Is this all there is?

This week has been Dying Awareness Week, a campaign supported, to get people talking and thinking more about death.
 
Linda Woodhead has commented in theGuardian that “the churches’ hold over birth, marriage and death has weakened dramatically”. Funerals are difficult for everyone, but young people can find them particularly disconcerting. I was standing at the graveside as the coffin of a 21-year-old whose life had been cut short by a particularly vigorous cancer, was lowered. Very quietly, almost under her breath, one of her friends whispered “Is this it? Is this all there is?”
 
There is nothing like death for focusing the mind on the purpose of life. This is when Christian hope needs to be strongly articulated, not weakened. It is a hope in which we think of time and eternity as largely continuous and, more importantly, as being related to one another as dimensions of reality, both given by God for our existence.
 
This is not all there is, this material world we see around us.  Indeed, it has a past, a present and a future. But that past, present and future do not stand alone, disconnected.  They stand in close relationship with another life, with eternity, and with death and resurrection. At the centre  of all life is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, an event both in history and transcending history, of such a character as to open up to us the eternal view on the world. And it is from that point of view —namely from eternity — that we want to see everything that happens here on earth. Jesus is the integration point of what has been, what is and what is to come and he is the Way to be followed, not a goal to be achieved.
 
His death and resurrection become, for Christians, the beginning, centre and end of all our attention.  Here begins, in a way unknown even in earlier Judaism, a story of life being restored, of this life not being the sum total of all there is, of life beyond death.  The eschaton - literally  the last in the series - almost seems to reach back into time and into human history and in Jesus’ resurrection, shows itself for what it is, namely another dimension to things that goes beyond the material and the physical, which actually gives the material new meaning: a richer, deeper texture than it had before. And it was as world changing for the apostles as it is to today.

Tom Torrance put it powerfully in his book Space, Time and Resurrection. 
 
He writes: “That God Himself had become man was an offence to the Jew and folly to the Greek; that Jesus Christ rose from the dead was deemed to be utterly incredible. Yet the incarnation and resurrection forced themselves upon the mind of the Church against the grain of people’s convictions, as ultimate events bearing their own intrinsic but shattering claims of the self-evidencing reality and transcendent rationality of God Himself and they took root within the Church only through a seismic restructuring of religious and intellectual belief.”
 
Strangely, then, the death of Jesus is not the end of all that is, but proves to be the door that opens on to a new realm, a new world, a new dimension, which changes everything that has gone before, and that is and is to come.
 
Around Easter, we usually remind ourselves that following Jesus means following him on the way to glory and that means via the way of the cross. The redemptive work of the cross requires for us a renewed sense of vocation here and now.
 
We live the whole of life purposefully and in hope now because of what has been and is to come. “We are but shadows of our future selves,” comments Tom Wright. What answer to “Is this it?” might my young mourner observe if she were to examine the realties of life and death in the shadow in your shoes tonight? How will you take part in the conversations about dying in such a way that not only are we preparing young people for life but also for death?
 
Ann Holt, Director of External Relations, Bible Society - Evangelical Alliance 
 

Defending Jesus Podcast - The historical Jesus

Ken and Adam discuss the Historical Jesus on their latest podcast. Adam talks about his debate with a Muslim on this topic. Have a listen.

K.Oni

Miscellanies 43: Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?

Is it nothing to you all, all you who pass by? Look and see if there was any sorrow like his sorrow. Look at him. They call him the man of Sorrows, what a name for the Son of God who came eating and drinking. Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? That this man of sorrows bearing shame and scoffing rude is standing in your place. Look! It is all for your pardon. Will your souls not look back to see the burden he bears for thee as he hangs on that cursed tree? Will you not believe and rejoice, will you not mourn that it was your sins which caused the heavenly Father to inflict his wrath on his precious Son on the day of his fierce anger? Is it nothing to you all, all you who pass by that Jesus Christ, lifted up to die should not have your gaze? Oh ruined sinners it was all for you to reclaim- If you pass by this road and never look to gaze on his sacrifice, it shall never suffice for you. Stand like a penitent and confess your sins. Pause and linger, linger long enough until his blood trickles to your soul and you begin to sing of his bleeding love. On this day Jehovah lifted his rod and how mightily it fell on Christ, O see how bruised he is by justice, he is innocent but you are guilty. He covered you with his back and took the lashes upon himself. There is not one stroke for you, none at all. O Loved sinner, come, come quickly and see what Christ has done for you; leave your business at once, forsake the television, flee the parties, depart from your friends, kiss your family goodbye. Run beloved sinner, come and climb up the hill of Calvary, climb with endurance, climb with all of your might, and see him whose face is marred with sorrows. Look how he pities you, look how he cries, ‘Father, forgive them.’ Look how they crucified him without mercy, and yet, he offers you mercy. Look how he looks to the heavens and said: ‘it is finished’. Have you this day said thank you Lord for giving your life for me?

K.Oni

Miscellanies 42: If you want to live like Jesus, you must live

If you want to walk with God, why of course you must walk. If you want to live like Jesus, why, of course, you must live. Jesus was baptized, be baptized. This was a command he gave his disciples to do for new followers. Jesus submitted to his father, submit to him too. Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors, you must eat with them too. Jesus prayed often you must pray too. Jesus preached the gospel you must preach it too. Jesus carried his cross you must carry yours too. Jesus never sinned you must do your best to flee temptation. Jesus ate with the hypocrites you must eat with them too. Jesus restored the outcasts to the community (the lame, beggar, prostitute, addicts, etc) you must restore them too. I am not saying you have to do everything Jesus did after-all he is the unique Son of God and the only man able to accomplish redemption; but in his life he has shown us the most excellent way, he has given us an example to follow which the Holy Spirit makes possible, and as a church we accomplish it as a whole. *


* I did not mention miracles because not all have the gift of miracles, but we can all pray for it to happen and can desire it. (Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way). 1 Cor 12:29-31 - In fact there are other things I haven’t mentioned; this is not exhaustive. God is transforming us, some of it is instantaneous and some, well, like a slow cooker, it takes time. 


K.Oni

Book review: Come, Sit, Stay

Are you carrying heavy burdens, torn up inside, exhausted and numb, all at the same time? Is there a situation you have prayed over thousands of times and nothing seems to happen? If so, rest your mind on the promise of Jesus in Matthew 11:28, ‘come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’. The authour of this timely devotional Ellen Vaughn does exactly this, she rested and welcomed the invitation of Jesus. She describes her experience in these words when she heeded the invitation of Jesus:

As I walked, I actually focused on Jesus’ invitation. I took it apart word by word, chewing on it, meditating on it. I walked on, looking out over God’s good ocean, and that old verse from Mathew 11 became real in a new way. I saw a glimpse of Jesus; I heard his invitation to come. I could almost see his arms open wide. I felt his grace. This wasn’t about me being “good enough” to come; it was all about his love. A kaleidoscope of color and meaning swirled from his words. I smelled a whiff of sea breeze hope. Tears rolled down my face.

This devotional is Ellen’s sweet experience of what she discovered in her experience of resting in Christ and chewing over word by word what Jesus intended in Matthew 11:28 and what great benefits and blessing we can possess when we simply believe that promise.

Come, Sit, Stay has refreshed my mind and brought me to come to Jesus without fear, to sit at his feet without worry and to stay with him without ever being forsaken. Whether you feel your soul to be amidst a terrible storm or you feel your soul to be fast asleep sailing on the clear blue ocean, this Spirit filled devotional will warm your heart to the continual surpassing joy and rest there is with Jesus. Come, Sit, Stay is an invitation to deeper life in Christ.

Ellen Vaughn does a better job in introducing her own book. Watch the video below

Purchase book here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/come-sit-stay-ellen-vaughn/1109573043

I wrote my own little devotional with the same title inspired by Ellen's book. You can read it here: http://countedrighteousinchrist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/miscellanies-33-come-sit-and-stay.html

K.Oni

Willful blindness

‘Willful blindness’ is a legal term, referring to someone who has intentionally chosen to be unaware of the facts. The term featured prominently in the Enron scandal and the banking crises where the CEOs had surrounded themselves with likeminded people, thus shielding them from awkward questions and critical views. Last week, the term emerged again in the media scandal when the culture committee accused Rupert Murdoch of willful blindness.
 
In her column, entrepreneur and CEO Margaret Heffernan wrote, ”… it is the responsibility of the powerful to ensure that they surround themselves with independent thinkers and critical allies who have the freedom and moral courage to tell them the truth. When leaders choose not to do so, they embrace blindness and the moral darkness that goes with it”.
 
In her book Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril she describes how small acts of avoidance build up towards big disasters such as the recent Gulf oil spill and multi-billion dollar Ponzi schemes. So, not merely at the top, but at every level people can contribute to a culture of organisational silence.
 
A biblical account of willful blindness is found in 1 Kings 22 where the king has surrounded himself with 400 prophets who promise him victory in battle. ‘Groupthink’ of biblical proportions. It’s easily confused with ‘unity’. Groupthink is the mode of thinking that happens when the desire for harmony overrides a realistic appraisal of alternatives. Though the king is merely interested in a similar, favorable report, he still consults the prophet Micaiah who predicts his defeat. Sadly, he proves to be the only true prophet. Having chosen to ignore the minority voice, the king dies in battle.
 
A dramatic disturbance of the groupthink occurs in Revelations, where the King himself spoils the party of the Laodecian church leaders who are blindingly unaware of their pitiful, poor, and naked condition. While accessing the wise counsel, the refined riches, and the healing balm will be costly, such overcoming carries invaluable promises.
 
It takes courage to invite people to crash your party, to include unlikely people in your orbit, to listen to unharmonious sounds and to go to unlikely places. It’s hard to see the ‘unity’ being disturbed. It’s much easier to sanitise yourself from critical voices. It’s humbling to learn from the ‘out crowd’. Much easier to discredit and patronise them.
 
And all the while, the simplest of questions starts a new trajectory; the modest of voices brings a truthful clarity; the unlikeliest of people raise the imagination; and even the young have visions and dreams. Such is the disturbingly egalitarian nature of the outpouring of God’s Spirit.
 
Creating cultures of learning involves us all. It means asking the unlikely question and taking time to cultivate a curious mind. It may be costly to voice the blindingly obvious, particularly when the huge white elephant in the room threatens to crush you. Standing on a hill in Galilee, Jesus declares that the excluded, those who suffer for something righteous, or are spoken against, are blessed. For their reward lies somewhere else.
 
Furthermore, they are in good company - the best, in fact. While you may find yourself among the ‘superfluous’, the saving companionship with Christ will prove to be most precious.
 
So, whether we are in the ‘in’ or ‘out’ crowd, may the eyes of our heart be enlightened so that we may know the hope to which he has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints (Ephesians 1:18).
 
Marijke Hoek, coordinator Forum for Change - Evangelical Alliance
 

Miscellanies 41 - There is absolute Power in the Name of Jesus

There is absolute power, an unmitigated irrepressible power in the name of Jesus that breaks every chain, heals every disease, comforts every repenting sinner and brings all the elect of God safely home. No circumstances or earthly, spiritual power, can stand against this un-quenching power. Even that beloved friend, that pampered baby, freewill, has no power over the irrepressible power of Christ. In the end his love will crush your will, which will bring each saint at last to say, thank you Lord Jesus for finding me when I never knew I was lost. Thank you my altogether lovely saviour, the chief among ten thousands for unleashing your chariot of grace to stop the red sea from consuming me. 


I am willing my lovely Saviour to expose myself to difficulties and dangers, my life to hazard and to lay it down if the edification of the church so require and for the glory of your name. My heart, never faint, never sigh in the midst of danger and despair, his power, yea, that dangerous power of Love he has for me, will and has conquered every foe. There is after-all an omnipotent wave of eternal sweetness laid for me; death shall be my servant, my un-willing enemy that will accomplish my Master’s desire to have me safe in his heavenly arms. 


K.Oni