05/26/2018
Who will join us in heaven, and will we recognize them with a hug, and a holy kiss, embracing them as equal believers and loving them as fellow Sons and Daughters of God? We say that we look forward to that day when we will dine at the table of God, but do we really? Are we ready to lovingly walk those streets, and are there similarities between them and the streets of our town that we walk today?
“When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”Ephesians 3:4-6 ESV
There are large beautiful churches in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee that are attended by the elite of the city. These congregations are true believers in Jesus, and wear fine clothes on Sunday, but on the outskirts and in the poorer sections (even under the bridges) of Nashville there are small churches that are visited by those of few means who often attend service in whatever they might have to wear; they too are true believers. One day what separates the members of the grand churches from those under the bridges will fade away, and what will remain will be their true belief. Does this traumatize you? Do you tremble at the thought of walking the streets of heaven with the vagrants you turned your face away from in your town, in your version of Nashville?
In the day of Jesus there were the Jews, who considered themselves the chosen people, there were the Galileans who were lesser Jews, and there were also the Gentiles sho fell outside of even the outermost reaches of Judaism... they were referred to as debase, lost, and beyond God’s love... and were referred to as the “others.” Doesn’t this sound a bit like our city? The fine churches, the small loud working class churches, and those others under the bridge singing amidst the smell of filth and urine? This was the life of Jesus, and this is our life today.
So after hundreds and hundreds of years waiting on the prophesied Messiah, Jesus finally comes. He isn’t conceived in Jerusalem, but in the city Nazareth in Galilee amidst the rough and tough Jews from the other side of the tracks, and eventually lived his life to manhood in Nazareth... a town with a bad reputation. Hear what was said of him because of this...
“Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."”John 1:45-46 ESV
Jesus was born in the halfway house, the nether reaches between the elite of Jerusalem, and the totally lost Gentiles. Thus, with His arms outstretched He could encompass them all. Jesus said he came to save the lost of Israel, and yet He immediately healed a Gentile woman, and spoke of her faith.
“He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."”Matthew 15:24 ESV
He lived amidst the sinners and roughnecks of Judaism, yet He saved the souls of the temple goers in Jerusalem as well as all others, and they cried out “Hosanna” as He entered the city... which means “Save Now!”
In this way, with His eyes set on all people, He came to redeem the lost, and sent His disciples into all of Judaism, and the world of the Gentiles beyond...
“and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”Luke 24:46-47 ESV
So who will you embrace and greet with a holy kiss in heaven; in the New Jerusalem? If you are from a fine congregation of the city’s elite, the residents of your town’s equivalent of Jerusalem, are you ready, willing, and even excited about, greeting those who worship in rags beneath the bridges? Are you ready to walk the streets, and dine sitting next to those who have rough hands? If you are one of the downtrodden are you willing to lay down your animosity towards those who lead lives of ease, and plenty, and greet them as family?
Search your heart, and open yourself to the revelation of the Spirit... then look around you today, and begin to love your neighbors as Jesus commanded. Deliver the Gospel, the embrace, and the holy kiss, to those you once cringed at. When we can do that, then we have taken a giant step towards the streets of heaven.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for those brothers and sisters in Christ who have more earthly riches than me, and for those who are less fortunate too. Each teaches me of myself, and reveals to me the faith I have proclaimed, and the shortfalls I experience within it. I pray that you perfect me, here in my worldly city; perfect the habits and character I must have to enter the gates of your kingdom. Help me Holy Father to strip away the animosity, prejudice, and preconceived notions, that this sinful world has instilled in me. Help me to overcome my pride, and self-righteousness, to see Jesus Christ, and not the earthly possessions, or position of those I come in contact with each day. Help me Merciful Father to be kind and gracious to those of greater and lesser station than myself. Teach me to feed, clothe, give drink, strengthen faith, and spread goodwill, among my brethren. In your arms we are refined, and all of these differences fall away. In your arms we find the same love and grace regardless of who we have been in earthly life. The plenty, and the little... they are both challenges meant to teach us about faith in you, and reveal that your Son Jesus has taught us much about both. We were enlightened in the parable of the young rich man that our possessions can become a God, and through the words of the thief on the cross that the man hanging next to us might be holy... the Son of God. Open our eyes Lord, that these lessons might flow into our souls, and prepare us for your table, and the streets of heaven. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, and your Son the Redeemer, the salvation of the world.
“This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”1 Timothy 2:3-6 ESV
Rich Forbes