Pair of Dice for Paradise?

Never roll the dice when it comes to Paradise. Once I replied to a video advocating a popular book on Atheism. In my response video, I encouraged debate, reasoning, and searching, but in the end to make sure whatever you place all your trust in won’t let you down in the end.

I trust in Jesus because to me, he seems most logical, most loving and safe. Worst case scenario, I rot in a grave. Best case scenario, my last breath in my dying body means my first breath of celestial air in Paradise.
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Luke chapter twenty-three verses thirty-two through forty-three gives us Luke’s account of the death of Jesus on the cross. In it we find an event unique to Luke’s gospel–Jesus’ conversation with the dying convict.
Jesus did not die on the pretty jewel studded cross we see on rappers’ chains nor on the lofty spotlighted cross of cathedrals. Rather his cross was one of dirt, blood, and splinters. His cross was flanked by fellow convicts’ crosses, on a hill nicknamed “The Skull.”

The story goes like this: “You’re the Savior, right? Get to saving then! Here we are hanging, what’s the hold up?” One of the criminals hanging on another cross shouted out.

But the other convict was wise. This second criminal knew his romping days were done for. If you rarely think about Heaven now, you will the day you reckon you’re going to die. Now was not the day for this criminal to roll the dice on Paradise. He knew if there was ever a shot at settling his account with God, Jesus was his best bet. His check book was way in the negative and he was hoping Jesus’ death was the deposit he needed to break even.

The second criminal yelled at the first mocking one, “Don’t you have any fear of a just God? You and I are hanging here because we deserve it, but this man ain’t never done nothing wrong!”
Then he turned to Jesus, “Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”
What a confession!

Essentially he said, “Jesus, you’re perfect.
Jesus, I revere you and your holiness.
Jesus, I deserve this death for my deeds but you don’t. When you rule and reign, please remember me.”

We do not have a recite a “repeat after me” prayer like the TV preacher talks about (though there ain’t much wrong with that). Jesus just wants us to know who he is, what he did for us, and why. Then we follow his lead.

He is holy.
He died as a propitiation (http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/propitiation) for us.
Because he loves us. Then we follow his lead.
That confession was all it took for Jesus to pour out free-flowing love on this dying man as Jesus’ free-flowing blood spilled down the cross. This same blood figuratively washed away this confessing criminal’s crimes, and it can wash away all our wrong deeds, too.
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So why roll the dice? Why risk it? If you never gave Jesus a good hearty try, try him now. Talk to him! So what if you feel loony at first? Jesus promises Paradise in the after-life forever. Curious about all that? Read Revelation chapters twenty-one and twenty-two: A recreated perfect Earth forever with a recreated perfect body and perfect food and drink and a whole perfect universe to explore while kickin’ it with Jesus? Yes, please.

No more gambling my eternal life in this life. I wanna get to the next one.
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Jesus replied to the man, “I tell you the truth, this very day you will be with me in Paradise.”

Make Like Mick Jagger and Roll Stones

The story gives us a unique insight into a man who saw the world crafted and can even see the smallest need we have.  Allow me the pleasure of encouraging you from John eleven, verses seventeen through forty-four.  By the end, you may wanna make like Mick Jagger and roll some stones away.
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Jesus heard about a buddy who died, and he purposefully waited to go to the funeral.  How kind.
When my grandmother died, I did not want to go the funeral at all.  I wanted to maybe show up before everyone else and grieve.  Grieving is something worthwhile to do alone, but also in a group with loved ones.  So why would the savior savor the days of grieving and hold up on showing up?  Either he is a jerk, has a broken clock, or has a broken heart over a broken world and has to time his healing so it’ll be in a more potent position.

Four days after Lazarus died, Jesus walked two miles into Bethany town.  Martha ran to meet Jesus.  Mary stayed back at the house to mourn (you remember Mary–she was the one who poured expensive perfume on his feet).  It was their brother who died.  Why wouldn’t the guy who promises eternal life come save their brother’s regular life?  You can imagine what thoughts were rolling through Martha’s mind as she met the Messiah on the outskirts of Main Street, “Lord, if you were here Lazarus would still be alive!”

Frustration with the Heavenly Father… sound familiar?  But what does she say next?

“But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  And cue the tears.  The hotness behind the eyes, the trembling chest and quivering lips.  The prerequisite of weeping.  The groanings of a grieving sister.  The odd sounds only a broken heart can make.  The release of pent up anger-sadness.  The weeping.  She wished so bad that Jesus was there.  But he wasn’t.  But now he is.  So now what?
“Your brother will rise again.”  He said.  “At Resurrection day, yes, I know the doctrine.”
“No, no.  I am resurrection.  I am life.  Folks who believe in me, may die, but I will make them live.  And when they live believing in me, they will never truly die.  You believe that?”
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Martha went to tell her sister Mary, “The teacher is here.”  The teacher.  You see, the end of her brother’s life did not mark the end of hope.  In all the darkness God still had good news.  He still has some stuff to show off.  Thank God.
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As they approached the tomb, Jesus lost it.  He bitterly wept.  Not the gentle crying of watching an abandoned puppy dog on a TV commercial cry, but a weeping brought on by the anger and sadness of a broken world.  So the God who spoke and caused worlds to spin still stayed in touch enough to stay connected to his kids.  He cried with them.  Thankfully while staying connected he is still big enough to have a solution!

“Roll the stone away.”  He said to the people gathered.  “Get that rock out of the entrance to the tomb.”
“Look Jesus, Lazarus is decaying by now.  It’ll stink…”
There is no deterring Jesus.  “Roll it away.” He said.  Surprisingly enough, there was no odor of death.  Only sound of the savior shouting, “Lazarus, come out!”
And boom!  The first and only reference of a mummy in the Bible.
Lazarus got up from the dead.  “Now loosen the linen-wraps off him, and let him go.”  You can’t be made alive and thrive while wearing the casket clothes of your past.
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So, sometimes for God to heal us, we got to uncover some things.  Whether it is at the altar at church, during a walk in the park, or kneeling at your bedside, roll the stone away from that tomb where you have embalmed your problems and allowed them to rot you away.  Don’t be afraid of the stench.  Jesus can handle it.  You may have wondered like Mary and Martha why it took Jesus so long to come, but hey, he’s here now.  He will cry with you, and once you let him in, he’ll shout out, “Now get up!  You’re free!”

Ditto, Thomas

The text is John eleven.  The situation is awkward at best.  Jesus' good buddy Lazarus died a few days back in a land where people want to throw rocks at Jesus until he is dead.  Jesus is going there to be with the grieving family.  The situation is deadly at worst.

Lazarus' sisters' point of view is depressing-Jesus waited too long, our brother is dead.  He could have helped.

Jesus' point of view is veiled-no big hurry.

Jesus' followers' point of view is-wait... we're going back? They'll kill us!

Lazarus point of view is-dead.

Thomas point of view is-no sense in not following Jesus now.  Might as well die with him.
Wait, what?
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I relate to Thomas.  His name means "twin," and his name in Greek (the language of the New Testament) is Didymus, which is where we get the word ditto.

Thomas had guts.  He found himself in yet another situation with the savior.  The last time things got this weird was when Jesus said everyone must eat his proverbial flesh and sip his proverbial blood.  That time, a lot of followers of Jesus became deserters.  After all, that does sound icky.  Thomas was one of the ones who didn't bail.  "Y'all leaving, too?"  Jesus asked his closest friends.  "Where else would we go?  You have the words that lead to eternal life," Thom's buddy said to Jesus.  Check out John six, verses twenty-five through seventy for that one.

This time, Jesus is wanting to go back to Judea where some folks hate him so much they want him dead.  And Jesus wants to go back to see a dead guy.  Imagine Thom throwing his arms in the air, "Well, let's just all go die then."

Note, however, he refuses to desert Jesus.  Of all the odd things Jesus had done thus far, Thom knew better than to roll out now.  Jesus was way too cool to leave:  he got that wedding reception bumpin' again with fresh wine made from old water, fed thousands with a few fish, reached out to the down and out, and promises eternal life if you keep following him?  Yes, please.

So Thom decided even if they kill Jesus and him and everyone else, it'd probably be worth it, somehow.  Weirder things have happened with Jesus so far, anyhow.
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So for us, shouldn't we follow Jesus even when the night seems darkest and the situation the bleakest?  After all, Jesus has came through for us in crazy ways in the past.  So, if he is leading us to a valley, let us follow.  Thomas followed Jesus in such circumstances and got to witness something amazing.  Check out John eleven for that one.

"Let us go also, that we may die with him," Thom said.  "Ditto," I say.  We may find that we will find life, not death, if we follow him.