What's it worth?

Jamie Read, our Assistant Minister at St Peter's, preached a very important sermon on Sunday night. Tragically - and ironically, given the subject - only a few people were there to hear him.
The passage was Matthew 13:44-46

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, ⁴⁶ who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

It was desperately sad that, in light of the invaluable gift of the Kingdom of God, so few people were willing to give up an hour or so to "come together as the family of God in our Father's presence to offer him praise and thanksgiving, to hear and receive his holy word, to bring before him the needs of the world, to ask his forgiveness of our sins, and to seek his grace, that through his Son Jesus Christ we may give ourselves to his service."

Of course, it might be argued that going to church is not the same as receiving the Kingdom of God. And there's some truth in that, but surely if we really are members of the Kingdom, children of our heavenly Father, brothers and sisters in Christ, members of the body of Christ who carry one-another's burdens and share one-another's joys, then we will delight in meeting together?

I suspect that the current trend for attending church as and when it suits reflects a terrible individualism that focuses so much on a personal relationship with Jesus that it ignores the corporate nature of the Kingdom. But we can't enter the Kingdom on our own terms. We can't say to Jesus, 'Yes, I'd like eternal life, but I don't want to meet together with other Christians more than a couple of times a month...' 

For too long we've driven a wedge between the Kingdom and the church. No, they're not exactly the same thing, but there is sufficient overlap to be able to say that part of the cost of the Kingdom is taking our place and our responsibilities in Christ's body seriously. 

I came away from church on Sunday with the words of Jesus ringing in my ears, 

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. (Mat 7:21)

Who will drink the cup?

Luke 22:39 – 62

It’s a simple request. ‘Pray. Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’

And it’s not as if Jesus asks something he’s not prepared to do himself: ‘Jesus withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed.’

But of course, the disciples had already shown their natural inclinations, and it’s really no surprise when they fail to pray and fall asleep.

Just think about these 12 men who have witnessed the teaching, the kindness, the humility and power of Jesus:

• One of them has left the meal early and gone out into the night to betray him.
• The others have argued about which of them should be considered the greatest.
• Peter promised his loyalty, ‘I’m ready to go with you to prison and death.’ But Jesus says, ‘Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.’

And so they walk to the Mount of Olives: Jesus in front, the 11 remaining disciples following on. Then, after Jesus has prayed, Judas returns, leading a crowd of religious leaders, temple guards and servants to Jesus, and he betrays Jesus with… a kiss.

Though Jesus taught the disciples to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them, they draw their swords and attack the servant of the High Priest. And Jesus has to heal him. Then, as Jesus is arrested and taken away to prison, Peter hangs back from Jesus and follows only ‘at a distance.’

Later, as Jesus stands before the high priest, Peter warms himself by the fire.

A servant girl comes up and takes a good look at him, ‘This man was with Jesus.’

‘Woman, I don’t know him.’

A little later, someone else thinks he recognises Peter, ‘You are one of them’. But again, Peter denies Jesus,  ‘Man, I’m not!’

As time drags on, Peter gets into conversation with some of the others gathered around the fire, and hearing his accent, someone else says, ‘This man was with him – he’s from Galilee like them.’ 

‘Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ says Peter.

And the cock crows.

Far from going to prison and to death with Jesus, Peter has denied him 3 times.

So here we have the disciples: Self-promoting. Superficial. Spineless. Violent. Faithless. Power-hungry. It’s a desperately sad picture of humanity.

“But”, you protest, “you’re exaggerating: The disciples didn’t understand Jesus and his call to humility... and verse 45 tells us they were exhausted from sorrow… Judas was disillusioned with Jesus’ focus on spiritual matters and his lack of social and political action… Peter was frightened – Jesus had been arrested – his denials are understandable. You’re too harsh on the disciples.”

Maybe. Maybe not. What’s Jesus’ own verdict on the situation? Have a look at v53.‘This is your hour – when darkness reigns.’ This isn’t a moment of mere weakness.This is a dark, dark hour. This is the moment when ignorance and evil reign.

And what was Peter’s verdict on his own denials? As soon as Jesus looked at him, and he realised what he’d done, v62, “he went outside and wept bitterly.”This hard-nosed fisherman, this natural leader of men, wept because of his cowardice.

 

This moment in history demonstrates all-too-well the response of the whole of humanity to the authority, the compassion, the humility, the truth of the Son of God: too tired; betrayers; deniers.

It was a simple request, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ But they didn’t pray, and they did fall into temptation.

And while they should have been praying, Jesus was praying on his knees,  ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me. Yet not my will but yours be done.’ An angel came – probably with a message from heaven -and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.’

How can you describe or imagine the agony of Jesus at this moment?

‘Should I do my Father’s will and drink the cup or walk away?’ The cup – the cup of suffering, yes, but so much more than that. It’s described in Isaiah 51 as the cup of God’s wrath that makes men stagger.

This is the cup that contains the divine, eternal and just punishment for the self-promoting, superficial, spineless, violent, faithless, power-hungry, murdering darkness of humanity.

And as he contemplates the horror of this cup, Jesus prays more earnestly and his sweat drips from his face like drops of blood. His exertion in prayer is like that of an Olympic Athlete.

And he makes his decision. ‘Father, not my will but yours be done.’Jesus has not fallen into temptation – not even when faced with the prospect of drinking the foaming cup of God’s wrath. Jesus isn’t too tired to pray. He won’t deny or betray his Father.

And then Judas arrives, walks up to Jesus and kisses his cheek. Jesus turns to the leaders of God’s people – the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders – ‘Am I leading a rebellion that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you I the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns.’ This is the hour when the perfectly good, honourable, sinless Son of God is treated as an evil criminal.

But think back to what Jesus had said just before they left the Last Supper: v17, ‘It is written, ‘he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, and what is written about me is reaching its fulfilment.’

So here he is, numbered with the transgressors – treated as a common criminal, as if he had done wrong, as if the Son of God had blasphemed. This truly is the darkest hour when the moral order is turned upside down; the ultimate injustice is done; the good is punished as if it were evil.

And yet… it’s not only the religious authorities who treat Jesus as a criminal. God does too.

As we saw earlier, Jesus has steeled himself to drink the cup of God’s wrath – not because he has been disobedient, but because we have, and he drinks the cup on our behalf. If you remember, the reference to the cup of wrath was in Isaiah 51. And in Isaiah 52 & 53 we have that most astonishing OT passage describing Jesus’ death:

He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

And by his wounds we have been healed.

We all, like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned to his own way,

And the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

And the passage concludes:

he poured out his soul to death

and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

and makes intercession for the transgressors

Why was Jesus numbered with the transgressors? Why was he counted as a sinner by God? Why did he drink the cup of God’s wrath? Because he bore the sins of many.

Because he bore the sins of the disciples: the self-promoting, superficial, spineless, violent, faithless, power-hungry disciples. But he bore more than just their sin. He bore our sin. My sin. Your sin.

An yet, here’s a question you must answer for yourself: have you ever recognised and admitted that he also carried your sins?

Oh, you may have been attending church for years. You may understand the theory of the cross of Christ. You may even be able to give a good explanation of penal substitutionary atonement.

But have you ever experienced the overwhelming freedom and joy of Jesus carrying your sins to his cross and paying your penalty?

When we sang that opening hymn, was it truly, deeply personal to you?

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

After Peter had persistently denied Jesus, the cock crowed. The Lord Jesus looked straight at him. And Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

Peter needed that jolt – that look from the Lord – to make him realise the seriousness of his attitude towards Jesus – his mistrust, his denial, the way he distanced himself from Jesus.

What will it take to jolt you out of your complacency, your denial, your mistrust, your cold-heartedness, your downright disobedience towards Jesus?

Can you look at Jesus on his knees in the garden and remain unmoved as he faces the horror of the cup of God’s wrath which should be yours, but which he will drink for you?

At the end of the service this morning, we’re going to sing an old hymn. Again, I ask you, can you sing this for yourself?

Thy grief and Thy compassion

were all for sinners’ gain;

mine, mine was the transgression,

but Thine the deadly pain.

What language shall I borrow

to praise Thee, heavenly Friend,

for this, Thy dying sorrow,

Thy pity without end?

Lord, make me Thine for ever,

nor let me faithless prove;

O let me never, never

abuse such dying love!

Hopelessly devoted

In Acts 2, Luke describes the church as follows:

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

"Devoted" - proskarterew - means:

1. to adhere to one, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to one
2. to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing
3. to continue all the time in a place
4. to persevere and not to faint
5. to show one's self courageous for
6. to be in constant readiness for one, wait on constantly  

All too often, we think that 'devotion' applies only to the apostles teaching. But it doesn't. It applies to the fellowship and to the breaking of bread (i.e. probably meals in homes rather than the Lord's Supper cf v46) and to prayer. We're to be devoted to them all - and that means being devoted to each other.

It's not about devotion to an organisation - St Peter's or St Cuthbert's or Downton Evangelical - it's about devotion to people: to John and Jane and Joe and Jack... So let's put this idea into the definition:

to adhere to John, be his adherent, to be devoted or constant to him. In other words to be there for his sake when you don't want to be there or would rather be somewhere else.

to be steadfastly attentive unto Jane, to give unremitting care to her. In other words to listen again and again, to visit and invite again and again.

to continue all the time in a place together with John, Jane, Joe, Jack... Or as Hebrews puts it, 'Do not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing.'

to persevere and not to faint for the sake of John. Don't stop praying.

to show one's self courageous for Joe. Never stop asking the hard questions about her quiet times. Trudge through the snow to be there for her.

to be in constant readiness for Jack, wait constantly on him. When he phones at an awkward time, don't moan!

When people in a church community have that devotion to one another, they will praise GOd with glad and sincere hearts as they meet together. And they will "enjoy the favour of all the people" who are not yet in the community of Christ.
But this kind of devotion can only come when we have each first experienced the devotion of Jesus to us: the Jesus who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross; the Jesus who agonised in the garden of Gethsemane and whose exertion in prayer caused his sweat to run like drops of blood as he committed himself to do his Father's will and to drink the cup of suffering for you and me.

The endless compassion of Jesus

The phone rings just as you've sat down for Sunday lunch...

Your child calls out from her room just as you've sat down with a coffee...

Your elderly father calls for the third time in one evening...

When people make demands on us when it doesn't suit us, we can be quick to moan. Sometimes we might even ignore their requests (and caller display makes this so much easier!).

Herod sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. and his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 

 Matthew 14:10-14

John the Baptist is callously killed by a weak and stupid king. And Jesus takes off for some space. Space from the crowds and the constant questions of the diciples. Space to think and pray.
We don't know if Jesus was particularly close to John the Baptist - they don't seem to have spent much time together. So Jesus may have been reflecting as much on humanity's sick, evil hearts and his mission to rescue us as much as the particular loss of John. Perhaps his thoughts turned to his own death and his Father's request that he should carry the depravity of the world on his shoulders as well as the just wrath of the Father.

We don't know exactly why Jesus went off for some time alone. What we do know is how he responds when that time is interrupted by crowds of people: he has compassion on them. He is moved to action.

Now we could read this and think, 'I should follow his example.' Of course I should! But I don't and I know I won't. And if I read it this way, I just get burdened with guilt.

But the great news is that Jesus did continue to have compassion when it was inconvenient, when he was tired, when it meant suffering and even death. What a relief that is. Because Jesus does what I can't do - because he dies for my failure to do what I should - I am free from guilt.

Free from guilt, free to be filled with the Spirit, free to be a child of my heavenly Father. With that security, and having received that love and forgiveness, I'm now much more likely to go and show the compassion that I myself have received (cf 2 Corinthians 1:3-7).

So we really must stop looking to Jesus as primarily a moral example. That will lead us to guilt and failure and despair. As we read about Jesus, we must not ask, 'What should I do?', but 'Who is he and what did he do?' Then we can ask, 'Who, by faith in Christ, am I?'

The vital importance of the Trinity

Having given a rave review of Mike Reeves', 'The Good God' in my last post, here are some (not original) thoughts on the consequences of not giving enough thought to God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

1. A denial of Jesus' penal subsititutionary death: A few years ago a prominent speaker & author said that for the Father to punish the Son in our place and for our sins was like 'cosmic child abuse'. But this fails to appreciate a number of vital truths: first that the Son is fully God. It is not some harsh remote Father who punishes his young, good, boy for the sins of other, naughty, children. Rather, it is God himself shedding his own blood and bearing our sins in his body on the tree (1 Peter 2:23-35; Acts 20:28).

Second, it ignores the fact that Jesus willingly obeyed his Father in the full knowledge of what would happen. Jesus wasn't coerced, he wasn't naive, he is the eternal, divine Son of God, he is wise and understanding. As he himself said, 'No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again.' (John 10:18 and see Mark 14:32-42). 

2. A denial of the complementary roles of men and women: The relationship between the Father and the Son expresses itself in an extraordinary way. The Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit) are by their very nature, equal. Each possesses the attributes of the one and only God. And yet, the Father commands the Son and the Son obeys the Father (John 5:19; 12:49-50; 14:31; 15:10; Mark 14:36 [=Mt 26:39, 42 & Luke 22:42] see also Isaiah 11:3; Isaiah 50:1-7; Isaiah 53:7-10). Not only that, but the Son comes to his Father and prays - he makes requests of his Father. The Son doesn't act on his own, he asks his Father (John 17:1ff). 

This complementarity and equality is (or should be) reflected in the equal and complementary roles of men and women in the church (1 Corinthians 11:3 - notice how the relationship between God the Father and God the Son is a pattern for men & women: it's not cultural, but theological, as it is in Ephesians 5). If the thought of this repulses you, then have a read of this remarkable article by Fabienne Harford.  

3. A failure to understand, and engage with, non-Christians. We need to understand who it is that non-Christians are rejecting. And it's not the loving, relational, outward-looking, self-sacrificing Trinity. They reject a Spy-in-the-Sky God. A Big Brother (George Orwell, '1984', not Channel 5!). They reject a self-seeking, kill-joy God. They reject a 'fuhrer, not a Father,' as someone has said. If we're to witness effectively to these people (whether they're atheists, agnostics or Muslims) we need a sound understanding of the Trinity, and the ability to communicate this. Reeves has a lot to say about this, so read his book!

4. A lack of security and assurance: Our assurance lies in the fact that there is an eternal and superabundant love in the Trinity. This love flows out from the Father, through Jesus, and is applied to our hearts by the Spirit. So Jesus says, 'As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; (John 15:9 see also 1 John 4:7-10).

But that's not all. It's the Son's loving obedience to the Father that leads him to die for us. It's not because we're worth so much that persuades Jesus to go to the cross, but his eternal and perfect love of (and therefore his obedience to) his Father. (It's worth reading the whole of John 17 and asking what Jesus says about how his relationship with his Father impacts upon our enjoyment of God the Trinity). 

We could go on to look at how an understanding of the Trinity affects our joy in Him and our understanding of eternal life and the new earth, but that's probably enough for now. Don't be afraid of getting to grips with the Trinity!

One of the best little books you could read...

In these days, when we expect instant gratification, reading abook about the Trinity isn't top of many people's 'to do' list. But please do get hold of a copy of Michael Reeve's little book, 'The Good God: enjoying Father, Son & Holy Spirit.' 
Reeves doesn't waste words. He fills each and every page with captivating truths about the love that overflows from God the Father to God the Son and into which we are drawn by God the Spirit.
Having trawled through the greatest theologians of history, Reeves gives us the very best from the likes of Luther, Calvin, Edwards and Owen in delicious, bite-sized morsels. And of course, he never strays from the Bible, but explains and applies it with insight and real passion.
In particular, Reeves explains why God must be three persons and not just one (as Islam teaches). That doesn't sound very exciting, but the way he explains and applies it is truly stunning. If you're not deeply moved by this book, you need to come and see me for a serious chat!

This is a wonderful little book. Buy it. Read it. Be amazed.

£6.79 from https://www.10ofthose.com/products/11870/The-Good-God/

P.S. Thanks to Jamie for this great birthday present!! 

Christians and judgement

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Over the years, a number of fellow – and well-meaning – Christians have questioned the genuineness of my faith & my relationships with Jesus. More than once I’ve been accused of not believing the Bible because I don’t believe in a literal 6 x 24hr-day creation. And someone once questioned whether I had genuinely repented because I had a slipped disc.

Some of the Corinthian church members were questioning the apostle Paul’s faith – and that’s one of the reasons he wrote this letter. 

The Corinthians didn’t think Paul’s life demonstrated the genuine marks of a Spirit-filled & empowered apostle: his preaching was weak, he was ill, he faced opposition from the Jews, the Romans and some churches. So was he really a gifted church leader? Was he filled with the Spirit? Was he really a Christian at all?!

If your faith was called into question what would you say? How would you demonstrate that your faith was genuine?

So far, Paul has defended himself by admitting that he is indeed weak: hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down. In fact, he says he’s like a plain & fragile clay pot. ‘But,’ he says, ‘it is through that suffering, that I’ve learned to put all my trust in God who raised Jesus from the dead. It doesn’t matter how weak I am, what matters is how strong God is and whether or not I trust him. I do trust him and so I’ve given my whole life over to serving him and proclaiming the gospel. And even if that dedication to Christ should lead to my death, so be it, for we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven.’ (v1)

But now in vv6-10, he tells the Corinthians that it doesn’t really matter what they think about him. One day, he and they will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, and that’s the only verdict that matters. So, v10: For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Why does Paul say this? Well, there was, amongst the Corinthians – as there still is today – a tendency for Christians to think that  because we’re forgiven, we won’t be judged. In fact, some Christians seem to think that on judgement day, they’ll be in the public gallery watching all the non-Christians being condemned.

And so Christians can become complacent. And complacency leads to carelessness, and carelessness to sin: “If Jesus has been judged in my place, I’m OK. If I sin a bit, if I’m lazy in my discipleship, if I compromise and live a… well, a more balanced life…  it doesn’t matter too much because Jesus has forgiven me and I’m on my way to heaven.”

At Corinth, this attitude led to sexual immorality in the church. It led to greed and a lack of concern for poor members of the congregation. There was spiritual pride and arrogance. Is the church today – are we – really any different?

Now, let me draw your attention to a number of critically important points here: First, look at v10: we must all appear before the judgement seat of Jesus Christ.

Yes, each and every one of us will appear before Christ the judge. Paul includes himself and all the Corinthian Christians when he says, ‘We…’  It’s not just non-Christians who will have to take the stand in God’s courtroom. Every person without exception will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Now that may surprise you. And it may worry you.

But before we deal with that, we need to be clear about who the judge is – who it that we have to give account to: v10, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.

Yes, the judge is Jesus: as he himself said in John 5, The Father judges no-one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son… he has given him authority to judge.

So each and every one of us will one day stand before Judge Jesus.

But on what basis will we be judged? V10 again, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.   

So we’ll be judged according to our actions & behaviour in this life – according to what we have done, whether good or bad.

Now, if you understand that eternal life is a free gift from God, then you may be wondering if Paul hasn’t completely lost the plot here. 

Paul is quite clear that we are saved by the grace of God received through faith in Jesus, and that is exactly what he says in 5:17 -19  

if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.

And v21: God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

God has taken all the initiative in saving us – he has reconciled us, he doesn’t count our sins against us, he made Jesus to be sin for us. God has done all that’s necessary for us to be at peace with him and for us to be forgiven.

So how come we’re judged?

Well, everyone – Xn and non-Xn – must appear in court so that the evidence can be presented to the judge in order for him to make a just, fair & right decision. And that’s the point here. To be acquitted, you will need to demonstrate that you accepted God’s free gift of grace – that you have received the free gift of reconciliation with God – that you have received the free gift of eternal life.

On Christmas day here at St Peter’s, I always walk around church and ask to see some of the Christmas presents that people have received. And people show the evidence of the gifts they have received – the toys, the ties, the i-phones and the jumpers. They’re not showing that they deserved the gift, they’re showing that they received the gift.

On judgement day we stand before Jesus to show the evidence that we received his gift of forgiveness and eternal life. We don’t stand there and try to demonstrate that we deserve EL – because we don’t. The non-Xn will have nothing to show. He’s rejected Jesus. He’s rejected God’s grace and gift.

So, there we are, standing before Judge Jesus. And the evidence that we have received God’s gracious gift is brought before him. What will he be looking for?

Verses 7-9 tell us…  For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…

One of the things Jesus will be looking for is where you’d rather be. Would you rather be here on earth, at home with your family, with your friends, at work, on the golf course, at the footy or… would you rather be at home with the Lord?

Paul says he’d rather be at home with the Lord. There’s nowhere he’d rather be than with Jesus. There’s no-one he’d rather spend time with. There’s no-one he’d rather serve. And so he goes on, So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. The driving, motivating force in Paul’s life is pleasing Jesus.  Not because he thinks he’ll impress Jesus his judge, but because he’s so grateful to Jesus his saviour.

When Paul stands before Jesus the judge, the evidence will be clear: he had received the gift of reconciliation with God – the gift of EL – and he lived to please Jesus.

So when you and I stand before Judge Jesus, what evidence will we be able to present?

Will you have evidence to show that you had truly, consciously, deliberately accepted Jesus Christ’s offer of new life, and that you lived your life in deep gratitude for that gift? Will the evidence show that you truly believed that Jesus suffered, bled & died for you and that you lived your life to please him?

But, I guess that some of you are still wondering if this really is what Paul’s saying here. You don’t think this sounds quite right. Well, let’s follow through the logic of Paul’s argument:

The Corinthians doubt the genuineness of his faith. They doubt that he’s a Spirit-filled, God-appointed apostle. So, in chapters 1-4, he says, ‘I know that outwardly I appear weak and feeble. So did Jesus. He didn’t come with human power. He didn’t defeat evil with armies & chariots. He came in humility. He was beaten and abused. He was crucified.

And yet, out of his weakness came eternal life. And now, that eternal life isn’t displayed in human power but through weakness and suffering. And it’s because I know Jesus and have received his gift of life, that I’m prepared to lay down my life to please him. He’s done everything for me, he’s given everything for me, and I’m so grateful and so full of trust in him, that I’ll suffer and even die for him.

And if I do die, I lose nothing. Though at the moment, I’m away from my Lord and I live by faith, not by sigh,  yet I’m fully confident that one day I will see him and be with him forever – in fact there’s nowhere I’d rather be with than Jesus my Saviour and Lord.

If I took you down to Hotel du Vin for a meal and you could choose any guest in the whole world to be there, who would you choose? Did you have to think about it – even for a second? Surely the answer to that question is, without a moment’s hesitation, is “Jesus”!

That’s what Jesus is looking for when we stand before him. We want him. We want to be with him, we want to please him, to enjoy him, to serve him, to love him.

Jesus said, , ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  (Matthew 6:19-21)

On judgement day, Jesus will be looking to see where your treasure is. Is he your treasure, is his gift of eternal life your treasure, or is it something or someone else?

Jesus said, Do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  (Matthew 6:19-21)

On judgement day, Jesus will look to see what you’ve spent your life running after and worrying about – the things of this life or his kingdom and his righteousness?

All of this will be evidence as to whether you’ve gratefully received Jesus and his gift of forgiveness & eternal life or you’ve rejected him and his gifts. 

So how will we increase our desire to please Jesus? How will we ensure that we will have the evidence of having received him?

Well, imagine that a man gets down on one knee and offers a girl an engagement ring. Eagerly, she accepts. All the next week, she can’t stop looking at the ring. She just can’t help touching it – and when no-one’s looking… she even kisses it!

Well, we need constantly to look at the gift God has given us. We need to be gazing on Jesus: Thinking about the cross. Wondering at his love. Marvelling at his compassion and endless faithfulness. As we do that, gratitude and a desire to please Jesus will well up in our hearts.

You know what it’s like if you begin to research the possibility of buying a new computer or a new car. The more you research it, the more you gaze at the pictures and examine the spec. the more you want it – eventually you decide you really can’t live without it.

So it is with Jesus. Gaze at him and you’ll see how much you want him and need him. Your love for him will grow and nothing will give you more pleasure than pleasing him.

Your evidence on judgment day will be plain for all to see.