Home Safely…..

Today’s SNL is very much for thinking. 2 Tim 4: 18- Paul certainly was not prevented from enduring every evil attack. Not at all. He went through each and every one. Just look at the list 2 Cor 11: 25-30. He endured so much, yet he could say The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. You could say God didn’t rescue him. But you would be wrong. It means ultimately the trials did not kill him. God did not prevent him from having trials, it’s just they wouldn’t kill him; except the one that was his vehicle home. Rescue and prevent are not the same. Heb 5: 7 Jesus prayed to the one who could save him from death; and he was heard. But didn’t Jesus die? The verse implies he was heard, and didn’t die, but we know Jesus did die. So he wasn’t heard. Or was he? Did he die or didn’t he? The Lord would rescue Paul, but not from the tests. He was rescued from each and every one not killing him. Jesus was rescued from dying, prayers heard, but died. Did he? It’s all how you see things. Just imagine, for one brief moment. Jesus is God. God dies. End instantaneously of this planet and cosmos, as all things are held together (Col 1: 16) by God. So, you see, God cannot die. Jesus is God. He can’t die. He holds all things together. God cannot die. Jesus didn’t. Instant disappearance of all. So did Jesus die? Of course not Lk 23: 45- today you will be with me in paradise. A bit pointless saying that, if he was dead. Yet in Lk 24: 36 he died. It’s clear. So, its clear he did die. It’s most clear he could never die. Its clear God could rescue Jesus, he didn’t, but he did. It’s very clear also that Paul said God could rescue Paul from all, but he underwent so much suffering. Yet he was clearly rescued, as Paul stated, until he was brought home. Seems confusing and opposites, but actually in total harmony. The problem is not with what is written. It is clear and true,. The problem is our understanding of what is written. Do we see it literal, figurative, physical or spiritual? How we see things, determines whether we understand or not, confused or not. Jesus, in his humanity, of course he physically died. But in his divinity it impossible for him to die as he is God. That God rescued Paul, from death each struggle is true. And God gave him the strength to continue oi in every new struggle and trial. With the assurance, he will be rescued, and they will not kill him. Of course the last fight/struggle will as that is the way home. Here is our encouragement; the LORD Jesus will rescue us from each and every hardship you are undergoing. Each and every one. Of course, one of them will be your ticket home. God, who listened to Jesus and saved him from death, will also save us from spiritual death as we put our hope and trust in Jesus that he paid our price. It is clear, if you have discernment. If not, ask for wisdom to understand the difficult things.

MCC Admin

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