The Holy One calls to me this morning. Disasters around the world strike close to my heart. When fearsome things hit home, thoughts of eternity loom large, not the thought of "if" we will be catapulted into eternity but "when".
The Holy One speaks to remind me, " The ultimate goal in your salvation is not to just save you from something. It is to save you for something. I have saved you for Myself and for our eternal love relationship.
That simple truth is so easily forgotten when we try to share the Gospel with others. With all the visuals we have placed before our eyes of death and destruction, it is easy for people to become emotionally seared and apathetic or dominated by fear of evil.
The salvation that continuously presses the threat of hell, fire and damnation to people who are living it on earth seems to understandably fall on deaf ears. This is by no means an attempt to minimize what the Word of God teaches about the place of torment, but to understand why that end of the salvation message may be less motivating to those living through these dark days on earth.
Likewise to promise people in the Middle East that salvation will change their temporal suffering is a far cry from their life experience as they witness Christians who are being martyred every day.
The essence of the Gospel is Truth for every person on earth and every generation regardless of their geography. And the Truth must be shared with all people in light of eternity.
In the days of Jesus, Rome was a powerful governing force on the earth. Jesus operated within its structure and did not offer to change the politics of the day. Jesus also operated within the social structure of the day which was for Israel and the Jews, under the authority of the Scribes ad Pharisees.
Jesus declared His mission on a day when He spoke in a synagogue in Nazareth.
Luke 4:17-21, "The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it He found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind; to release the oppressed; To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Then He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the Synagogue were fastened on Him and He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing".
Clearly these verses speak of His role as the Messiah, and are applicable to everyone regardless of the circumstances here on earth. Truly the thing that holds us bound is the sin that separates us from God. Sin breaks our hearts, and keeps us in darkness and not just until a political regime change occurs. True freedom starts in the soul and moves to the heart and mind.
Jesus came to pay the price for and proclaim our freedom. It is a complete and common freedom whether we live in a hut or a mansion; in an obscure village or a major city. Freedom for one must be the same freedom for all.
How do we explain this to 3rd world citizens or neighbors who live in temporal ghettos?
Jesus said, in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world". Simple enough unless one is looking for a political or worldly king.
As followers of Christ, we must realize and accept that the One we follow was rejected, persecuted and ultimately crucified. Kingdoms on earth do not change for His death but the hearts and minds of people do.
The true picture of salvation was painted for us in the Biblical account and 11th hour of life for one thief on a cross. (Luke 23:39-43) Jesus was crucified between two men who had been found guilty of crimes punishable by death. One man mocked Jesus and challenged Him to show His powerful authority and save them and Himself from the penalty.
This man just wanted temporal relief to be saved "from" the death he was facing with no apparent remorse. The other thief, declaring his guilt and belief that Jesus was a king with a kingdom said, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom". Jesus answered him "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise."
This man spoke words that were a reflection of his desire for a relationship with Jesus and to be remembered. Jesus confirmed that relationship, "Today you will be with Me in paradise". This man accepted his fate and the pain of the "hell" he must have been experiencing. His desire was to be in the relationship Jesus came to offer all people. In the face of temporal death, he was focused on an eternal relationship with the Lord after he breathed his last breath on earth.
As we live amid the horrifying circumstances that can even be described as "hell" on earth, may we never forget that Jesus came and died to save us for Himself; that we might live in an eternal love relationship with the One who created us for that purpose.
The Divine plan behind our salvation is not just to save us "from" the judgment which will come upon all who reject Jesus, but to save us "for" that deeply personal relationship with our eternal King, which actually begins here on earth.
It is for the Love of God that we are saved and that is to be the over powering message I share with those who have not yet heard the Truth.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
The Holy One speaks to remind me, " The ultimate goal in your salvation is not to just save you from something. It is to save you for something. I have saved you for Myself and for our eternal love relationship.
That simple truth is so easily forgotten when we try to share the Gospel with others. With all the visuals we have placed before our eyes of death and destruction, it is easy for people to become emotionally seared and apathetic or dominated by fear of evil.
The salvation that continuously presses the threat of hell, fire and damnation to people who are living it on earth seems to understandably fall on deaf ears. This is by no means an attempt to minimize what the Word of God teaches about the place of torment, but to understand why that end of the salvation message may be less motivating to those living through these dark days on earth.
Likewise to promise people in the Middle East that salvation will change their temporal suffering is a far cry from their life experience as they witness Christians who are being martyred every day.
The essence of the Gospel is Truth for every person on earth and every generation regardless of their geography. And the Truth must be shared with all people in light of eternity.
In the days of Jesus, Rome was a powerful governing force on the earth. Jesus operated within its structure and did not offer to change the politics of the day. Jesus also operated within the social structure of the day which was for Israel and the Jews, under the authority of the Scribes ad Pharisees.
Jesus declared His mission on a day when He spoke in a synagogue in Nazareth.
Luke 4:17-21, "The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it He found the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind; to release the oppressed; To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Then He rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the Synagogue were fastened on Him and He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing".
Clearly these verses speak of His role as the Messiah, and are applicable to everyone regardless of the circumstances here on earth. Truly the thing that holds us bound is the sin that separates us from God. Sin breaks our hearts, and keeps us in darkness and not just until a political regime change occurs. True freedom starts in the soul and moves to the heart and mind.
Jesus came to pay the price for and proclaim our freedom. It is a complete and common freedom whether we live in a hut or a mansion; in an obscure village or a major city. Freedom for one must be the same freedom for all.
How do we explain this to 3rd world citizens or neighbors who live in temporal ghettos?
Jesus said, in John 18:36, "My kingdom is not of this world". Simple enough unless one is looking for a political or worldly king.
As followers of Christ, we must realize and accept that the One we follow was rejected, persecuted and ultimately crucified. Kingdoms on earth do not change for His death but the hearts and minds of people do.
The true picture of salvation was painted for us in the Biblical account and 11th hour of life for one thief on a cross. (Luke 23:39-43) Jesus was crucified between two men who had been found guilty of crimes punishable by death. One man mocked Jesus and challenged Him to show His powerful authority and save them and Himself from the penalty.
This man just wanted temporal relief to be saved "from" the death he was facing with no apparent remorse. The other thief, declaring his guilt and belief that Jesus was a king with a kingdom said, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong. Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into Your kingdom". Jesus answered him "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise."
This man spoke words that were a reflection of his desire for a relationship with Jesus and to be remembered. Jesus confirmed that relationship, "Today you will be with Me in paradise". This man accepted his fate and the pain of the "hell" he must have been experiencing. His desire was to be in the relationship Jesus came to offer all people. In the face of temporal death, he was focused on an eternal relationship with the Lord after he breathed his last breath on earth.
As we live amid the horrifying circumstances that can even be described as "hell" on earth, may we never forget that Jesus came and died to save us for Himself; that we might live in an eternal love relationship with the One who created us for that purpose.
The Divine plan behind our salvation is not just to save us "from" the judgment which will come upon all who reject Jesus, but to save us "for" that deeply personal relationship with our eternal King, which actually begins here on earth.
It is for the Love of God that we are saved and that is to be the over powering message I share with those who have not yet heard the Truth.
The Spirit is calling. Can you hear Him?
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