March Madness

Revelation 22:1-5

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2022%3A1-5&version=NIV;NLT

  

March Madness is the name given to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. It’s called that because crazy things can happen during the tournament. On any given night, a Cinderella team from the Ivy League could beat the top rated team in the tournament. Anything can happen.

 

Being an alum of Michigan State University, I’m a VERY big fan! In fact, the finished portion of our basement is dedicated to the Spartans. Last Sunday

we advanced to the Final Four. Did you catch that… we? As if I played in the tournament. But that’s how it is for any avid fan. If your team won, then “we” won. You’re involved in the victory.

 

John wrote about what it would mean for Eden to be restored; for the River of Life to flow through it; for the Tree of Life to bring life, and not death.

 

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³ No longer will there be any curse. NIV

 

Just like death came as the result of the sin of one person, Adam, so life came as the result of one person, Jesus. His life of love, obedience and sacrifice to the point of death, paid the price for our sins. Through his act of redemption, we are redeemed. Through his victory, we are victorious. Jesus played “the game”, but we are the beneficiaries.

 

March Madness is a great time of the year. Of course, for me it helps if Michigan State is still in the tournament. And when “they” win, “we” win. The victory is ours. And when Jesus won over sin and death, we won over sin and death. His victory is ours. That’s way better than an NCAA championship.

 

 

 

Here's another message on the same passage.

 

 

TRANSFORMATION

Revelation 22:1-5

 

³ No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. ⁵ And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.           NLT

 

These verses present an image of light and life, not darkness and death. They paint a picture of God’s servants living in His presence constantly and for eternity. What would that be like?

 

Moses was in God’s presence at the burning bush, and came away a changed man. Jesus spent time in his Heavenly Father’s presence on the Mount of Transfiguration and was transformed physically. If you or I spend time in God’s presence, we will be transformed. We will be a new man; a new woman. Changed from the inside out.

 

I experienced this many years ago when I went on a personal 24 hour retreat. When I returned to the office, one of my co-workers commented that something was different about me. Being in the presence of God will do that.

 

Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.         NLT

 

Although Revelation is an image of the future, the goal for you and me, as believers and followers of Christ, is to live in His presence in the grind of daily living. This is not just a goal for us to attempt to achieve, like climbing the corporate ladder. This impacts every aspect of how we live.

 

God is always at work in your life. He is always present. Jesus is always standing at the door knocking and waiting for you to invite him in to your life at home, at work and in your leisure time. Let us open the door for him to enter. If you do, you will be transformed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Top Twenty-Five

Galatians 5:13-26

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+5%3A13-26&version=NIV;NLT

 

College football is upon us! We’re approaching the fifth week of the season and, as far as I know, no coaches have been fired yet. Every week the AP Poll and Amway Coaches

Poll comes out ranking the top twenty-five teams. For a coach whose team is ranked, they can feel secure in their job. For a coach whose team isn’t ranked, they might want to step it up.

 

In the world of athletics, success is based on victory. Iconic coach, Vince Lombardi, is quoted as saying, “Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.” But winning all the time is a struggle because, not only is your opponent trying to beat you, but also you have to overcome adversity during the course of the game; and your own self-doubts and weaknesses.

 

Our life is like that too. Sometimes the circumstances of life can be very difficult; or you might face a struggle within yourselves. Sometimes we even face a competitor that wants to bring us down. There’s a constant battle going on. Paul wrote about this struggle to the Galatians.

 

¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.       NLT

 

As a believer, what we have going for us is that our sinful nature has been crucified on the cross, and although we still struggle, and may not win every battle, the war has already been won. So we have been called to live by the Spirit.

 

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.   NLT

 

A college football coach can easily measure his success by wins and losses and by where his team ranks in the weekly polls. What about you? How do you measure your success as a believer?

 

Even though you struggle; even though you aren’t always victorious; your name will appear in the top 25 as undefeated. You are undefeated because the victory has already been won by Christ.

 

 

 

Victory is Ours

Philippians 3:10-14

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%203%3A10-14&version=NIV;NLT

 

Tom Brady is the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. Last Sunday, the Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars making them eligible to play in the Super Bowl. It’s not so amazing that the Patriots won, but how they won.

 

At the ripe old football age of 40, and with an injured right hand (his throwing hand), Brady lead his team to victory by overcoming a double digit deficit with less than three minutes left in the game. No matter what adversity he faced, he kept his focus, and his team’s focus, on attaining their goal.

 

Paul had the same mindset for himself and for the Philippians.

 

¹⁰ I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead… ¹³ I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.      NLT

 

In football, the temptation is to lose sight of the goal; to think about the injured hand, the penalty, the fumble, the double digit deficit or the teammate out with a concussion. The reverse is also true. When you get a lead, there’s a temptation to ease up on the gas pedal; to think you’ve got the game in the bag; to coast.

 

Life is the same way. There is a temptation to either obsess on the problem to the point of being overwhelmed. Or to focus on how good things are and coast. Either way, you lose sight of the goal.

 

Paul was a fighter. Here’s what he wrote to Timothy, his son in the faith.

 

⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.    2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV

 

How do you respond to problems and blessings? Are you a fighter? Do you keep your eyes on the goal? Victory is ours, if we only take hold of it.