Sheltered by His Wings

 

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.” (Ruth 2:8-13 ESV).

 

Our reading today gives us a wonderful image of how God’s care for us is so complete. Often, we see God going out of his way to care for us, and sometimes we see our need to go out of our way to be cared for. It’s not always easy to ask for what we need, especially when others might have reasons to be cautious about helping us. But Ruth is a bold person. She knows what she and her mother-in-law need, and she asks for permission to glean barley in a field that belongs to Boaz, a landowner from Bethlehem.

 

Now, Boaz is a relative of Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi, and he has heard about Ruth but hasn’t met her before. And rather than being dismissive or indifferent, Boaz welcomes Ruth and invites her to keep following along after the harvesters. What’s more, he blesses her for supporting her mother-in-law and indicates that Ruth is an honorable woman. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,” he says, “. . . under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” This statement reflects the caring, providing nature of God’s character, and it helps us to understand God’s love for us.

 

God faithfully cares for and provides for us, and often he does this through the kindness and generosity of others. And whether we need help or are able to help someone else, we can be assured that God empowers and celebrates both the one who asks and the one who gives.

 

A Ground Nest

 

[The Lord said] “If you come across a bird’s nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.” (Deuteronomy 22:6-7 ESV).

 

As I have mentioned before, we live more in the country than the city. I also feed the wild birds. I also have several nesting boxes that I have built and set up for various kinds of birds. I have two boxes designed for Eastern Bluebirds. It is always a pleasure to watch them as they return each year to lay the eggs and raise their clutch. Some of the other nests I have found belong to the many doves that frequent our home; swallows that love the “bird hotel” I’ve erected about twenty feet in the air which is their preference; and, of course, we have nests in other places from the ever-present English Sparrows. Last year, as I was mowing, I found a ground nest that was well camouflaged in the grass and leaves. I had seen this before and began to look around for the Killdeer that had laid them. She wasn’t far, doing her best to lure me away from her clutch. I was sure to take a wide path around the nest and watched over the next few weeks as they hatched. It was an incredible reminder that God’s creation is constantly changing and being infused with life.

 

Our reading today is among the many Old Testament guidelines for holy living. These give God’s instruction in what they should do if they found such a nest. At that time, it was considered okay to take the eggs or the young hatchlings, but it was not acceptable to harm the bird that laid them. That was a simple principle of conservation: if the eggs are taken, the bird can lay more eggs, but if the mother bird is taken or destroyed, she can’t produce any more. In times of hunger, it might have been tempting to take both the bird and the eggs, but the prevailing wisdom cautioned people to use restraint, even if they were desperate.

 

These instructions aren’t only about conservation, though. We can trust that if God cares for birds, he cares far more about us, whom he made in his image. Jesus made this clear when he said to his followers, “Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31). He was explaining God’s care for them when they were threatened by enemies. Similarly, God cares for us!

The Dove of Peace

At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent forth a raven. It went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground. But the dove found no place to set her foot, and she returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her and brought her into the ark with him. He waited another seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark. And the dove came back to him in the evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. (Genesis 8:6-11 ESV).

 

Maybe you have seen a picture or a logo showing a dove with an olive branch in its beak. That image is drawn from our reading for today. Over time, the image of a dove bringing a part of an olive tree has become a symbol for peace. When we look a little closer at today’s passage, it becomes clear that Noah wasn’t just passively waiting for good, peaceful news. He first sent out a raven, a robust bird that flew “back and forth” but apparently did not come back into the ark—probably because it found plenty of carrion to eat. Noah then sent out a gentle dove—a more vulnerable bird—to go looking for signs of new growth. And then he waited attentively.

 

The dove soon returned because it “could find nowhere to perch.” So, Noah brought it back into the ark for seven days. Then, when he sent the dove out again, it returned in the evening with an olive leaf. This meant the flood waters had receded to a safe level where the people and animals could flourish and thrive again, enjoying shalom (peace) in God’s world.

 

When I see the doves that frequent my yard, I always pause to reflect on this. It also causes me to consider ways in which I might be a part of bringing peace to others. There are as many ways to do this as there are people in the world. Sometimes it is as simple as  a kind word spoken unexpectedly to a stranger. Commit yourself to being someone who brings peace to another person today.

  

The Gulls of Galveston

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 ESV).

 

While reading the first chapter of Genesis I was taken back to my childhood when I often found myself roaming the beaches of Galveston. I must confess that these times were not sanctioned by my parents, but living a mere ten blocks from the beach was too much of a temptation not to hop on my bicycle and roam the sands. There were times when I actually had a plan, though most of the time I simply enjoyed watching the waves roll in and the ever-present gulls float through the air looking for something to eat. Sometimes I would sneak away with some bread or crackers to lure them in closer by tossing crumbs in the air just to watch them drop from the air to swoop in and capture the morsels before they hit the ground.  

 

Perhaps you have done something similar. They seem to just hang in the air over the waves, even with the wind blustering and the waters roaring.  They still soar calmly over the rough ocean. Perhaps it is a result of their constantly flying in that environment, or their strength and skill. Either way, it is amazing to see their control. They just hover in the air watching and waiting.

 

That image of hovering over turbulent waters is how the Bible first describes the Spirit of God. The word for “hovering” indicates a high degree of care, even concern, in its action, and it is unmistakably linked to the behavior of protective birds that brood over their nests, guarding and keeping their clutch warm and safe as it develops. The Holy Spirit, in his protective love, hovers over the surface of the unformed deep.

 

The story of creation in Genesis was given to God’s people at a time when other stories about the beginning of the world were filled with themes of violence and chaos. Into that unsettled situation, the Genesis story came as a gift that revealed God’s purposeful, loving intention to make all things good and beautiful. At the time, it would have sounded far different from the other creation stories. And because love and goodness are at the center of this story, it continues to invite people to know God as the loving, protective Creator that he is. As we’ll see in the next few days, many other passages in the Bible also teach us something about God through the imagery of birds. I hope you will be encouraged with this approach each day. He does indeed “hover” over us!

 

Spring Rains

 

Ask rain from the LORD in the season of the spring rain, from the LORD who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field. For the household gods gutter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Therefore the people wander like sheep; they are afflicted for lack of a shepherd. “My anger is hot against the shepherds, and I will punish the leaders; for the LORD of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler—all of them together. They shall be like mighty men in battle, trampling the foe in the mud of the streets; they shall fight because the LORD is with them, and they shall put to shame the riders on horses. (Zechariah 10:1-5 ESV).

 

It has been quite a week of weather. We typically watch a news channel each day for the forecast and one of their catchphrases when extreme weather is a part of the forecast is “weather aware.” Mary and I are amused with one of the meteorologists who seems to get especially animated with each of these potential storms. Personally, I am never excited about thunderstorms, hail, or tornados. There are many references in the Scripture to the destructive power of storms and how sometimes God uses storms to bring judgment. But many other texts describe storms as bringing blessings, especially in the rains that water the land.

 

Just as today, regular rainfall was essential for ancient cultures with limited irrigation systems. When Jacob sent his sons from Canaan to buy food in Egypt (cf. Genesis 42), it was impossible to grow food where they were. They needed rain for their crops, but instead they had a massive famine. It is difficult to imagine that kind of need, however that was the norm of that time and place. Even today we see in some parts of the world where access to clean water is essential for survival.

 

Zechariah reminded God’s people that the Lord is the source of rain. Zechariah’s prophecies were pastoral, emphasizing that God is at work in nature and is the source of the people’s power. We all need to ask God for his blessing and to live lives that reflect the source of that blessing. At that time, the people were rebuilding the temple of God in Jerusalem, so Zechariah reminded them that God calls everyone to turn away from sin and to serve him in faith. The closing chapters of Zechariah begin pointing to the coming Messiah (Jesus Christ), the Savior. Not only does the Lord provide rain for everyone, but in the coming kingdom God will provide all that everyone will need. It is an encouraging reminder in our troubles today.

 

The Life Everlasting

 

Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self his being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:13-18 ESV).

 

Maybe you have had some great times with family and friends, with delicious food to enjoy, and perhaps even a sunny, blue sky overhead, a soft breeze blowing, and the world radiating God’s glory in creation. Times like that can give us a peek at what we mean when we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in … the life everlasting.” Even so, our fleeting moments of joy in this life pale in comparison to the eternal joy we can look forward to in Christ.

 

Yet this we know with certainty: one day, we will stand before God’s throne with Jesus, surrounded by countless others in our community of faith from around the world, completely freed from all fears, and filled with perfect peace and joy (cf. Revelation 7). There we will be fully doing what we were created for: “to glorify God and enjoy him forever” (Westminster Catechism).

 

Until that time, we may have only fleeting glimpses of our ultimate destiny—and those moments may come during struggles, challenges, and sometimes even utter defeat. But we are encouraged not to despair during hard times but to wait with hope for the day when Jesus will be all and all, when his kingdom will come in power and glory. This is our declaration of faith!

 

The Resurrection of the Body

 

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51-56 ESV).

 

While we are alive, our spirits are united with our bodies. When we die, our spirits depart, and our lifeless bodies return to the earth. Is that the final destiny for our bodies? Some religions welcome death as a release from the “prison” of the body. But, according to the Bible, God made us to have both souls and bodies; moreover, he made our bodies good (cf. Psalm 139:14). So, when the two are separated by death, we cease to be as God made us. For that reason, we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the resurrection of the body.”

 

With the accumulation of years we all come to intimately understand that our bodies are vulnerable and frail. They break down and eventually just give out. Yet our bodies remain integral to who we are as God has made us. Without our bodies, we are no longer fully ourselves.

 

For all of us who believe in Christ, we can take great comfort that when we die, our souls will immediately be with Jesus. And when Jesus returns, our bodies and souls will be reunited. Then we will again be fully ourselves.

 

On that day, though, our bodies will no longer be frail and mortal. Death will be conquered, and we will have “…glorified” bodies, just like Jesus’ body at his resurrection. What a day that will be!

 

The Communion of Saints

 

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, pin proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:3-8 ESV).

 

When we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in … the communion of saints,” we are saying that through Jesus’ blood we not only belong to him but also to each other. Our blood relationship in Jesus transcends even the real blood we share with our own family members. This connection goes beyond cooperation. It is an unbreakable, shared bond through the new birth we have be given in God’s grace and love.

 

And our communion with each other is more than just a statement of fact. Paul goes on to explain that belonging to one another has a crucial function. Each of us has been given gifts by the Holy Spirit. Though our gifts vary, the purpose for them is the same: to build one another up in service to the Lord and for the benefit of all. Using our gifts leads to all kinds of ways in which we can show God’s love to one another and to all the people around us.

 

The gifts we have may include preaching (prophesying—bringing God’s Word to people), teaching, leading, serving, giving, or any number of other abilities. Jesus wants us to use these gifts with thanksgiving and love to strengthen his body so that all can join in the communion of saints.

 

The Holy Catholic Church

 

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Revelation 7:9-12 ESV).

 

As we near the end of our study of the Apostles’ Creed we come to a statement that has been misunderstood and maligned through the modern era. However, we must remember that the Christian faith is deeply personal, and, at the same time, it is also deeply communal. When we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in … the holy catholic church,” we are declaring that the church, the body of Christ, includes all who belong to the people of God throughout history. It is not merely a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

 

This statement does not single out or promote a particular church within the body of all who believe in Christ. The word “catholic” here means “universal,” indicating that the church of Christ includes all of God’s people from all times in history. The breathtaking vision in our reading today captures the scope of Christ’s church gathered “from every nation, tribe, people and language.” Can you imagine a more awe-inspiring sight?

 

And what unites this astonishing multitude of people from every time and place? Since the early centuries of the church, the teaching of statements like the Apostles’ Creed has played a central role in uniting Christians around the true faith anchored in Scripture and inspired by the triune God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

This truth and witness of the universal church is meant to comfort, encourage, and challenge us to love and serve the God whom countless believers have served through the ages. It is a call to a wide community of believers.

 

The Author of Scripture

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV).

 

Paul’s words to Timothy in our reading today offer practical advice for godly living. From an early age, Timothy had learned the truth found in the Scriptures. And here Paul encourages him to continue to read, learn from, and trust in God’s Word, which helps every believer focus on living God’s way for full, meaningful life. God’s Word can be trusted because it is not the mere words of imperfect human beings; it is the truth of the eternal God himself.

 

When we confess, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we also affirm that the Holy Spirit worked in and through the people who wrote down the words of Scripture to reveal God’s design and purpose for us. Paul describes the Spirit’s work as “God-breathed.” Just as the Holy Spirit breathed life into the first human being (cf. Genesis 2:7), so the Holy Spirit breathed into the work of the Bible’s human authors, making the Scriptures full of life and giving all that we need for faithful living.

 

While there has been much discussion and debate through the centuries since the Scripture was written, we can be sure that it was not just a work of man. God had a direct and irrefutable hand in the writing.  That makes it a book of truth giving us the blueprint of how to understand and live for God today.

 

When you have questions about life, look first to the wisdom and truth of Scripture. There you will find all you need for every circumstance and question in life. The Holy Spirit has guaranteed this as well as our eternal life.

 

The Guarantee of Our Redemption

 

As surely as God is faithful, hour word to you has not been Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 1:18-22 ESV).

 

I’m not a big fan of extended warranties for most things, though for some of the big-ticket items like electronics, cars, and home appliances I have used them more than once. They are sort of a guarantee, a promise that the item can be repaired or replaced if it doesn’t work right. And that brings peace of mind and assurance that the manufacturer will stand by their promises. When we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we assert that the Holy Spirit is our guarantee.

 

The Bible declares that God will keep every promise he has ever made. Most importantly, God has promised that he has forgiven our sins through his Son, Jesus. God has also promised that he hears and answers our prayers and that that he will never reject or abandon us.

 

These are wonderful promises. Yet we can sometimes have doubts. Do you ever doubt what the Bible teaches? Do you ever wonder if you’re really saved? Do you wonder if God really hears and answers your prayers? God’s children have an eternal guarantee, and it’s been purchased for us through the blood of Jesus. After ascending to heaven, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be our living guarantee. Now the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts, assuring us in all circumstances that we belong to God.

 

Doubts and temptations will come. When they do, listen for the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit in your heart. The Spirit is our unshakable guarantee that God loves us. Listen and follow him. Our “Manufacturer” has given us indisputable proof of his claims!

 

I Believe in the Holy Spirit

 

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 ESV).

 

After stating, with the Apostles’ Creed, that we believe in God the Father and in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, we now follow up with a declaration about the third person of the Trinity: “I believe in the Holy Spirit.”

 

The Apostles’ Creed doesn’t elaborate on the person or work of the Holy Spirit, but that doesn’t mean he’s somehow less important than the Father or the Son. Both the Old Testament and the New Testament teach that the Holy Spirit is God (Yahweh). In our reading today, which are the Bible’s opening verses it shows the Holy Spirit hovering over the chaos of unformed matter before creation. So, the Spirit, together with the Father and the Son, was there in the beginning, giving shape to the cosmos.

 

In addition, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and rebellion against God. The Spirit breathes life into our hearts and removes our spiritual blindness, giving us eyes of faith. The Spirit is the one who helps us see and understand that Jesus is the Savior who has shown us the grace and love of the Father. And throughout our lives the Spirit continues to work in our hearts, gradually making us more like Jesus and prompting us to serve him in the world.

 

Jesus was very clear when he told the disciples he would be going away soon, though “another like him” would be coming to them to guide and direct them in all their ways. We affirm the Holy Spirit in our belief as he is essential in our understanding of God. He is Jesus’ present partner in our hearts and minds.

 

Coming Again to Judge the Living and the Dead

 

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.” (Mark 13:24-27 ESV).

 

The details about Jesus’ second coming are mysterious, and there are differing interpretations of some of the Bible’s statements about end times and the return of Christ. But in teaching about Christ’s return, the Apostles’ Creed simply states this bold biblical truth: “He will come to judge the living and the dead.”

 

Someday Jesus will return from heaven. He didn’t say when this will be, but he did say that he will return “with great power and glory” for all to see.

 

Jesus’ coming again will be a day of great joy for all his followers, who have been redeemed through his sacrifice on the cross. For them the whole curse of death and hell has been removed (cf. Romans 8). But Jesus’ return will also be a day of great trembling because, as the Bible warns, he will judge once and for all the people who have rejected him.

 

Though believers in Christ may not agree on all the details of his return, we certainly can agree on how we should live for him. Jesus calls us to follow him faithfully, dying daily to ourselves so that we can walk in step with his Spirit, using our gifts for God’s glory and bearing fruit in his name (cf. John 15:1-17; Galatians 5:22-26). This involves showing God’s love to everyone and sharing his desire that everyone believe in him.

 

Seated at the Right Hand of the Father

 

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 yin 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 1:16-23 ESV).

 

After declaring that Jesus ascended to heaven, we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, that he is now “seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.” In heaven Jesus sits on a splendid throne at the Father’s right hand, the very highest place of honor. Sitting there is a sure demonstration that he is one with God the Father and deserving the same honor and respect. God the Father has placed all that exists under Jesus Christ’s power and authority.

 

Moreover, as the apostle Paul writes in Ephesians, God appointed Jesus as “the head over everything for the church, which is his body.” In heaven, as on earth, Jesus continues his ministry. As the head of the church, made up of his followers throughout the world, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, Jesus blesses each member with gifts to be used in humble service. And with his divine power and authority, Jesus protects his church from the many forces seeking to destroy it.

 

This declaration of belief is a powerful statement of faith. Those who would desire to relegate Jesus to a position less than God Almighty cannot agree with this declaration. Those who would seek to make him equal to other great teachers and miracle workers cannot agree with this statement of belief. It leaves no doubt that Jesus is God in every way. He is the “I am” of the Scripture, creator and ruler over all that exists.

 

Ascended into Heaven

 

And he [Jesus] led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God. (Luke 24:50-53 ESV).

 

Saying goodbye can be hard. In fact, grieving loss is one of the hardest things we must do in life. Jesus’ disciples surely felt grief and sorrow as they watched him being taken up to heaven. With the Apostles’ Creed we say that Jesus “ascended to heaven.” This happened forty days after his resurrection (cf. Acts 1:1-11). But this does not mean Jesus abandoned his disciples or us. No, Jesus went to heaven for us.

 

While the Bible isn’t very clear about where heaven is or what it looks like, it plainly teaches that heaven means being in the presence of God. In God’s presence, Jesus serves as our advocate, continuously interceding with God the Father for our every need (cf. Romans 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2). Jesus’ presence with God also assures us that one day we will be with him in God’s presence as well (cf. John 14:1-3). And from heaven Jesus sends his Holy Spirit as a guarantee and a reminder that he is always with us (cf. Matthew 28:20).

 

Knowing that Jesus is in heaven for us now gives us tremendous comfort and strength as we wait for his promised return. This becomes the foundation of our hope for the future. It is a sure hope guaranteed by the presence of the Holy Spirit within each of us. Knowling this also allows us to persevere through the trials and challenges of the present time. We know our end, thus we can go through our present.

 

Spend some time today affirming this great declaration in your mind and heart. Whatever you are going through today is merely a temporary condition. Our permanent condition is eternal, perfect life with Him in our home prepared by His very own workmanship. That allows us all to take a breath and move forward!

 

Risen on the Third Day

 

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 ESV).

 

Why do we say that Jesus rose “on the third day”? Some people might argue that the number of days he lay in the grave would confirm that he had died. Others point out that this fulfills a prophecy about Jesus’ death (cf. Matthew 16:21; 1 Corinthians 15:4). But the mention of “the third day” isn’t the main point of the Apostles’ Creed’s declaration saying, “The third day he rose again from the dead.” The main point is that at a specific moment in time Jesus rose again from the dead!

 

Jesus’ resurrection not only stands at the center of the Apostles’ Creed; it stands firmly at the center of the Bible’s teaching. Indeed, Christ’s resurrection is the foundation on which our Christian faith rests. For, as the apostle Paul emphasizes, if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, all who hope in him should be the most pitied of all people. For if Jesus didn’t rise, we are all still shackled by the chains of sin and doomed to death forever.

 

But by his resurrection, Jesus has conquered death, washed away our sins, and covered us with his own righteousness. By his resurrection, Jesus has made us his own and raised us to a new life of walking with him. By his resurrection, Jesus also assures us that one day we too will be raised from the dead.

 

Alleluia! He is risen indeed!

 

Descended into Hell

 

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because 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. (Isaiah 53:7-12 ESV).

 

 

People have found it puzzling that the Apostles’ Creed says Jesus “descended to hell.” Appearing in some versions of the creed from the fourth century, this phrase may be based partly on some statements by the apostle Peter, who wrote that Jesus “went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits” (cf. 1 Peter 3:19-20; 4:6). Some people have taken this to mean that after he died, Jesus descended to hell to free ancient sinners. Others have said that “descended to hell” refers to the depths of Christ’s anguished suffering throughout his life, crucifixion, death, and burial for our sake.

 

Whichever of those views are correct, the Scripture clearly teaches about a place called “hell” that is reserved for God’s enemies. The New Testament mentions hell 162 times, and Jesus himself mentions it over 70 times. This phrase should not distract from the bedrock teachings about Jesus and the Christian faith. At the very least, the phrase captures in a condensed way Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant—our Savior, Jesus, who suffered and died for us. This teaching assures us in our own moments of fear and temptation that Jesus, through his sacrifice for us, suffered in a way that we, by grace, will never have to suffer.

 

Dead and Buried

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. (John 19:38-42 ESV).

 

Maybe you have heard the expression “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” And although some people may cheat on their taxes, no one can ultimately cheat death. We are all mortal, so eventually we will all die. Well, as we would expect after the statement about Jesus’ being crucified, the Apostles’ Creed says that Jesus “died, and was buried.” Jesus’ lifeless, cold corpse was laid to rest in a grave, just as our bodies too will one day die and be buried.

 

We don’t like to talk about death. Perhaps that is because it reminds us of our mortality. But every time a dear family member or a friend dies, we are forced to remember our own eventual, inevitable death. In a letter to the early church, the apostle Paul fittingly calls death the “enemy” (1 Corinthians 15:26).

 

No words can completely calm the fear and dread we have of death. But we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus himself died. He was like us in every way, the Bible teaches (cf. Hebrews 2:17; 4:15). He ate breakfast, enjoyed beautiful days, got tired and needed sleep, and sometimes stubbed his toes. He also died and was buried.

 

We can also take comfort in knowing that our Savior, who died for us and rose again, is with us as we grieve the loss of loved ones and face our own, inevitable death.