River of Life Church

HOW TRUE IS MY REALITY?

For more than two millennia, there have been those that have argued that Truth is personal, changing with one's experience and beliefs. That it is relative to circumstances and events.  Almost to a person, the advocates of such thought have mistakenly substituted Truth for Reality.

 Indeed, Reality does shift with the sands of time.  Continuing in that vein, when one finds themselves in a desert without an adequate supply of water, the Reality is that they are thirsty.  However, once water has been restored to their systems, the Reality shifts to the fact they are now replenished and no longer thirsty.  And while it may be a true statement that one is thirsty, it still is not necessarily Truth, for Truth remains absolute regardless of the circumstances.

Granted, the above argument could cause one to think I am merely straining at gnats, but I hope I can illustrate a better reason for recognizing the difference in these concepts.  And in so doing, I trust I will not step on any toes but my own for that is certainly not my intent.

River of Life is a worshiping church, built on a foundation of worship and praise since the beginnings of our history.  As a body of believers, we have seldom been without a fairly large number of skilled singers and musicians who were also blessed with the ability to lead others in exalting the Name of our Lord.  Our public meetings have usually allowed a substantial amount of time for all who desire to honor Jesus.  And, we offer many opportunities for folks to come together for that express purpose.  But, why?

The Reality is that worship often helps us to transcend our daily circumstances, to, at least for awhile, forget any problems and difficulties of life and simply adore Him.  Praise and worship gives us opportunity to commune with our fellow Christians in an activity that lifts our spirits and gladdens our hearts.  Getting "lost" in glorious music and melodies can be one of the best experiences we can hope to have on this earth.  Whether the song is a classic hymn with full orchestration or a contemporary piece accompanied by the instrumentation of our modern era or a spontaneous eruption of musicality that tends to "carry us on its wings", the expression of worship in music can be exhilarating and glorious.

But what if it isn't?  What if, despite the best of our (or someone else's) efforts, all the praise and worship in the world leaves us feeling flat, deflated, looking at our watches, and wondering if we're the only one in this condition?  What if?  This is where Truth comes to bear.  Truth is immutable, unchangeable, immovable.  Truth is not dependent on our attitudes, feelings, circumstances, abilities, or tastes.

Jesus didn't just say that He was "True"; He said He was "theTruth."  He not only encompasses what is true, He is what gives anything the ability to be True.  Because He is the Truth, His word is True.  And because He is the Truth, He is worthy of our worship and praise even when everything around us denies it.  In those times, we worship based on what we know of Him, He is the Truth, the very core!  And His word is True, wholly based in Truth.

So, how True is my Reality?  Do I focus on what is real, what I am experiencing, how I'm feeling, what the condition is of the world around me?  Or, is my focus on Him who is True, the Truth?  Do I allow my Reality to change my concept of Truth, or do I allow the Truth to change my concept of Reality?  How True is my Reality?

  AMAZING LOVE, AMAZING GRACE, AMAZING SALVATION

In a recent message I mentioned how our God went to extreme measures to bring His Son into being as an infant, at just the right time and just the right place.  How the earthly parents God had chosen for His Only Begotten traveled about ninety hard miles in winter from Nazareth to Bethlehem, walking up and down mountains for more than a week to arrive and give birth in a cave-stable, likely with many other travelers very close at hand.  How amazing that God would go to such lengths to be sure all was done according to His word and promise.

I am writing this soon after coming back into the house from observing the near-alignment of the planets Jupiter and Saturn.  These two planets, visible just after sundown in the southwest sky on December 21, although hundreds of millions of miles apart, at least for a little while seemed to merge into one body of light.  Astronomers have said that this conjunction is the closest the Earth has witnessed since 1623 when Galileo first saw it, or 1226, depending on your source.  Some Christian scientists have wondered publicly if it was this event that constituted the "star" that the magi followed from Persia.  Perhaps.

Other scientists have speculated that the "Bethlehem Star" was indeed a super-nova, an extraordinarily bright and large explosion of a star, or group of stars.  If that is the case, instead of being hundreds of millions of miles from our planet, we're talking of light-years away.

Whichever, if either, phenomenon created the light that guided the Wise Men to the house that Jesus and his parents were now living in when they arrived, it is awesome to think of the "planning" of these events so they converged at the proper time.  The orbits of planets set, or the collision course of heavenly bodies set, so that, at just the right time, astrologers in a land familiar with the Jewish teachings, would recognize the event, and set out for Palestine.  These events would have been set at Creation!

Maybe this doesn't seem all that extraordinary to you considering we are speaking of the Creator of the Universe, who could simply speak all of this into existence.  Yet, except to reveal a bit more of His glory and majesty, there was no real need for Him to do it that way.  To my limited understanding, our God's attendance to the minute details of bringing our Savior into the world with apparently no limit to His extravagance in doing so, is so mind boggling that I find myself struggling for expression of the awe I sense.

On the verge of 2021, as we all yearn for a much less painful year than the one we're leaving, let us take comfort and courage in the knowledge that, if He was willing to alter the universe for the benefit of a handful of astrologers to find their Messiah, what might He do for His people to see them through difficult days.

The love of our Father in Heaven, the grace that pours from Him and came to Earth as His beloved Son, and the salvation wrought by the sacrifice made for us, is truly amazing.  The longer I walk with Him, the more amazing it becomes.

Have a Happy New Year! 



ALL THINGS NEW

When I was a child, we had a large book entitled, "365 Bedtime Stories", which told of the adventures of the residents of WhatAJolly Street.  

There were two stories that stood out to me over the years that my mother, then older sister, read us those tales.  One was from December 31 as Father Time, now old and weathered, is stepping aside for the newcomer about to arrive at the stroke of midnight and force the old-timer into retirement.  Of course, the second story was from January 1 as the New Year, in the form of an infant, actually shows up full of the hopes and aspirations that new possibilities foster in just about everyone.

Our western culture salutes this ticking of the clock with a giant crystal ball descending in New York City, fireworks displays in London and Sydney, and countless millions reveling in ways they will sorely regret when daylight arrives.  Yet, despite the headaches and upset stomachs that always seem to accompany such celebrations, our fellow citizens remain hopeful that somehow the coming year will be better than the past one, that financial difficulties will fade away, that strained relationships will heal, that failing bodies will be renewed.  As all of us on this earthly globe are aware, these are not bad things to hope for, and we know to ask our Heavenly Father to do them for us.

But, the reality is that from December 31, 11:59:59 pm until January 1, 12:00:00 is a mere second, a single tick of the grandfather sitting clock in your foyer.  An additional reality is that time (as in the marking of months and years) is a device created for the benefit of mankind and is outside the realm of God's rule and reign.  He is neither bound by, nor affected by, the incessant marching of time.  Since we are keenly aware, especially as we have experienced the passage of more and more days, that we have a limited supply of time, we tend to grow impatient when the things we hoped for or aspired to still have not come to pass.

A larger reality is that in God's economy, it doesn't require the passing of a year for us to be given the opportunity for a fresh start.  We aren't required to wait until after Christmas for a new beginning, or new vision, or new opportunities.  I have often quoted the Lamentations of Jeremiah (3:21-23), "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness."

Every sunrise (and sunset, and minute in between) give us the same opportunities as any other day, hour, or minute to realize the gift of God's love, His provision, His comfort, His hope, His peace, His mercy, His grace, His... the list is literally endless.

 And we await the glorious return of His Son, victorious over sin, death, and all the associated enemies of God, to renew all things, to return them to the way He designed them to be and where there are no more tears or sorrows.  We wait for Him to make all things new, but until it is His timing to do so, we look to Him moment by moment - not just on December 31 or January 1.

Have a happy New Year, and the day after, and 4:05 Saturday, and...,  Richard

BUILDING COMMUNITY, MAKING DISCIPLES, IMPACTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS