Short devotion: Death Working Backwards - Acts 2:24

Acts 2:24         But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

In the beautiful days when my two daughters were children, I used to read to them at night time from different books. Their favorites were the Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis. From an early age, they learned of the wonderful tales about the Pevensey children and the giant lion Aslan. They fell in love with the faun Mr. Tumnus and marveled at the courage of Mr.  & Mrs. Beaver. The stories captivated their hearts and spurred on their imagination. Even today, as Masters Graduates and professional adults, they still love those stories and talk about them from time to time. I hope that one day they get the opportunity to share those stories with their own children.

In the book, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,’ the great heroic lion Aslan is slain by the forces of evil. The children in the book are distraught when this occurs, and all of their hopes are dashed to pieces. It appears as though the White Queen is going to overcome the whole land of Narnia and keep it in winter forever, when a new dawn breaks and Aslan is brought back to life. CS Lewis later explains this as ‘death working backwards,’ when the lion’s heroic and courageous sacrifice overcomes death itself. It’s a remarkable moment in the book. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the absolute wonder and delight on the faces of my own daughters when I read this part of the story to them for the very first time.

When Peter preaches to the gathered crowd on the streets of Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, he tells them that Christ, who was crucified by the very same people, had risen from the agony of death by God, and that death itself could not hold on to Christ. Death was working backwards and Jesus was made alive again through the infinite power of God. It was an amazing moment in the history of all Creation and one which has captivated the hearts, minds, and souls of billions of people on Earth for almost two thousand years.

We all face a time of death in each of our lives. We cannot stop the clock from moving forward, nor can we hold back the years. However, with our faith in Jesus, we can experience the split-second after we die the wonderful blessing of death working backwards and being raised into the glorious, never-ending Kingdom of our Creator God. It is a delightful mystery to ponder and, at the same time, a magnificent gift to gratefully await.

Questions for personal reflection

What will death mean to me? Am I ready to place all of my faith in Christ’s ability to resurrect me into God’s Kingdom?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the Holy One of God who has been raised from death. You have conquered sin, evil, and death by Your perfect sacrifice. We are honored by Your work and blessed eternally through Your Grace. Thank You, Lord, for bringing this wonderful heavenly gift to our earthly lives. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or ask a question, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com

Today’s image is one of John’s Narnian drawings. It’s called “Enter Lucy,” and shows the lamp-post where young Lucy and Mr. Tumnus meet for the first time in Narnia. If you would like to see a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8204650448_f00fceaffa_b.jpg

Gospel devotions: Loving Our Loved Ones - 2 Thessalonians 2

2 Thessalonians 2:10b They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 

I have a burden in my heart for much of my family and some of my friends. The burden involves their salvation. I know that I am far from perfect and a sinner of sinners, but sometimes my fear for those I love dearly is expressed in this question: do they love the truth about Jesus, or will they perish because they don’t know Him at all?

A lot of people have what I term ‘a Sunday school notion’ about Christ. They remember His parables and miracles. They recall His birth, life, and death but they never really get to know the Living Christ in their heart, minds, and lives. I hate to think about where they will end up after death, but if they don’t do something with the knowledge that they have of Christ, they will not end up in heaven.

Some people may be thinking, ‘Hey John, that’s very judgmental of you,’ but it isn’t: it’s actually being consistent with what the Scriptures teach us. Those who seem to imagine that as long as they intend to do something about it, but don’t get round to actually believing in Christ, think that God will exempt them from His Final Judgment. That kind of thinking leads to nowhere – except to the gates of hell.

Now I don’t need to be contentious – I’ve had enough theological tussling in my days – but I do mean to be blunt and candid: are their loved ones in your life, just as there are in my own, who know of Jesus and yet they’ve never given their hearts or lives to Him? Then what are we going to do about it?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we have many loved ones in our lives, both kith and kin, who have not yet committed their lives to You. Grant us words and ways that will convince them to personally discover who You really are, so that they will one day experience the everlasting joys of salvation. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, or ask a question about it, please send him an email to him at pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Please also feel free to forward this message to any of your friends and family. Today’s image is an old abstract drawing of John’s called “Crossing Over,” which depicts the journey of the soul passing through the Cross of Christ to Everlasting Life. If you would like to view a larger version of this picture, please click on the following link:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/208654420_3eab83b2de_o.jpg

Daily Devotion - Family Gathering - Acts 7

Acts 7:16         Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

The wee stillborn baby that I baptized last week was buried in his family’s cemetery. Generations of his relatives have been laid to rest in that hallowed place. It was very touching to see his wee white coffin being given its sacred place in such beautiful surroundings. His precious life within his young mother’s womb was both valued and honored by the whole family. At some future point, a little white cross or a stone angel will probably mark where he is resting.

Graves are witnessing sites to previous generations. I know of many families who reunite once a year at family graveyards to honor the past lives of their loved ones. I think that this is a wonderful thing to do, because it keeps the continuity of past, present, and future generations linked together.

When the bodies of Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers were taken back to Shechem, they were identifying themselves as true descendants of Abraham. They were also laying a perpetual claim to the land and fulfilling God’s promises. This is why Moses and the Hebrew children headed back there four hundred years later. This is also why the Jews laid claim to the land and re-inhabited it in 1948. Israel exists as a nation today simply because God’s promises are always fulfilled. Abraham’s foresight in purchasing the land thousands of years ago validates the existence of the Israeli nation today, not just according to the scriptures, but also through Middle East inheritance customs.

In years to come, when Old Mortality catches me, I’ll either be buried or cremated depending upon what my family decides. It would be nice to be laid to rest somewhere that future generations could gather together and say that this is where the Stuarts in America began. However, for me the real reunion and final family gathering that will mean so much more will be that glorious day when Christ gathers His followers to Himself and we become part of that great Christian family of faith, hope, and love in His Kingdom forever. Now that’s a family gathering  I am really looking forward to!

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacred resting places of our people and loved ones. Thank You for the family reunions that take place each year at churches and graveyards all over the world. And we praise You for that coming glorious day when we will be gathered together in the Heavenly realms to be with You and all our loved ones forever. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing of an old Dutch Windmill in winter. If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/4705518404_6b5427a32f_b.jpg