A Dash of Salt

He's Coming on a Cloud

The War on Terror. Global warming. Iraq.  Palestine.  WMDs.  MAD.  Earthquakes.  Famines.  Katrina.  Tsunami.  Chaos, catastrophes and calamities.  The world's a sad, sad place. 

Yet in spite of all of this, be at peace and be encouraged because Jesus is in charge and He's coming back. 

I don't mean to trivialize any human suffering.  Read Luke 21:5-38 and think about what Jesus has predicted will happen.  As you thoughtfully read this chapter, what discourages you?  What do you see that gives you hope?  How should you and I respond to Jesus' prophecy of his second coming?

The bottom line is this: the human race cannot destroy itself and this planet.  The End will occur when Jesus returns.  Until then we must work for peace and justice and protect the environment as stewards of God.  But remember that we cannot annihilate ourselves into extinction. 

Of all the things Christ could have preached about during his last week on earth, why do you think He chose to talk about the End Times?  ("The Olivet Discourse" -- as this passage is known since it was taught from atop the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem -- was given just a few days prior to the Last Supper and Jesus' crucifixion.)

Faith & Love Because of Hope

“We are always giving thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for you while we are praying, because we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have toward all the saints because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…”  (Colossians 1:3-5a)

Paul begins his letter to the Colossians on a positive note of encouragement because he is grateful to God for what He is doing in his readers' lives.  Paul thanked God for the Colossians frequently, as often as he remembered them at his morning, noon, and evening prayer times (according to early church custom), and on any other occasion when the need for prayer arose.  One of the reasons Paul faithfully prayed for them was that he was convinced of God’s fatherly concern.  As He is a good Father to the Lord Jesus, so He will be to those who are his children by the new birth.

Why was Paul thankful for the Colossians?  He had already heard of their faith in Christ and the love they had for all the other Christians in their area.  News of their godly reputation had traveled to him hundreds of miles away in Rome.  I think that the love they had for the other believers was evidence that they truly did trust in Christ Jesus for salvation (cf. John 13:34-35).  Their love for other Christians had two characteristics: 1) It was an unconditional kind of love (agape), meaning that it wasn’t based on emotional attraction or motivated by selfish gain. Their love for others was sacrificial and practical service, given with no strings attached. 2) It was also an unprejudiced kind of love (“toward all the saints”).  No matter the background, ethnicity, age, gender, or race of the Christians, the Colossian believers loved them.  No cliques.  No playing favorites.  Just a sincere and generous giving of themselves to help each other.  Why is it so hard to love others unselfishly and without prejudice?

The Colossians’ faith and love was rooted in their hope, their “confident expectation of life in the presence of God” someday future (D. K. Johnson).  “Hope” for the child of God doesn’t mean “maybe so.”  It means certainty without doubt or hesitation.  The only thing that’s uncertain is when the Christian will go to be with the Lord.  The basis of our hope is not our own efforts to earn God’s approval, but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ on our behalf (1 Corinthians 15).  Paul and the Colossians were convinced that one day they would go to live with their Lord forever.  Their hope was being kept safe for them in heaven while they lived a life of struggle here on earth (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-5).  Seeing this from another angle, John reminds us that our hope should inspire our holiness (1 John 3:2-3).

Think about it: What does hopeful living look like?  Can others see that you are trusting Christ?  How do others know that you love them?  Is your love unconditional and unprejudiced?  What are you thoughts on this passage?