ACCESS!

That’s the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin built in the late 1700s. A monumental landmark of twelve Doric columns about 60 feet high, the structure is modeled after the gateway to the Acropolis. Atop sits the Quadriga (four-horse chariot) with the goddess of peace driving it.

When the Nazis were in power, Brandenburg Gate symbolized their power. After the building of the Berlin Wall in the early 60s, the gate remained closed, a token of the Iron Curtain’s blockade of access between the East and West. President Reagan stood by it in 1987 and challenged the East to “Tear down this wall.” Upon the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate came to stand for freedom. On Dec 22, 1989, it was opened when West German Chancellor Kohl walked through it to the East German side. Access!

Another One went through a barrier Himself, procuring for believers a grand and magnificent access. To God Himself.

… in [Christ] we have
boldness and confident access
through faith in Him.
Ephesians 3:12

When Christ paid the price of sin once for all by His finished work on the cross, the accounts of His death state that the temple veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the sanctuary was rent top down.

And Jesus uttered a loud cry,
and breathed His last.
And the veil of the temple
was torn in two
from top to bottom.
Mark 15:37–38

No more would the most holy place in the temple be verboten for mankind. No more would sin be an issue for salvation between holy God and sin-stained humans; for those who place their trust in Christ, the Mediator, access was available.

For there is one God,
and one mediator also
between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5

No more barrier. No more separation. No more estrangement. Evermore access. Evermore united with the Father. Evermore His child.

Therefore, having been
justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also
we have obtained
our introduction by faith
into this grace
in which we stand;
and we exult
in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1–2

And exult we will!

Sing, O sing of my Redeemer!
With his blood he purchased me;
On the cross he sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In his boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

Philip P. Bliss wrote this hymn in 1876 before dying in a train disaster. Apparently he survived the initial wreck, but was killed trying—unsuccessfully—to rescue his wife. This hymn was found later among his effects.

I will sing of my Redeemer
And his heav'nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be.

Indeed, Christ had brought Bliss from death to life, “Son of God, with Him to be.” And so will we be with Him. Evermore. Because the price of sin was paid.

For Christ also died for sins
once for all,
the just for the unjust,
so that He might
bring us to God.
1 Peter 3:18

By His work. Into God’s presence. Access.

… we have confidence
to enter the holy place
by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way
which He inaugurated for us
through the veil,
that is, His flesh .…
Hebrews 10:19–20

Sing, O sing!

TRUE!

Loch Ness. Home of the legendary monster, “Nessie”—one of the best-known cryptids, along with other fanciful, fabled, and fabulous creatures such as Big Foot, Yeti, centaurs, gremlins, hippogriffs, basilisks, etc. Cruises offer tourists the chance to look for Lady Nessie.

But despite all the endeavors to locate her, Nessie has evaded detection. An extensive investigation launched by the BBC a few years ago found no trace of any monster of any kind in the murky waters of the loch. Nessie simply does not exist.

To many it is likely that Jesus Christ and His resurrection are in that same category of unverifiable myths. And today being the Sunday after Ascension (40 days after Easter was last Thursday), perhaps a look into this matter of validity is called for, especially regarding the Resurrection. Fact or fiction?

… He [Jesus] also presented
Himself alive
after His suffering,
by many convincing proofs,
appearing to [the disciples]
over a period of forty days ….
Acts 1:3

Did He rise from the dead? There is no question Jesus’ tomb was empty. Is it possible He never died, and simply revived and walked away? Not after all the agonies He suffered. And certainly not under the watchful eyes of Pilate’s guards. Was His body stolen by His compatriots? By those Galilean fisherman scared out of their wits by the whole episode? Impossible! (Of course, the sleeping guards assure us that it happened while they were fast asleep!) Well, then, were the disciples lying about the Resurrection? The accounts we have, with the painful details of their doubts and cowardice, don’t read at all like works of fiction. I suppose they could have been hallucinating, but 500 of them at once? Mass hallucination? Likely story!

For I delivered to you
… what I also received,
that Christ died for our sins
… and that He was buried,
and that He was raised
on the third day
according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared
… to the twelve.
After that He appeared to
more than five hundred brethren
at one time ….
1 Corinthians 15:3–7

But the most powerful evidence for the truth of all this is that lives were changed as a result of the Resurrection. The disillusioned, disheartened, and demoralized group of people at the crucifixion became, after the resurrection of their Lord, courageous men of fortitude and tenacity, with a vision and a boldness beyond comprehension. The disciples not only preached the Resurrection, they were ready to go to prison and even die for the truth of what they proclaimed. And they did: Paul and James—beheaded; Peter, Andrew, Philip, Jude, Simon the Zealot, and Bartholomew—crucified; James the Less—stoned; Matthew and Thomas—stabbed to death (the latter in India). Perhaps only John died a natural death. While some may die for what they believe in, thinking it true, nobody—nobody—will die for what they know to be false. Hypocrites and martyrs are not made of the same stuff. The disciples lives were changed.

Changed lives. And lives continue to be changed even today as believers place their trust in Christ for salvation from sin.

Not a figment of imagination like Miss Nessie. The true story of Christ and His Resurrection is a demonstration of the grace of God, the payment for our sin, and the assurance of eternal life. Life as it was meant to be. Victory!

The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:56–57

PRAYER!

This picture was taken somewhere on an island off the western coast of Scotland some months ago. In the middle of nowhere. With a storm brewing in the air, foreboding, inky clouds spelling doom. No, I wasn’t in any trouble; the depiction of a deserted phone booth deposited in a desolated domain drew my attention. And, yes, the telephone worked! There was a dial-tone. Not a soul in sight, not a house anywhere around. Lightning on the horizon, thunder rumbling in the skies. But there was a dial-tone in that companionable carmine curbside cubicle with a connection to the outside. The comfortable sound of a link to the beyond.

So it is also for the Christian, one who has placed his or her trust in Christ as Savior. We too have a link to a source of strength and succor in times of stress and strain.

For we do not have a high priest
who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but One who has been tempted
in all things as we are,
yet without sin.
Therefore let us draw near
with confidence
to the throne of grace,
so that we may receive mercy
and find grace to help
in time of need.
Hebrews 4:15–16

There is always a line open. Jesus Christ, through whom alone we come to the Father.

For there is one God,
and one mediator also
between God and men,
the human Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5

This God, our God, is with us and for us—“Immanuel”. And …

If God is for us, who is against us?
Romans 8:31

This God, our Lord Jesus Christ, too, underwent the rigors of humanity and satanic trials, as he partook of our own human nature, finally, tasting death for us.

For since He Himself
was tempted
in that which He has suffered,
He is able to come to the aid
of those who are tempted.
Hebrews 2:18

An accessible line with an ever-present dial-tone.

What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Joseph Scriven, 1855

Through Christ, we are to pray. For times are troubled. Days dreary. Warfare on the way. Pray often.

The end of all things is near;
therefore, be of sound judgment
and sober spirit
for the purpose of prayer.
1 Peter 4:7

Only His peace can sustain us in these dreary days. And that peace, amidst the pressures of daily life, is channeled by prayer.

Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything
by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests
be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which surpasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6–7

Indeed, if incarnate God, Jesus Christ, Himself, had to pray, how much more we?

… He [Jesus] went off
to the mountain to pray,
and He spent the whole night
in prayer to God.
Luke 6:12

Let us follow His example.

Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it
with an attitude of thanksgiving.
Colossians 4:2

AGING!

Hard to believe. This little kid whom I used to bounce around just the other day has graduated from high school overnight. My nephew, John. When did he become eighteen? Yesterday, I used to give him a hard time, teasing him and pulling his leg. Today, I’m at the receiving end. Yesterday, I was the fount of information. Today, he corrects my mistakes. Yesterday, I was treating the acne on his face. Today, he’s teaching me about “facebook”. Yesterday, he was a cute little elementary school kid. Today, he’s tall and gangly, bidding goodbye to his high school buddies.

I must be getting old! And who knows about tomorrow?

Come now, you who say,
“Today or tomorrow we will go
to such and such a city,
and spend a year there
and engage in business
and make a profit.”
Yet you do not know what
your life will be like tomorrow.
You are just a vapor
that appears for a little while
and then vanishes away.
James 4:13–14

Time flies. Things change. People age. And the clock ticks on, inexorably, irreversibly, incessantly. We might be unconscious of the fact, unmindful and unaware, but life is running out for each of us.

LORD, make me to know my end
and what is the extent of my days.
Let me know how transient I am.
Behold, You have made
my days as handbreadths,
and my lifetime
as nothing in Your sight.
Surely every man
at his best is a mere breath.
Psalm 39:4–5

And as the sand in our hourglasses run out, afflictions abound in synapse and sinew, frailties fell both mind and body. But we are sustained by our everlasting Father, and the eternality of life He gives us.

And now, Lord,
for what do I wait?
My hope is in You.
Psalm 39:7

Indeed! Our hope is in the One who has promised eternal life to those who believe in Christ Jesus for salvation from their sins, a life wherein all things will be renewed. However, in the meantime, as we await those days when things will be as they ought to be—wrongs emended, sin eradicated, joy established, God enjoyed—until then, the Psalmist says …

As for the days of our life,
they contain seventy years,
or if due to strength, eighty years.
Yet their pride
is but labor and sorrow.
For soon it is gone
and we fly away.
So teach us to number our days,
that we may present to You
a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:11–12

Until then, here on earth, may we be wise in all our undertakings, employing ourselves with care during the days allotted to us in this life, as we seek to bring Him praise and glory in all that we think and say and do.

My mouth is filled
with Your praise
and with Your glory all day long.
Do not cast me off
in the time of old age.
Do not forsake me
when my strength fails.
But as for me,
I will hope continually,
and will praise You
yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell
of Your righteousness
and of Your salvation all day long.
And even when I am old and gray,
O God, do not forsake me.
Until I declare Your strength
to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.
For Your righteousness,
O God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?
Psalm 71:8–9, 14–15, 18–19

We age. Be wise. Serve God.