Is a country born in one day?

 

Thursday, January 4, 2024


Psalms 11; 12

Isaiah 66:1-9

Ephesians 3:1-13


Is a country born in one day?


Many ingredients go into making a country. Most of them revolve around an abstract idea; a grand vision of purpose. That then feeds into a national culture, which is the practical application of that vision. There is also the need for some land (but if the land is currently occupied by another nation, that is not a problem that cannot be solved), and then a group of people to live on that land, sharing the vision of purpose, and expressing that vision in their culture.


This might sound like a big job, and it is. “Nation building” is a popular phrase amongst politicians and public servants, yet this building project seems to be a case of one step forwards followed by two steps backwards. Who ever heard of a nation brought forth all at once? Rome wasn’t built in a day.


But for God, nothing is impossible. The building of ancient Israel may have seemed to us to have taken God a very long time – Abraham did not see it, nor did his son Isaac, nor Jacob after them. Joseph then spent a lifetime in Egypt and didn’t leave that country until he was dust and bones. Moses got to see the Promised Land, but it was his successor Joshua who actually got to cross over the river. Yet it was in that first promise to Abraham that God laid the plans to build the nation that was to be known as the kingdom of heaven.


This shared vision of purpose, of a group of people, living in a certain land, celebrating a culture inspired by the one true and living God, was passed down through generations of Jews. Then one day, a man came along who claimed to be that one, true and living God. His name was Jesus, and He proved what He said about Himself by His actions. Then, one day, as He hung on a cross, He “breathed His last”. There was an earthquake, shattering walls. A curtain symbolising the wall between nations was torn. His blood was shed, and this blood heals the nations, forgiving all who will trust in its power. Rising on the third day, and then ascending into heaven forty days after that, Jesus confirmed the birth of this new nation. Jesus reigns as king, all nations are under His rule, and He is taking them over as ruler of the kingdom of heaven.


We are in that kingdom, that new nation, this glorious and wonderful place, filled with people who love Jesus, celebrating our love in a uniquely Christian cultural expression. When Jesus hung on the cross and cleansed a people for Himself, a nation was born in a day.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Monday, September 12, 2022

  Monday, September 12, 2022 Psalm 33 Habakkuk 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:1-14 In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. The lectionary has taken us from the beloved disciple to one of the most beloved of Paul's epistles: Ephesians. Paul must have loved this church very much: we get a sense of his fondness for them and their shared sense of purpose and worship just from the introduction. In what is likely just an introduction to a letter in the style of the ancient Roman world, Paul has managed to squeeze in the entire, wondrous story of God's work of redemption. Paul has framed it the way it ought to be framed: in a pastoral, encouraging tone. He has three main points here (remember, Paul proceeds logically to build up an argument, unlike John who circles around his main point). First: God intended to save us before the world was formed. Think back to the first l
Read more

“Short time or long – I pray to God not only you but all who are listening become like I am, except for these chains.”

  Monday, September 11, 2023 Psalms 28; 29 1 Kings 7:51-8:21 Acts 26:19-32 Observance: Deiniol, bishop (d. 384) “ Short time or long – I pray to God not only you but all who are listening become like I am, except for these chains.” The great many blessings of being under the protection of the blood of the Lamb fill our hearts with joy and peace. To have the Almighty Creator of the universe, the One who sits above the flood, filling the temple of our being with the cloud of His presence is what it truly means to be human. Every day is filled with adventure; every night turns to the rest of the victor. Certainly there are chains: sometimes they are physical chains, the suffering of being a Christian among people who do not love the Lord. Sometimes they are spiritual; the attacks of the powers of the air who try to distract us from the One we love. But they always fall away. Our Rock of Ages always frees us; always brings us out of the pit of despair. A won
Read more

Monday, September 19

  Monday, September 19 Psalm 45 Nahum 1:15-2:9 Ephesians 4:17-28 ...be renewed in the spirit of your minds... It is far too easy to read some of these Pauline lists of virtues and vices and feel like we have gone back to the dark days before the Reformation. The idea that if we behave ourselves then we can call ourselves “good people” is pagan, not Christian. Paul feels very strongly about how Christians behave, he “affirms and insists” upon it. But it is because of what has already happened that we should mind our step, not because of where we are going. Christ's resurrection is many things, but one aspect relevant for Paul's teaching this morning is that it demonstrates to us the radical new reality in which we now live. We too have passed (spiritually) from death to life; therefore, we experience a “renewal of our minds”. Instead of treading water until we die, we live lives. Everything now makes sense: God has spoken, so we have logic. God made us in His im
Read more