made the job much easier. I think of this often when I think of the Holy Spirit. Although I must do my part to recognize the areas that need to be changed or corrected, I cannot do it myself. My strength will fail. But the Holy Spirit will come alongside and allow me to be successful with the help of the Lord. he provides the strength, I provide the willing hands.
Ask yourself this important question: Whose strength are you depending on? If it is your own, you are destined to fail. But if you will allow the Holy Spirit to provide the strength of God, you will be successful. You must have the desire, he will provide help in your weakness. It is a question we must all answer. It is key to our Christian lives. We must have the courage to surrender. His strength will bring success!
Hosea 10:13b
If there is one thing I hear God speaking to me as I enter the new year, it is this: "Stop depending on your own strength." I have been doing this very thing for the majority of my life and I have found that doing so is a miserable failure. I have believed the deceptive illusion that my strength is absolutely necessary to be successful in life. But the truth is exactly the opposite. To be successful in life requires me to lean on and fully receive the strength of God. My strength is not sufficient. It never has been, and it will never be.
There have been times when I have believed I was depending on the strength of God, only to find out that I was really filtering it through my own strength. This too, fails me. There is a great step that I must take. I must forsake my own strength for the sake of his. Once I do this, I need to exercise my faith to know that He is more than enough for me. Sometimes I think God's strength is not being exerted properly. He doesn't seem to be doing what I need him to do. So I engage myself into the situation and begin to live by my own strength. I think things like: I can get more money. I can be a better husband and father. I can make the necessary changes to my life. But reality strikes me like a hammer: On my own, I can do none of these things.
Let me make this clear: I am not shirking responsibility. I know that ultimately, I must make the choices that will change my life and circumstances. This is the way God has ordained it. It is not responsibility I must give up, it is the false pride of my own strength that I must forsake.
God has given each of us an incredible gift. The gift is the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that he (the Holy Spirit) would be our Helper. This is where the strength of the Lord comes from. When I was young, I sometimes helped bring bales of hay into the barns for winter food for the animals. The bales weighed 70 to 80 pounds. It was difficult to hoist them over my head to the hay loft above. In some barns there was a pulley system. It consisted of ropes wrapped around moving steel pulleys that rolled as the rope was pulled. One person could easily pull a bale of hay into the hay loft. The rope pulley did the majority of the heavy lifting. The person simply provided the initial momentum. It was a help that made the job much easier. I think of this often when I think of the Holy Spirit. Although I must do my part to recognize the areas that need to be changed or corrected, I cannot do it myself. My strength will fail. But the Holy Spirit will come alongside and allow me to be successful with the help of the Lord. he provides the strength, I provide the willing hands.
Ask yourself this important question: Whose strength are you depending on? If it is your own, you are destined to fail. But if you will allow the Holy Spirit to provide the strength of God, you will be successful. You must have the desire, he will provide help in your weakness. It is a question we must all answer. It is key to our Christian lives. We must have the courage to surrender. His strength will bring success!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
The Purpose of Life
"Let me go to my Father's house."
Pope John Paul II
The date was April 2, 2005. Tens of thousands had gathered in Vatican City as the pope lay on his death bed. It was only a few days after Easter. Pope John Paul II had courageously leaned on the balcony railing, propping himself up to deliver a short Easter address to the adoring crowd. But now his days on earth were over. As he was literally breathing his last, he spoke these words to his two faithful assistants. Life was over, the battle done, the victory won. It was time to go to his Father's house.
When I think about these words, emotions overwhelm me. This was a man who had devoted his entire life in the service of his Father. Though millions would call him father, he knew who his Father was. The God and Father of us all was awaiting him. God had prepared a place especially for him and it was time to enter in. The man who had led millions of Catholics here on earth was about to bow before his Father in heaven.
I am emotional because what the pope experienced on that day is the entire purpose of life. He had lived a long life. Everything he had done, everything he had accomplished, boiled down to this one moment. It was time to meet the Father. All of us are appointed to be born and to die. In between those times, we live for God as best we can. We accomplish his will, listen to the Holy Spirit, raise families, help others, and seek his kingdom with all our hearts. But all of this is done for only one reason: We long to meet our Father face to face. When we simplify our thoughts and take a reckoning of our lives, this is the only thing that will be important. The pope knew that he would meet his Father because he had walked the way offered by Jesus himself. He received the forgiveness of sin and he had already been reconciled to his Father. And so it is with everyone who has ever walked the earth. Eternity for each one has been determined, not by our loving God, but by the decisions of each man and woman. God has offered us life, he has offered us a place in his house. But the choice to take it has been fully placed with us.
As we enter a new year, we should reflect on the true meaning and purpose of our lives. It is not to gain eternal points with God. It is not to live a religious life. It is not to collect earthly wealth. Our lives are meant to be lived so that on the day appointed for us to move on, we will also say, "Let me go to my Father's house." Our lives are important. The time we spend on this earth is of eternal significance. God is intimately interested in what we do here. Our relationship with him is established as we walk the sometimes difficult road of life. He longs to deliver his Kingdom to us here. He is relentless in his pursuit of our hearts. This year, may we understand that God is for us. As we run the race of life with strength and perseverance, we are running toward a goal. The goal is the complete and overwhelming presence of the Lord, the time when we see him face to face. This is the one and only true purpose of life.
Pope John Paul II
The date was April 2, 2005. Tens of thousands had gathered in Vatican City as the pope lay on his death bed. It was only a few days after Easter. Pope John Paul II had courageously leaned on the balcony railing, propping himself up to deliver a short Easter address to the adoring crowd. But now his days on earth were over. As he was literally breathing his last, he spoke these words to his two faithful assistants. Life was over, the battle done, the victory won. It was time to go to his Father's house.
When I think about these words, emotions overwhelm me. This was a man who had devoted his entire life in the service of his Father. Though millions would call him father, he knew who his Father was. The God and Father of us all was awaiting him. God had prepared a place especially for him and it was time to enter in. The man who had led millions of Catholics here on earth was about to bow before his Father in heaven.
I am emotional because what the pope experienced on that day is the entire purpose of life. He had lived a long life. Everything he had done, everything he had accomplished, boiled down to this one moment. It was time to meet the Father. All of us are appointed to be born and to die. In between those times, we live for God as best we can. We accomplish his will, listen to the Holy Spirit, raise families, help others, and seek his kingdom with all our hearts. But all of this is done for only one reason: We long to meet our Father face to face. When we simplify our thoughts and take a reckoning of our lives, this is the only thing that will be important. The pope knew that he would meet his Father because he had walked the way offered by Jesus himself. He received the forgiveness of sin and he had already been reconciled to his Father. And so it is with everyone who has ever walked the earth. Eternity for each one has been determined, not by our loving God, but by the decisions of each man and woman. God has offered us life, he has offered us a place in his house. But the choice to take it has been fully placed with us.
As we enter a new year, we should reflect on the true meaning and purpose of our lives. It is not to gain eternal points with God. It is not to live a religious life. It is not to collect earthly wealth. Our lives are meant to be lived so that on the day appointed for us to move on, we will also say, "Let me go to my Father's house." Our lives are important. The time we spend on this earth is of eternal significance. God is intimately interested in what we do here. Our relationship with him is established as we walk the sometimes difficult road of life. He longs to deliver his Kingdom to us here. He is relentless in his pursuit of our hearts. This year, may we understand that God is for us. As we run the race of life with strength and perseverance, we are running toward a goal. The goal is the complete and overwhelming presence of the Lord, the time when we see him face to face. This is the one and only true purpose of life.
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