The Time of Perfection

Posted on by korgrocker

“Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.”
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 NLT

Prophecy, tongues and knowledge are spiritual gifts that will be eclipsed by love, which Paul said would last forever. The three spiritual gifts he listed will become useless one day, “when the time of perfection comes”. But if we unpack what Paul meant, we find that what he wrote was really common sense. We know that even in our enlightened Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, the spiritual gifts are woefully inadequate in providing a complete view of God, His character, His plans, His thoughts, and His Kingdom. Although the most gifted Old Testament prophets delivered prophecies that were full of hints and glimpses of what was to come, some remarkably close to the mark (see Psalm 22, for example), they were only a part of what eventually happened. And then we know that Jesus Himself was unable to reveal the timing of an event that His disciples were keen to discover – when the world will end. We read in Matthew 24:3, 36 “Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” … “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows”. Of course, I’m sure that when Jesus returned to Heaven, He would have found out what was planned, but, as a human being, even the God-man, such a revelation was kept from Him. 

It is sad that some movements and denominations, even individual churches, believe that perfection came with the canonisation of the Bible in the fourth century AD, and they therefore believe that all the spiritual gifts that Paul wrote about have no further use now. So in their church services, there will be no manifestations of the Holy Spirit gifts, lowering their expectations of what God can do. But there is much that the Holy Spirit does in the life of a believer, because He is the Power Source that drives us and helps us, as we walk on in this life. I often ponder about Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think”. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father” (John 14:12). Was all this power just for the first-century church? I don’t think so. Jesus went on to say in the following verse, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father”. What happens today is imperfect, but we don’t give up aspiring to receive the Holy Spirit gifts, as we await the coming of the Perfect. 

“Come Lord Jesus”

There can only be one such Time, and that is the return of Jesus to this world. Ultimately, this Time is described in Revelation 21:1-2, 6 , “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”, … “And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life”. Jesus will return to this world one day; we don’t know when, but we do know the manner of His return and where it will happen. Acts 1:11, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!””. So if we had a video of Jesus rising into the clouds on the day of His Ascension, a replay in reverse would show us His return. Revelation 1:7 continues the theme, “Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen!”

In the new Heaven and the new earth, Perfection will be with us, forever. And so we pray, echoing the last recorded words of Jesus in Revelation 22:20, “He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”

Dear Lord Jesus. We echo the words of John, when he wrote, “Come Lord Jesus!” We honour You, the Perfect, today. Amen.



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Eagerly Waiting

Posted on by korgrocker

“Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 NIVUK

What do we pilgrims feel about the return of Jesus? Does the thought full us with dread or a pleasurable anticipation? I suppose it all depends on our circumstances, exposing the dilemma facing us Western Christians. We have so much in terms of material wealth that we have a reluctance to let it all go. Even those who complain about their lack of money and difficulties in making ends meet in a society experiencing a cost of living crisis, probably have more possessions available to them than many of the Corinthian believers. It is all relative. Of course there are many, too many, people who suffer from poor mental health and who would welcome relief in a new world that would accompany Jesus’ return, each set free at last from the depression and other conditions that blight their lives. But in the main we fill our lives with more and more “stuff”, clogging up our clarity of thought and vision of a new order in God’s presence. 

The early First Century Christians were convinced that Jesus would return in their lifetimes. In fact, in their expectations He could return at any time, and His imminence focused their minds. They woke up in the morning, thinking “is this the day”? In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, Paul reassured the believers that those who have died while they wait for Jesus would not be disadvantaged. He wrote, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him”. But the days passed and Jesus did not return. But that did not stop them living as though He would come in the next hour or day. And so they eagerly awaited His return, not lacking “any spiritual gift” and assured that Jesus would “keep [them] firm to the end”. 

But here we are two thousand years or thereabouts later and Jesus still hasn’t returned. In Matthew 24:3 we read of a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. “As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?’” The first part of their question referred to the Temple and Jesus’ prophecy that it was going to be destroyed (this subsequently happened in AD 70). But the disciples were also concerned about the end of the age. Jesus’ answer started in the next three verses with a discourse following of the end time events, “You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth-pains”. History records the signs Jesus warned us of, signs that He said were just the “birth-pains”, preceding the End Time events. Recent happenings in the Middle East have caused some speculation that we are in the same situation as the First century Christians, awaiting Jesus’ imminent return. Even some well known and respected pastors have been inclined to comment through social media postings that we could be just about at the time of the “End of the Age”. But Jesus later said, “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Matthew 24:34. That has obviously not happened so there have been several opinions expressed by theologians over the years about what Jesus meant. We must remember the dual question asked by the disciples and possibly Jesus was referring to the  destruction of the Temple when He said this. Or He might have been referring to a future generation that would still be alive when He returned. But come what may, as a Bible commentary states, “Both views, as well as many others, agree that in at least one sense, Jesus is right now at the gates, ready to return. Nothing stands in His way, and He waits only for the Father to send Him, at the moment only the Father knows. He could arrive at any time”. 

In Matthew 24:42, we read that Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come”, and in the next chapter Jesus gave three illustrations of the importance of being ready for His return. We have the parables of the Ten Virgins, the Three Servants, and then the Sheep and the Goats. The conclusion in the first parable included the five virgins who were not ready for the return of the Bridegroom, and we read, “Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’” (Matthew 25:11-12). And Jesus finished with, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return” (Matthew 25:13). But the story of the Sheep and the Goats is more than a parable, more than just another Biblical story. It is a stark warning of what is to come and what Jesus will be expecting to find when He returns. 

So back to the question I started with. What do we feel about the return of Jesus? The Corinthian believers were “eagerly awaiting” His return. Are we, and if so, what are we doing about it? We can’t just sit on a Sunday pew, comfortable in our Western Christianity, praying that nothing will disturb our status quo. We have to do the things Jesus has asked of us. And if we dread His return we must look closely at our relationship with Jesus, and pray that He will once again empower our lives through the Holy Spirit within us. 

Father God. We repent of our lukewarm faith, without power and effect. Please forgive us for our spiritual lethargy, and help us once again to find our first love, that time when we first encountered You and were infused with the excitement of knowing You. May we too be like those early believers, eagerly awaiting Your return. In Your precious and holy name. Amen.

Father and Son

Posted on by korgrocker

“The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”” 
Psalm 2:7-9 NLT

A decree is a sign of ruling. We read about one in Luke 2:1, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world“. The king, emperor, or any other political ruler in an autocracy has the authority to issue an instruction or command. In a democracy this is the function of the elected government. And the civic authorities, if necessary supported by a loyal armed force, will ensure the decree is carried out. In these verses today, we see a decree that is twofold in its meaning – it applied to David and his kingdom but it also has a prophetic meaning, foretelling that Jesus, the Son of God, will one day inherit a much larger Kingdom. In Isaiah 9:7 we can see the extent of it, “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and for ever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this”. But what about the “iron rod” and “clay pots”? If we turn to Revelation 19:15 we can see snippet of the end time vision John received about the victorious Jesus, ruling and reigning in His Kingdom, “From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress”. To be in an unbelieving nation in those days will be a terrible place to be.

One day the risen Jesus will be the theocratic divine and anointed Leader in the ultimate Kingdom of Heaven that is established here on earth. We pilgrims have read the last page in the book and we know how the End Times will come about. And the penultimate verse on the last page says, “He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Jesus declared another decree – “I am coming soon”. And we reply in eager anticipation, “Come Lord Jesus”. In a dark, wicked and sinful world riven by wars and disasters, we receive comfort that it will all end well for God’s children.

Dear Lord Jesus. We look forward to Your second coming. We don’t know when it will happen, but happen it will. “Come Lord Jesus”. Amen.

The Chosen King

Posted on by korgrocker

“Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.””
Psalm 2:5-6 NLT

On the one hand we have a picture from this Psalm of rebellious and unbelieving nations warring against God, and then, on the other, we find that God has installed His “chosen king” in Jerusalem. Who is this “chosen king”? At the time this Psalm was written the king was David. He was the king chosen by God to replace Saul – the details are in 1 Samuel 16, 1, 13, “Now the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” … So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah”. David eventually took up residence in Jerusalem as the king of Israel and the “holy mountain” was the Temple Mount, still there in Jerusalem today. 

But there was also a prophetic message about the King to come, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Although Jerusalem, up to now, has always been a minor city compared with the sprawling metropolises of the world capitals such as Paris, Tokyo, London, etc., it has always had huge implications for the global religious and political communities, in a time yet to come. In Isaiah 2:2 the verse starts,”In the last days …” and it will be there that Jesus will govern His global kingdom. In Acts 1:11 we read, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” One day Jesus will return again to the very place He left this world, Jerusalem.

We pilgrims are a people of vision, and we look forward in anticipation to the time when Jesus, our Lord, returns. We know where Jesus will return to from Acts 1:11. Jesus gave us dome information about the manner of His coming in Matthew 24:30, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory”. We will have no doubts about how Jesus will return to Planet Earth. But are we ready?

Dear Lord Jesus. We echo the words in Revelation – “Come Lord Jesus”. Amen.

Angry Nations

Posted on by korgrocker

“Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one. “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.””
Psalm 2:1-3 NLT

The first three verses of Psalm 2 shows us a picture of rebellious and jingoistic nations, with leaders who have discarded God to the point that they want to be totally atheistic with no mention of God and His Son allowed their societies. Such examples are communist nations, particularly in the Far East, with China, for example, having a largely atheistic population. Instead they promote Marxist ideologies that they say replaces any need for a belief in a god. In fact, the state has become the “god” for the people. North Korea is a country where leaders are deemed to be divine. But why are such nations so angry, angry to the extent that they want to battle any other nation to fulfil their “futile plans“. Such a geopolitical scene dominated the politics of the psalmist’s day and nothing has changed in the 21st Century. National names may have changed but the sentiments are still there.

The Jews are God’s chosen people. They were before David’s day and nothing has changed since, but this may explain why nations are so angry. Nations intent on living wicked and evil lives are anti-God and anti-Jew, even to the point of irrationality. And they get angry and make plans to get back at God and His people in any way that they can, as any follower of Middle East events can see. So, in a sense, the anger and plotting becomes an obsession, binding them with chains of hatred and effectively enslaving them in their fight against God. Mistakenly they think that if they can eliminate God’s people, then they would have eliminated God Himself.

So how do we pilgrims respond? One prayer I have been praying is from Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure“. And we pray this prayer about Jerusalem because God’s people, the Jews, live there, and we want God to show them mercy and forgiveness, security and their ultimate salvation. We also bear in mind that Jesus will return to the Mount of Olives, now subsumed within Jerusalem, when He comes again. Acts 1:11, “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven'”. And it will be there that Jesus will rule and reign, from His throne in Jerusalem. Exciting times ahead. We don’t know when Jesus will return but we must be ready. It could happen at any time.

Dear Lord Jesus. We pray today for peace in Jerusalem, and we also pray for your return soon. In Your precious name. Amen.

Jesus the King

Posted on by korgrocker

“When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, “Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!” When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king, he slipped away into the hills by himself.”
John 6:14-15 NLT

What connection did that great crowd of people make between receiving a free lunch and making Jesus their King? They must have extrapolated the “miraculous sign” of feeding them and concluded that Jesus had the extraordinary capabilities needed to resolve the Roman occupation problem for good and all. There is no doubt that Jesus could have called upon the necessary resources, had they been needed. Matthew 26:53, “Don’t you realise that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” But the people could only see a nation of Israel without the hated Romans and provided with free food forever. A Utopian state that, up to now, they could only dream of. But as we pilgrims know, particularly here in the UK, a change of government does not often add up to a change for the better. It is true that a government under the rule and reign of Jesus would be a fair and just administration, but there is a warning such as Jesus gave to the church in Thyatira, as John wrote in Revelation 2:26-27, “To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots”. And we have Psalm 45:6, “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a sceptre of justice.” Perhaps the crowd on the Galilean shore failed to see that if Jesus appointed the government of their nation, there would be a requirement for righteousness. 

But Jesus wasn’t ready or willing to fit into the people’s mould for a King. Jesus was not their warrior King in His first coming, but He certainly was for His second. The Jews would remember the song of Moses in Exodus 15. “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him! The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is his name!“ (Exodus 15:1-3). In their minds, the people would imagine a King able to do again what He did to the Egyptian army. The Apostle John in his revelation wrote, “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. … From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all Lords” (Revelation 19:11,15-16).

God’s plan for the salvation of mankind was not bounded by time. Romans 5:6, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners“. And at “just the right time” Jesus will come again, a second time, as the warrior King the Jews of His day were looking for.

Dear Lord Jesus. You, who came as a baby, born of a peasant girl in humble circumstances, will one day return to rule and reign in righteousness. The King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. We pilgrims look up and see in our spirits that white horse carrying our Lord and King. Come Lord Jesus! Amen.

The Same Word

Posted on by korgrocker

“They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.”
2 Peter 3:5-7 NLT

There are ahead of us in time certain world events that will be catastrophic in their totality, as Peter described. But before we get there we are in a season of grace where we have the opportunity to consider who or what this “same word” really is. We think of a word as being something articulated and mouthed in our own languages that helps us communicate with those around us. From an early age, babies learn to speak and communicate, and through schooling, this extends to both spoken and written words. Information is contained in words, and without such a form of communication the world would be a poorer place. 

God Himself used words to create the heavens and the earth. We know the Genesis story well. Those verses that started “Then God said…”. The scientists and technologists have tried many times to emulate what God can achieve, but one thing they have failed to do is to speak in a way that creates something from nothing. One thing I always ask evolutionists and physicists, if I get the opportunity, is “Where did all the matter come from in the first place?”. They talk about the “big bang” and other complex theories, but of course, they have no answer to the origin of matter. Only God can create something from nothing, by a word. Neither can they answer the question, “Why is there matter and life around us, and not just nothing?”. It is usually at this point that the conversation changes. 

John’s Gospel starts with, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone” (John 1:1-4). John set the scene for who Jesus really was, and is, right at the start of his Gospel, and we have to embrace the implications of this when we think about Him. The Son of God Himself was directly involved in the “same word” that uttered “Then God said …”. In fact, John said He was that Word at the very creation of the world. But after this He fulfilled God’s plan for mankind by becoming one of us. Who ever heard about a God who created the world and then became a part of that creation? The One with unlimited power and presence becoming a limited human being. And all to enable human beings to find God, their Creator, and turn to Him so that they could live with Him forever. Such love and grace!

But back to the consideration of what is to come. According to the Bible, Jesus didn’t just come to this world, born as a human baby, living and dying, and then never to be seen again. That “same word” still exists today. And we know that he is actively at work in Heaven preparing a place for us, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1-3). And one day He is coming back. Hebrews 9:28, “so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him“. 

But we also know that one day everyone will be judged according to what they did in their lives. Revelation 20:12, “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books“. And the One who will be the Judge is Jesus Christ Himself. John 5:22, “In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge“.

So we have gone full circle, in a way. The same Word, who spoke into being the world we know, will one day utter judgement on those who come before Him. No more “gentle Jesus meek and mild”. The last judgement will be a scary occasion “when ungodly people will be destroyed”. In fact, the very Word that created will speak out punishment and judgement, scaring even the created environment to disappear. “And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide” (Revelation 20:11). But because of our loving and gracious God, we have an opportunity, in this season of grace, to embrace all he has for us. The Word who become flesh died for us at Calvary, that our sins would be forgiven and His righteousness able to cover us like a cloak, enabling us to enter God’s presence. Don’t miss this opportunity. Grab every opportunity to warn those around us. One day it will be too late.

Dear Father God. We reach out to You today, deeply grateful for Your love and grace. Please forgive us for our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scoffers

Posted on by korgrocker

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.””
2 Peter 3:3-4 NLT

‭‭The resurrected Jesus had a conversation with Peter where He asked three times if Peter loved Him. Towards the end of this we read in John 21:21, “Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?””, referring to the disciple John. “Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” So the rumour spread among the community of believers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”” (John 21:22-23). Soon after, on the Mount of Olives, we read the account of Jesus’ return to Heaven and we read in Acts 1:11, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” 

There was an expectation in the early Church that Jesus was coming back to Planet Earth, and this was going to happen within a generation. The problem was that as time went on, He didn’t re-appear as expected, and people died without seeing Him again. But apparently there were some “scoffers” who tormented those early believers by asking them, “Where is He?”. “What happened to the promise?”, they said. And they pointed out that the world around them was as it always had been. The seasons still took place. Crops grew. Rain fell. Mountains remained. Lakes were still full of water. People were born and eventually died. Nothing had changed. 

We still have the “scoffers” today, and there seems to be so much more to scoff at. Science, technology, the internet and social media seem to have combined to bring about a plethora of theories and ideologies, each with their own adherents and opponents, evoking a sometimes violent clash, as opposing sides scoff at each other. And as for those who believe in a Man who was crucified two thousand years ago and who said He was coming again, such a “theory” is so implausible (to them) that the “scoffers” say it isn’t even worth scoffing at. Generations of “scoffers” have never left this earth. Regarding my faith, I have been asked frequently, “You don’t really believe that stuff do you?” We pilgrims have all met then “scoffers”, I’m sure.

There was a character in John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” called Atheist. He once claimed that he was a pilgrim believer, but apparently he left his country out of curiosity and intrigue, not to find relief from a burden of sin or to escape the wrath to come. He sought for evidence of God’s existence and for the hope of eternal life, but finding none, he resolved to give up and go back to his country. And he became a scoffer, renouncing the gospel. He became a person who rejected all forms of religion and turned into a “scoffer“. From the book, 
“So this man drew nearer and nearer until he came right up to them. His name was Atheist, and he immediately asked the pilgrims where they were going.
Christian said, “We are going to Mount Zion.”
Atheist burst into howling and scornful laughter. He said, “I cannot but help laugh on account of it being so obvious that you are both ignorant persons; for you have committed yourselves to a very tiring journey that will provide you with absolutely nothing for your trouble, other than a fruitless journey.
Christian said, “Why man, do you think it possible that we will not be received at our destination?”
Atheist said, “Received! But there is no such place that you dream of in all this world.”

I once worked with a man like Atheist. He was brought up as a Catholic, but sometime in his journey through life, something happened to make him change and turn on his previous belief in God, and he never missed an opportunity to scoff at me for my faith. Incidentally, it was a bitter-sweet experience for him, because part of my testimony for becoming a Christian was because of him and his atheistic and humanistic ideologies, forcing me to confront my agnosticism and reach out to God instead. So while I had the opportunity I replied to his scoffing with a word of thanks,

So how do we pilgrims deal with “scoffers”? Psalm 1:1 is a good place to start. From the Amplified Bible version, “Blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favoured by God] is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked [following their advice and example], Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit [down to rest] in the seat of scoffers (ridiculers)“. About this blessed person, the next verses read, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity]” (Psalm 1:2-3). The Bible has several references to “scoffers”, but in God’s Word we can find the words we need to bolster our faith and keep us spiritually strong on our journey through life.  No “scoffer” will ever stop God loving us, and His strength will keep us from withering in a land of Godless ideologies and “scoffers”. There will come a day when the “scoffers” will find that God isn’t impressed by their foolishness, and they will suddenly realise that Jesus really did come to this world to save us.

Dear Father God. Thank You for the purity of Your Word and its power, shining like a beacon in a cynical world. Amen.

Jerusalem

Posted on by korgrocker

“As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honour, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.””
1 Peter 2:6 NLT

In his letter, Peter quoted Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” Isaiah’s prophecy in his chapter 28 was scathing about the rulers in Jerusalem, and he foretold their fate. Isaiah could see coming a time when there would be a righteous Ruler in Jerusalem but his prophecy is still to be fulfilled of course. Other prophets foretold of Jesus ruling in Jerusalem – we can read their prophecies in Zechariah 14 and Jeremiah 3. We refer to this coming of Jesus as His second coming, because we already know about His first coming, as a baby, born in a stable located in Bethlehem. Some 50 days after the resurrection, Jesus went out with His disciples to the Mount of Olives, located just outside Jerusalem, from where He ascended into Heaven. But Jesus is returning to this world, and we read about His return from the angels’ message in Acts 1:11, ““Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”” We knew this was at Jerusalem, because the next verse in Acts reads, “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile”. Jesus Himself foretold of His return to Planet Earth in Matthew 24:30, “And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

But why Jerusalem? Surely there are better places for Jesus to return to? Places where He could be a “cornerstone” far more effectively. Jerusalem is riven by conflict between Jew and Gentile, Israeli and Palestinian, Muslim and Jew. There are many more peaceful places on earth, we could argue. But it will be as God has ordained it. And we also need to remember that one day there will be a New Jerusalem that Jesus Himself foretold about, as recorded by John in Revelation 3:12, “All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.” In Revelation 21:2 we read, “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. The names Jerusalem and Zion are synonymous and the author of the Hebrews wrote, “No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God’s firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22-23). 

There is something special about Jerusalem. It figures greatly throughout the Bible as God’s home and one in which we too will live one day. Whether we consider it as a physical place or a spiritual condition, we must never discount it, and must always be obedient to the Scripture, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “May you have peace.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6-9). There is much strife in 21st Century Jerusalem, but God will one day answer our prayers.

Dear God. We pray for the Holy City Jerusalem today, that peace will reign and Your Word upheld. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prepare Your Minds

Posted on by korgrocker

“So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.”
1 Peter 1:13 NLT

What do we pilgrims make of this verse? It’s an “action” verse with instructions to do things. It starts with a “so”, so we need to look at the context of the previous verses. Peter had previously reminded his readers that they were experiencing the salvation foretold by the prophets of old, that the “Good News” they had subsequently heard was preached to them through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was all a very timely reminder of the saved state they were now in. And because of where they were at, it was now time for action, it was time to prepare their minds. It was all connected with the “hope” they now had “in the gracious salvation” that was their inheritance. And Peter reminds them this will finally happen “when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world”. 

For the early believers, Christ’s return to Planet Earth was considered imminent. There was of course the statement Jesus made at the end of His conversation with Peter, as recorded in John 21:22, “Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.”” And we can read what other New Testament writers wrote in their letters. For example, James 5:7-8, “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near”. The old Apostle John recorded what Jesus said to him in his vision – “Look, I am coming soon! Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book. ” … “Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds” (Revelation 22:7,12).

So, what was the preparation Peter was advising? He was writing about their mindsets. They were to be mentally prepared for what was to come. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesian church, wrote, “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 4:21-24). That too is a call to action, a preparing moment, a step in the sanctification process we must all go through.

But Peter didn’t write any specifics. What was the “action” and what was the “self-control” required? If we pilgrims were reading the same text today, what “action” would we need to implement? There is of course an internal implication, as we clean up our thinking, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to get rid of the all the wrong and sinful thoughts we experience. For example, if we are worriers, then we consider what Paul wrote to the Philippian church – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6). There is also an external implication to “action” and “self-control”. We must endeavour to make every opportunity to be salt and light in our communities, sharing the Good News that we have responded to, with others. And together with fellow believers we will find ourselves in a place of anticipation for receiving the fruits of our hope in Jesus. We don’t know when He will return, but we need to be ready in any case.

Dear God. We pray, as many of the saints have done over the centuries, for the return of Your Son to this sad and dark world. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.