The Departure

For to me, to live is Christ and to die gain. If I am to go on living in the  body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.

Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

Philippians 1:21-26

Death held no terrors for Paul.

It simply means "departing."

When used by soldiers, it meant, "to take down your tent and move on."

Paul elaborated on that image in 2 Corinthians 5:1-8:

     Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,

we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven,

not built with human hands. (verse1)

What a beautiful picture of death: The "tent" we live in now will be taken down and the spirit will go home to be with Christ in heaven.

After all, a tent is a temporary dwelling. It is not designed to be permanent, at least not in our culture.

The tabernacle in the Old Testament was a tent that was carried around in the wilderness until the Jews entered the Promised Land. 

It was a very important tent - it housed the altar, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, with the Ark of the Covenant. But it was not meant to be permanent.

Sailors at the time of Paul also used the word for departure:

it meant to loosen a ship and set sail.

Alfred Lord Tennyson expressed this idea in his memorable poem, Crossing the Bar.

Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar, when I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep, too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep, turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell, and after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I embark.

For though from out our bourne of Time and Place the flood

may bear me far

I hope to see my Pilot face to face, when I have crossed the bar.

But departure was also a political term: it described the setting free of a prisoner. 

God's people are in bondage down here on earth, to the limitations of the body and temptations, but at death, we will be set free for ever!  Or earlier, if Christ comes while we are still inhabiting our earthly tents!

Departure was also used by farmers.  It meant "to unyoke the oxen."  The day's work was finished. Free the oxen and feed them, giving them rest.

Paul had taken Christ's yoke, which is a easy yoke to bear (Matthew 11:28-30), but look how many burdens he carried in his ministry.  Look at some of them he tells us about in 2 Corinthians 11:22-12:10.

To depart and be with Christ would mean laying aside all our burdens, because our work is finished, and going to be with Jesus for our eternal rest.

No matter how you look at it, death cannot steal our joy.

Paul was single-minded. He had a Godward Heart. Death could not trouble him - he looked to the hope God had given him.

Warren Wiersbe suggests a simple test to show us what we value most - what gives us the most pleasure and makes life worth living for us.

Take the verse in Philippians 1:21: "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Leave two blanks: For me to live is_______________

and to die is___________.

Fill those blanks in for yourself.

For me to live is....money.....and to die is to ...leave it all behind? Or For me to live is....being famous....and to die is to...be forgotten...?  To live...is power....and to die is to....leave it all behind...?

How do you fill in the blanks?

FDR and D-Day

                                              June 6, 1944 -- D-Day..

Today is the 82nd anniversary of D-Day. 

My mother remembered that day most of her life. What she recalled especially was FDR in a radio broadcast praying for our soldiers that day. She reminded us of that prayer often.

Within  11 months the war in Europe was over. Hitler was dead. FDR was dead. Truman was President and the horrors of the Nazi concentration (death) camps for Jews were being exposed and documented.

And the war in Asia was nearing its end.

Here are some words from FDR's prayer broadcast that day -- 82 years ago today.

He began, "In this poignant hour, I ask you to join me in prayer.

Almighty God, 

Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true, with steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again and we know that by Thy grace and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph..."

(We still refer to these brave men as 'The greatest generation'!)

Today, the 82nd anniversary of that crucial day, is another great day to remember to pray for our nation....

Be Reconciled to God

 

                                                           Be Reconciled to God!

He told us to do it, and He did all the work!

 Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: 'We implore you, on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God'" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Then he said, "For He made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

So that's how God Himself arranged for us to be reconciled to Him! He took the punishment His holiness required, paid our debt  for us - and gave us His favor! All we do is thank Him and praise Him!

Father, You have done it all. You  my took my sin and paid the penalty. You tore open the veil that kept me from You. You allow me to come to You --  I  can approach You ANYTIME!

You will never let go of me! How could I forget that? Forgive me, Father, for forgetting that sometimes. You are standing right here beside me -- eager to be my  Friend and Helper. You will never let go of me. How could I forget that?

Forgive me, Father, for letting distractions cloud my thinking. My greatest joy in life is knowing and loving You. All else is 'trivial pursuit.'

Hold me close today and help me remember how much You love me, my abba Father. 

Amen!

Why Am I Still Here?

"If God has chosen you to live here another day as His ambassador, it is only because you have an assignment to fulfill. You have a Master to please. You have someone to connect with. 

You may not know who it is before your day begins or who it was after your day ends. It may be someone watching you from a distance. You may not have direct connect. Maybe you were left here to intercede for somebody.

Therefore, whatever you do, make certain you fill up with Jesus every morning. You need a fresh word from Him each day to speak to others. Determine to be sensitive, alert, and available to the people God brings into your path.

If you are moping around thinking you have nothing left in the tank and nothing of any value to offer anyone, you are very wrong. When He is finished with you here, He will call you home.

If you are 105 and still here, I would venture to say that your hospice nurse needs to find Jesus!"

        (From Front Porch Moments, by Gayle Rogers Foster)

The Potters and the Gardeners - Charles Spurgeon

                   The Potters and Gardeners - Charles Spurgeon

These were the potters and those who dwelt among plants and hedges, who lived there in the king's service
             (1 Chronicles 4:23).


Potters were among the ranks of manual workers, but the king needed potters and therefore they were elevated to royal service, although the material upon which they worked was nothing but clay.

In the same way we also may be engaged in the most menial part of the Lord's work, but it is a great privilege to do anything for the King; and therefore we will play our part, hoping that, even though we live among the pots, we will soar in the service of our Master.

They may have wanted to live in the city, amid its life, society and refinement, but they kept their assigned places because they were doing the King's work.

There is no ideal place for us to serve God except the place He sets us down.

We are not to run from it on whim or sudden notion, but we should serve the Lord by being in it a blessing to those among whom we live.

These potters and gardeners had royal company, for they lived with the king, and although among hedges and plants, they lived with the king there.

No lawful place or gracious occupation, however menial, can keep us from communion with our Lord.

In hovels, run-down neighborhoods, and jails, we may keep company with the King.

In all works of faith we can count upon Jesus' fellowship.

It is when we are in His work that we can reckon on His smile.

You unknown workers who are serving the Lord amid the dirt and wretchedness of the lowest of the low, be of good cheer, for jewels have often been found among rubbish, earthen pots have been filled with heavenly treasures, and ugly weeds have been transformed into precious flowers.

Dwell with the King and do His work, and when He writes His chronicles, your name shall be recorded.

[The names of these potters and gardeners are recorded for us in 1 Chronicles, chapter 4.  The book was written for the exiles who returned from Babylonian captivity  when King Cyrus gave them the opportunity and means to go back to their homes in Judea. The author wanted them to know they were part of God's special treasure, His Chosen People who would come back to Israel and prepare for the coming Messiah. After all, it was prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem and would be reared in Nazareth and would attend Temple in Jerusalem. They were, each one, a part of God's eternal plan. Just like we are!]