Out of the boat and onto the playing field
I was disappointed. It was Friday. The evening before an influential person in town told me street side that the goal posts to opening up our economy and getting our community back should be moved so far out I feared that only the eye of a satellite could find them. Safety and his fear of death mattered. A zero risks present.
The scenario we are entering for some is distant from where the goal posts were placed in late-March. Life is full of moving goal posts. Unlike life, there are rules in sports thankfully which prohibit tampering with goal posts, right down to their meticulous placement and dimensions. The following friend would have made a great football player because he loved goal posts, the kind which are eternally unmoveable.
Peter, first a fisherman, turned follower of Jesus, turned Apostle, my mentor wrote this: “since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God ” 1 Peter 1:16-21 ESV.
All these words from the one who saw the transfigured body of our Lord. That event is recorded in Matthew 17; “…Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.”
Peter saw no moving goal posts in his commanding role as Ambassador for this glorified Christ Jesus. Peter reminds me of and defines my calling to be a Christian apologist. (Maybe not on the same level as Ravi Zacharias though). Peter prohibits tampering with goal posts. Right down to their meticulous placement and dimensions when it comes to his relationship with Jesus Christ. He knows exactly who Jesus is. Here is the impact of a never shifting Gospel. Peter experienced clear fruitful Christian living because his faith and hope were fully in God. A zero risks future.
This ‘Christ in me’ Christian life is a privilege and a joy because there are no moving goal posts! What was true yesterday is true today and will be true tomorrow. Amen? I Peter 3:15-16 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”
Again, imagine this ordinary fisherman, Peter, describing what it means to be a good apologist. It would have been more expected from men like Paul or Apollos or even Luke, who make such a strong case for the Jesus of history. But for an ordinary man from the workaday world to become the inspiration for Christian apologetics tells us so much about the God whom we serve.
“In your hearts revere Christ as Lord,” Peter says—the spiritual depth of the apologist; “always be prepared to give an answer”—the preparation of the heart and mind of the apologist; “to everyone who asks”—the breadth necessary for the apologist; “do this with gentleness and respect”—the demeanor of the apologist; “so that those who speak maliciously . . . may be ashamed of their slander”—the character of the apologist honoring goal posts steadfastly planted for him and by him.
Our goal posts? We have plenty of space to social distance here at the Chapel. I will make an announcement this coming Sunday – Monday in regards to returning the goal posts with our church programming.
Preemie, Gideon, is fighting for his life. Gideon’s brain bleeds are more and they are worse, some much worse. We are praying with this family through this rising suffering.
Go to http://www.christianlifechapel.org/listen-read/ to read any CONNECTION Blogs you may have previously missed. How are you? Reply to this email with your testimony and prayer request. Please send all church offerings to: CLC, PO Box 91, Colchester, CT 06415. Thank you for your investment in the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Mike Brubaker, DMin
860-537-3914
Christian Life Chapel Website
Christian Life Chapel
PO Box 91
392 South Main Street
Colchester, CT 06415