Why IT Matters
Our dryer died yesterday without forewarning or fanfare. One moment it was doing its work, drying my husband’s work clothes and suddenly, it was not.
Her Subaru died this spring without any hesitation or notice. One day the ignition switch was turning over and the engine was working, and suddenly one morning, it was not.
Last night, after VBS, we were cleaning up the sanctuary, preparing for Sunday’s worship service, and I shared about my dead dryer and how I needed to tell my husband. “I did not want to add stress to his already busy workday, so I waited.” Then, as we stood in the sanctuary, I turned to tell him. On the heels of that conversation, I heard my niece say: “We knew the Subaru was going to die, but I didn’t want it to be on my watch.”
Both of these life-situations and spoken words remind me Why IT Matters.
In the Old Testament section of the Bible, we read about the children of Israel who experienced the exodus from Egyptian captivity, and about the LORD’S provision of their hearts and bodies for worship. Even after the LORD spoke to them through HIS servant Moses about the conquest of the Promise Land, GOD knew they needed a covenant and a sanctuary dwelling place.
“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
(Exodus 25: 1-2 & 8-9 & 26: 31-33 NAS)
“Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me;
from every man whose heart moves him
you shall raise My contribution.
. . .
“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me,
that I may dwell among them.
According to all that I am going to show you,
as the pattern of the tabernacle
and the pattern of all its furniture,
just so you shall construct it.”
[then the LORD provided the exact details,
the materials, the lengths, heights, widths, & the furniture]
“You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen;
it shall be made with cherubim,
the work of a skillful workman.
You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold,
their hooks also being of gold,
on four sockets of silver.
You shall hang up the veil under clasps,
and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil;
and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies.”
When something dies, we experience loss and wish it had not. It was apparent, we would miss our dryer, for hanging clothing all around the house to air-dry will definitely not be much fun. Our nephew knew his Subaru was going to die; it was just a matter of time because with his mechanical mind, he knew the state of the engine. True, death of ‘things’ of ‘machinery’ is NOT similar to death of loved ones.
The LORD knows this truth best of all.
On the night before HIS crucifixion on the cross—
- JESUS told HIS disciples about HIS FATHER’S house and the many rooms within it.
- JESUS told them there was place for them there in heaven.
- JESUS spoke this assurance for them & for us—
“Do not let your heart be troubled;
(The Gospel According to John 14: 1-4 NAS)
believe in God,
believe also in Me.
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places;
if it were not so,
I would have told you;
for I go to prepare a place for you.
If I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself,
that where I am,
there you may be also.
And you know the way where I am going.”
The Lord Jesus Christ promised—“I will come again and receive you to Myself, . . .”!
Most definitely, His followers were struggling at the news of His leaving and then later with His arrest and crucifixion on the cross. Yes, still today, people doubt and struggle to accept the TRUTH of JESUS, but those who are His followers—we know the rest of the story.
- We know the events that occurred while JESUS hanged on the cross before HE DIED.
- We know the significance of the torn veil, the object that separated us from GOD’S PRESENCE.
- We know the promise found within HIS RESURRECTION.
- We know & We accept HIS TRUTH!
& this is Why IT Matters!
“And he was saying,
(The Gospel According to Luke 23: 42-46 NAS)
[one of the criminals being hanged near Christ Jesus]
“Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!”
And He said to him,
“Truly I say to you,
today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
It was now about the sixth hour,
and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,
because the sun was obscured;
and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said,
“Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.”
Having said this, He breathed His last.”
Our Soul Never Dies, only our bodies die.
JESUS knew the criminal’s heart &
Because JESUS did, HE provided—the only way for mankind to come—into GOD’S presence, GOD’S paradise!
JESUS WILL COME AGAIN!
When HE DOES, HE will wipe away every tear, and there will no longer be any death or mourning, no crying or pain.
- When JESUS COMES AGAIN, HE WILL PROVIDE GOD’S PERFECT PRESENCE. &
- When HE COMES, HE WILL COMFORT & PROVIDE ETERNAL PEACE FOR ALL WHO HAVE BELIEVED IN HIM AS THEIR SAVIOR.
“But now in Christ Jesus
(The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 2: 13-18 NAS)
you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace,
who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity,
which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances,
so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross,
by it having put to death the enmity.
AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY,
AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”
The LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME TO PROVIDE THE ONLY WAY TO RECEIVE GOD’S SALVATION!
& this is Why IT Matters!