Time to reconsider

Some people say, “When you are dead, you are dead” without any faith in an afterlife. Others hope, but are not certain. In Jesus’ time, a religious sect called the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection or in angels. In those days, if a man died, his brother was supposed to marry his widow, thus ensuring her care, so they tried to trap Jesus with a question about marriage.

They asked Him if a woman consecutively married seven brothers who all died, whose wife would she be in the resurrection. They thought this would mess with the idea of any afterlife or heaven, but…

Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.” (Mark 12:24–27)

Jesus’ answer stopped them, but it also touches several issues that are still a struggle today. The first one is that most people, even many Christians, don’t know what the Bible says about death and the afterlife. Some have the mistaken notion that people sprout wings, sit on clouds and play harps. They might call heaven “a better place” or “up there” thinking their loved ones look down on them and cheer them on. Others have convinced themselves that death is the end of everything.

The current books about those who have come back from death-like experiences catch a lot of interest. While those people had a genuine experience, it seems much of what they “saw” is related to their preconceived ideas because the stories do not agree with each other. A far more reliable source is the One who came down from heaven to live and walk among us and to show us the glory of God. What does He say about it?

Second, Jesus said these religious leaders did not know the power of God. I have told several people about the supply of food brought to the farm the week prior to the flooding. (See yesterday’s post.) The farm woman didn’t know why so many brought her food, and they didn’t know either. This illustrates the power of God. His Spirit nudges in ways that may not be spectacular yet nonetheless are convincing.

I can remember a couple came to a church we were attending. They had just moved from a distance and were settling into their new home. I was “nudged” to take them a big bag of rhubarb. At the time, it seemed odd. Many people don’t like rhubarb, but the nudge was clear. When I gave it to them, they were almost in tears. They said the thing they missed the most from their former yard was their rhubarb!

Third, Jesus says that heaven is not about marriage. We will not become angels, but we will be like them in that marriage is not an issue. In my mind, this raises other questions, but the Bible doesn’t answer all of them. Jesus did confirm though, that the idea of us becoming angels is not true.

Forth, Jesus also spoke about resurrection. His own had not yet happened, but even the Old Testament Scriptures strongly hinted that this was going to happen. God is the God of the Old Testament saints. Jesus didn’t say God was their God but that He is their God. They are alive, hundreds of years after they died.

Of all that the Word of God says about the afterlife, the clearest is that it is a fact. When I die, I will live. My personality will remain. I will be recognizable (just as Peter and John recognized Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). I will also have a body like the resurrected body of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15). There will be no more mourning, tears and crying, pain or sorrow, and I will be with God forever (Revelation 21:3-4).

In my recent studies, I’ve read ancient documents about the existence of Jesus Christ and the attempts to disprove both that and His resurrection. No one tries to disprove a world-changing event that didn’t happen, unless of course they don’t want it to be true.

This is the part that baffles me. Why would anyone not want eternal life to be true? Perhaps they are afraid of one other thing the Bible says about death: “…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Perhaps they don’t like the idea of harps and forever having nothing to do (both false concepts). Whatever their reasons, as long as they are still breathing, there is still time read the Bible, take another look at the Redeemer, and reconsider.

The Four-fold Majesty of Jesus Christ

Our city has a budget for art and used a large portion of it for a sculpture that sits beside the approach to a recently renovated bridge. So far, I’ve heard no compliments on this sculpture. Many people think it was a waste of tax-payers money, and a dismal choice of subject matter that makes no sense. Those making the most complaints seem to be looking for a more literal depiction they can recognize rather than art that represents abstract concepts or values.
 

Many who read the Bible have the same struggle. This Book from God is filled with a great deal of literal narration, yet some of it is obviously symbolic. As difficult as this is for some, both forms of literature need to be considered when interpreting God’s Word. For instance, consider this vision seen by John and recorded in the last book of the Bible.

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8)

Today’s devotional reading focused on the “no rest” and never-ending praise that will be part of our experience in eternity with Jesus Christ. For me, I wondered about the four living creatures. This is not the first mention of odd living things full of eyes. Elsewhere, they are said to be like a lion, or an ox, or a man, or an eagle. I can understand the idea of never-ending praise, but what do these creatures represent? 

Apparently, the church Fathers identified them with the four Gospels and how their authors used symbols to express an aspect of Christ in relation to the world. Even the number four is significant as the four quarters of the world, so these four writings present yet another symbol. 

In them, Matthew gives prominence to Jesus as royalty, the Lion of Judah. Mark focus on the laborious endurance of the Savior like the ox. Luke points to Jesus as the man, filled with brotherly sympathy to humanity. John depicts Jesus in soaring majesty, the eagle and the divine Word, God in human flesh. 

As for this passage in Revelation, these four living creatures seem to represent the body of Christ, the redeemed church, who are involved in ceaseless praise. As His people, we are ministering as kings and priests to God, and ministers to bless a redeemed earth. As His people, we will stand at the head of all, human in ourselves yet filled with the divine Holy Spirit. One commentator says we are the lion who is the head of wild beasts, the ox who leads of tame beasts, and the eagle who is over all birds. 

In another view, that of Jewish tradition, there were “four standards” under which Israel camped in the wilderness: Judah to the east, Dan to the north, Ephraim to the west, and Reuben to the south. Respectively, these were a lion, an eagle, an ox, and a man. The tabernacle stood In the midst of their camp, a symbol of God’s presence with them. This pictures “that blessed period when—the earth having been fitted for being the kingdom of the Father—the court of heaven will be transferred to earth, and the ‘tabernacle of God shall be with men’ (Revelation 21:3), and the whole world will be subject to a never-ending theocracy.” 

As is the way of God’s Word, the point of union between the Old and New Testament views is Christ, the perfect realization of Old Testament ideals. He is presented in a fourfold aspect in the four Gospels respectively. Then at the end of time and throughout eternity, the redeemed Church will realize those ideals because of Him. 

We will, as His Body, combine human perfections because we will be fully like Him. This includes: (1) kingly righteousness that hates evil; (2) laborious diligence in every duty; (3) human sympathy; and (4) the contemplation of eternal truth. As the high-soaring intelligence of the eagle forms a contrasted complement to practical labor with the ox bound to the soil; so God’s holy and judicial vengeance against evil is a contrasted complement to human sympathy. 

Earlier, the creatures are each said to have “six wings.” Two covered each face in reverence, as not presuming to lift up their faces to God. Two wings covered the feet of each in humility, not worthy to stand in God’s holy presence. The other two wings gave each creature flight in obedient readiness, instantly doing God’s commands.

This is a picture of what Jesus Christ is like, and what I ought to be like as one small member of His body. In eternity, this will happen day and night. Right now, after reading these things, it should be happening more often.

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Lord, sometimes I focus on my personal relationship with You to the point that I forget the bigger and even grander scheme of things. A song says, “Christ is exalted above all else.” That is what You want from me, to exalt the One who is described in the actions of a God-man who came to earth, but also depicted with symbols as the King over all, Servant to You and to all who call out to You, Friend and caregiver to the masses, and Divine Almighty God who is worthy to receive glory, honor and power. I am not worthy of such a role yet gladly do whatever I can to lift up Your Name.

To Live is Christ — one day at a time

My mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in her mid-seventies. The symptoms showed a few years earlier. She was a Christian, and I’m certain that her attitude toward her decline had its origins in the Holy Spirit. She was upset at the diagnosis, but after a day of wrestling with it, she said, “I suppose a lot worse could happen to me than losing my memory.”

She retained her sense of humor and her ability to accept the challenges of her life right to the end. I’ve often said that I want to be like her when I grow up, yet in saying that, I wonder if the same dementia will be my fate.

As it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

When I read this verse with that in mind, and with all that I’ve been writing about the past few days concerning this verse, I understand even more why God should be in charge of what I know about the future. Otherwise, knowing what will happen could be a burden as well as a delight.

The delight is that He does reveal good things. I know I will spend eternity with Him. I know that the struggle with sin and with the challenges of life will end. Revelation 21:3-4 says, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

A little further on in Revelation, God promises a river of life, healing of the nations, and no more curse. I will see the face of Jesus, and I will be like Him. What could be more wonderful!

The burden is the time between now and then. Aging is not for sissies. Getting old brings with it physical and mental challenges. Some go into their later years with good health in general, yet aches and pains because their bodies are wearing out. Others have memory challenges. My father had TIA’s or a type of stroke that took little chunks of both physical and mental strength.

My eye cannot see, nor does my mind know what lies ahead for me. Looking back, I’m glad that I didn’t know ahead of time what difficulties I have faced already. That would have been too much to carry. Getting out of bed in the morning would have been a challenge, never mind living in worried anticipation.

Yet I wonder. Will I go the same route as my mother? Or my father? Will my aging bring loss of memory and the inability to do anything that I now enjoy? I do not want to live now in anxiety about the future. However, that anxiety creeps in now and then. I’ll do the sensible thing and have my doctor test for various things. Medical science is constantly developing new ways to lessen the impact of the ailments of aging. Yet at the same time, the rest of that verse in 1 Corinthians is my anchor. It says that although I cannot see the future, it has been prepared for me by God. It speaks of my love for Him, but I know that all His plans are rooted in His love for me.

What then shall I say to these things? If God is for me, who can be against me? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for me, how shall He not with Him also freely give me all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for me. Who shall separate me from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things I am more than a conqueror through Him who loved me. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31–39, personalized)