The End is Near Submitted by Jane

The End is Near Submitted by ... Jane
(Dec 9, 2009)

The End Is Near....

"Please come, this might be our last Christmas celebration at SMSL."
"My friend is at the final stage of cancer, his family is treasuring every single minute with him."
"After 911, there were recollections of final messages of love on family's cells."
"Our family will be moving to New York next week and we look forward to having you over for dinner one last time."

Isn't it common the way we react by changing our value system every time we noticed the slightest implication of something coming to an end?  All our tangible assets which we treasured greatly our entire life suddenly made room for the intangible ones, especially love and sentiments.  Almost immediately it became our top priority to ensure that every single minute counts from that moment on.

Jesus Christ Himself was not exempted from the emotional "torments" when His life and ministry on earth came close to an end.  However, He chose to respond very differently ...

- He arranged a place to dine with the disciples, satisfying first their physical needs.
- He took on the most humbling work of washing the disciples' feet.
- He celebrated Eucharist with the twelve, asking them to "do this in remembrance of me".
- He gently reminded them not to be troubled but to trust God and Him. (John 14:1)
- He promised them the Holy Spirit.  (John 14:25)
- He taught by example the importance of earnest prayers in crisis.
- He prayed according to God's Will.
- He chose to suffer and die, to complete God's plan of Salvation.

And the results?  A wonderful new beginning of the first "church" of Christ as:

- Just a handful of faithful disciples and followers 
- Gathered together in the upper room
- Received the Holy Spirit as promised
- Devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship
- to the breaking of bread and to prayer
- with glad and sincere hearts

- The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.   (Acts 2:47)

Has it ever occurred to you that if Jesus had not planned the last supper on His last day with the teachings above, there might NOT be a new beginning for His followers?

As we are faced with decisions about the court case, uncertainty about the future of SMSL, I myself found great comfort this week as I draw on one of God's promises emphasized three times in book of Revelation.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End." (Rev 1:8, 21:6, 22:13)

With that in mind, I can vividly envision myself taking the first step of Faith in crossing the Red Sea, allowing God to unfold before me an exciting new beginning and at the same time swept away my past.

"The beginning?", "The End?", "An end to a beginning?" or "The beginning of an end?" does not matter any more. Clearly God will disassemble to allow for a new way to reassemble.  Therefore I look forward with great joy the new heaven on earth, a new place to worship (some upper room), a new way to worship (not confined to any setting), a new desire to serve (with humility), a new devotion to Jesus' teaching, to fellowship, to breaking of bread and to prayers. A renewed joy from the Spirit and last but not least, the blessing of new "saved" souls to this body of Christ.

" .....the old has gone, the new has come!"    (2 Cor 5:17) 

Praise Him !!!!!


In Christ,

jane