“From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, ‘This man is calling Elijah.’ And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, ‘Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.’ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
“And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” [1]
Easter was different last year. Churches were darkened. Families didn’t gather to celebrate with a joyous feast as they had throughout the days of their lives. Businesses were closed; business owners questioned if they could hold on for two weeks, or possibly for a month, without income. When they ventured out of their homes, people hid their faces with a mask of shame as demanded by politicians without understanding of science. Physicians who had transformed into politicians assumed new prominence in the governments of our nations; their words taking on a significance medical school could never have imagined for them.
Throughout the year following, though they had given themselves to build the nation, having fought wars on foreign soil for their country and having invested their lives in raising children to live honourable and productive lives, the elderly would be isolated. Though they had raised their families and drawn strength from the presence of their children, their grandchildren, and their closest friends, many would die alone, isolated and without a loving face to comfort them. Then, they would be buried without friends or family permitted to gather to remember them. Easter was different last year.
What was novel then has rapidly become normal. Politicians, and cynical citizens, speak of this as “the new normal.” Of course, there is nothing normal about isolation and fear. Fear! That has been the greatest change. Seeing friends and colleagues live in terror of an invisible invader sent to us courtesy of a cynical Communist government has been one of the hardest changes to accept. Witnessing the transformation of a vibrant nation living in anticipation of tomorrow into a nation characterised by fear has been difficult, even for the most jaded among us. Darkness seems now to cover the land—darkness that seems to stifle hope and compel despair and discord, even among the people of God. Just when it seemed that the dark night was past, we were informed by government functionaries that it would be extended for “just a bit longer.” We have heard this promise before.
Since those early days of this pandemic, it has felt as though the news media has colluded with various health ministers to stampede the populace to live in abject terror. “Two weeks to flatten the curve,” is moving toward “two years of living in fear.” Our Provincial Health Officer has extended the state of emergency repeatedly. Coming up to Easter, she magnanimously announced that she would allow four days in which religious people could observe their various sacred holidays. Then, only a couple of days after that announcement, her courage evaporated and she announced that the state of emergency would again be extended. The new normal means loss of freedom and fear.
One dare not appear in public without the mask of shame lest some frightened soul scream her fear, pointing out the lack of respect and desire for people to die because you didn’t wear the cloth signifying your submission to governmental overlords. To ensure compliance with the mandate of our political betters, we are fined by the police if we don’t wear the new symbol of submission. Because the fine wasn’t working as well as the politicians had hoped to compel people to do what they were told, the fine was doubled barely a week ago. Now, we are being told that we each may soon hear words that have never been heard on the North American continent: “Your papers please.” Shakespeare was prescient when he wrote, “‘Tis the times’ plague, when madmen lead the blind.” [2]
All that I’ve noted to this point is merely an irritant. However, growing out of this pervasive and persistent irritant is a far more serious matter for the people of God. The imposition of shut downs and governmental intrusion has cast a blanket of divisiveness over the land. That in itself is a serious matter. Far more serious is the fact that this attitude of divisiveness is insinuating itself into the life of the faithful. Thus, the crucifixion of our Lord contains a message that is essential to the people of God in the challenging days of this present darkness.
JESUS IS GOD, EVEN IN THE DARKNESS — Jesus is God; He has always been God. He is the unique God-man. Throughout the Gospels Jesus presents Himself as either the “Son of Man” [3] or as the “Son of God.” [4] Various cultic groups sometimes attempt to cast shade on this revelation of the Word. “If Jesus was God,” they sneer, “where was God when Jesus hung on the cross?” Human reason doesn’t permit a casual answer to the question of how God can die? Perhaps the greater mystery is why God would choose to give His life for fallen mankind.
Cultists, and other scoffers, imagine that their questions are unanswerable; they imagine that orthodox Christians have mythologized the Gospel. Because they can’t wrap their heads around what the Word of God presents doesn’t invalidate what He has written. Not everything that is presented as truth can be understood by human reason.
When we explore what is written, we who follow the Christ will be encouraged. Again, let me assert, Jesus is God. Jesus was always God. There will never be a time when Jesus is not God. What a comfort for the individual who has chosen to follow the Christ to read, “[Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” [HEBREWS 7:25]. Jesus will always be God, ever living and all powerful. It is this Jesus who now saves. Amen.
Pinioned to the cross, the Son of God cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” I contend that Jesus is God; and yet, here He calls out to His God, questioning why He was forsaken. Confused? Some people are; they don’t like the idea that anyone would dare believe that God would give His life as a sacrifice for fallen mankind. In fact, they are sufficiently angered by what is presented in Scripture that they rail against the very thought that Jesus is God. But what does Scripture have to say about this matter? How could God give His life as a sacrifice for His fallen creature?
For the one who follows the Christ, Scripture must serve as our ultimate authority. Undoubtedly, some will argue the point; however, I assure you that I am well aware that the Spirit of God lives within the believer. I know that He indeed teaches us all things. Liberal churchmen will say that they must allow the Spirit of God to interpret Christ. There is an element of truth in this, but the statement masks something quite sinister. I, too, have read Jesus’ Words as He prepared His followers for His exodus. Jesus taught His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.’ Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?’ Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” [JOHN 14:16-26].
The Spirit is given to all who follow the Master. One primary role the Spirit of Christ plays is to instruct the one who is following the Saviour. God’s Spirit did enable those who wrote the Scriptures to record all that is necessary to know the mind of God. And He enables us in this day to understand what has been written. Let’s look at these two points briefly.
The Spirit of God guided those who wrote Scripture, as Peter states quite clearly. “We possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination, for no prophecy was ever borne of human impulse; rather, men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” [2 PETER 1:19-21 NET BIBLE].
The Holy Spirit guides you as you read the Scriptures that He ensured would serve as a revelation of the mind of the Living God. Here’s the thing—He will not guide you to an understanding other than what is clearly written. The Spirit of God will not give one truth at one point in the Word and an alternate truth at another point in the Word. God’s Spirit will guide you, but He will not violate what He says in the Word.
Recall the Apostle’s teaching delivered in his first letter to the saints in Corinth. “Among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written,
‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him’—
these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. ‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” [1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-16].
We who are redeemed, we worshippers of the Christ in whom the Spirit of Christ lives, have “the mind of Christ.” Quite literally, we have the worldview of the Master; we see matters from His perspective. We who are saved have the perspective of Heaven; we see matters as does God Himself. We view the world through the eyes of the Lord God. And this is as it should be since the Spirit of the Living God dwells within those whom the Father now calls His own; and His Spirit guides us into all truth.
We cannot expect cultists to know Christ as Master over life, they do not acknowledge His rightful claim to their own heart. We cannot expect the lost to confess Christ as rightful ruler over their lives, they are lost and unsaved. We assuredly cannot expect people who have never put faith in the Son of God to act righteously—they haven’t the capacity to do what is right because they don’t have the Spirit of Christ! Lost people will stumble through the world with eyes darkened by their condition. Perhaps they will attempt to address one problem or another, but inevitably the law of unintended consequences applies to their actions, and they make matters worse, more confused. Unsaved people, those who refuse Christ as very God, do not have the Spirit of God and cannot realise that Jesus is very God and very man. However, for all who are born from above and into the Family of God, Christ Jesus is very God and fully man. He is the unique God-man, and He gave His life as a sacrifice because of our fallen condition.
This is, of course, the testimony of the Word of God that followers of the Risen Saviour accept, testimony leading to transformation of life. “While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” [ROMANS 5:6-8].
This truth must never allow us to exalt ourselves against those of the world, but rather it should make us humble. Those in the world are acting as they act because they are ignorant of the Lord. Perhaps they know about God, but they do not know God. They may be religious, but they have rejected God as Ruler over their lives. Our perspective is not learned from a church or through a class, our perspective is the result of God’s grace working in our lives through His Good Spirit.
We are not better than outsiders, but we are different. We are not like those identified with this dying world. We are ambassadors of Heaven, citizens of an unseen country. Indeed,
This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through;
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue!
The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door,
And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
That is it exactly! God leaves us here so that the world can witness the power and grace of the Lord displayed through His holy people. Peter is correct in his assessment of Christians when he writes, “[We] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” [1 PETER 2:9-10].
Is Jesus God? No follower of the Christ should ever doubt that the One we call our Master is very God. Writing of his love for the people of Israel, the Apostle to the Gentiles has written, “I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit—that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen” [ROMANS 9:1-5].
Paul did not hesitate to affirm that the Christ is “God over all.” Was that assertion offensive to the Jewish religionists? Of course! They had understood Jesus when He testified, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”
The Jews were offended and picked up stones in order to stone Him. Jesus calmly asked, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me” [JOHN 10:32]?
Note the response of the Jewish leaders: “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God” [JOHN 10:33].
Peter understood who Jesus is; he didn’t hesitate to remind those of the Diaspora to whom he wrote in his second letter that Jesus is God. Listen as he opens that missive. “Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
“To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” [2 PETER 1:1-2].
Peter calls Jesus Christ “our God and Saviour!” He wants those to whom he writes to realise that grace and peace are supplied by Jesus, who is our God!
Paul wanted Titus, and everyone who would read the missive that he had penned to the preacher he had left in Crete, to know Who we serve. He reminded Titus that we are looking for God to come for His people. The Apostle wrote, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” [TITUS 2:11-14]. Our great God and Saviour is the same One who “gave Himself for us.” Of course, Paul was speaking of Jesus Christ.
Dear people, Jesus Christ is very God in human flesh. I don’t profess to understand everything that He has revealed in this Word, but of this we can be certain: JESUS CHRIST IS GOD. The Living God gave Himself as a perfect sacrifice for man’s sinful condition. The Word which God has delivered for our benefit is very clear on this matter. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD. I cannot explain how God sacrificed Himself because of our fallen condition. However, His Word makes it clear that He did sacrifice Himself. God, the Living God, surrendered His life because of His ruined creature.
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS — Child of God, do not forget that Jesus was God even during the darkest day of human history, that day when He took all our sin upon Himself. As He hung on the cross, the Living God presented Himself as a sacrifice for fallen mankind. He did this in the Person of Jesus, the Son of God, Who is also the Christ. Since Jesus was God even during that dark day, you may be assured that He is God during the dark days through which we have passed for these past 365 plus days. Our Lord will be God when these present dark events are at last resolved.
I confess that I’m not looking to politicians or physicians who act as though they were politicians to resolve the challenges we face in our world. Candidly, these “experts” have failed miserably to address the crisis they themselves were responsible for creating. However, in the darkness, the Saviour has continued doing what God has always done. Those who placed faith in the Risen Son of God were saved from eternal condemnation. Many of God’s chosen saints were comforted as they struggled to respond to this politically inspired crisis. Many of the people of God were strengthened so that they were enabled to continue walking in faithfulness as followers of the Risen Saviour. Other followers of the Master were given wisdom allowing them to respond wisely and with honour as they faced the challenges which this pandemic presented our generation. Our God was working throughout; and our God is working still.
We read, “Behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many” [MATTHEW 27:51-53].
How strange that day must have been when the Saviour was crucified. First, there was the eclipse, except it wasn’t really an eclipse. The sky darkened. Birds began to roost. The nocturnal animals stirred and began to prowl about. It was the sixth hour, about twelve noon, just about the time people would be breaking for a noon meal. This strange darkness persisted for three hours, as though heaven itself was draped with black crepe, as if the angels turned their heads, refusing to gaze upon the horrific scene taking place on that dreadful hill outside of the city.
Then, there was the report that the curtain in the temple had been torn in two. This was that veil that blocked the view of those going into the Temple, ensuring that worshippers could not gaze upon the Most Holy Place. This opened the veil into that awful place where only the high priest could go, and that only once each year to make atonement for the people. Now, worshippers were no longer debarred from looking upon the place where atonement was made.
It was as though the earth heaved with great, tectonic sobs—there was an earthquake. Anyone who has experienced an earthquake can tell you that the experience is terrifying. Rocks splitting would be terrifying no matter when the phenomenon occurred. But the bodies of saints coming out of the tombs? These bodies walking into the city must have terrified all who witnessed this unreal scene! Don’t imagine that this was like a scene from “The Walking Dead.” Nevertheless, their appearance must have been positively disconcerting. Those who saw them recognised them for who they were—saints of the Living God who had died and who were buried. The thought seems to be that they introduced themselves to those they met! How could such phenomena be explained? Something mysterious, unexplainable, had taken place.
Did the resurrected saints shout praises to the Lord God as did the angels who announced the birth of the Saviour? Were they dressed in white raiment that shone as brightly as the sun? Were their faces wreathed in brilliance, glowing as the eastern sky at the first blush of the morning sun? Did they simply fade through the darkness after a time? We don’t know; the Word of God doesn’t inform us. What we do know is that these saints appeared to many, and they were apparently recognised for who they are.
No child of God rejoices when evil appears to be in ascendency. No follower of the Christ experiences joy when wickedness appears to win. As the Master prepared His followers for His exodus, He taught them, and thus instructs us, “‘A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me’” [JOHN 16:16].
That passage continues with this commentary and instruction. “So some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What is this that he says to us, “A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;” and, “because I am going to the Father?”’ So they were saying, ‘What does he mean by “a little while?” We do not know what he is talking about.’ Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, ‘Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, “A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me?” Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you’” [JOHN 16:17-22].
In this world, evil seems always to be winning; but we haven’t seen the final act. Remember the words which Paul wrote in the Ephesian Letter? “I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,
‘When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.’
“(In saying, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” [EPHESIANS 4:1-16].
Writing the saints in Colossae, Paul affirmed what actually happened at the Cross. “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” [COLOSSIANS 2:6-15].
Heaven grieved at the death of the Saviour, but Heaven’s grief was not because of what the Master accomplished. Heaven grieved at the devastation sin has brought into our world. Heaven grieved at the pain people would experience because of the broken condition of this fallen world. Heaven grieved over what we experience because of our sin. However, despite the grief felt for our fallen condition, there was rejoicing in the knowledge that Christ conquered death, hell, and the grave!
There is wild joy in Heaven each time a lost sinner turns from the darkness that characterises this world and with spiritual eyes sees the glorious light of the Gospel of Christ. Jesus told a series of parables on one occasion that illustrate this truth. A shepherd searches for one sheep, though he has ninety-nine other sheep. When he finds his sheep, he rejoices, inviting all he knows to enter into his joy. Jesus then says, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” [LUKE 15:7].
Then, the Master told of a woman who had ten coins, but she lost one of those coins in her house. She lights a lamp and sweeps the floor, working hard until she finds what she has lost. When she finds the lost coin, she is ecstatic. She invites her friends and neighbours to enter into her rejoicing. Then, the Master draws back the curtain separating earth from Heaven to inform us, “Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” [LUKE 15:10].
By now, you undoubtedly know where this is going. A son was lost to a father. When the son at last came to his senses, the father threw a party. There was wild celebration, joy that couldn’t be contained, joy that had to be shared. The Master portrays that father as saying, “It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found” [LUKE 15:32]. What Christ our Lord accomplished at the Cross caused all Heaven to break out in wild celebration; and when we unite in working with Christ, we also will rejoice wildly.
Dear people, the sacrifice of the Saviour was not a defeat, it was a victory! Each time a sinner comes to life in Christ the Lord, Heaven explodes with wild celebration, and we, also, should throw a party. I’ve often wondered why we don’t throw a party each time a soul openly confesses the Saviour. It should be a time of wild celebration among the people of God. The salvation of a lost soul should be seen as light breaking into the darkness. And the light of God Himself has pierced the darkness of these days through which we have passed; and that light will continue to dispel the darkness.
We may not always see the light when we are immersed in darkness; but by faith we know the light is shining. Our Master is the light of the world, and we who walk with Him, even through the dark days of governmental ineptitude, walk in confidence, knowing that “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” [JOHN 1:5]. Amen!
“TRULY THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD!” Those rough Roman soldiers, including the seasoned centurion who commanded them, were forced to confess that this One whom they had humiliated, and treated brutally, was indeed who He said He was. Witnessing these awesome phenomena, they cried out in terror, “Truly this was the Son of God” [MATTHEW 27:54b]!
The exclamation that escaped the lips of these hardened Roman soldiers was a confession forced by the events they witnessed. Though I didn’t witness this event with those soldiers, I testify that this Risen, Living Saviour changed a violent, ungrateful young man into a servant of the Living God. I testify that a man who was rapidly moving toward becoming a drunk and a profligate was transformed into a sober man seeking to please the Lord God. I am glad to testify to a truth that transformed my life. Christ the Lord saved me, and His salvation was much more than merely delivering me from the judgement I richly deserved. I am convinced that Christ saved me from an early grave.
I eagerly confess that I “walk by faith, not by sight” [see 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7]. The same is true for each follower of the Risen Son of God. As one who follows the Saviour, you also walk by faith. Thus, you know the reality of His life because He lives in you. It is not a feeling that draws you to cry out to Him in time of need. It is not mere emotionalism that impels you to worship Him as He blesses you. It is not some undefined sense of ethereal excitement that gives you confidence in times of trial. It is the reality of the Risen Christ.
Here is the glorious truth: during those hours of darkness, Christ the Lord was performing a miracle so great that it stuns us into silence before Him. Throughout the New Testament letters are glimpses of what Christ the Lord was doing during those hours of darkness. What is important for us at this time is to know that Jesus Christ is God, even during the dark times through which we may be passing through. Just as He was working in that distant day, so He is at work in this day. He leads His people, lighting the way and guarding them from falling. With the Psalmist, each Christian can testify,
“My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.”
[PSALM 63:8]
I must speak directly to those who have been united as the New Beginnings Baptist Church. What I am about to say will be applicable to all who follow the Risen Saviour, but the words are spoken pointedly to those who are united in heart and soul with the saints known as New Beginnings Baptist Church. We have passed through a dark time. I’m under no illusion that the darks times are ended. There will still be dark days ahead. What you must never forget is that Jesus Christ is God; and though we walk a darksome path, we do not walk alone. Christ the Lord is with His people. Our God has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” [HEBREWS 13:5b].
Jesus promised His people, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” [MATTHEW 28:20b]. The promise He made has never been broken, nor shall it be rescinded. In these difficult times, we are not deserted, nor are we ignored.
Because this is true, we must guard ourselves from falling into the trap that imagines we must act alone, that we must somehow reject responsibility for one another and for the assembly to which we were joined. The congregation of the Lord is far more than a gathering on a Sunday morning where we observe a liturgy that we know by heart. Don’t imagine that by attempting to force others to adopt your point of view that you are doing the will of God. There is a reason that the New Testament emphasises unity of heart throughout. Unity, harmony of Spirit honours the Lord and is esteemed by Him.
Perhaps the greatest evil to arise from the restrictions imposed upon Canadians has been the divisiveness evident throughout society. Some, fearful and holding the view that government is responsible to provide for people, have willingly embraced the loss of freedoms that politicians imposed upon us all. Others, generally espousing personal responsibility for their own welfare, chafe at each new restriction that spells the loss of more freedoms. The former often become nags, attempting to coerce compliance whenever they see anyone resisting governmentally imposed restraint. The latter seem often combative, even flagrant in flaunting their refusal to comply with regulations demanded by politicians.
All this is bad enough in the general population. Unfortunately, the conflicting attitudes are too often witnessed among the faithful. While I would not think of speaking for other pastors, I can attest that I struggle to ensure harmony among the people of God. Of all the persecutions experienced in the earliest days of the Faith, the Decian persecutions were perhaps the most brutal. Some have questioned why the Christians did not practise armed resistance or why they did not appeal to the courts. Armed resistance denies the teachings of our Lord, and was not seriously considered by the earliest followers of Christ. To the extent that appeal to the judicial system was possible, these first believers did seek to avail themselves of the courts. There was no particular sympathy for these saints within that ancient society, and such appeal to the judiciary, when made, seldom brought relief. These saints relied on Christ and on His promise that His martyrs overcome evil by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony [see REVELATION 12:11].
Some of the faithful seemingly view those earlier events as having a corollary in the mandated church closures in this day. Divisiveness over obedience to governmental mandates or whether defiance is the proper response becomes a threat to the long-term survival of the faithful. We must not imagine that we can snarl and devour one another and still have a testimony once this present darkness has passed. This darkness will pass! What each follower of the Christ must realise is that just as Jesus was God in the dark as He hung on the cross, so He is God in this darkness that has now settled over the land. We must determine that we will honour Him, looking to Him to be the light for our own hearts as He has always been. We need to hear Peter as he urges us, “All of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind” [1 PETER 3:8].
We must take to heart the admonition, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” [1 PETER 4:7-9]. This means that we must be careful to fulfil the will of the Lord, building one another in this Holy Faith, being careful to encourage one another, and taking pains to console one another. Christ the Lord is risen and He reigns even now. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] William Shakespeare, King Lear, Act 4 Scene 1
[3] E.g. MATTHEW 8:20; MARK 2:10; LUKE 5:24; JOHN 12:23
[4] E.g. MATTHEW 14:33; MARK 1:1; LUKE 22:70; JOHN 20:31
