Farthest Star?

The farthest objects that we can “see” with our present instruments range from 13.1 to 13.4 billion light years away. And they are not all in the same “direction.” This brings up a question.

If the farthest stars are in various directions from the earth are the same distance away, then is the earth “the center” of the universe? Some are claimed to now be 13.4 billion light years “away” and the universe is supposedly 13.9 billion years old. That means that these guys were about one half a billion light years away from the earth when they were formed. But it was not even here, then.

So what about the closer stars, like Andromeda? It is supposedly 9 billion years old, and is 2.5 billion light years away. See the problem? If the earth is 4.5 billion years old, then this star and galaxy must have passed us about 2.5 billion years ago.

Where was it formed? And what did it do for 6.5 billion years, before it began to recede from the earth? We are supposedly seeing light emitted 2.5 billion years ago, but it is is moving away from us. So we are seeing it where it was 2.5 billion years ago. If it has existed 9 billion years, where is the light given off for the 6.5 billion years before it became visible to us?

And every star that we examine is going “away” from us. But over 2.5 billion years ago, it must have been coming toward us. But according to Big Bang (BB) theory, all of the matter in the universe was created 13.9 billion years ago in the BB. It has been rushing outward since then. Supposedly the earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago, so for 9 or so billion years the “star stuff” (Carl Sagan) that would become earth hurtled through space, then coalesced into to this solar system. (The sun is also purported to also be 4.5 billion years old.)

But the Milky Way galaxy (MW) is 13.2 billion years old. (I did not check the ages of other stars in our galaxy. It is too messy now.)  So the MW formed about 0.7 billion years after the BB, then raced away from the “epicenter” of the universe, where ever that is, until the sun and solar system formed inside this moving mass of star stuff about 4.5 billion years after Andromeda formed. Then 2 billion years later, Andromeda began to recede from earth. Confused yet?

Another question. Did some unknown star or stars form, then supernova into oblivion to produce more of the high atomic number atoms that form the earth, but evidently not the sun? Or were all of the “high number” atoms formed in the BB? Most theories do not account for that. They postulate a sequence of events to produce the higher elements. All of this while rushing through the cosmos. The degree of “messiness” is approaching the level of confusion as to “how all this happened.”

A philosopher named Ocham proposed a “razor” or test to determine how to distinguish between competing theories. The simplest and most straight forward is to be preferred until it is proven wrong or discredited. Seems BB is tottering on the brink of discreditation. (Is that a word? Red squiggly line says, “No.” But is applies. What does WordPerfect know?)

It is amusing to see the literally mindless numbers bandied about in articles concerning stars and black holes “eating” each other and other celestial phenomena. Most of these occurrences are not “observed” but merely inferred from a burst of X-rays or gamma rays. Often there was “nothing” there, that we could see, anyway, and then suddenly a literal “blast from the past” occurs and the radiation is detected and “explained” as if someone were actually on site, reporting on channel 2.

I should have taken astronomy instead of chemistry. Pity the poor chemist who has to actually do experiments and get results that correlate with his theories. (Except for P-chem, of course. They get to make up formulas and claim that the result is proved. Just joking, Barry. I know you work hard.)

But the astronomer observes something from the unthinkable past, guesses what it could be, and is lauded as a genius. And if they all “guess” the same way, it looks like a preponderance of evidence is accumulated.

(Disclaimer: These observations are made by a guy who stopped with differential equations and never took quantum mechanics. Who also struggled with atomic and nuclear physics. I understood the words when the prof explained that an electron could “tunnel” through a zero probability area to appear on the other side, but it sounded like hokum. (Technical science term) So the theoretical basis of astrophysics is outside the purview of my training and understanding.)

One does wonder, with all of eternity to spend with the Creator, if He will kindly bring all of us up to date on how He did all this. “He made the stars also.” (Genesis 1:16) My biggest question, is, “Will there be a test on this?”

This meandering pontification was all generated by the words of a song: This Love Is Mine. (First Verse below.) “We may plumb the depths of all the mighty oceans, we may tell the distance to the farthest star.” This got me thinking. (“Plumb” sounds better to me than “sound," but who am I to tell John W. Peterson and Alfred B. Smith how to write? “Sound” is okay.) The point is, that God’s love is more vast than even the universe. Think on these things.

Have a great day, and keep looking up tonight.



We may sound the depths of all the mighty oceans;
We may tell the distance to the farthest star.
But the mighty love of God cannot be measured.
Its dimensions are so high, so deep, so far!

CHORUS

This love is mine, I cannot comprehend it!
This love revealed through Christ, my Lord divine.
When on the tree He died for me.
God’s wondrous, glorious, mighty love,
This love is mine

http://www.namethathymn.com/hymn-lyrics-detective-forum/index.php?a=vtopic&t=142
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8lG9LUfIVI
(Not the greatest musical rendition, but the message is there. Jim the music critic.)

1 Corinthians 15 Logic of the Resurrection

Paul’s logic is as impeccable as it is irresistible. The whole book of Romans builds from the depravity of man to the salvation plan to the arguments against it, and how it plays out in the believer’s life. As you read along, you say, “Yes, okay. I understand and agree with that.” And then the next point builds in and you repeat.

Finally, at the end of the treatise, you just shake your head and say, “Well, whaduya know? He is right.” 1 Corinthians 15 follows the same trajectory, only we can see it in a much shorter time. The whole book was to address problems in the Corinthian church. Paul did not jump on his hobby horse, but took them in a reasoned fashion. I will let you read the book to discover that.

The 15th chapter deals with the question of resurrection. As we progress through it, you will find the master at work. Any good logician and master of argumentation will begin at the common ground. Verse 1 reminds or reviews the Gospel. First, it was what Paul preached to them. Second, they received it. Third they took their stand on it. All of this is common ground and they readily agreed.
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 

The hook is next. Verse 2
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Their salvation is based on the Gospel. The next phrase is not a concession that they might lose their salvation. Just hold on a minute here. Notice that the alternative is that they might have believed in vain. But if they believed, how could it be in vain? He opens a query without addressing it immediately. Read on.

Paul repeats the message that he preached, and they received, and on which they took a stand..
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

We will not exegete every phrase, but the main thrust is a reprise of his preaching. Notice that it was “according to the Scriptures.” Nothing is fabricated here. Christ died, was buried, rose on the third day, and appeared to an indisputable number of witnesses. That is what they have to hold to be logically consistent with what they believed and to which they made a commitment.

Parenthesis: Paul wants to insert a disclaimer that he is not a super apostle, and nothing in his history justifies basing what they believed on him or his credentials. Rather it was “according to the Scriptures.”
9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

End Parenthesis. Notice the end of verse 11 gets back onto the topic. “What you believed.” Not who preached it or any other extraneous consideration. The Gospel is paramount. The hook was in verse 2. He sets it firmly in verse 12.
But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

The “problem” is unveiled, just like a fisherman jerking the hook and whipping the fish from the water. The cover of the statue is dramatically whisked off the object and it stands exposed. “If it is preached....” by me, Paul, which you have received and stood on, “that Christ has risen,” how can “some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” you have a logical fallacy. “Christ has been raised from the dead.” 

You believed it. Did I mention that before? Now we see what the question of “holding on to” dealt with. Not belief for salvation, but of whether Jesus was raised. And if they did not believe, they were never saved. And here Paul crushes any other argument.
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

He exposes two mutually exclusive propositions. One cannot believe in no resurrection and still claim salvation. If there is no resurrection, there is no salvation. Our faith depends upon Christ having been raised. Otherwise, preaching is “useless” and believing is in vain. It is worthless or worse.

The ramifications amplify as we go deeper.
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. 
Paul becomes a false witness, a liar because he testified (that is a legal term signifying, under oath) testified that God raised Christ. That makes it perjury. Continue:
But he (God) did not raise him (Jesus) if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 

If God could not or did not raise Jesus, then there is no hope for anyone else. A friend of mine used to proclaim, “Not this mouse.” If something was not going to happen, do not look at “this mouse” for help.

Paul said that if not Jesus, then no one has a hope. And that is not just one unbeliever.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 

This is deep water. IF the unbelievers are right, then our friends and family have perished. There is nothing to look for anytime. “Unbelievers” is deliberate. If they “believe” the Gospel, then this is a moot point. If they dispute the resurrection, then they do not believe the Gospel. Paul sums it up in verse 19.
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

We are piteous as well. I think of snatching a drowning kitten out of a stream. You hold up the sopping, dripping, mangled mass of fur and have pity. That is us. And our destiny is to go back into the “crick” and finish drowning if there is no resurrection. (Parents, you might want to omit this if reading to the kiddies.) But Paul pulled no punches.

And if we stopped here, it would indeed be a major downer. I will sneak a peak into the next paragraph.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

Notice the twofold response. 1) Christ has been raised. 2) Firstfruits means that there is more to follow. That is the dead in Christ and us. If He is alive, we will be too.

We will continue the consideration of this chapter later. But this triumphant proclamation rings through history.  We cannot surpass King James at this point: “But now is Christ risen from the dead.”

That just demands a glory hallelujah.

Glory! Hallelujah!  See you next time.

Forsaken

  About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Matthew 27:46 records this plaintive cry from Jesus on the cross. People often ask if God really forsook or turned His back on Jesus. If that is the case, then will God forsake me as well? That is a legitimate question.

As usual, the Bible answers this question. Turn to (or click) Isaiah 59:2
...but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.

God has not turned, nor hidden His face. He has not stopped hearing. He never will. But our sins are responsible for the alienation and separation. Our sins are like a thick cloud or barrier that has “separated” and “hidden” His face. Our actions speak so loudly that He cannot or will not hear. Notice that our verse starts with an elipsis. Look at the previous verse: (1)
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

The blockage, again, is not God’s. He is ready to save and waiting to hear. Sin is the barrier that separates us. Our sin. And at the point of our discussion today, Jesus was bearing the entirety of the sins of the world. It is no wonder that His cries seemed to be ignored. In fact, they were blocked by the burden of sin provided by you and me.

Isn’t that astounding and shocking? This is one more aspect of the crucifixion where our sins exacerbated the suffering that Jesus endured for us on the cross. He went through everything for us, including the illusion of being separated from God. His was only momentary “separated,” as the instant He died, that load was forever banished into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)

But this momentary separation, for an infinite God, was an infinity. Jesus did, indeed, suffer everything that was due to sinning man, including eternal separation from God. Sinning you and sinning me. He bore the entire judgment and punishment for us. How can I help but love Him?

We will never have to say, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We will never be forsaken. He will never fail to hear us. It is finished–paid in full. Glory!

What Does It All Mean?

When I was in college I heard some people report that the fortune tellers and others who looked into the future could not see anything after 1974. If we subtract the seven year tribulation, that meant that 1967 was possibly the year that Jesus would rapture His church. (Disclaimer: I knew that these guys were charlatans, and it meant nothing, but... So just for good measure I watched the end of 1967 pass with no rapture and was pretty sure. Then, just in case, we watched 1974 come and go and we went right into 1975 and beyond. The prognostications were spurious.)

I just heard a guy say that the recent eclipse was very significant. It was pretty unusual, in that the totality was confined to the United States and it passed a certain point in the Atlantic Ocean before racing off into space. Then Hurricane Harvey hit “exactly” (I didn’t check) exactly 40 days after the eclipse. That points to September 23 as the definitive date on some calendar. Maybe Jesus will come back then.

Or not. Sadly, Christians have been embarrassing themselves by refusing to believe Jesus when He said that no one knows the day or hour. So unfulfilled prophesies continue to spew forth and continue to muddy the water of the Bible’s credibility. Actually, every false one should reinforce the veracity of Jesus’ comment. Nobody knows. But people keep trying.

I heard one person say that God would not do anything without telling His prophets, so we should expect a prophet to warn us. We will look at that verse later. Someone else said that we are to look for signs (Matthew 24) and these speculations are merely the fruit of “obeying” that command. (This does not require comment on conflicting comments by Jesus. That is bogus on its face.)

Part of the problem is that people misinterpret Matthew 24. It begins with Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple. Then his disciples asked what would happen next. (Verse 3)  “Tell us, when will these things happen, (Temple destruction), what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Jesus answered the questions in reverse order. He did not do this to be obtuse. He addressed the most important question first. When will the end of the age come? Second He dealt with signs of His return. Actually, He did not give a date for the destruction. That, like some of our questions today was not important. We are given the information that we need. And trying to extract the rest from questionable interpretations of obscure Scriptures almost seems presumptuous. If He wanted us to know, He would have told us and not leave “hidden clues.” But it was pretty clear when the destruction happened.

Jesus did comment about the end of the age (V. 4-31) Then He turned to the matter of when He would come back. Notice the difference between the Glorious Return (v. 29-31) and His other coming. We know this is a different one, because He said that no one knows when this one will happen. (V. 36, 42, 44, 50) The Glorious Return will come at the end of the seven year Tribulation, so it can be predicted once the Tribulation begins. (Treaty between anti-Christ and Israel. Daniel 9:27)

The differences between the two “comings” in Matthew 24 point to the dilemma we face today. “When will He return?” 1 Thessalonians 4:16 describes this other return.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

This is not the Glorious Return. It is too different. For one thing, notice that this coming is for His people. The Glorious return says He comes with His saints. (Revelation 19:14 White linen is a mark of believers and not angels.) And notice the final verse.“Comfort one another.” By capitalizing on curiosity, some preachers have introduced a distinct level of discomfort to this prospect. Jesus said, “Be ready.” Paul said “Take comfort.” Other messages are false.

Going on, we find some “signs” of His coming. (Glorious appearing. At this point, the Rapture had not been revealed, and His disciples were looking for the “end.”.) Some signs specifically are the abomination of desolation (v. 13) from Daniel 9 and the failure to shine of the sun and moon and stars falling. (v. 29) These are events described in Revelation 8:12, 16:8-10, and 6:13. These all happen during the Tribulation. (After the Rapture.)

Matthew 24:32 and following turn to the question of His coming. Note that Jesus again reiterated that no one knows the actual time. But He did say that we can tell when “it is near.” And Jesus was hinting about His “other” coming. The particulars are an interesting study. I recommend it.

To summarize again, Jesus comes back to take the believers (1 Thessalonians) back to heaven. Then the final event, the Tribulation, begins and the “signs” in the earlier verses lead to the “end.” Note, again, that we can predict the time of the Glorious Return. It will be seven years after the Treaty of Daniel 9.

Back to our question. Interestingly enough Isaiah and Jeremiah both encountered false prophets who counter-prophesied what the true prophets had been told by the Lord. We have noted and marveled at the end of such pseudo-prophets. I would be circumspect about making any such prophesies, if I were these guys. There is a legitimate question as to what all of this may mean. We just need to be careful about extrapolating our curiosity into conclusions as to the time of Jesus’ return.

Let’s look at what the Bible has to say about false prophets. God knows what the false prophets would say. Ezekiel 11:5,
Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and He told me, “You are to say: This is what the Lord says: That is what you are thinking, house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your mind.”

In both Isaiah and Jeremiah we read of guys “prophesying” that Babylon would be defeated and sent back home. Judah would survive and prosper. These were diametrically opposed to what God had told both Isaiah and Jeremiah. And Babylon did destroy the city and the temple. Nuff said.

God did have “big plans” for them. Just not now. That was the promise in Jeremiah 29:11.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

That was fulfilled about 70 years later. Now let’s examine the idea that we will have “signs” now. The idea comes from Amos 3:6-8
If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it? 7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing His counsel to His servants the prophets. 8 A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?

So, are we to receive additional prophesies? I would suggest that the “revealing” has already been done. Amos was Old Testament. They did get prophesies to warn them. Then Jesus and Paul and Peter warned the believers in the New Testament. Why would we need anything more? Why would we want anything more? Especially since Jesus said that no one will know the specific time. (Has that idea sunk in yet?) We are to be ready, like the home owner in Matthew 24. Asking for more seems almost presumptuous and entitled. It is almost as if we say, “God owes me more guidance.”

Flash. He has given enough. If we do not listen to that, it is our fault, not the prophets’. And for those who titillate the ears of eager followers, there seems to be a certain (unhappy) result. Just as days have come an gone in the past, so September 23 has passed. (Note the draft of this was composed before the date. Confidence. PS There was a new date, October 21 which is a couple of days away. We will be able to read this after that as well--unless Jesus comes first.)

When I was in grade school, it seemed like it took forever for each six weeks to end. Then the semester took three times longer. And the end of the year seemed like an eternity away. But there was a master plan and the school and my teacher knew exactly when each of those milestones would occur.

In the same way, waiting for Jesus’ return seems endless to us, but we can know two things for sure. First, there is a “master plan” and the Planner has it in mind. And second, every day brings us one day closer than we were before.

That, kind of like the destruction of the temple, is enough to know that it will happen. The superfluous knowledge of exactly when is not necessary for us to know. It is enough to know that it will happen. Guessing at the timing is both superfluous, and self gratifying and glorifying. It implies that we are more favored than those who went before.

I think I will just wait. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Why Did Thissssss Happen?

This started out as a comparison of Sabbath and rest days between the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim belief systems. But I got hijacked by Jesus in Mark 2:27 when He said, “The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.”

God created everything, including man in six days and then He rested. This “rest” was not to relax and recuperate from a long, tiring week. God arrested or terminated His Work as an illustration of how man should behave. For God, the work creation was easy, fun, and fulfilling. He wanted to revel in its perfection. Recall that He pronounced everything, “Good.” That was not on the comparative scale of good, better, best, but on the scale of excellent or execrable, only fit for disposal.

The Sabbath day was instituted for man to contemplate God’s creation and God Himself. Man has the honor of joining God in labor and “creating” something. Man does not create ex nihilo, but his efforts can be ideally as satisfying as what God did.

And that is where the “rabbit hole” opened up. Into this perfect contemplation of God’s finished work of creation a nevil was interjected. (For those who are not familiar with C. S. Lewis’ Narnia tales, “The Magician’s Nephew” chronicles the creation of Narnia. And into this perfect world a wicked witch was injected. One of the characters remarked that a nevil (an evil) had entered and they wondered what a “nevil” was. And what follows is the rest of the story. But I digress.)

A nevil was released into the perfect world that God created in Genesis 1:1. And we are observing and living out “the rest of that story.” The attack is reported in Genesis 3. Notice that Satan does not use the creation tack to tempt Eve. (Adam was there too, but he was playing the strong, silent type. Actually the strong, silent, stupid type. I am told that his name in Hebrew is pronounced, “ah `Dahm.” I will let you pronounce it that way, but type it normally. I hate to see all those squiggly red lines all over my screen. But I digress again.)

Satan did not approach Eve with the thought that God is not strong enough to cope with them “knowing as much as He does.” If God could create the whole kit and caboodle, he could handle anything. The creation argument would be a non-starter with ah`Dahm and Eve. (It is up to you from here on. Adam it is.) Satan is too smart to choose loser arguments like creation.

He took another tack. “Hasssss God said that you cannot eat from any of the treesssss in the Garden?” (We can hear the hisss from here.)

“Oh no!” interjected Eve. “We can eat from them all except one and we cannot even touch that one.” (Warning Will Robinson! When we start adding to what God said, we are heading for trouble.)

Evidently Eve, anyway, had been contemplating the “forbidden” fruit, and in order to help her “keep the law,” she began to hedge it with other “helpers” to keep her from falling. “Don’t even touch it.” Incidentally, that was the problem with the Jewish celebration of the Sabbath.

“Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20) Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it. “Don’t eat from this tree.” But the Jews added layer upon layer of regulations to guide them and everyone else in how to “remember and keep.” It got so complicated that one was almost afraid to breathe hard, because moving air could be considered “work.”

That precipitated the exchange recorded earlier, when Jesus reminded them that the Sabbath had been instituted for Adam’s benefit and not to unduly restrict and burden him. Satan’s attack was on the goodness of God. “God is not giving you His best. He is keeping it for Himself, the selfish old goat!”

And Eve fell for the line. The attack is the same today. “How can a good God let thisssss happen?” (Hear the hissss from the Garden?) Insinuated is the thought that a “good” God will not let bad things happen. But the “bad thing” has already happened. Adam and Eve learned something that God did not want them to learn. It was not because He could not handle it. They could not handle it.

Adam and all of his offspring are now acquainted disobedience, death, and destruction. That disrespect for God led to the other failures. Worship is contained in respect. Refusing to substitute inferior objects for God is a result of respect. Using His Name in a disrespectful manner likewise is a copartner with disrespect. Sanctifying the Sabbath as He commanded is rooted in respect. (And that is the wedge that got us in here.)

Everything else is grounded in respect. Honoring and respecting parents, refusing to murder, commit adultery, stealing, and lying to one another are likewise respectful actions. And the final one, coveting, is essentially valuing something else above God, and it inexorably leads to all of the other transgressions. When Adam and Eve “learned” what evil was, it led to the corruption of every other relationship in the family and society.

That was what God was protecting them from. Again, all of His commandments were to preclude the horrible consequences of “knowledge.” My mother was somewhat naive in terms of societal “junk.” She was not hip to all the nuances of popular language.

She responded to catastrophic and horrific events with, “Horrors!” Her kids, the girls and my brother, along with me kind of chuckled every time she said it. It sounded like a slang term for prostitutes. I think the girls finally broke the news to Mom. She was horrified (‘scuse the pun) at what that meant. She certainly did not mean to take the name of prostitutes in vain.

But in a way, her “ignorance” was a blessing, because she often would catch herself when she was about to blurt out her reaction to disaster, when it was perfectly appropriate. It was our dark interpretation of her statement that was the problem. Adam and Eve were unaware of sin until they knew the difference between good and evil. Evil was present. They just did not recognize it.  That knowledge was not a blessing. It was, and still is, a curse.

And ultimately, without the gracious intervention of God in Christ, the ultimate disaster of separation from Him for eternity would have been visited on all of mankind. The command to Adam and Eve was not to protect God, it was to shield them, and all of us, from the consequences of sin.

If God intervened and prevented every disaster, this world would be as attractive as Eden. God does not wish for us to suffer, but better a little suffering now to warn us about the ultimate suffering to come. He wants us to recognize that every time a disaster occurs, that death was just one of the ramifications of sin. The proximate relief from this will come to the earth when Jesus comes back to rule on the earth for 1000 years. The full and complete deliverance was accomplished on the cross.

Jesus paid the “death” penalty imposed by Adam’s sin and repeated by you and me. Adam accepted the “proximate” deliverance offered by the lambs’ skins, and the ultimate release effected on the cross. (Genesis 3:15) I have too. I hope and pray that you have.

Don’t let the hissss of disssssaster distract nor preclude you from turning to the Redeemer. Do it today. You may contact me or call 888-NEED HIM (888-633-3446).

Benediction

Hebrews 13:20, 21
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen.

The benediction that completes the book of Hebrews is filled with reminders of what the author covered, and wants his readers to recall and act upon. He is sending the readers, us, out to accomplish two things. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let’s look at this.

“Now may...” introduces a coming action. Get ready. The Actor is “the God of peace.” This guides us on how we should approach problems. “Peace” is always better than war. We become attractive when we display a peaceful attitude and approach to life. This spills over into the lives of others with whom we interact. God is peace. So His people should also project peace when we interact with everyone.

And this God demonstrated His power by raising Jesus from the dead. Our Lord Jesus is both personal, our, and the boss–Lord. He is our master, leader, and helper. Is there a contradiction there? How can He be “our,” meaning a possession, and simultaneously the Lord? We use the phrase, “My Lord,” all the time without thinking what it entails. I belong to Him, but He also belongs to me.

An old children’s chorus said, “Now I belong to Jesus, Jesus belongs to me.” Never knew how profound that was until now. Did you? And if you recall the final phrase, you can rejoice. “Not for the years of time alone, but for eternity.” “Our Lord Jesus.”

Going on, and He was raised from the dead by the God of peace. If you want a set of credentials to introduce yourself to people, try peace, the power to raise from the dead, and the person Who has come back to life from the dead. Walking into a situation with this background almost immediately removes doubt, animosity, or fear.

But that is not all. The resurrection from the dead was facilitated by the “blood of the everlasting covenant.” The covenant, foretold in Genesis 3:15, was consummated on the cross and is a continuing covenant throughout eternity. Is it any wonder that Paul exulted in Romans 8:38 that nothing could separate us from Christ. It is an everlasting covenant. (A good verse to remember along with 8:28)

That was just the beginning. Look at the action phrase. “Equip you will all that is good....” Are we ever at a loss for goodness? Nope. ALL that is good is at our disposal. Do you imagine any of the prominent billionaires roaming the landscape today ever get a bill and go, “Oops, how are we gonna handle that?”

They just trot out the old check book and whip one off. And when we face a “goodness deficit” we need not wring our hands in distress. Just call on the “goodness fund,” and pay that thing off. Do you imagine that is why Paul also said that nothing is impossible for us? (“I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13)

So we can do “all things.” Look at the modifier. “...to do His will.” This power of good is focused on one goal: To do the will of the God of peace. Why else would we want to wield such power and for Whom else should we wield it? Dumb question, there. Remember the “Magician’s Nephew,” from C. S. Lewis’ masterful Narnia tales?

In the story the hero was going to steal a magic apple to heal his gravely ill mother. Aslan, the Lion, told him that stolen apples would produce the opposite effect that he desired. But if it were given to him freely, it would do much good. That sounds strangely like a lot of “power” in our world today. The same is true in the spiritual realm. If we do His will, a lot of good will spill over into everyone’s lives.

But there’s more. Now the writer gets involved. “...working us US what is pleasing in His sight.” This is now a joint venture. He wrote the message for us, and he will share the pleasure, through Christ, of pleasing God. Not a bad cooperative action there. And the final focus is like the first: Christ, and the God of peace.

So our two “tasks” were to do His will and work what is pleasing in His sight. And our collaboration has produced the result of glory for ever and ever. Are we “adding to” God’s sum of glory? Never. We are sharing the exposure of that glory to the watching world. What a glorious thought.

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—with the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with all that is good to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ. Glory belongs to Him forever and ever. Amen.

Amen.