Thursday, March 24, 2016

GOD. US. TURBULENT TIMES.

Unless you are one who has been living in a cave with no Cox Communications available, the turbulence of this world is increasing intensely.  News of bombings and beheadings fill the World News pockets with more to cover than time would allow.  Threat seems to be a genuine concern as the wave of horrible crime gains global perspective.

I believe the concerns are legit.  Too, I think that I believe that the rumors of preparation for future attacks by the radicals will hit in the near future.  If not prepared we will likely be shaken more deeply than necessary.  It would be our quest to ponder our reaction should attacks come upon our loved ones...or ourselves.

This world is not our home.  We are just a passing through...so we sing; but do we securely believe our very own words?  Yes, we do.  So if one believes in God and prays, then will such a person be exempt from harm?  No.  Yes.  ?

Injury surely does fall upon any and eventually even more.  Death is man's greatest dread.  It is here that the world can take a turn for hope instead of fear.  This is where God really gets to show His stuff.

In baseball terms, Jesus is the Closer.  He is the relief pitcher that comes in during the bottom of the ninth inning to shut the opponents down.  Jesus is that hero.  He will see to it that team Death does not have victory.

What shall we do to be saved?  Oh, how that question becomes more meaningful when facing impending threat to the very core of our being...that powerful point known as death.  Saved/salvation are not church terms.  These are codes of survival at the peak of protection as well as preservation.  People (famous, poor, educated, common) who live are going to die.  There are no exceptions and no exemptions.

Jesus is the Closer.  We are called to hide in him in baptism.  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?  Therefore, we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  This Romans 6 text continues to point out that being baptized is in sync with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

The enemies felt certain they had dealt the final blows to the Son of God when upon the Cross.  They had unleashed their full muscle.  Jesus was...done for.  But what they didn't know was God has this surprise element called resurrection power that no enemies have the where-with-all to dent; let alone stop.

The.  Game.   Is.  Over.  And.  We.  Win.  Death may take us....but it cannot keep us!







No comments: