Removing Grave Cloths

I decided to memorizes the third chapter of Colosians but instead of starting with the whole chapter or even a whole verse I started with the first word picture. I let the thought grow and take shape in my mind.  There was no hurry only the paint brush of God's Word washing over the other thoughts in my mind and replacing them with this, "If then you have been raised with Christ."

As I considered what it would be like to be raised with Christ suddenly I thought of Lazerus. He knew what it was like to be dead and and then to be raised. As I meditated on this it was as if I was there with Jesus on the hillside. I could almost hear him shout, "Lazerus, come out. " Then in my mind I saw Lazerus, a man once dead now raised to life.

Lazerus was alive! "The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth." (John 11:44) As I looked at this picture of Lazerus raised with Christ yet bound by grave cloths my mind began to trace through the epistles. Again and again we are encouraged to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Yes,  Lazerus was alive but those grave cloths needed to be removed.

I heard a man giving his testimony. He had an addiction that caused him agony.  He prayed and pleaded with God to take the addiction away. Then one day he understood the gospel. He saw his sin and addiction nailed to the cross, he heard Jesus cry, "It is finished! " But that is only part of the gospel. By faith he was buried and raised with Christ. He like Lazerus knew what it meant to be raised with Christ.

People asked him," Were you free from you addiction immediately or was it a process?" His answer was simply, "Yes." When Jesus sets you free you are free indeed.  Just look at Lazerus, for four days his body lay rotting in the tomb but when he heard Jesus' voice calling to him he was alive even though he was bound by grave cloths! The man went on to say he no longer identified himself by his temptations but by his new life in Jesus Christ.  I doubt Lazerus was identified as a man once bound by grave cloths but instead I believe he was known as the man who was raised from the dead by Jesus Christ.

The Mystery of Love

From the womb of the dawn the Sun of Righteous rose with healing in his wings. It was then that the people who walked in darkness saw a great light; on those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness a light shown. This is the mystery of love.

What did it take to rescue those who were held captive in the domain of darkness and transfer them into the kingdom of light, the kingdom of God's beloved Son?  This is the mystery of love.  Jesus left his father's throne and emptied himself of all but love and on the cross the immortal died. Then there was darkness over all the land.

Darkness as black as night covered all the earth because it seemed that darkness had overcome the light and that life had been swallowed up by death. Those who were bound by sin and nature's night groaned and felt all hope was lost. The truth was revealed when Jesus rose from the dead and his glory shown upon us. The mystery of love was that light overwhelmed the darkness and life swallowed up death.

The great mystery of God's love is this He lavished His love on us when we were His enemies. Jesus died for those who caused his pain. When we were alienated and hostile in our minds against the love of God and engaging in evil deeds God gave His son to reconcile us to Himself. To all who recieved him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God. The right to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Lord Jesus, I wake before the dawn and watch as the Sun rises remaining me of a deeper reality. Because of you I am a child of the light, a child of the day. I no longer belong to the night and it's darkness. I wait for the dawn of a new day when You will come with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. On that day I will join with the redeemed and meet You in the air. Until You come I will comfort myself with this mystery.

Delivered from the Dominion of Darkness

If I were to gaze into the Sun I would loose my vision.  Even if I could approach the Sun I would be consumed by it's brilliance.

There was once an angel who dwelt in the presence of unapproachable light. But this angel did not understand that he was the servant and not the master. When cast out of the presence of God the one who once was an angel of light became darkness itself. A kingdom was given to him a septer was placed in his hand. He is the ruler of darkness and blinds the minds of those who follow him.

The prince of darkness is powerful. Those who belong to his dominion walk with eyes cast down lest they are blinded by the Sun. Their minds are held captive by the Liar who feeds them thier daily rations of despair.  "You have no hope. There is no one who can deliver you. "  So shackled by the guilt that darkness brings they are held captive in the dominion of darkness.

The power of every lie is that there is a little bit of truth mingled in it. The Liar whispers,"You are too dark to approach the Light. You would be consumed!" This is true. But in the fullness of time, in the Kingdom of Heaven a shout was heard from the throne ,"Go get my children! " The Sun of Righteous cloaked His glory in a robe of human flesh. The deliverer had come.

Lord Jesus, you are the image of the invisible God. Only you could deliver me from the domain of darkness and transfer me into the kingdom of light. In your light I see light.  Thank you for coming to me because I could not have come to you.