Good Morning Friends,
You may have heard the stories of the last words of famous people. Here are a few for you to ponder this morning: —W.C. Fields, comedian, when asked why he was reading the Bible on his deathbed, said, “I’m looking for loopholes.” William Henry Seward, architect of the Alaska Purchase, was asked if he had any final words. He replied, “Nothing, only ‘love one another.'” And according to Steve Jobs’ sister Mona, the Apple founder’s last words were, “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” Charles Gussman was a writer and TV announcer, who wrote the pilot episode of Days of Our Lives, among other shows. As he became ill, he said he wanted his last words to be memorable. When his daughter reminded him of this, he gently removed his oxygen mask and whispered: “And now for a final word from our sponsor—.” Wilson Mizner is best known for his bon mots, though he was a successful playwright. He is known for the line, “Be nice to people on the way up because you’ll meet the same people on the way down.” When Mizner was on his deathbed, a priest said, “I’m sure you want to talk to me.” Mizner told the priest, “Why should I talk to you? I’ve just been talking to your boss.” As he was dying, Alfred Hitchcock said, “One never knows the ending. One has to die to know exactly what happens after death, although Catholics have their hopes.” Basketball great “Pistol” Pete Maravich collapsed during a pickup game. His last words: “I feel great.” If somehow, we each knew our next day would be our last, what would you share with others? As Jesus’ time on earth was ending, he had a lot of profound things to share. From the cross Jesus asked God the Father to forgive those who were crucifying him. There was a sense of urgency to the tone. But his final message just before the ascension was an appeal to people to embrace His light. He wanted people to believe. And they charged us to GO into the world and make disciples… teaching them his commandments. In other words, the Church is not to be a place solely for gathering to find solace and comfort…. It is alright to find peace, but one with a purpose and that means the church is to be not just a place to prepare but a people that prepare us for the work we have been given. If we are not loving others, we miss the point of it all. Too often, throughout the ages, the Church has looked for ways to control both those inside and outside the Church. Sometimes Church leaders become enamored with the things of this world and forget their mission to guide people into the next. Thankfully the Holy Spirit does not forget. So, if you are being filled with the Holy Spirit, What Will You Share Before You Die?
Scripture: But the word of God continued to advance and gain adherents. Then after completing their mission Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem and brought with them John, whose other name was Mark. Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John also to assist them.
Acts 12:24—13:5a (NRSV)
Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”
John 12:44-50 (NRSV)
that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Psalm 67:2-8 (NRSV)
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. ‘This’, he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
Acts 1: 1-8 (NRSV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 (NRSV)
Message: With all the deaths related to the pandemic and, as we age, the death of friends to all sorts of age-related illnesses, I suppose it is natural to begin to think about our own mortality. I lost my younger brother several years ago, and it still brings me sadness and I imagine it is natural at some point to wonder what happens when we die. Keanu Reeves was asked by Stephen Colbert what he thought would happen when we die. After thinking about it for a moment Reeves said: “I know that the ones who love us will miss us.” We too must answer the question, but when we do, we should consider that many apparently sane and rational people gather together and commit to a belief that Christ shared about this topic and especially in the light of his message about eternal life. When we do, we too can be great witnesses to why we should affirm Jesus’ claim as the truth and the resurrection. The rational mind realizes that it is hard to maintain something that is not true for nearly 2000 years. That the church exists today, its building and missions and people after a couple of thousand years is a miracle of light in a dark world…no not the institutionalism but the examples of the Body of Christ alive in a community of love. The reality is that each generation could be the last were it not for those who take up the cause of Christ. It comes as the spiritual DNA of the Father to Son and to us through the Holy Spirit. So, when Our Lord’s time on earth was ending, He delivered this final time of teaching, and it was an appeal to people to embrace His light and love as a way of being connected to something eternal. These words, emphatically spoken, provide a climactic summary of His ministry designed to free us. In these verses, Jesus affirms His union with the Father, along with a message of hope for tomorrow and light for our darkness. He also states the importance of really believing and sharing in the great commandment to love.
And So, in the Book of John the story is told how Christ prepares his disciples for what is to come. The main point in the whole book is that Jesus is the Son of God and that those who believe in Him have eternal life. Now, the context is that Jesus is preparing His disciples for His death. But they do not see it coming but all this will make sense to them when they look back at it in hindsight. So, there is a point of tension and a reason for what Christ says next. These men did believe but they had to weigh their options; they had to count the cost. Picture them sitting up late at night believing but hesitant to tell people for fear of being stoned and robbed and losing everything and even shame on their whole family. With Jesus telling them of his death that had to have doubts. For the Messiah was one to live. And so, the question is whether following Jesus is worth the cost. But then He dies, and that seems to answer the question about whether he was the Messiah. But then the resurrection happens, and Christ promises to return and to make His dominion clear over all creation. All this is dramatic stuff and a bit of a rollercoaster ride. And so, the message is that Christ will allow unbelievers to prosper now, but ultimately, He will judge them. Christ allows believers to suffer now, but ultimately, He will save us. Christ deals patiently with His disciples in our unbelief and works proactively to bring us all out of darkness. So, friends, if somehow, I knew my next devotional would be my last, I would I say to you that God’s love is the light of eternal life…embrace it and share it in the darkness of the world for it is the way to believe and experience a wonderful and abundant life each new day. I think the Western Church needs to reevaluate who we are and how to love the world as God loves us. It is not our mission to validate issues and people who choose to openly challenge and confront the Gospel of Christ. Nor is it our mission to push them aside. Neither is it our mission to tell them that they have to believe what we believe. It is our mission to follow the Spirit as it leads us to love… much of the time in silence.
Pray we do not lock ourselves up in the darkness of unbelief but realize that doubt is part of faith. Pray we have faith to trust Jesus, so we might trust the Father. Pray we experience salvation in the invitation to experience the love, joy, and peace that the Trinity shares. Pray the darkness in our lives be dispelled. Pray we never become accustomed to the dark. Pray Jesus though the Spirit with the knowledge of the Father enlighten our minds and give us wisdom and insight of spiritual truth. Pray Jesus transforms the darkness of sin in our lives, even the darkness of death. Pray we see by His light the way of pardon and purpose. Pray we find our way out of the dark night of the soul and have the reassurance we need to journey into an uncertain world proclaiming the good news. Pray we look for opportunities to love and live into them believing even when the world is full of denial and darkness. Pray we realize that we cannot see God’s light sometimes because it is within us and needs to be set free. Pray this light in us is never extinguished but shines on with hope for ourselves and others too. Pray on the sacred journey we keep believing in the love of God. Pray we go into the world to share the Gospel and make disciples for Christ. Pray we understand that church is just one place to do the work we have been assigned.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 