Showing posts with label new Jerusalem. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new Jerusalem. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

YOU'RE WHERE?

"But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled  blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." Hebrews 12:22-24

When I was in my mid-twenties my younger brother (by a few years) went snow camping up a near by mountain in SoCal with a friend. It did snow some more and he didn't come home the day he was supposed to so my mom was of course worried and she called the park rangers. They said they couldn't search until morning. Then next morning while the rangers were setting up their search my brother walked into the parking lot toward his car and the rangers asked him if he was the lost camper. He replied, "I'm not lost."  

The world may wonder what we are doing. They will think we are clueless, foolish and in denial, weak, escaping reality and just plain stupid. But, we know whom we have believed. We know that everyone needs Jesus and all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We know that Jesus is our mediator and his blood atones for our sins.  We have to the living God, the God of mercy, grace and forgiveness. We worship the Lord, who makes us, the unrighteous, righteous in Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. The world thinks they know where they are, yet, sadly we know they are deceived. We know where we are, in the world and where we are going, heaven. 

Father, thank you that in Christ we can know whom we believe and where we are in you. Thank you that in Christ we are righteous and that you are making us new. Praise be to you in us today!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

WHAT'S YOUR COUNTRY?

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own." Hebrews 11:13-14

What are you looking for?  Do you have a home country? 

Sometimes, perspective is everything. I'm a Dodger fan. It was a good year, better than the last, but, not a great year. If you're a Red Sox fan, it was a great year. I am still looking forward to a year when my Dodgers put it all together again. 

As a person of faith, I can have good years and bad years, but, I am still looking forward to "that day". My hope is on Christ and the paradise he has prepared for us. I am longing for the time he comes to take us all home with him in heaven. I am hoping to not go alone. 

My hope is in Christ, not myself, not anyone else. 

Father, thank you for giving us hope. Help us to welcome the hope from this distance of the present. Praise be to you in us today!