It's All Coming Together

Philippians 3:17-21  (The Message paraphrase)

17-19 Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ’s Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.

20-21 But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ, who will transform our earthy bodies into glorious bodies like his own. He’ll make us beautiful and whole with the same powerful skill by which he is putting everything as it should be, under and around him.

There are a lot of people in the world today who are overly pessimistic.  And while the daily news might make a good case for such pessimism, a better case for optimism can be made from reading the Bible passages such as the one above. Paul knows that a time will come when Christ will return and set everything up in a visible glorified Kingdom of God.  Right now the Kingdom is quite subversive, moving into lives and communities in the world in more subtle ways. But one day God will make all things beautiful, radiating the splendorous love of the Father — that will be the new heaven and new earth.

Certainly now we work for justice, help the poor, love the enemies and do all that Jesus said to do.  That's all part of what citizens of the Kingdom of God do and, I might add, will probably keep doing in some fashion when Christ returns.  Not that there will be injustice or poverty but the essence of love is that it always seeks another to serve in some way.

We work hard here because we know what love the Father has for us and how that love will be consummated on the new earth. Our bodies will be changed (hallelujah) and our minds and spirits will finally 'get it'.  Recall  Paul writes that God, who began his good work in us — the transformation of our lives — will bring it to completion on the day of Christ's coming.

And so this world will run its course, satisfying itself, but the Father, Son and Spirit are moving within this world to finally transform it.  God in Christ is reconciling all things to himself.  Remember that. (Colossians 1:20)

This will be big.  It will be historical.  And it will take many by surprise.  Jesus says, 'watch and pray' lest we will be led into temptation to run with the “belly belchers”.

“Hope” is a major operative word in the Kingdom-of-God-life on this earth.  It is the anchor of our souls.  It tells our spirits that God is going to work this all out for our good and his glory. And so in our sorrow we can be joyful, as Paul was when he lived and suffered in this world, knowing the love and work of the Father. (see 2Corinthians 6)  Kenbe Kouraj.

Yours in Christ,
George

Too Fast

I watch my dog, Lucy, eat her meals.  She wolfs them down, like she might never see another bowlful of Natural Advantage again.  I watch people eat that way too.  I enjoy seeing people who take a bite and actually put their fork down, not worried that someone will steal it.  Slow eating people are probably healthier too.

In my neighborhood of Foxwood Village, people go too fast.  The speed limit is 15 mph but some folks are just in too much of a hurry to pay attention to any limits.  I am thinking of getting a checkered flag and while I walk I can give the speeders the flag.  Gigi says we haven't lived here long enough to make enemies.

But, really.  Let's take it easy, live in the slow lane once in a while.  Stop and smell the flowers.  Take a moment to just daydream.  Jesus said to not get all worked up about the tomorrows.  I would like to suggest that we not get stressed about the next hour of our life.

Gigi sometimes tells me to slow down when driving so we can take in the scenery.  I get annoyed but that's my problem.

So let's slow down and enjoy the good gifts around us. Maybe summertime is a good time to change the pace a bit and enjoy the presence of God.  You don't even need a Bible to do that.  Just be still and know that God is really God, the God of our lives who even Himself took a Sabbath rest.

Gotta go. Have an appointment.  Have to rush off, sorry.  No, only kidding.  I have the whole evening off.

Blessings
George