Father, You are my God. You are my all in all. I am because You are. And thanks to You I am complete, no longer lost, no longer searching for what life is all about. Praise Your Holy Name!
Luke 6:32-36 (<<click to read the passage)
I find the idea of parallel universes intriguing and its concept, though viewed as pure science fiction to many, is held to be at least a possible reality by some in the scientific community (see The Case for Parallel Universes, from Scientific American, July 19, 2011).
First of all, for all of you non-nerdy types, a parallel universe is a hypothetical self-contained plane of existence, co-existing with one’s own. Or in even more simplistic terms, we have our world, but some believe that is another world (or several worlds) that exists (usually with some variation) alongside ours though we cannot see it.
Yes, it’s out there (but it does make for some entertaining movies and television shows!) But before I lose you entirely, I want to make the proclamation that believers in Jesus do live in an alternate universe!
Each day those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus wake up and realize that we are just sojourners passing through this world. We live here. We work here. We love here. We eventually die here.
But truly, we are not of this world. Our citizenship is in God’s kingdom. If we are seeking to follow and love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength then the things of this world are not enough.
Loving only those who love you? That’s not enough. That’s what the world does.
Doing good only to those who do good to you? That’s not enough. That’s what the world does.
Lending money only to those who can repay you? That’s not enough. That’s what the world does.
Jesus calls us to walk in the way He has walked before us – a parallel universe, if you will. In the world but not of it.
Shortly before His arrest prior to the crucifixion, Jesus prayed for us. Here are His words. (These are a few excerpts but read the whole 17th chapter!)
“My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you.”
“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.”
Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. John 17:9, 14-16, 17-19
What the world does is not enough but the kingdom of which we are citizens places us with the citizens of this world so we can show them the true and right way.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:35-36
Lord Jesus, may we be as You in word and deed. Amen.
Feb 11th, 2020, Tues, 12:42 pm
