Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....December 3, 2018
HAPPY DECEMBER!! Yes, it is December already...Christmas is just around the corner...Remember the Reason for the Season:)
This is the second in a series of teachings on our final destination...Heaven. Let's continue to learn....
It is far better than life, home, friends, health, food, music, love, better than ANYTHING! Heaven is better than 1st kiss, a great steak, sex, pampered at spa, wealth, power, sports car, or even the love of grand kids! (Heb 11:13-16 & Phil 1:23)
Heaven is a believer’s better country. It is far better than life, home, friends, health, food, music, love, better than ANYTHING! Heaven is better than 1st kiss, a great steak, sex, pampered at spa, wealth, power, sports car, or even the love of grand kids! (Heb 11:13-16 & Phil 1:23)
The problem is, most people don't really believe that it's 'far better' and worth waiting for! There's a really good reason: Satan attacks by speaking LIES: Heaven is an unreal place (where spirits sit on clouds and play harps), it's a place for God (and won't feel like home), and so monotonous (forever is a long time to be anywhere!). I must admit that I wanted Heaven to wait for me to get my drivers license, then for my honeymoon, then for my son to be born... I was convinced that what I was excited about was better than Heaven would be ... for so long in my life, it wasn't real to me!
In actuality however, this life is a Chevy Spark, Heaven is a Cadillac. Experiences in this life compared to the next is like comparing the baby in a womb to what it experiences after birth. This is just a shadow - Heaven is the real thing! Life on earth is the dress rehearsal, the practice lap, the warm-up, the preface … the real thing is yet to come!
Put yourself there: make it personal
Col 3:1-2 challenges believers to seek & set heavenly “things” (details / parts). MEDITATE on it: let Heaven occupy your thoughts. CRAVE it: be passionate about Heaven. You only have 1 heart & 1 mind, where will you invest it? It cannot be here & there both.
According to 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, God has revealed certain truths about Heaven- but not all details. So we look through a foggy telescope into our destiny. It's like visiting the Grand Canyon and coming back with a postcard. There's no way to really capture all of the majestic beauty in something 3" by 5" - it's impossible. It takes a little imagination.
Marco Polo returned to Italy at the conclusion of his adventures to China. He attempted to tell them about what he had seen and heard. It was like nothing they had ever experienced... the colors, the costumes, the architecture, the dragons, etc. He found himself describing a real place with imaginary terms.
Take a walk with me... as the huge iridescent white gates open, you immediately are struck by the people of heaven. Every color, every nationality, every language... talking, listening, laughing. No one is alone, no one is afraid, nobody is angry, everyone can be trusted with your deepest secret. No one is scolding their children, no one is discouraged or depressed. Nobody is selfish. Nobody is sick. No one struggles with
temptation. ... Everyone is smiling.
At the center of the crowd is a tree, a huge tree. You walk up and pick a piece of fruit - and immediately a new one grows back in its place. You take a bite and feel the rush all over your body. The juices drip off your chin and run down your hand and drip off your elbow. The taste of the fruit tingles as you chew and you can feel it from your nose to your toes, and you can't help but dive in for another huge bite!
You hear a familiar voice and see a face that you recognize, yet you've never seen before... it's Jesus. You immediately drop to your knees on your face. He smiles and gets down on his knees and lifts you up to his eye level. You thank Him and He thanks you back. You both stand up and although He has approached another newcomer, you still feel as if He is standing right next to you. You still feel His warmth and His smile is still burned into your eyes. I’m now aware that in each of my hands in a tiny little hand, Amos & Avery, that I've never met but who know me & are veterans of the wonderful place.
One thing is for certain, we are sure that no one will be disappointed. God intends on lavishing on you His beauty and love -- like a godly lover for their spouse, for all eternity (Eph 2:6-7).
Heaven is a destination, but not an end...
When you arrive you will be perfect, but not FINISHED. You won't know it all, you'll just be getting started! Like Jesus as a boy was perfect, yet had some growing to do (Luke 2:52). You were MADE for more! Some say they 'have a soul' - but they are wrong. You are a soul, you have a body.
Like Nemo was taken out of the wild coral reef waters and placed in a tank - everything seems the same, but something’s wrong. This might look a lot like home, it might feel like what you were made for, but that's only the illusion of a greater reality awaiting.
Do you like questions? Because questions will be a key part of our Heavenly experience as we grow and learn. Some falsely assume they will know everything or that all they will have to do is rush up to God and ask Him, but God usually answers questions with questions! And just like God is the only answer to the question mark in the beginning, don't be afraid to ask yourself: "What then?" and let Him be the answer to your question-mark at the end.
Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people...
Jesus said in John 14:1-6 that He was leaving to prepare us a place. He also said that He wants to find us prepared and waiting. Are you ready and prepared? Have you given others that assurance? I'll never forget the lady who told me one hot Saturday afternoon that she didn't know where she would end up. I asked her if she wanted to know and she replied: 'My grand-daddy was a Baptist preacher. He always said he didn't know where he was going. If he didn't know, nobody can know for sure.'
One of my favorite authors, CS Lewis, once said: "Aim at heaven and get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and get neither." What are you aiming at?
DID YOU EVER WONDER???
The "W" in Christmas
Last December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.
So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W". Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:
"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"
And, I believe, He still is.
Author unknown
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE...A TEACHING
This week we look at my favorite book of the OT.... the Book of Isaiah
Who wrote the book?
As is the case with nearly all the books of “the prophets,” the book of Isaiah takes its name from its writer. Isaiah was married to a prophetess who bore him at least two sons (Isaiah 7:3; 8:3). He prophesied under the reign of four Judean kings—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1)—and he likely met his death under a fifth, the evil King Manasseh. Christian tradition as early as the second century identifies Isaiah as one of the prophets whose death is described in Hebrews 11:37, specifically the prophet who was “sawn in two.”1 Isaiah likely lived in Jerusalem, given the book’s concern with the city (Isaiah 1:1) and his close proximity to at least two significant kings during the period of his prophecy (7:3; 38:1).
Much of scholarship for the past two centuries has assigned multiple writers to Isaiah, dividing the book into three sections: 1–39, 40–55, and 56–66. However, these divisions come out of a scholarly denial of predictive prophecy. This position not only limits the power of God to communicate with His people but also ignores the wide variety of specific, predictive claims about Jesus Christ scattered throughout the book.
Where are we?
Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. Instead of serving Him with humility and offering love to their neighbors, the nation of Judah offered meaningless sacrifices in God’s temple at Jerusalem and committed injustices throughout the nation. The people of Judah turned their backs on God and alienated themselves from Him, which created the need for Isaiah’s pronouncements of judgment—declarations made in the hope that God’s chosen people would return to Him.
Why is Isaiah so important?
The book of Isaiah provides us with the most comprehensive prophetic picture of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. It includes the full scope of His life: the announcement of His coming (Isaiah 40:3–5), His virgin birth (7:14), His proclamation of the good news (61:1), His sacrificial death (52:13–53:12), and His return to claim His own (60:2–3). Because of these and numerous other christological texts in Isaiah, the book stands as a testament of hope in the Lord, the One who saves His people from themselves.
What's the big idea?
Isaiah’s overall theme receives its clearest statement in chapter 12: “Behold, God is my salvation, / I will trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2). This echoes the meaning of Isaiah’s name, which means the “salvation of Yahweh.”2 Having read the book, one might wonder about the strong presence of judgment that runs through the first thirty-nine chapters when the theme is salvation. How can the two coexist? The presence of judgment indicates its necessity for salvation to occur. Before we can have salvation, we must have a need for it!
So the bulk of those early chapters in Isaiah detail judgments against the people who have turned their backs on the Lord, showing us that those who persist in their rebellion will receive judgment. On the other hand, we also see God’s faithfulness to His promise. He will preserve a small remnant of faithful believers, those who will continue on into the glorious renewed world He has prepared for His children in the end times (65:17–66:24).
How do I apply this?
Because of its scope, Isaiah contains one of the clearest expressions of the gospel in all the Old Testament. Even from the first chapter, it is clear that the people have turned away from God and failed in their responsibilities as His children (Isaiah 1:2–17). Yet God miraculously holds out hope to this unrepentant people, offering cleansing of sins and the blessing that comes with faith and obedience in Him (1:18–20). Salvation lies only in God—the only question is whether or not we will accept His offer.
In addition to its gospel message, the book of Isaiah clearly articulates the sins of God’s people—dealing with others unjustly which resulted in their offering hypocritical sacrifices to God. Do you see anything in your own life that might fall under Isaiah’s critique of injustice—treating family, colleagues, or even strangers with unkindness or even disdain? Isaiah’s message is also a call for believers to come back to purity in our love for God and for our neighbors (Luke 10:26–28).
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou
This week we look at my favorite book of the OT.... the Book of Isaiah
Who wrote the book?
As is the case with nearly all the books of “the prophets,” the book of Isaiah takes its name from its writer. Isaiah was married to a prophetess who bore him at least two sons (Isaiah 7:3; 8:3). He prophesied under the reign of four Judean kings—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (1:1)—and he likely met his death under a fifth, the evil King Manasseh. Christian tradition as early as the second century identifies Isaiah as one of the prophets whose death is described in Hebrews 11:37, specifically the prophet who was “sawn in two.”1 Isaiah likely lived in Jerusalem, given the book’s concern with the city (Isaiah 1:1) and his close proximity to at least two significant kings during the period of his prophecy (7:3; 38:1).
Much of scholarship for the past two centuries has assigned multiple writers to Isaiah, dividing the book into three sections: 1–39, 40–55, and 56–66. However, these divisions come out of a scholarly denial of predictive prophecy. This position not only limits the power of God to communicate with His people but also ignores the wide variety of specific, predictive claims about Jesus Christ scattered throughout the book.
Where are we?
Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. Instead of serving Him with humility and offering love to their neighbors, the nation of Judah offered meaningless sacrifices in God’s temple at Jerusalem and committed injustices throughout the nation. The people of Judah turned their backs on God and alienated themselves from Him, which created the need for Isaiah’s pronouncements of judgment—declarations made in the hope that God’s chosen people would return to Him.
Why is Isaiah so important?
The book of Isaiah provides us with the most comprehensive prophetic picture of Jesus Christ in the entire Old Testament. It includes the full scope of His life: the announcement of His coming (Isaiah 40:3–5), His virgin birth (7:14), His proclamation of the good news (61:1), His sacrificial death (52:13–53:12), and His return to claim His own (60:2–3). Because of these and numerous other christological texts in Isaiah, the book stands as a testament of hope in the Lord, the One who saves His people from themselves.
What's the big idea?
Isaiah’s overall theme receives its clearest statement in chapter 12: “Behold, God is my salvation, / I will trust and not be afraid” (Isaiah 12:2). This echoes the meaning of Isaiah’s name, which means the “salvation of Yahweh.”2 Having read the book, one might wonder about the strong presence of judgment that runs through the first thirty-nine chapters when the theme is salvation. How can the two coexist? The presence of judgment indicates its necessity for salvation to occur. Before we can have salvation, we must have a need for it!
So the bulk of those early chapters in Isaiah detail judgments against the people who have turned their backs on the Lord, showing us that those who persist in their rebellion will receive judgment. On the other hand, we also see God’s faithfulness to His promise. He will preserve a small remnant of faithful believers, those who will continue on into the glorious renewed world He has prepared for His children in the end times (65:17–66:24).
How do I apply this?
Because of its scope, Isaiah contains one of the clearest expressions of the gospel in all the Old Testament. Even from the first chapter, it is clear that the people have turned away from God and failed in their responsibilities as His children (Isaiah 1:2–17). Yet God miraculously holds out hope to this unrepentant people, offering cleansing of sins and the blessing that comes with faith and obedience in Him (1:18–20). Salvation lies only in God—the only question is whether or not we will accept His offer.
In addition to its gospel message, the book of Isaiah clearly articulates the sins of God’s people—dealing with others unjustly which resulted in their offering hypocritical sacrifices to God. Do you see anything in your own life that might fall under Isaiah’s critique of injustice—treating family, colleagues, or even strangers with unkindness or even disdain? Isaiah’s message is also a call for believers to come back to purity in our love for God and for our neighbors (Luke 10:26–28).
HAVE A SAFE AND BLESSED WEEK:)
Ho'omaikaʻi ka Pua iā kākou