Jym Shorts - April 2, 2020
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. - Revelation 22:17
I get my news each day in a couple short snippets by going to the internet to read the headlines. I generally don't tarry there long. Just enough to know what is happening in our world. Turns out we are in the midst of a global pandemic. Not quite of "biblical proportions," but certainly the stuff of Hollywood.
As I read the headlines I am finding that about 90% of them deal with COVID-19 and its effects on people, on economies, and on politics. You not only cannot get away from it, you really have to try hard to find news concerning just about anything else. Six weeks ago there were ten or so top stories vying for our attention. Today they have all faded into the murky distance, like a ball dropped into the sea, slowly disappearing the deeper it sinks. We are all obsessed with this pandemic, and for good reason. People are sick and dying, and our economy is moving toward a potential collapse. We have all awakened to a new reality.
With all this bad news, I thought I would share with you some good news. Here it is - Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. He came to save us from our sin. He lived among us sharing the gospel, healing the sick, and doing every good work. He dwelt with us for some thirty odd years. He died on a cross for our justification and was raised from the dead for our sanctification. He passed on his ministry to his disciples, who passed on the gospel message of new life in Christ to their contemporaries, who in turn passed it on, over two millennia, to us. Hope is found in Jesus, as are forgiveness, peace, and joy. Even better, eternal life is promised to those who believe in him.
And now for the best news: Jesus is coming back to sum up all things and to raise anew all flesh of the whole human race, as the Athanasian Creed confesses and the Scriptures confirm. All things will be made new. He will wipe away every tear, and sin and death and Satan will be vanquished - not to lie dormant for a time waiting for the opportunity to reassert themselves, like the endings of all the best fantasy novels, but forevermore. Suffering ends, death dies, hope rises.
Now, most of you know this good news. I hope it lifted your spirits to read it again. Some of you do not. My prayer is that you will consider the reality of this news. It sounds too good to be true. Believe me, it is not. It is what we were made for. As long as you have breath in your lungs it is not too late to choose Christ and respond to this gospel (good news).
Consider your brothers and sisters who have trodden this path before you, living through both the good and the bad that this life has to offer, just like you. Join your voices with theirs as we all say: "Maranatha - Come quickly Lord!"
Consider your brothers and sisters who have trodden this path before you, living through both the good and the bad that this life has to offer, just like you. Join your voices with theirs as we all say: "Maranatha - Come quickly Lord!"
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jym