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“ What does it mean to be with God? “

     About five and a half thousand years ago, a man named Enoch was known to walk with God. One day when he was older, history says, God took him – meaning, he did not die, but was translated from earth to be with God! (Genesis 5:23, Hebrews 11:5). Much the same happened to Elijah. Moses died as an old man and God buried him. Moses body was dead, but he reappeared again one and a half thousand years later talking to Jesus on one of the mountains in Israel, along with Elijah. (Matthew 17:3). So although his body was dead, he himself was alive with God.

    For those who doubt the idea of life after death, just ask the people around you, and you are sure to find someone who has clinically died for a few minutes and come back again. The ones I have talked to have all assured me of an existence after death. There are hundreds of such stories on the internet.

    But more important than the testimony of men, is the teaching of the word of God – the Bible.

     The Lord Jesus said to the dying thief, “today you will be with Me in paradise” – this indicated not only His own existence after death, but also for the unworthy criminal beside Him. A condition, not of annihilation, but free from pain in a place of pure pleasure. Paul the apostle likewise waited for the day to arrive when he would be “absent from the body and present with the Lord”.

      Perhaps the question relates to ‘what it is like to be with God?’  Well, paradise was mentioned by the Lord on the cross as the opposite to pain, pollution, shame and suffering.     “With God”, includes nearness to God in His holiness, His love, His brilliant light. With God involves change – to be changed from the offensive , wandering self to become someone  who is able to fit into a place where all is perfect.

      John the apostle had a vision of those who were beheaded for Christ’s sake – they were in heaven, they could speak, they found acceptance there because of the alter (symbolic of the death of Christ) Revelation 6:9

To be with God after the resurrection is described as being in a divine city where there are no more tears of grief, no pain, no darkness, no shame. A place of real life – eternal life. A place of real light – the knowledge of God in Christ. A place of real love – for God is love.

  

      The person who overcomes the lies of this world, overcomes the unbelief in one’s own heart, to then believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bible says  - “I will be his God , and he will be my son .” (Revelation 21.7)

It was rather special the last night I was with my conscious father in the hospital before he died. I miss his quiet presence, his words, his smile.  What will it be like to be “with my Father (God) who is in Heaven” –to see and feel the brilliance of His presence, to hear His voice and to see His smile!  ( and maybe my earthly father will be waiting for me there too).

“With Christ which is far better” ( Philippians 1.23)

Johnmckee@internode.on.net

Questions

Another question from the children at school

          What was the most important thing Jesus did?

A very good question. Many celebrate His birth, when He who was rich became poor. That was special. The Gospel records make much of His healing and teaching. I like to think of His marvellous power to calm the storm. 

          But the Lord Jesus made it clear that the real mission of His life was to rescue lost people, and this required Him dying for them. His sufferings on the cross did seem unjust, from a human point of view, but His own comments clear up the matter.

Luke 24:40  ‘it is written (Old Testament) and it was necessary for Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day, that repentance and forgiveness of sins might be preached in his name to all nations.’

           I am certain that this is the greatest thing Jesus did – “ to offer Himself , to bear the sins of many” Hebrews 9:28

        Well might we respond – ‘My sins deserve eternal death, but Jesus died for me”.

John McKee

Questions children ask

What language was the 1^st Bible?

           The Bible is a collection of 66 books written over a period of 1500 years by various people. The first five books written by Moses 3,500 years ago, were written in Hebrew. By the time of Daniel, the Aramaic language had come into common use. Some of Ezra and Daniel’s writings were in Aramaic. When Jesus was born,(2000 years ago) , the dominant languages were Aramaic and Greek. The New Testament was written in common Greek, although I have a copy of the New Testament in Aramaic written about 150 AD.

          The Bible is indeed a special book of God communicating to the people, but written in language the people could understand. Paul said we must speak “understandable words” (1Corinthians 14:19) and I admire and support those who spend their lives translating the Bible into the ‘heart languages’ of the people of the world.

Remember;

          ‘God still speaks to those who take the time to listen’

So :

          “Let the words if Christ in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise”   - Colossians 3.16

johnmckee@internode.on.net   questions welcome!

The Cross

The glory of the Cross

     The above title is really a contradiction. The cross is symbolic of shame and suffering, yet God has changed shame and suffering into the means of His glory.

     

     The glory of his love – The Lord Jesus said “ Love your enemies” and so it was at the cross, His enemies succeeded in giving Him a criminals death, but He overcame their hatred by still loving them. He committed His cause into the hands of God and said “ Father forgive them”. They thought they had won the day, but not really. His character in love triumphed.

     

     The glory of atonement – The Lord from heaven said “the son of man came not to be served  but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” ( Mark 10:45). Again He said “ I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15). A cross represented a death for one’s guilt, but God intervened to make it an alter of sacrifice for the guilt of others. God showed His great love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Our sins had incurred wrath, but the alter implemented peace. God triumphed over evil by not sparing His own Son. Now the righteous judge can now justify the unworthy, even the rebellious people of Adam’s family. Such is the atonement of the Saviour, that those who turn from rebellion, will be brought into the very presence of God , presented blameless and without fear.

   

      The glory of God’s sovereignty.  Jesus answered Pilate “You would have no authority over Me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19.11).  So many things said and done at the cross indicate that the prophecies of scripture were fulfilled in detail, but also showed that God superintended the happenings of the cross. Some didn’t want the arrest on a feast day, but God did want it on the Passover feast, because Christ was to become “our Passover sacrificed for us”. The soldiers planned to break His legs, but He gave up His spirit before they began this torture .  They meant it for evil, but God turned it around for good, in particular by raising Him from the dead – the greatest sign to humanity of God’s glory.

       I stand by the cross, and wonder at God in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.

  

      I look around and with Paul the great missionary say “ be reconciled to God”.

There is no glory in a cross, but there is glory beyond our understanding in the Christ of the cross.

Perhaps we are beginning to discover what the Lord meant when He, nearing the hour of suffering , said “The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified”. (John 12.23)

     There is of course much glory that follows the cross, as He said to two dejected disciples “ ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory” (Luke 24.26), but that is a story for another day. Until then, linger often by the cross and enjoy the grace of the alter.

John  McKee

Himself or myself

"For all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ"  Philippians 2:21

Does that ring a bell, especially at this time of the year?

JRM

Truth

The corruption of truth is more dangerous than the denial of truth.

J McKee

Feelings / Faith

Overcoming feeling, overcoming by faith

        For most people, feelings are the gauge of enjoying life and success. ‘I feel good, therefore all must be well’. Although this is very real, it is a fallacy! A person may feel good and yet have cancer, so that underneath all is not good. Alternatively, when people feel bad, physically, mentally, socially, spiritually, emotionally, they often judge the problem to be either with themselves, others or God. Too often this leads to foolish decisions and often stressed relationships.

        So then, what does John the Apostle mean “ this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith” (1John 5.4).

        He described the world in chapter two as ‘ the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life’ . These are not necessarily bad things, but they are human impulses without God. In the other chapters, he describes the world of error and deceit.

        How then can we overcome that which is natural to us? ( It is natural for me to get depressed when things don’t turn out how I feel it should ). How can I see the correct perspective on the events of life? (It seems that logic leads to confused conclusions). How can I know what is right , what is truth in a mixed up world? (The Australian response is to become indifferent ).

        The answer in our Bible text is FAITH.

Please let me qualify this word ‘faith’. Faith is not some warm feeling of confidence that all will work out in the end (that is fate...alistic). Faith is both a noun (a thing) and a verb ( an action). Faith must needs have an object  i.e.  to have faith in someone or something. Often in the New Testament faith is mentioned  alone, with the object implied. For example, the Lord often responded to those blessed by His hand – “ great is you faith” –the object of the faith was Himself. And so it is with “overcoming faith” – it necessarily means we have faith in God revealed in His son Jesus Christ.

Let us put this into the context of 1 John. If I believe (have faith) in God at work through the blood of Jesus Christ His Son, I am released from the feeling of guilt. The blood of Christ cleanses, and the promise of God to forgive sets me free from guilt and fear.

Chapter two considers the reality of Gods commands and our inability to perform. I might well have feelings of despair and inadequacy, but faith believes that  sins are  forgiven. I might well feel conquered by the evil one ( the pressures of evil about me ), but faith grasps the fact that I know the Father ( God who alone is wise). I may feel fruitless in the presence of much error and deceptive doctrines  - Herein lies the overcoming victory – Faith to be strong in the Lord, filled with the word of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit (not just any spirit) 2.14-20

Chapter three faces the daily reality of God in us expressed in practical ways.( In contrast to the many modern recipes for ‘fulfilment’). Paul the Apostle concurs with the teaching here – “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith” (Ephesians 3), leading to an appreciation of the surpassing love of God, which will result in good doing (not just good feeling). Walking in love, or as John put it, love to others is about action, not just words. When we lay down our lives for others with the motive of love, ( faith in God’s love), we will not be self focused and feelings will become subservient to God’s love and God’s way. Chapter three concludes with the assurance to victory by His Spirit dwelling in us.

Chapter 4 highlights the problem of faith being assailed by other spirits. Spirits chiefly operate in the realm of error – teaching wrong. Primarily Satan is against God, but to do this he seeks to promote error about God and His Son Jesus Christ or Lord. He is very successful  in this by promoting God as unfair and unjust. Often he promotes new standards of morality and encourages the unrestrained lustful person to feel good, no matter what God says.

This is the ultimate feel good/ feel bad rollercoaster , when faith in God’s standards, God’s sovereignty and God’s love is removed.

         So what is the answer to overcoming ? FAITH in God, faith in God’s SON, faith in God’s word.

It will likely mean turning off the TV, choosing better books to read, keeping company with godly persons, spending much time alone with God and His word.

Warning – To just be myself is dangerous ( I have a fallen nature which leads to failure of pride). To go with the crowd is the happy road to destruction. I need to turn around and seek God.

Faith in Him is the victory that overcomes the world

Instead of using feelings as the compass of life, let faith in God and His word be your compass.

John McKee