In the Beginning

Then God said, Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion.    -Genesis 1:26.

The baseball season is upon us--go Buccos. Many of you may not know, but God likes baseball and even began the Bible with the words, as one little leaguer misquoted, "In the big inning."  Maybe you've heard about two retired men who loved baseball. They made a pact with each other; whoever dies first would see if there was baseball in heaven and come back and tell his friend. One man died and the next day appeared to his friend in a dream. He said, "I have good news and better news about baseball in heaven. The good news, yes, there is baseball in heaven. The better news is that you are pitching tomorrow."

Seriously, in the beginning, the first two chapters of the Bible tell the powerful story of God who spoke everything into being.  God then creates human beings in His own image and gives them dominion over all creation.  God dwells among His creation in authentic community, even enjoying walks in the garden with Adam and Eve.  They KNOW God and God KNOWS them. 

One very short chapter later, Adam and Eve eat fruit from the one tree God says is forbidden.  This is called “the fall,” and the rest is history… or is it?  In our western world we all have heard the story but do we really understand what it means to be created in the image of God and to be in fellowship with God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? 

Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in a post-industrialized age of rugged independence with little that we can be absolutely certain about.  This legacy of modern thought has seeped into our theology in crafty ways.  We deny absolute truth, preferring a “whatever works for you” mentality.  We say things like, “I choose God,” and “Jesus is my homeboy” or “I’ve made a personal decision for Christ.”  We ask questions like, “Have you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior?” 

When we base our relationship with God on our personal decision to accept Christ or not, we slip into the trap of individualism.  Yes, Jesus longs to have a personal relationship with all people. 2 Peter 3:9 speaks of a God who is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish.  Jesus relates to us on a very personal and intimate level, but we must be careful not to base our relationship with God solely on our personal decision. Our response to God's love and offer of salvation is required in order to experience new life and fellowship with the Lord, but basing our salvation completely on our personal decision denies the majesty, power, authority, and magnificence of a God who merely had to speak creation into existence. 

If I think that the basis of my salvation rests only on my decision to accept and follow Christ, I run the risk of thinking everything else is up to me, too!  Personal holiness, love for all humanity, sacrificial living, Christian perfection…the stuff we “Christians” are made of, becomes up to me.  

The story of God is a story of mutual interdependence.  God sent Jesus to take on the sins of every person and provide a means through which we can come into fellowship with God.  We needed Jesus to do this for us, not by us.  The really good news is that God did not stop there.  By grace, God sends us the Holy Spirit who works in and among God’s people to lead, guide, and empower them for all the “good works” God had called them to.  God tells us in Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

Baseball is a team sport, and so is life in the Kingdom of God. By the grace of God you need and must not go it alone.  You are known by God, you are called by God, you are justified and made whole by God, and you are being glorified and made holy by God.   This is not of yourself… it is a gift from God.  In the end it is up to God who has saved us and reaches out to us. You and I get to partner with God to make His goodness and love known to all the earth.

We Have God's Attention

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.    —Colossians 3:12

The Voice reality television show is a singing competition that seeks to find new talent based on a contestant’s voice alone. Four celebrity coaches sit in chairs with their backs toward the performers. If the coach wants the singer for their team after only hearing their voice, they press their button, and their chair turns around.

There are five different parts to the Voice season: Blind Auditions, Battle Rounds, Knockout Rounds, Live shows, and the Season Finale. Each season begins with the Blind Auditions where singers try to catch the attention and choice of the judge to be on their team. They perform to be chosen. The blind aspect of the competition levels the playing field for those with phenomenal voices but without the wow-factor in appearance. Eventually, everyone turns around for those who are chosen, and performance, appearance, and personality all come into play.

In the Kingdom of God, we already have God’s attention. God judges by the heart rather than outward appearance. The Bible tells us that we are saved by grace through faith. Salvation is the gift of God; it is not earned or deserved (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Romans 6:23 tells us that we have already been judged and have been found guilty. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The second half of the verse states that although we are condemned, God offers each of us the gift of eternal life.

On The Voice, each singer performs to be accepted by the coaches and to have the opportunity to begin a new life for themselves and their families. In God’s Kingdom, we have already been chosen by God, and everyone has the opportunity to begin a new life in Christ. We are accepted by God not based upon our performance but on the performance of God in Christ. Jesus came to earth, lived a holy life, and died for our sins on the Cross. God raised Him from the dead and now gives salvation to all who believe in and follow Jesus.

Colossians 3:12 tells us that we are chosen and dearly loved. The Bible also tells us that while we were sinners and cared not for God Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8). When Jesus prayed in the Garden, He thought of you and me. When Jesus died on the Cross, it was for you and me. You have probably heard the questions posed to Jesus, “How much to you love me?” Jesus opened up His arms to be nailed to the Cross and said, “This much.”

God wants us to live holy lives. God yearns for us to walk with Him every day, but we cannot earn God’s approval, selection, and love by our performance. God already loves us. God already desires to bless us. Our actions, our desire to follow Jesus, and our holy lives are in response to God’s love for us. 1 John 3:19 tells us, “We love because he first loved us.”

Our voice to God is a response to God’s voice to us. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). My friend, God loves you. God has chosen you. He is calling your name. Open your ears and hear His voice. You already have God’s attention. You have already won. Open your heart and ask Jesus to come into your life. Claim your prize.

The Rest of the Story

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.    —Mark 9:9

He was before my time, but I have heard classic commentaries from radio news host, Paul Harvey and his “Rest of the Story” reports. “The Rest of the Story” began as part of Harvey’s newscasts during World War II but became its own series on the ABC Radio Network in the 1970s. Harvey would present a little-known or forgotten fact while holding back an important aspect of the story. As he concluded his commentary, he would reveal the missing part, a famous person’s name or accomplishment, and end with some variation of his well-known tag line, “And now you know the rest of the story.”

On several occasions, Jesus instructed the disciples to tell no one about Him. After healing the blind man, cleansing the leper, or healing the deaf mute, “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it” (Mark 7:3). Many explanations have been given for why Jesus would not want His Name proclaimed. Some say His popularity made it impossible for Him to minister due to the crowds. Others point out that the animosity with the Jewish religious leaders only increased with Jesus’ popularity.

Mark 9:9 shows another reason for this delay in proclaiming the news about Jesus. As He led Peter, James, and John down from the Mount of Transfiguration, “Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” The Disciples did not know the rest of the story. Jesus may have repeatedly instructed them concerning His suffering, death, and resurrection, but they never quite got it until they met Jesus after Easter.

Jesus did not come to gather a following as a great teacher or miracle worker. Jesus came to live a sinless life, reveal God the Father to us, and die as the only and final sacrifice for our sins. Without the resurrection of Jesus, our message is only part of the story. Before Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection, He sent the disciples to only the Jewish people. Before the Empty Tomb, Jesus often told His followers to tell know one of His glory or their healing and deliverance.

After the resurrection, Mary was told, “Go quickly and tell” (Matthew 28:7). At Jesus’ first post resurrection appearance to the Disciples, He told them, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Now that Jesus had risen from the dead and His true nature as God had been revealed and understood, we are commanded to go and tell everyone that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The message of Jesus is not for one people, nationality, or socio-economic group but for every tribe, nation, and gender. “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Before ascending to heaven, Jesus told His Disciples and us, to “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). In Acts 1:8, Jesus declares, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Sisters and brothers, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you know the rest of the story. God so loved each and every one of us that He gave His only begotten Son that we might have life in the Name of Jesus. All who call upon the Name of the Lord will be saved.

Jesus is risen from the dead. Go and tell the world the rest of the story—Jesus is Lord!