The sermon discusses how religious rituals and human efforts are like shadows that point to the reality of Christ. It summarizes:
1) Religious rituals and practices from human religions are "shadows" that lack power for salvation on their own and only find meaning and fulfillment through Christ.
2) Human efforts to achieve salvation through works or accomplishments are also "shadows" that are reduced to nothing in the face of death.
3) Jesus Christ is the ultimate reality and fulfillment of both religious shadows and human efforts. Through his death and resurrection, Christ has overcome death and infused eternal life and meaning. Belief in Christ frees people from living in shadows and brings them into the
The power and glory of Christ as the revelation of GodGLENN PEASE
"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." —
John 14 : 9.
All the ages have
more clearly endeavored to define the mean-
ing of these words; and, notwithstanding the
criticism of philosophy and the opposition of
secular and worldly thought, the relationship
of Jesus Christ to the Father in a unity of
nature altogether unique and transcendent
has been and is growingly the mightiest moral
and spiritual power ever manifested in the
history of mankind.
The Five Solas -- Class 1, Sola ScripturaChuck Noren
The Five Solas is a series of classes exploring the five major slogans of the Protestant Reformation. In this class, we look at Sola Scriptura or the Bible Alone. This traces some of its origins, its development during the Reformation, and how it applies today.
The power and glory of Christ as the revelation of GodGLENN PEASE
"He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." —
John 14 : 9.
All the ages have
more clearly endeavored to define the mean-
ing of these words; and, notwithstanding the
criticism of philosophy and the opposition of
secular and worldly thought, the relationship
of Jesus Christ to the Father in a unity of
nature altogether unique and transcendent
has been and is growingly the mightiest moral
and spiritual power ever manifested in the
history of mankind.
The Five Solas -- Class 1, Sola ScripturaChuck Noren
The Five Solas is a series of classes exploring the five major slogans of the Protestant Reformation. In this class, we look at Sola Scriptura or the Bible Alone. This traces some of its origins, its development during the Reformation, and how it applies today.
In talking about the humanity of Christ we must not rely on our reason alone rather we look in the eyes of faith so that we may see the truth clearly. On the other hand, we cannot separate the reason and faith for they must go hand in hand.
As St. Augustine says, faith seeks understanding. Moreover, scripture presents to us the evidences to prove the humanity of Christ. This will be our guide to have an idea on the life of Christ. In addition, the truth by which our early fathers of the church passed on to us will be part of this topic. The error of the teaching of some early Christians will also be included.
The Story of Salvation: A Narrative Theology of Hell—Robin ParryGospel Conversations
In this third talk of our Hope and Hell conference, Robin paints a sweeping picture of the story of salvation beginning with creation and ending with the eschaton. He then poses the significant question—which fits best into this picture—hell or universal salvation? This talk is quite awe-inspiring—not because it advocates universal salvation (which it does) but even more because it stretches our horizons beyond individual redemption into the purpose of the cosmos. In developing his theme, Robin draws heavily on the magnificent Patristic fathers and their grand conception of the irresistible goodness of God.
Podcast (iTunes, Spotify, PodBean, and SoundCloud platforms): https://GospelConversations.com/podcast
YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/user/GospelConversations
Social Media:
https://Facebook.com/GospelConversations
https://Twitter.com/GospelConvers
Website: https://GospelConversations.com
Mailing List (notifications of events and new content): http://eepurl.com/guDp4n
The central theme of Jesus preaching, and one that links all of the scriptures. A video presentation may be found at https://vimeo.com/vivgrigg/kingdom.
Universal salvation raises the critically important question of how we read the Bible—or ‘hermeneutics’. That is what Robin covers in this talk. He sweeps us through a big landscape in three succinct waves—each bigger than the one before. Firstly he confronts the foreground question of biblical texts—and he makes the point that everybody has problems here. How do we reconcile God’s love with his omnipotence? He then moves onto slightly broader terrain—we need the read texts in their context BUT the meaning of the texts will often be bigger than even the author intended or realised. And finally, he finishes with a new horizon of interpretation—the future. He talks about the ‘trajectories’ of the biblical canon, which stretch beyond themselves for future generations—like ours—to articulate. He uses the development of the doctrine of the Trinity as an example. So this talk is as much about how we read the Bible as how we do or don’t find ‘universal salvation’ in the Bible.
This is the second talk from our Hope and Hell conference.
Website:
https://GospelConversations.com
Mailing List (notifications of events and new content):
http://eepurl.com/guDp4n
Podcast (iTunes, Spotify, PodBean, and SoundCloud platforms):
https://GospelConversations.com/podcast
Social Media:
https://Facebook.com/GospelConversations
https://Twitter.com/GospelConvers
YouTube Channel:
https://YouTube.com/user/GospelConversations
Racial tension is not a new phenomena, it is as old as the human race. For eons of time, man looked at himself in the mirror and decided that he is superior to the person that looks differently than himself.
This is a study of Jesus as the light of all mankind. This was the case in His pre-incarnate state in eternity. He was already the life and light of the world.
What is the true test of Godliness? How can one fellowship with the true church without being contaminated by the religious impositions of men of today?
The Prince of this world has long been striving and seems almost close to achieving that victory. it is the natural result of the error by the Church; a lowering of the standard of the Kingdom of God through the introduction of the gospel of convenience, a walk with God without transformation of life , a Christianity without the Cross. The church surrendering this basis of her power and legitimacy has made her to exist in a perfect and harmonious accord with the world.
The visible church has virtually created her own ‘GOD’ a religious deity who seems satisfied with his subjects excesses ,cares little about their sins, highly appreciates their works of virtue, even though these were predicated on human pride , and looks with pleasure upon their bold deeds and intellectual displays. Packages of doctrines, whole pedestals of understanding and range of thinking system which form the basis of people’s faith have been tailored to satisfy the cravings of fallen men.
The God of the bible has been left of his own House. His city lies in virtual ruins while the city wall are continually been compromised so that strangers may enter at will. This book written by Ayodeji Ezra-Williams brings to mind the words of Jesus Christ comparing the days of his coming to the days of Noah
In talking about the humanity of Christ we must not rely on our reason alone rather we look in the eyes of faith so that we may see the truth clearly. On the other hand, we cannot separate the reason and faith for they must go hand in hand.
As St. Augustine says, faith seeks understanding. Moreover, scripture presents to us the evidences to prove the humanity of Christ. This will be our guide to have an idea on the life of Christ. In addition, the truth by which our early fathers of the church passed on to us will be part of this topic. The error of the teaching of some early Christians will also be included.
The Story of Salvation: A Narrative Theology of Hell—Robin ParryGospel Conversations
In this third talk of our Hope and Hell conference, Robin paints a sweeping picture of the story of salvation beginning with creation and ending with the eschaton. He then poses the significant question—which fits best into this picture—hell or universal salvation? This talk is quite awe-inspiring—not because it advocates universal salvation (which it does) but even more because it stretches our horizons beyond individual redemption into the purpose of the cosmos. In developing his theme, Robin draws heavily on the magnificent Patristic fathers and their grand conception of the irresistible goodness of God.
Podcast (iTunes, Spotify, PodBean, and SoundCloud platforms): https://GospelConversations.com/podcast
YouTube Channel: https://YouTube.com/user/GospelConversations
Social Media:
https://Facebook.com/GospelConversations
https://Twitter.com/GospelConvers
Website: https://GospelConversations.com
Mailing List (notifications of events and new content): http://eepurl.com/guDp4n
The central theme of Jesus preaching, and one that links all of the scriptures. A video presentation may be found at https://vimeo.com/vivgrigg/kingdom.
Universal salvation raises the critically important question of how we read the Bible—or ‘hermeneutics’. That is what Robin covers in this talk. He sweeps us through a big landscape in three succinct waves—each bigger than the one before. Firstly he confronts the foreground question of biblical texts—and he makes the point that everybody has problems here. How do we reconcile God’s love with his omnipotence? He then moves onto slightly broader terrain—we need the read texts in their context BUT the meaning of the texts will often be bigger than even the author intended or realised. And finally, he finishes with a new horizon of interpretation—the future. He talks about the ‘trajectories’ of the biblical canon, which stretch beyond themselves for future generations—like ours—to articulate. He uses the development of the doctrine of the Trinity as an example. So this talk is as much about how we read the Bible as how we do or don’t find ‘universal salvation’ in the Bible.
This is the second talk from our Hope and Hell conference.
Website:
https://GospelConversations.com
Mailing List (notifications of events and new content):
http://eepurl.com/guDp4n
Podcast (iTunes, Spotify, PodBean, and SoundCloud platforms):
https://GospelConversations.com/podcast
Social Media:
https://Facebook.com/GospelConversations
https://Twitter.com/GospelConvers
YouTube Channel:
https://YouTube.com/user/GospelConversations
Racial tension is not a new phenomena, it is as old as the human race. For eons of time, man looked at himself in the mirror and decided that he is superior to the person that looks differently than himself.
This is a study of Jesus as the light of all mankind. This was the case in His pre-incarnate state in eternity. He was already the life and light of the world.
What is the true test of Godliness? How can one fellowship with the true church without being contaminated by the religious impositions of men of today?
The Prince of this world has long been striving and seems almost close to achieving that victory. it is the natural result of the error by the Church; a lowering of the standard of the Kingdom of God through the introduction of the gospel of convenience, a walk with God without transformation of life , a Christianity without the Cross. The church surrendering this basis of her power and legitimacy has made her to exist in a perfect and harmonious accord with the world.
The visible church has virtually created her own ‘GOD’ a religious deity who seems satisfied with his subjects excesses ,cares little about their sins, highly appreciates their works of virtue, even though these were predicated on human pride , and looks with pleasure upon their bold deeds and intellectual displays. Packages of doctrines, whole pedestals of understanding and range of thinking system which form the basis of people’s faith have been tailored to satisfy the cravings of fallen men.
The God of the bible has been left of his own House. His city lies in virtual ruins while the city wall are continually been compromised so that strangers may enter at will. This book written by Ayodeji Ezra-Williams brings to mind the words of Jesus Christ comparing the days of his coming to the days of Noah
THE KUNDALINI RISING: CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS: VISUALIZING AND ANIMATING THE ESO...William John Meegan
The Kundalini is a strange and unfamiliar concept to the monotheistic religions in modernity; nonetheless, the Judeao Christian Scriptures and the Roman Catholic Church’s artworks have a number of examples that I am aware of symbolizing and conveying the concept of the Kundalini mythoi. In addition there is plenty of evidence that Catholicism built Chartres Cathedral as a monument to the Kundalini Serpent. None of this symbolic evidence has ever been exposed overtly to any great lengths to the laity. That evidence is of course covertly placed in plain sight for all to partake of; however, few recognize that symbolic artwork for what it is. In this paper I will laid out all the evidence of the mythoi of the Kundalini that I am aware of, which is extensive seeing modernity know nothing about this spiritual concept in the Judeao Christian traditions. There may be some scholars that know something about this spiritual concept; however, it seems that they have chosen to keep silent about it.
THE TRINITY:GOD THE FATHER,SON AND HOLY SPIRITNkor Ioka
CHRISTIAN SUPERNATURAL TEACHINGS, BIBLE CLASS LESSONS, GOSPELS BY LEADER OLUMBA OLUMBA OBU, THE SUPERNATURAL TEACHER AND SOLE SPIRITUAL HEAD, BROTHERHOOD OF THE CROSS AND STAR
This is a study of Jesus being the head of every man. God was the head of Jesus, man was the head of women, and Jesus was the head of man. It is all about headship and order.
This is a study of Jesus being the greatest wise man. He had the very wisdom of His father, and as you study His teaching you come to realize that no one ever spoke as He did, and no one was ever more clever in dealing with problems and issues. He had the greatest plan for the best life for time and eternity.
This presentation is an introduction to a series that examines false christs and the false salvation each offers. This message examines the question of whether it matters which Jesus a person believes in.
Jesus was the foolishness and weakness of god'GLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being the foolishness and weakness of God. The cross seems nonsense to the world, but it is really the wisdom of God by which he saves the world.
This is a collection of writings dealing with the Holy Spirit as a spirit of truth to guide the Apostles into all truth, and to lead them into understanding of what is to come.
HKBU, 2019. Introduction to epistemology and logic. Truth vs Reality. Statements Vs Knowledge. A priori. A posterior. Laws of Logic. Categorical argument, Disjunctive argument, Hypothetical argument
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 9 - Resisting Temptation Along the Way
SBs – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
The Book of Joshua is the sixth book in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament, and is the first book of the Deuteronomistic history, the story of Israel from the conquest of Canaan to the Babylonian exile.
The Good News, newsletter for June 2024 is hereNoHo FUMC
Our monthly newsletter is available to read online. We hope you will join us each Sunday in person for our worship service. Make sure to subscribe and follow us on YouTube and social media.
HANUMAN STORIES: TIMELESS TEACHINGS FOR TODAY’S WORLDLearnyoga
Hanuman Stories: Timeless Teachings for Today’s World" delves into the inspiring tales of Hanuman, highlighting lessons of devotion, strength, and selfless service that resonate in modern life. These stories illustrate how Hanuman's unwavering faith and courage can guide us through challenges and foster resilience. Through these timeless narratives, readers can find profound wisdom to apply in their daily lives.
The PBHP DYC ~ Reflections on The Dhamma (English).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma Reflections for the PBHP DYC for the years 1993 – 2012. To motivate and inspire DYC members to keep on practicing the Dhamma and to do the meritorious deed of Dhammaduta work.
The texts are in English.
For the Video with audio narration, comments and texts in English, please check out the Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF2g_43NEa0
The Chakra System in our body - A Portal to Interdimensional Consciousness.pptxBharat Technology
each chakra is studied in greater detail, several steps have been included to
strengthen your personal intention to open each chakra more fully. These are designed
to draw forth the highest benefit for your spiritual growth.
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
What Should be the Christian View of Anime?Joe Muraguri
We will learn what Anime is and see what a Christian should consider before watching anime movies? We will also learn a little bit of Shintoism religion and hentai (the craze of internet pornography today).
1. BEYOND THE SHADOWS
A Sermon by Domenic Marbaniang
Pentecostal Church, Itarsi. January 13, 2008
‘…new moon, or the sabbath days. Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ’ (Col.
2: 16, 17).
The pale light from the silvery moon cast dark figures on the ground. Frightened, the
little boy asked, ‘What’s it, mother?’ ‘It’s the spirit’ she replied.
The shadow was a frightening phenomenon to many a pre-literate man. Even in a
seemingly sophisticated society as the Indian one, there was a time when caste Hindus
considered the very shadow of an outcaste as defiling. Somehow a connection was
imagined between the dark figure and solid reality. The modern world, however,
seems to have been greatly emancipated from the myth of the shadow. Modern
dictionaries define ‘shadow’ as a dark shape projected by any body blocking out light.
In itself, the shadow has no existence. It owes its existence to light and a body on
which the light falls. The shadow, of course, is only relatively real, i.e., in relation to
the body. Candidly, the shadow is equal to darkness, in one way. When night comes,
we say that darkness has descended: we don’t say the shadow of the earth is now on
us. It’s only because we are able to see the dark figure in contrast to its radiant
surrounding that we call it a shadow. Where such contrast is not possible, as in a dark
room, we accept that we’re in some dark place. We don’t say, for instance, in the dark
room case, that we’re in the shadow of the room’s four walls. We simply say, we’re in
a dark room. The only difference between pure darkness and shadowy darkness,
however, is that the shadow implies the existence of both light and a body while pure
darkness implies none.
When the Bible declares the Old Testament rituals as shadows of the reality, which is
Christ, it also implies the existence of both the light and the body: the light is the
revelation of Biblical prophecy about Christ (the Holy Scriptures); the body is Christ
Himself, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (cf. 1 Pet. 1: 10, 11, 20).
Christ was not absent from Old Testament history; He was with them all the time (1
Cor. 10:4, 9; Heb. 11: 24-26). All the Old Testament stipulations found their
fulfillment and reality in the being of Jesus Christ, the Messiah and the Son of the
Living God. Therefore, Christ could boldly state that the Scriptures testified about
Him (Jn. 5: 39). The revelation of Jesus Christ in New Testament history has
emancipated the world from the shadowy philosophies of humanity. This
emancipation, however, can only be experienced by an encounter with divine truth by
solid faith (Jn. 8: 32). This encounter involves an intellectual, affectionate, and
2. volitional response to God’s revelation of salvation in Jesus Christ. The Bible calls
man to abandon his life of obsession with shadowy reality and enter into the reality of
God’s light.
There are two gigantic shadows of human origin that one can still behold in the world
today: the shadow of human religion and the shadow of human effort. Both of these
seek salvation of some kind but can only find solace in the reality of Jesus Christ.
The Shadow of Human Religion
Religion in itself should not be considered to be evil. Someone has defined it as man’s
attempt to reach God. Obviously, desiring God is not evil in itself. Paul was not
incriminatory of the religious spirit of the Athenians (Acts 17: 22-30). To be
religiously minded after the things of God is not a problem. The problem relates to the
kind of God and religion that one desires and invents accordingly. The Bible is against
any human religion that corrupts the divine image and relegates it to the level of
corruptible creatures. This is the great wickedness of changing ‘the glory of the
incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things’ (Rom. 1: 23). It is an insult of God’s glory.
God doesn’t denounce people of all religions. The Bible does speak of prophets and
priests of God in non-Jewish religious traditions. Melchizedek, Balaam, and
Epimenides were not all Jewish prophets; however, God used them to reveal His truth
to people. One must understand that religion has both a positive and a negative aspect.
The positive aspect of religion is that it often foreshadows Christ as the Saviour from
evil. The various symbols and sacrifices can contain some revelatory information, and
missionaries in the past have found some of them to be important conceptual links in
communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ. Don Richardson’s book Eternity in their
Hearts gives good examples of such positive aspects of religion. However, this should
not serve to overlook the negative aspects of it: carnality, pride, self-spirituality,
occultic involvement, demonic doctrines, superstitions, and evil rituals. The Bible
makes a specific call to repent from all such humanly devised and demonically
influenced appearances of religiosity (Acts 17: 30).
Human religion is shadowy, for it has no power in itself for salvation. Its wisdom is
earth-bound and its power transient. But Christ is the eternal power and the eternal
wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1: 24). Therefore, He is able to save those to the uttermost that
come to Him (Heb. 7: 25). Religion is a shadow; Christ is the Reality. Religion is
anticipation; the Gospel, the answer.
3. Dr. John T. Seamond, in his The Supreme Task of the Church, if I am right, puts this
comparison quite strikingly:
Religion is man-made; the Gospel is God-given.
Religion is man’s search for God; the Gospel is God’s search for man.
Religion is good views, the Gospel is Good News.
Religion is good advice; the Gospel is a glorious announcement….
Religion white washes; the Gospel washes white.
Religion places the prime emphasis upon doing; the Gospel places the emphasis on a person.
You can take Buddha out of Buddhism and Buddhism still remains with its Four Noble Truths
and its Eight-fold Path.
You can take Mohammed out of Islam and Islam is still intact with its Five Pillars of Action and
its Six Articles of Belief.
But if you take Christ out of the Gospel, there is nothing left, for the Gospel is Christ.
Christ is the body; everything else is dependent on Him for meaning. All religious
philosophies and practices are nullified without Christ. That is why Paul said that he
considered all things that were profitable in the world’s eyes as loss for Christ. In fact,
he continued, he counted all the glories of carnal religion as refuse and dirt (Phil. 3: 48). We no longer need to strive after salvation and God; Jesus has appeared as the
answer to all human problems. Let us publish the Good News.
The Shadow of Human Effort
In the mind’s eye, one can see the soaring figure of Babel’s tower, the combined
effort of humanity, the symbol of man’s consummate energy; now, all in the dust.
Jewish historians tell us that the tower of Babel was man’s affront against God, the
symbol of human pride. Far glorious and magnificent than the Great Pyramids, any
man could feel puny, little, and moth-like in comparison to it. The sky-scaling
accomplishments of man are awe-inspiring, yet not without some intimidation.
God destroyed the tower of Babel because united human affront could mean total
destruction of all humanity. The division of man along linguistic barriers saved the
world from unrestricted propagation of sin and allowed each ethnic group to seek God
separately (Acts 17: 26, 27). However, such barriers do not significantly count in the
modern age of information explosion. The barriers of language are being broken with
machines doing much of the work across boundaries. Man is becoming, seemingly,
more invincible and unconquerable. An edifice, greater than Babel’s tower, is on its
way. It is the image of man against all reality as man keeps pushing himself more and
more to the center of all values. Mobile gadgets, silicon chips, and uncensored media;
skyscraping towers, breath-taking architecture, and incredible edifices; amusement
parks, clandestine parties, and bar clubs; multi-millionaire enterprises, soaring salaries,
and easy money; medical wonders, newer therapies, and Yoga techniques (now
believed as able to defeat everything…perhaps even God!); all of this mixed with
4. more psycho-traumas, broken families, fall of values, and ubiquitous corruption. All
human striving without devotion to God, said Solomon, is a wild chasing after the
wind, ultimately winding up in the grave (Eccl. 1: 14; 12: 13, 14, NIV).
Death, said Solomon, comes to all men and beasts alike (Eccl. 2: 16; 3: 20). Neither
beauty nor might is eternal. All fade like the withering grass. When the feet of death
draw near one’s door, then neither beauty nor strength can plead or prevail. When the
mourning bells of death ring and the funeral house is filled with cries, when mourners
go about the street and a dirge surrounds the corpse, then will it be said: ‘dust is man
and to dust he has returned.’ All works and glories, now nailed to the coffin, are
interred in the grave.
The great philosopher and emperor of Rome, Caesar Marcus Aurelius, it is said, was
in his old age murdered by his own son. If that was true then such death was
unfortunate for such a great man. But death doesn’t portend its time, style, and
appearance. Alexander the Great, who conquered kingdoms and held nations in
absolute control, was smitten to death by a malarial parasite, an insignificant mosquito.
Therefore, says one poet:
Why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud,
A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave,
He passes from life to his rest in the grave.
‘Tis the wink of an eye, ‘tis the draught of a breath,
From the bosom of health to the paleness of death,
From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud.
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?
The absolute helplessness of man before the looming power of death fills him with
anxiety. The German philosopher, Martin Heidegger, said that it is the thought of
death that drives man to thinking about reality. He saw all human indulgence in
pleasure and daily activities as attempts to forget the reality of death. Contrary to what
Shakespeare said, it is the tooth-ache experience, the reality of pain that makes one a
philosopher. It was the reality of suffering that compelled Siddhartha Gautama to
leave his comfortable palace and seek the meaning of life and the way of liberation.
To him, emancipation comes only when the illusive soul successfully dismantles at
death, never to be reborn again. But this looks confusedly at reality. It treats the soul
as an enemy and considers death as the savior, the liberator. The Bible, however,
makes it very clear that it is neither body nor soul but death that is man’s greatest
enemy and that it rules over man by the power of sin. But the good news is that Christ
has appeared in human history as the salvation of God. By taking on human nature
5. and going through the death of the cross and rising up from the grave, He has dealt a
death blow to death itself. Now those who come to Him can boldly announce that
physical death doesn’t mean their death but the death of death itself. Physical death is
only a reality to those who are outside the reality of Jesus Christ. To those who are in
Christ, death is itself become a shadow; we are freed from the fear of death.
‘One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more: death, thou shalt die.’
Jesus Christ infuses life with eternal worth and meaning. All creation was made by
Him and for Him (Col. 1: 16), and without Him all creative activity is void of real
significance. But anyone who works and lives by faith in the Son of God brings fruit
that endures forever, for he draws sap and energy from the True Vine (Jn. 15), and
whatever he does shall prosper (Ps. 1: 3).
The Reality of Jesus Christ
Christ is the Truth of God. Faith on Him alone brings salvation home. Today we walk
by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5: 7). We believe and rejoice in the Lord though we
do not see Him (1 Pet. 1: 8). But there will come a day when our present faith will be
rewarded, for faith does have a reward (1 Pet 1: 7, 9). This will be when Christ our
life appears in glory, at the end of the age, for judgment and salvation. The roof of the
sky will rend open for the return of the King; the bright Sun of Glory will shine and
all shadows will flee. We will stand and behold the glory of God in the very face of
Jesus Christ. The candle light revelation that we now have (2 Pet. 1: 19) will give
place to the perfect one. We will see Him as He is (1 Jn. 3: 2). Then will the works of
each man be judged, whether they be gold or hay; and ‘if any man’s work abide…, he
shall receive a reward’ (1 Cor. 3:14). Our toils will be rewarded (Gal. 6: 9). ‘Just one
glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay.’ Then will the world know that the
narrow way of the cross is far richer and glorious than the broad way of pleasure.
Therefore, along with Paul, one should be bold to say that it is the cross of Jesus
Christ and not the array of human endeavors that is really praise-worthy and glorious.
The cross of Jesus Christ reduces the tower of Babel into a miniscule nothing. For all
that man does is dust and ashes: dust he is and dust is all he can do. But what Jesus
has done on the cross is eternal. His work of redemption is everlasting (Heb. 9: 12).
His work goes beyond the shadows, for He is the Reality, the source of eternal life,
the ground of all truth. He is the Light of the world and he that follows Him shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. He is coming back. In fact, He’s as
close as at the door. When the curtains shall be drawn on this age and the veil lifted
from the face of eternity, then will there remain no room for remorse and regrets. The
present ‘now’, therefore, is incomparably precious. It is the moment to break off with
sin and embrace life. It is the moment to renounce the morbid arms of darkness for the
6. refreshing reality of light. It is the moment when the chains of falsehood can be
broken with the sword of divine revelation. Let us, therefore, forsake the shadows and
cling to the reality that is Christ. ‘In Him we live, and move and have our being’ (Acts
17: 28). ‘Without Me ye can do nothing’ (Jn. 15: 5). Amen!
Published in the Light of Life, Mumbai, 2008.