"Let us remember that, like unto The Christ, our betrayals, our burdens, our sufferings, and even our deaths are, but 'preludes' to the permanence of the resurrection."

PAST MESSAGES:

WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE

DOING A NEW THING

TOGETHER WE STAND

DEFINED BY LOVE

BELIEVERS ARE TO LIVE IN LOVE

FAITH THAT'S ALIVE

GOD'S WORD

BELIEF IS NOT ENOUGH

HOW I VIEW MY CHURCH

PSALM 92:1-4

FOUR GREAT VISIONS

COMPLETE SURRENDER

"It's Just a Matter of Time"
Luke 24: 6-8

One of the most tragic of all human experiences is when we have mistakenly assigned permanence to that which was only intended to be transient and or temporary. Some events in life are only meant to be for a moment upon both the continuum of space and the plain time. This being the case, we should be mindful that there are those things that God has deemed to be merely a prelude of seasonal circumstances, which serve as one among many of the nuances encroached within our life's story.

Consider if you will the twenty-fourth chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke, verses six through eight, where we find the post-resurrection narrative. Here, the body of Jesus Christ cannot be found by those women of God who have come to take care of our blessed Lord's remains. It was while they were wondering what had happen to the body of Christ that two angels appeared to them saying, "He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again (v. 6-7)." It is only then that, "they remembered his words (v.8)."

What is of great significance here is the fact that Jesus Christ had already communicated to them that His experience of being betrayed, suffering, and even dying were not experiences that would have permanence within the scope of His particularity. Rather, He informed them that His being delivered into the hands of sinful men and His being crucified where only to be temporary conditions of His existence. This is clearly conveyed by Christ when He told them that on the third day He would rise again (v.7).

By declaring that He was destined to rise again, all other events were rendered as transient and temporary preludes to the permanence of the resurrection. Being betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men was 'prelude.' Being whipped and having a crown of thorns placed upon His brow was 'prelude.' Being crucified and dying on Calvary was 'prelude.' He endured the 'prelude' of betrayal, suffering, and even death on the cross because He knew that it was just a matter of time before He stepped into the permanence of the resurrection!

I believe we all would do well to be advised by the example of The Christ. He shows us that much of our life's experiences are transient and temporary 'preludes' to the prominence of the resurrection. Let us remember that, like unto The Christ, our betrayals, our burdens, our sufferings, and even our deaths are, but 'preludes' to the permanence of the resurrection. Thus, when you find yourself being discouraged by the lingering allure of unpleasant circumstances, remember that they are only temporary; the permanence of the resurrection is just a few days away. Don't forget that, for all intents and purposes, "It's Just a Matter of Time!"

Going Forward On Purpose
Pastor Sampson