10/17/11

Fix the mistake, now!!!

This is a tough one.  OK, all the numbers are there; they are in the right order and I don't see anything obviously wrong with them.  Since the word "mistake" is in BOLD, that is a clue, but what clue?  Perhaps its that the "9" seems a little larger and that may in fact be intent of whoever made the picture, but I have a different idea.  In our numbering system we have a zero, which serves as a placeholder.  Notice, its NOT on the list.  This missing identifier reminds me of the following passages...

Ephesians 1:3-14 (WEB)
3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;
4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;
5) having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,
6) to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved,
7) in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
8) which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
9) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
10) to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;
11) in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;
12) to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:
13) in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14) who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

Acts 2:38 (WEB)
38) Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Last night we started a new study at church: What happens after you die.  There are a number of theories about this topic and I am sure its going to be an interesting study.  Even without participating in this study, almost everyone in Christianity knows that there will be a separation of good and evil people and a judgment.  So, the question naturally arises, How does God know who are HIS?  Simple, go to verses 13 and 14.  Those who obey Jesus and have their sins washed away by HIS blood are then SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE as a pledge (see also the passage from the book of Acts, above).  Now, you can see another human being study, you can see them confess Christ, you can see them be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, but you CAN'T see THE HOLY SPIRIT SEAL THEM.  But, GOD does and that is all that really counts.  So, to me its not what you can see that is important, but rather what you can't... our  placeholder for heaven (THE HOLY SPIRIT). We are all going to die and guess what is going to be important when you realize that its your turn... NEXT???  Trust me, you are NOT going to be thinking about numbers then!!!  For now, why not plan ahead and correct whatever mistakes (sins) you have made and get your heavenly placeholder NOW, BEFORE ITS TOO LATE???  Any questions???