MAC KIRK

 It is the Last Hour  .  I John 2:18-21    2 Peter 3 we spoke of last week , and today John echoes the same theme.  " The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise...."  I John 2:18 " It is the last hour" We have heard of the last days...Hebrews 1:1-  " He has spoken to us by His Son in these last days..."  " He was manifested in these last times for you."  1 Peter 1:20   The last days are from the birth of Jesus to His Second Coming in glory. These last days have their stages.  Moral decadence- 2 Peter 3:3 " there shall come scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying ,' Where is the promise of His coming?'   Final last day- 2 Peter 3:10 we started off with it. But John says it is the last hour.  " No more remained but for Christ to appear for the redemption of the world." Calvin We too should not be surprised but be prepared for the return of Christ.  Mt

 I John 2:15-17   " The world is evil when you become its slave.  The world has a lot to offer---just as Egypt did for the children of Jacob---as long as you don't feel bound to obey it.  The great struggle facing you is not to leave the world, ro reject your ambitions and aspirations, or to despise money, prestige or success, but to claim your spiritual truth and to live in the world as someone who doesn't belong to it...All the good things our world has to offer are yours to enjoy.  But you can enjoy them truly only when you acknowledge them as affirmations of the truth that  you are the Beloved of God.   The truth will set you free to receive the beauty of nature and culture in gratitude, as a sign of your Belovedness.  That truth will allow you to receive the gifts you receive from your society and celebrate life.  But that truth will also allow you to let go of what distracts you, confuses you, and puts in jeopardy the life of the Spirit within you."  Nouwen, Lif

 Transfiguration and You The Transfiguration and Us ( You) This well -known event probably occured on Mount Hermon---- snowy and gigantic. Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us of this event. Luke alone mentions the ascent for the reason to pray. His (Jesus')face shone as the sun (Matthew) & his garments were glittering ( Mark ) & white as the light ( Luke). Heavenly visitors were present, Moses and Elijah in the cloud that descended. A voice came out of the cloud saying," This is my beloved Son ( Jesus): hear Him." (Luke 9:35) Luke does not use the word transfigured as do Matthew and Mark, but a different word heteros, meaning of a different kind. His face was altered. I think basically we all know about the Transfiguration in some way having heard a few messages on it in our Christian lives. I see an application to believers. Christians too experience a change of face , an alteration of nature at conversion. In one sense that is their transfiguration. 2 Corinthians