When I was a kid, we always looked forward to Christmas. I'll be honest... the presents were a big part of our excitement. About the time I was 7 or 8 years old, we received a package before Christmas from an aunt living in another state. My brother and I were pretty pumped about what it may be. It was a box that was big enough to crank up our imaginations. We talked about what it might be, and tore into it on Christmas morning. Upon opening it, we looked to our parents asked asked what it was. It looked like we had been sent the wrong package, and somewhere there was a pharmaceutical rep opening up an electric racetrack. My dad laughed and said, "Those are vitamins, son." Vitamins? We got vitamins for Christmas? And these weren't even Flintstones vitamins. They were medication grade vitamins. And it was a whole case. It would have supplied a wing of the nursing home for a year. My aunt was a Shaklee distributor. She sold products like vitamins and other things. So either she had a bunch of samples left over, or she needed to buy a case to meet her quota and make diamonds, or she really thought these two boys wanted vitamin D for Christmas. Whatever she thought, I can guarantee you the last option was not viable. We weren't picky kids, but to say we were disappointed would be an understatement. As was our custom, later in the day we called our relatives to wish them a Merry Christmas, and thank them for their gift, if they sent one. I can't tell you how difficult and weird it was for me and my little brother to talk to the aunt on the phone that day. Wishing her a Merry Christmas was easy. But when it came time to thank her for the dozens of bottles of vitamins, I'll admit... my heart wasn't really in it. You can imagine how difficult it would be for an 8 year old boy on Christmas day to say, "Thank you for the case of vitamins." To be honest, we tried them. I remember the vitamin C was not half bad. But some of the other horse pills were bad enough to gag a maggot. I remember specifically telling her, "The vitamin C tastes pretty good." (Things a kid should never have to say on Christmas.) The next year we got another box from the same aunt. Since we were kids and had short memories, my immediate reaction was, "Oh boy... a big box..." Then we realized it was from "Aunt Shaklee." There was literally no anticipation for opening that box on Christmas. I mean, there was the outside chance that the previous year was the ultimate setup to send us the most surprising cool toy gift ever... but no... it was another case of vitamins. Once again, we got on the phone and thanked her for the vitamin C. Aunt Shaklee didn't have any kids. Perhaps she was just trying to unload some overstock. Maybe she really did care about our health. It could be that she thought it better to send vitamins than nothing. I don't know. I never asked her. It may be that in a strange twist of circumstance, the first box was a mistake, but when she heard two little kids thank her for Christmas vitamins she thought she was the coolest aunt ever. I don't know. All I know is that we started to dread the box of what amounted to medicine to boys who would rather try to pull apart a Stretch Armstrong. It became a family joke... like the grandma who would give underwear. Yippee! Gratefully no one in our family gave underwear. We had old socks... but the strongest bones in the neighborhood. Ironically, at this stage of life, I would probably be glad with some vitamins as a present. Aunt Shaklee wasn't wrong... she was just early. The most difficult part of those days was not opening a box of vitamins. It was coming up with the words to say to an aunt who gave the wrong gift. On the other end of the gift spectrum, we have God.. who has given us the perfect gift of salvation in His Son, Jesus Christ. He is exactly what we need, when we need it, all the time. I was lost, but now I'm found... was blind, but now I see. How can I say, "Thank you" for that? The apostle Paul apparently understood the problem of giving thanks for something that is beyond description. So I agree with him when he wrote, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15) Today, as you open up Christ, and He opens up life to you, just be thankful. Be thankful that He is perfect for every stage of your life. Be thankful that He knows what you need as much as He knows what you want. The story continues tomorrow... [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. We don’t know how long Adam and Eve were in Eden before they disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit. However long it was, by the third chapter of Genesis we find God dismissing them from that paradise. As He did, He informed them of the curses that go with sin. The serpent would have to crawl on its belly. Man would have to work much harder to get produce from the earth. And woman would have more difficulty and pain while giving birth to children. But with that curse also came a promise. The offspring of the woman would eventually be struck in the heel by the serpent, and then the head of the serpent would be crushed by the heel of the child. This is the second oldest promise in Scripture. Each generation of women hoped… prayed that their child would be the fulfillment of that promise, defeating the enemy of sin and death. But it would be nearly 4,000 years before that promise was fulfilled. An angel came to young Mary and continued the conversation God had started with Eve. The promise now had a name. “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” (Luke 1:31-33) That seems like a long time for someone to make good on a promise. Mary would herself watch Jesus be struck by the enemy before He crushed the head of Satan. But here we are 2000 years later, celebrating the birth of the Savior who died and rose in victory. He went back to Heaven to be with the father, but not before promising that He would return for His people. Now we actively wait for Him to fulfill that promise. One thing we know… God has proven Himself faithful. So when He makes a promise, it is worth the wait. For those wondering what the oldest promise is... it is actually related, and precipitated the second oldest promise. God had to promise a deliverer because Adam and Eve did not believe God's first promise... "You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.” (Genesis 2:17) So, God's promises are always true. I'm glad His desire is to have us in right relationship with Him. He did not cancel out the first promise, but He provided a workaround with the second promise. Thank God for all of His promises. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. Another Star Wars film opened this week. The Force Awakens is shattering theater records. I'm not a Star Wars fan. But it is a cultural thing, so we will probably go watch another installment. I will say this... Star Wars fans are among the most loyal and rabid on the planet. They like their brand. I mean they really like their brand. And the brand has made a lot of money. The name tells it all. It is a science fiction fantasy. But wait... what if there really was a galactic battle waged for justice and the existence of humanity? It may look something like this... Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and He judges and makes war in righteousness. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on His head. He had a name written that no one knows except Himself. He wore a robe stained with blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it. He will shepherd them with an iron scepter. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Then I saw an angel standing on the sun, and he cried out in a loud voice, saying to all the birds flying high overhead, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of their riders, and the flesh of everyone, both free and slave, small and great.” Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against His army. But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with him the false prophet, who had performed the signs in his presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the abyss and a great chain in his hand. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for 1,000 years. He threw him into the abyss, closed it, and put a seal on it so that he would no longer deceive the nations until the 1,000 years were completed. After that, he must be released for a short time. Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the people who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of God’s word, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with the Messiah for 1,000 years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1,000 years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of the Messiah, and they will reign with Him for 1,000 years. When the 1,000 years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison8 and will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the sea. They came up over the surface of the earth and surrounded the encampment of the saints, the beloved city. Then fire came down from heaven and consumed them. The Devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 19:11 - 20:10) This is actually going to happen. It isn't sci-fi. Talk about your Star Wars. Hollywood cannot come close to depicting this. And what a glorious event. The dark side has had its day, but the eternal Victor is going to crush the enemy of man's soul. In a galaxy not so far away, Jesus will ride in and make things right by destroying all that is wrong. People lined up at theaters for days to get tickets and the best seats to watch a man-made film about the epic battle between good and evil. Are you ready for the return of Jesus Christ? You will either being riding with Him, or crushed by Him. The choice is with you. Decide well, you should. Hmmm... Yes. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. They say Christmas is "the most wonderful time of the year." And this is generally true. But in a broken world, this holiday can be the worst time of the year. For some, 2015 will always be remembered for a tragedy that occurred in their life. For others it was 2014. For others, it was 1954. While we mark the birth of Christ around the same time that we usher in a new year, feelings of elation and anticipation can be overthrown by grief and regret. Christmas gatherings will be less because someone is missing from the table or around the tree. It is not fair for us to expect victims of death, loss, sin, bad choices, etc. to be happy just because we are celebrating a holiday. Just as in life, struggle is just as much a part of the Bible as is victory. The Psalms overflow with the cries of a person in despair who longs for joy. Though grief will occasionally rock our ship, it does not have to determine our course. I can't make someone happy who has experienced the worst life has to offer. But I can offer the greatest hope a broken life can know. Yesterday I posted a passage from the prophet Isaiah. One of the verses hit me hard, so I want to post that again today. This is especially for those who are going to go through some dark valleys this holiday season. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. (Isaiah 9:2) In this prophetic word, the writer does not neglect, diminish or deny the darkness in which all walk at some point. What he does is recognize that darkness is not the conqueror of light. We live in a dark world. But light has dawned. Perhaps you have noticed that hard situations are more difficult to handle in the dark. They seem to crush you. When the day comes... even if the problem is still there, it is easier to push through. The night is crushing. The light is restorative. If you are facing the worst Christmas ever, please know that as you walk through the dark place, if you will look through the tears, you will see a light. His name is Jesus. He doesn't erase the loss... but He can rule over it. You may always remember this as the worst Christmas ever, but know that it will not destroy you if you will walk in the light as it overtakes you. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. When we talk about what it looked like for God to become flesh, we often go to the Gospels of Matthew, Luke and John. Those were eyewitness accounts of what is known as the Incarnation: the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form; the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ. And while their generation was the only one to see it with human eyes, the reality was seen hundreds of years beforehand through very specific prophetic eyes. Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, God gave very specific visions to some of His servants. Here is the way the prophet Isaiah saw the coming of Jesus, and the world into which He would enter... The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before You as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils. For You have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as You did on the day of Midian. For the trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:2-7) Isaiah saw in Jesus a warrior King who advocated and guarded peace for the people. He saw the coming of Jesus as a glorious moment that would change everything for those who would be part of His Kingdom. This wasn't the only picture Isaiah saw of Christ... but it is a snapshot of his view. [Bible quotes are from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, unless otherwise noted.] Find more of David’s work at Heart Of Ministry. |
AuthorMy name is David, and I want to know God more, and help other people find Him. Archives
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