jullianscorner

As the world careens into coronavirus “pandemonium”, HE is my calm in the storm, my peace amid the chaos, my blessed assurance that it is well with my soul.

“Let us fix our eyes on  Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”….(Hebrews 12:2)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation; but take heart! I have overcome the world. (JESUS)

Holiness is the highest and most glorious attribute of God. All throughout scripture God calls His people to be holy.

“You must be holy because I am holy. I am the Lord, who makes you holy.”(Leviticus 11:45). ..”But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”(1Peter 1:15-16)

Holy: Free from sin and sinful affections, pure in heart, godly – set apart for sacred use, set apart for God.

Holiness: the state or quality of being holy, or sinless, sanctity, godliness, sacredness.

How do we get to know the holiness of God and how do we become holy?

Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.. “May the God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.” (1 Thess: 5:23-24)

Jesus prayed for us to be holy: “Holy Father, keep them and care for them…Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth.”(John 17:11, 17)

Worship God in His Holiness..The prophet Isaiah who was set apart for a life of holiness wrote: “I saw the Lord, seated on a throne, high and exalted.. In a great chorus the seraphim sang, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.” (Isaiah 6:1-3)….”Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him all the earth.” (Psalm 96:9)

Study and obey the Holy Word of God: “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.. “(2Timothy 3:16)

Come before the Most Holy One with a contrite and humble spirit:”The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”(Psalm 51:17)…… “Create in me a clean  heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10)

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”(Rev: 4:8b)..

An interesting quote from C.S.Lewis: “All that is not eternal is eternally out of date.”

The Eternal: An appellation of God

Appellation?: The word by which a king or person is known

Eternal: Having no beginning or end of existence; everlasting, endless, ceaseless, perpetual;  the state or condition that begins at death …..

The question is: why do we spend so much time worrying about life here on earth that can be cut short in a blink of an eye, when Eternity or what I like to call , Forever Ever Land, awaits us immediately after we take our last breath?

We all need to give serious thought and in-depth study of God’s promise of Eternal Life. One of the great mysteries of life is why do so many of us wait so long to lay claim to God’s gift of Eternal Life?

“And this is the testimony: God has given us Eternal Life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life ; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1John 5:11-12)

It is my privilege to pay tribute today to Minnet, the rock and anchor of our family. Minnet has been a constant in my life since I was a little girl. I called her my second mother. I could spend all day recalling sweet memories of Minnet – sitting on my bed at nights to help calm my fear of the dark, never leaving until I fell asleep; taking care of me through every childhood disease, teaching me to recite the books of the Bible in song, always caring always encouraging, always loving.

But today, what I want to talk about is the Legacy that Minnet left behind- a Legacy of love; that self-less concern for the welfare of others. Everyone that knew Minnet marveled at her zeal for life, her endless energy and the love that she gave to everyone that she met.

Minnet’s unconditional love came from her deep faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She lived in obedience to the “greatest” commandment that Jesus taught – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it”Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt:22:37-38). The Bible says in Galatians 5:6 that, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Minnet’s entire existence was the definition of love.

Minnet’s love was sacrificial. She always put other’s first, and herself last. She took loving care of her family, especially Mom (Merton Wright), her friend and close companion for over 60 plus years. We were all in awe of her. Minnet would go to the ends of the earth to get something that she knew that you loved. I remember my daughter telling me:”Mom, I can’t believe Auntie Minnie, she walked all the way to Liguanea in the rain just to get patties for us to take back home”; she just loved blessing others.

Minnet loved her church and her church family. She served her church as a member of the Christian Auxiliary Movement faithfully. Minnet loved children – not only her own, but the children that she taught so diligently at Mona Primary and Wolmer’s Prep. Minnet worked tirelessly as the Jamaican liaison for my charity, Jullian’s Kids, seeing to every detail and making sure that all goods were distributed to the children. Minnet was a loving encourager. How many times she would lift me up when I was distraught or sad, always with an encouraging word, reminding me of God’s sovereignty and His wisdom.

Minnet was fearless, determined, devoted, loyal, humble, sweet, generous, joyful, and yes, always rejoicing,

Romans12:9-13 is a perfect definition of Minnet.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, doing what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

That was Minnet. Everyone that came to visit at 35 Wellington Drive got a taste of her hospitality – it was unparalleled. She never rested until everyone else’s needs were taken care of.

At the final call, when Minnet took her last breath, she was ushered into the presence of God Almighty, the Lord Most High. It did not matter how many degrees she had, how much money she had, or what kind of car she drove; the only thing that mattered to God was how much she loved and glorified God with her life.

I have no doubt as she stood before the “Most Holy One”, to whom we all must give account someday, that he praised her with the words” Well done, good and faithful servant” …. Now, receive the Crown of Life – Eternal Life.

Minnet, God blessed this earth and especially your family the day that you were born, and now Heaven is blessed to have you there.

“With sublime and soothing truth, the Bible continually declares the superiority of the Heavenly life. Heaven robes the SAINTS and transports them with a deathless and painless life….There is eternal freedom from every form of evil, and there is the presence of every form of good and greatness….The heavenly home – a crown of glory- is an unspeakable joy!” (E.M.Bounds)

Strong words and deep meaning.

First of all, who is a SAINT? Definition: a person SANCTIFIED, made holy and purified from sin, by the sacrificial atoning death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. A SAINT: One of the blessed in heaven.

Jesus praying for His disciples said: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17)

SANCTIFICATION: The act of God’s grace by which the affections of men are purified from sin.

What is truth? Jesus said” I am the way and the Truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6).  The Truth that leads to revelation and salvation. Jesus also said: “…If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Where  do we find the teachings of Jesus and revelation of Truth?

In the Holy Bible of course, which is the inerrant, infallible, eternal Word of God. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is the complete and perfect revelation of the mind and heart of God. The book of John, especially reveals the birth, life and teachings of the Messiah, all that is necessary to propel us into sainthood and carry us heaven bound.

No wonder God declared in Pslam 116:15,”Precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of His SAINTS.”

No, sainthood is not reserved for the apostles, other holy persons of early Christian times, or persons canonized by the Church of Rome. God calls you a saint if you believe in Him and the One whom He sent to purify you and make you holy before His throne.

Eternity….Heaven…Everlasting Existence…..The Other Side….

How many can say “it is well with my soul?” We have many names for existence beyond this earth, beyond this life as we know it. This thing that we call life…. We work, we accumulate wealth/ things, we drink, we eat, we party, we travel, we see the world, we love, we laugh, we weep, then what??? Some of us are fortunate enough to live around 70-75 years, some much shorter, some longer. And then what?? Life is so short, yet we spend so little time thinking about where we will go after our hearts stop beating and we cease breathing for the final time. And yet, the evidence for an eternal existence is staggering.

God said: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

Seek knowledge, for time is short and the times are evil and wicked; just read the headlines, listen to the nightly news…

The words of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Hamashiach), the Jewish Messiah who lived, and breathed, and walked this earth, are true and everlasting. Jesus said some very radical and soul-piercing things, and we should heed His words and listen very carefully. Examine the evidence. Who is this Jesus that claimed to be the Son of God, to be One with God, to be God in the flesh? Is he really who He claimed to be? and if He is, how will this affect your life?. How now will you live?

“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.”(Rev: 19:10b)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:16-17)

John the Baptizer declared when he saw Jesus approaching: “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John: 1:29)..i.e. the sacrificial Lamb that would atone for all the sins of the world.

God, because of his unconditional love for us, sent His Son into the world we call earth, to educate us, warn us, tell us about eternity – (heaven and hell)  , and what we need to do to go to heaven and avoid hell.

THE WORDS OF JESUS:

Jesus answered,”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really knew Me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:6-7)

Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in Me he does not believe in Me only, but in the One who sent Me. When He looks at Me, He sees the One who sent Me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” (John 12: 44-46)

Jesus said to her: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:25-26)

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” (John 17:3)

“For I have come down from heaven not to do My will but to do the will of Him who sent Me. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” (John 6:38-40)

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58)

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me,is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand, and I and the Father are One.” (John 10:27-30)

How many times does Jesus have to say it? He came to earth and lived among us, sacrificed His life and revealed the plan of salvation, so that man is without excuse. Heed His words; heed the warnings: today is the day of salvation, because tomorrow may not come.

“As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.” (Psalm 103: 15-16)

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever.” (1Peter 1:24-25)

The promise of inner peace is meaningful when you have it, but incomprehensible when you do not.

Peace: tranquility of mind, quiet of conscience, a state of quiet or tranquility

“Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (Jesus) (John 14:27)

ETERNITY:  The state or condition that begins at death.

Salvation and redemption is the End of all Things. For this world will pass away quickly, and sometimes very abruptly.

Salvation: The redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death and the conferring on him of everlasting happiness.

Redemption: The deliverance of sinners from the penalty of God’s violated law by the sufferings and death of Christ.

Eternity is our life beyond the grave.

THE PROMISE: Jesus said:  “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my Word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned: he has crossed over from death to life.”

Was Yeshua the promised one? The coming Messiah?

Let us look at the prophecy of the one who was pierced…yes, someone was pierced.. Yeshua was nailed to the execution stake, suffered and died.

To Pierce: to stab or transfix with a pointed instrument; to penetrate.

Around 520BC ; Zechariach 12:10 “…They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a first-born son.”

Around 740BC; Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

The ancient psalms were used as a prayer book in the temples in the 3rd century BC.

Psam: 22:16 “… They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” Yeshua took the words of this Pslam to the cross and spoke them from His lips.

Fast forwrard to the crucifixion about 2000 years ago..

John 19:33-37 “But when they came to Yeshua and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”

Thomas, one of the disciples would not believe. “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.! But he (Thomas) said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” (John 20:25)……then Yeshua  said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God.”(John20:27-28).

“Then Yeshua told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed.”(John 20:29)

Whether you are Jew or Gentile, the “Light of the world” waits for you to acknowledge the He is the one true Messiah, who was pierced and who is coming again.

Blessed are You O Lord, our God, King of the universe, who fulfills His promises and has promised us the Messiah, our Redeemer. May our hearts be turned toward You, Almighty One, and may we be found faithful on the day of the Messiah’s return. Though our sins be many, though they be red as scarlet, make them as white as snow through the death and resurrection of Your Son. Blessed are You, O Lord, who gives salvation.

Amen.

Bethlehem was the hometown of David, the greatest King of Israel, to whom God had made a promise of an eternal throne. (1Samuel 17:12 )”Now David was the son of an Ephrathite named Jesse, who was from Bethlehem in Judah.” … (2 Samuel 7:16) ……..(God’s promise to David) “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” ……….(.Matthew 2:1) “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod”,……the prophecy given  seven centuries earlier from Micah…(Micah 5:2 )”But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” ………….Jesus’ origin was from much earlier than his human birth….(John 8:58) “I tell you the truth”, Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” ……………the prophecy was well known at the time of Jesus’ birth……………(Matthew 2:4-6) “When he(Herod) had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea”, they replied, for this is why the prophet has written: “But you, Bethlehm, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.”…….(John 7:42)”Does not the Scripture say that the Christ will come from David’s family and from Bethlehem, the town where David lived?”………. Interesting note:  Both Mary and Joseph were from the line of David……Thank you Father God for your sovereignty, your covenant-keeping faithfulness, and your love for us, that you would send us Your Son,  a Savior, just as you promised,  to redeem us from our sins and secure a place for us in heaven with You forever!  Praise Him!