Pastor's Corner - November 5th, 2021

This weekend, we will once again be setting the clocks back an hour as Daylight Savings Time ends.

While this shift may buy us will buy us a little extra light in the morning, we give up an hour of light in the afternoon/evening in order to obtain it. The older I get, I'm not so sure that the trade off is worth it.

I don't know about you - but I always struggle with the adjustment each time we shift the clocks. I don't fully understand why, but it seems for a couple of weeks my body can't seem to figure out what time it is. I find myself getting more tired in the afternoons, and experience more issues with grogginess in the morning. After a week or two I've adjusted, until the next time we turn the clocks the other direction.

I was surprised to see that there are a number of states that are considering doing away with it entirely, and maintaining a single time, that doesn't shift with the seasons. 

Change is tough.

It's something that takes us some time to get used to, and often, it's something that is a challenge to even begin... because of the factor of 'inertia'. While it's not really inertia in the traditional sense, we do tend to resist change, pushing back against it because of our desire to maintain what we are used to.

Yet, change is what we've been called to.

Jesus Christ came to this Earth to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God, a gospel that has this concept of change at its core. 

Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 6:9 a similar line of thought to what John wrote in Revelation 22:15: 

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 

Hebrews 12:14 records a similar concept, the connection of holiness, being set apart and living a life that is different, to the Kingdom. 

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

When we look at it this way - who then can enter the Kingdom? Everyone sins (Romans 3:23), and fall short of the glory of God. Is it hopeless?

Of course not. 

The grace of God, the forgiveness of God is available to those who are called and respond to His calling, who commit themselves in covenant to Him, and repent of their sins.

1st Corinthians 6:11 records that some of those in the Corinthian church had committed a number of these things.

And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

They were fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomite, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers and extortioners... but they were washed of their sins, they were sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ on their behalf, and they were justified--lined up with God's example and standard. 

Just like the words of this letter are left justified, when we are justified, we are lined up so to speak with the way of God. 

He is calling us to change as part of that justification process. To come into line with His standard.

The sinners and tax collectors Christ ate a meal with, were called to be washed, sanctified and justified as well. We're not left to remain in our sin, we're called to overcome and change. We're not intended to remain in our own human nature, we're called to put on His nature. 

Change is hard, but it's the calling we've been given, and as we continue to learn and grow, obeying the instructions our God has given us, we will continue to be further justified to God's perfect way of life. 

I hope you had a great week, and wish you a spectacular Sabbath.

Lots of Love,
Ben