Global warming.
Everyone is talking about it.
And anxious.
But heavens.
That news is old hat.
It is part of the death-dealing news of the creation subject to sin and death, and under the curse.
There is a more up to date news-flash than that.
But it gets so little coverage - in the best way.
You see Christ is Risen from the dead.
He is in the race, at the finishing line, about to make all things new.
And we are looking still at yesterday's out of date news.
No the most up to date news we are ignoring is not Climate Change.
Sure, that may be happening, seriously, and it would be smart to address it.
But let's not ignore the real issues. Hope, has been given. Death has been dealt with. The promise of the regeneration of all things is secure, and at hand.
Rather, let us seek the one who said: 'Come to me...'.
There are a fair few big and small players on the human scene who demand we listen to them. But they ignore this voice, who says 'My yoke is easy and my burden is light'
He has borne the burden of the human race, and of the groaning creation.
We are not called to bear this - of ourselves!
Cease the panic, folks, and seek the One in whom the solution to every dark thing, lies clear and sure. Entrust your souls, (said the once not-so-reliable Peter) to a Faithful Creator. He had at least learned that. And that dear friends, would alter our approach from consumers saving our skins, to contributors, really caring for creation, carefully. Yay.
Up to date news!
Showing posts with label resurrection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label resurrection. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Resurrection Implications - Headline News
Resurrection Implications
The Christian claim is that Jesus rose from the dead, and is now, assuredly, the most important person ever born.
This is headline news, not mere religious clap-trap!
The implications of the resurrection of Jesus are enormous. We need to contemplate them.
We cannot know what these implications are however, apart from the interpetation of the event, by those who were given crucial insight into the meaning of it all.
The Apostles. Who are they? They are those called into Jesus confidence, and given the secrets - or the mysteries - of the kingdom of God. These are not special secrets for a few. But they are open secrets for all to hear - if they will. The Open mystery of the gospel was, and is, to be shouted from the rooftops.
1. Death has been defeated. That can almost sound lame, or like a cliche. But it is an occasion for stunning joy to break out across the human race. What? Death defeated? Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes! The promise of the gospel is for a resurrection body like that of Jesus - truly human, yet full of glory. Glorified. No wonder there is a universal call for people to have faith. Believe it! C'mon it is stunning news.
2. A new hope has been inaugurated for the whole of creation. Not only does Jesus resurrection mean the redemption of our bodies. It also means the 'making new' of all things. This is the power at work in this resurrected man. Just as the beginning of creation was a sovereign action of God - Let there be light - so too is the resurrection of Jesus an act of God's love, indeed of his grace. The whole of creation now awaits the full outworking of Jesus resurrection effects upon the world.
3. A new way of life has been authenticated. Love. Grand triuphant love in theface of evil powers, political powers, liars, murderers, and all deceptive schemes. Jesus is Victor. Love is ultimately triumphant. His love. Now, we love, becase he first loved us. How does this change take place within angry hearts? Answer: the Spirit of God, comes to us, and indwells us, and we find our sins forgiven, our old lives transcended, and finished. We find ourselves to be loved. The outworking of that is simple: we love! Stunning. And it of course takes a little practise to see what that involves. Indeed lots of trials prove love to be true and enduring. Love now endures all things! (Always did).
4. Lordship. Yes. Lordship. Jesus is Lord, or Jesus is King, or Jesus is Mr. President, or Jesus is Prime Minister - of the nations of the world! This is the strength of his resurrection power. As David ruled Israel. The new David rules his eternal Kingdom. All nations are subjects of this new king 'David' - the son of David - Jesus of Nazareth. What this means for us is that we gladly come under his direction and rule. As the One who is simultaneously the eternal son of God, we seek now to do God's will. We are guided by Jesus. And his Father, And his Spirit.
5. Friendship. We are now included in Abraham's family as friends of God. He was said to be the friend of God. So are we. Jesus has called us his friends. End of loneliness. End of inferiority (friends of the co-Creator of the world! Friends in high places!). Friendship is now our way of life
6. Worship and service are virually the same thing in the New Testament. We serve God, Man and creation. We worship God, honour all people, and now seek to uphold and care well for the creation.
So then, what vast implications the resurrection has! There are many more, I know, that we can list.
Prayer: Risen Lord Jesus, help us to be aware of your presence this day, and to do your will in practical things.
As a wise person advised, now 'Eat That Frog'. (Sorry to all frogs). That is, do the things you need to do, first, without procrastination. The idea is, if you 'eat that frog' at the start of the day, everything that follows will seem relatively simple by contrast.
The Christian claim is that Jesus rose from the dead, and is now, assuredly, the most important person ever born.
This is headline news, not mere religious clap-trap!
The implications of the resurrection of Jesus are enormous. We need to contemplate them.
We cannot know what these implications are however, apart from the interpetation of the event, by those who were given crucial insight into the meaning of it all.
The Apostles. Who are they? They are those called into Jesus confidence, and given the secrets - or the mysteries - of the kingdom of God. These are not special secrets for a few. But they are open secrets for all to hear - if they will. The Open mystery of the gospel was, and is, to be shouted from the rooftops.
1. Death has been defeated. That can almost sound lame, or like a cliche. But it is an occasion for stunning joy to break out across the human race. What? Death defeated? Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes! The promise of the gospel is for a resurrection body like that of Jesus - truly human, yet full of glory. Glorified. No wonder there is a universal call for people to have faith. Believe it! C'mon it is stunning news.
2. A new hope has been inaugurated for the whole of creation. Not only does Jesus resurrection mean the redemption of our bodies. It also means the 'making new' of all things. This is the power at work in this resurrected man. Just as the beginning of creation was a sovereign action of God - Let there be light - so too is the resurrection of Jesus an act of God's love, indeed of his grace. The whole of creation now awaits the full outworking of Jesus resurrection effects upon the world.
3. A new way of life has been authenticated. Love. Grand triuphant love in theface of evil powers, political powers, liars, murderers, and all deceptive schemes. Jesus is Victor. Love is ultimately triumphant. His love. Now, we love, becase he first loved us. How does this change take place within angry hearts? Answer: the Spirit of God, comes to us, and indwells us, and we find our sins forgiven, our old lives transcended, and finished. We find ourselves to be loved. The outworking of that is simple: we love! Stunning. And it of course takes a little practise to see what that involves. Indeed lots of trials prove love to be true and enduring. Love now endures all things! (Always did).
4. Lordship. Yes. Lordship. Jesus is Lord, or Jesus is King, or Jesus is Mr. President, or Jesus is Prime Minister - of the nations of the world! This is the strength of his resurrection power. As David ruled Israel. The new David rules his eternal Kingdom. All nations are subjects of this new king 'David' - the son of David - Jesus of Nazareth. What this means for us is that we gladly come under his direction and rule. As the One who is simultaneously the eternal son of God, we seek now to do God's will. We are guided by Jesus. And his Father, And his Spirit.
5. Friendship. We are now included in Abraham's family as friends of God. He was said to be the friend of God. So are we. Jesus has called us his friends. End of loneliness. End of inferiority (friends of the co-Creator of the world! Friends in high places!). Friendship is now our way of life
6. Worship and service are virually the same thing in the New Testament. We serve God, Man and creation. We worship God, honour all people, and now seek to uphold and care well for the creation.
So then, what vast implications the resurrection has! There are many more, I know, that we can list.
Prayer: Risen Lord Jesus, help us to be aware of your presence this day, and to do your will in practical things.
As a wise person advised, now 'Eat That Frog'. (Sorry to all frogs). That is, do the things you need to do, first, without procrastination. The idea is, if you 'eat that frog' at the start of the day, everything that follows will seem relatively simple by contrast.
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