Finished

That’s it for another year. After all the hype that started in late October, the presents are given and received, the big turkey dinner and all the trimmings have been demolished, and the high calorie desserts have been digested (almost). Now, as my old Dad would have said, it’s back to ‘old claes an’ porridge’. It’s a bit of an anti climax when all you have to show for the big day is an expanding waistline.

But the great thing for the people who call themselves Christian, is that it isn’t over. It’s another reminder of the baby who started His earthly journey among us as Immanuel, “God WITH us”, but it wasn’t the end of the story. With the exception of a small family incident when He was only 12 years old, Jesus life is silent until He explodes onto the scene some 18 years later on. It is worth reminding ourselves that Jesus’ ministry lasted a short 3 years, before he was crucified aged 33 in disgrace with common thieves. What a tragic end that started with angels announcing His birth!

When he had received the drink, Jesus said,“It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 NIV

Hold it right there, because just as the baby Jesus in the manger was NOT the start, because Jesus was with the Father ‘in the beginning’, the Cross was not the end. It is worth keeping in mind the words spoken by our Lord as he hung on the cross, taking our sins on His own body, “IT IS FINISHED”. Christian, take note and take heart, it’s not over yet, and we are comforted by the fact that He is STILL IMMANUEL GOD WITH US, and he is coming back for His own. Amen to that!

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11 NIV

So when you wonder if the troubles of this life are all worth it, because the Christmas season of Jesus birth is past, and the events of the crucifixion get you down, look up and remember Jesus words at that dark time when He talked about the plan of salvation: ‘It is finished’. However....it is not ALL over yet, but it will be one day, and in the words of the old song: ‘It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus’. Yes, there is more to our lives than the trials we have here. The Apostle John sums up our eternal future in these amazing words, so take heart fellow pilgrims:

I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighbourhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate.” Revelation 21:3-5 The Message

In Between Days

Yesterday was the worst day of your life. You are down, bruised, battered, bowed and feeling lost. Everything you had worked for over the past years has disappeared almost in a puff of smoke, or a vapour in the breeze. You never thought you would see today, but it dawned, as usual, and as you rubbed your eyes and remembered the recent past, you recoil at the thought of facing the day. You certainly can’t look your friends or family in the eyes again, and equally, you cannot pretend yesterday didn’t happen. How many of them will ever see you in the same light again? This is a day for hiding away, and like an ostrich putting your head down in the sand and hoping it all goes away.

This is Saturday. We know that Sunday follows Saturday, but we have no idea what that new day will hold. We have enough trouble coping with this day, how could another day, just another 24 hours away, be any different? We have no clue that this day is an ‘In Between Day’, and in truth we all get them. In fact we get too many of them, and they come too close together for our own liking.

Tomorrow, Sunday, is a whole new day. A fresh hope for the future. Suddenly the events of Friday will pale into insignificance, as you see what has started to happen on this new dawn. Your worst day becomes your best day. You are not down, but up, and your bruises are healing faster than would be humanly possible. It occurs to you that it’s not just this day that will be different, but every day after this one. Your days ahead are brighter, as you begin to understand what has been done on your behalf, and you didn’t have to do anything to benefit from it. Everything changes from resurrection Sunday.

Meantime, we are in between. It is Saturday. We know all too well what has happened in our past, but we still have to face the future, and Sunday hasn’t happened, well not quite yet. The disciples didn’t know what would take place on the Sunday, but we do. We have the benefit of God’s Word to tell us, so if you feel down and defeated, try to remember that the pain of your past has already been taken care of. When it is Saturday for you, hang on in there, and wait patiently for Sunday. It will come as sure as the Resurrection followed the disciples defeated Saturday, and horrific Friday! Have a Happy and Blessed Resurrection Sunday!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all(?) my readers! There are some things which might just take you to church during the year, things like, Christenings, Weddings, Funerals, Christmas and Easter. There are a lot who will go to worship as often as they can, but these are among the top 'attending' list.

The first three of these are ours, and the last two are God's. They belong to Him, and we are allowed to celebrate with heaven for them! Christenings and Christmas are very similar in that they both talk about new life, and new birth. These are occasions we enjoy and look forward to, for ourselves and for others too. Similarly, Funerals and Easter are alike, in that they both talk about death to us, although in the case of Christ, He didn't stay dead for long. He is Risen! Easter can be a reminder of the mortality of the human being, but also a great reminder that we will not stay dead for long either! This can be thought of as a dreaded fear, or a fearless stepping stone to a higher place, our Heaven.

But that leaves the Wedding out. Or does it? We will celebrate the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday, the fundamental difference between Christianity and all other religions. The barrier of death has been broken... for US now! That takes the scary part out of the thought of dying, because we will live on again. That takes me neatly to the Wedding again. Easter is a reminder for me that I will meet and see again, some people who were very important in my life, and have now received their reward. It's going to be like a big, happy Wedding all over again, with celebrations the likes of which we have not imagined. Can you think of any greater happiness or pleasure than being able to see those special people again? They are not missing, just in a different place. As one inscription puts it, '..Waiting in God's big garden'. 

Easter should be celebrated on two levels. The church level as we remember Christ's resurrection, but also on a human level, the resurrection of our loved ones, the Wedding banquet they are having, and one which we will join! Humanly, none of us are in a rush to get the invitation to this particular Wedding, but isn't it good to know that your name is on the invite card, even if it isn't soon? Maybe it would be a good thing to practice celebrating now, while we are still here!