The Face of God

Revelation 21:22-22:7, 20-21

 

 

In 1991, I met Greg Lashutka when he was running for mayor of Columbus for the first time. We were passing each other in a church hallway. Being a good politician, he stuck his hand out to shake. Afterwards, I was so nervous that I couldn’t think of anything else to say other than, “Boy you’ve got big hands”.

 

Being in the presence of someone who is famous, successful and powerful can sometimes be intimidating. And in Lashutka’s case, he had something else going for him. He played tight end for Woody Hayes at Ohio State, and later in the NFL. Needless to say, he was a big man… with big hands!

 

In Exodus 33:20 God spoke to Moses saying, "You cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." After being in God’s presence Isaiah wrote, "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." When Simon Peter fell at Jesus’ feet, Luke wrote, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

 

What is it about the face and presence of God that is so difficult, if not impossible, for us as humans to encounter?

 

In today’s passage John is describing Heaven. In it, he makes this amazing statement: “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads”. Despite how people have always reacted in the presence of God, in Heaven we will see His face. We will be in His very presence.

 

I am reminded of the song “I can Only Imagine” by Mercy Me.

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side
I can only imagine what my eyes will see
When your face is before me

Surrounded by your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you Jesus,
Or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence,
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Halelluja,
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine.

 

In Heaven we will see the face of God and rejoice; not hide in shame. In Heaven we will

be in His presence; not in a temple. In Heaven, the River of Life will wash over us; not sin and guilt. In Heaven, no longer will there be a curse; but only joy in the presence of God.

 

John wrote these words in Revelation 21:  ^“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people,

and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

 

Thanks be to God! Amen.

 

 

 

Who is Jalen Watts-Jackson?

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

 

If you Google “Jalen Watts-Jackson”, you will find pages upon pages of links. In case you don’t know, he is the Michigan State player who scored the improbable winning touchdown on a blocked punt with ten seconds left in the game against their in-state rival Michigan.

 

Immediately following the game there was a firestorm of social and traditional media activity showing the play. Since then, it has appeared on social media, You Tube, ABC’s Good Morning America, Fox News, local news and too many others to list. Word of this play, and Jalen Watts-Jackson, spread like wildfire.

 

In today’s passage, Paul wrote to the Thessalonians asking them: “Finally, dear brothers, as I come to the end of this letter, I ask you to pray for us. Pray first that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and triumph wherever it goes, winning converts

everywhere as it did when it came to you.”

 

At the time, things were moving fast for Paul, so he asks the Thessalonians to pray for the rapid spread of the Gospel. Not just the spread of the Gospel, but the “rapid spread”. The same prayer can be requested for us today.

 

Consider Jalen Watts-Jackson for instance. He was injured during that final play last Saturday. He couldn’t even celebrate he was in so much pain. In fact, he both dislocated and broke his hip requiring season ending surgery the next day. His platform is sports and here is what he posted on Instagram following his surgery:

 

 

 

Your platform may not allow you to spread the Gospel nationally, but there are individuals that know you and will listen to you because of who you are; the kind of person you are; how you handle adversity; how you live your life; how you treat others.

 

The question then becomes, how will you handle your platform? Will you pray for the rapid spread of the Gospel and act when opportunity knocks?

 

 

 

 

The choice is yours.

 

 

 

Laundry and Letters

Deuteronomy 5:32-33, 6:4-9

 

Before I left for college my Mom showed me how to do my laundry. My Dad told me that he expected me to write a letter to them every week. I guess their expectations had been laid out for me: keep my clothes clean and write home often.

 

In today’s passage Moses laid out the Lord’s expectations for the Israelites. Israel had been wondering through the wilderness for forty years in preparation to go into the Promised Land. The time had finally arrived, only Moses would not be the one leading them. Therefore, he was giving them their final instructions; their final marching orders before they crossed the Jordan River.

 

Although these expectations came in the form of commandments, they were based in love, faith and grace. They were intended for the wellbeing of the Israelites. In fact, they were intended to help the people of Israel grow in their faith in the Lord.

 

^“Therefore you shall pay attention and be careful to do just as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left [deviating from My commandments]. You shall walk [that is, live each and every day] in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you will possess.”          5:32-33 AMP

 

^“Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever
you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.”   6:6-8 MSG

 

These same words could be repeated to us each and every day before we go out the door as we face the pressures and stress of work; the temptations of the Internet; a world system that rewards selfish behavior; unresolved anger and resentment; and any other character defects that we may struggle with.

 

On that day when I left for college the first time, I knew that I was expected to keep my clothes clean and write my parents every week. Those expectations had been clearly communicated to me.

 

God has clearly communicated to you and to me through Moses. In fact, with a slightly different application, it’s not all that different than my parent’s expectations. The Lord has told us to keep our “hearts clean and to communicate with Him often”.

 

In other words, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

 

 

 

At Just the Right Time

Romans 5:6-8

 

 

If you Google “at just the right time” these images, amongst others, will appear.

 

The same Google brings up these verses:

 

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.”            Romans 5:6 NIV

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”      Galatians 4:4-5 NIV

“For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.”      

2 Corinthians 6:2 NLT

 

You may have observed something similar in your own life; that is, sometimes things seem to happen “at just the right time”; like there is a plan. The fact is, the Bible is the story of God’s plan of Redemption where things happen “at just the right time”. The corollary to this fact is, that YOU and I are a part of this plan.

 

God has worked in your life and in mine to bring us into faith in Christ. He brought people and experiences into our lives that changed us. In turn, He continues to work by bringing you and me into the lives of others to use us in their life.

 

It might be when you are talking around the water cooler at work, having a cookout

with your neighbors, at a church dinner, sitting at a Buckeyes game or playing in a golf outing through work. We don’t live in a vacuum. God is always at work, and His work is “at just the right time”.

 

In today’s passage, Paul wrote, ^“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

 

“While we were still sinners”… You have the best story ever to share with a dying

world. It’s your story of how God has been at work in your life. He did it “at just the right time”, and now He is ready for you to be there for somebody else.



How does it feel to be a part of God’s plan of redemption?

 

 

 

THE Silver Lining

Matthew 5:1-12

 

 

The 2012 movie, Silver Linings Playbook, is a heartwarming story about two people who find each other in the midst of chaos and pain. Pat, after losing his job and his wife, has been recently released from a mental institution. Tiffany is a young widow who also lost her job. Together, they find their silver lining.

 

An argument can be made that each Beatitude has a silver lining of its own. I like how Eugene Peterson interprets them. Here are the first three. See if you can find their silver lining.

 

³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. ⁴ “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. ⁵ “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.”

 

Even Jesus’ opening ministry statement in Luke 4 has an element of a silver lining. ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to

the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, ¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 

What these verses are saying is that people are more likely to reach out to God when life is painful; when hardships are upon us; when we are dealing with difficulties. Pain, hardships and difficulties can all lead to a silver lining. We’ve all had them in our life.

 

There is a group of women at the Savannah Christian Church who take baked goods to the young women who work at a nearby strip club. Statistics show that most women who work in the adult entertainment industry have been abused as a child.

 

Here’s a group of individuals that are extremely needy. Their hearts have been broken; their lives shattered. What an opportunity to serve. What an opportunity to share the love of Christ.

 

Jesus knew how needy people were. Those are the ones he served. Prostitutes, lepers, demon possessed, tax collectors, the blind and the lame: he touched their lives one at a time.

 

He was their Silver Lining. He has called us to serve and to share THE Silver Lining with those in need.

 

 

 

Will you do it?