The God Who Won't Go

And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him." John 20:13

I wonder how many times he has done this.

I'm talking about my boss. He is cleaning up an office cubicle again. Box after box. Binder after binder. Paper after paper. Another subordinate has left the company where my boss has been working for thirty-two years. I was imagining in those three decades, how many times he has done clearing out a cubicle when a colleague bids goodbye to the office. How many boxes has he put out? How many binders has he filter out to be thrash? How many project studies' documents has he kept from that deserted office nook?

When I was interviewed by him, I asked him this, "How do you do it? "What is that" he said. "Going to the same office for thirty years", he replied, "Besides I love the work, the company is my family." And yet, people left. Co-workers who became his friends abandon him. Owners sold and new owners bought the company and he is still there.

I wonder how many times she has done this.

I'm talking about Mary Magdalene. She is weeping again. Another man left her. Yes, a man after another man. Tears after tears. Broken heart after broken heart. Loneliness after loneliness. Another man she trusted with her life disappears, as she thought. However, this time she is wrong. This time is different. So, is the man she is after. The man she is visiting at his tomb is not dead. He is alive. He is risen.

He is Jesus.

He does not leave you. He does not disappear from your life. He is not like the co-worker across your cubicle, Jesus is permanent in your life. His presence is constant with you whether you are faithful or you falter. He loves you though you may not express it back. He is not going anywhere. He is with you years after years. Decades after decades, more than thirty. He stays for he loves you and for you are his friend, his family.

Don't weep. Jesus stays with you. Grow with him. Live for him. Love him. Love with him. Nobody is taking him away, he's still there with you. He is the God who won't go.

Stone Cold

They were saying to one another, "Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. Mark 16:3-4

You have the same exact question.

You have been laid off. Who will roll the stone of unemployment? You are working for unity. Who will roll the stone walls of division? You are in a mission field. Who will roll the stones in the heart of people? Your family is in a brink of brokenness. Who will roll the stones of pride and hatred? You are a sinner and you are praying for acceptance. Who will roll the stones in the hands of the judgmental? You have kidney problems. Who will move the stones in it?

The three women of Easter knew they were dwarfed by the large stone covering Jesus' tomb. So they asked the same question you asked. Who will move it for you? Who has the power to pushed it aside? -- A God who is alive. Jesus has power over sin and death, much more over the stone. No matter how large the stone is, in your life, he will roll it. He will crushed it. He will push it aside for you to enter life into its fullness.

One thing the women did is this -- they looked up. The did not look at one another to move the stone. They did not look at their strength or abilities to roll back the rock. The women did not look at their devotion or faithfulness to open the entrance. They looked up!

Look up to the God who is victorious over death and  sin. Look up to the risen Christ who loves you and who wants to bless you further. Look at him and not at your skills or talents or education. Depend on his faithfulness not on yours. Jesus opens anything that is closed. He clears the road blocks in your life.

Jesus is alive. The stone is not. Jesus has the heat in his body. The stone is cold.

Death of Death

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. Romans 6:9

The search for a way or ways to beat death has been long conducted.

Juan Ponce De Leons of the world are still looking for the fountain of youth. Doctors have been operating people to change their internal organs. Cloning is introduced to replicate oneself. To look young, a visit at the plastic surgeon is appointed. To keep breathing, an apparatus is engaged to pump air into the body. To suspend death, you look for things which can give you life like career or family. All these things may postpone death. All these things may transfer your death day to another day. However, none gives death to death.

But Jesus.

Paul's reminder to the Romans and to you, "We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him." He was dead. His blood in his veins flows no more. He rose from the dead. His veins started to feel blood flow and never has stopped, ever. He dies no more. For he alone has power over death, as with life.

Jesus is not another Juan Ponce, he has no need for the fountain of youth. He has no need to change defective body organs. He did not need a medical equipment to inject air into his body. He did not clone himself, he was the same Lord and God. No career or family to give him life, for alone he is life. There was no postponement of death, there was cancellation, not to be scheduled forever. There was no transfer of death day to another, it was deleted forever in the equation. He trail blazed the way and is true to his promise, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." John 3:16.

You will not perish. You will not decay. You will not rot six feet underground. Death will have no power to those who believe him. Death will not an issue to those who follow him. Death will not be feared by those who love him.

Jesus beat death. He dies no more. He massacred death. It has no power over him. He put death to death.

Quick Answer

Do not hide your face from me now that I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. Psalm 102:3

Exactly three months ago, God quickly answered even before I called.

It was a Thursday the 13th when I got laid-off from the company I used to work for. Its not that I did not expect it but it just came too soon. I wanted to stay with this company for I liked the way it operates and I wanted to give my loyalty. In fact, there were several headhunters giving me calls and emails but I had to turn them down courteously. But life is full of surprises and this is one.

As I went home to my wonderful wife, I said to myself, this is where God will show he is God. After discussing our options, I decided to call one of the headhunters who called me previously and expressed my interest on the opportunities their office might have. The person quickly returned my call after hearing my voice mail and told me she'll refer me to a certain global corporation. After a day, a manager from the said corporation phoned me to set-up an interview with me in the coming week. The company offered me the job after another interview session and verifications but I had to wait for pertinent papers to be processed before I can get on board. All happened in three weeks.

For about two to three months of distressed days without an income for the family, we experienced God's face in the faces of family, friends and brothers and sisters in community. We enjoyed God's carefully listening ears when we raised up our concerns to the same people who helped us and supported us.

• Siblings were always on-line to encourage us, always giving us their consolation, asking us how are we doing.
• A friend lent us funds to pay our mortgage for one month. A brother in community expressed his intention to help us in this area, too.
• Had the longest email (63 replies all in all) in my entire life with brothers and sisters for continuous encouragement and prayers.
• Friends calling our home and asking how we are doing and inquiring how can they help us. Friends giving us financial aid amidst their own economic difficulties.
• God paving way for my wife to do dog sitting which gave us good amount of money to live by.
• On my 40th birthday, two friends were in tug of war to treat us in restaurants. We scheduled them in two separate days so they can be accommodated.
• A brother of mine sent us financial support which was good for a month's food supply.
• My daughter's bible school teacher affirming their prayers for us each time we see them in church.
• Our pastor enrolling in our prayer warriors list.
• My family getting closer to one another and to God as we went through the tough times.
• I am starting on a new journey in the corporation stated above this week.

God does not hid his face on the distress. His ears ever attentive to his children. Even before I prayed, God has an exit plan from the present trial. It was not late. It was not delayed. God showed he is God. Before I called, he quickly answered.

As If Nothing Happened

Then each went to his own house. John 7:53

He was a man in a black leather jacket and he was handing leaflets to people.

Unlike the woman in her sweatshirt who was also giving simple white papers for promoting a nearby commercial establishment, his brochures were glossy and were folded nicely. I know this for he handed me one. As I stretched out my hand to meet his, he greeted me, "Sir, have a nice day." My eyes quickly gazed on his paraphernalia and the bold all capital letters jumped out, "10 REASONS JESUS CAME TO DIE".

As my daughters and I walked away, I was really jumping glad in the ministry the  guy was doing. A few more steps further, I saw him vigilantly approaching people who are walking their way in this market place and giving out his message by hand and by heart.

At home, I was wondering. Thinking if each of those who received the man's leaflets went to their own house just like this crowd in Galilee. They discussed if he is a prophet. Some of them said he is the Messiah, some of them doubted this thought. But all of them went home. As if nothing happened after meeting and hearing the Christ. Nobody left his boat like Peter. Nobody left his table like Matthew. Nobody ate with Jesus at his home just like Zacchaeus. Nobody spread the news about Jesus just like the Samaritan woman at the well.

They all just went home.

Any event, new or old, where we meet Jesus must impact us. Any routine ministry, small or big, have his presence. An ordinary Sunday service has his power. Listen. Reflect. Open your heart. Open your mind. Don't just go to your own way. Don't just go to your own house. As if Jesus was not present. As if nothing happened.

The Father's Work

Jesus answered the Jews: «My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.» John 5:17

John's father gave him an ultimatum, "Clean the windows or else." *

John was blinded by an  accident. He was devastated. He imprisoned himself in his room only to come out for meals. He said his life is finished. For a young man who has been used to see the world, his eyes opens only for the darkness.

So, on that day, his father challenged him to go out of his room, out of his shell. He heard the bang of the door as his father exited their home. He was mad, "Didn't my father know I'm blind? And he has serious valid inquiry, "What if I fall in wiping the windows all around the house?"

He took up the challenged. John mapped and traced his way around the house, and moved and climbed the ladder to clean the windows. John finished the job without falling or destroying something. He was glad to realize that his life has not ended after all. That his dark vision has a bright future. His life went forward after this incident.

After some time, John was told that all the time he was cleaning the windows, his father was on his side and his father was keeping him from falling down.

When life becomes dark, we tend to think the Father has stopped working on our behalf. If problems and trials block our sight of the present and the future, we have the concept of the Father leaving our side. When the challenge is just too much to handle, we feel abandoned by the Father. As the sun sets, and as sure as the sun rise, the Father's love shines on us. He is the Father who does not leave the house and who doesn't leave his child.

The Father stays on our side and continue to work for us. He keeps us from falling. He guides us and clears the path ahead of us. Sometimes we may not see, but he is with us. Sometimes we may not feel, but he is on our side. When we our about to have imbalance, he levels the ground for us.  In the midst of family problems, he is at work. When you are jobless, he is doing his job for you. When sickness overcomes the body, he is the healer reaching out. Between relationship issues, he is working for peace and unity. He is at work until now,...24/7 for his children.

Come out of your dark room. Take up the challenge and work. The Father's grace is upon you. He is on your side always, and he is enabling you. This is the Father's work.

* This is story is adapted from Max Lucado.

Losing and Finding

The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, "Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you." John 5:13-14

He lost Jesus but Jesus found him.

He will surely lose Jesus for he did not know who healed him. He was not walking and was lying on his mat for thirty-eight years yet when he was healed by Jesus, he did not take note who healed him. Maybe the healing was instant. Maybe it was too fast for him. Maybe it was too fast for him. Maybe he was focus on the healing and not on the healer. As the crowd ate Jesus, the man who tiptoes in his first steps, loses his healer.

It may happen to us. When we are fixated on the blessings and not on the One who is blessing us, we lose sight of him. When the healing is too much for us, that too much can crowd our hearts and forget who did it for us. Overwhelmed by his grace, we can take for granted his constant presence in our daily lives of constant routine. The crowd of career, family and friends may get in the way for us to acknowledge him.

But Jesus found him. Jesus sought him. The sheep lost the shepherd and the shepherd found him. In his first steps, he loses sight of Jesus. In his next steps, Jesus finds him. Jesus did not go to another town to pursue his mission, the man was his mission. He sought this man for once again he loses Christ.

Jesus finds us when we lost him. He seeks the lost who lost him. He has given us much but he will give us his presence, its all we need. The shepherd will go out of his way to bring us back to his way. He makes sure our hearts will be in the right place when we are in the wrong place. When the crowd is too much for us, Jesus will emerged and will say his first word to us, "Look..."

We lost Jesus but Jesus finds us.

Out of Town

The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?  They went out of the town and came to him. John 4:28-30

This was a field trip.

There was no connection between her and the people. No part of the people were her friend. They ignore her and she ignores them. She was alone at the well taking water.

Check that. She was not alone at the well. She was with Jesus. Being with Jesus made the difference. Speaking with Jesus opened her to a new life. Knowing that Jesus knows her sins yet sat with her and spoke with her mattered to her. He did not ignore her.

It changed her.

She goes to the people. She used to ignore them. She used to go where they aren't. She gets water when they are all drinking water. But now after meeting Jesus, she goes to them. She spoke with them and breaks the news about the Messiah.

It changed the people.

They listened to her. They don't used to be near her but now she is inches away from them. They used to talk about her and her husbands but now they are talking to her. Not only that, they believed her that they wanted to know what she knows --- the Messiah.

Change brought by Christ brings you out of yourself. Out of your sinful nature. Outside of your comfort area. Out of your dark past. Out of your discriminating norm. Allow yourself to go out of your zone and speak about Christ to your family, friends or neighbors. A group of people may go out of themselves when they hear out someone's life changing experience with Jesus.

One destination -- come to Jesus. One action -- out of town.

Left and Lifted

The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people,  Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah? John 4:28-29

She left her water jar.

This was her only purpose before Jesus met up with her and spoke with her. To fetch water when no one was near the well. When everyone might be having their lunch at their homes, she sneaked to the well. Water was there. The living water was there. Jesus talked about her. Jesus talked about himself. He quenched her thirst, not of her body but of her soul. Thus she forgot about her water jar just as she forgot about her past, about her sin. And know only one thing -- knowing the Messiah who took her time and who gave her, her new life.

She was lifted.

No friend to come with her to the well. No husband to hold her hands or hold her jar. At noontime, she was getting water, she is making sure she is not getting attention. She is wrong. Jesus' attention is on her. He knows her. He knows her dirt, her sins. In spite of, he speaks with her, let her know him. Let her have time with the Messiah whose itinerary is fully booked. Don't underestimate her minutes with Jesus, for this moments gave her the lift from playing hide and seek. She went into the town and exposed herself to the folks saying, "Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?" From keeping herself out of the crowd, she goes to the crowd. From living in the shadows, she emerged to the light.

Jesus knows your past and he urge you to leave your sins. Leave behind your old self. Leave matters that doesn't satisfy your thirst. Drink from God's well. Feast on his feast. Come out from hiding. Come to the Son. Exist for a new purpose. Live a new life. Know Jesus and make him known. Love him and make him loved.

Have you met Jesus? Leave your water jar and be lifted.

Sinnergy

Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. Luke 18:10

It's the study of sinners.

If Jesus is a science teacher, Jesus discusses two species for you to ponder who will you be.

The Pharisee does not expose his sins to God, who knows his sins. He is confident of his righteousness. He is boasting of his work. He comes before God like he is attending a masquerade party, he has a mask. He even points to others and not to himself. He exalts himself, he acts like he is looking to God yet he is looking at himself.

The tax collector exposes himself as a sinner. He is not confident of himself but he is confident of God's mercy, he is confident God forgives his transgressions. He does not boast of he does or what he did but surely he boasts of God's merciful work. He comes before God without any cover on his face, he uncovers his sins before God. The tax collector points only to himself as the prime principal of sin. If he is in a police line-up, he declares himself as guilty. As he pinpoints himself, his heart opens up for heavenly grace. He does not exalt himself, he acts like he is looking at himself yet he is looking to God, for his mercy.

At this point, choose who will you be before God. A Pharisee or a tax collector?

Be confident of God's mercy. Expose your sins and yourself to him for nothing is hidden from him. Depend on his work and not on what you have done or what you can achieve, boast of God 's work. Uncover your sins for God loves you in spite of these. If you want to point to someone else, make sure that someone else is you. Exalt God by humbling yourself.

Friends, reflect on how you pray and come before God. Study sinnergy.