Eternal life

The Face of My Father

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:31-32 KJV

“Go sit on your bed until your father get’s home!” were the most terrifying ten words of my childhood. Those long minutes or hours as I waited for the return of my stepfather from work only magnified the fears that I had of the inevitable punishment that awaited me. The last person’s face I wanted to see was his. After I became a Christian it took me quite a few years to be able to pray to the Father. Sure I said the words in corporate worship but when I was alone I would pray only to Jesus. I would say things like, “I’m only coming to you Jesus. Will you forgive me and help me?” Sometimes it felt like I was still sitting on my bed, waiting for punishment. The last person I wanted to see was my Heavenly Father. How little did I know of the tender love of a father who sent His own Son to die in my place. How much He must have wanted me to run to Him and how patient He was for me to slowly unwrap the mystery of the great -great love of His heart. He was not looking forward to coming home so He could pull out His celestial belt to punish me. Instead He had sent Jesus to die in my place so that He could wrap me in His arms. God was not listening to the long litany of my sins, becoming angrier by the second. Instead, He was preparing to freely give me anything I needed because of Jesus Christ. What a love is this? Now I look forward to His return! In fact the very first face I l want to see is the face of my true and eternal father in Heaven. All this time He has been by my side sitting next to me and loving me as His child!

This was Dad at Our Wedding (I look nervous!)

Too Heavenly Minded?

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3 KJV

“Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good!” is a phrase I have heard a lot. It is usually stated with a knowing grin as if to say, “You’ll come around and get a grip on reality one day.” But the older I get and the closer the realities of Heaven become, the more I realize that nothing on earth is more important or more real than Heaven. In fact, today’s verse tells us not to keep our eyes on earth but urges us to set our sights and affections on Heaven because that is where Jesus is.

One day, the flowers in our gardens will die, the mementos in our China hutches will sit on a shelf in a thrift shop and the savings in our bank accounts will be spent. But the things of heaven, like the love of God for a neighbor, the joy of having sins forgiven and the peace that comes from knowing God will never grow old. One day we will close our eyes on earth and open them to see Jesus. A moment will come when we draw our last breath on earth and our first in heaven. When all is said and done, no one will do more good on earth than someone who is always Heavenly minded. May our highest goal be to sing all the verses God gives us to our song on earth, so that one day we can finish the chorus with the angels at the feet of our Heavenly Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

A Free Lunch

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.           Ephesians 2:8 ESV

Have you ever heard someone say, “There’s no such thing as a free lunch?” Well I disagree and I learned why one winter when I was laid off from my landscaping job. My boss paid for a training workshop on irrigation systems and I went along, but since I hadn’t worked for weeks, I had only a few dollars in my pocket . At mid-day when the conference broke for lunch, I found a game room with an open pool table and I grabbed a stick, racked up the balls and started a game.  My boss and a buddy of his came by asking me to eat with them but I waved them off. “No, I’m not really hungry guys.” I lied, though my stomach was growling.  “I’m just going to hang around and grab something out of the vending machine.” “Suit yourself.” Al answered with a shrug as they headed off towards the snack bar. Once they left, I dug in my pocket and found enough change to buy a candy bar and a soda. Through the long afternoon I forced myself to concentrate on learning about sprinkler heads, control valves and pressure regulators while thinking about the hot meal waiting for me at home. At the end of the day I got in Al’s truck and we drove in silence until my he turned with a puzzled look asking, “Why didn’t come to eat with us? The food was great and it was all paid for!” Though I still laugh about missing out on lunch that day, it reminds me of another meal that is represented when we take the cup and the bread at communion. Why do we sometimes choose to live on the junk food of sin instead of accepting God’s free gift? Jesus has paid the full price for our salvation. By grace we are saved. He is inviting us to come. Why not join Him at the table?