Thought for Today
Psalm 89:48 Who can live and never see death? Who can escape the power of Sheol?
Psalm 121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
John 14:2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—
Who is looking after your ‘dwelling place’ right now? In the interim while it awaits Jesus’ escorting you to that dwelling place, who is taking care of the upkeep and maintenance?
Hopefully, you are aware that our President has just returned from a visit to China. The television network whose nightly news we watch sent their anchor to cover the event. Last night, a part of the coverage included an interview with 3 Chinese youths. They were either college students or recent graduates. One of the questions they were asked was, “What would you most like to learn about life in America?” I was surprised that one answer was, “I’d like to learn about Christianity.” The youth was open about being an atheist, but was fascinated by the fact that some friends were Christian and believed in God.
The current Chinese is not the only or even the first government to actively discourage religion or a belief in God. Admittedly, the history of China’s relationship with religion and especially Christianity is complex and troubled. Without any research of even deep thought about the whys of any government discouraging religion, I suspect much of the motivation of the current government is the desire for all of their citizens to put their faith and trust in the government. The desire is complete loyalty only to that government.
Most civil governments desire the faith and loyalty of their citizens. The desire of the Roman government for faith and loyalty is one of the traps into which Jesus’ opponents tried to entice Jesus. Read Luke 20:21-25. Jesus did not fall for the trap.
Civil governments frequently institute various levels of protection for their citizens. Protection against enemies foreign and domestic is provided in laws and those who enforce and adjudicate those laws. There are laws to protect life, limb and property. There are laws to protect safety and health in the workplace. In many countries, there are even programs and laws to protect life in retirement. In the U.S.A. we have the Social Security Administration to monitor and distribute our retirement ‘benefits.’ I currently do receive those ‘benefits’ and also continue to contribute to Social Security. I am puzzled why they are referred to as ‘benefits,’ since it is my own money which is being distributed to me; but, that money is an integral part of how I am protected during retirement.
Governments, however, only provide protection for those under the authority of the government. They provide protection while we are ‘in this mortal veil.’ Christians and some others believe that there is something beyond this earthy life. Some believe in heaven, some believe in hell.
Although I have never seen the design specifications for heaven, I believe those words of Jesus about a dwelling place in God’s house. I believe my own dwelling place is ‘a double,’ especially prepared for Greta and me. I believe that at some future (hopefully far distant) time, Jesus will personally escort each of us to that dwelling place.
I also believe Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus. My dwelling place in God’s house is mine as a gift from God, a gift reflecting the grace of God, and is through my faith in Jesus as the Christ.
Given that our Creator God created Creation by merely saying, “Let there be . . .”, I have no idea how long it will take (or took?) God to prepare our ‘double,’ Maybe it’s still under construction. Maybe it will be constructed as Jesus escorts one or both of us to that dwelling place. The details are not really important, merely intriguing.
I am firmly convinced, however, that the significant factor in it all is my faith in Jesus as the Christ. The upkeep and maintenance of our dwelling place, the protection of our dwelling place is provided by and contingent on our having faith. The answer to that opening question, “Who is looking after your ‘dwelling place’ right now?” is that you are looking after your place just as I am looking after mine.
The psalmist understood, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” I place my faith and trust in our Creator God and in his Son, Jesus. And required upkeep, care or maintenance is safely in their hands. I need only believe.
Stay safe, believe, trust God,
Pastor Ray