22

Jump Start # 2310

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2310

Revelation 3:3 “Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.”

 

Our verse today comes from the message to Sardis church. There are many layers of lessons to be seen here, and in doing that it is easy to miss the obvious, overall lesson. That same overall lesson can be found in the message to the church at Ephesus and as well as Laodicea. Those three churches, as described to us in Revelation, were a mess.

 

  • Ephesus had lost their first love
  • Laodicea was lukewarm
  • Sardis was dead

 

Not sure which, if any, were better than the others. I guess it’s like saying, “Would you rather get punched in the stomach or in the face?” My answer would be, “Neither.” Churches do not start out this way. Lukewarm won’t start a congregation. Dead definitely won’t start anything. It takes energy, drive, zeal, goals, vision and a whole lot of work to begin a congregation. There is a level of excitement. Lots of folks are invited and talked to. That’s how churches generally start. But, by this page in our Bibles, time has passed by. Things have settled down. Ephesus lost their focus. Laodicea was going through the motions. And, Sardis, was on life support, already flat lining.

 

What is interesting in the Lord’s words to all three of these congregations is that the word “Repent” is used. A whole congregation can repent. Things can change. Now here are some thoughts:

 

First, the Lord had not given up on these places. You read in the paper of stores closing their doors. They are going out of business. They can’t make it. That’s not the message here. Dead churches can come alive. Lukewarm churches can become hot again. And, churches that have lost their love can get it back. Things do not have to stay the way that they are. A dead church isn’t destined to remain dead. The fate isn’t sealed. It’s not too late.

 

Second, for these churches to change, the individual members had to get on the ball and change their lives. A church is dead because the members are dead. A church is lukewarm because the members are lukewarm. A church loses it’s love and focus because the members have. So, for these churches to change, to repent, it would have to start within the hearts of the members. This is where the ball is often dropped. We go along for the ride, wanting someone else to turn things around. Don’t count on me and don’t use me, is a common thought. If things get better, I’ll stick around. If they don’t, you won’t see much of me. It’s that spirit that keeps a dead church dead. Until everyone repents and gets on board with the Lord, the place will remain dead. Faith in Jesus is lived at home and at work as well as in worship. What was going on at home? Were they praying? Were they connecting to the Lord? Our faith can’t remain at the church house. It is who we are. Our faith defines us. Our faith determines our choices. A dead church is the result of dead faith—everywhere.

 

Third, until these churches turned around, they were doing more harm than good. The state of all three, loveless, lukewarm and lifeless is of no value to the community nor to the members. People aren’t encouraged in such places. Going through the motions doesn’t touch anyone’s heart. Lives aren’t changed and people aren’t brought to Christ in such settings. These places create a false sense of security. The illusion of being right fogs the reality of heartless indifference. There isn’t much difference between the man in the world and a dead faith in Christ that these folks had. A dead faith won’t make the right choices. A dead faith won’t deal with worry, fear and death. A dead faith doesn’t help anyone.

 

I know some places like this. Small, doing nothing, keeping house and wasting money because they don’t have the energy to turn things around and they don’t want to have to go to some other place. So, they keep heating and cooling these church buildings and the numbers continue to get smaller and smaller. No reaching the community. No social media presence. No bringing in friends. No goals. No future. Just lifeless sermons being preached to lifeless folks sitting in the pews. Why? Why put up with this? Why not change?

 

Fourth, the avenue of change comes from the word of God. That is always the roadway to life, hope and forgiveness. God’s word must be preached. It must be preached boldly. It must challenge, move and change those people. Leadership must begin to lead. Stir the pot. Get back into a deeper study of God’s word. Focus upon the power of that word and how it changed lives.

 

We understand this individually. In our sins, we were dead to Christ. Yet, through that powerful word, we believed and we changed. We found life and our whole lives changed. It works individually and it will work congregationally. Preach the word. That’s the key. Don’t preach nice, safe lessons. Preach what needs to be preached. The power is in the word of God. Believe that.

 

Loveless, lifeless and lukewarm—terrible conditions for a church to be in. But they would remain that way if the members remained content and didn’t want to put much effort into their faith. Deception is one of Satan’s greatest lies. We convince ourselves that things are not too bad, when they really are. We take no steps to change things. Problems do not go away. A leaky roof doesn’t fix itself. A heart problem doesn’t cure itself. Closing our eyes to the obvious only lengthens the time a church remains in a desperate condition.

 

And, with all of this, God is not pleased. He wants us to be strong and growing. He is not happy when we are loveless, lifeless and lukewarm. We fool ourselves that all is well, but it’s not. And, to think God may ask of us, “Why did you not repent?” “Why did you not change?” That would be hard to answer. Some would point their fingers at others and believe, ‘it wasn’t our place to change things.’ But it is.

 

We cannot accept nor be content with substandard faith and actions. We tolerate weakness and accept the idea that some will just be like that. Help the weak, is what the Thessalonians were told. Bind up the broken is what the shepherds of ancient Israel failed to do. Get a Bible study going. Have some conversations. Stop accepting what the Lord doesn’t. You don’t find in these Revelation passages the idea that some are just this way and that’s ok. What you do find is the word, Repent.

 

It’s time to please the Lord and not the folks sitting in the pews.

 

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 2309

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2309

 

2 Corinthians 5:11 “Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.”

 

Our verse today reveals motives. It is cased in a series of verses that begin with the word “therefore.” In this chapter alone, six verses begin with the word “therefore.” That word, therefore, connects as well as determines. Because of this, that happened. So, in our verse, knowing the fear of the Lord (because of that), we persuade men (this happened).

 

Here we find the means of conversion, persuading men. The word “persuade” can have a bad taste in our mouths. We tend to think of being talked into something that we don’t want to do. We drop by a car dealership just to look. We aren’t buying, just looking. But the next thing you know, we’ve test driven a car and now we are sitting in a cubicle with a stack of papers in front of us to sign. We’ve been talked into or persuaded. That can often lead to buyer’s remorse. We go home and start thinking about everything and realize it was the smooth talking salesman and his pressure that got to us. Your granddaughter wants you to buy some girl scout cookies. Those cute little eyes are enough and you buy a whole case. Your wife asks, “what are you going to do with all those cookies?” And, your response, “I couldn’t resist.” Persuaded.

 

Paul didn’t strong arm anyone, smooth talk anyone or promise the sky to get someone to follow Jesus. The persuasion came from God’s word. Nothing else is needed and nothing else is appropriate. One doesn’t become a Christian to meet nice people at church. One doesn’t become a Christian so he can find a good girl to date and marry. One doesn’t become a Christian because it looks good on his resume or if he runs for office. None of that! When the Ethiopian in Acts 8 became a Christian, there was no talk about the people or a church. It was all about Jesus. The persuasion comes from God’s word.

When God’s word is preached properly, it ought to bring a godly response. The power is in the word and not the preacher. The changing is within the heart and not because of the benefits that it may do to someone.

 

Now, why would someone be persuaded? They are not offered cash. They are not given tickets to a ballgame. They don’t get a free meal. And becoming a Christian comes with responsibilities and obligations. So, why? Why be a Christian?

 

First, from the Scriptures God wants you to be with Him. That’s how the Bible story begins. It wasn’t just naked Adam and Eve. It was Adam, Eve and God. They were together. There was no separations between them. Transparency in it’s truest form. God walked in the garden with them. They had a close relationship. That’s what God wants with you. It’s not merely changing your outlook and your thinking. It’s not making you upbeat and optimistic. It’s not shaping you to be a killer salesperson. None of that. God wants you. God wants to be with you.

 

Second, we have sinned and that separated us from God. That is the next page in the Bible story. Adam and Eve chose to listen to the serpent rather than believe God. They disobeyed God. They sinned. God removed them from the garden. The relationship was broken. Things were not the same. They lost that connection with God. Our sin does the same. We choose self over God. We choose friends over God. We choose Satan’s trinkets over God. And, we sin. We shatter the trust and the love that once was there. Sin separates us from God. We are lost. We are without hope. We are Hell bound.

 

Third, the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of our sins and restore that relationship back with God. Jesus came and was the perfect sacrifice for us. He did what we could never do. His blood cleanses us. But we must believe. We must do whatever He says. We are not in the position to make demands, call the shots or barter with God. There is no deal to be made. There is no negotiating. Jesus died for us. Our faith and our turning our hearts over to Him and our following Him builds that bridge back to God. Salvation is possible. Forgiveness, hope and freedom are renewed. We commit to a new and better life. Now, it’s God’s way and not our way. Now, Jesus is the Lord of our lives. That faith leads to baptism, the doorway that connects us to the cleansing blood of Jesus. With sins forgiven, we again have a platform to be close to God.

 

Fourth, this message, this hope, this grace and this gospel is what and why Paul persuaded people. Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people. Knowing God we do these things. The purpose is not to put notches in Paul’s belt. It’s not to build churches. It’s to bring people to Christ.

 

A person reading the Bible can be changed. There is a power within the Bible that works on our hearts. Goodness looks really good and bad looks really bad. We see why God says what He says. He’s is trying to keep us near Him. He is trying to keep us righteous. God warns. We need that. We tend to get too close to the edge and likely will fall over. God explains. God teaches. God commands. He does these things because He wants us to be close to Him.

 

Can a person, with just the Bible, and nothing else, become a Christian? Absolutely. You don’t need anything else. You don’t need commentaries. You don’t need these Jump Starts. You don’t need the opinions of others. Paul traveled the first century world, not with a suit case full of tracts and class books, but only the N.T. message. That message is what persuaded his world. That same message is what will persuade our world. That same message will persuade us if we allow it.

 

There is a song that we sing, “I have decided to follow Jesus…” Why would one decide to do that? Because God is right. Because I am not. Because I want to be right. Because God loves me and Jesus is the way.

 

Persuaded. Not talked into something that I didn’t want to do. Not blindly following some charismatic leader. But based upon facts, faith and my heart, I made that decision. It is my decision.

 

I have decided to follow Jesus…

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 2308

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2308

Acts 17:11 “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.”

 

This passage is an incredible example for all of us. What happened here changed their lives. This ought to be the standard for us and when it is, it too changes our lives.

 

The apostle Paul was out preaching. We often call these trips his missionary journeys. Paul and Silas came to Berea. They started teaching in Jewish synagogues. They weren’t teaching what the people there had been used to hearing. They were teaching about Jesus, salvation, and the church. New thoughts. New ideas. And, out of this a new example for the rest of the world.

 

From this passage we see:

 

First, they received the word. They didn’t turn their backs on it. They didn’t say, “That’s not the way we have heard it before.” Before faith can take root in our hearts, God’s word must be received. Without that, faith has no substance. The difference between faith, wishing and dreaming, is that faith has a foundation in the word of God. The word of God is what supports the faith. In Jesus’ story of the wise man and the foolish man, at the end of the sermon on the mount, it was the wise man who built his house upon the rock. That rock is the word of God. That rock made it possible for the house to withstand storms. That rock kept the person going. That rock held him up.

 

Without the word of God, folks hope, but there’s nothing to that hope. Faith is built upon the promises, the trust, the assurance and the proof of God that is found throughout the word of God. They received the word.

 

Second, they received it with “great eagerness.” That expresses their attitude. They weren’t reluctant. They weren’t doubting. The Bible makes sense. The Bible can be understood. One doesn’t need another book to explain God’s book. Creeds, by-laws and so forth, are not necessary. God’s word is what will get us to Jesus. God’s word is what will get us to Heaven. Through that word we come to know, believe and obey Jesus.

 

Some folks receive the word, but it’s not with great eagerness. They receive it, almost hoping there was another option. Some receive it, but they don’t like it. Some fight it, like a child being put to bed when he doesn’t want to go to bed. When these things happen, we will be slow to obey. We will not have joy in our hearts. We will do it, simply because we don’t want to go to Hell. Heaven or Hell are God’s only options. I truly feel that some wish that there was a third option. I get the impression that some would be ok not live on in eternity. If God had a third option of simply ceasing to exist after death, I think many would sign up for that. That way they could live as they wanted to without any consequences. However, there is no third option. You won’t find in Heaven people who don’t really want to be there. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.

 

You can tell eager people. They are first in line. On black Friday, they are the ones who campout all night in front of a store door. They are eager. Getting up early with excitement is a sign of eagerness. Here, it’s folks who are attentive to what was being preached. I see this in people’s eyes as I preach. They are listening. They are looking in their Bibles. They are taking notes. They are learning. They are thinking. They are changing. God’s word is powerful and it can drive out fear, doubt and worry. God’s word gives us comfort and hope. God’s word reassures our hearts. God’s word builds confidence and courage. We can face anything, even death, when we know God is on our side and we are on His side.

 

Third, these folks were checking things out with the word of God. They searched the Scriptures to see whether these things were so. Several thoughts here. The Scriptures for these Bereans would be the Old Testament. Paul must have been referring to the prophecies about the Messiah and the death. Passages like Psalms 22, Isaiah 53, or Daniel’s discussion about God’s kingdom (Dan 2) would have been places they may have looked at. Rather than just accepting what Paul said, they checked it out. They verified it. They searched the Scriptures. If it’s in the Bible, it’s so.

 

This tells us that they understood that God’s word is the answer. They didn’t check the pages of what the rabbis had written. They didn’t rest upon what their ancestors always believed. It was the Scriptures. If it was in the Scriptures, that meant it was right. They didn’t argue with Scriptures. They didn’t look for loopholes. They didn’t toss their opinions into the matter. God spoke and that was it.

 

That spirit is missing these days. Too many want to fuss with the Bible, which really means that they are arguing with God. That’s one argument that they will lose. People today place their feelings above Scriptures. I know the Bible says this, they will say, but I feel this way about that. When they do that, they do not realize that they are placing how they feel at a higher standard than God. It really doesn’t matter how we feel. I may not like it. I may wish God said something different. But, realize God didn’t have to write the Bible. He didn’t have to send His apostles out preaching His word. He easily and rightly could have said, you messed up, good luck. You are on your own. What then? We would be lost without any hope and without ever knowing what to do. Most wouldn’t have thought about being baptized on our own. We wouldn’t know how to please God on our own. We’d come up with our own way of doing things. And, guess what? That’s exactly what the modern church looks like today. There are so many activities, organizational levels, concepts, worship ideas that one never reads in the Bible. If you were to ask, show me where this is in the Bible? They couldn’t. They don’t care. They have moved past following the Bible.

 

The apostle Paul said, “the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phil 4:9). It’s a matter of following the leader. In essence, if Paul did it, we should too. If Paul didn’t, why are we doing it?

 

They received the word. They received it with great eagerness. They received it and checked it out by the Scriptures. They became Christians. And, guess what? The same thing happens today.

 

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 2307

Posted on March 19, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2307

John 10:17-18 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

 

In our verses today, Jesus is telling the disciples that His coming death is a sacrifice. In a sacrifice, there is more than a death, but an offering. Someone offers a lamb to God. That lamb is slain. The death of a lamb in sacrifice to God is different than the death of a lamb out in the pastures because a wolf got it. In a sacrifice, a choice, an offering was made. The death was intended. It was on purpose. It was a gift, a gift to God.

 

This is the point Jesus is making. It would not be the Jews who killed Jesus. It would not be the Romans who killed Jesus. Now, some may disagree with that. They may contend that Roman soldiers drove the nails into a Roman cross and executed Jesus. They may say that Roman soldiers stood around the cross. Had it not been for Rome, Jesus would not have died. Absolutely false. Jesus chose to die. Jesus offered Himself. He didn’t go to the cross kicking and screaming. He wasn’t fighting it. He laid down His life. Had He wanted to get away, He would have. There is no power that could contain Jesus, even death, as the rest of the verse states.

 

Earlier in John, Jesus declared, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” This statement not only tells of the coming resurrection of Jesus, but it stated just how long He would be in the grave, Three Days. Just as Jesus had the power to lay down His own life, He had the power to bring it back up. In three days, I will raise it up, is what John 2 says. Our verse today says, “I have authority to take it up again.”

 

Now, here’s the interesting thought. Even in death, while His body was in the grave and His soul was in Hades, Jesus was not only in charge of the situation, He was aware of the time table. We often say after a funeral, that life goes on. It does for the living. Back to work. Back to school. We flip calendars. We get about life. But for the dead, it has stopped, at least on this side of things. My mom, for instance, would be in her 90’s if she were still on this side of life. But she’s not. She died in her 60’s. Time stopped. We understand that.

 

Yet in these passages from John, Jesus, in death was aware of the time. He said that in three days He would be raised. The book of Matthew tells us that it was on Sunday, the first day of the week, the third day after His death, that the women gathered to the tomb, and it was empty. An angel declared, “He is not here.” How did Jesus know it was the third day? He said that he would lay down His life and that He would take it up. What if He came back too soon? What if He was raised and it was still Friday? Or what if it was on Saturday? Or, worse, what if it were on a Tuesday? Not only would Jesus’ words be in question, He said three days, it would make us wonder about His other words.

 

So, this leads to the thought that even in death, Jesus was aware, in charge and had all authority. There is no indication that the Father sent Jesus an angel to remind Him, “It’s Sunday, you better rise from the grave.” He did this on His own.

 

But this shouldn’t shock us nor surprise us. We find several occasions when Jesus talked to the dead, and they not only heard Him, but they obeyed Him. Jairus’ twelve year old daughter was told by Jesus to get up. The dead girl got up immediately. Lazarus was told to come forth out of the grave. He came out, still bound in grave wrappings. You and I can stand at the grave of a loved one and tell them about our day and talk and talk, but there is no indication that they can hear us. We could say “come forth,” but they won’t come. We don’t have that power and we certainly do not have that authority. But Jesus does.

 

You and I are bound by this world. The laws of nature govern us. The laws of time impact us. The physical components of this life are like boundaries that we live between. For Jesus, none of those things held Him. He could walk on water. He could command the dead. He could cast out demons. And, even when He was dead, He knew when it was the third day and when it was time to be resurrected.

 

You and I are battered by the weather, disease, and time. There isn’t much that we can do about those things. But Jesus is not like that. We trust in a God who is not governed by the things we are. We follow a God who is greater than this world. We come to understand that all things, the weather, the demons, disease, and even you and I are subject to Him. He is the Almighty. He is God.

 

I might get discouraged because of the weather, death, and disease. Time may wear me out and age me. But these things do not touch the God I follow. God doesn’t age. He’s not getting older and past His peak. Time means nothing to God. The weather, He changed it. The disease, He cured. The demons, He cast out.

 

But greater than time, weather and disease, is our sin. God can forgive me. God can cleanse me. God can make me whole again. Through faith, obedience in baptism as He commanded, and following Him, I can fear no evil. I can sit at the table of my enemy. I can travel through the valleys of death. On my own, I’m scared to death. But following the One who is greater than all of these things, I step right behind Him. I listen to Him in His word. I follow Him. I obey Him. I love Him. And, I know what He says will be. I know what He promises is true.

 

How can I be so sure? He said that in three days after He lay down His life that He would take it up again. He was exactly right. He knew. Even in death, He knew. Without faith in Jesus, how terrible life is. But with Jesus, comes hope, joy and knowledge that the best is yet to come.

 

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 2306

Posted on March 18, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2306

2 Kings 25:7 “And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, then put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon.”

Our verse today seems to be an odd selection for a devotional. Doubt you’ll ever find this verse on a greeting card or stitched on a pillow. It’s in our Bibles because God put it there. It’s there for our learning. Beyond the historical context, there are lessons here.

Here’s the background. Babylon was bearing down on Jerusalem. They were the instruments of God to punish Judah. The king of Judah, Jehoiachin, was led away to Babylon. This is about the time that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshack and Abed-nego are taken captive. These events correspond with the book of Jeremiah, which is written from the perspective of life in Jerusalem, and Daniel, which is written from the perspective of life as a captive in Babylon. God allowed His holy temple to be desecrated by pagans. The gold furnishings and the utensils used in the temple to serve God were stolen and carried back to Babylon.

The Babylonian king appointed Zedekiah to be the new king of Judah. He was to be the puppet of Babylon. He disobeyed God. He served about eleven years. He rebelled against Babylon and Babylon attacked. It is here where our verse is found. Zedekiah’s sons were killed before him. Then his own eyes were gouged out. The last thing he saw was the death of his sons. Tied up, he was taken back to Babylon.

What do we learn from all of this:

First, the depth of evil can seem bottomless. The words of our verse lack compassion. Some would say this is war, and bad things happen in war. But before war, heartless people filled with anger and hatred ruin the lives of others. The stories of crime, evil and wickedness fill the pages of history. Once the parameters of decency, goodness and godliness have been removed, there is no end to how wicked some can be. We read of Pharaoh and centuries later, Herod, killing innocent babies. Evil continues to hurt the innocent and the good.

Second, for a time it seems that evil is triumphant. Among the captives taken to Babylon were good men and women. People of faith were among those captives. The prayerful Daniel, the courageous Shadrach, Meshack and Abed-nego, were among those. They didn’t start being faithful and prayerful when their city fell. This is the way that they were. Their entire world fell apart. This wasn’t for a week or so. This was going to last seventy years, as God promised. Many would die in Babylon. The beyond city of David, the beautiful temple where worship was so important to them, would never be seen again. It must have been hard for them to understand these things and dozens and dozens of questions must have come to their minds. Why would God allow His temple to be destroyed? Why would God allow the ark of the covenant to be stolen? It seems that evil wins.

And, for us, we may feel the same. It may seem that wickedness reigns and decency, honesty and righteousness can no where be found anymore. It may seem that evil is winning. It may seem that the righteous are helpless and are along for the ride. The suffering saints in Peter’s day must have felt this way. The suffering saints in Revelation must have felt this way.

Third, for the people of God, it seems that hope, prayer and faith are all that they have. But, that’s enough. They do not raise up arms and fight. They are unable to overcome a powerful Babylonian empire. Yet, what do we find Daniel doing? Praying. Living righteously. Continuing on with the Lord. This is our call as well. We don’t call the attorneys. We don’t grab our guns. We don’t form an army. What we do is to continue to assemble, continue to worship, and continue to trust in the Lord.

Fourth, there were things that God was doing that they never knew. God was using Babylon. God had Babylon in the palms of His hands. When it was time, God would crush Babylon. There are so many things going on all around us that we do not see, understand nor can appreciate. God is busy. He is doing things even this day. Ours is not to seek a life of comfort but of faithfulness to the Lord. What if America fell? What if our faith was outlawed? What if we were carried to a foreign land against our wishes? We would continue to pray, trust God and follow Him. We must remember that God does not have an American Flag on the walls of Heaven. Long before there was an America and long after America is no more, God remains God.

Fifth, it is easy to assume that Zedekiah got what he deserved. He disobeyed God and he rebelled against Babylon. He put himself in that place and his choices led to the terrible expressions in our verse today. However, does anyone deserve to get what they get? That thought swings both ways. I’ve heard people say that they deserve Heaven because they have had such a terrible life here. Or, someone deserves Heaven because they were so good here. No one deserves Heaven. And, really, no one deserves to be treated in a wicked, evil and cruel manner. Our lives are made up of choices. All choices have responsibilities and consequences. Some consequences lead to misery and pain. Some consequences lead us to blessings and comfort. If we all got what we deserved, then none of us would make it to Heaven.

Sixth, losing your eyes is not nearly as bad as losing your soul. A person can be blind and go to Heaven. The tragedy of Zedekiah was that he was disobedient to God. He was in the position where he could have made a difference. He didn’t. He was the king. He had resources to influence others. He didn’t. We get upset when someone is injured in a car accident, but it doesn’t seem to register with us that the person may not be pleasing to the Lord. We pray for broken bones, but not a broken soul. We want to the person to get well, but we forget about getting righteous. Zedekiah lost his sight. Most likely Zedekiah lost his soul.

Finally, what a contrast in Scriptures between our verse and the raising of Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5. Here, the last thing Zedekiah saw was the execution and murder of his sons. A parents nightmare. But in Mark 5, Jesus calls the young girl back to life. He is holding her hand. As she opens her eyes, one of the first things she would have seen is Jesus, standing right in front of her.

I like to think among the righteous that we close our eyes in death and we open them to see Jesus. We open them to see Jesus and never have to close them again.

This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through…aren’t you glad!

Roger