Flashback to 2008: Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore

I started blogging after writing this message in August 2008, in the heat of the Bejing Olympics.
" Happened" upon it this morning and thought it worthy of a " Flashback", even as we celebrate Shelly-Ann and Usain Bolt copping the RJR  Sportswoman and sportsman of the year last night.
LWJ




www.danielgodsurelywilldeliver.blogspot.com/ 

What time is it? Time for the Olympics on television. Time for Usain Bolt to smash another world record and then to perform the " gully creeper" and the "nuh linga." - two of the latest moves in the dancehall scene in the island. Time for the Jamaican women sprinters to sweep the 100 m race. Time for a relatively unknown young lady from a tough inner city community to cause pandemonium to break out, not only in her neighbourhood, but across the length and breath of an entire country. Time for her mother to send a strong message to all Jamaica, and especially the gunmen, that with hard work , everybody's child can achieve what her daughter did. Time for this simple but very wise mother to give thanks to God Almighty for Kerry-Ann's success. What time is it? Time for VC ( Veronica Campbell - the princess of athletics in Jamaica) to retain her 200m title and to send a message to the entire world, that her God comes first. Did you notice that her first act after winning the historic race was to stoop and clasp her hands in prayer. Time for Asafa Powell, one of the favourites to win the 100m final, but who failed again to medal, to win a well deserved gold medal in the relays. Time for Melaine Walker, another young lady from a tough inner city, to bring glory to herself, her country and her community by winning the 400m hurdles in an Olympic record. Time for her people to celebrate wildly. Time even for a moment of disappointment when arguably, the four faster women in the world, failed too carry the baton around the track in the women's sprint relay. Time for Half-Way-Tree, with the help of a big screen TV, to become the country's " Beijing", where masses of people gathered everyday to witness the success of the Jamaican stars and to share in the vibes. What time is it? Time for the news about crime and violence to take a backseat to the events in Beijing. Hopefully time for the gunmen to take a permanent break from their wickedness and give Jamaica a chance to really achieve its full potential both on and off the sporting arenas of the world. What time is it? All too soon, time for the athletes to return home to what will no doubt be a tremendous reception, as a grateful nation, pours out its love and appreciation for the exploits of these men and women. Time to savor the sweetness of the Track and Field section of the Olympics being dominated by the Jamaican stars - third behind the USA and the Russian federation. Time to give thanks to the coaches and the administrators. Time for the Government and the private sector to" step up to the plate" and harness this momentum of an outpouring of national pride and unity, for the long term benefit of nation desperate for good news. What time is it? It's celebration time here on the "rock". But during the course of the week, as we celebrated with wild abandon the victories in Beijing, jumping up and down like mad people, donning the national colours, festooning even our vehicles with the national flag, the Lord reminded us that there is another imperative, another time that we must not lose sight of - Harvest time. As for Christian people, for the Redeemed people of this world, our role is to spread the good news, as we were reminded in church this morning, that in the Eternal Kingdom, unlike in the Olympics, there are no winners and losers, no stars, but we are all rescued from sin and death, by the mercy of God, in and through Christ Jesus. What time is it then? Time to tell the story of Jesus' death on the Cross of Calvary, of the wonderful love of God, poured out in the Blood of the Lamb, for Adam's helpless race. Time to reassure all peoples, that just as how Jesus was raised from the dead, with power ( of the Holy Spirit) so all who have sinned, all who are under God's righteous judgement, can, in Baptism, rise to a new life in Christ Jesus. What time is it? Time to remind people that the time to accept Christ is now, as " no man knoweth when the Son of Man shall come". That Christ has died, Christ is risen and Christ shall come again. And that nearer and nearer draws the time when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as waters cover the sea. Time to share the good news with Bolt and Phelps, with the Chinese and with the Russians, with the top class coaches, the high performing media personalities at TVJ, CMC, NBC, CVM, the ill informed President of the IOC Jack Rogge and even with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, who is speaking to the nation even as I write this message from the Lord. Where did I get this message about Harvest time? HARVEST EYES CHRIS TIEGEN AUGUST 4 " Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" John 4:35 IN WORD The contrast between Jesus and His disciples in this passage is stark. Jesus is busy telling a sinful woman of eternal truths. The disciples are focused on their physical needs. Jesus sets off a spark and sees a whole town ablaze with spiritual hunger. The disciples are obsessed about their daily bread. Jesus was ready to minister to people. The disciples were ready for lunchtime. Don't we see a similar contrast in our own lives? Sometimes we can be outward focused, seeing other people's needs and trying to meet them. More often we are just trying to to get through the day, feeding ourselves and our families, and trying to earn enough to pay the bills. We get caught up in our own agenda and neglect the more urgent need of a hurting world -- perhaps not in principle, but certainly in practice. Jesus urges His disciples to look beyond themselves. He tells them to thrive on a different kind of food -- the will of God and His passion for people who need the gospel. They are to be outward focused, filled with vision. Their ambition should be to see the gathering of the Kingdom of God, not just to get through the daily grind. IN DEED We tend to neglect the eternal purposes of God and hone in on the peripherals of life. But life isn't about going into town to shop ( John 4:8) or about lunchtime ( vs 31). Those are the necessities of sustaining life, not its substance. The substance of life is eternal, and we can invest it in either the kingdom or in the world. Jesus points us to His kingdom. Are your eyes filled with visions of harvest? Do you understand why we are here? Do not be distracted by the daily routine or by the needs of the hour. learn to recognise moments for reaping. Jesus has given us a mission and told us to have a vision for what's going on around us. Focus outward, not inward. Lift up your eyes and look at the fields. It's harvest time. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some of special moments for me, as a Christian, at the Olympics were Veronica Campbell's public act of thanksgiving; Bolt and the many others, including the Brazilian 50 m swimming champion, consistently making the sign of the Cross and thus giving God the glory; the eight finalists in the 100m men race gathering for prayer before the race; Bolt's donation of US 50,000 to the victims of he earthquake in China - what effect this might have on millions of Chinese and others in the far east, who have never heard the gospel, only God knows. But no doubt these were special moments for "sowing the seed". Looking back I can understand how and why, as a nation, we have elevated these men to super star status. And celebrate we should and must. But as the Redeemed people of God, we should always be celebrating and giving thanks, every day, every hour, to the One who set us free from slavery to sin and rescued us unto Everlasting Life. This is what must excite us to worship and to tell the good news, in season and out of season. When there is excitement and celebration in the nation and when there is pain and sorrow and grief. Let us then be obedient to our calling, and follow the example of Christ. Let us not be overly concerned about our nation's achievement, the successes of Bolt and VC, but rather use every moment as an opportunity to witness for Christ. This is what the final message from the Lord through His servant Martin Luther is all about. QUICKENING GRACE MARTIN LUTHER Zechariah 12:10 When a Christian begins to know Christ as his Lord and Saviour, through whom he is redeemed from death and brought into his kingdom and inheritance, his heart is aglow with a flaming love of God and he would gladly help everyone to the same experience. For he knows no greater joy than that he possesses this treasure, that he knows Christ. Therefore he goes out and teaches and exhorts other people, praising and testifying to it before all men, praying and yearning that they too might attain to such a grace. That is a restless spirit enjoying the highest  rest in the grace and peace of God, for it cannot be silent or idle, but is always striving with all its power to spread the honor and glory of God among the people, that others too may receive this spirit of grace and may then help with the work of prayer. For where the Spirit of grace is, he quickens our hearts, so that we can, and may, and must begin to pray. Amen

Choosing a road named humility" in 2013: A resolution that leads to God's grace and mercy

Despite some success with road fatalities last year, one single crash, resulting in the death of three persons, a grandmother, a mother and daughter, all Jamaicans living abroad, and who were on their way to the airport, wiped out any notion that things were much better on our roads. And that 2013 would automatically  see a dramatic reduction in road deaths. So too murder. The data for Jamaica for 2012 was encouraging, but since the start of the year we have already witnessed some vicious killings. No as horrific as what took place in the Phillipines, but serious enough to warrant concern.What then will 2013 bring with respect to other social ills? The breakdown in family life; the corrupting influence of some aspects of popular music on the minds of the young; the huge gap between the rich and poor in  my country; the loss of hope in respect of  students graduating from tertiary institutions and their inability to find a job; the grinding poverty of many of our people; the increasing amounts of persons who no longer attend church; the apparent lack of vision of our political leaders, or at the very least their inability to articulate that vision clearly that persons may be inspired to do great things for their country. A sentiment echoed by at least one Caribbean publication which nominated Kirani James the Grenadian Olympic 400 metre champion to be Caribbean person of the Year, as according to them, no Political Leader in the Caribbean was up for contention. Perhaps the only Leader to catch the imagination of the world was President Obama, who was voted by Time magazine to be Person of the Year.
No doubt many persons across the world are reviewing the events of 2012, as we are doing on television as I write even now. And as  has happened since time immemorial. And to what end! Should we listen to the French philosophers who  declared that : " The more things change, the more they remain the same", in English, and Plus ca change, plus ce la meme chose...en francais. Or is there some way to get off this roller coaster called life and find a different pathway. Ultimately, one that will lead to peace and fulfillment and joy.

Perhaps a single thought expressed at the end of sermon shared today by the Anglican Bishop of Jamaica, could be the point of departure for a reflection on this issue. The setting was the journey of the three wise men to find the Christ child. They came one way,  but ( warned by the angels)  went back home using  a different route. And the key question here  for people of faith in God, is,  having experienced the Risen Christ, having had an encounter with Him, have we remained the same, do we have the same attitude to life, or have we been so transformed by the experience, that we have chosen a different pathway.  In that context then I will share the inspired thoughts that the Lord placed in my heart during this past week.
Tuesday morning  
    Early this morning, at 5:00 am, after going to bed following watch night service at about 2:00 am, I was awakened to read and share this message. It is of great importance.

Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

and who depends on flesh for his strength

and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

He will be like a bush in the  wastelands;

he will not see prosperity when it comes.

he will dwell in the parched lands of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, 

whose confidence is in him.

He will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its root by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

and it never fails to bear fruit.

The heart is deceitful above all things

and beyond cure.

Who can understand it?

I the Lord search the heart

and examine the mind,

to reward a man according to his conduct,

according to what his deeds deserve.

Jeremiah 17:5-10 NIV

Inspired thoughts: herein lies the crux of the problem of all mankind. " The heart is deceitful  above all things, and beyond cure". This is the ultimate judgement from The Creator of Heaven and Earth, and all things that live within it". This is the observation from The Holy One of Israel, who is so Holy that no man can see His face and livel This is not the foolish rantings of an inconsequential bystander! This is not the profound discovery of a great philosopher. Or the lyrical style of a poet of yure. This is judgement by the One who posed the ( existential )  question to Job:

" Have  you ever given orders to the morning,

 or shown the dawn its place". Job 38:12 NIV

This then is the context within which we can begin, only begin,  to understand the gift of Christmas and the gift of a New Year. As the Creator God, who searches the heart  of all mankind, and has found us all, beyond cure, with great compassion, which is new every morning, and each New Year,......

........now I understand why this week the Lord woke me up to read, " Because of his great love we are not consumed, for his compass ions never fail. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV.....

......This gracious God then, became man - Incarnation - and suffered and died for us, whose hearts are beyond cure. So then, how can we not love the Lord Jesus, and praise His Holy Name. The Name that is above all names, as the Preacher reminded us at the service.

I pray God my family members, let this Name protect us all from all evil this New Year.

Let us commit to Believe on Him. Let us commit Repent of our sinful and unbelieving  ways. As faith in that Name comes first by an act of will, and not by " our own (limited, very limited)  understanding of life. 

 Precious Name, O how sweet,

Hope of earth and Joy of Heaven.

Happy New Year.

LWJ

Comment:  The distinguishing  feature of the Christian faith is the revelation that the heart of mankind is beyond cure; that  only a Holy God alone understands this; that only a Loving  God alone can cure it; and that only a God who is prepared to " empty Himself",  become man and die on a Cross can be a worthy sacrifice for the incurable heart of man. That's it!  That's why we love the Lord Jesus.... so much, as the gospel song I heard on the way back from church today reminds us. " Accept these prayers from a grateful heart.....Every time I think of you the praises start.....I love you so much, Jesus". So the pessimism that the French Philosophers offer a confused world is not the only offer in town. Nor is the triumphalist dogma of the post modern age that " god has died", (must be a common "g",as  they could not be talking about my God) to be taken seriously, as many of the advocates of this simplistic notion, are carried right into the church for burial when they died. As we have seen here in  Jamaica and across the world time and time again. The reality is that the same God who searched the heart in the time of Jeremiah, is still searching the hearts of all mankind even until this present time. And the results are the same. Everybody needs Jesus. This island needs Jesus...goes the popular song. But that is true of America, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Grenada, the UK, everywhere. As the corruption of the human heart is responsible for all the ills in the world. Social, political,  moral and economic.

The above message was the most significant one for this week. But the doctrine of grace, God's unmerited love and favor and act of empowerment,  by which all of us are led to seek God in Christ, came through regularly this week. And which grace alone is the means by which the human heart is transformed and cured and led to follow Christ. It's an important, nay critical lesson for us to appreciate, lest we feel that our Christian  lives and works, make us " better than " unbelievers". And so another , a more personal note, was penned this week,  to members of a team that I had had the privilege of working with during the course of last year.

Wednesday morning

  

As we "celebrate" the " success"  of achieving the BELOW 300 target - latest available figure 258 - , in respect of road fatalities during 2012. And as we give thanks to God for all those  ( only a few included here) who helped in making this happen . And as we mourn with those who suffered loss during the year. And as we plan for the future, let us remember the words which form the final section of a three part prayer which I have been blessed to pray each morning on arising for many years. The three part prayer:  On Waking; On Rising; On Going to Work,  was written by Jacob Boehme ( 1575-1624) an influential German Lutheran Mystic. The General Caption of the Prayer is : " A Morning Watch". And in my Classic Devotional Bible the verse which is referenced is 2 Chronicles 7:14. If anyone is interested I can send you, in due course, the other two parts.

On Going to Work 

Give me, dear Lord, a pure heart and a wise mind, that I may carry out my work according to your will. Save me from all false desires, from pride, greed, envy and anger, let me accept joyfully every task you set before me. 
Let me seek to serve the poor, the sad, and those unable to work. Help me to discern honestly my own gifts that I may do the things of which I am capable, and happily and humbly leave the rest to others. Above all, remind me constantly that I have nothing except what you give me, and can nothing except what you enable me to do.

 This morning, in particular, I was struck by the awesome truth contained in the final sentence. There is a reason for this, and it has been building up for a couple of days now. It has a name. Humility. A topic about which the Lord has been speaking in various ways, and about which I will write in another forum. I pray God that by His grace, I will learn more and more about this truth and manifest it in my life. And this is my prayer for all who may read this note inspired by the Lord during my devotions this morning. That we have nothing except what the Lord gives us, and we can do nothing except what He enables us to do.  Amen.
LWJ
Sent from my iPad
This note about humility was influenced by a sermon on the subject which my Rector,  Canon Sirano Kitson, preached one Sunday morning recently. And also a reading of the following passage from;  " Rediscovering the  Church Fathers: Who they were and how they shaped the world, by Michael Haykin, a professor of Church history and Biblical Spirituality at Southwestern Baptist Seminary. Excerpts from Chapter 6. " Being Holy and  Renouncing the World: The experience of Basil of Caesarea."

" A key area in Basil's thinking about monastic and episcopal leadership was the responsibility of the monastic leader and bishop to be a man marked by humility. For classical Greek authors " humility" and its cognates were totally negative terms and derogatory in meaning. They regarded humility as the mark of a social inferior, and it was often associated with adjectives such as ignoble, servile, abject, downcast, and servile......

It is not all that surprising that the anthropocentric worldview of the pagan Greek authors would regard humility as shameful. In their eyes, there was nothing exalted about the position of a social inferior, for example, that of a slave. By contrast, the theocentric   ( ipad's spell check  cannot manage this word) worldview of the New Testament saw in humility one of the best ways to describe man's relationship to God. In the mind of the New testament authors, humility teaches us how lowly men and women really are before God.

Ultimately, it was the fragrant humility of Christ's life - from his humble birth through his life of selfless service, to his humiliating death on the cross - that transformed the meaning of this word. He was humility itself. As he said in Matthew 11:28-29: " Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Christ here describes himself as the ultimate embodiment of humility. Henceforth all who genuinely call him Lord, would seek to reproduce in their lives their masters's humility. And when the early Christians reflected on the meaning of Christ's coming into this world, his humility was central to their reflections. A good example of such  reflection is Basil's Homily 20, Of Humility. Like many of his sermons, it cannot be dated more precisely than saying it was given between 363 and 378,
Basil begins by  explaining just how necessary it is for men and women to to strive to be humble:

Would that man had abided in the glory which he possessed with god - he would have genuine instead of fictitious dignity. For he would be ennobled by the power of god, illumined with divine wisdom, and made joyful in the possession of eternal life and its blessings. But, because he ceased to desire divine glory in expectation  of a better prize, and strove for the unattainable, he lost the good which was in his power to possess. the surest salvation for him the remedy of his ills, and the means of restoration to his original state is to practice humility and not pretending that he may lay claim to any glory through his own efforts but seeking it from God.
.......the sermon's focus, in a sense, is the acquisition of glory - the glory lost by Adam in the garden, that glory by which a man is " ennobled by the power of god, illumined with divine wisdom, and made joyful in the possession of eternal life ad is blessings". It cannot be found through wealth and political power - which brings with it  " a glory more unsubstantial than a dream" - nor " strength of arm, swiftness of foot, and comeliness of body" or human wisdom. What is rue glory then ? Simply this: knowing the living God.

Final ( inspired) comment: There is  more, but the above reflection ought to suffice for us  to learn more about this critical issue of humility in the Christian journey. And by which facility alone, can we access the Grace of God,  and thus " return home by a different route" - transformed and empowered, and not just satisfied as my Bishop explained this morning, which sadly is the end  result of many a  Christian journey. And being satisfied with " personal satisfaction" cannot help a nation to be transformed by the presence of  Christians - the salt of the earth.
Also the issue of what transpired in the garden when Adam disobeyed, is portrayed in terms of the desire of divine glory and the lack thereof, leading to something less noble. Far less! Finally this reflection , in my mind, opens up a clear understanding of why the continued influence of the Greek pagan thought, which rules the mind of the post modern man, even though he or she may not realize it, to the extent that such notions leads then away from the path of humility. And there are sufficient examples in the market driven economies of the world to make the issue fairly impatient of debate.

I pray God then as we reflect on the events of 2012, we may realize that the only thing that matters from one year to another, is not the recollection of what shook the world or the news of the day. But rather, how  far along the way, are we on this road called humility?  The only one that leads to an experience with God through grace. And thus truly , having come here as part of the sinful race of Adam, with hearts incurable on account of sin, and therefore estranged from the Living God, at the end, in and through Christ Jesus, we may return to God, " along a different route". Amen.