Posts Tagged ‘ church ’

A Kingdom Eternal

April 5, 2010
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My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36

I love to sing the song “The Kingdoms of earth pass away one by one but the Kingdom of heaven remains.” It points to an everlasting truth that God is the only guarantee of permanency in our ever-changing world.

If I go back to where I grew up the changes are enormous. The high school where I went to school is still there but the changes are many. The place where I lived as a child is still there but there are houses now standing where I spent many a hot day picking cotton. The old barn is long gone where I milked the cows in the early morning and late evening.

People that I once knew have grown old and many are no longer on this side of eternity. The cars that I thought were so cool are now in the junk yard or made into classics. They now are reserved for parades and old car museums.

Jesus laid a great burden on all His people when he talked about the kingdom that is not of this earth. He is talking about the way the kingdom begins and grows. It is a matter of what is going on inside our hearts. The seed of the kingdom is the word of God. The soil of the kingdom is the good and honest hearts that will open for the master to come in.

When the word is planted in our hearts and grows we become part of the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Even death is conquered by those who become part of King Jesus’ worldwide and everlasting rule.

The kingdoms of earth pass away one by one but the kingdom of heaven will never end!

A New Year

January 2, 2010
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Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8

Welcome to the New Year.  I had just gotten used to writing 2009 and she is gone.  2010 is like a new page in the book of our life. We begin a new year with the page blank and we begin to write our life for 2010.

God is still in the life changing business. He awaits our decision to make this the best year of our lives.  He is not interested in any outward change and resolution that won’t last past the first temptation that comes our way.  He is interested in changing us into the image of Jesus.

Producing “fruit in keeping with repentance”, means that changes in our approach to the New Year are inward. The Pharisees and Sadducees came to John for baptism because they thought it was a popular thing to do.  John would have none of it.

“What do you think you are doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin.” (The Message)

It’s a good time of the year to examine ourselves and make inward changes that can make a difference in our personal lives, family lives and church lives.  What inward change would your need to make to write a good year on the 2010 page of your boo?

As a preacher for 50 years I have always encouraged us to be involved in the local family of God.  Belonging to a church reinforces our faith.  A Christian without a church is like a football player without a team. It’s like a Marine without a unit.  It’s like a family meal without a family.

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