While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you are talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surly you are one of them, for you area a Galilean." He began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about." Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14:66-72) I am not sure there is a more preached upon passage of Scripture than this one. I have heard more self-righteous sermons about how horrible it was for Peter to deny the Lord. With the preacher's finger pointed to the congregation asking us how many times we deny the Lord just like Peter. I have also heard sermons dealing with the humanness of Peter and how we are all weak when temptation strikes. It can almost come across like we can sin all we want because Jesus knows how frail we are. There is a bit of truth in both of those sides, but the focus should not be on Peter's failure but on the Lord's forgiveness! Hallelujah. Jesus already knew Peter was going to stumble big time, but he also knew that he would not make this a habit in the future. Yes, we all sin, but because we are filled with the Holy Spirit the Lord expects us to get beyond those sins. I would like to make a couple of different observations regarding this passage. As I meditated on it, I noticed a couple of things that I had never really thought of. I don't know about you, but I get excited when I see something new in Scripture. First thing I noticed was that pesty little servant girl. That girl was a major pain! She is a servant girl; she has no business in this whole matter of Jesus' arrest. Mark said that she looked at Peter "closely", and then we he moved away she went and followed him out into the entryway. What's up with that? The little brat made a big scene with her big mouth by drawing the attention of others to Peter. Maybe she was trying to "kiss-up" to her boss by finding out some juicy information. It could be that she was just a nasty little mean spirited girl. Let's face it; there are people like that in our world, in your world. They are at work, they live in our neighborhoods, and they even attend church. We have a neighbor down the street that is so nasty that the police have been called out over thirty times to their house. Praise the Lord we are several doors away and don't have to deal with them. It's just best to stay away from some people. You might be thinking, "Well Dan, should we try to build relationships with them and lead them to Christ?" Well, if you are ready to let the hordes of hell into your life and home then go for it. The Bible tells us that there are "God-haters" who are bent on destruction, and that means the destruction of you and your family. No wonder the Apostle Paul admonished us to stay away from mean nasty people who just like to make life miserable for others. Just because someone smiles and uses church words does not mean that they are people that you want to let into your home. Now, the second thing I noticed was Peter's words after he cursed. I have never really thought about how sad they are. Peter said, "I don't know this man you are talking about." That is so sad because I believe Peter was telling the truth-he did not know the man. Have you ever been in one of life's situations where a person changes before your very eyes? How many couples have decided to divorce with the final words of, "I don't even know you anymore" being said? How many friends part company with the words, "I thought I knew you, but I guess I didn't?" It is horrible to think you know someone only to find out you really didn't. Peter thought he had Jesus all figured out. He thought he knew what the plan was for this new Kingdom that Jesus was going bring. He thought that Jesus was Lord, Messiah, and ruler, but in the end Jesus was arrested and led away. What kind of ruler, Messiah, and Lord was Jesus? When asked if he knew Jesus, Peter responds with "I don't know this man, I thought I did but now I guess I never really did." You see, we are blessed with being able to see the "big picture" while Peter only saw that night. Three years of traveling with Jesus now seemed like a total waste of time to Peter. Peter goes back to fishing. The game is over. The dream is gone. Jesus was now only chapter in Peter's life. However, Peter would soon see the "big picture" as well and he would become the leader of the church in every way. Jesus tells us in Matthew that a day will come when He will tell some people that He never knew them. Yes, even though they said the right words, did the right deeds and looked the part, Jesus will walk away from them. If Jesus can say that He did know me, then I can also say that I never knew Him. What a horrible thought! Is there anything in your life right now that is more important than knowing Jesus? No! We have the Holy Spirit, we have the Scriptures and we have 2,000 years of church history to help us know Jesus quite well. We are to be pitied more than Peter if we "don't know this man" as we can and should.
Be blessed,
Dan
Copyright 2008 Eternity Minded Ministries
http://www.eternityminded.org/
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Apology Accepted!
As my wife continues to research my Native American background and in particular the Salinan Tribe, I am often mystified by how much good the Catholic Church did for them while also doing an incredible amount of damage. Because of my interest in the Catholic/Salinan relationship, a more recent apology by a member of the Catholic Church caught my attention. Here is the story.
“At a Mass celebrated last month at the Church of St. Raphael in San Rafael, retired Sacramento bishop, Francis A. Quinn, apologized to the Coast Miwok Indians for what he called the mistreatment of them by Spanish missionaries two centuries ago.
Quinn said that, at the Dec. 15 Mass, “I felt I should express regret that the Miwok were treated unfairly in many ways, although the missionaries were well-intentioned but mistaken and doing only what they had been taught to do in bringing the faith to the Indians.”
I was blessed when I read this story and can certainly understand why the apology was given and accepted. There are many who feel that that Christians should receive an apology like that from the Jews for killing Jesus. At the time of his crucifixion they were certainly the driving force of His death. The Roman government really could have cared less about Jesus until the Jewish leaders started making noise about Him.
In Mark 14:53-65 we read the account of the early trial of Jesus. Remember there were two trials that took place, an ecclesiastical one and a civil one. Each trial had several parts to it which is why we see a variety of players and personalities as we read this account in the four Gospels. But at the end of the day even when Pilate found Jesus lacking guilt, it was the chief priests and officers who first shouted, “Crucify Him.”
In his New Testament Commentary on Mark, Dr. William Hendriksen tells us how the Jewish leaders twisted the law thus leading to the death of Jesus.
“It has been emphasized by various authors that the trial of Jesus was illegal on several technical grounds such as the following: a. No trial for life was allowed during the night. Yet, Jesus was tried and condemned during the hours of 1-3 A.M. Friday, and executed on the Fest, which was forbidden. According to Pharisaic law, no hearings in a case involving capital punishment could ever be initiated on the eve of a major festival like Passover. No conviction was allowed at night. To execute a sentence on the day of one of the great feasts was contrary to established regulations. b. The arrest of Jesus was effected as a result of a bribe, namely, the blood-money which Judas received. c. Jesus was asked to incriminate Himself. d. In cases of capital punishment, Jewish law did not permit the sentence to be pronounced until the day after the accused had been convicted. Such and similar points of law have been mentioned again and again and used as arguments to prove the illegality of the entire procedure against Jesus of Nazareth.”
In this illegal trial the Jewish leaders already had in their mind what they wanted the outcome to be whether the evidence supported it or not. Mark records, “They all condemned him as worthy of death.” And, death is what they got. Pilate buckled under the pressure after his plan to free Jesus failed. In fact it failed so badly that a harden criminal was set free and the Innocent One went to the cross.
In this day of political correctness when everyone is demanding apologies for everything I often here people say that the Jews should apologize for killing Jesus. I don’t know how you feel about that, but I am glad they did kill Jesus. Jesus died for my sin! He was and is the sacrificial Lamb of God. He rose from the grave to prove His deity. He ascended into to heaven to make intercessions for me. He is preparing a place for me right now. He sent the Holy Spirit to fill me. He has brought me into an everlasting relationship with the Trinity. It was God’s plan to from the beginning to have Jesus Christ die for not only the Jews but for the entire planet. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah and Amen!
I was in a service recently where the congregation recited the Apostle’s Creed. It moved me as I reflected on the history of that Creed. Its exact date of writing is not known but we know that Tertullian was quoting it in the second century. Early church fathers often stated that it was written by the twelve apostles on Pentecost, each contributing one line. One thing we do know is that for centuries churches of many faiths have memorized it just as the early church did.
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and the life everlasting.
Amen.
As you can see there are no accusations against the Jews and no apologies demanded. Who needs an aplogy when our hearts are filled with the Spirit of Jesus? Thank God that trial was a farse, end the end it was a gift to us all.
Blessings to you,
Dan
Copyright 2008 Eternity Minded Ministries
http://www.eternityminded.org/
“At a Mass celebrated last month at the Church of St. Raphael in San Rafael, retired Sacramento bishop, Francis A. Quinn, apologized to the Coast Miwok Indians for what he called the mistreatment of them by Spanish missionaries two centuries ago.
Quinn said that, at the Dec. 15 Mass, “I felt I should express regret that the Miwok were treated unfairly in many ways, although the missionaries were well-intentioned but mistaken and doing only what they had been taught to do in bringing the faith to the Indians.”
I was blessed when I read this story and can certainly understand why the apology was given and accepted. There are many who feel that that Christians should receive an apology like that from the Jews for killing Jesus. At the time of his crucifixion they were certainly the driving force of His death. The Roman government really could have cared less about Jesus until the Jewish leaders started making noise about Him.
In Mark 14:53-65 we read the account of the early trial of Jesus. Remember there were two trials that took place, an ecclesiastical one and a civil one. Each trial had several parts to it which is why we see a variety of players and personalities as we read this account in the four Gospels. But at the end of the day even when Pilate found Jesus lacking guilt, it was the chief priests and officers who first shouted, “Crucify Him.”
In his New Testament Commentary on Mark, Dr. William Hendriksen tells us how the Jewish leaders twisted the law thus leading to the death of Jesus.
“It has been emphasized by various authors that the trial of Jesus was illegal on several technical grounds such as the following: a. No trial for life was allowed during the night. Yet, Jesus was tried and condemned during the hours of 1-3 A.M. Friday, and executed on the Fest, which was forbidden. According to Pharisaic law, no hearings in a case involving capital punishment could ever be initiated on the eve of a major festival like Passover. No conviction was allowed at night. To execute a sentence on the day of one of the great feasts was contrary to established regulations. b. The arrest of Jesus was effected as a result of a bribe, namely, the blood-money which Judas received. c. Jesus was asked to incriminate Himself. d. In cases of capital punishment, Jewish law did not permit the sentence to be pronounced until the day after the accused had been convicted. Such and similar points of law have been mentioned again and again and used as arguments to prove the illegality of the entire procedure against Jesus of Nazareth.”
In this illegal trial the Jewish leaders already had in their mind what they wanted the outcome to be whether the evidence supported it or not. Mark records, “They all condemned him as worthy of death.” And, death is what they got. Pilate buckled under the pressure after his plan to free Jesus failed. In fact it failed so badly that a harden criminal was set free and the Innocent One went to the cross.
In this day of political correctness when everyone is demanding apologies for everything I often here people say that the Jews should apologize for killing Jesus. I don’t know how you feel about that, but I am glad they did kill Jesus. Jesus died for my sin! He was and is the sacrificial Lamb of God. He rose from the grave to prove His deity. He ascended into to heaven to make intercessions for me. He is preparing a place for me right now. He sent the Holy Spirit to fill me. He has brought me into an everlasting relationship with the Trinity. It was God’s plan to from the beginning to have Jesus Christ die for not only the Jews but for the entire planet. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah and Amen!
I was in a service recently where the congregation recited the Apostle’s Creed. It moved me as I reflected on the history of that Creed. Its exact date of writing is not known but we know that Tertullian was quoting it in the second century. Early church fathers often stated that it was written by the twelve apostles on Pentecost, each contributing one line. One thing we do know is that for centuries churches of many faiths have memorized it just as the early church did.
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and the life everlasting.
Amen.
As you can see there are no accusations against the Jews and no apologies demanded. Who needs an aplogy when our hearts are filled with the Spirit of Jesus? Thank God that trial was a farse, end the end it was a gift to us all.
Blessings to you,
Dan
Copyright 2008 Eternity Minded Ministries
http://www.eternityminded.org/
Monday, May 12, 2008
I Need You To Do Something
It is with great joy that I send to each week a devotional thought that the Lord has placed on my heart. I have been overjoyed to hear from many of you regarding its impact on your life and the encouragement they bring. Due to my travel schedule, I am not always able to bring you a fresh thought, which is why you often receive excerpts from one of my books. I trust those are meaningful to you as well.
This week I do not have a devotional and in some ways it is on purpose. This week I would like to ask you to do something for me. I need you to pray, and I mean really pray. I need you to pray the prayers that come from your heart, but exit through your mouth. I need you to ask others to pray. Let me tell you why, and no, this is not a pitch or plea for money.
Many of you know that we are doing something groundbreaking for our ministry in Peru. We are returning to same city of Iquitos again, yet to a different district. Last year we ministered in the district of San Juan in Iquitos, and in just a few weeks we will be ministering in the district of Punchana. We believe this is a wonderful way to do ministry as we develop long-term relationships with the pastors and leaders of that city. I can tell you that fruit that we saw last year is fruit that remains to the glory of God. People in Punchana are ready, trained, and excited to begin ministry with us shortly.
With this new strategy for EMM we have also learned something of the devils work, which is why I am pleading for prayer. In years past it seems like we have snuck up on the enemy with our festivals. At times it truly seemed that the devil did not know what we were up to and the mighty power of God fell in fantastic ways. Yes, we have had battles but we had a "foot up" on the enemy because of the surprise element.
This time in Punchana there is no surprise element! Do you understand what I am saying? This time the devil and all the evil forces of that area know who we are and what we are about and when we are coming. They saw us in their city last year and I can promise you they did not like it. Now the evil forces are not only fortified, they are on the offensive. We are seeing the attacks of the devil in ways we have not seen before. These are real. They are not just something in our imagination nor are they something we have invented for our own self-importance. They are real and their attacks are deadly-I mean people have died.
I am getting ready to take 30 people into an area that is teaming with evil and I need prayer for the protection of everyone on our team. God is with us, He will be victorious in the end, but we also know there is a fight ahead. Please, from the bottom of my heart, would you please pray for our ministry in Punchana, Peru June 1-10? I was reminded this week when one of our team members who has been laid low in the hospital told me that she got a word from the Lord. That word to her was, "You have no idea where you are going." She said that word was confirmed by someone else who heard the same thing.
I do not take her words lightly because I have seen the evil even as we make preparations to preach Jesus Christ in an area that is infested with sin. I have a great heaviness on my heart that tells me we are in for a fight. So dear friends, right now, would you begin to pray for us. Pray for the local committee and pastors in Punchana, and pray for those 30 people who are stepping out in faith to minister with us. We need the protection of the angels, the power of the Holy Spirit to do battle, and love of Christ to be our motivation.
I apologize for not sending you a devotional thought this week, but I have felt a compulsion to ask you for your prayerful help. Thank you for supporting us, for loving us and now for praying for us!
God Bless You,
Dan
This week I do not have a devotional and in some ways it is on purpose. This week I would like to ask you to do something for me. I need you to pray, and I mean really pray. I need you to pray the prayers that come from your heart, but exit through your mouth. I need you to ask others to pray. Let me tell you why, and no, this is not a pitch or plea for money.
Many of you know that we are doing something groundbreaking for our ministry in Peru. We are returning to same city of Iquitos again, yet to a different district. Last year we ministered in the district of San Juan in Iquitos, and in just a few weeks we will be ministering in the district of Punchana. We believe this is a wonderful way to do ministry as we develop long-term relationships with the pastors and leaders of that city. I can tell you that fruit that we saw last year is fruit that remains to the glory of God. People in Punchana are ready, trained, and excited to begin ministry with us shortly.
With this new strategy for EMM we have also learned something of the devils work, which is why I am pleading for prayer. In years past it seems like we have snuck up on the enemy with our festivals. At times it truly seemed that the devil did not know what we were up to and the mighty power of God fell in fantastic ways. Yes, we have had battles but we had a "foot up" on the enemy because of the surprise element.
This time in Punchana there is no surprise element! Do you understand what I am saying? This time the devil and all the evil forces of that area know who we are and what we are about and when we are coming. They saw us in their city last year and I can promise you they did not like it. Now the evil forces are not only fortified, they are on the offensive. We are seeing the attacks of the devil in ways we have not seen before. These are real. They are not just something in our imagination nor are they something we have invented for our own self-importance. They are real and their attacks are deadly-I mean people have died.
I am getting ready to take 30 people into an area that is teaming with evil and I need prayer for the protection of everyone on our team. God is with us, He will be victorious in the end, but we also know there is a fight ahead. Please, from the bottom of my heart, would you please pray for our ministry in Punchana, Peru June 1-10? I was reminded this week when one of our team members who has been laid low in the hospital told me that she got a word from the Lord. That word to her was, "You have no idea where you are going." She said that word was confirmed by someone else who heard the same thing.
I do not take her words lightly because I have seen the evil even as we make preparations to preach Jesus Christ in an area that is infested with sin. I have a great heaviness on my heart that tells me we are in for a fight. So dear friends, right now, would you begin to pray for us. Pray for the local committee and pastors in Punchana, and pray for those 30 people who are stepping out in faith to minister with us. We need the protection of the angels, the power of the Holy Spirit to do battle, and love of Christ to be our motivation.
I apologize for not sending you a devotional thought this week, but I have felt a compulsion to ask you for your prayerful help. Thank you for supporting us, for loving us and now for praying for us!
God Bless You,
Dan
Monday, May 5, 2008
Thank God Jesus Was Arrested!
It’s happened again! James Woodard was released from prison last week after being incarcerated for 27 years for a crime he did not commit. The DNA evidence showed that he did not sexually assault nor kill a woman back in 1980. James sat in a courtroom years ago while two witnesses fingered him out as the man they saw committing the crime. Since then, one witness has gone on record to say they lied about it, and the other witness is just not believable because of the distance they were from the crime seen at 3:30am. Mr. Woodard claimed innocence from the beginning, even writing so many letters of appeal that they finally just got tired of hearing from him.
There are countries that I have traveled to where when people are arrested; they are guilty until proven innocent. It is hard for us to fathom that with our system of innocent until proven guilty. Our system however, certainly did not work for Mr. Woodard who is now fifty-five years old. Can you imagine the feelings of being accused and convicted for something that you have never done?
In some ways James Woodard has something in common with Jesus our Lord. A court that was filled with prejudice, distortions, and lies convicted them both. A court that had already made up its mind before it was even concluded convicted them. There is something that they do not share in common though. James Woodard denied the accusations against him. He claimed his innocence from the beginning and stood by that story up until his release from prison last week. On the other hand, Jesus affirmed the accusation that was leveled against Him.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,”” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62) Jesus not only agreed with the accusation but He clarified it. After years of keeping His identity quiet, and not publicly claiming His “messiahship” Jesus clearly answers the question, “Yes, I am the Messiah!”
Maybe his disciples were thinking, “OK, now we are getting somewhere. Lets see what He does now, like call down thousands of angels to take over the Roman army.” However Jesus did nothing except make the claim that He was the long awaited Messiah coming from the very presence of God. James Woodard was condemned by a lie; Jesus was condemned by the truth!
As we begin to read Mark’s account of Christ’s Passion as told to him by Peter, the theme that stands out above all others to me is Amazing Love! There are interesting historical and prophetic facts in the next two chapters, but it is the love of God for us that captures my attention. Now that we find Jesus being abused and ridiculed just as He said would happen, we ponder how He could endure this. Even now in these early “fly by night” trials Jesus was being physically abused. Mark 14:65 says, “Then some began to spit at him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him.”
Peter, as an eyewitness tells us that Jesus never retaliated, never fought back, and never made hateful comments. It is so hard for me to understand love that sacrificed in this way for me and for you. God’s love is always a self-giving love. God continually gives because that is essentially what love does. God gives even the tough stuff of life, as He knows it will bring eternal benefits to our soul. Now as the horrific pain begins, Jesus endures so that He can give to us the gift of redemption! As the blood of Jesus begins to flow so does the gift of life’s meaning for all us. Once alienated from God, through the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, we now can see the big picture. We have come out of the fog.
Dr. Kreeft has put it this way on the meaning of life without God. “If there is no God, there is no ultimate meaning of life. If we came ultimately from nothing and die ultimately into nothing, we are ultimately nothing. If we are made in the image of God, we are the children of the King of Kings. But if we are made only in the image of King Kong, we are only clever apes.”
When Jesus was arrested one can almost imagine that all of heaven stopped to watch. This was the beginning of end for the devil and pain of alienation that he brought to mankind. The arrest of Jesus started the chain of events that would forever change the eternal destiny of mankind. Human souls would now be in harmony with their Creator and understand that they were on a journey home.
Professor Kreeft goes on about the human’s realization that something is missing in life. “Our desire for joy, for a joy we can ever find in this world, even from other people, points to another world (heaven) and another Person (God); for every natural, innate and universal desire corresponds to a reality that can satisfy it. The reality of hunger shows the reality of food; the same is true of the hunger for God and heaven.”
Besides heaven and the eternal presence of God, I would say the greatest gift I have on this earth is the gift of meaning. I wrote about this not long ago. To understand God’s work in history allows me to enjoy this blue planet so much more. Not that I have all the answers to all of my questions, but I know where I came from; I know what I am doing here; and I know where I am going as I journey along.
My heart is so sad for Mr. Woodard and for the 27 years he lost behind bars for a crime he never committed. I can only pray that while in prison the Lord of prisons came into his life bringing him eternal freedom. My heart is also sad for those who have lived a lifetime and never knew why!
In The Name of Jesus,
Dan
Copyright 2008 Eternity Minded Ministries
There are countries that I have traveled to where when people are arrested; they are guilty until proven innocent. It is hard for us to fathom that with our system of innocent until proven guilty. Our system however, certainly did not work for Mr. Woodard who is now fifty-five years old. Can you imagine the feelings of being accused and convicted for something that you have never done?
In some ways James Woodard has something in common with Jesus our Lord. A court that was filled with prejudice, distortions, and lies convicted them both. A court that had already made up its mind before it was even concluded convicted them. There is something that they do not share in common though. James Woodard denied the accusations against him. He claimed his innocence from the beginning and stood by that story up until his release from prison last week. On the other hand, Jesus affirmed the accusation that was leveled against Him.
Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,”” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:61-62) Jesus not only agreed with the accusation but He clarified it. After years of keeping His identity quiet, and not publicly claiming His “messiahship” Jesus clearly answers the question, “Yes, I am the Messiah!”
Maybe his disciples were thinking, “OK, now we are getting somewhere. Lets see what He does now, like call down thousands of angels to take over the Roman army.” However Jesus did nothing except make the claim that He was the long awaited Messiah coming from the very presence of God. James Woodard was condemned by a lie; Jesus was condemned by the truth!
As we begin to read Mark’s account of Christ’s Passion as told to him by Peter, the theme that stands out above all others to me is Amazing Love! There are interesting historical and prophetic facts in the next two chapters, but it is the love of God for us that captures my attention. Now that we find Jesus being abused and ridiculed just as He said would happen, we ponder how He could endure this. Even now in these early “fly by night” trials Jesus was being physically abused. Mark 14:65 says, “Then some began to spit at him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took him and beat him.”
Peter, as an eyewitness tells us that Jesus never retaliated, never fought back, and never made hateful comments. It is so hard for me to understand love that sacrificed in this way for me and for you. God’s love is always a self-giving love. God continually gives because that is essentially what love does. God gives even the tough stuff of life, as He knows it will bring eternal benefits to our soul. Now as the horrific pain begins, Jesus endures so that He can give to us the gift of redemption! As the blood of Jesus begins to flow so does the gift of life’s meaning for all us. Once alienated from God, through the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, we now can see the big picture. We have come out of the fog.
Dr. Kreeft has put it this way on the meaning of life without God. “If there is no God, there is no ultimate meaning of life. If we came ultimately from nothing and die ultimately into nothing, we are ultimately nothing. If we are made in the image of God, we are the children of the King of Kings. But if we are made only in the image of King Kong, we are only clever apes.”
When Jesus was arrested one can almost imagine that all of heaven stopped to watch. This was the beginning of end for the devil and pain of alienation that he brought to mankind. The arrest of Jesus started the chain of events that would forever change the eternal destiny of mankind. Human souls would now be in harmony with their Creator and understand that they were on a journey home.
Professor Kreeft goes on about the human’s realization that something is missing in life. “Our desire for joy, for a joy we can ever find in this world, even from other people, points to another world (heaven) and another Person (God); for every natural, innate and universal desire corresponds to a reality that can satisfy it. The reality of hunger shows the reality of food; the same is true of the hunger for God and heaven.”
Besides heaven and the eternal presence of God, I would say the greatest gift I have on this earth is the gift of meaning. I wrote about this not long ago. To understand God’s work in history allows me to enjoy this blue planet so much more. Not that I have all the answers to all of my questions, but I know where I came from; I know what I am doing here; and I know where I am going as I journey along.
My heart is so sad for Mr. Woodard and for the 27 years he lost behind bars for a crime he never committed. I can only pray that while in prison the Lord of prisons came into his life bringing him eternal freedom. My heart is also sad for those who have lived a lifetime and never knew why!
In The Name of Jesus,
Dan
Copyright 2008 Eternity Minded Ministries
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