An Open Door

Jesus Christ said to the church in Philadelphia, in ancient Greece, that which is applicable to us today: “I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it…” (Revelation 3:8). 

The Lord is swinging wide the door of opportunity for us to take bold dramatic steps. In His wisdom He is choosing to challenge our faith. In His love He is granting us an opportunity to think big and act bold. No person can shut the door. We can with cowering and timid spirit fail to go through it. Our negative nature can cause us to question and quibble. We alone can cause what the Lord has in mind to fail. We are often our own worst enemy.

Though no one can shut the door, individuals can refuse to go through it.

James 4: 7-10 lists some steps of preparation we each need to take. Therefore, now comes the practical personal part of this new year’s challenge.

With every challenge in life God provides the grace to deal with it. Notice in James 4: “He gives more grace.”  The Greek word translated “He giveth,”  is diomi in the present tense, meaning He keeps on giving. “My grace is sufficient for you” means it is perpetually sufficient. Not “was” or “will be,” but “is” sufficient. 

By “more grace” means grace that is more than sufficient for any mess you might be in.

Note, this grace only comes to the humble “God resists the proud.” Grace and pride are in constant conflict with each other. God “resists,” that is, He sets Himself in opposition to it. God is depicted as being actively  aggressively opposed to pride.

The full impact of the word “resist” is “God arrays Himself for battle against the proud.”

In contrast God is proactive in support of and “gives grace to the humble.”

First, positively. You must “Submit yourselves therefore to God.”

This calls for a conscious willful action on your behalf. It requires you making a choice. To “submit” means to willfully put yourself under the command of God. 

We hear a lot about “rights,” human rights. How about God’s rights? Why should we submit to God?

Because He knows more and loves us even more than we love ourselves.

We should submit because resistance is futile,

We should submit because His rule is always good.

Each of us must respond to the self asked question: “Whom shall I serve, God or myself? Shall I make it my chief concern to do the will of my Heavenly Father, or shall I demand and assert my own way?”  

Second, negatively. “Resist the devil…”  The devil and his allies, the world and the flesh, have designed and do desire your spiritual destruction. 

If we make friends with the world, the world will give us temporary pleasures that gratify the flesh. Compromise with the world-system assures God’s displeasure.

The strong magnetic pull of the flesh can only be overcome by the power of God. When the Scripture says He gives “more grace,” it means He gives gracious plenty.

It is not enough just to resist the devil, you must “draw near to God.” If you do, He will draw near to you.

Take these actions, “Cleanse your hands” = outward actions, “Purify your hearts,” = inward action, (Vs. 8) and “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord.” (Vs 10)

God has set before us an open door. No person can shut it. You can refuse to go through it, however. Likewise, taking these steps can enable you to go through it.

You: Positive or Negative

Are you a positive or a negative person? Your answer is important. It will be pleasing or displeasing to God, and good or bad for your health.

Purify your thoughts by driving out the wrong concepts and replacing them with Bible oriented ideas. A critical negative spirit needs to be purified. If you are going to think the Christ thoughts, the mind must be purified of negativism.

Start your day by praying, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” (Psalm 143:8)

A study shows that for every one negative input, eleven positive inputs are necessary to counteract it.

There is a book entitled “The Theory of Twenty-One” in which the author shows, as a result of research, that out of every 21 people, 20 think negatively about everything. Only one is a positive person. Are you the one? Hopefully you are. If not, you can be.

In a book entitled “Hide-N-Seek,” persons are urged to inventory their 16 closest relatives. Be objective as to who among them was negative, and who are positive. Most persons will conclude they were reared in a negative environment. 

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

The Lord challenged and assured Joshua with these words workable in your life today, “Don’t be afraid just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today The Lord himself will fight for you just stay calm.” (Exodus 14:13)

That is God’s way of saying, “Be cool, I am here and I love you. Just be cool.” The way to do this is to “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

If you are not the one out of twenty-one, you can become one.

In his book “The Land of Beginning Again” by Louise Fletcher Tarkington there is a way of transformation.

“So I wish that there were some wonderful place
Called the Land of Beginning Again
Where all out mistakes and all our heartaches,
And all our poor selfish grief
Could be dropped like a shabby old coat at the door
And never put on again.”

You can do it. That place is at the foot of the cross. There “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” (II Corinthians 5:17) That one being a new you.

Thomas Jefferson on Religious Freedom

There is no more complex man in American history that Thomas Jefferson. He issued conflicting comments of several issues. Some conclude he was hostile to Christianity. He was not. He was cool toward organized religion, but not Christianity. An evidence of this is his close friendship with Baptist minister John Lelland a dynamic voice in the issue of religious freedom. As Leland’s gratitude for Jefferson’s friendship and support for his endeavors on behalf of religious freedom Leland did a most uncommon thing. An ardent supporter of Thomas Jefferson, Leland became famous for his media-savvy strategy to signal the Baptists’ support of the newly elected president in 1801: the gift of a giant wheel of cheese. Reportedly made from the milk of 900 Republican cows, the cheese measured 4 feet in diameter, 13 feet in circumference, and weighed 1,235 pounds. Emblazoned on its red crust was Jefferson’s favorite motto: “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” As the giant cheese made the month long journey from western Massachusetts to Washington, D. C., pundits lampooned, ridiculed and celebrated the “mammoth cheese.” On Jan. 1, 1802, Jefferson welcomed Leland and his flamboyant gift into White House. Two days later, Leland delivered the Sunday sermon to the church which regularly met in the House of Representatives, with the president in attendance.

As an aside, Jefferson reputedly gave more money to more churches in Washington than anyone. He often attended the church that regularly met in the House of Representatives. Another church met regularly in the Supreme Court building.

Jefferson’s letter to the Baptists, of which Leland was one, was to assure them there would be no state supported church and all churches would be equal.

So much for separation of church and state.

The Rapture 1/9/00

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

JESUS CHRIST said, “I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again…” (John 14:3).

Just when we had snuggled into our warm comfortable world, along comes messengers alerting us to needs in our lives for the coming of the Lord. The uncertainty of the last couple of years has abruptly revealed that the god of materialism is an unstable and inadequate idol.

This is a time to search the Scripture for certain answers in an uncertain time.

Read the New Testament and your ears will ring with the footsteps of Christ’s return.

Two major events are spoken of in I Thessalonians chapters 4 and 5.

One is referred to as the rapture. The word itself isn’t found in the Bible. It comes from the word RAPTO meaning a sudden seizing or snatching away. It speaks of Christ coming in the air for His people. The suddenness is emphasized by Christ who said:

“I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” (Luke 17: 34 – 36).

The ones taken are those with faith in Christ as Savior. Those left to endure the horror of the tribulation are those who have rejected Him.

The other is the tribulation. This is a term used to describe a period during which a man of peace, known as the anti-Christ, will emerge and rule on earth. This seven year period which begins after the rapture is defined in Daniel 9: 26, 27 as consisting of three aspects:

A PERIOD OF PREPARATION FOR THE COVENANT OF PEACE

A PERIOD OF PEACE FROM THE COVENANT OF PEACE

A PERIOD OF PERSECUTION FORM THE COVENANT OF PEACE.

Two things now emerging are setting the stage to enable this man of peace to gain power in order to persecute.

1. Biblically we are told in II Peter 2:1 that churches will become apostate. That is, most of them will cease to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. There will be little Bible preaching. Already we have seen many churches turn often to good things in the neglect of their primary mission. Many have turned to social ministries. Others have been diverted to health, wealth, and prosperity theology. A church where the Bible is taught is becoming an increasingly rare oasis.

Many good people remain in apostate and dead churches because they have always been a member of it and all their friends are there. By doing so they are supporting apostasy.

2. Biblically the second essential according to Revelation 7 and 13 is a one-world government. The U.N., the United States of Europe, and New Age aficionados are all encouraging such. Europe has approved a common currency that will rival the American dollar. They are now talking about a Euro-judicial system as a prelude to an authoritative world court.

Many of the recent millennial themes related to “One World.” All of this hints of the coming cultural environment in which the anti-Christ can easily persuade the public to let him become the global leader.

This is how we are currently seeing the principle work that will eventuate in a one world government. Marietta has good fiscal policies, but Cobb County doesn’t. [This is only hypothetical.] Therefore, we need a county law. Cobb County has good money regulations but some counties do not, therefore we need a state law. Georgia has good economic policies but some states don’t so we need a national law regulating it. America has a good form of currency but not all nations do. Hence, we need an international law controlling it. Bit by bit national sovereignly is to be eroded in favor of a one world government.

In I Thessalonians there are three thrilling themes:

– There is the faith-engendering story of the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

– There is the courage-infusing of Christ’s presence and power with us.

– There is the fear-dispelling good news Christ will come back a victorious Lord of history.

On this occasion I want us to study the RAPTURE.

Subsequently I want us to study the TRIBULATION.

The first of these is spoken of in I Thess. 4 and the second in I Thess. 5. Let’s consider the RAPTURE.

I. A STARTLING REVELATION Vss. 13 – 16
Paul had been with this church previously and apparently taught about Christ’s coming again. Since having been away, he learned of two confusing concepts that had gained support in the confused congregation.

In anticipation of Christ’s coming, some had quit work and were just sitting around idly waiting for His return. Ironically, there are still some Christians who excuse their laziness by saying Christ is coming at any moment so why work.

A second bit of confusion revolved around those Christians who had died before Christ’s return. What about them?

In verse 13 Paul said he didn’t want the people to be ignorant concerning these things. Therefore, he wrote to address the issues.

A. A reality = Vs. 13 “…those who have fallen asleep.”

When the figure of sleep is used for death, it never refers to the soul but to the body. It is used to picture the peacefulness of death for a believer. How different this is from our modern concept of death. We are taught that we work through several stages from denial to acceptance. The Biblical view is to accept death as a natural part of living. For the believer, the experience goes far beyond mere acceptance. It means “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (II Cor. 5:8). This is the Biblical view of death and dying.

B. A return = Vs. 16: “For the Lord Himself shall descend…”

The verb form of the word translated “shout” is KELEUO and it means “to order,” “to summons,” or “to command.”

The Bible is quite clear that no one knows the time of Christ’s return. Christ Himself did give us signs of the time in which He will return. Note them and see if you think our era qualifies as the time for His inevitable return.

They are found in His address recorded in Matthew 24:
Verse 4: “Be not deceived…” This is a day of great deception. The proliferation of the occult and the rampant growth of the New Age philosophy have combined to deceive many.
Verse 5: There will be counterfeit Christ’s.
Verse 6: There will be wars and rumors of wars. In the last 100 years there have been over 225 major wars. Presently there are over 15 raging today.
Verse 7: Famine will be rampant. More than 10,000 persons starve to death each day.
Verses 9, 10: Martyrdom will increase. Nearly 1,000,000 Christians have been martyred in Africa.
Verse 11: False prophets will proliferate.
Verse 12: A loss of love. America experiences nearly one million divorces a year. There are 1.4 million abortions annually.

C. A resurrection = Vs. 16: “the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Being asleep implies future awakening. As awakening from sleep is to be expected, so the coming resurrection of the body is to be expected.

II. A SUDDEN RAPTURE Vs. 17a “we…shall be caught up.”

Various theories prevail regarding when the rapture will occur. Some say mid-tribulation others say after. I believe the Bible teaches it will occur before the tribulation: “… to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (I Thess 1:10).

“God has not appointed us to wrath” (I Thess. 5:9).

The question is sometimes asked, “Why are the dead caught up first?” It is because they have six feet further to travel.

The expression “caught up” has several Biblical usages that can be applied here.

• “To rescue from danger” (Acts 23:10). This meaning implies, as we are taught in I Thess. 1:10 and 5:9, that we will be rescued before the great tribulation.”

• To claim for one’s own self.

• To move to a new place. Jesus has said He has gone to prepare a place for us. When He comes He will take us to this new place.

III. A SWEET REUNION Vs. 17b: “to meet the Lord in the air.”

Death for the believer is a revival of sacred friendships.

IV. A SUPERB REASSURANCE Vs. 18: “Comfort one another…”

Cheer and encourage one another with these facts.

Death is no novel thing for “It is appointed for men to die once” (Heb. 9:27). Death isn’t an accident, it is an appointment.

Death for the believer is merely a summons into the Lord’s presence. Flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom.

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (Ps. 116:15).

In an ancient graveyard near Windsor Castle this inscription can be found on a gravestone:
Pause, my friend, as you walk by;
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, so you will be.
Prepare, my friend, to follow me!

A visitor who read that epitaph is reported to have said:
To follow you is not my intent,
Until I know which way you went!

You owe it to your Lord and your friends to leave no doubt about which way you are going. Prepare now for the inevitable. Give them the comfort of knowing where you are going. Leave your friends with hope.

Emile Brunner, Swiss theologian, not one of my favorites, nevertheless, said, “What oxygen is for the lungs, such is hope for the meaning of life.”

Our current false gods have left us without hope. No longer is there an attitude that everything is going to work out OK. In this pessimistic society we have reason to share reason for authentic hope. Authentic hope must have an ultimately reliable source. Only a personal, intimate relationship with Christ affords this dependable hope.

Some ask why those who have died and been in heaven will be bodily resurrected from the grave. It is because every great historical spiritual period of history has been ushered in by a major cataclysmic event. For example, the resurrection of Christ ushered in the new age known as “the church age.” The return of Christ and the resurrection of the dead will be an introduction to another period known as “the great tribulation.”

The fact that His coming could be at any moment, and those who have not received Him will be left behind to endure the tribulation, is a primary reason to get ready NOW.

Christ spoke of calling out of this world those who belong to Him. Revelation 20 clearly teaches the tribulation will follow this.

Comfort yourself and your loved ones with the knowledge you are ready for His return or your death. Then, with that hope, you can really get on with truly living to the fullest.

Legitimately the question is asked, “How can one get ready for the rapture?”

We get ready for the last day by living for the King in His Kingdom today. Those with such a lifestyle are ready for Him today, tomorrow, or in the distant future. They live in a state of readiness.

Sir William Osler, the great pioneer Christian doctor, once said, “If we throw all of our energy, intelligence, and enthusiasm into doing superb work today, there will be nothing to fear tomorrow.”

During the uncivil Civil War Atlanta fell to General Sherman’s army, July 1864.

General John B. Hood, commander of the Confederate army in the area marched westward to attack the communications of General Sherman with Chattanooga. By doing so he hoped to draw Sherman’s army out of Georgia. One of his principle attacks was Allatoona Pass, commanded by the courageous General Corse. Sherman himself went back with part of his army as far as Kennesaw Mountain. From the summit he signaled to the beleaguered garrison: “Hold the fort! I am coming!”

Our beloved Christ has given us this hope:

“I will come again and receive you unto myself.”

Freedom of Religion

Protestants from Europe streamed ashore in North America seeking freedom. England had a state church which restricted their freedom of religion. They sailed across treacherous seas and fought the formidable English army in search of such freedom. Overcoming such hazards, they sought to have amendments added to the new Constitution.

To do so James Madison and Baptist minister John Leland opposed each other in the race for a Congressional office. Leland was running ahead of Madison when the two met in Richmond at the corner of what is now Madison and Leland Avenues. Leland offered to withdraw and support Madison if he would assure him he would work to add amendments to the Constitution guaranteeing certain freedoms. Madison’s support for freedom of religion greatly influenced Leland and he agreed to withdraw and support Madison.  Madison, Leland, and Thomas Jefferson formed an alliance known as the “Virginia Experience,” based on their shared passionate belief in religious freedom. With the support of Leland and Jefferson, Madison was elected. Madison saw to it that the following First Amendment was proposed and approved. It reads:

“Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievance.”  

Settlers felt these new rights worth the risk of their lives. Not all were devout Christians, but Christian dogma was strong among them and influenced their system of law and the laws themselves. Unfortunately these principals have paled in our current culture.

Given our nation’s history, including the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act that passed the Senate unanimously, some may be surprised to learn that the US does not rank highly on global measures of religious freedom. According to the latest Pew Research Center data, there are 117 countries that place fewer restrictions on religion than the US.

There is even international concern regarding religious freedom. “Religious freedom” is defined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion…”

Recently Supreme Court Jurist Samuel Alito, in addressing the Federalist Society, opined regarding the “…assessment of individual rights. This is especially evident with respect to religious liberty. It pains me to say this, but in certain quarters, religious liberty is fast becoming a disfavored right.” He continued, “For many today, religious liberty is not a cherished freedom … it can’t be tolerated, even when there is no evidence that anybody has been harmed.”

Supreme Court Jurist Neil Gorsuch recently observed, “We are also deeply concerned with preserving the promise of the free exercise of religion enshrined in our Constitution,” he wrote, “That guarantee lies at the heart of our pluralistic society.”

The Biden administration is being asked to divest Christian colleges, schools, churches, and Christian organizations of lawful rights if they discriminate.

The right of members of the LBGTQ must under law be valued, (and I do). However, that gives no right to abridge the long held meaning of the First Amendment.

Our predecessors paid a price to gain for us our First Amendment rights. What price are  you willing to pay to maintain it? Get well informed on what is meant by “bigotry” and “discrimination,” and how to defend yourself against such charges that are sure to come.

Remember,  “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion….”