Look Up and see a greater future!

Luke 24:25-27 records: “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”

I know when I hear a fantastic story or an unbelievable account of events, I am slow to believe. The two walking with Jesus after his resurrection were depressed and struggling to believe the testimony of those who had seen Jesus alive. Jesus addresses their doubts with proof. When the two on the road to Emmaus looked beyond their depression and doubt, they saw the truth. They believed. The same is true for us. When you and I look beyond our doubts and depression the truth of a risen Jesus emerges and we believe. 

Look up and may He open your eyes to a personal resurrection!

You know I love ya, Don

Resurrected Hope, Future, and Dreams!

Mark 5:36 – “Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

So, they go to the house, people are in full mourning.  Shouting.  Making noise.  Wailing. Grieving.  In anguish.  Jesus tells them to be quiet.  She’s sleeping.

What a cruel joke to play on the parents.  How would he know?  She’s dead.  The doctor called it.  No pulse, no breathing. --- Jesus gets rid of them…the text says “he put them out” …just like you put out a dog to go do his business. I don’t know about you, but I am glad that Jesus puts out bad, ugly negatives when he arrives.

Taking the parents and just a few disciples, they go to the child.  He reaches down, picks up her lifeless hand and says, “Little girl, get up.”  Speaking in Aramaic … her native tongue. Jesus restores the dream of daughter, a family by meeting them in their native surroundings.

Immediately, just as the woman was restored immediately to full health, the little girl is immediately resurrected to full life.  She walked around and everything! We can well imagine the joy in that house that day!  We can well imagine the wonder at this man who can heal, and also raise the dead!  What a miracle!  Who can do such things?  Only Jesus, the Son of the Living God!

Resurrection is not limited to when our heart stops beating. Jesus resurrects hopes, resurrects futures, and resurrects dreams everyday.

Success is found when you and I approach Jesus … we have to water and cultivate our faith and trust in him just like Jairus and the Woman did. If you don’t, your hope, your future and your dreams die.

The first week at Park Chapel CC, I noticed in the foyer / hallway to the worship center was a large pot with basically a stick protruding out of dirt with one leaf on it. The plant was completely dry. I felt sorry for it, so I started watering it…six months later the stick was covered in little green leaves. I did not know that the custodial staff was intentionally ignoring it because they wanted to throw it out. We laughed about that…When we moved to HCC, after seven years … that plant was taller than I am now and covered in large, beautiful leaves. What resurrected that plant? Water!

My Friends, what do we learn from this scripture? Go to Jesus to find water, let him reach out to you and he will resurrect your hope, your future and your dreams.

You know I love ya, Don

Resurrected Bodies!

-->

Philippians 3:21 – “Who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

What kind of authority does Jesus have? According to Matt 18 -  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him”. Why, because he made himself nothing, become a servant, was made in human likeness, took on the appearance of a man…and then humbled himself completely in obedience to His father, even dying on a cross.

With that power he is going to transform us…he is going to make our bodies as God has viewed and continues to view our bodies from the very beginning…perfect.

Will we have beautiful bodies? Yes, not in the fleshly sense, but in the perfect sense. We won’t over-eat or under-eat on the New Earth. With health, vitality, and freedom, we will all get plenty of activity. The bible does not address if calories will affect us the same way, but the bible addresses that there will be no stress. We most certainly will no longer experience heart disease, diabetes, asthma, osteoporosis, arthritis, cancer, MS, HIV, or anything else that sin caused to affect our bodies. Revelation 5:9 and 7:9 address that there will be nations in eternity and we will be recognizable. We will also maintain our memories and our creative spirit. How creative are you in this life?

Will we have five senses in our resurrected bodies? Yes, and even more! Jesus is going to restore us. Psalm 139: 14 states, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” When sin is no longer tearing you down, you will see clearly. You will taste flavors that are perfect. You will smell the rich passion of God’s creativity. You will hear sounds beyond the spectrum of the limited ears. You will touch the very essence of life in everything you touch. You will also have a new sense … a sense perfection. Do you appreciate your senses today as a glimpse of what is to come?

Will our new bodies have new abilities? Yes, We know that we will be made like Jesus in his resurrection. Jesus was able to walk through walls and he was able to ascend into heaven. When he was walking with those on the Emmaus road, he also disappeared. Moses and Elijah in Luke 9:31 “appeared in glorious splendor” and they were recognizable. What abilities do you have today that you simply do not use?

Will we take our scars with us? Yes, but they will be restored to fully functional use. Again, remember that the journey is preparing us for the destination. Our scars will be visible and part of our destination…but they will be fully restored as God intended for us to be.  I don’t know about you, but when I want something and have to wait for it and dream about it … I appreciate it all that much more when I get it. It doesn’t mean I forget about how I got it. 2 Corinthians 4:17 addresses this with, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

Our pain and struggles define our existence in Jesus. How could we know that He is able to get us through, if we never had to go through anything?

Will our new bodies have genders? There is some misconception because of Galatians 3:28, where Paul states that when we are in Christ there is neither male nor female. We must be careful to examine the text. Paul is not addressing gender. Paul is addressing equality. A better scripture is to examine Jesus on the shore after his resurrection in John 21. While the disciples were out on the water struggling to catch fish, Jesus calls out to throw their nets on the other side of the boat. During the conversation, they think they are talking to a man … not a woman or a genderless ghost. Our resurrected bodies maintain our identities … the JOY is that we are made perfect in our identity. It is not about marrying or bearing children, it is about being perfectly redeemed and restored in the likeness of Jesus.

Your identity is unique to you. The person next to you has an identity that is unique to them. Why are we so eager to squeeze everyone into the same identity box, when God created, appreciates, and celebrates our identity?

My friends, the journey prepares us for the destination. Jesus will transform our bodies by transforming us into what we were always intended to be.  

It will be exciting. I look forward to sharing it with you. You know I love ya, Don