In the first chapter of Luke's gospel, in verses 8-11, we read the following words regarding the announcement of the birth of Jesus. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
For good reason, this was a grand and glorious announcement that was accompanied by "the glory of the Lord" shining about. We are not given an exact number of the persons who first heard these wondrous words; only that the angelic proclamation was made to "some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night." The significance of the announcement was not found in the number of persons that it was made to, but in the content of the announcement itself and the number of persons that needed a savior. The Savior of men had been born! Oh, how great was our need of a savior.
In Matthew 1:21 we read that our Savior's name would be Jesus and that He would "save His people from their sins." The multitude of our sins is staggering to consider. Surely, using the descriptive words found elsewhere in scripture, our sins are greater in number than the sands of the seashores! It is difficult for me to find the words that are sufficient to fully describe how desperate our need of a savior was.
As I consider the great news of our Savior's birth, I can't help but recall the many stories that have been in the news this past year that proclaim the depravity of men and his desperate need of a savior. I know that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" but there are certain sinful acts that men commit that seem to affirm the truth of total depravity. Fathers and mothers murdering their children. Children abducted from their homes and murdered by strangers. Earlier this month the body of a 7 year old girl was found in a dumpster where her killer had left her. As most of us know, these are just a few of the many stories one could find if he chose to look for them all. And these are only but a small number of the countless acts of depravity amongst men that are fueled by sin. Our hearts should break that these horrific stories have become all to common, so much so that their shock is waning. Yes indeed, out of great necessity and the love of God, a Savior has been born for us.
Sin's impact on humanity rejects the notion of boundaries and you can not find a place where it is not present and wrecking havoc. Following my pastor's recent return from ministering in Uganda, I was considering this sober truth. In so many ways, life for the people in a small village in Uganda is so drastically different than life for those who live here in America. Some of these differences are stark. But sin is a different matter. Sin is very much present no matter where one may find themselves dwelling upon this earth. Sin is present in New York City (New York), Astoria (Oregon), Kampala (Uganda) or Muge Village (Uganda). For all who dwell in these different places around the world, no matter what their differences may be, we rejoice in knowing that a Savior was born for us on that first Christmas day.
What a privilege it is to know the Savior. To know His name. To be forgiven of one's sin. On this Christmas day I would ask that you to pray for those who know not the Lord Jesus. And praise God that the Holy Spirit continues His ministry in the world. Join with me in praising God on this Christmas day, knowing that in different locations around the world, the Spirit will reveal the truth of Jesus to men, women and children. All of which are in need of a Savior. Praise the Lord.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Pastor Ray Persson and That Which is Very Much Better
The body of Christ experienced the loss of one of its steadfast members this past Friday evening. Pastor Ray Persson was 93 years old when he passed into glory last week. Praise the Lord, that as brothers and sisters in Christ we can rejoice amidst sorrow. We know that many years ago Pastor Ray trusted in the finished work of Christ on Calvary for salvation and he became a possessor of eternal life in Christ. He had believed in the One who is able to save to the uttermost!
We “need not grieve as do the rest who have no hope” wrote the Apostle Paul, but sorrow is OK and is not a sign that our faith is lacking. The Apostle Paul, a man who loved the Lord and lived a life that was marked by faith wrote these words in Philippians 2:25-27; “But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.”
Although he knew of the victory and hope possessed by the believer in Christ, Paul acknowledged that sorrow was still something that was real in the life of the Christian. But he rejoiced in the “God of all comfort” and the “Father of Mercies”.
I had the privilege of meeting and becoming acquainted with Pastor Ray as he attended the Lewis and Clark Bible Church these past few years with his daughter her family. I had the privilege of having him in my Sunday School Class on many occasions. His presence was edifying to the class and to our church.
In the few years that I had the privilege to know him, I saw Pastor Ray, first and foremost, as a man who loved the Lord Jesus. He loved his family, he loved his brothers and sisters in Christ and he had a heart for the lost. He was kind, gentle and humble. He was an encouragement to others. He was one of those rare men that I have known that you could sense the presence of Christ in him.
As I read Pastor Ray’s obituary earlier in the week I noted these words that were written; “He served in the U.S. Army, Merchant Marine and Navy for five years, and received the World War II Victory Medal. He was a machinist's mate on the battleship USS Iowa.”
I’m reminded of another battle that Pastor Ray served in. A struggle that the Apostle Paul said “is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” As a soldier in this struggle Pastor Ray served faithfully for many years and for that I am thankful. He served as a preacher of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He served as a husband, a father, a grandfather. He served as a fellow worker with others in the ministry. He served as a neighbor, a friend, a prayer warrior. And in his later years, to me and to many others, he continued to serve as an example of faithfulness.
As a soldier in this service, there was no retirement or inactive duty for Pastor Ray. He served until he could serve no more while “in the body”. Until his death this past Friday evening, Pastor Ray’s desire was to please the One who had enlisted him as a soldier in this service. He was a fighter of the good fight of faith. He finished his course. He kept the faith. In this life he received the World War II Victory Medal; the Lord will now award him the crown of righteousness.
In 1st Corinthians 15:58 the Apostle Paul was inspired to call believers to a standard of Christian living. Pastor Ray Persson heeded that call. In that passage, Paul wrote these words, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” Pastor Ray understood that his enlistment into the Lord’s service was not for a tour of duty of his own choosing. Not for 4 years or 8, or even 25. But for decades he was steadfast, immovable and abounding in the work of the Lord. Like the Apostle Paul, if Pastor Ray was here today he would tell you that these things were true in his life by the grace of God and the indwelling presence of Christ in his life. As I had seen him do before, He would give Christ the glory.
Pastor Ray has come to know quite well that his toil was not in vain in the Lord. Scripture tells the believer that to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord. Pastor Ray is present with the Lord today. In Philippians 1:23, Paul spoke of the conflict of feelings that he had about serving Christ in this life and being with Christ. He said that “to depart and be with Christ”, was “very much better;” Service was necessary and rewarding, but nothing could compare with being in the presence of his savior. Pastor Ray now knows that which Paul said was “very much better”. Praise God!
Let me repeat those last few words. “Though he is dead, he still speaks.” Today, Pastor Ray is absent from the body and present with the Lord. His service “in the body” is over. But make no mistake, ask members his family, ask anyone who knew him, and they will tell you that he still speaks today. And I am convinced that he will continue to speak for many years to come. He speaks now by the life of faith that he lived for those many years. May Pastor Ray’s life be an example and a reminder to each of us, that the opportunity that God gives us to continue to speak of Christ and faithfulness after our death is determined by the life that we live now.
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