Awake To The Facts!

Though yesterday was the beginning of a new year, for me it was a fairly normal Tuesday, at least for the most part. The day was marked on the calendar as a national holiday, but it was also my usual day off, so I began with my customary morning Bible reading as I sipped coffee and had some breakfast before heading out on my typical long Tuesday morning walk. Heading out about 6:15 a.m., it was still quite dark and since most people had probably stayed up late to bring in the new year there was not much traffic nor many houses with the lights on. So while the community slept and I walked, I witnessed what they were asleep to; another glorious sunrise coming up over the Cascade mountain range. Admiring the awesome colors in the sky and thanking God for the new day He was bringing alive, I began singing the hymn “OUR GOD REIGNS” as I walked on.

Being the first day of the year, my morning Bible reading was once again at the beginning of the Old and New Testaments. Reading through the first three chapters of Genesis I was once again reminded of the history of God’s Creation, the beginning of life, but also the first sign of sin raising its head even in the midst of the paradise God had created. Then I read through the first chapter of Matthew where I was reminded of God’s plan down through the generations for the coming of the Messiah -- the solution to man’s dilemma created by sin. Praise God for His gracious provision in Christ.

Just as many in our community yesterday morning were asleep to the rising of the sun, so there are many oblivious to the fact they need to wake up to their need for the RISEN SON. What does the RISEN SON mean to us? Perhaps to answer that we should consider what it is that is REIGNING in our life?

Writing to the church at Rome, Paul urged…
“LET NOT SIN THEREFORE REIGN in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.” ( Romans 6:12 ESV)

The Greek used by Paul implies the literal idea of not letting sin be king! What is it that REIGNS over our life? What kingdom rule has established itself on the throne of our heart? What we bow to and obey reveals the reality of what that is. Sadly, too many have allowed the flesh to REIGN instead of the grace of God that leads to eternal life. ( Romans 5:21)

Paul went on to exhort…
“(13) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but PRESENT YOURSELVES TO GOD AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT FROM DEATH TO LIFE, and your members to God as INSTRUMENTS FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (14) For SIN WILL HAVE NO DOMINION over you, since you are not under law BUT UNDER GRACE.” ( Romans 6:13-14 ESV)

Because the Son of God ROSE TO REIGN over a kingdom of which “there will be no end” ( Luke 1:33), let us continue to submit to His SOVEREIGN RULE. It is only in the realm of His KINGDOM that we will find the hope of a glorious eternity.

Have a great day UNDER THE GLORIOUS KINGDOM RULE OF CHRIST!
Carl

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