Heaven

Christmas Clothes

/ Larry Murray / Leave a comment

Born on Christmas morning, Jesus was wrapped in swaddling cloths and placed in a feeding trough (Luke 2:1-15).

Transfigured on the mountain, His clothes became dazzling white to reveal His heavenly glory (Luke 9:28-36).

Condemned by sinful men, He was dressed with a purple robe and mocked as the King of the Jews (Mark 15:16-20, Luke 23:11).

Crucified on Good Friday, He was disrobed of His clothes as the soldiers divided it among themselves (John 19:23-24).

Buried that same day, He was wrapped in linen cloths and placed in a sealed tomb (Luke 23:50-53).

Resurrected on Easter morning, He left only the burial clothes to be found by his friends in the empty tomb (Luke 24:1-12).

Coming again, Jesus will wear a robe dipped in blood with a name written on it and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:11-16).

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” (Colossians 3:12-14)

We’re dressed and ready this Christmas day. Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20-21).

Life that is Real

/ Larry Murray / Leave a comment

Aslan and Lucy“This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” — Aslan in “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” Chapter 16

The Bible explains that the reason humans were created in the image of God is to know Him and live with Him forever (Genesis 1:26-27; 3:8; 17:7; Exodus 6:7; 29:45; Leviticus 26:11–12; Numbers 15:41; Deuteronomy 29:13; 2 Samuel 7:24; Jeremiah 7:23; 11:4; 24:7; 30:22; 31:1, 33; 32:38; Ezekiel 11:20; 34:24; 36:28; 37:23, 27; Zechariah 2:10; 8:8; John 14:1-6; John 17:3; 2 Corinthians 6:16, Revelation 21:3-4). As a Holy God, He alone knows what is good and not good for man, so He established boundaries for mankind’s good (Genesis 2:17), but Adam and Eve disobeyed Him. Their sin, repeated by every one of their descendants, resulted in both physical and spiritual death. Sin separated us from knowing God and living with Him forever (Genesis 3:5; Deuteronomy 30:15, 19–20; Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 5:6; James 1:15). But since that first bite of forbidden fruit, God took the initiative in seeking out the sinners to restore a relationship with them (Genesis 3:8-9).

Lucy and Aslan IIIn order to reconcile sinful humanity to Himself as a Holy God, the Father sent His eternal Son, Jesus, to take on human flesh and live among us so that we would know God (John 1:14, 14:7-11). In fact, Jesus said clearly that knowing God is what eternity is all about: “This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and the One You have sent —Jesus Christ“ (John 17:3). Not only did Jesus live among us; He died for us as our death substitute so that we could live with Him and for Him forever (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:15-21).

One day, the apostle John tells us, the relationship between God and humankind that He has always wanted people to enjoy will be a reality in Heaven for those who believe in His Son: “Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Revelation 21:3).

We long to see God. We want to experience His presence. At times, we wonder where He is. We question what He’s doing. Or why He doesn’t seem to be doing anything at all…

One of my favorite descriptions of life with God is tucked away in one of Paul’s letters to his younger friends, Timothy:

Aslan and Lucy III“Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of the life that is real.” — 1 Timothy 6:17-19

I love that description of eternity: the life that is real. Life that is really living. The very reason we live on earth is that by knowing God here for a little while on earth, we will know Him better in eternity. Seek Him now so that one day you may see Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Follow me…as I follow Jesus Christ.

Aslan“The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” Chapter 16

“Please, Aslan,” said Lucy. “Before we go, will you tell us when we can come back to Narnia again? Please. And oh, do, do, do make it soon.”

“Dearest,” said Aslan very gently, “you and your brother will never come back to Narnia.”

“Oh, Aslan!!” said Edmund and Lucy both together in despairing voices.

“You are too old, children,” said Aslan, “and you must begin to come close to your own world now.”

“It isn’t Narnia, you know,” sobbed Lucy. “It’s you. We shan’t meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?”

“But you shall meet me, dear one,” said Aslan.

“Are are you there too, Sir?” said Edmund.

“I am,” said Aslan. “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.”

Living by Faith

/ Larry Murray / Leave a comment

Foggy RoadIn our social media driven world today, life is viewed by what’s popular, progressive, or posted. Followers of Jesus, however, live by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Similarly, Christ followers walk by faith in what God has said and done, not by what we may feel or fear. God says “the righteous will live by faith” (Genesis 15:6; Habakkuk 2:5; Romans 1:17; 4:3, 9, 22-25; 5:1; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; James 2:23).

The Bible tells us that faith is confidence in God’s promises and the proof of what is not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Furthermore, without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who seeks Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who trust Him and His Word (John 1:1-5, 10-14, 18; Hebrews 11:6).

We have many examples (biblically, historically, and personally) of imperfect, yet faithful men and women through the ages who have trusted God’s promises through the dense fog of pop culture (2 Timothy 3:1-5), believed them regardless of ridicule (Matthew 5:11-12; John 15:18-20, 2 Timothy 3:12-13), and viewed themselves as foreigners and temporary residents on this Earth (Hebrews 11:13). Following their examples, let’s walk with God by faith in His Son, Jesus (John 17:3; Ephesians 2:8-10; Colossians 3:1-4), and love others as He loves (Exodus 34:6-7; Numbers 14:18;  Psalm 86:15; 103:8; Jonah 4:2 ; Joel 2:13; Nehemiah 9:17-25; John 15:12-13; Romans 5:6-8; Colossians 3:12-14) as citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20) and ambassadors here on Earth (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Run the raceSince we have so many great examples of those who have walked with God by faith, let’s lay aside defensiveness, selfishness, and sinfulness that so easily trips us up. Let’s run with perseverance, patience, and purity the race of life that lies before us, looking up to Jesus, the creator and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy of Heaven endured the cross on Earth where He was ridiculed Himself (Hebrews 12:1-3). Let’s follow Jesus who is preparing an eternal home for us while praying for us at the right hand of God’s throne in Heaven (John 14:1-4; Philippians 2:8-11; Hebrews 7:25; Revelation 21:3-4).

Many people today may view those of us who choose to live by faith in God and His Word as narrow-minded (Matthew 7:13-14), old fashioned (Deuteronomy 32:7; Psalm 78:1-7; 143:5; 2 Timothy 3:14-17), foolish (1 Corinthians 1:18), and intolerant (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Yet, those who see themselves as open-minded and progressive are making lifestyle choices that have been made before (Judges 17:6, 21:25, Romans 1:21-25). There really isn’t anything new on this Earth (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Christ followers, also, live by faith in what God has said and done, not by what we feel. So, let’s refuse to react in fear to the recent changes and outrages in our world (2 Timothy 1:8). Instead, let’s recognize that our battle is not against people, police, politicians, or protestors, but against the invisible, spiritual forces of evil that are real (Ephesians 6:12). That’s why we must reject our natural reaction to use the same weapons that are used against us, but rather, put on the spiritual armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the Spirit, which is God’s Word (Ephesians 6:14-17). And above all, we put on love so that the peace of Christ will control our hearts (Colossians 3:14).

By faith in God’s Word, we believe there is an enemy who is called the Devil and Satan; the one who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:8; Revelation 20:10). According to Jesus, deception is an essential element of Satan’s nature “for he is a liar, and the father of lies” (John 8:44). The Devil disguises himself as angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), but the Bible reveals his true intention to exalt himself above God’s rule and his desire to take God’s glory (Isaiah 14:12–17). As the god of this age, Satan has blinded the minds of people so they cannot see the true light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan’s latest deceptions involve a repeat attack on the image of God in mankind (Genesis 1:26–28; Genesis 3:1-15) and assault Christ’s love for His church reflected in biblical marriage between a man and a woman (Ephesians 5:22-32). Our cultural and moral battles are not with the ones who have been blinded, but with the ancient deceiver who has blinded them.

So rather than give in to fear or try to defend our faith with the weapons of this world, we resist the Devil and stand firm in our faith in God and His Word, knowing that the grief and sorrows we are experiencing today are not new, but are the experience of fellow believers throughout the world (1 Peter 5:9).

Shine like stars on the roadLet’s live our lives by faith so that our words and actions of Christ-like love go viral (Philippians 2:13-15). Let’s live and love in such a way that God gets the credit for the good others may see in us (Matthew 5:16). As for me and my family, we’re choosing to live by faith in God who has given us life in His Son and trust the goodness of His boundaries for living (Joshua 24:15; Micah 6:8; Romans 12:1-3).

Follow me…as I follow Jesus Christ.