“Just Because” (Hebrews 7:22-28)

 

Seven Words to Remember  
Arthur Brooks, a social scientist and author, wrote a book titled From Strength to Strength, inspired by Psalm 84:7.  It’s about finding happiness and deep purpose in the second half of life. In the introduction, Brooks says something honest. Our professional decline is coming much sooner than we think. And when that happens, it’s time to reorder our lives. Then he gives us seven words to remember:

Use things.

Love people.

Worship the divine.

 In the beginning, God made Adam in his image. God prepared everything for him, days one through five, just like loving parents prepare a home for a newborn baby. God provided everything Adam needed. Then God placed him in the garden to be a steward, to use things wisely and take care of them. Then, God made Eve, a helper and companion, so they could love each other. And God gave one command: Do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It was about boundary. It was about obedience. Adam and God were not equal. This was Creator and creation. We were made to worship, honor, love and revere God.
 
But one day, Adam and Eve were tempted. They wanted to be like God. So they ate from the tree. And in that moment, sin entered. Life became disordered:

Use God.

Love things.

Worship people.

They began to use God to make themselves important. They began to love and cling to things – land, gold, money. And then heroes and warriors rose up. And people began to worship them. Life became a mess.
 
But God
But God did not abandon his people. He kept reaching out in mercy. He sent prophets. He raised judges. He appointed kings. Still, people didn’t listen. They turned to their own selfish, sinful way.
 
So God, in his grace, gave them a way to deal with sin. In the Old Testament, God established the sacrificial system. When people sinned, they would bring an animal – a lamb, a goat, or a bull – something blameless, something costly. They would place their hands on the head of the animal. It was a confession. A transfer. “My sin… placed on this innocent life.” Then the animal was sacrificed. Blood was shed. It was serious. Because sin is serious. Sin brings death. Every sacrifice was a reminder: “Sin has a cost.” And this happened again and again and again. Day after day. Year after year. The system worked, not because the animal had power, but because God made a promise. God, in His mercy, counted their sins as forgiven.
 
But this was only a shadow. It pointed to something greater. Even the priests who offered sacrifices were not perfect. They were sinners too. Before they could pray for others, they had to offer sacrifices for themselves. Once a year, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place. It was holy. It was dangerous. Bells were sewn onto his robe so that his movement could be heard as he ministered before the Lord. Everything about this system was saying: “We need a better covenant.” “We need a better priest.”
 
True and Better
Through the prophets, God gave a promise. A better covenant. A new covenant: 

“The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah… I will put my Instructions within them and engrave them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Jeremiah 31:31, 33, CEB)

“I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT)

Not just forgiveness on the outside, but transformation from the inside out. When the time had full come, God sent his Son Jesus Christ, our true and better High Priest. Unlike the priests who died and had to be replaced. Jesus lives forever. And because he lives forever, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him. And here is the good news: Jesus did not bring an animal sacrifice. He gave himself. He is both the priest and the sacrifice. On the cross, there was no lamb brought by human hands. He is the Lamb of God. Our sins were not just symbolically transferred. Jesus truly carried all our sins upon himself and took them away. Once. For all. “It is finished.”
 
So how does God give us a new heart? How does God put a new spirit within us? Through the blood of Christ. When we look to Jesus crucified and believe in him, we are forgiven, we are cleansed, and we are made new. A new heart. A new spirit. A new life.
 
Just Because
Let me share a true story. There is a man named Lee Strobel, the author of The Case for Christ. He was a journalist. He believed in science and facts. He was skeptical and resistant to faith. His heart was hard. But God did not give up on him. Again and again, God kept reaching out. God protected his daughter in a life-threatening moment. God began to heal his broken relationship with his father. God showed his utmost patience and steadfast love through his wife. Still, Lee resisted. He doubted. He even tried to disprove Christianity. But the more he investigated, the more he found evidence. God’s love kept coming, like waves upon waves. At one point, Lee asked a question: “If Jesus is the Son of God Almighty, why did he have to die?” The answer was simple: Love. In the end, Lee could not resist anymore. He surrendered. “God, you win.” And in that moment, his heart changed. A new heart. A new spirit.
 
Sometimes Joyce or my children would ask me, “Do you love me?” “Yes,” I say. Then, they would ask, “Why?” “I love you because I love you.” I learned that from the Bible. As we read Deuteronomy 7:7-8: “The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples… But it was because the Lord loved you…” It sounds almost circular. But this is true love. Unconditional love. God does not love us because we earned it. Not because we were good enough. No. Just because he loves.
 
Look to Jesus
So now, how do we live? The message of Hebrews is simple and strong: Look to Jesus. As Tim Keller once said, “The gospel is not just the ABC of the Christian life; it is the A to Z.” We never move beyond Jesus. We keep coming back to him. Are you suffering? Look to Jesus. Are you feeling stuck, not growing? Look to Jesus. Are you drifting, backsliding, trying to find your way home? Look to Jesus. Are you running the race, but feeling weary and tired? Look to Jesus. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. When we look to Jesus, he reorders our lives. He recalibrates our hearts. So we can live again as we were created: Use things. Love people. Worship God.
 
Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is the good news of Jesus Christ: Because Jesus is our true and better High Priest, we can come to God fully forgiven and made new. So today and every day, let us look to Jesus and live. Amen. 

“But As for You” (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

 

*My Grandfather’s Journal: With Powerful Testimonies and Over 500 Bible Verses He Memorized

Vanity Fair: The World We Live In
In Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian and Faithful must pass through a town called Vanity Fair. Satan set up a permanent fair along the pilgrim’s path. There, people sell houses, honors, titles, pleasures, gold – everything the heart desires. As the two pilgrims walk through, the crowd is stirred. Their clothing is different. Their way is different. People begin to mock them. One merchant asks, “What will you buy?” And they answer, “We buy the truth.” The answer only angers the crowd more. They are abused, arrested, and brought to trial. Faithful speaks boldly, and in the end, he dies a martyr.
 
In 2 Timothy 3, Paul describes what the last days will look like. People will be selfish and love money. Proud. Ungrateful. Unholy. Without love. They will love pleasure instead of loving God. They will look like they are religious but deny God’s power.” (vv. 1-5, CEB) Do you see these signs today? Friends, we are living in such a time. So the question is: How should we live? How do we stand firm and remain faithful?  
 
Follow Christ Through Godly Examples
Paul gives us two clear ways. Follow Christ through godly examples, and follow Christ through the Scriptures. He says, “But as for you…” (verses 10 and 14). The world may go one way – but you go another way.
 
First, follow Christ through the examples of God’s people. God always provides help in times of need. Paul says, “Follow my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance.” He reminds Timothy of the persecutions he endured, especially in Lystra, Timothy’s hometown. Paul is not saying, “Look at me.” He is saying, “Look at the Lord who sustained me.” Timothy saw it. Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. But the Lord raised him up. So Paul is saying, “Take heart. Trials will come. Anyone who wants to live for Christ will face hardship. But God will be with you. God will help you.”
 
This is how God works. He sends helpers. Timothy saw Paul and followed Christ. In the same way, after Christian escaped Vanity Fair, a man named Hopeful followed him. Hopeful said, “I heard your message. I saw Faithful’s life. I was moved.” And he became a pilgrim too.
 
When we face trials, look for God-sent helpers. Follow their example. And by God’s grace, become a helper to others. In my own life, God has always provided such people: pastors, teachers, friends, church family. One of the greatest examples was my grandfather. He was often sent to difficult churches – places full of conflict. At one church, people tried to drive him out. They spread rumors. They tried to trap him with hard questions. They even threatened his family. But he endured with patience. He kept preaching, teaching, visiting, and praying with love. Over time, hearts changed. People repented. The church became united and grew. This is true ministry: to help someone come to Christ through your heart.
 
Follow Christ Through the Scriptures  
Second, follow Christ through the Bible. In verse 14 Paul says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned.” What had Timothy learned? The Holy Scripture. Paul declares, “All Scripture is God-breathed.” That means every part of the Bible points to salvation through faith in Christ.
 
On the road to Emmaus, two disciples didn’t recognize Jesus. They didn’t understand why Jesus had to die on the cross. So Jesus said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” The he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the Scriptures, starting with the Moses and all the Prophets. (Luke 24:25-27) Then later, he said, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.”
 
The Law of Moses points to Christ: the repeated sacrifices prepare us for the one perfect sacrifice, once for all, in Jesus. The Historical Books point to Christ: Prophets, priests, and kings all fall short, and point ahead to the true Prophet, the perfect Priest, the eternal King. The Psalms point to Christ. They are not only our prayers, but Jesus’ prayers, revealing his heart, his suffering, and his glory. The Wisdom Books show the limits of human understanding and lead us to Christ, the true wisdom of God. And the stories of God’s people in the Bible point beyond themselves. Think of Job. His innocent suffering and restoration point to Christ, who suffered for us and was raised in glory. 
 
The Bible reveals God’s great plan of salvation. God created us in His image, but we fell into sin and judgment. Yet God did not abandon us. He loved us and sent help – prophets, priests, kings – to guide His people. And in the fullness of time, He sent His Son. Jesus came, died for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended in glory, and sent the Holy Spirit. Now, by faith in Him, we are rescued from guilt, from bondage, and from death. This is not something we could discover on our own. It is God’s revelation. And at the center of it all stands Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, our salvation and our glory.
 
But As for You
So, “But as for you…” We must choose. Will we stand under the authority of the Bible, or place ourselves above it? In the 1940s two evangelists were close friends: Charles Templeton and Billy Graham. At that time, Templeton was more widely known. Many believed he would change the world with the gospel. But he later left the Christian faith and became an atheist. Near the end of his life, he wrote Farewell to God, where he described a crucial conversation with Billy Graham. Templeton said he could not accept the Bible’s teaching, including the account of creation, and he raised many difficult questions. This deeply troubled Billy Graham. He faced a real struggle over the authority of the Bible. One night, he went into the woods with his Bible and prayed. There, he made a decision: he would trust the Bible as the word of God and proclaim it as true. From that point on, whenever he preached, he would say, “The Bible says.” And God used him in a powerful way – to break idols in people’s hearts and lead many to Christ.
 
As John Calvin said, our hearts are idol factories. We are always tempted to remake God in our own image. Our idols may be shaped by our experiences, our fears, our arguments, our ignorance. Augustine struggled with this too. His mind was blinded. He was not able to see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. But one day, in the garden he heard children chanting, “Pick up and read. Pick up and read.” And he opened the Bible and read Romans 13:13-14. He felt like his heart was flooded with light. Later, he wrote: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” My prayer is this: May we pick up and read the Bible. Every day. As we read, may Christ read us. Shape us. Lead us. And give us rest in him. Amen. 

“Are We There Yet?” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

Into the Unknown

“Are we there yet?” We often hear this question from our children when we travel to new places. They are bored, or anxious, or simply curious. But it’s not only our children. We ask the same question as we travel through life – into the unknown. “Are we there yet?”

We carry many “what if” questions. What if we are totally alone on the day of death, with no loved ones around us? What if we lose our physical and mental abilities and feel useless? What if our finances run out? What if dementia robs us of all our memories? What if the dying process will be long and painful? As we travel into this unknown territory, we can become anxious and worried. So how can we finish our life, not with fear or bitterness, but with joy, dignity, and hope in Christ?

The Thessalonian Christians had similar questions. They believed Christ’s return was imminent. Some even gave up their jobs and daily responsibilities, simply waiting. But in the meantime, some of their loved ones began to die. So they became anxious. They wondered: What will happen to them? Will they be left behind? Excluded? At a disadvantage? Today’s scripture is Paul’s answer to these questions.



A Fundamental Creed

Paul’s goal is not to remove sorrow from our lives, but to help us grieve with a living hope. In this world, we experience many kinds of “loss.” We lose health. We lose memories. We lose status. We lose relationships. We lose loved ones. And eventually, we lose our own life. So we grieve. But Paul tells us the gospel of Jesus Christ gives us hope and confidence in the midst of loss.

He says to the Thessalonian Christians and to us, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again…” (4:14a) Then he continues that because Jesus died and rose again, we have four sure future promises, four “R’s”: the Return, the Resurrection, the Rapture, and the Reunion.

First, the return. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. This is the heart of the gospel. In verse 16 Paul says, “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with the signal of a shout by the head angel and a blast on God’s trumpet.” (CEB) This is what we believe and this is what we preach. Jesus Christ is coming soon.

Secondly, the resurrection. Not only is Jesus coming back, but also he will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in him. “We believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (4:14b) When Christ returns, “those who are dead in Christ will rise first.” (4:16b) Here Paul calls death “sleep.” Why? Because death is only temporary. The word “cemetery” originates from the Greek word koimeterion, meaning “sleeping place.” A cemetery is, in a sense, a dormitory of the dead. Just as we wake from sleep, those who die in Christ will rise again when Christ returns.

Thirdly, the rapture. The word “rapture” is from the a Latin word rapere, meaning “to seize” or “to catch up.” “Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds.” (4:17a) There is a sense of suddenness here. In a moment, in the blink of an eye, those who are alive in Christ will be snatched up together with those who have died in Christ.

Lastly, the reunion. The living, the dead and the Lord will be together. As Scripture says, “We will all (both the dead and the living in Christ) be always with the Lord.” (4:17b) What a promise. What a hope. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once expressed this truth this way. When we look at other Christians, we should remember that we will be eternally united with them in Jesus Christ.[1] A great family reunion is coming. We all know loss. Loss is part of every human life. We grieve. We miss. We weep. But God, by his grace, has given us the Church – Christian community. The Church is a foretaste of that great reunion. When we gather, when we pray, when we sing, when we share life together, we are already tasting eternal fellowship. We foretaste and anticipate Christ’s return, the resurrection of the body, the glorious rapture, and great reunion. And so, Paul says, “Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (4:18)


The Resurrection at Cookham

When you feel down or overwhelmed by loss – of loved ones, of health, or of security – imagine the Day of the Lord through God’s promises. For me, the artist Stanley Spencer’s painting helps me “look up and lift up.” Spencer lived in a small English village called Cookham. He attended a small Methodist church with a cemetery beside it. He passed through it numerous times, perhaps several times a week. One day, he had a sudden awakening experience. He saw, in his imagination, the great resurrection happening right there. He wrote: “Quite suddenly I became aware that everything was full of special meaning, and this made everything holy. The instinct of Moses to take his shoes off when he saw the burning bush was very similar to my feelings. I saw many burning bushes in Cookham. I observed the sacred quality in the most unexpected quarters.”[2]

In his painting, The Resurrection at Cookham, we see not only the Son Jesus and the Father at the center, but also his loved ones – his family and friends, and Spencer himself. When we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (“He died and rose”) and its promises (4 R’s: return, resurrection, rapture, and reunion), our local churchyard becomes a holy ground. The place where we stand becomes, in a sense, a new Garden of Eden.



Living Hope

This week, while meditating and preparing the message, I was deeply encouraged by a poem by Missy Buchanan. It is a prayer poem called, “What purpose, God?”

I confess there are days when pain suffocates my passion for living. There are dark nights when fear chokes out hope. Sometimes I wonder why you have left me on this earth. I have outlived so many family and friends.

Why do I linger? What purpose could you have for me now? Look at my hands. Once strong and sure, they are unsteady and frail. My mind, once quick and incisive, now falters under the weight of names and faces.

What real purpose do I serve knitting away the hours, surfing the channels, dozing through the afternoon? Then your Spirit stirs my heart and convicts my soul. You are not a wasteful God!

The length of my earthly days is a mystery to me, but one thing I know for sure. You have created me with an eternal purpose. How can I be more like Christ today? Whose life can I touch with kindness?

Lord, give me an extra measure of grace when I feel that I’m too old to be useful. Help me take my limitations in stride as I search for opportunities to serve you. My purpose has not withered away with another birthday. It is rooted in eternity.[3]

Pastor John Piper was once asked how he remains joyful as he grows older. He said, in essence, “I am 80 now. The older I get, the more I rejoice. Because I have more memories of what Christ has done for me, and because I am getting closer to the Day.” At night, he and his wife often say this Scripture together: “Christ died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

So are we there yet? Not yet, but we are getting closer every day. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again – with the dead in him. And we will live together with him forever. So every morning, and every night, let us stand on these promises. And let us encourage one another with these words. Amen.

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[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (Augsburg Fortress, 2015) 7.
[2] Terry Glaspey, 75 Master Pieces Every Christian Should Know (Grand Rapids: Michigan, 2015), 214-15.
[3] Missy Buchanan, Living with Purpose in a Wornout Body, 7.

“Resurrection” (John 20:19-23)

 

*Holman Hunt's The Light of the World

Evidence for the Resurrection
Today we celebrate Easter. The resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord is the very core of our Christian belief. If we read the Book of Acts carefully, the heart of the Good News is the simple proclamation: “Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!” But we may ask: What is the evidence for the resurrection? And even more personally: Why does the resurrection matter to us today?
 
There are several lines of convincing evidence. But perhaps the most powerful and undeniable evidence is this: the transformation of the disciples. The four gospels tell us how each disciple encountered the risen Christ at different times and how their lives were completely changed. Mary Magdalene. Peter and John. Thomas. The two disciples pm the road to Emmaus. And today’s passage is one of those stories. In today’s scripture Jesus speaks three words to his disciples. And these three words answer our question: “Why does resurrection matter?”
 
Peace
First, the resurrection matters because it gives us peace – peace with God, and the peace of God. When Jesus appeared to his disciples, the very first words were: “Peace be with you!” (v. 19b) At that time, the disciples were not gathered for worship. They were hiding. The doors were locked. They were afraid. And suddenly, Jesus stood among them and said, “Peace to you!”
 
Our world needs peace. We need peace today. But the peace Jesus gives is not the same as comfort. We feel comfortable when things are going well. Comfort depends on circumstances. But peace, true peace, is different. It is internal. It is steady. It is unshakable. Jesus said in John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” Before the resurrection, the disciples could not live in that peace. They were troubled. Afraid. Discouraged. But after the resurrection, everything changed. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, his peace became real in their lives, and it can become real in ours.
 
How could someone say, “It is well with my soul,” after losing everything in the Great Chicago Fire, and even losing his four daughters at sea? How could a father say, “I give thanks,” after his two sons were martyred? Only by the peace of Christ. The Bible says, “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) The resurrection makes this peace possible.
 
Purpose
Second, the resurrection matters because it gives us purpose. Jesus said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (v. 21). The risen Christ gives us “direction,” “meaning,” – a reason to live. In John 21, we find the disciples discouraged and lost. They went back to their old life, fishing. All night, they caught nothing. But the risen Christ was already there, waiting for them. He called to them, “Cast your net on the right side.”
And suddenly, their nets were full. It reminded them of the very beginning, when Jesus first called them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.” From fishermen… to fishers of people.
 
E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist missionary, described his conversion when he was 17 years old. At a revival meeting, he knelt to pray. And he experienced something he never forgot. He felt like light pierced his darkness. He wrote:

1. A sense of forgiveness and reconciliation—with God, with others, with myself.
   
2. A sense of being at home.
   
3. A sense of purpose and direction.
   
4. A sense of not being alone.
   
5. A sense of being fully alive as a person.
   
6. A sense of wholeness.
   
7. And a deep sense of grace

Friends, this is not only his story. This is our story. When we encounter the risen Christ, we discover our God-given purpose.
 
Power
Third, the resurrection matters because it gives us power – the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (v. 22b). In the Gospels, the disciples were fearful and weak. But in the Book of Acts, they are bold and courageous. What made the difference? The Holy Spirit. Think of Peter. He once said, “Even if all fall away, I will not.” He meant it. But he had no power. So when the moment came, he denied Jesus three times. But later, we see a different Peter, standing before thousands, preaching boldly, risking his life for Christ. What changed? The Holy Spirit.
 
William Temple explained it this way: “It is no use asking me to write a play like Shakespeare. I cannot. But if the spirit of Shakespeare lived in me, then I could. In the same way, we cannot live like Jesus on our own. But if the Spirit of Jesus lives in us, then we can.” Jesus promised: “The Spirit… abides with you, and will be in you.” (John 14:17)
 
Decision Time
So, the resurrection is real. We see it in the transformed lives of the disciples. And we still see it today. And the resurrection matters because it gives us three gifts: Peace. Purpose. Power.
 
In Revelation 3:20 the risen Christ says to us, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with them, and they with me.” There is a famous painting, The Light of the World, by Holman Hunt inspired by this verse. Notice that Jesus is standing at the door. He is knocking, not forcing. Calling, not shouting. The house is his. He designed it. He made it. He bought it with his own blood. But he is standing, knocking, speaking from outside. Notice that there is no handle on the outside. The handle is on the inside. Christ knocks; but we must open.
 
A young soldier knelt down by his camp bed one night in the barracks. He prayed a very simple prayer: “Jesus, have mercy on me. I am a sinner. I confess my sins. I turn away from my sins and turn to you. Come into my heart. Be my Lord and Savior. And I will humbly serve you all my life. Amen.” Actually, this was my own prayer about 26 years ago. And I can tell you that since that day, though it has been a journey and I am still a work in progress, I have found peace, purpose, and power through the risen Christ living in me!
 
So before we leave today, let us ask ourselves: Am I truly a Christian? Do I have this peace? Do I know my purpose? Do I have the power of the Holy Spirit? And one final question: On which side of the door is Jesus? Is he outside—knocking? Or inside—living with you? Now is the time. Now is the day of salvation. Let us open the door and say: “Come in. Come in, Lord Jesus. Come in today. Come in to stay. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus.” Amen.