Jesus' Return Could Be Today!

A week ago I promised to explore with you how apostasy is THE SIGN of our time, the Sign pointing to the imminent return of Christ. But I got sidetracked a bit. This is because I'm currently serving as the Interim Pastor of a Lutheran congregation seeking their next pastor. And I'm finding again that parish work is quite demanding.

Anyway, it seems best to pursue the answers to the questions about the signs of Christ's return from Holy Scripture. So I turn to Paul's letters to the Thessalonians. The epistles to the Thessalonians are certainly two of the most ancient Christian documents in existence. They are typically dated c. 50/51 AD. They are universally accepted as authentic letters of Paul. We believe they were written by him from Corinth a few months after he founded a congregation there.

Thessalonica was located at the intersection of two major Roman roads, one leading from Italy eastward (Ignatia Way) and the other from the Danube to the Aegean. Thessalonica’s location and use as a port made it a prominent city. In 168 BC it became the capital of the second district of Macedonia and later it was made the capital and major port of the whole Roman province of Macedonia (146 BC).

Paul writes in the fifth chapter of his first letter these words: 

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night (Matt. 24:43). While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. - 1Th 5:1-6 ESV

I wrote in an earlier blog about the day of the Lord (masculine genitive):

. . . the Greek word for Lord—Kyrios—has two different ways of saying ‘of the Lord.’ When Kyrios ends with a feminine genitive (genitive means ‘belonging to’), it refers to the day of the week that particularly belongs to the Lord, Sunday. When it ends with a masculine genitive it refers to that final day when the Lord will return. That day is also his, of course. 

That Day of the Lord, the day of judgment when time as we now know it will end, will come as a thief in the night. However, for now, each Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the day when the church openly gathers to celebrate his first coming, to be blessed by his present coming in the Word and the Supper and to anticipate the Day of the Lord when he will return to complete the great work of salvation. On Sunday the church receives a foretaste of the marriage feast that is yet to come (Luke 13:28-30).

I also wrote about the many failed predictions of exactly when that Day of the Lord will take place. And indeed there have been many. You may even remember that back in 2010 there was quite a stir about that day happening in 2012. Perhaps if Paul were writing to us today he would say the same thing he said to his young Thessalonian congregation: "you have no need to have anything written to you, for you are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."

A couple years ago I literally experienced that thief in the night when I awoke to discover my brand new generator had been stolen from my carport. Unfortunately I had not chained it down and the thieves had easy access. Needless to say, I learned an important lesson. Be prepared for thieves at all times. That's the same lesson Paul is pushing with the Thessalonians. Quit looking around for some sign about the when of Christ's return. Be ready at all times. It could be today!

Search Paul's letters and you will not find him talking about signs of Christ's return. He does speak negatively about the Jews seeking signs proving Jesus to be the Messiah:

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, - I Cor 1:22-23 ESV

For the Jews the coming of the Messiah would mean that the time had arrived for their earthly kingdom to be restored by God. That in itself was a confused understanding of the Messiah's role, as Jesus pointed out to Pontius Pilate:

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." - Jhn 18:36 ESV

Instead of focusing upon some worldly kingdom, keep focused upon the true nature of Christ's kingdom and His imminent return, writes Paul. Remember who you are, children of light and not of darkness. Light is a common analogy for God's revelation in Christ and for those who have Christ living in their hearts.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - Jhn 8:12 ESV 

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. - Mat 5:14 ESV

As the Lord said, darkness refers to the ways of the world and those who follow the prince of this world.

So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. . . 

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. - Jhn 12:35, 46 ESV

This is why we don't need someone to write to us about times and seasons and about when Christ will return. We have the Light and we wait expectantly at all times for His return. It could be today! Even so, Come Lord Jesus! (I Cor. 16:22).

Praying For God's Kingdom To Come

As noted in yesterday's blog, Jesus came to depose the devil from his throne. The devil had successfully taken over control of the people of this world and become their god, even when they did not know they were worshipping him. Now a new king has appeared, the rightful ruler. And we are taught by the  true King! to pray, "Your kingdom come!"

The true LORD and God, Jesus the Messiah, has begun His reign. So we join the people of Jerusalem who welcomed Him into Jerusalem with their prayer: Hallelujah—LORD save us! Save us from our folly, from the powers of darkness, from the craziness of a world that worships those powers! Set us free to be children of God (Romans 8:20-21).

From an early 1900's Bible card illustration

Already that is happening. His Spirit is at work through His Word, calling us to faith and leading us to follow where He leads. So we are sent back into the world, not to be of the world, but to be in the world with the Good News. This is our calling, our vocation. Peter writes about it in this manner:

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. - 1Pe 2:4-12 ESV

I'll not expound in detail upon what Peter says above. Only note that he emphasizes that we who acknowledge Jesus as the true King understand that we gave been called out of darkness into His marvelous light! We have received undeserved mercy in Christ. What follows is that we abandon the ways of the world, what Peter calls the passions of the flesh. These passions wage war against our very souls. So in deep humility we follow Christ the King wherever He sends us to live honorable lives. Our purpose in all of this is that the people of the world (who are not yet God's people), may see our good deeds and give God the glory on the great day when Christ returns in glory.

So teaches also the Apostle Paul,

For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name." And again it is said, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people." And again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him." - Rom 15:8-11 ESV 

We who have been adopted into the people of God go then out into the world to live out our vocations, our varied callings—father, mother, business person, doctor, nurse, lawyer, soldier, and on and on—under the kingship of the true King. The "Gentiles" are watching our good deeds. Through this witness, we pray that the kingdom of God may come indeed, also among them. And so together we shall rejoice and praise the LORD forever and ever. 

The March Into Darkness And Death

In a couple weeks I will join a congregation I helped to found in Minnesota as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. All this has caused me to look back on how much things have changed since I served that congregation in the early 1960's. I will focus particularly on how we Americans, in the name of freedom, are radically altering our views on sex, marriage, family and home. In the USA several states have changed the very definition of marriage . Since 2004 six have legalized same-sex marriages. Nine still prohibit same-sex marriage in statute and thirty prohibit it in their constitution. But prominent politicians insist that gay marriage must become legal everywhere, because "marriage equality is the next big step in America's long march of freedom."

Is this "long march of freedom" truly a march toward the Light or rather a headlong plunge into the bondage of darkness?

Yesterday I called attention to Jesus' claim to be the Light of the world and his promise that those who follow him will not walk in darkness (John 8:12). What does he mean by darkness and how is he even now freeing us who follow him from it? Listen to what He says to us in his Word:

"The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. - Jhn 12:35 ESV

John comments about this further in his letter.

Whoever says "I know him" (Jesus) but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. - 1Jo 2:4-11 ESV

And where are we going when we throw away the Biblical definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman for life (Gen. 2:23; Eph. 5:21-30)? Jesus says that those who adopt this position do not indeed know where they are going. Israel's clash with Midian is a case in point—given for our learning. Isaiah's prophecy about the Messiah bringing light points back to it.

For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. - Isa 9:4 ESV

Listen to John in the Bible's final book as he also looks back on that part of Israel's history. Of the church in Pergamum he writes:

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 'The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. ... But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. - Rev 2:12, 14 ESV

Balaam was a false prophet commissioned by Balak, the king of Moab, and the elders of Midian (countries east of the Jordan river) to call down a curse from God upon Israel as they approached the Land of Promise. But Balaam was unable to do so when the Spirit of God came upon him, forcing him to speak a blessing instead (Num. 22:1-24:25). The story seems to end as Balaam and Balak go their separate ways in frustration. They could not prevent Israel from conquering the land, nor could they call God's curse down upon them. But was there another way to destroy the nation? Yes, said Balaam. Tempt them with sex! Tempt them to worship Baal and his goddess (Num. 31:16).

A few chapters further into Numbers we read about how Israel fell into that temptation and forced God's curse to come down them.

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel." And Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor." - Num 25:1-5 ESV

The whoring Moses writes about was committed with cult prostitutes. The worship of their supreme god Baal and his consort, the fertility sex-goddess Asherah, was celebrated by having sex with such cultic prostitutes. Everything about loving only the LORD and being faithful in marriage was out the window. The very foundation of their faith in the LORD and of home and family was being destroyed by such acts. This is why Moses commanded drastic measures by the judges of Israel, "Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor."

But this darkness did not go away. The temptations persisted. Finally, before Moses died, the LORD gave this command:

The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people." So Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian to execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian." - cf. all of Num 31:1-3 ESV

Thus Midian was wiped out. The men, boys and mature women were slaughtered. Only virgins and little girls were spared. And so, for a time the darkness was dispelled.

America is well on the road back to Midian. So much of our life is a worship of false gods. The worship of the same sex goddess and her cultic prostitutes not only persists but is promoted in all of the media. Samples:

• Music continues to be a major source of sexual suggestiveness. In one study, 40% of lyric lines contained sexual material, and only 6% contained healthy sexual messages.14 An analysis of the 279 most popular songs in 2005 revealed that 37% contained sexual references and that degrading sexual references were common.15

• Virtually every R-rated teen movie since the 1980s has contained at least one nude scene and, often, several instances of sexual intercourse (e.g. the American Pie movie series).16 Teen movies also contain distorted views of romance and normal adolescent sexuality.16,–,18

To walk in such darkness is hate your brother, your sister, your children, your family and your community. This is not the road to freedom. It is the road to slavery and death. The warnings from God's Word are clear. The road to sexual freedom leads to chaos, confusion and death on all levels of community and family life. We must pray for and encourage those who make our laws—and those of us who vote for or against them—to realize this.

Many of us have a story to tell about such darkness and how it has brought pain and suffering into our marriages and families.

What Shall We Say About Vampires?

76, 900,000! That's how many sites popped up as soon as I did a Google search on moon vampire! Wild! And weird. Girls can go to YouTube and see a demonstration on how to do makeup to look like
new moon vampire Jane. Everyone is invited to play Play Full Moon Vampire a Free Game at Fupa Games. Vampires ruled the night at the MTV Movie Awards. And on and on and on. 

What's this all about? Why the popularity and fascination with vampires and the moon?  Vampires are evil and evil fascinates. And these poor vampires need normal people. Even though they have their own doubts about killing and drinking blood, they still need us. They are lonely.

The exciting thing, especially for youth, is that they challenge established ways of thinking, organized religion, racial and class prejudices. They seem so wise and above the adults with their narrow ways. Vampires are beyond all that. They have no restrictions about monogamy or sexuality. Anything goes. They are the dark and powerful beings of the night.

What's more, vampires defy death; they are eternal and forever young. And so they attract youth who want to believe they too will or can, somehow, live forever.

Wikipedia says this of vampires,

Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person/being. Although vampiric entities have been recorded in many cultures, and may go back to "prehistoric times", the term vampire was not popularized until the early 18th century, after an influx of vampire superstition into Western Europe from areas where vampire legends were frequent, such as the Balkans and Eastern Europe,[8]although local variants were also known by different names, such as vrykolakas in Greece and strigoi inRomania. This increased level of vampire superstition in Europe led to mass hysteria and in some cases resulted in corpses actually being staked and people being accused of vampirism. . . 

With the arrival of Christianity in Greece, and other parts of Europe, the vampire "began to take on decidedly Christian characteristics." As various regions of the continent converted to Christianity, the vampire was viewed as "a dead person who retained a semblance of life and could leave its grave-much in the same way that Jesus had risen after his death and burial and appeared before his followers." In the Middle Ages, the Christian Church reinterpreted vampires from their previous folk existence into minions of Satan, and used an allegory to communicate a doctrine to Christians: "Just as a vampire takes a sinner's very spirit into itself by drinking his blood, so also can a righteous Christian by drinking Christ's blood take the divine spirit into himself." The interpretation of vampires under the Christian Church established connotations that are still associated in the vampire genre today.[9]For example, the "ability of the cross to hurt and ward off vampires is distinctly due to its Christian association.

What does all this have to do with the Christian family that looks to the Bible for guidance and counsel? For the youth, grounded and secure in God's love and in the love of their parents, interest in such fantasy fiction as the Twilight series of books and movies may be harmless. They are able to sort out fantasy from reality. However, all preteens and teens are dealing with issues of identity, meaning, self-esteem and purpose in their lives. And they do not all come from healthy, spiritually mature families. Such kids are at great risk for developing unhealthy interests in the occult. Listen to what the Apostles say about Satan's use of such things and about the importance of filling our minds with God's word:

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. - 1Pe 5:8 ESV

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. -
Phl 4:8-9 ESV

Parents are well advised to take an active interest in their children's attraction to vampires and all the literature and movies related to the same. Read the books. Learn about them and the movies. Discuss what you learn with your kids and help them to see the problems and dangers. Above all, let them know that you care about them and want them to grow and develop in God pleasing ways.

More about this in my next post.

How We Know The Love Of God

One of the most popular Bible verses of all time, memorized in Sunday School by thousands of kids, is from the third chapter of John. With this blog I conclude my meditations upon that chapter by taking a careful look at what Jesus said to Nicodemus.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. - Jhn 3:16-17 ESV

Who or what is this world that God loves? The Greek word is kosmos, a word we are quite familiar with, only we spell it cosmos. By this we usually think of the universe as a well-ordered whole. In the original Greek kosmos was also an ornament or decoration. Peter uses the word in that manner when he urges women to be less interested in outward adornment (kosmos) and more focused on the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3-4).

A third use refers to the people who live in this world, the human race itself. So the apostle Paul writes that . . .

in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. - 2Cr 5:19 ESV

The word is used again and again with this meaning in John's Gospel. For instance, the Samaritans tell the woman who met Jesus at the well,

"It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world." - Jhn 4:42 ESV

But this is also the world of people that despises the Savior and rejects the light and salvation he brings. Immediately following the verses quoted above in John 3, we hear Jesus say,

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. - Jhn 3:19-20 ESV

Jesus is the light of the world that loves the darkness. He is the one who gives sight to the blind (John 9:39; 12:46). His life and teachings expose the world and the ruler of this world who dwells in darkness. All through the Gospel of John we sense this conflict building. As in modern cowboy movies the drama moves steadily toward that final scene in which the good guy and the bad guy come face to face. It is like Moses coming before Pharaoh to demand that he let the children of Israel go.

Afterward Moses and Aaron went and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.'" - Exd 5:1 ESV

But this time it is not a mere messenger from the LORD. Oh no, it is the LORD Himself who has come to win freedom for His chosen people. Moses was given a glimpse of this when the LORD said,

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. - Deu 18:18 ESV

The good word this Prophet speaks is that God loves this world. He does not desire that it perish. This is why He sends His Son to save it. But to save it in a most peculiar manner. The cowboy with the white hat does not stand with his hand ready to draw his gun and drill a bullet into the heart of the dirty sheriff who has ruled the town for years. Instead he allows one of his own disciples to betray him into the hands of his enemies. And when they come for him in the garden Jesus says,

"Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness." - Luk 22:52-53 ESV

So the Son of God by whom all things were made, submits himself to them and to the power of darkness, the prince of the world, the spirit at work in the sons of disobedience (Eph. 2:2). They condemn him, beat him and nail him to the cross. There, at about the ninth hour of that dark day, the Prophet shouts out the decisive word of the LORD.

"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Mat 27:46 ESV, (Psalm 22:1)

Thus he saves the world, the entire world of men who live, have lived and ever will live. He does it not by killing this world's prince, but by being himself condemned and forsaken by God, by drawing the unspeakable burden of this world's sin upon himself until he finally can say,

"It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - Jhn 19:30 ESV

The prince of this world lives on. Darkness is yet at work, but that final day is coming when that prince and all his minions will be cast out. For the Light has come, the Light of the world and whoever follows the risen Savior "will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). John pulls it all together in his beautiful letter, words with which I complete this brief study of John 3.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation (all atoning sacrifice) for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. - 1Jo 4:10-16 ESV

Deliver Us From The Evil One

In a previous post I discussed briefly a believer's spiritual wrestling. I continue that discussion today, focusing again on Ephesians 6:12. There the Apostle Paul teaches that each one of us must wrestle with the rulers and authorities of this world, especially the decisions, laws and rulings that touch directly or indirectly upon our personal spiritual lives. Behind such authorities, Paul writes, are the

"the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places"

 These are strange phrases, often overlooked, but vital to our spiritual lives. Recall how we daily pray the prayer our Lord taught, "but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13). A better translation would be, "but deliver us from the evil one." To speak about the evil one helps us to focus upon the fact that the need for deliverance is personal, not vague and abstract, i.e. "evil". There is one who is determined to enslave us in endless darkness.

John emphasizes this as he writes about our Lord's triumphal ride into Jerusalem (John 12:12-19). Recall that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead just prior to this and also recall that Mary, Lazarus' sister, had poured precious perfume on his feet while Jesus and His disciples were gathered for a meal at Mary, Martha and Lazarus's home. Mary had been saving the ointment for his burial, but decided to pour it on his feet at this occasion. She knew what awaited Him in Jerusalem.

Among the crowds gathered for the Passover Feast were some Greeks who asked Jesus' disciples to introduce them to Jesus. Jesus saw this as a sign of what was about to occur. He would be soon lifted up on the cross and by His cross would gather all men to Himself (John 12:20-32).

Among those comments John records these words,

"Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."

The Greek word for 'world' in this passage is kosmos. It's part the complex word Paul uses in Ephesians 6 when he speaks about the kosmokratoras, the world rulers or, as the ESV translates, "the cosmic powers over this present darkness." In other words, we live in a world hostile to Jesus and His disciples. It doesn't matter what part of this world you live in. Everywhere you go you will encounter powers and rulers working to overthrow the Gospel and the church of Jesus Christ. We live in a hostile spiritual environment.

You  will encounter this hostility, mockery and false teaching in every aspect of human life. You will meet it in literature, music, the arts, politics, science and philosophy. Everywhere you turn, on all sides, expect to find what Jesus and His apostles call "this present darkness." Expect it. Do not be surprised by it and above all, be on your guard. Behind it are spiritual forces and rulers and behind them is the devil, the world ruler himself, the enemy of Christ and of all those who are in His kingdom and under His rule.

So every day we pray, "deliver us from the evil one and lead us not into temptation." And Jesus, who has called us out of darkness, taken us with Himself into His death and brought us out again into life and light, will hear our prayer and deliver us from the temptations of the evil one. 

Wake Up—The Light Is Already Shining.

Things were quiet in my daughter's household as I arose this morning. As the old poem goes, "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." I was the first one to stir and step out into the kitchen to make the coffee. I cannot begin the day without a good cup of coffee. However, to do that I had to find the light switch, something that is not easy to do in a somewhat unfamiliar kitchen. But finally I managed and now I set here with my first steaming cup, ready to begin the day.

That night the shepherds were in the field keeping watch over their flock was also a dark one. I imagine that sheep watching must count among the world's most boring jobs. Then suddenly came this bright light. Luke calls it "the glory of the LORD," shining all around them. The darkness was quite unexpectedly illuminated—and they were afraid (Luke 2:9).

The Bible uses familiar occurrences, like the darkness of night and the light of day, to speak about spiritual matters. When God's people were struggling with depression and despair, feeling forsaken in the foreign land of Babylon, forced to work as slaves, they referred to their condition as "walking in darkness" (Isaiah 9:2). Nothing was going right. The future was bleak and they had little hope of ever returning to their homeland. They couldn't see any daylight.

In their history it had been that way hundreds of years before, way back in the days of Moses, when they had been slaves in Egypt. Then suddenly, quite unexpectedly, God graciously intervened and forced Pharaoh to set them free. Out in the desert, gathered before Mount Sinai, the Glory of the Lord came down—and they were afraid (Exodus 19:17-20; Exodus 20:18). And no wonder. The whole mountain shook with thunder, lightning, the sound of a great trumpet, fire and smoke. Who wants to sit at the foot of a mountain that appears to become a huge volcano, spewing out lava, fire and death?

When the Glory of the Lord appeared to the shepherds of Bethlehem it was not like that. There was not thunder, lightning and earthquakes. Instead a wondrous choir of angels began to sing about peace, hope and a Savior. The long-awaited Messiah had come and they would find Him in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

There's still plenty of darkness, despair and death in the world of the 21st century. But as we celebrate yet another Christmas, we are reminded again that our Light has come, come in the person of a Child.

A Merry Christmas to all!

Hope in the Time of Trouble

One can get quite discouraged when speaking about times of trouble, as I did yesterday. We naturally want to hear words of hope and possibility, words that tell us the future is open to endless potential. And it is, but not simply because we insist that it is. I'm focusing this week upon Daniel 12 where I find the words,

"At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. . . But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. . ."

What are these mysterious words all about? Who is this Prince Michael? What charge has he received? Are you and I included in the people to be delivered?

First a bit about Prince Michael, archangel. Besides this passage, only three times is his name found in Holy Scripture:

Daniel 10:12-14 -Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come."

Jude 1:8-10 -"In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals—these are the very things that destroy them."

Revelation 12:7-9 - " And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him."

Other church fathers suggested he was 

• the cherub who stood at the gate of the garden of Eden to guard access to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24). 
• the angel through whom the Lord God gave his people the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
• the angel that prevented Balaam and his donkey from proceeding (Numbers 22:21-35)
• the angel that routed Sennacherib's army when it surrounded Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35-36)

Whatever you make of all this, we are assured by God's revealed Word that we have spiritual armies fighting at our side against the darkness, destruction and terror of these days in which we live. Based upon the Scriptures listed, that does not suggest that our faith in God's love and mercy will be untested. We will all face doubts, anxiety, confusion and terror. Those are the weapons of the powers of darkness. But we have many promises assuring us that both in this present time and at the end of this time Satan and his demons are and will be defeated. 

None of us likes war, but we are at war. Therefore, we must take the words of the Apostle in Ephesians 6:10-18 most seriously:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

The Church of the Black Sun

The Church of the Black Sun

Should I be frightened by my discovery of this brand of paganism or not—especially on the day when we Christians celebrate the victory of Light over darkness, Life over death? I think not, but it remains disturbing.

Perhaps you're wondering what strange path took me to this site. Answer: rune stones. I was researching runes and rune stones when I discovered the Skadi Forum of the Germanic Online Community. In following one of the threads I came across someone who claims Black Sun as her religion.

What's this? I thought. So I Googled it and voila! the above link. It's totally anti-Christian, all about satanism and death.

The prince of darkness has his overt followers and millions more who don't even know of his existence, but follow his lead nevertheless.

DST, Chickens And Christians

Tomorrow morning we all get to sleep in an extra hour. Daylight Saving Time ends for another year. In studying the history of this annual fall and spring ritual I learned several interesting things.


*Chickens don't adapt to the changed clock until several weeks have gone by.

*70 percent of Americans rise before 7:00 a.m.

*There is evidence that the severity of auto accidents increases and work productivity decreases as people adjust to the time change.

*The idea of daylight saving was first conceived by Benjamin Franklin during his sojourn as an American delegate in Paris in 1784.

*The present time time zones were first used by the railroads in 1883 to standardize their schedules. Standard time zones were established by U.S. law with the Standard Time Act of 1918.

*During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt instituted year-round Daylight Saving Time, called “War Time,” from February 9, 1942 to September 30, 1945, but after that confusion reigned as localities chose to observe or not observe DST.

*Since 1986 Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. began at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ended at 2:00 a.m. on the last Sunday of October. However, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 extended Daylight Saving Time so that from 2007 and on DST begins at 2:00 a.m. on the second Sunday of March and ends at 2:00 a.m. on the first Sunday of November.

So . . . this is the first year DST ends in November and that accounts for my confusion about the whole topic.

We Christians have some pointed instructions about light and darkness. Darkness for us is a symbol of what people do when they think no one sees or knows. Walking in the light, therefore, means that we believe we are forgiven in Christ for all our dark deeds and are guided by the light of God's revelation and love. Here's how the Apostle Paul writes about it:

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5).