A Thought for the Day - #007

by Jesse Abel

 

A Thought for the Day – 007

 

Pottery is very nice, if you know how to mold and shape a bowl or pitcher, bake it in the kiln and paint it with lasting value, the object often becomes a family heirloom. The product of deceit works much the same way through a family or even a congregation. The one turns earthenware to good, while the other reveals to a family or congregation a bitter heart of wickedness and evil. Proverbs 26:23-26.

 

Comments and challenges

 

Religion identifies this week as Holy Week, or the week of passion. Friday will be called Good Friday and Sunday of course will be called Easter. Some of you are already thinking; “so what’s wrong with that?” All of this is traditionally and religiously correct and yet when these thoughts are placed against the backdrop of eternity this relative truth has limitations.

 

A friend writes in her devotional this morning: “The billboard (she sees on her way home from work) points to a verse, Matthew 16:16, which is: ** Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ** The word "Christ" means "anointed one" so Peter clearly knew that Jesus was not an ordinary human being. And he was right! My friend had a lot more to say, but she sparked a thought or two for me today. Thanks Kitty!

 

I would not say that the world around us is ignorant of the death, burial and resurrection of the Christ nearly two thousand years ago. It is common and verifiable knowledge. The knowledge that one might find in libraries throughout the world, yet this knowledge does not open the gates of eternity with God to anyone, just the same as the knowledge one might read about to launch a spacecraft into orbit. One needs a bit more wisdom to make real both tasks.

 

Kitty goes on to say in abridged text: “Who is Jesus? (Her answer) “He's my Savior -- he gave his very life to pay for my sins. Thus, I will spend all of eternity in His presence in heaven, something I never, ever, ever could have done on my own, not mattering how "good" I am”. “He's my Lord - above all else in my life. (Boy, how I wish I could live that out every moment!) He's the Prince of Peace and the reason for the peace I have. He is God in the flesh. He never sinned. He fulfilled hundreds of prophecies. He is the Creator.

 

He is my redeemer. He is the light of the world. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the Messiah. He is the true vine. He is unchangeable. He is the author of salvation. He is the bright and morning star. He is wonderful. He is the reason for the joy that I have, even amidst sorrows and stresses. And on and on....”

 

She continues her thoughts, “As I drove along further, I reflected that if I had seen that billboard perhaps ten years ago, I might have thought (if I even gave it a second look) "Oh, Jesus was a guy who was born on Christmas and died on Good Friday, and then was resurrected on Easter." And that would have pretty much been about it”.

 

So how does one like Kitty or the Apostle Peter make testimonies proclaiming that “Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God? Notice the full context of this passage in Matthew concerning the words of Jesus about the kingdom of God to Peter in Matthew 16:13-16 and the response of Jesus to Peter in Matthew 16:17-20. The facts are true, the same facts that are found in the historical records the world over, the difference between the facts and the TRUTH is in how this truth is revealed to you and me through the foreknowledge of God, whom WE BELIEVE. 1 Peter 1:2-5

 

Flesh and blood (or the historical books or world religions) cannot ever reveal TRUTH, only facts. TRUTH comes by God in the power of the Holy Spirit revealing to every soul that Jesus Christ is the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE and no one can enter heaven without this TRUTH resident in their soul when they pass from this life and into the Hands (judgment) of the Living God. John 14:1-6 and Acts 4:12.