Loss and Gain

 

Thursday, May 26, 2022

So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”  He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.  And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him.  As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.  “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven?  Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”  Acts 1:6-11

Just when the disciples were beginning to sense some kind of peace about having lost their leader, their Lord, Jesus, and then getting him back, he disappears again.  The pain and horror of the cross isn’t repeated, thankfully.  But, once again, they are left to wonder what to do next. 

As they stood, staring “bug-eyed” into the heavens, straining for one more look at their loved master, mentor, and Messiah, angels suddenly stood next to them.  And the angels brought words of comfort and assurance.  They said:  What you’ve seen here, the same way you’ve watched him go…that’s the same way he’ll be coming back.  Stop your staring; it’s not over!

The promise of a “better day coming” is comforting, yet it can strain our faith in difficult times.  And sometimes the test of faith itself is almost unbearable.  This week’s tragic, unspeakable event in Uvalde, Texas, where at least 19 children and two adults were murdered by gunfire at their school, is one of those times. 

I live nearly 1,400 miles from Robb Elementary School, and have never met anyone who lives in that small town.  Yet, the sense of loss I feel is overwhelming.  And the sense of shame is palpable (for me), that this happens so often in our country, where we unashamedly proclaim dedication to liberty and civilized treatement for all people. 

“Mass shootings” are commonly defined by four or more victims at one location, or closely related locations.[1]  May 24^th is the 144^th day of the year, and this country has seen 212 episodes of those “four or more victims” this year.  That’s an average of one rampage every 16 ½ hours…or at least one heart stopped every 4 hours and 8 minutes.  You can keep the statistical records, but how can you possibly measure the loss in terms of pain, both physical for the victims, and the emotional suffering for the surviving families that will never fully end?

May 24^th in Methodist circles, celebrates the day when founder, John Wesley recorded in his diary how his heart was strangely warmed, the sudden, wonderful awareness of God’s love, and transforming power to bring eternal life.  Yet, on the record in Uvalde, Texas, May 24^th will bear the names of 21 beating hearts senselessly made cold and still.

For You Today

As the disciples were told by the angels to anticipate the next advent of their Lord, we must continue to have our hearts beat for the families who can barely breathe today…to do what we can to help them gain a sense of hope in their terrible losses.  I can think of no better way to offer that hope than voices raised to end the violence of guns, or any other weapons.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road with Jesus; have a blessed day!  

[1] Images:  Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] What is a Mass Shooting; What Can be Done?  Richard Berk, University of Pennsylvania, Dept of Criminology

A New Name

 

Friday, January 29, 2021
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.  To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven.  And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.”  Revelation 2:17

There are a lot of opinions as to what the new name means.  Whether it is symbolic or literal, it carries deep meaning.  It may be a literal, lingual name, a name which sounds different.  Abram became Abraham.  Saul became the beloved apostle Paul. 

However, I believe that it is more.  I believe the “white stone” is that certain something Jesus places deep down inside us when we are saved.  In ancient times friends sometimes gave each other gifts of small white marble, cut to fit a hand, engraved with words of kindness.  It was something to stimulate the memory of kindness associated with a meaningful relationship.  This is the kind of quiet understanding God’s salvation brings, an assurance, knowing that Jesus is Lord, and you are His.  It is the newness of relationship that you cannot really explain, touch, smell, or know apart from a personal relationship with Jesus.  It is based on more than victorious actions; it is based on every good possibility God already knows about you.  John Wesley described it as his heart being strangely warmed.  

In the days when John wrote Revelation, if a child fell ill and the situation worsened to the point of fearing for life and the doctors could not help, the father would stand over his child and give him a new name.  It wouldn't be just any name, but one of a great and valiant warrior.  It would be the name of a respected and strong individual, one whose name carried authority.  The child would become a new person in that name, and the disease must capitulate.  This is overcoming, allowing Jesus to take complete control of your life at the cross, with His blood, with His love, with His power.  The disease of sin no longer has control.  When you surrender to that power daily, there is nothing the world can do; you are an overcomer in Christ. 

For You Today

If you are a child of God in any true sense of the word, it is because you have been stood-over and a white stone of a new name has been placed within your being.  The blood of Christ, spilled at Calvary’s cross, has been applied to your life. 

And you have accepted that new name, and you bear it gladly. 

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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[1] Title Image: Courtesy of Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©

For another post on Revelation 2 see Getting to the Heart of the Matter