They Will Know You by Your Love

             Last night, I had the amazing privilege of attending a worship night hosted by Chris Tomlin at the Key Arena in Seattle. As I was waiting outside for Jabin and Nathanael, three Westboro Baptist-esque guys were loudly declaring hellfire and damnation on us for attending a night devoted to worshipping the false prophet/idol called Chris Tomlin. I waited for fifteen minutes, trying not to engage because I knew it would not do any good, but I had had enough when a homeless man walked up and engaged with them. Yelling quite loudly, he (the homeless man) said, “Thank you! Thank you so much for being here! I love it when you guys show up! Thank you for preaching truth!” I wasn't sure if he was being genuine or sarcastic but as he started to walk away, he turned around and snapped, “Thank you for loving me, you d*** mother******!” What followed does not bear repeating, I don't think that I sinned in my rebuke of this young man that claimed to be a preacher of God's Word. Suffice it to say that I told him to “repent or burn.”... Okay, no, I told him that Jesus loved him and that Jesus didn't love all the people that he (the young man) was condemning any less because he (the young man) said they were going to hell. Keep in mind that these are Christians pouring into the Key Arena for a worship conference. But, apparently, in the young hellfire's words, “Chris Tomlin has devil horns coming out of his head” and we were worshipping him. I told this young m— you know, let's call him a big boy because that seems to be more honest... but I digress. I told him that he needed to stop worshipping the false idol of wanting people to live up to his standards instead of Christ's. Why am I writing any of this? You may ask. Well, here I get to my point. There have been many times in my life as a Christian where I have been wrongfully critical of others, especially my non-Christian friends. I have expected you to reflect the light of Christ when you do not claim Him as your Lord and Savior. Your Light. Here, I would like to apologize, for I have sinned against you by doing this and it is wrong of me. Would you please forgive me? I have held you to a standard that I have not been able to hold up under myself. To my Christian friends as well, please forgive me for those times where I have been over-bearing in my attempts to come along side you and sharpen you. Intentions aside, I fear that I may have done more to blunt and weaken you than to make you more keen and strong. I am wrong for doing that and I have sinned against you. Sure, i'll never be perfect, but I will still try to love Jesus like He loved me. I will also do my best to love you all as He loves me. To my non-Christian friends, I would be remiss if I did not extend an invitation to you. Jesus loves you. He loves you very much. He wants you to come as you are and let Him work with you. To my Christian friends, I will leave you with this: Don't use God as a means to an end. I don't know who said this, but the words are profound nonetheless... “If you're a Christian mainly because you want to be changed... That's a problem. If you've given your life to God because you're tired of yourself and want to be a different person— well let me suggest that you are merely using God to fix you. That's not faith. That's not love of God. That's love of self.”

Don't come to Christ only for what He will do for you. Give your all to Him.

Until next time, 

Simeon

He is Risen

                  It had been a difficult two days. Judas had betrayed Him, Peter had denied Him, and the rest of the disciples had forsaken Him. Now, Jesus lay in the tomb, dead, murdered for the sins of the world. The Pharisees posted guards outside the tomb because they didn’t want the disciples to come and steal His body… or so they said. Why would a group of cowards, who had deserted their leader when persecution struck, come and steal the body of that leader? It would seem that they were really afraid that Jesus was who He said He was and that somehow, these guards could stop Him from coming back to life. The earth was overcome with grief at the death of its Creator. Birds ceased to echo their chorus of praise, the sky was overcast as a reflection of its mood, and the rivers seemed to flow slowly. Three women anxiously waited for Sunday morning when they could finally go and give Jesus a proper burial with perfume and ointment. Peter felt no end to his shame and grief at denying his Lord; and, having no one to turn to, was driven back to his former life. Satan was torn with worry as his demons rejoiced because he knew that he hadn’t yet won. No, if Jesus was still dead on following morning, then (and only then) could he celebrate.
                   Finally, after what had seemed like an eternity of agony, Sunday morning came. It was not quite dawn as the women made their way to the tomb, walking as quickly as possible. A nervous smile crept across Satan’s face until it became a sinister grin… but he smiled too soon. The birds had begun to sing again and the clouds were scattered, as if some great hand had thrown them across the morning sky. The sun raced a little faster to break the horizon’s plane and the earth began to feel alive again. A light shot across the heavens and plummeted towards the tomb. The ground realized the full extent of what was taking place and, finding no voice with which to shout in ecstasy, shook and thundered with all its might. The rivers began to rush as a mighty torrent, racing to tell the ocean the magnificent news. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled. Satan bellowed in agony as creation roared in happiness. For the Creator is no longer dead. He. Is. Alive. 

Take heart, oh sinner, there is hope for tomorrow. Jesus reigns and He has defeated sin, death, and hell. Would you like a couple of songs to encourage you today? Here you go.

Oh, To See the Dawn

Forever

Thank you for reading,
Till next time,
Simeon