Cannibals or Worms, no Difference

Posted on 13 March, 2013 by Jon Gleason

John Paton of Dumfriesshire was an early missionary to the South Pacific.  Before his departure from Scotland, one elderly man tried to dissuade him from going, warning that he would be eaten by cannibals.  Paton’s reply?

Mr. Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honouring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my resurrection body will arise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.

Job 19:25-27

25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Philippians 1:21

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

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“Cyrus… Shall Perform All My Pleasure”

Posted on 12 March, 2013 by Jon Gleason

The Bible in the British Museum

© The Trustees of the British Museum

I’ve left this series for some time, but since this item is on tour in the United States, and some of my U.S. readers may have an opportunity to see it, I thought I’d give it some attention.

This clay cylinder is one of the most famous items in the British Museum, and has a very interesting story to tell as we look at Biblical history.  It gives important historical background to several Biblical passages, including those that describe the fall of Babylon to the Medes and the Persians, and the return of the Jews from captivity by the permission of Cyrus, the Persian emperor.

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“Innocent Parties”

Posted on 11 March, 2013 by Jon Gleason

A friend, talking about how people describe their divorces, once told me, “All I ever meet are the innocent parties of divorce.”

How often, in describing conflict (divorce or otherwise), do we expound (and perhaps expand) on the other person’s faults, and completely neglect our own?

Proverbs 18:17

He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

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No Imperial Ministers

Posted on 8 March, 2013 by Jon Gleason

I Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

In 2006, I preached a series of sermons on what it means to be a holy people unto the Lord.  As part of that series, I had several sermons which were dealing with current problems in churches today, problems which hinder the holiness of the church.  The following is a summary of one of those sermons.

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Righteous Sinners

Posted on 7 March, 2013 by Jon Gleason

There are only two kinds of men: the righteous who think they are sinners and the sinners who think they are righteous.
– Blaise Pascal

If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
– Jesus Christ our Lord (John 9:41)

 

 

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From Shadow to Reality

Posted on 6 March, 2013 by Jon Gleason

Colossians 2:17

Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

The Old Testament feasts were only a shadow — Christ is the substance.

The Shadow Day of Atonement

Only once a year, the high priest would go through the veil to the mercy seat with the blood which he had shed of the sin offering.

Leviticus 16:15

Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

The veil remained, and no one else could enter.

The Real Day of Atonement

Only once for ever, the Lord Jesus Christ tore through the veil when He shed His own blood, the perfect sin offering.

Matthew 27:51

And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom….

Any believer can boldly approach the Heavenly Mercy Seat.

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

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Top Posts — Your Suggestions

Posted on 5 March, 2013 by Jon Gleason

I’ve updated the Top Posts page (on the menu at the top) for the first time in months.  I also opened comments on it.  A lot of first-time visitors hit that page, see the posts that >I< like, and check some of them out.  They don’t see the ones >you< like.

So I opened comments, but with a request.

I’d like to keep comments confined to mentioning any other posts you’d like other readers to see, posts that you consider to be a “top post.” Perhaps give a sentence or two as to why you like the post. If you can’t find the one you want, go ahead and describe it and I’ll find it and give the link.

So if there is one particular post you really liked / found helpful, and would like to point it out to first time visitors, please comment (there, not here) with your suggestions.

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