Heaven Finishes Our Evangelism
If I were to see heavens gates today I would NEVER again have the opportunity to share the gospel to the lost and lead the sinner to Christ. This blessing, the privilege to proclaim the gospel, belongs to this world alone. Should my eyes close in this world and then open the next moment to see the face of the King I shall never again meet with a man, woman, or child that I should tell the glories of the gospel and plead with them to repent and believe in the Savior. Oh that Heavenly urgency and absoluteness would ache in my heart to bring every moment into captivity on this earth and seen as Gospel opportunity.
Seeing Myself in Heaven and Earth
Reading Scriptures should give us and understanding of what we will be like in Heaven. We will no longer be sinful. There we will never be sorrowful. Our hearts will be always bowed in worship to our Glorious King. In my mind I have a picture of what I will be but I also know right now who and what I am. I also behold Christ and see what my aim is as well as I seek to be conformed to him. My goal on this earth is quite simple. I want to be that heavenly man while on this earth.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Bring Them to Jesus!
Mat 9:2-8. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Mat 14:35-36. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
I just want to give two points gleaned from these passages.
1. People brought the disabled to Jesus.
Do a little search on a computer Bible with the words "brought to him" and you will find a multitude of passages about people bring the disabled, sick, and those possessed of unclean spirits (which typically also made them disabled). Time and again when folks heard that Jesus was in the region they came streaming out of their cities in search of him and bringing along their disabled loved ones. These folks evidently had a great love for these disabled loved ones. They knew that the place for the disabled to be was at the feet of Jesus. They expected a miracle. All had heard of the great healing power of Jesus and now that he had come to their town they were eager to see him heal their own loved one. The thrill and the joy that welled up in the hearts of parents of sick, lame, mute, blind, mentally impaired, learning disabled children must have been to the point of causing them to burst wide open. Finally, all their prayers would be answered. Healing had come! The worries for their child's life after they themselves had died would now be set to ease. All the pain they bore as they saw their child struggle through life, the inability to take part in the games other children played together, thought of their children having to be one day be put on the street to beg for alms from passer-byers, would all soon be a memory, a thing of the past. Hope had come! Jesus had come! Oh that only the fringe of his garment might touch them and they would be healed! And they were. Coming in faith, either theirs or that of those that brought them, the disabled and sick were healed.
2. Jesus' first concern for the disabled was for their sin "disability" that kept them from God.
Their physical healing was just that, physical. Jesus, the Great Healer, knew that they needed more than to have the use of their legs, tongues, ears, eyes, and minds. He knew their hearts as well and in knowing that he knew that they, like all men, need forgiveness of sin. This point often can strike a cord with many who would assume that those with mental and/or learning disabilities are sinless or absolved of their sins due to their condition. "God will understand," they say, in belief that for some reason, not supported biblically, that God will overlook the sins of these individuals. They are right in one sense. God does understand. But He does not over look the sins of man based on disabilities. Rather, the Bible tells us that He does overlook man's sin based upon the Atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. You see, it was upon the Cross that Jesus performed the greatest act of healing that could be accomplished. He brought freedom for many from the chains of their sins that so kept them from life with God their Creator. Jesus asked "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? (Mark 8.36)" the same could be said here, "What does it profit a man to be physically healed but then forfeit his soul?" The greatest of need is not for physical healing but for Jesus, the cure for the souls ill or impairment. Yes, I do believe that if God so will he could still heal a man. As the father of two autistic children I believe that if he so willed he could free them from this learning disability, and as a loving father I pray for this daily. However, as a loving father I see that my sons' greatest need is for the forgiveness of their sins. They need that Healing for their souls that can only come from that grace given faith in the Cross of Jesus (please see my other blog entries for writings on salvation and autism). Those who are saved can look forward to a day when all their infirmities will be done away with.
Why this in mind I have to ask why isn't the church filled with disabled people? Do we suffer from a false sense of guild or embarrassment, or shame that we do not expect them to be healed by attending church or coming to faith in Christ. Their need is not for healing but for Christ! Or do we falsely see their need for physical healing over their need for the forgiveness of their sins? Or is it that we think that due to their mental capacity that they are unable to be saved by the power of the Gospel? Or is it that we do not take serious when the Bible says that all men are sinners and in need of salvation through Christ. Would you hold them back from the Gospel truth or the fellowship of the saints because in some way you have become discriminate of the disabled? How dare us for overlooking these folks because they are different or because we don't understand their minds. God does! Leave that to Him. In faith we are to just bring them and let God work!
In a world that is difficult for them where they are often shunned, made to feel that they are outcasts of society, where the abortion of the disabled is encouraged, we, the church should be the place of welcome for them. Did not Jesus take you in? Why do you keep them out?
Mat 14:35-36. And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
I just want to give two points gleaned from these passages.
1. People brought the disabled to Jesus.
Do a little search on a computer Bible with the words "brought to him" and you will find a multitude of passages about people bring the disabled, sick, and those possessed of unclean spirits (which typically also made them disabled). Time and again when folks heard that Jesus was in the region they came streaming out of their cities in search of him and bringing along their disabled loved ones. These folks evidently had a great love for these disabled loved ones. They knew that the place for the disabled to be was at the feet of Jesus. They expected a miracle. All had heard of the great healing power of Jesus and now that he had come to their town they were eager to see him heal their own loved one. The thrill and the joy that welled up in the hearts of parents of sick, lame, mute, blind, mentally impaired, learning disabled children must have been to the point of causing them to burst wide open. Finally, all their prayers would be answered. Healing had come! The worries for their child's life after they themselves had died would now be set to ease. All the pain they bore as they saw their child struggle through life, the inability to take part in the games other children played together, thought of their children having to be one day be put on the street to beg for alms from passer-byers, would all soon be a memory, a thing of the past. Hope had come! Jesus had come! Oh that only the fringe of his garment might touch them and they would be healed! And they were. Coming in faith, either theirs or that of those that brought them, the disabled and sick were healed.
2. Jesus' first concern for the disabled was for their sin "disability" that kept them from God.
Their physical healing was just that, physical. Jesus, the Great Healer, knew that they needed more than to have the use of their legs, tongues, ears, eyes, and minds. He knew their hearts as well and in knowing that he knew that they, like all men, need forgiveness of sin. This point often can strike a cord with many who would assume that those with mental and/or learning disabilities are sinless or absolved of their sins due to their condition. "God will understand," they say, in belief that for some reason, not supported biblically, that God will overlook the sins of these individuals. They are right in one sense. God does understand. But He does not over look the sins of man based on disabilities. Rather, the Bible tells us that He does overlook man's sin based upon the Atoning work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. You see, it was upon the Cross that Jesus performed the greatest act of healing that could be accomplished. He brought freedom for many from the chains of their sins that so kept them from life with God their Creator. Jesus asked "what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? (Mark 8.36)" the same could be said here, "What does it profit a man to be physically healed but then forfeit his soul?" The greatest of need is not for physical healing but for Jesus, the cure for the souls ill or impairment. Yes, I do believe that if God so will he could still heal a man. As the father of two autistic children I believe that if he so willed he could free them from this learning disability, and as a loving father I pray for this daily. However, as a loving father I see that my sons' greatest need is for the forgiveness of their sins. They need that Healing for their souls that can only come from that grace given faith in the Cross of Jesus (please see my other blog entries for writings on salvation and autism). Those who are saved can look forward to a day when all their infirmities will be done away with.
Why this in mind I have to ask why isn't the church filled with disabled people? Do we suffer from a false sense of guild or embarrassment, or shame that we do not expect them to be healed by attending church or coming to faith in Christ. Their need is not for healing but for Christ! Or do we falsely see their need for physical healing over their need for the forgiveness of their sins? Or is it that we think that due to their mental capacity that they are unable to be saved by the power of the Gospel? Or is it that we do not take serious when the Bible says that all men are sinners and in need of salvation through Christ. Would you hold them back from the Gospel truth or the fellowship of the saints because in some way you have become discriminate of the disabled? How dare us for overlooking these folks because they are different or because we don't understand their minds. God does! Leave that to Him. In faith we are to just bring them and let God work!
In a world that is difficult for them where they are often shunned, made to feel that they are outcasts of society, where the abortion of the disabled is encouraged, we, the church should be the place of welcome for them. Did not Jesus take you in? Why do you keep them out?
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