The Power of God - Pt 2

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:15-23 ESV). Happy Valentines’ Day! Today we continue to look at some of the things that the Cross Event is not in our lives. Remember, Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the greatest love letter that could ever be written. Second, Jesus did not die to be the poster boy for our political, social, or economic causes. Whether you call yourself liberal, conservative, an environmentalist, a conservationist, or any other “ism,” Jesus didn’t die for your cause. Strangely in our world the name of Jesus has been used for all these “isms” and more. It’s so easy to take our own traditions, worldviews, and causes, paste Jesus’ name on them and call it “Christian.” Jesus isn’t a conservative republican. Jesus isn’t a progressive liberal. Jesus is God. Jesus’ death was the glorious inauguration of his coming Kingdom, not an invitation to use his name to legitimize our own little kingdoms. Please don’t mistake my remarks for a belief that I do not support many of these good causes. I’m for social and political reform; but, we cannot forget that those things cannot save. They cannot change people’s sinful hearts, they cannot save people’s souls from eternal death, and in the end they cannot offer anything more than a better life in this world. We, as believers, ought to remind ourselves that we have one message: the gospel of Jesus Christ’s atoning death, glorious resurrection, and coming Kingdom. We ought to be defined by that; preach that and let everything else come second. That is the truth that sets a man truly free. Whether it is in our personal relationship with one another, or in more global settings, freedom can only come through Christ. Armies do not win the peace. Jesus does. Nations do not secure freedom. Jesus does. Put your energy into eternal things that will not change with time.