Kingdom of God

God is standing by

It is almost certain that the country will go over the so-called fiscal cliff. Should that happens, many of us will experience significant hardship, especially the poor and the unemployed. Interestingly, this so-called fiscal cliff which everyone is going berserk over, is a list of austerity measures that was meticulously prepared and voted on overwhelmingly by the House and Senate. It is what they wanted all along for the American people. Now, either side is trying to save face by pretending that going over the cliff will be unsuitable for America.

Whatever happens, my friends, I would like to reassure everyone that God is standing near. He promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He is the same yesterday today and forever. Therefore, if He is the God who provided for the children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years, He will provide for us too.

The Lord is my Good Shepherd

The Lord is my Good Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not require anything.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

For Thou art with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou anoints my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever

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Do you want to be a winner?

Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke (Photo credit: Keith Allison)

At a Dodger Stadium news conference on Tuesday December 11. 2012 , the Los Angeles Dodgers introduced their newly acquired $147 million Baseball pitching star, Zack Greinke to the news media. Majority owner, Magic Johnson was asked whether money was no object with the Dodgers. He responded with four words, “We want to win”.

Everybody wants to be a winner. Winning is everything in the secular world, especially in sports and athletics. It is not enough to compete. One has to win, and win now! Otherwise, you are deemed a loser, and since no one wants to be a loser, the pressure of winning becomes greater.

Unfortunately, not everybody can be a winner. There is only one spot on the podium for the winner, so some of us have to settle for the unpopular also ran position.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Instead, let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. . . Hebrews 12:1-2

However, unlike the secular world, everyone can be a winner in Christ and in the Christian world. In this sacred world, the race is not awarded to the swift nor the battle to the strong. This race is a marathon, and the winners are those who run with patience and endure to the end. There is no controversy in the Christian race. No doping scandal and no false start. Everyone is on equal footing.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10

There  is no so-called superstar in the Christian race, and there is no mention of judges or referees. There is only one Judge–the righteous JUDGE and He cannot be bought. He does not take a bribe. He calls the race as He sees it. It does not matter how popular you are, and how long you have been running. He does not curry-favor.

Here is how a winner in the Christian world sounds at the end of his race:

I have fought the good fight, and I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing”. 2 Timothy 4.

Defy the critics and live in anticipation of Jesus’ return

Repent! Jesus is coming soon

Repent! Jesus is coming soon (Photo credit: Ben Sutherland)

Despite what critics think, there is manifestly no doubt that Jesus will return for His church when most of us least expect. His return was imminent when Saul got struck down on the Damascus road, and it is even more imminent today. However, no one knows the minute or the hour. Jesus Himself said so: “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36). Therefore, brothers and sisters, every Christian should live in readiness and anticipation of that day. If we do not, we may jolly well end up like the five foolish virgins.

The five foolish virgins got locked out of the banqueting hall; because of their failure to live in readiness and anticipation of the Bridegroom. They knew He was coming, but because of haphazard planning, (lack of spiritual readiness), they missed their only chance to have a seat at the banqueting table. One can only imagine how those poor women felt, when they heard the words: “Depart from me. I never knew you”.

The Bible never told us what happened to the five foolish virgins. We can only assume. However, it tells us what will happen to those of us who are not ready when Jesus returns for His church. In 2 Peter 3:10, the apostle Peter warns: “The Day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night”. On that Day, the heavens will disappear with a roar and the elements will melt and dissolve, and the earth and everything in it will burn up”.

Just like in the days of Noah, many people doubt the word of God. Some people pretend that they believe but their actions do not match their words. Still, some people think there is plenty of time before Christ returns. Another group claims it has been two thousand years since Jesus promised His return and it is yet to happen.

Two thousand years may seem like a long time to us, but to God it is not. Here, is how the apostle Peter addressed this issue: “Moreover, dear friends, do not ignore this: with the Lord, one day is like one thousand years and one thousand years like one day. The Lord has not been slow to fulfill His promise as some people think; quite the opposite, He is patient with us; for it is not his intention that anyone should perish, but that everyone should turn from his sins” (2 Peter 3:8-9).

Finally, my dear brothers and sisters, it does not matter how long we wait. God does not count the days, and the years like we do. Furthermore, He is giving everyone a chance to repent. Therefore, the most obvious thing to do is to live in spiritual readiness and preparedness for the Bridegroom when He returns.

Might does not always make right.

David with the Head of Goliath

David with the Head of Goliath (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The recently concluded Presidential election campaign reminds me of the story of the duel between David and Goliath. (Romney was Goliath and Obama was David). Goliath on one hand, was tall and brawny, one of the most feared in the mighty Philistine army. He had a reputation of tearing his victims apart. (Romney blew away his opponents in the primary). David, however, was just a boy in a frail body with a sling and a stone and an extremely weak Israeli army to back him up. At least, that was what Goliath and his army thought. (Romney underestimated the Obama campaign). Here, is what Goliath said when David approached him:

“Am I a dog that thou comes to me with staves?” The Bible says the Philistine curse David by his gods. He then entreats David: “Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the field” (1 Samuel 17:44). Then David said to the Philistine, “Thou comes to me with a sword and a spear and a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied” (1 Samuel 17:45)

David had a secret weapon–his faith in God. He knew that the battle was not his. It was the Lord’s. Therefore, if he allowed God to fight the battle for him, he would be victorious.

Similarly, Mr. Romney is perceives as the stronger of the two candidates. He had the power of his millionaire donors behind him. Like Goliath, he was confident that he would rip his opponent apart. However, as we have learned in the David and Goliath story. Might does not always make right. Mr. Obama had the small donors–the people on his side. He knew that the greatest asset in any election was the people. Money is crucial, but money do not vote. People do.

In the end, David overcame the mighty Goliath and his Philistine army and did what he promised. He cut off Goliath’s head and gave it to the fowls. Likewise, Mr. Obama prevails over Mr. Romney. As I have said before, “Might does not always make right”.

What did you have to give up to follow Jesus?

English: Jesus appears to the disciples (water...

English: Jesus appears to the disciples (watercolour) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Every person who desires to follow Jesus must give up something. It is the basic requirement one has to meet before embarking on the Christian journey. It is the initiation period and a test of commitment. The twelve disciples did. Even though, they were mostly fishermen of extremely modest means, they gave up all they had–family and livelihood to follow Jesus. Nevertheless, following Jesus takes more than just giving up something which we hold near and dear to our hearts.. It takes great sacrifice and unshakable commitment and steadfastness.

 

 

Not everybody who wish to follow Jesus has it in him, or her (at least in the initial stages)to accept the challenge Jesus issues in Luke 9:23: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me”. The disciples no doubt had it in them, but I am sure it was just as difficult for them as it is for modern days people who are striving to follow Jesus. Regardless, they were not the only ones. There are countless others, including, perhaps you, and Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul after his conversion. Paul was not a disciple. Still, he did not hesitate to give up his job as a tax collector, as well as his position as a member of the ruling council to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

In the world, and in the society in which we live, there are many people who identify themselves as followers of Jesus, yet when asked to identify that which they have given up to follow Jesus, they cannot give a coherent answer. Young Moriah Peters who has had to make life changing decisions twice in her short life. In high School, she found herself at a crossroad where she needed to choose Jesus and stay pure or choose the crowd and be cool. She did the right thing and choose Jesus. Peters would soon find herself at another crossroad. This time she needed to decide whether to go to college to fulfill her dreams to become a lawyer or to pursue a music career, singing for Jesus. She chose the latter.