Stargate

“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 incorruptible, and we shall be changed”
(1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

I have a confession to make: I LIKE the television show called “Stargate SG-1”.  Oh, I’m not really a television watcher – If you asked me about most shows, I probably wouldn’t know what you’re talking about.  But years ago, I went to see the movie “Stargate” with another pastor.  We loved it.  I wasn’t yet a pastor at the time and asked him as we were leaving the theater, “Is it a problem for you as a pastor, seeing this kind of movie?”  He replied, “I can’t help myself” – He liked this type of show and it was fun.  The TV show is a continuation of that movie.

Years ago I saw the movie “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” with my children.  As the ending unfolded, I found myself unexpectedly beginning to sob.  When Willy Wonka returned to the chocolate factory and rewarded those who had survived the pitfalls of that place, I thought of Jesus Christ and His return to this earth.  It moved me deeply.  If my children and others in the theater looked at me as the lights came on, they would not have understood.  But our God, who knows the heart, DOES understand.

The premise of “Stargate SG-1” is one I enjoy – That you can be in this reality, on this planet one moment, and in another split-second, you’re in another galaxy, a different part of the universe.  It’s a reminder to me that in a moment, an ordinary moment, seemingly like all others, the Lord shall suddenly take us up and we will be with Him – Forever!

When you look at our Scripture today, it’s clear that those who love the Lord are going to be suddenly “changed” – And you might wonder, “Changed into what?”  Well, the truth is, “physically,” we really don’t know.  Certainly we will be nothing like the limitations of our present reality.  For one thing, we won’t die anymore, for we will be “incorruptible.”  If you think about it, death presently FILLS this world.  Most people don’t WANT to think about it, but you will find the following statistics to be interesting:

The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution kills 8,000 people every day worldwide.  The Hunger Project estimates that 24,000 individuals die each day from hunger-related causes.  The World Health Organization reports that over 8,000 per day die from AIDS around the world.  The WHO also asserts that 10,000 die every day from smoking (1.1 billion in the world still smoke).  They also say that 3,000 are killed in traffic accidents every 24 hours.  BibleHelp.org has an interesting website, with a counter that clocks worldwide deaths, presently totaling “153,000 deaths” every day.  By the time I wrote down the “153 deaths” information, the counter had clicked to 271.

But suddenly, “in the twinkling of an eye,” all death and decay will be utterly done away.  We shall be “changed” and it is indeed wonderful that death will be gone – forever!

The word for “incorruptible” in the Greek also carries the idea of eliminating association with the unwholesome – We will not be subject to corrupting influences anymore.  Books, movies and other forms of entertainment may bring relief from the pressures of life for a moment, but more harm is done than good.  For instance, my enjoyment of the TV show “Stargate,” even though it stimulates the imagination, is a corrupting influence.  It’s a lot like coffee.  Even though I like what it provides, I also know that the 200 chemicals or so that are included in coffee to improve the color, flavor and aroma, aren’t good for the human body on a continuing basis.  I’m simply “hooked” and need to be set free.

At the present time we ARE corrupt, as Paul the Apostle noted when he said, “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  Isaiah the Prophet saw the same corruption in us, noting, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Isaiah 64:6).  Paul developed his argument for a long time in the context of his letter to the Romans, deciding that indeed, “the wages of sin is death, but (he also noted) the gift of God is eternal LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  Isaiah saw the change wrought in a person through the Lord, observing, “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter, and all we are the work of Your hand” (Isaiah 64:8).  We can and WILL be changed by the Lord.

This is both an event and a process.  In one of several theology classes in college, Dr. O. Cope Budge went to great lengths to make sure we understood the difference between “salvation” (God accepts us through our faith in Jesus Christ) and “sanctification” (growth in holiness in our lives).  Salvation is described in Romans 10:13 - “Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Salvation is an event, but sanctification is a process, wrought in us through “the Word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:5).

Our patience and trust in God (as this process slowly occurs), is an outward sign of that which is occurring within us.  People really don’t like change, unless they’re in charge of it.  The driver of a car typically does not get sick from the car’s motion because he’s in control of the car.  The nausea of passengers is because they are NOT in control.  Places in Scripture like Romans 8:26-30, reveal that both salvation and sanctification are under HIS control.  Our willingness to trust His leadership in all of this is called “faith.”

But the troubles and tribulations of this world that drive us to our knees in prayer and lead us to His written Word will soon be over.  “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” the end will come (1 Corinthians 15:52).  This world is often a kind of living hell, as many suffer the ravages of disease, injury and the loss of loved ones.  But suddenly, “the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed!”

We will be WITH Him, our love, our life and our God!  Our focus will not be misdirected onto the things of this world anymore, but instead we will be FILLED with His love like nothing we have ever even thought.  Our future will be UNLIMITED in scope for we will KNOW that what we thought of as “hope” is actually the FACT of eternity with Him.

Trust in Him now – For He is WONDERFUL!

Lord, I BELIEVE in You as I never thought possible.  Forgive me, Lord, for being distracted by the things of this world.  I trust You and love You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

One of our greatest God-given blessings is the ability to look at things “logically,” but it’s also one of our greatest weaknesses.  “Logic” is the basis of many decisions made by individuals and groups.  If someone has an idea, others will examine it on the basis of “logic.”  If it is logical, it may well be adopted as a business strategy or a new direction for a nation.  If not, it will likely be dropped as an idea.  But the starting point of our logic must be true.  The foundation must be sound in order for the building to stand.

New York’s Miner Institute produced these “Safety Facts”:

• Almost 99.9% of people who die from cancer and heart disease have eaten carrots.
• Nearly all sick people have eaten carrots. Obviously, the effects are cumulative.
• Most people involved in car crashes ate carrots within 60 days of their accidents.
• 93.1% of juvenile delinquents come from homes where carrots have been eaten.
• Among those born in the 19^th century or earlier who ate carrots, there has been essentially a 100% mortality rate.

You can see where this is going.  If all or most of the preceding statements are true, then you will conclude that eating carrots is dangerous to your health!  It’s true that all people who eat carrots will eventually die, but it is not true that eating carrots is a leading cause of death and other world problems.

The idea of “logic” involves a premise, a starting point.  Lewis Carroll, the author of “Alice in Wonderland,” wrote in his unique style: “‘Contrariwise,’ continued Tweedledee, ‘if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t – That’s logic.’”  We would agree that the preceding statement, which pretends to be logical, is actually not.  It’s “circular reasoning” – A statement that pretends to define logic, but actually doesn’t.

A “premise” is an idea about something we have seen.  If the premise isn’t true, it will throw off the logic of our conclusions.  Here’s one I read which leads logically to a TRUE conclusion, but the foundation (premise) for that conclusion is false:

All fish DON’T live in the ocean, but that’s not the point.  Sea otters are NOT fish (they’re mammals), but that’s not the point either.  The point is that NEITHER premise tells us why sea otters live in the ocean.  Much logic is like that – Many words, but no truth.

This is the logic of many philosophers and theologians –

The first premise is false because it assumes sickness is always “bad.”  God sees that our real need is not health or good fortune – We need FAITH in Him, even when things look bad.  If had everything we wanted, we would not need faith.  Jesus prayed that “this cup” would pass from Him and the Father denied His request (Matthew 26:39).  Paul asked for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed and he got a “No,” also, with this interesting addition: “power (strength) is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 7-9).  Our strength, our health will fade.  We need the Lord, for He will give us HIS strength, which will never end.

The word “logic” comes from the Greek “logos,” apparently coined by Heracletus in the 6^th Century, BC, and used by many later philosophers, such as Aristotle.  It can be summed up like this: “Logos” is the Reality behind something that can be perceived or seen.  Plato said, “The whole universe is a reflection of the Invisible” that is behind it.  Paul the Apostle said that Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

That’s why the Holy Spirit so carefully whispered into the heart of John the Apostle to speak of Jesus Christ by the Greek phrase “Logos” – Which in many English Bibles is translated as “the Word” of God (John 1:1 and forward).  The more we look through microscopes and telescopes, the more complex it all becomes.  It seems there is no end to the complexity of this universe, whether in sub-atomic structures or the interstellar vastness of untold galaxies.

All this literally SHOUTS that “A Creator has done this!”  And that Creator is Jesus Christ.  In Hebrews 1:10, the author quotes Psalm 102:25-27, saying of Jesus, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.”  In Psalm 102:24, the Creator is called “God.”  The direct context in Hebrews 1 about the person of Jesus Christ continues for more than a chapter, identifying Him as the Creator of all things and leading to the statement in Hebrews 3:4 – “He who built all things is God.”

John who wrote the Book of John, saw the Risen Christ, heard Him and even touched Him after He was raised from the dead (1^st John 1:1), said of Jesus, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).  There were over 500 witnesses at once that saw Jesus back from the dead (1^st Corinthians 15:6), and Scripture says of Him, “He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Here’s something for your consideration:

If you are a person of logic, you will trust in the Lord.

Lord Jesus, I see this in Your Word and in Your creation: You are my Creator, my God, and You came and died – for me!  I receive You, Lord.  I trust in You now.  You are mine, Lord, and I am Yours.  I praise Your Holy Name and thank You.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.FridayStudy.org
www.FirstChurchontheNet.org
www.BlessedHands.org
E-mail: Ron@FridayStudy.org
Tel: (562) 688-5559
PO Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131
"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)