Where is Home?

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Philippians 3.20-21) 

Photo by Josh Felise on unsplash

When we’re born again by the power of God’s Spirit, many things happen to us, including: We become a child of God, we are made new in Christ, we’re redeemed from our sins and forgiven, we’re indwelled by God’s Spirit, we’re sealed by God’s Spirit and we become citizens of heaven.

We become citizens of heaven? How’s that? 

We are not just citizens here where we live in this world. Christians have always been a heavenly people. What does this mean? Let me share a parallel idea that I hope we can all grasp.

I am a Texan. I was born here, and except for when I lived a couple of times in other states (Missouri and Colorado), this is where I’ve always lived. I am a citizen here who votes in Texas elections, pays local taxes, and carries a Texas driver’s license. “Texas born, Texas bred – when I die, I’ll be Texas dead” (something like that).

I love going to Tennessee, Alabama, New Mexico, Colorado or other states. I’ve traveled to some other countries. When I’m in those places; however, I don’t cease being a Texan. People will frame their opinion of Texas partially by what they experience in me – good or bad.

The point is this: Although we are here for now, we are citizens of heaven. We’re born from above, God is our heavenly Father, we’re part of his heavenly kingdom and we’re his ambassadors in this world.

“So,” you say, “How can we be citizens of heaven when we’ve never been there or seen it?”

That’s the difference in how God works and man works. You have to live in the United States to become a citizen but in God’s system you become a citizen of heaven first, before you ever go there. We’re heavenly citizens now! (Ephesians 2.6)

This is just one reason heaven is so important to us. We’re waiting for our Savior to return from there. He’s going to take us to be with him there (John 14.2-3). He will remove all heartache, sorrow, disease, death, tears, threats, sin, evil and falsehood (Revelation 21. 25-27). It will be paradise (Revelation 22.1-5).

Christian, while living upon this earth for now, we are not at home here. We are to be seeking a better country – heaven (Hebrews 11.16), and we are strangers and pilgrims here (1 Peter 2.11).

Heaven – Jesus told us to invest in it. The longer I live my life, the more I realize that I am closer to the other side than ever before and I’m beginning to understand that I have much more there than I do here.[i]

Sure, enjoy your life, love your family, get yourself a house if need be, make a living, live each day to its fullest, but don’t forget – you’re not home yet.

Life can be wonderful but be prepared to be shunned by this world. Live joyfully but expect persecution.[ii]

Our best life is not here and it is not now. It is in that land that is fairer than day – that home which awaits us in heaven. Believe it.

---

[i] Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6.19-21)

[ii] “…what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3.11-12)

Who is a True Worshiper?

I once learned that worship comes from the idea of worth-ship. If we worship something or someone, we acknowledge its worth; or the person’s worth.

If we truly worship God, we recognize as best as we know how, his worth or value. But how can we even begin to realize the value of a Holy, Omnipotent and Gracious God?

Buildings may be worth millions of dollars. Your business could be sold at a great price if you’ve poured blood, sweat, tears and time into it and have built it up into a status of high demand. Freedom is so valuable to us that most of us would give our lives to preserve it for our posterity. But how can you place any proper value on the LORD who loved us and gave himself for us? Priceless!

When I was a pastor, most everyone just called me “Steve” or “Brother Steve” and I often called them brother as well. Some called me “Brother Long” or “Pastor Long.” I never expected anything more. I never felt that I should be called “Reverend.”[i]

In College, we recognized professors with Doctorates as “Dr. Sherman” or “Dr. Schaeffer.”

In the court room, we address the judge as “Your Honor,” (though I have heard some lawyers address the judge as “Judge.”)

When I’m pulled over by a policeman, I always say; “Yes sir.” (My Momma didn’t raise no dummy.) But I usually greet most people whose name I don’t know with “Sir” or “Ma’am.” Sounds better than “Hey you!”

In England, things are a little different I suppose:

High court officials are called “My Lord” or “My Lady.” For some reason the Justice of Peace is sometimes called “Your Worship.”

Designations in the Church of England are as follows:

Deacons and Priests:  “Reverend,”

The Dean:                   “Very Reverend,”

Bishop:                        “Right Reverend,” or “Lord Bishop.”

Diocesan Bishop:        “Right Reverend and Right Honorable.”

The Archbishop:          “Most Reverend and Right Honorable”[ii]

A Knight or Baronet in England is addressed as “Sir” and his wife as “My Lady.” A Baron would be referred to as “My Lord” or “Your Lordship.” A Duke or Duchess there is addressed as “Your Grace.”

Princes and Princesses in England are called “His Royal Highness” or “Her Royal Highness.”

The Queen or King would receive the designation – “Her Majesty” or “His Majesty.”

It seems we place great value on the status of people in our culture. We give these honorable titles to people in high positions. Others place movie stars, rich people, politicians or athletes upon a pedestal.

We sometimes do this in the church too. I’ve been deeply disappointed in what I’ve seen in some men in ministry who I once thought were above most others only to learn that they were human too. I’ve been disappointed in myself as well when I should never have expected anything spectacular out of a frail, faulty human being.

It seems we’ve “worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. “ (Romans 1.25)

Jesus showed us something about true worship when he said to the woman at the well:

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4.23-24)

The woman, who had met him there, thought worship was about location. Should it be done on a hill in Samaria or in Jerusalem?

Some think it is about locution. Just how eloquently can we pray? Can I come up with the right words to express how much I value God?

Jesus tells us that it is not about location or locution but that it concerns love. Our love for him is simply a response to the love he’s shown us. It is about embracing the truth about who God says that he is, and echoing back to him his goodness from our spirit in love. It comes from the heart.

Worship is not just Spiritual speech. It may involve that, but it involves a life lived in recognition of his Honor, Worship, Lordship, Grace, Royal Highness and Majesty. He is the Most Reverend, Most Honorable, Most High God.

I love saying that. Why don’t you say it with me?

---

[i] He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (Psalm 111.9 – King James Version)

[ii] The scribes and the Pharisees… love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Should I Fear God?

Photo by Lucy Chian on Unsplash

Call me crazy, but I love thunder storms … that is, when I’m inside; not so much if I’m outside. But there’s just such a sense of comfort and security I feel whenever the storm is outside and I’m inside. This is how I feel knowing that I’m in Jesus.

Jesus is the man who:

• Slept in the midst of a death threatening storm.
• Will be as a hiding place from the wind,
  And a cover from the tempest,
  As rivers of water in a dry place,
  As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

To him, David prayed:

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of your wings. Selah (Psalm 61.2-4).

While Noah and his family were inside the Ark during the great flood, I’m sure the sound of the ocean being broken up and the hard pouring rain, pelting down upon the roof of that vessel must have been terrifying. But knowing that God had promised to protect them and knowing that the ship had been built to God’s specifications would have brought great peace, comfort and security during the most powerful storm in the history of the world.

In the Old Testament scriptures there are many commands to fear God. This was the God who gave the law. When he gave it, the people trembled.

But the New Testament is also replete with admonitions to fear God, such as this one:

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Hebrews 12.28

One might think that since we are in the age of grace and no longer under the strict demands of the law, that there is no longer any reason to fear God. Well… that depends on what kind of fear we are talking about.

John Piper said; 

There’s terror outside of Christ and there’s a different kind of trembling inside of Christ.

He’s right. One kind of fear is that of fearing a policeman if you’re a criminal. The other is the fear of the same man by a law abiding citizen. The outlaw fears everything about the lawman and does all he can to avoid him. The other fears the officer in the sense of what he represents and does all he can to stay on good terms.

Just imagine meeting an angel! Evidently, their appearance is pretty intimidating. (They are not really the fat little floating cupids flapping their tiny, fluffy buffalo wings.)

It seems that angels, as portrayed in scripture, are always masculine, not feminine. They appeared to be men, usually without wings, except for the unique winged angelic beings called Cherubs (Cherubim) or Seraphs (Seraphim). All of them seem to be magnificent creatures which were made for God’s great glory.

Seeing such a being might scare the bejeebers out of us. So, the angels would invariably say, “Fear not,” to keep from frightening their audiences.

Often, when God himself appeared to people, he would also say, “Fear not.” I think we can clearly say that he does not want us to be afraid.

When God gave Moses the commandments to deliver to the people of Israel the people were very afraid. Seeing the thunderings, lightnings, the smoking mountain, and hearing the trumpet blasts, they said to Moses,

You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. (Exodus 20.18-19)

Moses' answer was interesting – one which might sound very contradictory.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not (verse 20).

Notice that in the same sentence he says both “Fear not” and that God wants “that his fear may be” before their faces. See that? Fear not … that his fear may be.

This shows us the two different kinds of fear. Notice the contrast.

One Kind of Fear:                                  The Other Kind of Fear:

         

          An intimidating fear.                               An endearing fear. 

          A repelling fear.                                      An attractive fear.

          An unholy fear.                                       A holy fear.

          A troublesome fear (can’t sleep).           Secure, restful, peaceful.

          A fear that is conflicting.                         A respectful kind of fear.

A wholesome fear of God:

• Recognizes his holiness.
• Eliminates pride and presumption.
• Creates a love for him.
• Keeps us from pushing the limits of his limitless grace.
• Helps us to walk in obedience.
• Comes from a faith in both his greatness and his goodness.
• Realizes both the goodness and the severity of God.

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king  

(1 Peter 2.17).

Fruitful in the Land of Affliction

“God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." (Genesis 41.52)

As a young man, Joseph always did his best to please and obey his father. Because he was the son of his father’s old age, the son of Rachel, and because of his compliant ways, he was rewarded. His father, Jacob, gave him a special coat. Though he was only a teenager, this designated him as the man in charge of all his father’s house, including all of his older brothers – all ten of them. None of the others seemed to qualify in Jacob’s eyes.

This special treatment of Joseph may have caused Joseph more bother than blessing. When I say “bother,” I mean serious trouble.

The older brothers, bent on doing wrong, saw Joseph as a threat and were jealous of his elevation. When the opportunity arose, they stripped him of his coat, threw him into a pit and then sold him into slavery. They soaked the coat in the blood of a baby goat and took it back to their father. “There,” they thought, “we are rid of him for good.”

Jacob, thinking his son was dead, was inconsolable.

The slave traders took Joseph into Egypt and sold him to the King’s (Pharaoh) Captain of the Guard, a wealthy man of authority by the name of Potiphar.

Joseph was a wise, excellent and trustworthy servant. Soon he was put in charge of Potiphar’s household. But, again he was double crossed by Potiphar’s wife who wanted Joseph as her play thing. Because Joseph wouldn’t play along, she falsely accused him. Now he winds up in Pharaoh’s prison.

Again, while in prison, because of Joseph’s faithful demeanor, he is put in charge again – this time by the prison keeper, over all the inmates.

While there he interprets the dream of Pharaoh’s butler and baker who had both been incarcerated.

Two years later, when Pharaoh himself has a dream, the butler, now free and serving Pharoah, remembered Joseph. Pharaoh calls for Joseph from prison to interpret his dream for him. Joseph tells him that “interpretations belong to God (Genesis 40.8).”

Joseph explains Pharaoh’s dream. There would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. Pharaoh should appoint someone to be in charge of storing all the abundance during the first period to have food for the land for the last period.

Pharaoh loves Joseph’s interpretation and his plan and then places Joseph as the man in charge. He lavishes him with significant gifts. “Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck (Genesis 41.42).” He also gives him a very special lady to be his wife.

Soon Joseph’s wife would bare him two sons. Manasseh and Ephraim. Names had a great deal of meaning for people back then, often reflecting what was transpiring in their lives. Manasseh meant “Forgetting.” When he was born, Joseph said; “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house."

Joseph had seen a lot of ups and downs, but unlike Nottingham (as sung by Roger Miller in the cartoon Robin Hood), Joseph experienced one more up than he did downs. Let’s count them:

After this final blessing, Joseph forgets about all the trouble he went through to get where he was at that point. He names his son Manasseh, (forgetting). Joseph said; "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house (Genesis 41.51)."

It’s important that we learn to forget past troubles. The Apostle Paul wrote, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3.13-14). Paul forgot not only his past acclamations but also his past obstacles.

Joseph’s second son he named Ephraim (fruitful). Joseph commented: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

Joseph saw God at work through all that had happened to him and you’ll notice that he always gave God glory in every stage of his life – whether up or down.

I love these words: fruitful in the land of my affliction. He experienced the fruitfulness of the land – seven plenteous years that allowed him to store up food for the whole known world, really. He experienced the fruitfulness of a blessed life and he experienced the fruitfulness of family – a loving wife and two wonderful boys. But all this took place in a land where he had endured great affliction.

I don’t know what stage you are in right now. Maybe you’re experiencing fruitfulness as Joseph did. I know Joseph appreciated the fruitfulness of his life more than most because of all the turmoil he had to go through to get there.

But maybe you’re in a time of affliction yourself. Can you look to God in faith right now and believe that as a child of God, you expect to see fruitfulness in your land of affliction? It has been said that God will take your trial and turn it into blessing. I believe God will do this for you as well if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. Wait patiently on the Lord.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not (Galatians 6.9).

.

Why I Wanted to Know God – And Still Do

I didn’t always want to know God. In fact, I ran from him for quite some time. All I really understood about him was that he would not tolerate sin. Since I knew I was a sinner, I was doing all I could to avoid him. Like the prodigal son, my ultimate intention was to get away from him if I could.

Then, the Lord God began to make himself known to me, and as I began to understand more about him, I started wanting to know him. Here are several things about this amazing God that caused me to desire to be acquainted with him and why I hope you will too:

1. The Fact that He is Our Creator

Talk about a VIP! There is no one more important than the Lord our God: no King or Queen, star entertainer or athlete, politician, rich person; no one with great beauty or personality could usurp the importance of having a personal relationship with our magnificent Creator. What wisdom is his, what knowledge! “How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out.”

Most adopted children, when grown, will want to know their biological parents because they want to know where they came from and find the answer to: “What makes me tick?” Wouldn’t we also want to know our Creator?

As our Creator, he also wants to help us:

Thus says the LORD who made you

And formed you from the womb, who will help you:[i]

2. The Fact That He Knows Us Best

We are told in the Psalms:

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.[ii]

Understanding that God knows all about us can be daunting if we’re running from him but if we return to him, he will be the first to meet us on the path home.[iii]

I am amazed in the fact that no one knows us completely as the Lord does, yet no one loves us like he does.

3. The Fact That He is Good.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.[iv]

Just how good is God? Nobody has ever found that out yet. But here’s what I do know:

He is kind and gracious to every person in this life no matter if they believe in him or not. “He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”[v] and he “is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”[vi] “He is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.[vii]” “He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”[viii]

I can tell you something about how good God has been to me. I have never gone one single day without at least something to eat. Some may have but that doesn’t make God any less good. Even those who have experienced great tragedies in life such as the death of a loved one – maybe a child – have still experienced some measure of God’s goodness every day of their lives. I had some days when I questioned whether God was there or if he really cared yet I know that he is and does.

4. I Wanted to Know His Forgiveness

I knew I had sinned and knew God was offended. I knew that I didn’t want to remain on his side of disfavor. I learned that he had paved a way for me to be reconciled to him and justified (as if I’d never sinned) because of Christ’s death in our behalf.

5. The Fact that He Promised us an Eternal Home of Perfect Blessing.

There is no doubt that we live in an imperfect world – a world corrupted by sin. Murder, hatefulness, pride, oppression, evil, pain and death abound all around us. But this is not the end for those who know God. In fact, God’s word tells us that he causes all things to work together for the good of those who know him – to those who are the called according to his purpose.[ix]

He was good enough to send his Son to die on the cross for sinners who had no other hope of forgiveness.

The Most Important Reason

Sometimes we think there is something in us innately which causes us to want to know God but there is not. There is something in us that causes us to want to run away from him and rebel. it is called "sin."

"We love him because he first loved us..."[x]  It was God who pursued after us and drew us to him.

I wanted to know God because he wanted to know me. And because of his eternal love for me, his relentless pursuit of me and the death and resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ, he put something inside me that caused me to want to know him. He gave me his Spirit.

If there is a God, wouldn’t you want to know him? Don’t shut him out of your life with unanswered questions. We will always have those. We can know him by faith in the work of atonement Jesus Christ performed in our behalf on the cross of Calvary.

---

[i]     Isaiah 44.2

[ii]    Psalm 139.1-4

[iii]   Luke 15.20

[iv]   Psalm 106.1

[v]    Matthew 5.45

[vi]   Luke 6.35

[vii]  Psalm 145.9

[viii] Acts 14.17

[ix]   Romans 8.28
[x]   1 John 4.19

Will There be a Rapture?

I remember reading Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth as a new Christian decades ago. There was a great tidal wave of excitement at that time about the second coming of Jesus Christ. My heart was thrilled as well. One of the things he talked about in that book was something called the rapture. 

Some Christians today have never heard a message preached on the subject of the rapture. This is partly because many pastors either don’t believe in it or don’t know what they believe. Others don’t preach or teach on the rapture because it doesn’t seem to be a popular doctrine of our times.

Is this a Legitimate Doctrine?

Many of the early Church fathers wrote that Jesus Christ could return at any time which is at the core of teaching in the rapture occurring before the tribulation which Jesus and the Apostles prophesied.[i]

Nathan E. Jones writes: “When Augustine began spiritualizing the Bible, his view of a non-literal interpretation took hold of the church until the Renaissance, obliterating the Premillennial and Pre-Tribulation Rapture views in favor of Amillennialism.[ii]” But Jones lists several Christians through the centuries who wrote about their belief in the imminence of Christ’s return even dating back to the first and second centuries.

I would say that there were millions of Christians in the twentieth century who believed in the imminent (think any moment) coming of Jesus Christ and many still do today. From my perspective it seems that number has diminished in recent times because it seems to no longer be as widely taught.

What Does it Mean?

The teaching of the rapture is a biblical doctrine that says that one day – at any moment – Jesus will appear in the air not only to resurrect those who have died as believers but will also catch up those in Christ Jesus who remain alive.

The biblical Greek word ἁρπάζω (harpazo), in its future tense, is translated “shall be caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4.17. 

The word rapture comes from the Latin word raptura which means to seize or carry off. This was the word used in the Latin Vulgate translation of that same passage.

We who believe in a coming rapture are premillennial which means that Jesus will return to earth before a 1,000 year period of blessedness upon earth in which Christ will rule and reign.

What is the Basis for this Belief?

While there are many supportive passages in the bible as to the teaching of the rapture, here are three major references. These speak of an imminent event in which Jesus catches up his saved ones who remain alive.

Jesus said in John 14.1-4: 

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also."[iii] 

Note the words, “I will come again and receive you unto myself.”

The Apostle Paul told the church at Corinth “We shall not all sleep (meaning die) but we shall all be changed.[iv]” He is saying that not all Christians would die but all Christians would be changed – bodily. The only explanation for this is the rapture.

He continues; “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”[v]

Now, we come to our main passage of the bible in which we may build upon our belief that there will be a rapture. These Christians in Thessalonica were troubled about their fellow Christians who had died. They wondered if they’d ever see them again. The Apostle Paul comforts them by saying:

… the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Is belief in the rapture necessary for salvation? No! Salvation is ours by grace through faith. But the truth that Christ will come and catch us up helps us to know the comfort of God during times when people are dying. It brings us comfort in distressing times in our lives when we’re under a deep state of trials. It also comforts us to know that God is ultimately in control no matter how bleak things may look at the moment for he is coming to receive us up into his presence for eternity.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”[vi]

---

[i] See Matthew chapter 24; 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and Revelation chapters 5-18 to name just a few.

[ii] Amillenialism means no millennial.

[iii] John 14.1-4

[iv] 1 Corinthians 15.51

[v] 1 Corinthians 15.52

[vi] Titus 2.11-13