The Gift that will last forever

Yesterday morning I was thinking about how temporary everything in this life is. Nothing here in this world lasts forever. At this time of year we give gifts that we think will make the person happy but the happiness is short lived. In a few days, weeks, or months the new wears off and we are on the hunt for something else that we think will satisfy us.

As I was contemplating this I absentmindedly turned the radio on in my car. I don't normally listen to the radio when I am alone except for books on cd but I love Christmas music. As I flipped on the radio this guy was saying, "give the gift that lasts forever. Name a star after someone." Perhaps you have heard of this but I had not until that moment. If you send a certain amount of money to this organization they will look through the star charts and supposedly find a star that hasn't been named and name it after your loved one. It will be recorded in the Library of Congress or some such agency and you will be sent a certificate with the details. This  gift is supposed to last forever. (Forgive me for laughing!)

I immediately thought of the scripture in Mark 13:25 where Jesus said that the stars would fall from heaven. In this chapter he prophecies of the destruction of the world and all that is in it. Even the heavens are not exempt. John the revelator prophesied in Revelation 21:1 of a new heaven and a new earth. So you see, even the heavens are not forever. The only thing that will last forever is God and his word.

Psalm 199:89 says, "forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven." The only thing that we can build our lives on is the word of God. It is the only sure foundation. Everything else will eventually crumble and decay. God 's word has stood the test of time and eternity and we can never fail by putting our trust in him.

The reason for the season is that "the word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Jesus Christ is the living, breathing word of God. As such, He is the only one worthy of our trust. This world will pass away and all of its lust but he that does the will of God will abide forever (I John 2:17). So give yourself the gift that lasts forever. Put your trust in Jesus today. He will be here when the world is long gone.

Merry Christmas,

Rev. Sullivan Jones

He has the answers!

The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid. Psalm 27: 1

This has been one of my favorite scriptures since I was a small child. I am so thankful that I know the Lord. I see people everyday who try to handle their problems all on their own without prayer. It doesn't work. Life is too big. The questions are too hard and the impossibilities to endless. But when I put my faith in Jesus, the whole big, wide world shrinks in proportion to who my God is. When I need him, he is always there. He has been more than faithful, even when I haven't been.

As a minister, people always have theological questions for me. Sometimes I know the answers and sometimes I don't. I am a student of theology so technically I can give the right answers but that doesn't always mean that the "right" answer is needed at the moment. What most people want to know is,"does God care about where I am?" "Why is he allowing this to happen to me?" The answers I can give are, "Yes, God cares," and "I don't know why this happened." Does that mean I have any less faith in God.

No, because his presence is so real and so sweet. Even when I don't know the answers he is always as close as the mention of his name. Sometimes when I call him he explains things to me. Many times he does not. He just shows up and puts his "arms" around me. He whispers in my ear, "I am here, just trust me." Like a parent with a child, my God is always around.

When I was a child and didn't feel well I wanted my mom. Now, as an adult, I want my wife, Gail. Just one sight of her and I calm down. But there are things in my life that Gail can't calm. There has never been a time when I called on God that he didn't calm my fears. He knows what I need and he knows what you need. If you have questions today, Jesus is the answer. Just call on His name, he'll be there. You can count on it!

Trusting in Jesus,

Sullivan Jones 

What is Salvation?

Titus 3:5 - Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us ...

The past few weeks many have written about things for which they were thankful. I did not take time to write a daily blog of things for which I am thankful but I will say that Thanksgiving is normally my favorite Holiday. As I contemplate this, one thing stands out to me more than all others. I am thankful for salvation. I am thankful that the Son of God gave his life on a Roman cross so that I could be set free from the curse of sin.

We have been studying "soteriology" in one of my classes. This is a fancy Theological word for salvation. When studying a thing it is always best to first define the term. So I began to question,"what exactly is salvation?" From what are we saved? To what are we saved? Though the possibilities of explanation are limitless, I would like to share the words of Piers the Plowman from the 14th century poem of the same name. This is an imagined scene with Jesus speaking face to face with Satan when he went into Hades after his crucifixion:

Here is my soul as a ransom for all these sinful souls. They are mine: they came from me and so I have the better claim on them. ....You, by falsehood and injustice, took away what was mine. I, in fairness, recover them by paying the ransom. What you took by guile I recover by grace. As a tree caused Adam and all mankind to die, so my gallows-tree shall bring them back to life. 

These words sum up the heart of the gospel story. Adam and Eve ate from a tree that brought death to the human race. Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, offered himself on that tree to buy us back from death. So from what did he save us? From eternal death. From eternal separation from His presence. From guilt, shame, debauchery, and any other description you would like to add to the list.

To what did he save us? He saved us unto Himself that we might be called the spotless bride of Christ. I am so thankful to be a part of the bride, aren't you?

Thankfully,

Sullivan Jones