"He ascended into heaven, and he is seated..."
More than a flight pattern,
ascension
describes the taking of a crown
and throne.
Ascended - past tense,
done at a point
in time before now.
He currently sits -
present tense.
Then why this fractured world
where innocents can
be gassed by
their own ruler
and humans are considered
disposable commodities
to insatiable lusts
and blood
drips through
the cracks?
Believers - flawed but faithful -
have run neck and neck through history
with rebellious rioters -
broken also but unrepentant.
Christ's invasion into enemy
territory was Act I
in the Great War of
redemption.
We find ourselves
at war still (Act II),
knowing the end is now
assured,
though we wrestle
with monsters
infuriated and frenzied,
laying waste
while they can.
"And He will come to judge..."
When the King rises
from His throne (future tense),
His shadow
will fall like lead on us all
as he swings the sword
of justice
beheading evil and
treading on the Serpent's head.
He will swing wide
the gates of Eden -
the rusty hinges
will shriek with joy.
Between now and then
we are to continue
the battle as we
champion redemption by
harassing the enemy,
construct the Kingdom by
dynamiting dungeons
and create justice by
dismantling systems
of oppression.
Heralds tell,
ambassadors show,
and agents act
to bring about change.
Yet we are just
blowing in the face
of the wind
without the empowerment
and direction
of God's Spirit.
Buildings,
institutions
and programs
will not suffice
to bring real hope
to a fractured
world.
Help us -
heralds, ambassadors
and agents all -
to kneel daily
before the throne;
give us ears
to hear,
hearts to care,
eyes to see
and courage
to act
in the King's
most holy name
and for His cause.
Amen.
Pontius Pilate:
infamous judge,
frozen in time,
known only and
always
for the worst
he's ever done.
Provable fact:
crucifixion - death -
resurrection.
Political ground-breaking
and celebratory news
is transacted
from one
to many.
Christ's death and resurrection
(eye witnessed
and verifiable)
is not about me,
contrary to
Gospel Tracts, Inc.
Father-warrior God
has retaken territory
previously ceded to Satan
through sending
His messiah-king
to defeat death
once and for all.
Long-awaited,
this promised King
ticked off all the boxes
on the list of
requirements,
including and especially
surrendering
His life.
As Conquering Hero,
He invites us to join
the winning side,
become a Kingdom citizen,
and live
as such.
Everything
changes.
As Christ was a factual
entity on earth,
so we live out
His mission here
in tangible ways.
Each word,
each action or
non-action
echoes
who we follow.
Researched,
cited sources and all,
this historical event,
this Fact,
changes
everything.
"I believe in Jesus Christ"
takes center stage -
disrupting history,
dividing time into
before and after.
John places Christ
at the beginning, before Time -
with God and yet God
but not God the Father;
divine,
outside of Time,
omniscient -
who stepped willingly
into Time,
dressed in mortal flesh
and all that implies -
yet exists for all Time.
"The only Son of God,
the Father."
"Conceived by the Holy Spirit"
God's breath
invaded a virgin's womb,
permeating all barriers,
to ignite
and impregnate -
the divine mingled
with the earthly,
danced a round or two
and Life began.
"...born of the virgin Mary"
Gripped in the vise
of birth pains,
his child's skull,
a battering ram from within,
our High Priest
was born in blood
and water
as we are;
yet perfect as we
are not.
Descended from Mary,
whose ancestor, David
received the promise
awaited
for generations;
Even Joseph
can trace lines that
echo prophet's words
and wander back
to Eve herself;
the Promised Hero
waited since banishment
from the garden,
yet untainted with
Adam's sin.
"I believe in Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin, Mary."
Firstborn of a new creation.
Fragments chipped away,
reshaped,
distorted -
threatening collapse.
A core was essential -
a solid isle on which to stand,
substantial,
clearly outlined,
entrenched in time.
More than rationality,
belief is choice and emotion
linked to thought and action:
grasping raspy rope
and rappelling down
the mountainside.
Just thinking it is so
will not do
when questions come
(as come they must),
when the earth quakes
and trembles.
Belief is more than
intellectual certainty.
A scientific treatise
on the trustworthy fibers
joined together to
create the rope
is helpful but
faith requires a leap.
Sometimes
"darkness is my
closest friend"
for then
I must trust what
I cannot see
and cling ferociously.
Day-by-day faith
requires choice
walking hand-in-hand
with reason, doubt
and trust in the Person
of my God:
fathersonspirit.
The Creed is a portrait
of this Person,
painted in broad
and minute strokes;
delineated,
examined,
cradled in crimson
and verdant green.
This I believe.
