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Top of the Muck Hep |
Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 01 May 2013
Hi all,
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Still on Top |
Very strange things happen to
our aspirations on the journey from the cradle to the grave. In our late teens,
early twenties, our minds are filled with a variety of possibilities. Fame and
fortune feature largely among our intentions. Perhaps a president, or the
husband/wife of a king/queen. There are no limitations and we see ourselves at
the helm of a huge organisation. We see ourselves among the movers and shakers
that change worlds.
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Solomon had it all Sex, Money & Power |
After full time education is complete we find an employer.
In no time at all, we realise that there are many others working alongside with
similar aspirations. More than that, we find we are surrounded by people with completely
different value systems to yours and mine!
Suddenly we realise that we are
somewhere on something like a “pyramid”. We want to climb higher and, with time
and effort, we move up to the next rung on the pyramid. This keeps happening until we reach a place
from which, further upward progress becomes very difficult. We realise that
there can only be one man at the top of the pyramid. Furthermore, the
competition gets fiercer for the next few rungs of the ladder. But we carry on
until age starts catching up with us. We aren’t quite as quick on the uptake as
once we were and our annual holiday is something we badly need. When we go back
to the office we find that our desk has been moved into the passage and someone
else is in the office we previously occupied.
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Your Empty Desk |
At this time in life we realise
we will never be the President. Things aren’t quite as exciting as they once
were and we realise our days are numbered. This is called the rat race. We’ve been
trying to climb to the top of the muck heap. The few that make it to the top
realise that it’s still a muck heap! Effectively we’ve wasted our life. Only
that which is done in and for Jesus has lasting value. All the other “stuff”
may provide a top of the range Mercedes; a large and very expensive house in the
most fashionable part of town; perhaps with overseas trips and all the other
trimmings which go with worldly “success”.
King Solomon achieved all this
and more. He was said to be the wisest man who ever lived. He had more women
than most men would think possible. He was not only on the top of the muck heap;
he was on the top of all the muckheaps. What did he say about all this? “Vanity
of vanities; all is vanity. 2 “Meaningless!
Meaningless!" says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” Eccl 1:2 TNIV
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He is Preparing a Place for us |
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The New Jerusalem cumming down |
This is where we will spend
eternity with God living in a place Jesus has specially provided for us. Wow! I
can hardly wait.
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus –
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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THE
NEW JERUSALEM
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Imagination is a wonderful thing. It enables us to
go where we can never go while in our “earth-suit”! I’d like to walk onto the
middle of the sun and see what God has at the centre. To explore the moon or
the bottom of our deepest oceans unhindered by the limitations we all know so
well. To soar aloft with the eagles. What would it be like? Did Adam and Eve
know any of this before the fall? All answers are pure guesswork.
Imagination is a God-given quality. But we can’t
imagine the unimaginable! Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes: 20
God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or
request in your wildest dreams! He does it
not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and
gently within us. Ephesians 3:20 MSG
As we think about this and our imagination, we are
forced to the conclusion that no matter what we can possibly think or imagine,
what He has prepared for us, is infinitely more. Put another way, if you can
think it or imagine it, it doesn’t measure up to what He has prepared for
those who love Him.
We know that He reveals things to us by His Spirit.
We also know that He has placed into His Word just enough to make us ravenous
for Him.
Today’s Scriptures deal with the new heaven and
earth. What will it be like? In today’s meditation I’ve tried to express some
of the things He has already shown us in His Word. To a large extent they
challenge our thinking. “Can such things be true?” we ask, not really knowing
the question or the answers!
One thing I can assure you is that what I have
written is only what I see in His Word. I have imagined and thought these details
through and have written them down accordingly. What I can, and will say, is
that what I have written is utterly inadequate to describe the fullness of
God’s plans for those who love Him.
I suppose we could say that they are like the daubs
on canvas of a two year old compared with a Rembrandt or a Reuben’s. There is
almost no comparison other than the desire in the mind of a two year old to
state what he sees in his imagination.
If I can imagine it or you can imagine it, we are
still daubing paint on the canvass of our imagination. We can say only one
thing in its favour. We are at least trying to make use of the faculties He
has given us. I love the daubs of paint by my young relatives. They are
meaningless to me. But the potential within them exceeds my wildest dreams. I
suspect Divinity feels the same way about us!
Jim and Phyllida
Strickland
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35 "The four sides of the city measure to a total of nearly six
miles.(18,000 cubits) ”From now on the name of the city will be YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "GOD (the Lord) IS-THERE."
Ezekiel 48:35 MSG
3 I heard a loud shout from the throne,
saying, "Look, God's home is now among His people! He will live with
them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them.
Revelation 21:3 NLT
22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
23 And the city has no need of sun or
moon, for the glory of God illuminates the
city, and the Lamb is its light.
Revelation 21:22-23 NLT
15 Because I do what is right, I will enjoy your blessing. When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see
you.
Psalms 17:15 NIrV
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there
is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
Psalms 73:25 ESV
20 "But Judah will be filled with
people forever, and Jerusalem will endure through all generations. 21
I will pardon My people's crimes, which I have
not yet pardoned; and I, the LORD, will make My home in Jerusalem with My
people."
Joel 3:20-21 NLT
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for
behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD.
Zechariah 2:10 ESV
3 No longer will there be any curse. The
throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will
serve him.
Revelation 22:3 TNIV
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When Jesus is creating, We think in
terms of size.
But when we see what He has done,
we’re in for a surprise.
He has gone to make a place within His
Father’s house.
It takes some understanding and
requires a bit of nous,
To think what He’s been doing for some
two thousand years.
We know He has been busy. That’s how
it now appears.
But stop for just a moment and think
how long it’s been.
A day is like a thousand years. For
God that’s how it’s seen.
Now Jesus Christ ascended on a
Thursday afternoon.
So as He calculates it, it’s really
far too soon.
To Him, this is the middle of the next
Saturday.
It also is the Sabbath, if thought
about His way.
So from the Master’s view-point, the
weekend isn’t through!
So brother if He’s coming soon, what
day is this to you?
Furthermore the project is massive
everywhere.
The base as it’s explained to us is
measured as a square.
We know twelve thousand stadia is
fourteen hundred miles,
Give or take a mile or two. It makes
me think awhile.
That’s bigger than the distance from
Jo’burg to the Cape!
Such a massive city! Our mouths will
be agape.
Fourteen hundred miles each way and
fourteen hundred high!
It seems to use a massive chunk of Our
creator’s sky!
Is it like a pyramid, or cubic in its
style?
As I think about it, I sort of want to
smile.
What about the mansions? That’s what
we’d like to know.
There’s no need for lighting; our God
provides that glow!
Someone has informed us; it would just
fit in the moon!
And Jesus has informed us that He is
coming soon!
I’m glad He’s the Creator. A project
of this size,
Is quite beyond the reasoning of any
mortal’s eyes.
No temples will be needed! The Lord
Himself is there!
Everything required will come from Him
to share.
There will be no sun or moon and there
will be no night.
Father, Son and Spirit will be the
source of light!
There will be no sickness and death
will pass away.
There will be no crying; Lord, hasten
in the day!
This is what He’s making and I can
hardly wait!
Please do us a favour Lord! Don’t
postpone the date.
“Jim Strickland”
Written
1st May 2012
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