The World Series starts today and this came to my mind.
"...upon this rock I will build MY church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)
From the cross Jesus prayed "Father forgive them” and uttered his final words “it is finished” and then Jesus dismissed his spirit, died and was laid in the tomb.
It was the bottom of the ninth with two outs in the game of life. The destiny of ALL mankind was at stake. Day one passed, strike one. Day two passed, strike two. The final pitch was made at sundown on Day three and then it happened….Jesus hit it out of the park, a walk off homer that sealed the Victory for mankind.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery…when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
The Greek word for church is “ecclesia” and means “out-called”. Contrary to popular opinion it is not the Holy Roman Catholic Church or the Protestant Church, or any other organized entity created by the will of men. It is the Body of Christ, composed of all who, like Jesus, will be “called-out” of death, changed from flesh to spirit, and into abundant immortal life, just as Jesus who was the "first fruits."
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive…The first MAN, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:20-49)
The World Series or the National Championship just doesn’t seem that important to me anymore…all of us win in the end!
"...upon this rock I will build MY church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)
From the cross Jesus prayed "Father forgive them” and uttered his final words “it is finished” and then Jesus dismissed his spirit, died and was laid in the tomb.
It was the bottom of the ninth with two outs in the game of life. The destiny of ALL mankind was at stake. Day one passed, strike one. Day two passed, strike two. The final pitch was made at sundown on Day three and then it happened….Jesus hit it out of the park, a walk off homer that sealed the Victory for mankind.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery…when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
The Greek word for church is “ecclesia” and means “out-called”. Contrary to popular opinion it is not the Holy Roman Catholic Church or the Protestant Church, or any other organized entity created by the will of men. It is the Body of Christ, composed of all who, like Jesus, will be “called-out” of death, changed from flesh to spirit, and into abundant immortal life, just as Jesus who was the "first fruits."
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive…The first MAN, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:20-49)
The World Series or the National Championship just doesn’t seem that important to me anymore…all of us win in the end!