Saturday Night Musings

 “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre” John 20:1.  

One of the most delightful studies in the Word of God is the Old Testament Levitical Offerings, seasons of festivities in worshipping practices that would remind Israel of God’s good pleasure. One of these feasts was the offering of the firstfruits. A sheaf of grain was brought to the priest to wave before God giving him thanks for the harvest that was to follow. This was done on the day following the sabbath before they could enjoy an abundant harvest. (See Leviticus 23) 

Christ is that anti-type of the firstfruits. He became the seed of a woman that would yield a world-wide harvest. When he was crucified on the cross he landed a fatal death blow crushing the head of the serpent. He suffered and met the righteous demands of God being the sacrifice for the sin penalty—as the Lamb of God. He fell to the dry ground and was buried for three days according the scriptures. On the first day following the Sabbath, he became the firstfruits by standing up and walking through the bars of death conquering the last enemy. He was waved before God indicative of what was to follow, a glorified body for all would believe in Him. As he is so are we in this world.  He said: He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? 

Our resurrection is guaranteed because of the firstfruits. “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept”, I Corinthians 15:20. As is today and has been for 2,000, there is an empty grave in Israel. It is an un-disputed fact that Christ is alive. He was seen of Mary, Cephas, the disciples and at one time, he was seen of more than 500 at one time. The greatest human pen of all time, the Apostle Paul said, “At last he was seen of me also”. Until you have seen him, you do not know him. 

The redeemed will be gathered because of the firstfruits. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”, I Corinthians 15:22. There is an impassable gulf that separates all those in Adam compared to all those in Christ. The wheat will be gathered one day from the tares. Some will be gathered for life with God while others will be bundled and burned forever in the lake of fire. So, are you in Christ today, or are you still in Adam? If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature and is spiritually alive. 

The reign will be golden because of the firstfruits. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power”,  I Corinthians 15:24. As the harvest fields ripens with golden grain, so likewise will a kingdom ripen full of glory when the firstfruits comes in authority, power, and holiness. It will be a time of rejoicing, plenty, rest, and ceaseless activity in an endless day. I can not wait! 

It seems to me that the Lord of the harvest has enough for all the world to enjoy His goodness. Though you have heard this message for years, you must believe now and look at him as your only hope of survival over death, the grave, and the forth coming lake of Fire.   

Visit: www.cliffhartley.com

Remember “rope the dope”—Ali vs. Forman fight. Ali was being hammered for several rounds by George Forman, then all of a sudden, Ali came back to win the fight. That fight will remembered as well as when Kirk Gibson hit a towering homerun and came back to beat the Oakland A’s in the World Series. The 2001 World Series was a great come back for the Diamond Backs when they beat the Yankees in the seventh game. Samson eyes were put out but his hair was growing.  He stood between the two pillars of the temple and brought the house down—what a come back! All of these are but fading memories when compared to the resurrection of Christ—having been dead for three days. He has no equal and knows no peer. 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks volumes to us today after 2,000 years. Because of God’s only begotten Son dying on a cross—there are today many sons of God walking in the newness of life. The gospel: “Christ died for our sins according the scriptures. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once…” (I Cor 15:2,3). Because of His resurrection there is eternal life for all who will believe this gospel. 

This is good news from an empty tomb. After 2000 years, one has to wonder just where this world would be if the women had…found him lying in that cold grave!  Approaching the tomb, they became helpless—”who will roll the stone away”. Leaving the tomb they become messengers the gospel. The greatest find in the world was an empty grave. He is risen; he is not here!  Behold the place…where they laid him. Have you seen him—that is part of the gospel story?  

He is risen; he is not here, is a message of forgiveness. The young man (angel) said, “go your way and…tell Peter…”  The last record that Peter had of seeing Jesus was when he cursed and denied him three times during the mocked mid-night trial. And Jesus turned and look upon Peter. If looks could have killed, Peter would feel like he just died. Peter wept bitterly over his failure. The empty tomb still cried out today a message of forgiveness.  Have you ever wondered how you could live with un-forgiven sin if they had found a body lying on that hard stone bed?   

He is risen; he is not here, brings assurance that we too will not be forever found and bound to Christ-less grave. He said where I am, there you will be also. We too, because of his absence from the grave, will be found missing someday. As he is, so are we in this world.   

It seems to me that if we too have seen him, we should be busy in the telling this gospel to every person. How can they believe (the gospel) in him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Now, go quickly and tell the world that Jesus is risen—beginning with one at a time.  

Visit: www.cliffhartley.com

   I have seen Christians in Communist prisons with fifty pounds of chains on their feet, tortured with red-hot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt had been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold–and praying with fervor for the Communists. This is humanly inexplicable! It is the love of Christ, which was poured out in our hearts. - Richard Wurmbrand, Tortured For Christ, p. 55 (1967).

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 

What can keep one’s mind in alignment with the heart while being beaten and tortured for 14 years in a Communist prison? Who is able to do this? Answer:every one that believeth. How can one survive this kind of hate crimes? Answer: by the power of God. Where does one acquire this power? Answer: by believing the gospel of Christ. What is the Gospel of Christ? 

The Apostle Paul—in my opinion was the greatest single believer second only to the Christ himself in the propagation of the gospel’s message. He at one time said he wished himself to be accursed from Christ for his brethren. Read his story, when he was not ran out town, he was thrown into prison. When he was not being stoned, he was beaten profusely. He was mocked,  rejected, suffered shipwreck, left for dead, and held as a mad man before magistrates. Yet, he said an angel stood by him convincing him that he must keep going and to appear in Rome also. Ashamed of the gospel of Christ—not on Paul’s watch.   

There were those who crossed Paul’s path who were ashamed to believe the gospel of Christ. People like Felix having opportunity to believe the gospel; rejecting the moment for more of a convenient season. The most noble Festus shouted to Paul that he was beside himself and a nut. Agrippa said to Paul that he had almost persuaded him to be a Christian. Paul’s audiences were ashamed of the gospel of Christ; he was not.  

The Gospel of Christ: Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Romans 1:3,4. The Word became flesh and inhabited a body and was made in the likeness of human flesh. He was known as a God-man when He was awakened from a needed rest then hushed and calmed a killer storm. He met the righteous demands and became the Lamb of God who was violently slain and nailed to a cross as a substitute for sin. For six long eternal hours he hung on two pieces of cold steel, rejected of men and forgotten of his Heavenly Father. He voluntarily and willingly died under his own power and was buried in another man’s grave. That was on a Friday evening, but Sunday morning came and the gospel of Christ became a world-wide and a life-changing message. Do you believe this? When you do, you will never be ashamed of this only gospel. 

It seems to me that God did his part in making this simple gospel known by lifting up his Son  on a cross for all the world to see. He has made this good news accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime. All you need do to receive this eternal life is to believe it just as God has given it. When done, the love of God will be poured in you so the gospel of Christ can flow through you unto the end of the age. God’s desire for you right now is that you know him in power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death.  

Visit: www.cliffhartley.com  

U.S. financier Warren Buffet is now the richest man in the world, overtaking Bill Gates according to Forbes annual billionaire’s list. His holdings jumped from 52 billion last year to 62 billion this year—not too shabby for some extra pocket change!  

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:23 

This statement from Jesus was given to a young man when he asked: “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” When Jesus told him to sell what he had and give it to the poor, the rich young man went away sorrowful because he had very great possessions. I must admit, I do not know too much about this illustration that Jesus used when He said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to go to heaven. But this one thing I do know about the teaching of Jesus—that is, unless a person is trusting totally alone in the person of Christ and His redemptive work on the cross, he will in no wise enter into heaven. 

I tell you a truth, we brought nothing into this world and certainly we will carry nothing out. At the viewing of a very rich man who passed away in the community, one man said to another, wonder how much he left? The reply was, he left it all.  

What shall it profit a man, if he should gain the whole world and loose his own soul? We have recorded in the Bible men who were very, very rich. Men like Abraham, Job, and others who trusted in the One who gave them power to get wealth rather than trusting in their fortune. It is not impossible for rich men to go to heaven, but it is impossible for rich men to go to heaven when trusting in their riches as their god. If tomorrow you awoke and lost everything you had and all you had was paper on which your portfolio was recorded, would you have anything left? 

There is no doubt that the people who are as poor as Job’s turkey are more likely to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior than the uppity-up people who do not need any help from any one. Jesus said a certain man made a great supper and for his servant to go and bid many to come. And those who were bidden began to make excuses. Then the certain man said to his servant, go quickly and bring in the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. The servant did so and there was still room for others to come. 

Well then, who can be saved? Jesus said, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Only God can make it possible for rich men to go to heaven when rich men look only to God for their salvation. Whosoever includes the rich and the poor alike, both of whom are made of the Lord.  

It seems to me—as the scriptures says, that life in this world is but a vapor, it appears for a little while and soon vanishes away. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. What we have in this world will soon be passed, what we give away will forever last.  

Visit www.cliffhartley.com

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60     

Just as the crowd says, “Away with this man,…crucify him, crucify him”, you soon hear the riveting sounds that has echoed from the cross for more than 2,000 years, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”. The mercy of God provides the backdrop for this scene. 

Lord, lay not this sin to their charge— is a plea that comes from one who has been saved by grace. The stoning of Stephen was a vicious attack that originates from a world dominated by Satan—who has come to steal, kill and destroy. When Stephen said, he saw the heavens open and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, the religious leaders circled him like a pack of snarling wild dogs. They closed their ears to what Stephen was saying, drug him out of town, threw him off a cliff and stoned him with huge stones. Right before he went to sleep (death), they heard him say: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. It takes the grace of God to say these words, the last words you will want the Lord to hear coming from you when entering into in His presence.  

Lord, lay not this sin to their charge—are words of compassion. When the Father sent his only begotten Son to suffer and to be brutally slain on a cross, it was unconditional love. The Father is no respecter of persons, and will forgive any that comes to Him, no matter who it might be. 

Lord, lay not this sin to their charge—these words will leave a testimony that others will never forget. The Bible says that when they stoned him, they laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. The Apostle Paul never forgot those words—”And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him” Acts 22:20. Imitate Jesus, others are listening to you. 

It seems to me that there is a huge price that must be paid to society when the law is broken. When so, the judge will not bear his sword in vain. Sin was committed against the laws of God and it took price of blood to pay for it. When he said, “It is finished”, the sky blackened as he dropped his head on a bloody chest and died. And the price of sin was paid in full by the mercy of God. While the camera did not show the face of Patty Porter as she made her comments to Bobby Cutts Jr., she must have had the face of an angel as she pleaded with the Judge  “Please show mercy on him so he can raise his son.” Forgiveness alone can bury anger! 

Visit: www.cliffhartley.com