Hello, my name is I am NOT!

Ponderings from Philippians 3.12 Weekend of June 3 - 4, 2K6

When I wake up tomorrow, will I release a bit of heaven on earth?

Yes, it's pretty critical to be able to answer the question, if I die tonight, where will I spend eternity?

However, it seems that question lends itself to followers of Christ embracing, by grace, this message of salvation in Christ. Then, we park and wait for quite awhile until we get to "go to heaven." Maybe Jesus was onto something when He modeled a prayer for us. He taught, "Our Father, who is in heaven. Your name is magnificent. Your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!" I don't think Jesus was diminishing our passion or hope for heaven. However, I think He was saying, Christ lives in you and your role is to release a bit of heaven on earth daily. We are ambassadors of Christ. Representatives. To be honest, I am not sure what it will look like for followers of Christ to unleash heaven on earth. However, I can think of a few things... like...

hungry people being fed

widows being cared for

the imprisoned loved

people with needs having needs no more

the abused helped

an ever deepening passion for truth

nations who are thirsty being provided water..... shelter...... hope

love abounding..... grace extending..... passion for His name and His people exemplified. That is a taste of heaven being released on earth.

As we talked about this weekend, we share the same venture as Moses. God said to Moses, I have this redemptive strategy..... this plan to release millions. I hear their cry. I see their need. I am compelled to reach out to them. Now, Moses, YOU GO! God has a redemptive strategy today (it involves a cross and a great, good news message of freedom)... His strategy involves millions being free.... and He has already said, "now, YOU GO!"

The question.... The passion on the table is how we will respond. Moses responded with all of his excuses..... old, stuttering, shepherd, murderer...... I think we can come up with some pretty profound excuses as well. When God said, "you go", He was saying I am going to do this with or without you. I have been searching for just the right partner... a regular person who will believe that I am able to do exactly what I said I would do. You just need to merge onto the highway of my agenda... my promised before, already in motion agenda.... and watch me go. Trust me. Follow me. Do not fear. This is going to be amazing.

Like Moses, we have to wrestle with our frailties and then recognize God loves to work with people who have to utterly rely upon Him. God loves for us to park our lives directly in front of Christ. He loves for us to long to conform into the character and representation of Christ. He loves to define us as Christ defines us. Then, He loves to watch us Go and He goes with us! He is an amazing God. He loves for us to define ourselves as His. After all, God plus anyone makes for a pretty stout tandem!

He is the I AM. Our name is I AM NOT! He is the center. He is in control. He is God. He is the owner of everything. He is the redeemer. He will feed the hungry. He will meet needs. He is just looking for a group of followers who will believe HUGE things about Him..... Who will be His skin on earth.

So, when you wake up tomorrow, will you release a bit of heaven on earth? When you wake up tomorrow will you live for truth, justice and, ultimately, a desire to ignite and inspire passion for Jesus Christ?

I love this place. I love our God. I love that He asks us to do some HUGE things we can never pull of ourselves. I love that we will never be able to pull big, God-sized things without parking right beside Him..... an echo - because what we do on earth WILL echo throughout eternity.

Do you have a thought? A comment? Click on 'comments' below and add to the discussion.

Mark