Are You Ready For Jesus To Come In Your Heart Or In The Sky?
Good Morning Friends,
We have all heard of cults that predict the end is coming and the sky is falling. It moves some to repentance for a time but it is not long before the revolution loses its resolve. Things of this nature change both fast and slow. And I do not know the timing of what God has planned, for my life or yours or for all of humanity, but believe the final coming of Christ will be unmistakable. I believe it will not be a flash in the pan but a moment of universal enlightenment that will change everything forever. It will be charged with power. But it will not be a flood or the raining of fire and brimstone as with the time of Noah and Lot. It will be the very consumption of history itself but also the release of great power. And the turmoil and travail will be so severe before it that people will pray for Jesus to come in the flesh of a new creation so that the pain will end. For there will undoubtedly be suffering and rejection. Are You Ready For Jesus To Come In Your Heart Or In The Sky?
Scripture: Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or “There it is!” For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.’ Then he said to the disciples, ‘The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or “Look here!” Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation.
Luke 17:20-25 (NRSV)
Message: In contemplating today’s scripture, it reminded me that the completion of history itself is much like the reality of our own deaths. Maybe that is why Jesus pointed out that every age would have those who would be convinced that the end was near. Interestingly, some people at the time of Jesus thought that the inauguration of the Kingdom of God would be by force and bring the end of Rome. But by adopting the image and humility of Christ we today accept the destiny of submitting to the will of God and consider the idea of the Kingdom being the spiritual as well as a physical invitation to a life in relationship with the divine. Just as the Temple is in us so too is the Kingdom of God. And at its essence, the Kingdom of God for me is the spiritual experience of the King coming to reside in my heart and chiseling away at my desire to sin and birthing in me a new life. And perhaps you have experienced something similar. And if so you may have experienced a conversion of the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit that will not only prepare us for the day of our own deaths but also to live lives of love now. And that opens a revelation that these words on this page cannot explain but can only through the mystery of the Spirit appearing here and there evoke the insight of love that last beyond time.
Pray we experience the Kingdom of God within us as a relationship with the divine. Pray this experience not be one imposed by force but by love. Pray we realize that Jesus came to save us all and the very heart of the Gospel message is to affirm that the Kingdom of God is here right now growing in our hearts and minds as a seed planted to grow and bring forth fruit for the healing of the nations and of creation itself. Pray we not turn back. Pray we keep moving forward in the mystery of our collective wisdom in Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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