Hope in Waiting 8/11/19

“Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped His feet with her hair.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, Lord the one You love is sick. When He heard this, Jesus said, This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s Glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it. Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard this that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days, and then He said to His disciples, let us go back to Judea.” John 11:1-7 As we saw,  Jesus did not go right away, He waited two days. There was a purpose to His waiting…that the Son may be glorified through it! When Mary and Martha saw Jesus, they said to Him, ,” Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. ” They were confident that Jesus would not just stand by and let anything happen to the one He loves. Then, Jesus said, “Where have you laid him?” …”Roll the stone away!” The stone is removed!  They took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard me. Know that You always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they believe that You sent me. “John 11:41-42 Having said this, He called loudly, ‘Lazarus come out Just as Lazarus came forth from the tomb at the command of Jesus and was set free, we are set free from our bondages, sin, shame, guilt, insecurities, fears—all that hinders us from the freedom we have in the Lord Jesus. Alleluia! Is this freedom in Jesus worth waiting for! All Glory to God! Jesus always sets an example for us.  He took advantage of every situation to glorify His Heavenly Father.  If someone was in need of healing, was in distress, hungry, Jesus fulfilled that need. Even lepers came to Him and Jesus was not afraid to lay His Hand on them.  Mary Magdalene had no need to be ashamed anymore because Jesus cleaned her up with His love and forgiveness!    At times, we doubt God’s love for us. At times, we wonder where God is when we need Him most. Why do we have to wait so long before the answer comes?  What happens when it seems as though God does not answers our prayers? Is He still a good God?  When we don’t see the hand of God, let us trust the heart of God to know that He always has a plan and a purpose. It may not be in our time and according to our plans, but if we are willing to trust Him, believe Him, obey Him in faith, He will show His glory. “For those who love God, all things work together for good.” (Romans 8,28) As Christians  we acknowledge that we have stones in our lives. They may not be as heavy as the one they had to move for Lazarus. Some are lighter, some are heavier. But come Jesus’ Resurrection Day, Jesus walked through the stone! He is there for us, He is our example, and He is worth waiting for! He wants to reveal His glory!! Amen! Alleluia!

FINISHING WELL

                                                          

Watching the Olympics is amazing! We watched the champions strive to give all to win the prize. The same thing in the Christian life. We strive to win the crown of righteousness.  The crown that Jesus will one day give us, when we stand before Him, will be like the gold medal. This is the ultimate reward, the ultimate achievement. The only way we win the race is to live totally for Jesus.  Jesus is running the race with us.  He gives us the strength. God's prize is eternal!  

“I for my part am already being poured out like a libation.  The time of my dissolution is near.  I have fought the good fight.  I have finished the race.  I have kept the faith.  From now on, a merited crown awaits me; on that Day the Lord, just Judge that He is, will award it to me – and not only to me, but to all who have looked for His appearance with eager longing.” (2 Timothy 4, 6-8)

Will we be able to say about our lives what Paul said to Timothy about his:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”?  Paul didn’t write these words to boast in front of Timothy about his spiritual accomplishments or seek after Timothy’s admiration.  Not at all!  Paul was Timothy's spiritual mentor.  He was encouraging Timothy to endure in his commitment to Christ Jesus.  Paul wanted Timothy to finish well.  Paul wanted Timothy to understand that our life in Christ takes energy, discipline, and effort.  There is a fight to be fought, a race to be run.                                                                               


How many of us believers “fight the fight and run the race”? Are we the Christians who ‘flame out’, who have no spiritual endurance, who are overcome with difficulties and discouragement?  Have we forgotten what the Bible tells us in regard to perseverance and spiritual endurance?  Have we forgotten the bloodshed of the Holy Apostles and early Christians who proved their tenacity of Faith?  Above all, have we forgotten the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Who, having endured unimaginable pain, said at the end of His Holy Life, “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My spirit.”  And, finally, “It is finished.”

Ah!  But, our Faith does not stop there!  Jesus rose from the dead!  And, so will we!  Holding on to our Faith in this lifetime means we will be with the ‘cloud of witnesses’’ who will come with Jesus at the appointed time!  “Therefore, since we, for our part, are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in running the race which lies ahead.  Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.  For the sake of the joy which lay before Him, He endured the cross, heedless of its shame.  He has taken His seat at the right of the Throne of God.”  (Hebrews 12, 1-2)

Finishing well is not a one-time-act; it is a direction we choose. We are called to live life step by step, day by day, pointed towards pleasing Him who called us. Jesus is our Model in all things.  Jesus calls us to lay down our baggage at His Feet, at His Cross, and to ‘seek Him, our God, unencumbered.’  Jesus is the one Who brings us to the finish line.  Saint Paul explains it beautifully in his letter to the Philippians, “It is not that I have reached it yet or have already finished my course, but I am racing to grasp the prize, if possible, since I have been grasped by Christ Jesus.  Brothers, I don’t think of myself as having reached the finish line.  I give no thought to what lies behind, but push on to what is ahead.  My entire attention is on the finish line as I run toward the prize to which God calls me – life on high in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3, 12-14)

As Christians, we start our lives, our ministries, full of vigor, strength, enthusiasm, vitality, eager to do what is right and good, full of hopes and dreams for the Glory of God, for His Kingdom.  Then, as years go by, do we wane?  Do we mix our convictions with the ways of the world? Do we deviate from our first Love?  Are we influenced by criticism and gossip, endeavors to take our eyes off Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith?  One evangelist put it this way,” I know how I started, but how am I going to end up?”

Do we know how we are going to end up?  Will the King say to us, “Come, ye blessed of My Father!  Receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!”  Will He say, “Well-done, good and faithful servant!”   Yes!  So, my brothers and sisters, how are we going to end up?