Baptized for the Dead

As the earth hurtles through space during the month of January it slings around the sun to begin its journey towards warmer weather. But while the days may be slowly getting longer the temperatures still cling to the bottom of our thermometers. January is a month of colder days and darker weather. It can be a difficult time that stresses even the strongest optimist. But at this time of year there are still lessons to be learned. The snow that comes and goes reminds us of the grace that covers our brokenness. The darker days remind us to appreciate the light that we receive and the dreary weather reminds us that there is a brighter world to which we must aspire. In fact, January is really a microcosm of the conflict between good and evil. The Bible says: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” Romans 8:22 The winter months and the darker days remind us that the world isn’t the way that it is supposed to be. The bare trees and monotone co...

 The Lamp of Christmas In the gospel of John in chapter 10 and beginning in verse 22 we read about a festival in Jerusalem. The Bible says: At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. John 10:22,23 The Feast of Dedication was also known as the Feast of Maccabees. Today this feast is called the Festival of Lights or Hanukkah. Hanukkah was a celebration that comes from the intertestamental period and the Maccabean Revolt. Around the year 168 B.C. the Seleucid king Antiochus Ephiphanes desecrated the temple and forced the Jewish people to perform pagan rituals. In response to this Jewish freedom fighters, led by Judah Maccabee, revolted and with time eventually overthrew the Seleucids. After regaining control of the temple the Jewish people decided to rededicate the temple. The seven branched Menorah was brought back in and the people searched for some consecrated oil to light the lamps...

As we move further into the season of fall perhaps our minds turn to thoughts of the holidays, to Thanksgiving and to times with family and friends. The memories that we make with those closest in our lives will be the most precious in times to come. We were made for connection with each other and with the Lord. God designed us this way because He is wired this way Himself. The Bible says: … he who loveth God loves his brother also. 1 John 4:21 God wants us all to be family. But you should know that God draws the circle of His family much larger than we often do. For our heavenly Father the world is filled with His children, filled with His sons and daughters no matter where they live or even how wayward they might be. Our heavenly Father sees in each soul an infinite potential of interactions, connections, and moments. And yet God also knows that not every son and daughter of Adam will live to experience the joys of heaven. And so God is forever thinking of ways to bring His children ...

As the temperatures cool and the leaves begin to change somehow the color of the sky seems richer with the light blue skies of summer giving way to the almost cobalt blues of fall. Perhaps it is the contrast of the yellow foliage against an azure sky that provides such an arresting view on those crisp autumn days. Whatever it is, the October sky always stood out to me as one of the more beautiful times to gaze up into the heavens.  I wonder if 178 years ago the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist church thought the same. The anticipation of the second advent must have brought many eyes up to look upward as God’s people hoped to be the first to spot the returning King. Of course Jesus did not return to earth as so many Christians expected, but on the 22nd day of October 1844 Jesus did begin something new: the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. That work occurred beyond the sight of mortal men but it happened nonetheless. In fact it continueseven now as Jesus carefully considers ...

At the close of His time here on the earth our Savior said to the listening disciples: “…the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28.  The King of kings and Lord of lords came not to be served by others but to serve. From the moment Jesus was born His life was a mission to save others. It is true that Jesus did not begin His official ministry until around thirty years old, but if we look closely at His life record we will see His servanthood throughout His life. The Bible sums up many of the years of His life saying: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man”. Luke 2:52 Jesus increased in favour with His fellow man. Why do you think that the people He met regarded Him so highly? Ellen White succinctly shares: “From His earliest years He was possessed of one purpose; He lived to bless others. For this He found resources in nature; new ideas of ways and means flashed into His mind as H...

In the sixth chapter of Revelation we read about the experience of God’s people during the time of the fifth seal. The Bible says: And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” Revelation 6:9,10 Time again God’s people have given their lives for Jesus. But in this passage we find a reference to a time period when God’s people were especially martyred for their beliefs. During the middle ages God’s people were poured out like water under the power of the papacy. For 42 prophetic months or 1260 literal years God’s people found themselves at the wrong end of the sword. Their homes were plundered and their lives destroyed. The bible foretold this period of papal oppression saying:  “And it was given unto him to make war with the...

The bible often uses symbols to teach very important truths. In the book of Hosea God says: “I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets.” Hosea 2:10 Today we’re going to briefly look at how the number seven symbolizes important truths about salvation. In scripture the number seven is God’s number for completeness. When God created the earth He made everything in six days and then rested on the seventh day completing His work of creation. When we rest on the Sabbath day we remember how God completed everything in creation and we are honoring Him for His work.  There are other examples of the number seven being used to describe completeness. Let’s turn to the story of Naaman the Syrian. Let’s go to 2 Kings 5: In this story Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army but he was plagued with leprosy. During one of his raids of Israel he had brought back an Israelite girl. This Isra...