Pickle Heaven Press-James R. Johnson

something to help you laugh and think about life with Christ

Tag: 2 Timothy 4:8

a graduation to remember — August 9, 2023

a graduation to remember

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We were seated in a humongous football stadium, ready to watch the graduating seniors parade onto the field.  Graduation day turned out to be more entertaining than we had expected. 

Commencement commenced and the students began to move from the track to the turf.  One lovely young lady stepped forward, then stumbled and plowed into the person in front of her. 

It probably wasn’t the best idea to wear spiked heels that night.  The heels pierced the soft earth like a knife.

Then another elevated lovely entered.  She stumbled and recovered, stumbled and recovered, then stumbled and fell.  It was getting difficult to stifle a laugh.

Spiked heels were evidently popular that year because a good number of girls hit the dirt.   I believe one guy even placed a bet that the valedictorian would fall at least twice.

Sad it was! Their moment to shine was tarnished.

The Christian will also have his/her moment to shine – a graduation day of sorts.  Paul mentioned it in 2 Timothy 4:8, “Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.” 

That sounds nice!  Those of us who eagerly anticipate the return of the Lord Jesus will be given a graduation gift – the crown of righteousness.   A crown typically represents rulership.  The faithful will have the privilege of ruling alongside Jesus someday.  (2 Timothy 2:12)    That will be our time to shine.

But there may be a little tarnish to it. 

Revelation 21:4 takes us to the hallowed halls of heaven.  It says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes…”  Wait a minute!  Why would there be tears in heaven that God would need to wipe away? 

That may have to do with the “judgment seat of Christ.”  Prior to receiving a crown, we will undergo an examination.  Paul discusses it in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.”

Careful with those conclusions!  This has nothing to do with our salvation status.  The Christian is saved by God’s grace through our faith in Jesus.  Once we have belonged to Him, nothing can separate us from Him.

This examination is reserved only for believers.  It is a time to celebrate a Christian life that has been well lived, and maybe to grieve a little, the life that wasn’t.   

In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-28) we learn that the Lord expects us to live well and to make the most of the resources that He has given us such as our natural talents, and spiritual gifts, our financial blessings and the various opportunities for ministry we might have and of course the grace and power to do these things which He makes available to us through His Spirit. 

Some of us will take those resources and create a legacy that compares to gold, silver, and precious stones.  Others will produce results that compare to wood, hay, and stubble.  (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Only the good stuff will be celebrated and rewarded.

But don’t get the idea that we all fit into one category or the other.  I was a pastor for 32 years.  That ought to be worth an ingot or two. 

And yet during those same 32 years, I figure I accumulated enough hay and stubble to feed the cattle on a thousand hills for a thousand years.

None of us do life perfectly but we can do it purposefully.  We can purpose down deep in our hearts to serve our amazing Savior.

We want to do this first because we love Him.  Secondly – because graduation day is coming, and we don’t want to stumble on the way. 

A prayer:  Lord – help us to live well and to serve willingly

This has been Jim Johnson and pickleheavenpress.com

May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you

Scripture references are from the NETBible®

a well-worn prayer — February 19, 2020

a well-worn prayer

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My wife and I have kept daily prayer journals each of our 43 years of married life.  God has faithfully given definite specific answers to maybe 98% of our requests.  BUT there are some requests, concerning people mostly, that we have labored over the entire time.

The pages with their names are worn, yellowed with finger grease and patched together with brittle tape.  Sometimes we come to those unanswered prayers with a little disappointment 

But still we pray.  Jesus told us that we should, “always pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1). We pray because we still believe that God will answer.

Some have prayed even longer.  The Jewish people have pleaded with God for millennia to send the Messiah. 

The events in book of Job took place in the time between the tower of Babel and the appearance of Abraham. (Genesis 11-12)  At that time, Job said, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth.”  (Job 19:25)   He was the first to express the hope of seeing his redeemer come. 

Faithful Jews today pray the Amidah (18 Blessings). Three times a day they utter these words, “The offspring of your servant David, may you speedily cause to flourish, and enhance his pride through Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day long.”

This is a prayer that God would send the Son of David – the rightful King of Israel; that He might assume leadership of the nation and usher in His Kingdom. 

And then the Passover Seder meal ends with “Next Year in Jerusalem.” – a wish for Messiah to return and establish His rule there.

Now the irony is that the Son of David, the promised Messiah has already come and gone.   His name is Jesus.  Sadly, the Jewish people greeted Him with a cross instead of a crown, and yet today they still pray for Messiah to make His appearance.

And their prayers are oddly joined to ours.  For since Jesus ascended to heaven, Christians have also longed to see Him return according to His promise. (John 14:3)    John ended the book of Revelation with this prayer, “Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.”  (Rev 22:20)

What provokes this kind of prayer? 

When He comes, He will make all things new.  He will cause truth and justice to prevail in politics.  He will right every wrong that’s ever been perpetrated.   He will banish sin and suffering and He will reunite generations of families who have loved Him.  Perfect reasons to pray but not quite enough.

Our precious 5-year-old granddaughter recently asked her daddy if we could come over for dinner.  Good with us except that she lives in Pennsylvania and we’re in Texas.  To her – time, distance, trouble and cost were not important.  What was important to her was relationship – just being with the people she loved. 

Likewise, if we love Jesus, we will want to see Him.

Paul wrote, “We wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” – Titus 2:13

He even mentioned a reward for those who actively anticipate His return. “…the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day—and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing.” –  2 Tim 4:8

This prayer was written into the book of the Revelation.  “The Holy Spirit and the bride of Christ (which is the church) say, “Come.”  – Revelation 22:17.   John the apostle added, “Come, Lord Jesus!”  – Revelation. 22:20.

A great prayer BUT is it our prayer? 

I’m embarrassed to say it is not.  Of the myriad of prayer requests recorded in our journal, there is not a single plea for Jesus’ return.  I will change that. 

Some want to know if Jesus will return in 2020.   “I’m not sure.  I don’t have 2020 vision.” (pun intended) 

But He is coming and I will be praying it will be soon.  So, “Come Lord Jesus.”

All biblical references are from the NETBible ®