NOTE: While I am off to Dads Kids Camping I offer you a treat. I hope this week of reflections from CS Lewis inspires your thinking and life of devotion to Jesus Christ. Jeff


Vague Guilt?

For various reasons, many people find it hard to maintain a consistent prayer life and closeness to God. One cause for this is what C.S. Lewis described as a “vague cloud of unspecified guilt feeling,” which leaves a person feeling unforgiven and distant from God. Below is one of Lewis’s letters of spiritual direction written to an American lady who suffered from this problem:

Dear Mary,
(1.) Remember what St. John says, “If our heart condemns us, God is stronger than our heart”. The feeling of being, or not being, forgiven and loved, is not what matters. One must come down to brass tacks. If there is particular sin on your conscience, repent and confess it. If there isn’t, tell the despondent devil not to be silly. You can’t help hearing his voice (the odious inner radio) but you must treat it merely like a buzzing in your ears or any other irrational nuisance. (2.) Remember the story in the Imitation, how the Christ on the crucifix suddenly spoke to the monk who was so anxious about his salvation and said “If you knew that all was well, what would you, to-day, do, or stop doing?” When you have found the answer, do it or stop doing it. You see, one must always get back to the practical and definite. What the devil loves is that vague cloud of unspecified guilt feeling or unspecified virtue by which he lures us into despair or presumption. “Details, please?” is the answer. (3.) The sense of dereliction cannot be a bad symptom for Our Lord Himself experienced it in its depths—“Why hast thou forsaken me?” 
Of course we will continue to pray for you.

A tripos at Cambridge is an examination: so called for the tripos (compare tripod) or 3-legged stool on which the candidate used to sit when the exam was still, not written work, but a disputation.

Joy and I have just been for a lovely fortnight in Ireland. She, and my brother, are  both well. We send out loves and blessings.
Yours,
Jack 

Unlike true guilt, which Lewis regarded as healthy and from God, he saw this vague sense of guilt as a scheme of the devil to separate believers from God and plunge them into despair. Lewis insisted on specificity and details because he knew that the Holy Spirit only convicts people of specific sins and with the goal of repentance and restoration of fellowship with God.

Although Lewis does not here address the separate issue of false guilt arising from emotional problems in one’s life, the remedy is still applicable. If you are not guilty of specific instances of sin - violation of God’s law - there is no reason to think your relationship with God is impaired. You should pray as if all is well unless shown otherwise.

"...for whenever our heart condemns us,
God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God..."
I John 3:20-21 (ESV)

Chapter 31 Revelation
The End of Time

The End Game
 
”Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, 'Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.'  

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!”  

And then he said to me, 'Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.' 6 And he also said, 'It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.' " Revelation 21:1-7 (NLT)

Wow, Wow, Wow! So we come to the end of the Story!!!!  

We see the new world coming down to us!!! The New Creation will take place here! The old heaven and the old earth may themselves face total destruction, but they will be restored and renewed, not simply replaced (see Acts 3:21,” the restoration of all things”). This world is not a “throw away”. It matters to God, as you do. So much so that God won’t dispose of it, rather he’ll resurrect it.  

Face it. The world and all in it will be restored and it and you will live forever and there’s nothing you can do about it!!!!!!!  

Yet one little matter still requires settling.  

It is the matter of Revelation 21:14 and 15. Each human being has the option to live forever outside the New Creation or within it. It’s your call. Everyone in the New Creation will have chosen to be there. Everyone outside (hell) will be there of their own volition. All who live forever in the New Creation are those who have said to God , “Thy will be done”. All those who live forever outside (in hell) are those to whom God has said, “thy will be done”.  Which describes you?

Prayer
 
“Lord, I fear and despise death. It's an enemy along with sin and evil. Yet you have destroyed all three. Death, the final enemy has been defeated. Death is itself only a tool in your hands to usher in "heaven". Incredible. So I now pray as you've taught me. 'Thy Kingdom come.' Amen and Amen"

Chapter 31 Revelation
The End of Time

A Lot of People Will Be in Heaven
 
”Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.   

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a mighty shout,  
'Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!'

11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God. 12 They sang,  

'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving
and honor and power and strength
belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.' "  
Revelation 5:6-14, 7:9-12(NLT)

I love, love, love these verses. God, the Creator of the Universe (multi verses??)/Cosmos/everything that is, is pictured as a slaughtered lamb!!! And a “vast crowd” worships Him! People from every demographic group on earth are there!!!!!!  

We Americans worship American Idols, Dance Stars, Celebrities and LaBron James. But if we end up in heaven we need to switch to worshipping a slaughtered baby sheep! It seems to me that we will need some really good humility lessons in this life before we’re ready for the next one.

 Wow. Just think of it. “Glory, wisdom, honor, power and strength” are attributed to a slaughtered lamb (alluding of course to the Passover Lamb and Jesus ,the Lamb of God) 

One other quick note. Although I LOVE to sing the song from vs 12, I also know that worship is living a life that honors God (Romans 12:1,2). Heaven is way more than one long church service. Maybe we should practice living our Monday thru Saturday lives in such a way that our attitudes and behaviors reflect verses 5:6 and 7:12. Allen Iverson saw no value in practice. God, however, does.

Prayer  

“Father, I can't get this image out of my mind. Where, outside of the Gospel, is there anywhere on earth that the greatest power in the universe is worshipped and honored because he has become the lowest. Lord, please infect my entire being with this truth. Amen."

Chapter 31 Revelation
The End of Time

Jesus' Letter to the Church in Laodicia
 
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.

So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.

I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference. 2

Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. 21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22(NLT)    

In contrast to his letter to the Philadelphians, Jesus’ letter to the Laodicians is harsh. Apparently Jesus has a strong aversion to lukewarm.

This makes me cringe. You and I are the world’s one percenters. We're rich yet we want more. Could it be that we, like the Laodicians, are “naked and poor and wretched and miserable and blind”? Ouch!

The gold Jesus offers has been through the fire. Peter wrote about this saying, “I shall come forth as gold”, referring to a life of being refined by God. God’s love refines. Everything you and I face on this earth is some aspect of God’s refining fire. Our job is to allow what happens to us to refine us bit by bit, more and more into the image of Jesus himself.

Can you say, ‘Lord, I accept everything that you allow into my life as having been filtered through your hands and allowed to come to me with the express purpose of refining me into something new and precious’?

Prayer
 
“Lord, you discipline those whom you love, I accept your discipline and thank you for it. Have your way, Lord, until you have remade me into the person you want me to be. Amen."

Chapter 31 Revelation
The End of Time

Jesus' Letter to the Church in Philadelphia
 
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open."
 
“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. 9 Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love. 10 “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world."
 
"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. 12 All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name. 1" 

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches." Revelation 3:7-13(NLT)

Jesus “dictated” one letter each to each of seven churches located in what is today the nation of Turkey. The letter to Philadelphia is encouraging and it’s the only of the seven without a criticism for the church members, which is cool since we’re a Philly ‘burb’! 

There’s a lot to learn from this letter: vs 8 - no one can undo what God is doing. Even weak and imperfect obedience is effective. Vs 9 - imposters exist, yet the truth will be exposed. vs 10 - Perseverance is rewarded. This world is a testing ground. Vs 11 - all of us will one see “soon” as actually having been soon. Vs 12- more astonishing promises of reward for those who don’t give up.
 
And, did you notice, it’s not that we go “up” to heaven, rather it is that the New Jerusalem “comes down” to us and that (here) will be our new dwelling place in the new creation.

Prayer
 
“Lord, thank you for the reminder that I don’t need to be perfect or sin free, rather that you have already overcome sin. Our task is simply to trust and obey and persevere, even if very imperfectly. Thank you Lord. I will not give up. Amen."

Chapter 31 Revelation
The End of Time

The Apocalypse!
 
“Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him— even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! 8 'I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,' says the Lord God. 'I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.'
 
I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. 10 It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit.
 
Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. 11 It said, 'Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.'
 
When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest." Revelation 1:7-13(NLT)
    
Apocalypse is a word from the Greek language meaning to reveal something, thus the translation “Revelation” (not Revelations).  

There is nothing in Revelation that is not in the Old Testament. In Verse 7 John is alluding to the imagery of Daniel 7:13. I think it is a huge mistake to reduce images like clouds to literalism. Daniel and John were describing visions far greater than mere images can describe. Those reading this letter would understand it in the light of their scriptures. In a sense the language of Revelation became a kind of “code language” that only Jews would understand. Romans who intercepted this letter, for example, probably would not have noticed that it clearly describes the overthrow of the Roman Empire.  

In verse 12 the lampstands are the churches (see Zech 4) and the stars in verse 14 are the pastors of the churches. John sees the action of God in the world taking place through the churches, which are the Body of Jesus Christ. In the middle of the action, right in the midst of all the activity of the churches, stands the risen Jesus. John sees him at the center of all things. And he now reveals himself to John so that John can pass on this message to believers across the Roman empire who are suffering persecution.
 
The Message? Jesus is on his Throne and regardless of the challenges you are facing, all suffering is temporary. Hang on. Jesus has overcome the world.
 
Prayer
 
“Lord, when all around me is dark and overwhelming I am grateful for the reminder that you are on your Throne, competently reigning over the entire universe, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, even to me. Unbelievable. I accept what is before me believing that you are in it and through it you will have victory. Amen."

Paul's Final Days
Chapter 30

Paul’s Final Words, "Come Before Winter"

“Timothy, please come as soon as you can. 10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
 
You come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done. 15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.
 
The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. 18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
 
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. 22 May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you” 2 Timothy 4:9-22(NLT)

It turns out that in Paul’s last letter he concludes with people. People whom he loves, those who have let him down and those who have encouraged him. In these verses alone he mentions 19 people by name and alludes to still more.  

When all is said and done, when we face the end of our lives on earth, there are those two things, God and People. And Paul wants to see Timothy, his special friend and disciple, in person before he dies.  

This is a poignant and powerful reminder to each of us. After the all the brilliant world changing teachings that Paul delivered and wrote, perhaps all of it becomes real as it is fleshed out in the love of God and each other that Paul and Timothy experienced together. As the end was approaching, what was the one thing Paul wanted? To see Timothy face to face. “Come before winter” he wrote. By winter he meant more than an approaching season.

Prayer  

“Lord, thank you for the people you have put in my life. Help me today to be "all there" for them, especially for the ones you have placed closest to me. Thank you for the gift of their lives. Amen."