Coffee With The Lord

The season of the year we call “Christmas” and all the holiday trappings we see around us are so filled with folklore and mythical stories … the stuff of fairytales!  It’s all designed, I guess, to appeal to children – to make their eyes dance and fill the air with laughter and excitement.  It’s also the fertile ground for marketing schemes and the jingle of cash registers.  So what is reality in the midst of all that is mythical? 

I read a passage from the Bible this morning that I think makes the case for that…

“We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen.  We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands.  He is the Word of Life!  This One who is Life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him.  And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us.  We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.”  (1 John 1:1–4 NLT)

In the midst of all the mythical and the merriment, I don’t want to miss the reality… Jesus is real!  He actually came to earth as a babe in a manger!  He lived among us!  The miracles in the Bible actually happened!  He suffered and died for our sin… and rose again… He ascended back to heaven… and ever lives!!

Don’t miss the “real thing” in the Christmas season – don’t let your children mix up reality with fiction… Just say’n!  As a Christian I’m determined to keep Christ in Christmas!!!

So here’s the sequel to yesterday’s post in  “coffee with the Lord”…  Doesn’t need much comment…

“And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.  And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved… I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing.  Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.”  (2 Peter 3:14–18 NLT)

According to these passages we face two things… The frightening prospect of “the Day of the Lord” and the wonderful prospect of “the day of God” with the confident hope of “a new heaven and earth where righteousness dwells”!

I intend to live ready for what the future brings… trying to reach others with the gospel… staying alert and on guard for my own spiritual welfare… and keep on growing in the wonderful grace He provides… all the while getting to know Him better and better!!

How about you?

Reading the description of the end of the world as we know it in the Bible this morning (2 Peter 3.10-13) reminded me a little bit of scenes I’ve seen from a couple of older movies (“Independence Day” and “Apocalypse Now” – there may be more recent films that come to your mind).  Here is what the Bible says…

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare… That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in fervent heat.” (vss. 10, 12b)

What a contrast the other verses in this passage present…

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming…  in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells!  (vss. 11-12a, 13)

The Bible clearly teaches this old globe we live on is one day consigned to destruction!  The world I am looking forward to (and living for) is a “new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells!” (Check out Revelation 21-22 – Pretty awesome!!)  Gotta be ready… Gotta live ready!

That’s why I’m taking 1 John 2.15-17 seriously…

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.  For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”