God is not Dead

I am going to be honest about something when I was a new Christian.  Aside from what the Holy Spirit was doing in my life, I was believing in a historical Jesus.  What I mean is; I viewed Christ like many other historical figures like Abraham Lincoln.  I knew Jesus lived, died, and rose back to life but I didn't grasp the concept that He was very much a part of this world and life as he was when he was in the flesh.  

I remember times of thinking and even asking God to reveal the physical Jesus.  Wishing I had lived in the past when I could see him face to face.  Has anyone else ever wish there was still Jesus in the flesh in this world? 

Although my desire was pure, it was sad as well.  Pure because I hungered to see Christ face to face.  Sad because I limited who Jesus is by space, time and material.  I had a taste and hunger for the historical Jesus, but did not grasp the eternal, omnipresent Jesus.  I was missing out.  In my own way I was really serving a dead Savior.  That is no savior at all.

Sure living with Jesus face to face in this world would be amazing! No doubt.  It would be limited as well.  Remember God confined himself to space and time in the physical form. He was only in one place at a time.  If I had what I wished for then wouldn't my access be limited to space and time as well?  Remember there was not real time social media back in that day.

Praise The Lord I have a risen savior who is not defined or confined to space, time or physical restraints.  God is not dead!  He surely is alive!  Because of this I had full access 24/7 at any given place to my Lord and my Savior Jesus Chist!  Where is God?  He is right beside you standing at the door and knocking so that you may choose to let Him in!

1 Timothy 4:9-10 this is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the LIVING GOD, who is the savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

Our Abba Father, the One and Only

When was the last time you needed advice, comfort or even encouragement and did not know who to turn to?  Or maybe you had no one to turn to.  Was it frustrating? Did it make you feel lonely?  Was it depressing realizing you really had no one to turn to? Did you pray and ask God to put someone in your life?  

Truth is if you are in Christ you are never alone.  You always have someone to turn to.  Sure we all want that tangible relationship with someone we can confide in.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Have you ever stopped to realize that Jesus Christ is greater than tangible?  As a matter of fact Jesus is the greatest relationship we can have He is the best of the best, the greatest of all.  

There is not one person who can out empathize, out sympathize, out advise or out comfort The Lord Jesus Christ.  Sure God allows others to be his hands, his feet, his comfort, his words, his encourager, but there are times when Jesus wants to be the only one.  

I believe there are times when no one else can be found because my savior loves me so much that He wants to be the one  and only that I need. He wants to remind me that he will meet my needs through others but ultimately it is always He who cares for me. 

As a dad there are times when I have to be the one to comfort and care for my kids.  There are times when my kids don't want anyone else but me. Rest assure, when it seems like no one is there, Jesus is.  I'd bet those are the times when our Abba Father wants you to want only Him to be what you need.

1 Timothy 2:5 for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men - the testimony given in its proper time. 

Excited!

Have you ever gotten excited when you did something for someone else? I mean really excited to the point you couldn't wait for them to find out so you could see the expression on their face or their reaction.  You were excited because you knew how much more excited they were going to be.

Years ago my wife was getting really down and missing her family.   We lived in Arkansas and they lived in Colorado.  I decided one day to plan a surprise vacation just for my wife.  I called her boss and had her schedule the time off but also leave Carri on the schedule so she would suspect anything.  The day we were to leave I had packed everything.  I packed my stuff, her stuff, all the kids things and had the van loaded and ready to go as soon as Carri came home from work.

I'll never forget the look on her face and the excitement she showed.  It was all priceless and worth every effort.  It was also funny because Carri didn't believe me that it was true.  She kept asking over and over again "are you serious? Are we really going? Are you messing with me?"  This went on for hours until finally halfway to Colorado it hit her that it was all true and I had done it all for her.  She was so happy with me!

Have you ever stopped to realize that we will have that same opportunity with Jesus?  What we do in this life for Him is what we need to be excited about.  Excited because of the anticipation of seeing Him smile, seeing the expression on His face, experiencing the Joy He will express because of what we have done for Him.

One of the greatest gifts we can present to our Lord is who and what we have done to lead others to salvation.  Also who and what we have done to leads others and ourselves through sanctification.  

Who will you present to Christ on that day?  What will you present to Christ on that day?  Will you be excited about it?  I hope so.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 for what is our hope, our joy, or our crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy.

May I encourage you to get excited and start preparing now for who and what you will present to Jesus Christ on the day you meet him face to face?