MAC KIRK

You Know What Time It is”  Romans 13: 11     Do you know what time it is?  It is the time of God’s own coming into our lives silently but with strength.  In an interesting phrase we are reminded of this.  “ You know what time it is”  Literally “ And, this, knowing the time, that it is the hour”  Did you ever have anyone ask you,” What time is it?”  I am tempted to say.” Daytime”, but then I politely tell the time.  Some know the time because they have a watch but they do not know the time!  The time  is “ that we should be aroused out of sleep; the night is advanced, and the day has drawn near!” Ro. 13:12   In God, there is no time.  Time as my theology professor used to say is the measure of the motion of created objects.  God is eternal.  In Him there is our past, our present and our future!     One of the earliest Christians, St. Augustine ( died in 430 AD) heard parts of this passage, specifically, “ As in the day we should walk, not in revels and drinking, not in chambering

The King    - Jeremiah 23:1-6; Colossians 1:11-20; Luke 23:33-43   “ who delivered us ( the Father) from the authority of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His Son of His love”   1:13   Who is the King?   God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.   We are in this kingdom and have “ redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”   Dr. Hodge said that the kingdom of Christ is “ spiritual, catholic and absolute.”   It is not a kingdom of this world, but nonetheless he said to the thief on the cross, “ Today shalt thou be with me in paradise”   Here is the question for this Sunday,” What does this kingdom mean for us now----and how does Christ help us as a king?”   We can rightly ask this knowing it does not look as though anyone is in charge when we see the chaos of our world.    Then we see the tragedies of the physical storms of this age .   People as well have their own difficulties and seemingly endless problems .   It has

Remembrance Day – Veteran’s Day and some recollections on the coming of Advent- Luke 21:18-19   Today’s gospel from Luke talks of wars and rumors of wars and the persecutions for the Christians as well as being hated for their faith.   But we hear these words of challenge and truth:” by your patient endurance you will gain your souls.”   In England they call it remembrance day which is thought of in november.   “ For the armies of the faithful , souls that passed and left no name; For the glory that illumines patriots lives of deathless fame. For our prophets and apostles, loyal to the living Word. For all the heroes of the spirit, give we thanks O Lord.   William Merrill, 1909   The souls of time past knew something of patience and endurance that it took to win the conflict.   It is said at the funeral of Winston Churchill that something astonishing happened.   1874-1965   The traditional taps was played, but at the end of the service, Reveille sounded,

2 Thess 2    “ Comfortable Words from the Last Days”       Have we ever felt that things are just not working the way we planned?   Life deals us its disappointments, heartaches and losses and we can become overwhelmed with the perplexing puzzles we feel we cannot solve our way out of.   Of course much of our culture has its own weaknesses.   It is almost as if we were in one of those bouncy like things that we take our children or grand-children to.   Yes, they are fun, but would if they just went on and on?          2:2 of this letter reminds us as well “ not to be quickly shaken in mind….not to be troubled, neither by spirit , nor by word..”    The readers there were thinking in strange ways about the coming of Christ. They thought it was so imminent that they could quit working .   “ not that anyone should deceive you in any way …”    I am sure we can identify with these helpful encouragements .   None of us can say we live trouble free lives and there are times whe