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“And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” Mark 16:2,3
I can only imagine the sorrow that engulfed these women as they made the trek to the tomb that fateful Sunday morning. Their rabbi, their teacher, had been crucified. My guess is that they had barely slept the night before. Perhaps they spent the night crying, weeping and consoling one another.
Love led them to the tomb that morning. It wasn’t until they were already on their way that their minds began to catch up to their hearts. There was a problem with their plan – the large stone that sealed the tomb would prevent them from anointing the body of Jesus. The stone was simply too large for them.
But these women were about to learn the lesson that Paul would later relate: God is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20). These women did not go to the tomb to find Jesus alive. Without Jesus, dead men stayed dead. The only hope a dead person had was now entombed.
For a few short years Hope had been alive. Hope had walked among them, but as of Friday Hope was dead. The Miraculous had been crucified and the only thing left to do was mourn. But while these women were focused on a stone, God was working behind the scenes, behind the stone if you will – accomplishing redemption for the world.
Because God is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think. No one expected Jesus to be raised from the dead. But God isn’t restricted by our expectations. Thank God for that. Jesus would still be in the tomb and you and I would still be lost. Beyond anyone’s expectations, beyond anyone’s field of vision, God was working. He was breathing new life into a dead body. New life into a dead people. Hope into a dead and decaying world.
Who could foresee a crucified man coming back to life? Then again, who could foresee the world turned upside down by a ragtag bunch of disciples? Or a prostitute sharing a meal with God? Who could foresee a drug addict turned pastor? Who could foresee the transformation that God has done or wants to do in your life? Or the life of the person you've been praying for? Who could foresee these things? The one who understands that God is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think. He doesn’t always “do” what we think he should – that would restrict him to our expectations – but He is always “doing”. Better yet, the two Mary’s would have you know that He is always “out-doing” our expectations.
Hope is not dead. It was raised to new life that Sunday morning. The Miraculous is alive and well. He may be operating behind the scenes, behind the stones, but He is operating. We never know what He is up to until the stone is rolled away and we are invited in. Hope in what you cannot see and know that Hope is alive... in the world and within you.
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12
“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3
There are many families in need of a dose of hope today. Would you consider dropping a few dollars in my Salvation Army virtual kettle so that someone on hard times can hear the message of hope? Just click on the red kettle in the left column. You will be given an opportunity to designate the funds to your local Salvation Army. Please feel no obligation, only an opportunity.
Blessings to you as we give thanks to the One who is worthy, knowing that every good and perfect gift, including our faith, is from our Father above (James 1:17).
God Loves Anyway
"For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known."
1 Corinthians 13:12
Not having all the information really irks some people. Personally, I appreciate a little mystery being left in things. For some people, the remains of dinosaurs mean that the Bible can’t be true. Me, I just wonder where they fit in. Were they on the ark with Noah? Or did they die off before Noah’s time? Or were their bones just part of an earth that was mature when God created it? How old is this earth, anyway? I don’t know. I don’t think anyone really knows. And I’m okay with that.
The human body, the earth, the planets, the galaxies, the existence of a spiritual realm… there’s a lot of mystery in this world. I think that’s a good thing. I mean, try to imagine: What if you knew everything? Or worse yet, what if everyone knew everything. Not just the facts of the universe, but every thing. It would be a disaster. A simple example: what if the last waiter or waitress that served you a meal knew your every thought about him or her instantaneously? Worse yet, what if the people eating with you knew those thoughts too? You might end up with some foreign material in your burger or your spouse’s meal smeared about your face.
While some may see it as a curse, our lack of complete knowledge is a provision from God. In some ways, it is evidence of his love for us. You see, God understands the limitations of our humanity. He knows that we couldn’t handle this kind of information. Every relationship would be destroyed before it ever started. That’s because our love, thoughts, intentions, feelings and actions are all corrupted through and through. Personally, I don’t think I’m capable of even one completely selfless act. I said completely selfless. That means no desire for recognition or reciprocation. No desire for a specific outcome. No desire for personal satisfaction of any kind. No personal benefit whatsoever. Nothing. It seems impossible to me.
There is only one relationship that is not broken by this kind of complete knowing. There is only one love that endures in the face of it. And that is the relationship with and the love of our Heavenly Father. God knows your every thought about him and about others, and he loves anyway. Because God’s love is greater. Because God’s love is purer. In contrast to ours, God’s love is capable of being completely selfless. He offers it to those he knows will only spurn it, but he keeps on offering anyway.
The Apostle Paul points to one act that epitomizes the purity and excellence of God’s love. He writes, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Thousands of years before you were born, God knew and loved you. Thousands of years before you turned your back on God in rebellion, God knew and loved you anyway. Here, in the present, God continues to love. When you doubt that he knows best, he continues to love. When part of you wonders whether God even exists or cares, he continues to love. When you choose to indulge the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit, his love continues unabated.
Our love isn’t this pure, is it? Offering complete and pure love to someone who is only capable of offering incomplete and corrupt love. Think of a broken relationship in your past. Knowing what you know now, would you do it all over again? Would you put your heart on the line knowing the heartbreak that awaits? Would you marry the spouse who tore your heart from your chest? Would you work for the boss who threw you under the bus? Would you invest your savings with the friend who turned out to be a thief?
God put his heart on the line when he put the sins of this world on his Son. All of those impure thoughts, feelings, intentions and actions – Jesus willingly took the punishment for those. Not just mine, though they are many. Not just yours. But the sins of the world.
Though a vast number will only ever reject it, God’s love still seeks out. Despite knowing that even those who love him most will continue to fall short (only God knows how many times), his love continues. Because God’s love never fails. Though it be rejected, it is not diffused. Though it be disparaged, it is not diminished. Thought it may never be fully comprehended, it is not decreased. This is the love offered to you by your heavenly Father.
Because you are loved more than you will ever know.
Some of us need to begin to walk in the knowledge of this love. Others need to turn to God and receive it for the first time. Your life is not your own. You have been bought with a price, and that price is a love that cost your Father dearly. But it was a price he was willing to pay. For you.
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father…that he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth (of this love), and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”
-- the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:14-18
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
- Jesus in John 15:13
1 Corinthians 13:12
Not having all the information really irks some people. Personally, I appreciate a little mystery being left in things. For some people, the remains of dinosaurs mean that the Bible can’t be true. Me, I just wonder where they fit in. Were they on the ark with Noah? Or did they die off before Noah’s time? Or were their bones just part of an earth that was mature when God created it? How old is this earth, anyway? I don’t know. I don’t think anyone really knows. And I’m okay with that.
The human body, the earth, the planets, the galaxies, the existence of a spiritual realm… there’s a lot of mystery in this world. I think that’s a good thing. I mean, try to imagine: What if you knew everything? Or worse yet, what if everyone knew everything. Not just the facts of the universe, but every thing. It would be a disaster. A simple example: what if the last waiter or waitress that served you a meal knew your every thought about him or her instantaneously? Worse yet, what if the people eating with you knew those thoughts too? You might end up with some foreign material in your burger or your spouse’s meal smeared about your face.
While some may see it as a curse, our lack of complete knowledge is a provision from God. In some ways, it is evidence of his love for us. You see, God understands the limitations of our humanity. He knows that we couldn’t handle this kind of information. Every relationship would be destroyed before it ever started. That’s because our love, thoughts, intentions, feelings and actions are all corrupted through and through. Personally, I don’t think I’m capable of even one completely selfless act. I said completely selfless. That means no desire for recognition or reciprocation. No desire for a specific outcome. No desire for personal satisfaction of any kind. No personal benefit whatsoever. Nothing. It seems impossible to me.
There is only one relationship that is not broken by this kind of complete knowing. There is only one love that endures in the face of it. And that is the relationship with and the love of our Heavenly Father. God knows your every thought about him and about others, and he loves anyway. Because God’s love is greater. Because God’s love is purer. In contrast to ours, God’s love is capable of being completely selfless. He offers it to those he knows will only spurn it, but he keeps on offering anyway.
The Apostle Paul points to one act that epitomizes the purity and excellence of God’s love. He writes, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Thousands of years before you were born, God knew and loved you. Thousands of years before you turned your back on God in rebellion, God knew and loved you anyway. Here, in the present, God continues to love. When you doubt that he knows best, he continues to love. When part of you wonders whether God even exists or cares, he continues to love. When you choose to indulge the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit, his love continues unabated.
Our love isn’t this pure, is it? Offering complete and pure love to someone who is only capable of offering incomplete and corrupt love. Think of a broken relationship in your past. Knowing what you know now, would you do it all over again? Would you put your heart on the line knowing the heartbreak that awaits? Would you marry the spouse who tore your heart from your chest? Would you work for the boss who threw you under the bus? Would you invest your savings with the friend who turned out to be a thief?
God put his heart on the line when he put the sins of this world on his Son. All of those impure thoughts, feelings, intentions and actions – Jesus willingly took the punishment for those. Not just mine, though they are many. Not just yours. But the sins of the world.
Though a vast number will only ever reject it, God’s love still seeks out. Despite knowing that even those who love him most will continue to fall short (only God knows how many times), his love continues. Because God’s love never fails. Though it be rejected, it is not diffused. Though it be disparaged, it is not diminished. Thought it may never be fully comprehended, it is not decreased. This is the love offered to you by your heavenly Father.
Because you are loved more than you will ever know.
Some of us need to begin to walk in the knowledge of this love. Others need to turn to God and receive it for the first time. Your life is not your own. You have been bought with a price, and that price is a love that cost your Father dearly. But it was a price he was willing to pay. For you.
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father…that he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth (of this love), and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”
-- the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 3:14-18
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
- Jesus in John 15:13
Scoreboard...Scoreboard!!
Scoreboard!!
If you are a sports fan, you are probably familiar with some of the chants that fans get going at football and basketball games. Personally, I am a college sports fan. Whether it’s basketball, football or baseball, there just seems to be more passion in the college game – both for the athletes and the fans. Maybe this is why you hear more of these cheers and chants in the college arena than in the professional arena.
In any event, there are chants I enjoy, chants I despise, and chants I can’t figure out. One of the chants I can’t figure out is when a crowd starts in with “Over-rated! Over-rated!” This chant usually takes place when an underdog team beats a highly ranked team. But the whole chant seems counter intuitive. Wouldn’t it reflect better on your team to defeat a highly ranked team than a team that really isn’t as good as everyone thought? Isn’t it better to beat the best team in the nation than someone who should’ve been ranked number ten?
One of my favorite chants is “Scoreboard! Scoreboard!” While it’s not exactly a Christian virtue to rub defeat in someone’s face, I like the value this chant has in silencing an opponent. It is intended to remind the other team of their impending defeat – as evidenced by the numbers on the scoreboard. It says, “Cheer all you want, but your team is headed for defeat. End of story.” A slam dunk or touchdown by the losing team may bring temporary celebration, but the scoreboard serves as a reminder that their defeat is just a matter of time.
So what do sporting event chants like “Scoreboard!” have to do with the Bible? Good question. Believe it or not, they have much to do with the scene the Bible paints of the heavenly realm.
In one of the best-known portrayals of the spiritual realm, a conversation between God and Satan (the enemy of God) is recorded for us. This is found in the famous story of Job. Is it fair to say that God holds up Job as one of his MVP’s? Think about it, of all the people on the earth, God picks Job as an example of a blameless and upright man! That’s an MVP if I ever heard of one! But Satan doesn’t care about Job’s amazing performance. Satan argues that Job is a dedicated, hardworking player only because God has given him a full-ride scholarship. Satan says, “Take away his scholarship and perks around campus, and this guy will bad-mouth you faster than you can say‘first-round draft pick.’”
In the last book of the Bible, Satan, this enemy of God, is described as “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God.” In other words, Satan doesn’t just question Job’s dedication to God, he badmouths all followers of God. Satan says, “Look at these poor excuses for Christians. There he sits, preparing the lesson for the men’s bible study. But did you see him last night when he was arguing with his wife? He didn’t look much like Jesus then, did he?” “Or how about James over there. Sure, he’s never cheated on his wife – at least not in person. But how about all those women he fantasizes about on his computer screen? He seems more loyal to his sex drive than he is to your commandments. Some follower that is.” “Or how about Julia over there? She tells all of her church friends that you are going to provide a husband for her some day, but deep down we both know she doubts you. Any day now, she’s going to take matters into her own hands and settle for the first decent guy that comes along – Christian or non-Christian.”
Ahhh. But here’s the part where the chants come into play. A lot has happened since the days of Job, and the Bible fills in some important details. Following his resurrection, Jesus is given the privilege of being seated next to God. And he’s sitting victoriously at God’s right hand – symbolic of God’s power. Picture the new scene: Satan approaches God’s throne with a real ringer of an accusation against you, but he can’t help but notice Jesus sitting there next to God. And from the time he entered the throne room, he could hear the chanting of the angels ringing in his ears. They are chanting “Scoreboard! Scoreboard!” and they are pointing at something. It’s Jesus. He is God’s scoreboard! The presence of Jesus is a constant reminder that Satan’s defeat is already decided. The clock is running out and there is nothing Satan can do to overcome the victory of Christ. Before Satan even levels his accusations against you, he knows they will fall short of accomplishing anything meaningful. You belong to God. And then there is the fact that Jesus is described as our advocate who intercedes for us – he is our high-powered attorney. To every accusation of sin or disloyalty, he simply responds, “Paid for. Game over.”
So, the next time Satan goes on one of his condemnation streaks against you, remind him that you belong to Christ, then picture the heavenly scene pictured above. You might even describe it to him! And while you’re at it, you may as well chant “Overrated! Overrated!” because we give Satan way too much power and credit. As one author put it, Satan is a roaring lion, but he is a de-fanged roaring lion– he was defeated once and for all by Jesus Christ.
If you are a sports fan, you are probably familiar with some of the chants that fans get going at football and basketball games. Personally, I am a college sports fan. Whether it’s basketball, football or baseball, there just seems to be more passion in the college game – both for the athletes and the fans. Maybe this is why you hear more of these cheers and chants in the college arena than in the professional arena.
In any event, there are chants I enjoy, chants I despise, and chants I can’t figure out. One of the chants I can’t figure out is when a crowd starts in with “Over-rated! Over-rated!” This chant usually takes place when an underdog team beats a highly ranked team. But the whole chant seems counter intuitive. Wouldn’t it reflect better on your team to defeat a highly ranked team than a team that really isn’t as good as everyone thought? Isn’t it better to beat the best team in the nation than someone who should’ve been ranked number ten?
One of my favorite chants is “Scoreboard! Scoreboard!” While it’s not exactly a Christian virtue to rub defeat in someone’s face, I like the value this chant has in silencing an opponent. It is intended to remind the other team of their impending defeat – as evidenced by the numbers on the scoreboard. It says, “Cheer all you want, but your team is headed for defeat. End of story.” A slam dunk or touchdown by the losing team may bring temporary celebration, but the scoreboard serves as a reminder that their defeat is just a matter of time.
So what do sporting event chants like “Scoreboard!” have to do with the Bible? Good question. Believe it or not, they have much to do with the scene the Bible paints of the heavenly realm.
In one of the best-known portrayals of the spiritual realm, a conversation between God and Satan (the enemy of God) is recorded for us. This is found in the famous story of Job. Is it fair to say that God holds up Job as one of his MVP’s? Think about it, of all the people on the earth, God picks Job as an example of a blameless and upright man! That’s an MVP if I ever heard of one! But Satan doesn’t care about Job’s amazing performance. Satan argues that Job is a dedicated, hardworking player only because God has given him a full-ride scholarship. Satan says, “Take away his scholarship and perks around campus, and this guy will bad-mouth you faster than you can say‘first-round draft pick.’”
In the last book of the Bible, Satan, this enemy of God, is described as “the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God.” In other words, Satan doesn’t just question Job’s dedication to God, he badmouths all followers of God. Satan says, “Look at these poor excuses for Christians. There he sits, preparing the lesson for the men’s bible study. But did you see him last night when he was arguing with his wife? He didn’t look much like Jesus then, did he?” “Or how about James over there. Sure, he’s never cheated on his wife – at least not in person. But how about all those women he fantasizes about on his computer screen? He seems more loyal to his sex drive than he is to your commandments. Some follower that is.” “Or how about Julia over there? She tells all of her church friends that you are going to provide a husband for her some day, but deep down we both know she doubts you. Any day now, she’s going to take matters into her own hands and settle for the first decent guy that comes along – Christian or non-Christian.”
Ahhh. But here’s the part where the chants come into play. A lot has happened since the days of Job, and the Bible fills in some important details. Following his resurrection, Jesus is given the privilege of being seated next to God. And he’s sitting victoriously at God’s right hand – symbolic of God’s power. Picture the new scene: Satan approaches God’s throne with a real ringer of an accusation against you, but he can’t help but notice Jesus sitting there next to God. And from the time he entered the throne room, he could hear the chanting of the angels ringing in his ears. They are chanting “Scoreboard! Scoreboard!” and they are pointing at something. It’s Jesus. He is God’s scoreboard! The presence of Jesus is a constant reminder that Satan’s defeat is already decided. The clock is running out and there is nothing Satan can do to overcome the victory of Christ. Before Satan even levels his accusations against you, he knows they will fall short of accomplishing anything meaningful. You belong to God. And then there is the fact that Jesus is described as our advocate who intercedes for us – he is our high-powered attorney. To every accusation of sin or disloyalty, he simply responds, “Paid for. Game over.”
So, the next time Satan goes on one of his condemnation streaks against you, remind him that you belong to Christ, then picture the heavenly scene pictured above. You might even describe it to him! And while you’re at it, you may as well chant “Overrated! Overrated!” because we give Satan way too much power and credit. As one author put it, Satan is a roaring lion, but he is a de-fanged roaring lion– he was defeated once and for all by Jesus Christ.
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