Shame

Revelation: 20:11-15

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020%3A11-15&version=NIV;NLT

  



Think of the most shameful thing you have ever done. Now imagine that you are in a courtroom filled with your family, friends from church and neighbors. Across from you is the District Attorney who is ready to explain to everyone why you deserve the maximum sentence.

 

Before the sentencing, the judge reads the charges against you for everyone to hear; your shameful act that cannot be reversed. He asks if you have anything to say for yourself.  Through tears of shame and regret, you make your remorseful plea. The DA sneers and responds with a venomous, angry attack, casting doubt on your integrity and your value as a person.

 

The judge pronounces your sentence and then you, along with all the other convicted reprobates, proceed out the door of the courtroom in a chain gang, each shackled to one another. Your head hangs low. You’re unable to look at anyone in the courtroom. You know that you deserve this punishment.

 

¹¹ And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. ¹² I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books.  NLT

 

In the New Living Translation, the title of this passage is “The Final Judgement”. If you or I are judged solely on our actions as described here, our fate is sealed. The “great white throne” would not be an image of hope, but of shame, judgement and condemnation.

 

Thankfully, Paul tells us in Romans, that is not the case; that we have hope through Jesus Christ.

 

²⁴ O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord… [NKJV] ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus... [NIV]

 

Jesus suffered the shameful death on the cross of a common criminal so that we wouldn’t have to; so that we wouldn’t be required to face a courtroom of shame and judgement. Thanks be to God.

 

 

The Perfect Biscuit

Revelation 22:1-6

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022%3A1-6&version=NIV;AMP

  

My daughter Tara had a pet labradoodle that was like a big kid; a VERY big kid. Kendal was hyperactive and had very little discipline to resist jumping on you and licking you when you walked in the door. Despite this, Tara was able to teach her a good trick.

 

When Kendal would sit still for a minute, Tara would put a doggie biscuit on her nose and tell her to wait. Kendal would sit there wistfully looking between Tara and the biscuit on her nose. Finally, when Tara would give the command, Kendal would inhale the biscuit.

 

This is a perfect example of delayed gratification. We all practice delayed gratification every time we resist buying another pair of shoes or the perfect golf club. Or limit what we eat instead of eating without limit.

 

As followers of Christ, we practice delayed gratification when we resist the temptation to act out on our sinful thoughts in hope that one day we will enjoy the presence of God in Heaven. John paints a picture of Heaven as Eden restored; a paradise without blemish.

 

Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb [Christ], ² in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³ There will no longer exist anything that is cursed [because sin and illness and death are gone]; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve and worship Him [with great awe and joy and loving devotion]…         AMP

 

The Amplified Bible titles these verses, “The Perfect Life”. This is what waits for those who follow Christ. Everything will return to how God intended it to be in the beginning; to live in His presence, in a constant perfect relationship.

 

Like Kendal, if we are patient and disciplined and willing to practice delayed gratification, we will enjoy the “perfect biscuit” that is waiting for us.

 

 

BOGO

2 Corinthians 9:10-15

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%209%3A10-15&version=NIV;NLT

 Everybody loves a bargain! Maybe you’ve made a statement like one of these before.

    “My sister’s husband’s brother’s neighbor got me a great deal on my (fill in the blank).”

           “I bought these chairs dirt cheap at the auction house.”

 

My personal favorite bargain is a BOGO one, better known as Buy One, Get One. I’ve used that to buy Heath candy bars and mouthwash. It’s especially appreciated when eating out at a restaurant and you pay full price for your meal, but your spouse gets theirs for FREE!

 

Yes indeed, everybody loves a bargain! Even Paul said that the Corinthian believers were getting a BOGO deal.

 

¹² So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.          NLT

 

In this chapter, Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to make a generous donation to help the poor in Jerusalem. The verse above tells us that there would be two good results from the collection: people’s needs would be met and God would be thanked.

 

Paul was applying the principle of generosity to the offering. In reality, this principle can be applied to any offering of Time, Talent or Treasure. All three of these are a BOGO ministry.

 

After all, isn’t one of God’s characteristics generosity? He gives abundantly to us to provide for our needs so that we might provide for the needs of others. It doesn’t matter if it’s through the offering of our time, talent or treasure.

 

So go ahead and enjoy a bargain and give generously – BOGO.

 

 

 

 

The Super Bowl to End All Super Bowls

Hebrews 9:24-28

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%209%3A24-28&version=NIV;NLT

  

Imagine a world where there was a Super Bowl to end all Super Bowls.

Where Tom Brady and the Patriots would never need to snap another ball; run another down; score another last minute touchdown. Where players wouldn’t need to prove themselves year in and year out.

They wouldn’t need to make any more sacrifices of blood, sweat and tears because the “once for all time” Super Bowl had been played.

 

With the Old Covenant, the High Priest would go into the Holy of Holies once a year with the blood of goats and calves to sacrifice for the sins of the people. This sacrifice would make them ceremonially clean on the outside, but not the inside. Only God could accomplish that. Only God could offer the “Super Bowl” of sacrifices.

 

¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!       Hebrews 9 NIV

 

The world loves a system like the Old Covenant. In fact, the world is built on a system like that where you earn what you get; where you climb your way to the top; where you accumulate stuff as a sign of success. It appeals to our pride; our desire to control; our sense of being able to do it ourselves. In fact, this is a system where you can earn your salvation.

 

But God’s system is the exact opposite. It is based on what only He can do. Only He can provide for our salvation; only He can make it possible for us to be cleansed on the inside; only He can make the ultimate sacrifice.

 

^26b …But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.    NLT

 

Jesus’ sacrifice is all that is needed. It is the Super Bowl to end all Super Bowls. Jesus didn’t go into a manmade sanctuary, but into heaven itself; into the very presence of the Living God so that we might do the same one day.

 

Imagine that, once for all time, being at home with the Lord.