THIRTY years ago, I went to the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. At the far end of the garden is "Skull Hill" where the skull-face effect can still be seen, and the site of the crucifixion. After walking the full circle, I came upon a well-preserved rock-hewn tomb. The entrance would have been sealed with a "great stone" as described in the Gospel Matt 27:60.
I entered the Tomb through a small opening in the rock and found myself in a small chamber—the Weeping Chamber. Looking through a low threshold was another chamber of the same size which held 2 loculi (burial places), one finished with a rock pillow and one unfinished. There was nothing else in either chamber except a small sign in the Weeping Chamber on the rock wall which read, "He is risen; He is not here” from Mark 16:6.
As I read, a voice so mighty it seemed to be all AROUND me, OVER me, ON me, and IN me! “You are not alone; I am with you.” I stood frozen, as a young man quietly checking out the surroundings appeared to be oblivious to the voice and me. How could he not hear it? I cannot properly describe that feeling, but I'll never forget it. . . shock and awe, wonder, HUGE, and it filled every fiber of my being. I ducked out of the tomb, drying my tears. I HAD JUST MET JESUS! I KNEW that. I had done nothing to deserve a visit from Him, and pondered this for years and years while never speaking of it to anyone until a few years ago.
I went back to a life of full of fun and sin. Then, a few years ago, I met an Evangelist who “saw” something in me, took me under her wing preaching the Word of God, and Baptized me in The Holy Spirit. And that was just the beginning. Thinking back on my experience in the Garden Tomb, I understand what Jesus meant when He said: It is expedient for you that I go away. But when I go away (to heaven) I will send the promise of the Father, which is the Comforter (Holy Spirit; Holy Ghost), for not only will He be WITH you, but He will be IN you. (John 16:7; 14:7) I thank God that He never gave up on me, for where would I be without Him?!!?
Taking Shortcuts
Sipping her tea, Nancy gazed out her friend’s window and sighed. Spring rains and sunshine had coaxed a riotous expanse of color from a well-groomed flowerbed of lilies, phlox, irises, and evening primrose.
“I want that look,” she said wistfully, “without all the work.”
Some shortcuts are fine—even practical. Others short-circuit our spirit and deaden our lives. We want romance without the difficulties and messiness of committing to someone so different from ourselves. We want “greatness” without the risks and failures necessary in the adventure of real life. We desire to please God, but not when it inconveniences us.
Jesus…
When I was young and had my first summer job, I saved enough money to buy my first car. My brother Larry took me to a junkyard and showed me a 1956 Chevrolet Blaire. This car was dirty, had missing hubcaps, and did not have an engine. My brother saw at that time something I could not see, that was potential, something that could be restored and worth a lot of money. I, on the other hand, wanted something I could drive right away. Today, that car would be worth thousands of dollars.
.....That is how God sees our lives. He sees the dings and dents, the lost or missing parts in your life, but He knows your value, and He can restore and replace the missing pieces. To God, your life is not a piece of junk or a lost hubcap, and you do have potential. "Now to him who is able to do exceedingly more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Cleaning House
Recently, I switched rooms in the home I rent. This took longer than expected, because I didn’t want to simply transfer my (extensive) mess to a new room; I wanted a completely fresh and uncluttered start. After hours and hours of cleaning and sorting, bags of stuff sat by the front door to be thrown away, donated, or recycled. But at the end of this exhausting process was a beautiful room I was excited to spend time in.
My housecleaning project gave me a fresh perspective when reading 1 Peter 2:1, as paraphrased in The Message: “So, clean house! Make a…