Triumphant Faith
Jesus told His disciples that they would be rejected, persecuted and even put to death for what they believed. In spite of that grim news, the church grew because of those who were convinced that the Triune God who lived in them could not be destroyed. This is the faith that forms the foundation on which the Christian church in the 21st century is built.
It is the faith of Abraham–the father of Faith. Here is what the author of Hebrews writes, concerning Abraham’s faith. “For he was looking forward to the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God”. Hebrews 11:10
The thought I want to leave with those of you who read my blog is that the time is short in which we have to come to this faith—maybe 90 years at the most. In the last few months we have personally known many who have passed on into eternity ranging in age from 94, 93, 81, 31, 30 and 19.
So the time we have in which to harken to the voice of the Triune God is short. As a way of comfort and promise I would like share with you the visions of the Apostle John who saw the glory and power of the three persons in whom those early disciples entrusted their lives.
The book of Revelation is apocalyptic, written using symbolic language, visions, angels, demons, “unveiling,” accurately the book’s purpose of disclosing God’s ultimate victory over evil.
It is the last book in a series of books called the Word of God.
It is not the words of a government, or a policy, or theory which can all be overruled in one way or another. Neither can it be rivaled by the unmatched power of the internet with its unfiltered access to inflammatory information. I offer you these words from the Book of Revelation’s opening chapter.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.“Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:5-8
These are words that speak doxologically through the Christian church in the 21st century. They speak authoritatively to the brokenness of this world–a brokenness Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn warned the graduates about at Harvard University on June 8, 1978. “The human soul longs for things higher, warmer and purer . . .” He was wisely referring to the Triumphant God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the first words I always spoke to my small congregation as we began the worship of the Triune God, “Oh God our Maker, Redeemer and Comforter, we sinners . . . “
The Creator, Redeemer and the Comforter of the holy Christian Church in the 21st century has never been more in control. We must build one another up in that faith by sharing the same love for each other as God our Creator showed in creating all things. It is that same love, Christ our Redeemer showed us by His dying that we might live forever with the Triune God in heaven. It is that same love that was poured out on us at Pentecost that gives us the power to become the people of God with all the rights and privileges–reminiscent of the people of faith in the 1st century.
It is a restorative love that has the power to restore broken marriages, broken homes, broken spirits and forms bonds where we work and recreate together.
