Category: Righteousness

  • The Journey

    Our faith walk isn’t dessigned to be static

    The Christian faith is in many ways a journey to our new home in the kingdom of heaven. It’s where the citizenship of all believers is held, and our inheritance is.

    Jesus speaks of the kingdom of heaven repeatedly in the gospel accounts. In Luke 9:27, He says, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.” (see also the parallel accounts in Matthew 16:28, Mark 9:1)

    He also speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven being near.

    From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 ESV

    Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14-15 ESV

    Knowing that we can ask when the Kingdom of Heaven arrives. It isn’t an easy question to answer.

    The kingdom has always existed because God is the sovereign ruler of the universe. He created it all and rules over it.

    There is also a sense that it arrived with Jesus and His work. The disciples got a taste at the transfiguration. You could argue that it came at His death and resurrection when our sins were paid. You might also say that it came at Pentecost, when the Spirit ushered in a new era of power.

    You could make the case that the kingdom is not yet in its full form. At the culmination of all things, all believers will be with the Lord, and the kingdom will be uncontested.

    The kingdom is like many things in Christianity, now and not yet. We are justified (saved) when we accept Christ, yet our election was made before the creation of time. Throughout this life, we are being sanctified (made holy as he is holy). Ultimately, we will be glorified (made fully holy and the way God intended us to be).

    Our faith walk is a journey during which we will see and understand more of God’s character and experience greater glimpses of what it means to be in the kingdom.

    Our calling is from God, and our destination is secure. The vista before us is ever-changing. We are secure in the Lord, no matter what we face along the way.

    As we travel along the path, rejoice and enjoy the journey with all of its ups and downs, knowing what awaits will be better than anything along the way.

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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  • Avoid Rabbit Trails – Remember what the church is called to do

    Young Cottontail rabbit on grass

    Often, we get sidetracked on our walk with the Lord and pulled down any number of rabbit trails. It can even start with good things, but before long, we find ourselves tangled in the brush, covered in scratches, and wondering which way to turn next. We may even have completely lost sight of both our original goal and the path back.

    We can get lost in arguing about unimportant doctrines and practices. Now, before you get your hackles up, let me assure you that I am all for sound doctrine and wish that the “average Christian in the pew” knew what they believed and why they believed it better than they do. There is an appalling level of biblical illiteracy and doctrinal weakness within the church as a whole.

    Having said that, there are many divisions within the church over unimportant and trivial matters. While admonishing Timothy about sticking to sound doctrine, he also warned him about foolish arguments.

    Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 ESV

    In all likelihood, the Lord does not care what color the sanctuary carpet and walls are. Yet many churches have been decimated by arguments over such things. Should the pastor weigh a suit, a robe, or blue jeans? Again, I suspect the Lord probably does not care if the truth is being proclaimed and people are being drawn to Him. Yet, I know pastors who have been admonished because their shoes were not shiny enough.

    Another is the exact timing and nature of the second coming. Will we be raptured? If so, when? This is great material for discussion and has strong opinions from all sides. Ultimately, we will not know until He comes back or we join Him in the air. So why do we not accept it as an area where good and godly people can disagree?

    Bible translations are yet another. Oh, I can already feel the hate mail being typed. Some translations are superior to others, and a translation beats a paraphrase hands down (for accuracy, although not always for ease of reading) … yet even a poor paraphrase that is being read beats no Scripture or a great translation that sits on the shelf gathering dust. Yet churches divide over such things. Lighten up people! Jesus never spoke a word of English during his entire life on earth. All translations are people’s best efforts to be faithful to the truth.

    Let us stick to winning people to Jesus, ministering to them, equipping them to minister, and sending them out. Let us not wander into the rabbit trail of foolish arguments and, in avoiding those trails, avoid the snares of the devil.

    Until next time, as someone once said, “Remember to keep the main thing the main thing.”

    Be blessed

    Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

    Kevin

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