The 3rd Day...His Resurrection and Ours
In a very special edition of the Carlson Report for Holy Week, we are going to look at how the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is gloriously tied to our own resurrection. These amazing connections have been hidden for much of history but are now being revealed to His people as our Resurrection Day draws near.The "Third Day" is an important biblical expression for us to study because it is the day that our Lord Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. In virtually every case where our Lord referred to His resurrection, He told the Disciples it would be on the "Third Day" (see passages such as Matthew 16:21, Luke 9:22). This continual reference to the "Third Day", as Resurrection day, was picked up by the early Church and used by the Apostles, as Paul does in I Corinthians 15:4. The early Church's focus on the "Third Day" as part of the Gospel message eventually found a permanent place in important Confessions of the Christian Faith such as the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds, which are universally accepted by orthodox Christianity today. The importance of the "Third Day" cannot be overemphasized, however, because it involves much more than a passing reference to our Lord's resurrection. The "Third Day" becomes "The Day" associated with resurrection in Scripture and, if properly understood, is the key insight needed to unlocking the entire History of Redemption, including our Lord's return. Therefore, because so much of our understanding concerning our faith is tied to this Biblical idiom, we should be willing to take the time to study this subject in depth.
In what has to be the most overt attempt in American history to seize power and control over people's lives, America's tech companies have quickly moved to control public speech and the free flow of information and discourse with their seductive platforms. Literally overnight, technology companies such as Google, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook and others are using their power and influence to literally take control of America. You might say we are currently experiencing some sort of "tech coup d'état". What is most shocking about this takeover is that these companies not only want to control free speech and information in America, but they are blocking anyone else that attempts to bypass their influence.
One of the single, greatest signs regarding the prophetic season of life we are currently in is the condition of the visible Church. When the visible Church falls into apostasy it is an important witness about what is going to happen in the near future. Right now, the visible Church has largely drifted away from the historic Christian faith and been seduced and transformed by our culture into something that has nothing to do with the Christian faith, the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel. The Bible tells us this current apostasy is setting the stage for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and most people don't seem to see it at all or even care.
Most people assume they understand something about the meaning of Christmas...even people from other religious traditions and beliefs. Most Christians believe they know the meaning of Christmas. Most pastors believe they know the meaning of Christmas. But is that true? Most people can tell you Christmas is about the birth of Christ. Some can even tell you God sent His Son as a gift to save us from our sins at that time. But it turns out that people's views of Christmas are all over the place. There are literally hundreds of ideas about Christmas out there. Some of them may have elements of truth to them, but a lot of the beliefs, even in the Church, can be very sketchy, lack clarity, are often culturally conditioned and some are even heretical. This leads to an interesting question: what does it mean to say "Merry Christmas"?
If you have paid any attention to our recent Presidential election held on November 3, it is increasingly clear that America is at a defining moment in our history. And what will be a defining moment in American history will also be a defining moment in world history. Everybody knows it, whatever our political views. In case you missed it right now, politicians and the media from around the world have already "crowned" their new leader, even though none of the contested states have settled or certified their votes in an official way. The world is being told we need to "move on" and embrace a "new agenda" for the future of the world. However, this global, media agenda to move America on is spiritual in nature not political. That is true because politics are always but a cover or pretext for a spiritual agenda in the Bible that is not new but was here long ago.
Happy Reformation Day! On October 31, 1517, 503 years ago today, the German monk Martin Luther nailed his "95 Theses" to the Castle Church door in Wittenberg, Germany. That event marked the beginning of what became known of as the Protestant Reformation. Few remember that day today...even in the Church world. Even fewer remember what the Reformation was about or what it accomplished. It is no overstatement to say that the Reformation changed Western Civilization and was responsible for the founding of America as Protestants fled Europe to find religious freedom and a new beginning for their lives. Some of those people were called the "Pilgrims" who started our Thanksgiving tradition that most of us will celebrate in November.
Whatever is currently unfolding in America, politically and/or spiritually, it has something to do with sin. And yet, it seems that the awareness of that word has vanished from the Nation...even in the Church world. Even though our Nation stands at some sort of crossroads for the future with this Presidential election, few seem to connect where we are to sin or any specific behaviors that need to change. Somehow everybody is doing "OK" and if there is something wrong, it is being done by someone else. Everyone else is to blame...We are doing fine. That is the thinking of many.
As Americans get ready to vote in this Presidential election in November, we seem to be heading toward some sort of watershed as a Nation. Perhaps never before in American history have the issues been so big and the possible consequences so profound for our future. Families and even marriages have been divided over the candidates. Each day it seems we have a media civil war going. Never have we seen such anger and rage in almost every area of our society from sporting events to the political signs in our neighbor's front yard.
This past Monday was Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement is outlined in Leviticus 16 and has always been considered to be the most holy day for Jews during the year. It was the Day when the High Priest made a sacrifice or atonement for the people before God to symbolically have their sins forgiven. Part of that special ceremony involved the High Priest selecting a scapegoat and placing ALL the sins of the people on it and sending it out into the wilderness to take those sins away from the nation.
One of the most dramatic moments of world history is underway right now...and few seem to understand it. America has been turned upside down by riots, looting, chaos, mayhem and murder in an attempt to find something that is being called "social justice." What started out as some local police problems with a few people has been turned into a worldwide movement to overthrow America and other nations as we have known them. Once this revolution accomplishes its goals, life is supposed to return to "normal" because we will have achieved a paradise of "social justice." However, no one is quite sure how you make this happen when the means you use to bring "social justice" destroys the very social order you are trying to save with injustice. But like most things that are based on lies, no one is allowed to ask any questions for now. Someday we are told, after the revolution, everything will start to be "clear" as we begin to live in our "social justice" paradise.
Whatever the future holds for America, the Church and/or our lives, there is no question that the media will be a major instrument that the Lord will use to bring about that future plan. Right now, America is totally consumed with the media. In some ways, it has become our new national "drug" of choice. We seemingly can't escape it and its influence on our lives. Every day we are told 24/7 what to think, what to believe, what is right, what is wrong, what is good and what is evil. It is almost as if even the Lord doesn't exist anymore apart from a media's narrative that shapes people's view of everything...including God. It has often been said that "perception is reality" and that can be a true statement. People never act against their own beliefs and those beliefs may or may not have anything to do with truth or reality. So, if you want to know what people believe, or how they will act, just find out what the media told them to believe and do. Sadly, rarely do people listen to the Lord and His Word to understand the truth and realities of life. If people just read and studied the Word, like they listen to the media, we would be in a major revival.
All of us at Carlson Report want to wish you and your family a very happy Independence Day. We live in times no less momentous than the Founding Fathers and Signers of the Declaration of Independence faced 244 years ago today. May this brief article remind us of our heritage and freedoms as Americans. May this article also remind us that freedom is never free and that someone must always be willing to pay a price to maintain those freedoms or tyranny and slavery will return, as we are currently witnessing. May we all renew our calling today, as the Lord's people, to stand up for our faith in the face of many challenges, and never forget that all freedom in this life and the next are ultimately connected to the Lord Jesus Christ and the price that was paid for our freedom from sin on the cross.
For the first time in American history, Americans have started to wonder about their personal safety and whether or not they will even be safe in their own homes and neighborhoods in the future. Sadly, the reason for that is that also for the first time in American history there are serious discussions underway all over the nation about "defunding the police." Now the very idea of "defunding the police" would have been thought to be absolutely crazy just a few weeks ago, but suddenly it somehow seems to be a "reasonable plan" by a growing number of people. These defunding discussions are far from just idle talk. As an example, New York City has just decided to defund their police budget by $1 billion, and some say that doesn't go far enough. More cuts are being demanded. Other cities like Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Seattle and many others are also moving in this same direction of reducing their police budgets.
America is a very troubled nation tonight. Do you feel it? Do you see it? A recent poll stated that Americans are more unhappy now than at any time in the last 50 years. But that fact shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Our wonderful nation is adrift in a sea of relativism, lawlessness, deception and chaos. Most of our leaders seem to be clueless on what to do and the few that try to stand up for anything are torn apart by the culture and our media. We are being led away from the Lord, our Constitutional moorings and being pushed toward culturally driven paganism that is growing by the day. Not exactly a formula to inspire hope and happiness in anyone. But perhaps the greatest problem that is most troubling to Americans is that they don't see this future path getting better...only worse. How about you?
This past week and weekend may be remembered as a turning point in US and world history. That is not an overstatement. We have just witnessed major leaders in the free world bowing down before groups in the name of racial justice out of fear and political correctness. All over the world we are witnessing pictures of top officials and even heads of nations, such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, bowing down to support the idea that everyone is a racist and that they must submit to someone's idea of how to define and respond to racism, irrespective of any truth, reality or clear facts. For some this appears to be the emerging "new normal" as Western Civilization seems to be crumbling before our very eyes. The last historical parallel to these events took place during the days of the invasion of Rome by the Visigoths led by King Alaric on August 24, 410. At that time, the once mighty Roman Empire was sacked by a group of barbarians that took over Rome and began to destroy the fading empire. Rome was never the same!
Most of us have been watching the national chaos the last week or so that has been unfolding since the senseless and tragic death of George Floyd in Minnesota. Sadly, Mr. Floyd's life was ended by some of the worst police abuse of power we have ever seen in American. All of us should be in horror for what has happened and should pray that justice will be done for Mr. Floyd. At the present time, the police officer responsible for this crime has been charged with murder and we hope and pray that justice will be done as soon as possible. This horrific crime has also unleashed a series of protests, some peaceful and some not, that have raised serious questions about a variety of issues in our nation.
As Memorial Day approaches, it is a good time to stop and give thanks to the Lord for the amazing freedoms we have in America. But as we celebrate our nation's freedoms and greatness this Memorial Day weekend, America is also a nation that still needs to be defended. That is true because our nation is facing its greatest challenges to maintain our freedoms from within. It seems there are many forces at work today that want to reshape or fundamentally transform America into a different type of nation that has little in common with the Constitutional Republic founded on July 4, 1776. And while much could be said about all of those forces within our nation, let it suffice to say that all of them are connected to having America sacrifice for them, not the other way around. Selfishness is truly America's greatest battle. Few seem to remember President Kennedy's Inaugural address in 1961 that said in these famous words, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." Those words have never rung so true as today. America seems to be lost in a growing sea of selfishness and entitlement that it is threatening the future of the Republic as we have come to know and love it.
It is hard to believe our national lockdown has been going on for only a few weeks. It seems like months! How about you? How many of us can remember the innocence of Valentine's Day when things seemed "normal" and we were going about everyday life buying flowers and cards for loved ones. Since then, it is not just the lockdown that has made this a difficult time. The really difficult part of this time has been watching what has been happening to our wonderful nation. At the heart of that concern is being shocked by a variety of extreme measures being taken against American citizens during the pandemic. These measures range from being fined, arrested and even jailed for just taking a walk, simply going to dinner with a family member, trying to work in some way to feed your family or listening to a sermon at a local church in your car. The list is long and growing. Such government actions have raised serious questions about whether we are even living in America anymore. Sadly, all these unfolding measures, designed to keep us "safe", are more like something from an emerging totalitarian state we might have read about in high school or seen in an old war movie about Nazi Germany. Surely none of this can be happening in the "land of the free and the home of the brave", as the Star-Spangled Banner says so wonderfully at its close?
One of the most fascinating things going on during our current pandemic is the idea that the government's job is to keep people "safe". Somehow this idea of being "safe" has literally taken over our culture as our number one value in just a matter of weeks. In the "good old days" of about 2 months ago, people would say to each other as they parted, "Have a good day!" Currently people are saying to one another "stay safe". Can you imagine being able to change how the world interacts in such a basic way? This concern about being "safe" has not just become a new parting phrase between people, but a new cultural obsession that is beginning to define how we see our lives. Whereas we used to be enjoying our lives, our new focus is just being "safe".
It is no understatement to say America and the world are living at a unique moment of history, perhaps never to be repeated. Right now, the world is on a global "lockdown" as we attempt to escape the global COVID-19 pandemic. And while many Americans are not working right now, such a situation cannot go on in its present form forever and everyone knows it. The reason for that is simple; a society cannot survive without people working to provide for their basic needs and so that we can generate a tax base to support the government and run our nation. But what if those presuppositions are wrong or seen very differently by people? What if people decided that they didn't really want to work as much anymore? What if people decided to just let the government take over most things and support their lives so everyone could be kept safe from the pandemic?
What a wonderful thing to take a break from the chaos and focus on the global pandemic to look at a much better storyline, the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and His future for us. While much of our world will be looking at how many have died from the coronavirus this weekend, the Lord's people will be singularly focused on the One that rose from the dead and lives forevermore. Sadly, the only reason the coronavirus has panicked the world is because people don't have an antidote to death. That antidote is not found in a new vaccine or anything else but faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the cross for them. People today are deathly afraid of being infected with this unknown virus, but the reality is that sin is a much worse infection. Right now, the death rate for all of us with or without the virus is a 100%. Just today, for example, about 150,000 people will die from just living in this world, no matter how healthy they might be. If only the world could begin to look for an everlasting cure to death itself we would be in a very different place tonight. It is hard to imagine a world like that since we are so conditioned to death being "normal" instead of an enemy of God. Once the death cure is found in the simple Gospel message, fear is gone, and faith begins to fill our lives forever.