Living in light of eternity

  I’m on the last day of a short mission trip. We were in Chicago for several days before  Memorial Day.  I joined with 65 international students from around the world. It was a great week to visit because of all the vacationers coming to this beautiful city. In the mornings, we had training sessions, encouragement, worship, and motivation. Every afternoon we went out around the city to parks, lakes, college campuses, and other locations where we could easily meet people and engage in spiritual conversations. I think everybody was a bit nervous as we went out, but that nervousness  didn’t last for long. In the parks and locations were people just sitting around with nothing to do. They were very agreeable to talk about philosophical questions, the nature of life, where do you find purpose, and other topics that easily lead into the gospel.    What was surprising to me about this week was how deeply satisfying it was. When I was falling asleep...

Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and  the kingdom of God is at hand ; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mk 1:14-15)   Throughout the Bible we see accounts of God at work.  Certainly, God’s sovereignty is always active, but there seem to be times and places where His influence is more keenly felt. This was true during the earthly life of Jesus.  As the coming King, He often proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom of God.     This term, “The Kingdom of God” primarily refers to God’s kingly power exercised over creation and people. His message and His miracles were demonstrations of His kingly authority.  He had a new message, one that went well beyond the law and the prophets of the Old Testament. And He saw a dramatic response to this message.  Those who responded were literally "pressing into" His kingdom.   Now the Pha...

  Over the years I have noticed a slow transition in church and parachurch ministries.  In the early days discipleship was emphasized as the strategy at the heart of many ministries. Young leaders who were growing in their faith were challenged early to start bible studies with their friends.  About a year after I came to Christ as a freshman in college, I was encouraged to start my own discipleship group.  I asked, “Are you sure I am ready?”  They answered, “Sure.” Previously, I had been led to Christ by an older student at Penn State.  A different student followed me up by sharing the basics of the Christian life with me: assurance of salvation, God’s love and forgiveness, confession of sin, how to be filled with the Spirit and walk in the Spirit, how to pray, etc. He also took me out witnessing on campus.  After showing me how to use a little booklet called the 4 Spiritual Laws, he said to me, “Now you try it.” ...

  Currently, Jesus reigns in the hearts and minds of all who trust in Him.   But one day soon, the kingdoms of this earth will also be under the direct reign and rule of the Lord Jesus Christ.   We see this predicted by the prophet, Daniel. “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed. (Dan 7:13-14) In the book of Revelations, we see a future reign of Christ over all earthly kingdoms.   His reign will be an everlasting one. Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will re...

  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead , so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. (Col 1:18) John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead , and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:4-6) What a wonderful and mysterious title for our Lord and Savior- "the firstborn from the dead".  So, what is meant by the amazing title, and what does it mean for us, as believers? Those who know their Bible will remember people who died, and yet appear to the living.  A striking example is on the Mount of Transfiguration (M...

Therefore when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him; if God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately. “Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ (Jn 13:31-33)   In the Upper Room, Jesus makes a bold statement, “God will also glorify Him in Himself, and will glorify Him immediately."  Certainly Christ is glorified in the upcoming events, but what did He mean that He would be glorified immediately? Following the Upper Room Discourse Jesus is arrested, suffers an ignominious trial, is brutally beaten, scourged, and crucified. The suffering and shame of the cross does not seem to be a very glorious event.  And yet it is.  At the cross Jesus demonstrates his absolute obedience to the will of the Father.  And He not only endures it, but with perfect...

The Upper Room Discourse, found in John chapters 13-16, includes four earth-shaking promises.  In verses John 14:13; 15:7-8; 15:16; and 16:23-24, we have the repeated phrase, "Whatever you ask in My name…":   "Whatever you ask in My name" “If you ask Me anything in My name," "Ask whatever you wish" "Whatever you ask of the Father in My name" "If you ask the Father for anything in My name" "Ask and you will receive The meaning is clear, and compelling.  It is as though He is issuing a blank check.  He is offering them a new kind of resource- prayer in the name of Jesus.  Up until this point, they had never prayed this way. “Until now you have asked for nothing in My name;  ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full."  (Jn 16:24) Now I'm sure the disciples had prayed, just as people around the world pray.  It is common human activity.  But to pray in Jesus' name seems to be something different....