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My Two Cents
by Rev Chuck Behrens
April, 2016
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Past Articles |
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J. R. R. Tolkien, one of
England's literary greats from a generation ago, wrote about this fantasy
world called Middle-Earth, and that world has captured the imagination of
millions of people in this generation. His trilogy of books known as "The
Lord of the Rings" has been really popularized through three blockbuster
movies that were based on them.
The final book and movie, "The Return of the King," portrays this world
where the armies of darkness, which are made up of these vicious subhuman
beings, are moving to destroy the last bastions of human life in
Middle-Earth. But as the rightful king of Middle-Earth begins to emerge,
the humans are rallied to what becomes the decisive battle against this
advancing evil.
In one drama-packed moment, one of the main characters climbs to the top
of this daunting mountain, where there's a massive pile of wood is
awaiting ignition. And then he takes a torch, lights the signal fire, and
a waiting sentinel sees that fire and lights the fire on his mountain. And
that summons-by-fire spreads across the kingdom, from mountaintop to
mountaintop, and the sentinels shout this triumphant news "The beacons are
lit!"
Two thousand years ago, it appeared that the forces of darkness had won
their ultimate victory. The Son of God was dead, buried in a tomb. Those
who followed Him were in total despair. That was Friday, but Sunday was
coming. And when it did, Jesus blew the doors off His grave, walked out
under His own power, leaving death - man's ultimate enemy - vanquished and
powerless.
And that Easter morning, the beacons were lit. From the mountaintop of
that generation, the message that Jesus is alive and death has lost has
ignited a fire on the mountain of the next generation. And today, 20
centuries later, we are the ones left here by Jesus to light the beacon
for our generation.
Listen to what the resurrection of Jesus has done, as recorded in 1
Corinthians 15, beginning with verse 54. "Death has been swallowed up in
victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?
Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Now, I love what one of my friends often says: "If non-Christians want to
know what belonging to Jesus is really all about, let them come to our
funerals." Well, it's there - the beacon from Easter morning shines the
brightest there when everything from earth has no answers. It is there, at
the moments of our greatest loss, that we win because Jesus wins.
In Revelation 1:17-18, the Apostle John in all His glory and He says: "Do
not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was
dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death
and Hades." The blazing beacon of Jesus' victory over death means there is
nothing in your life that is bigger than He is, and if you belong to Him,
nothing can defeat His plans for you.
You know, today He's counting on you, me, US, to light the fire for the
people in your world. They can't see Jesus, but they can see you. Tell
them that He died for them. Tell them He's alive for them. Don't let the
fire die in your hands. YOU may be the only chance they ever have to SEE,
HEAR, E X P E R I E N C E the Living Lord. That's why it's what happens
AFTER Easter is so important.
You don't have to live in the darkness anymore...None of us do. From the
empty tomb of the Son of God, the beacons are lit! and it they remain LIT
it'll be on us. . .so make sure, like so many countess others have done,
that Easter just doesn't remain, but continues on in each of us. Happy C O
N T I N U E D, Ongoing, Easter!
See you in Church,
Rev. Chuck
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