From the Pulpit, 6-17-17

Sparks From The Gospel Anvil – Isaiah 6:1-8

“I would rather walk through a mile of burning brimstone every night than live over again those midnight hours when I fought against the ‘Call of God’”, said Doctor Bruce, one of the great preachers in Scotland. When we speak of the Call of God we mean that God appoints and qualifies a person for some special work and service and puts it into his or her heart to do it. It is true that God does call. Ancient history confirms that, as long as ago as 2,000 years before the Lord Jesus Christ was born, that Abram believed that his journey from Ur of the Chaldees into Syria and Canaan was at the Call of God, and that he was to found a nation whose history should unfold the dealings of God with humankind. “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house unto a land that I will show thee,” said God to Abram. Another population movement which secular history passed by as a natural migration, the people concerned remembered as a work of God. They taught their children that God said to Moses, “Come now, therefore, and I will send thee to Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people, the children of Israel out of Egypt.” Jesus Christ entrusted the organization of His Church and the spreading abroad of His faith to a small company of men and women who were called by Him to this work. It meant a hard life; and for some of them a terrible death. Yet the grace of God proved sufficient for their every need. Apart from Judas, who betrayed Jesus, everyone remained true to His call right to the very end of their lives.

To believe today in the Call of God and to leave all and follow Jesus Christ is not foolish. Whatever a person’s position may be, when becoming a “fisher of men”, they are exalted. Andrew, Simon, James and John were raised from a lower to a higher “fishing”. The Call of God is personal and brings individual responsibility. It demands an entire separation from every connection that stands between you and God’s will. One of the characters in a book written by H.G. Wells prays, “Break me, O God: disgrace me, torment me, destroy me as you will, but save me from self-complacency and little interests and little successes and the life that passes like the shadow of a dream!” Oh, the number of people who have no aim in life, no goal, no urge to do something! Have you an appetite for vital action? Have you a commanding ideal to live for? The Call of God will give you these! God demand obedience. With obedience comes a spark of Divine Fire: this Fire becomes your driving force! It will help you to accomplish something for God.

Perhaps you realize that you belong to God, and that He has a work for you to do. But where? May I suggest an open door? Have you ever thought of The Salvation Army, with its vast opportunities, in many countries? Think of its variety of work: a part of this vast and great work is waiting for you. Give it a very serious thought and a season of prayer, while the “breeze of Divine Breath stirs your heart.”

(Lieutenant Charles Smith is commanding officer of the Salvation Army of El Dorado).

Miracle of Resurrection—A New Heaven, A New Earth

The Apostle John writes, as instructed by the angel of Christ, from the island of Patmos in Rev 21.5: “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’” About 70 years earlier, before the crucifixion, Jesus comforted his disciples one night when he said there were many mansions in heaven and he was going to finish preparing them to make ready a new place for them to go (John 14). Jesus did not give much more detail about heaven until the final revelation to John in about 100 AD. Here, John views a new heaven and a new earth. The spectacular description of what John saw is contained in the last two chapters (21-22) of the Book of Revelation.

We all live, since Adam, in a world filled with death, pain, crying and mourning. Heartache is known by all and no one is exempt. This is a part of the order for man since the first transgression of God’s command by the First Couple. John assures us that a new order is coming for everyone chosen to inherit eternal life. In the next life, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Imagine, no more tears, no more heartache—-about anything! Looks like a definite step up from today’s world and hard to imagine why anyone would not desire this place.

John continues; man’s thirst will be quenched by the spring of water of life and without cost. The spring of water will also produce the tree of life that will bear 12 crops of fruit every month and without cost. This fruit no doubt will be for the enjoyment of heaven’s inhabitants. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of all nations so that no longer will there be any conflict, war, or curse. Many pray for peace today yet the more we pray the more conflict, war and curse seemingly comes upon the earth. God hears the prayers of his righteous saints without question but the enemy who prowls as a lion is seeking to devour more than ever—and therein lies the problem. Until Satan himself and until death itself is defeated finally and eternally for all, the war between good and evil will remain.

The Holy City seen by John is the New Jerusalem (containing the Mansions) where the inhabitants will live eternally. The Holy City is brilliant like a precious jewel! The 12 gates are 12 single pearls, the walls are of jasper, the 12 foundations are 12 precious stones, the great street is pure gold. There is no sun or moon for the glory of God is the light and the Lamb is its lamp. “Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev 21.27). In the final and eternal resting place (the new heaven and new earth) amazing joy and peace in glorious splendor exists forever because of the Miracle of Resurrection!

(Scott Johnson is pastor at East Faulkner Church of Christ and author of the BRG Bible).

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