Coffee With The Lord

A few thoughts on the first passage of the New Year in my Bible reading (using the Necessary Food Bible Reading Plan)…

Pretty hard to beat Genesis 1:1-2:3 as a “beginning” …  “IN THE BEGINNING GOD…”  He is the beginning of all beginnings… The beginning of all that is… The “new beginning” of my “eternal life” – a “new birth” … and the “new beginning” for so many others down through the centuries!

His “creative word” is powerful!  His “LET THERE BE…became…AND IT WAS SO!  When He speaks things change – things come into existance!  All things are possible – the “impossible” evaporates at His creative word – the miraculous for us becomes the normal for Him!  If we can believe, all things become possible (“Nothing will be impossible with God!” … words that He spoke to Mary regarding the birth of Jesus!  Luke 1:37)

And the decree and evaluation of all that God did and does? AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD…VERY GOOD! (vss. 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, and 31!)

Out of nothing – everything, out of chaos –  order, out of darkness – light, and out of dust – a living, breathing human life!  What a mighty God we serve – What a way to start the New Year!

Concerned about the coming year… whether you’ll be able stand strong, resist temptation, deal with difficulties, and be able to live in a way that pleases and honors God?

As I closed out my Bible reading this year (I use the Bible reading plan I authored several years ago – “Necessary Food”) I read the short epistle of Jude (brother of James the Just, and probably half-brother of Jesus as well)…

In his own words, “I was eager to write about our common salvation but found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once-for-all delivered to the saints.”

And then what follows is one of the most direct, scathing, warnings and indictments, of false teachers, corrupt “Christians,” and deceivers in all of Scripture!  He puts it this way… “Certain people have crept in unnoticed… who pervert the grace of God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”  Throughout the Bible those who infiltrate the ranks of “God’s people” have always been viewed as a greater risk than those made no claim to believe and follow the Lord.  God’s people seem to be more susceptible to, and deceived by those who claim to be “believers” and Christians then by those who make no such claim.

I mean, read the warning – read the description – Jude gives of these despicable deceivers (verses 5-19)!

The warning is valid for believers today!  The risk of deception is just as great today (or perhaps greater) as we approach the coming year!  So what to do?…

Jude’s inspired exhortation is just as valid today as it was then!

“But you, building yourselves up in your must holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, all the while waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that lead to eternal life!  And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.” (verses 20-23)

There it is… Devoted, diligent discipleship, Holy Spirit guided and prompted prayer, the daily experience of God’s love, living each day expectantly waiting for the Lord’s return, and sharing your witness with others regardless of the challenges!

Frightened?  Wondering if you can stand strong for Christ without falling or being deceived?  Here’s Jude’s wonderful closing word of assurance… “Now to Him WHO IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM STUMBLING AND TO PRESENT YOU BLAMELESS BEFORE THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY WITH GREAT JOY – to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty dominion, and authority, before all time, and now, and forever!  Amen!”

New Years just around the corner… People celebrate leaving the past year with its challenges and difficulties behind and look forward to a NEW YEAR – new opportunities, new relationships, new successes! They party hard and they try to forget the past! High expectations are rampant!

But I must say I read a passage from the Bible this morning – the day before New Year’s Eve celebrations – that would leave the hopes of an earthly New Year like a crumpled-up piece of waste-paper thrown in the trash with disgust because of the heavenly declaration of hope and certainty! You want to talk about “NEW” – you want to be hopeful about the future – here it is! And the best part is, it’s guaranteed for ALL WHO EMBRACE GOD’S WAY FOR THEIR LIVES AND FUTURE AND LIVE TO HONOR HIM!!!

‘Then I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH, FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN AND THE FIRST EARTH HAD PASSED AWAY, and the sea no longer existed. I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because THE PREVIOUS THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY! Then the One seated on the throne said, “LOOK! I AM MAKING EVERYTHING NEW!” He also said, “Write, because THESE WORDS ARE FAITHFUL AND TRUE!” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. The overcomer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be My sons and daughters.” (From Revelation 21:1–7)

And that’s not all… Read the rest of the passage – from chapter 21:9 – 22:5 – if you want a good reason to celebrate the future for God’s people! … A “New Jerusalem” – capital city of Heaven, a new and glorious situation for all who abide there! New! New!! NEW!! ALL THINGS NEW AND GLORIOUS… FOREVER!!! You talk about a reason to celebrate with HOPE (Not “hope so” for God’s people – expectant certainty)! You should read it, reflect on it, and REJOICE!!! I did!