Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
Rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks put the circumstances of our lives, both good and bad into God’s hands and help us see them through His eyes. Last night our beloved daughter-in-law Melinda slipped from this world into the presence of Jesus. And while we are overwhelmed with grief and shock, these words are promises to which we cling. Melinda has finished her race. Her battle with cancer is finished. And while that pernicious disease claimed her physical life, it could not touch her soul. That remained fully and exclusively in the hands of Jesus with whom she now lives. Nancy and I didn’t know how to process the news that came in three words. “She is gone.” Yet as sadness rolls over my heart I sense the message echo back from Heaven, ” She has arrived!”
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—everyone—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 ESV
Though we had traveled quite a bit around the United Staes to visit our families, my wife and I had never been overseas till were invited to visit friends in Switzerland. Naturally, we delightedly accepted and as the time grew closer, we anxiously awaited our passports to arrive in the mail. Then, after months of planning the day finally arrived and we headed off to the airport. Once in the air my wife was completely at peace and enjoying the flight, but the long hours over the ocean was a little intimidating for me, and it took more than a few quick prayers to calm my nerves. The ten days of our visit passed quickly, and when the day of our return came, we were sad to leave our friends, yet happy to be going home. After landing back in New York, of course had to pass through customs, and with our still shiny new passports gripped in our hands, we waited patiently in line. But as we stepped to the front and handed them to the officer, we were startled to hear him say, “There is a problem here.”
A bit sleepy from the long flight home, his words jolted me wide awake. “What problem?” I asked in confusion.
“These passport aren’t valid.” He replied, “You never signed them!”
“Oh no!” I exclaimed. “I am so sorry! We’ve never traveled out of the country before, and I had no idea!” I pleaded.
The gentleman gave me a smile of assurance then quietly said. “Well I’m not supposed to do this but just go to the back of the line and sign them. Then we’ll try again.”
Relief swept over us as we hurriedly made our way to the end of the line, found the page where our signatures needed to be and hurriedly signed. This time as we handed our passports to the officer he grinned, stamped them, and said, “Welcome home!”
Just like the wandering sheep in today’s verse we had a serious problem. We knew where we needed to be, we had no right to go there because we had never signed the documents. In the same way, God has provided eternal salvation to everyone who will put their faith in Jesus, but we have a part to play, by personally signing our name on the line. Our entrance is assured by grace, but each of us must personally receive it by faith. Only then will our entry be assured so that when we arrive at Heaven’s gate, we will hear the Father calling out, “Welcome Home!”
Our American national prayer day was established in 1952 and signed into law by President Harry Truman in his final year in office. In the Bible Jesus teaches us to pray, not just for our friends, but even our enemies. When Paul wrote these words, the king he urged Christians to pray for was Nero, the same king who later executed him. Imagine what God might do if today we prayed for all kinds of people, and not just those we like. Imagine how God could move if we spent more time on our knees than at our television sets, laptops and phones. God changes neighborhoods and nations by transforming hearts and healing lives, one person at a time.
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