We're Not Okay and That's Alright

As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching. (Matthew 27:57-61 NLT)

The 27th chapter of Matthew is a rather depressing and sad chapter. Here is a brief synopsis:

Jesus’ death is planned out by the religious leaders
    Judas hangs himself
        An innocent man (Jesus) is put on trial
            The audience of the trial wants a guilty man set free
                An innocent man (Jesus) is found “guilty” and humiliated publicly
                    Jesus is crucified
                        As he is dying, Jesus is further ridiculed and verbally assaulted
                            Certain women could/would only watch from a distance
                                Jesus dies and is buried in a “borrowed” tomb
                                    Plans are made and kept to guard the tomb of someone dead

Ugh. Like we said, depressing.

Many Christians believe - some adamantly - that a follower of Jesus can never be depressed. After all, “the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

Yet, pulling one verse out of context does not make one a biblical scholar.

Depression, sadness, hurt, anxiety, pain, stress…these are all found throughout the Holy Scriptures and afflicted even the stoutest of biblical saints.

One of Christianity’s greatest preachers, C.H. Spurgeon was frequently plunged into severe depression. Quite a bit of his mental crises were due in part to gout. In a biography of this "prince of preachers", Arnold Dallimore wrote, "What he suffered in those times of darkness we may not know...even his desperate calling on God brought no relief. Spurgeon himself once wrote: “There are dungeons beneath the castles of despair.”

Just when you thought you couldn’t get any lower…dungeons.

In all honesty - we’ve all been there. A loss of a loved one. Loss of a job. Destruction of a friendship. Frail health. Chronic pain. Addiction. Financial stress. Impatient demands of others. All of these, plus countless other things, can drive even the sweetest of saints to a moment of mental anguish and spiritual struggle.

Chuck Swindoll once wrote: “Many years ago a young Midwestern lawyer suffered from such deep depression that his friends thought it best to keep all knives and razors out of his reach. He questioned his life's calling and the prudence of even attempting to follow it through. During this time he wrote, ‘I am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not.’ But somehow, from somewhere, Abraham Lincoln received the encouragement he needed, and the achievements of his life thoroughly vindicated his bout with discouragement. You and Your Problems Transformed by Thorns, p. 58.

Even the early followers of Jesus despaired. Matthew 27:61 - “Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.” Do you think they were waiting for his triumphant resurrection? No, more than likely, these two could only see and feel: “The One we believed in and followed is gone! Our Messiah is dead!”

We too, often become overwhelmed by life and its often relentless and choking grip…and in our limited thinking we say to ourselves: “Where is God? Why doesn’t he hear me? Why doesn’t he hear my prayers? Does God not care for me or my problems?”

Be honest - you know we’ve all done it. So, quit being ashamed of being human. After all, if you’re reading this, “Surprise! You’re human.” You are flesh. You are bone. You are blood. You are at times weak. At times you fail. This is what it means to live in a fallen world.

Instead, give thanks that God extends mercy and grace when we do fall. He gives us what we do not deserve and does not give us what we do deserve in those moments of despair.

In the midst of their pain and loss, God reached out to the two Marys. Even though it was at a tomb, guarded by the enemy, without joy and hope, God had not abandoned them. God had not left them to their own demise. God did not discard them because they were filled with sadness.

Rather God met them there. He brought forth the greatest moment of joy the world would ever know. He raised from the dead the One who could lead all the captives of sin and death to eternal and everlasting freedom. God brought to life the only One who can give us life.

Holy week is upon us. It is a tough week. Maybe you are encountering a tough time. Know this: it’s okay to fret. It’s alright to stress. It’s normal to get overwhelmed. It’s fine that you are not fine.

That is the reason for Christ Jesus.

Christ has come.
    Christ has died.
        Christ has been buried.
            Christ has been raised from the dead.
                Christ has ascended to the right hand of the Father.
                       Christ is coming again.

That’s good news brothers and sisters. We pray it brings a glimpse of hope to your burdened hearts and a smile of joy to your face. It’s okay to not be okay…because, in the end, it will all be okay.

From Digital to Divine - The Search for Eternal Life

 

June 22, 2022

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross—not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony. So we have these three witnesses— the Spirit, the water, and the blood—and all three agree. Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

 - I John 5:4-12 (NLT)

For thousands of years, humanity has tried in vain to live past its expiration date. The Bible tells us, “And as it is appointed for a person to die once, but after this the judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). And, yet, with all we can muster, we try to push the boundaries of nature and destiny by doing all we can to prolong the inevitable.

Here are some things people have thought would bring them eternal life:
    1.) Eat a mermaid…(Not sure if they need to be baked or deep-fried)
    2.) Eat from the Peach of Immortality Tree (only ripens once every 3,000 years)
    3.) Drinking ambrosia (not sure if you have to be 21)
    4.) Touching and drinking from the Holy Grail (Indiana Jones beat you to it)
    5.) Find and attain the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter might still have this)
    6.) Drink from the Fountain of Youth (Ponce de Leon is still looking)
    7.) Make Jesus angry - (yep, according to legend a wandering Jew did this at the crucifixion and             Jesus cursed him to live forever on earth without being able to rest until the Second Coming)
    8.) Use scientific methods (break out your beakers and chemistry set!)

As for the last one, humankind is taking advantage of a plethora of medical breakthroughs. New medicines, combined with genetic research have led to serious applications. Experts actually believe that cell death can truly be prevented and immortality may only be a few decades away.

And yet, there is still another way humanity is attempting to achieve “eternal life.” Stop me if you’ve heard about this one: The 2045 Initiative, is a project started by Dmitry Itskov. Its goal is the creation of a human avatar into which a person’s consciousness would be uploaded to an avatar before the person dies. In this way the deceased person will keep on “living.”

The avatar will possess the person’s full personality, memories and will be able to talk and act like them - a digital doppelganger. The project, staffed with the brightest minds in medicine, computer science, technology, and even religion, was named Initiative 2045 because 2045 is the target year for achieving the Initiative’s stated goal of absolute singularity.

Just exactly how does this occur? You simply upload your consciousness to a computer. You will then “live” forever in the matrix - with Neo and Trinity (movie buffs will know) in whatever universe you desire. Yet, only wealthy people will be able to afford it…oh well…

Or, we could merge with robots and live on as cyborgs. Crazy? People over the globe are already using robotics to help them walk and surgeons use them to perform microscopic procedures.

So, what does all of this have to do with the Christian? Well, aside from biblical and ethical considerations, it should remind us that we have already inherited eternal life. We do not need outside help. We do not need money to pay our way for a fake immortality. The price is paid.

In his letter noted above, John specifically explains it this way: God has given us eternal life. This is through his Son, Jesus. And, there is no other way.

It’s as Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father - except through me.” No need to upload anything. No need to have money. No need to have the right connections. No need for a humanly created initiative. Nothing digital, only Divine.

Aside from the ethical dilemma this creates, the 2045 Initiative proves one simple fact - people want to be in control of their destiny. They want to captain their own ship. They want to have complete dominion and mastery of their lives.

What an illusion control is.

Not a single one of us can cure cancer. We cannot stop the drunk driver. We are unable to halt acts of violence. We cannot control the weather. We will not stop a virus. We have no control.

That’s why it is called faith: we believe; we hope; we trust.

For the believer in Jesus it is not about staying here on earth longer…it’s about the resurrection from the dead and life eternal. No more pain. No more issues. No more tears. No more death.

Paul put it this way: “But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. - I Corinthians 15:12-22 (NLT)

You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

April 19, 2022

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.  

- Acts 8:34-40

This past week we skipped doing a newsletter. We were out of town and visiting our son’s college of choice. Down in the deep south, on the Gulf of Mexico - yes , the weather was wonderful!

During one of the very few silent moments to reflect we caught ourselves thinking about how we were beginning the process of setting our last child out to sail into the unknown waters of life - that’s an appropriate analogy as he will be majoring in Marine Biology. As parents - and I think we could all agree - one of our primary tasks is to prepare our children to leave us.

It’s also something that SHOULD be happening in the body of Christ, in his church.

What do we mean by this? One of the major problems which has prohibited church growth is that we have forgotten we were commanded to “Go.” Even ministers and preachers…we have gotten it wrong. So much energy and time is consumed on creating “congregations” - a word that is the opposite of “Go.” To congregate means to gather…and that seems to be where we are most happy. Together. Assembled. You know, congregating.

And yet, from the Tower of Babel until now, the command is to “Go.” “Go into all the world and preach the gospel,” Mark 16:15.

But, leaving causes pain. Saying, “Goodbye” or even, “See you later,” brings a twinge of hurt.

Look, there is nothing wrong with getting together. It is one of the most important aspects of our lives as humans - community. In the church, however, we are to gather together so we may better learn how to “Go.” Then, we come back to celebrate what God has done while we were apart. It’s what occurred in Luke 10 when the 72 had gone out and then returned: “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” So, He told them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven," Luke 10:17&18.

Missy and I can speak honestly about how painful it can be when you have poured yourself into someone or some family and then God calls them to leave. To move. Or, when God calls us to leave one ministry and move to another where he is calling us. Both are painful. Both cause stress. Both create hurt. That said, to “Go” should be as natural as breathing for the “follower” of Jesus. You saw that, right? “Follower.” Sort of implies that we are to follow - to go after.

As we realize our son is “going” and “following” his path it is a not so gentle reminder that we are all part of a transitory existence. Our lives are brief. “Everything is dust in the wind.”

In James’ letter we read: ‘Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that,”’ James 4.

In Psalm 144 David writes: “A human is like a breath; their days are like a passing shadow.”

This should all point us toward being more grateful for our time together.

Take time with your family and friends today. Play games. Take a walk. Send a handwritten note. Make that phone call. Get in the car and pop in for a visit. Purchase that gift and hand deliver it if possible. Bake some oatmeal cookies and drop them off at our house…chocolate chip for Missy.

Life IS fleeting. We are all going to say, “Goodbye.” But, followers of Jesus know full well that saying “Goodbye” also means at some point in the future we will once again say, “Hello.”

So, in July, when we have to head back down to Alabama for our son’s orientation at South Alabama, we do so knowing we are continuing down a path where separation is unavoidable. But, hey, how else could we get to experience God’s promises and beauty if we did not trust him to take care of us and those we love?

A final word: some of you reading this have had to say “Goodbye” to loved ones - or maybe you are in the midst of that difficult time. Just remember, that “Goodbye” is not final. After all, isn’t that what the resurrection is all about?

I Corinthians 15:50 - 57: “Now I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: 

“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable.”

In the immortal words of Jeremiah Rankin: “God be with you (till we meet again.)”