Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | April 3, 2010

I Serve a Risen Savior

   In his letter to the church at Corinth, Paul summed up the essence of the Good News in this statement: “For I delivered to you as of first importance that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are three events that forever changed the course of human history. Together, these events comprise the greatest event in human history.

Christ Died for Our Sins | Paul stated, “Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture” (1 Cor. 15:3). “Christ died” — that’s history! “Christ died for our sins” — that was necessary! “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” — that’s accuracy! The death of Christ was “according to the Scriptures.” Throughout the New Testament, the apostles appealed to two areas of Christ’s life to establish His Messiahship — the resurrection of Jesus Christ and fulfilled Messianic prophecy. The Old Testament contains numerous references to the coming Messiah. All the sacrifices point to Him and all the prophets speak of Him. The references to Christ in the Old Testament are specific in regard to His birth, life, death, and resurrection (Acts 2:22-32). All of these prophecies and references were fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ and solidly confirm His credentials as Messiah.

Christ was Buried | After Jesus died on the cross, “He was buried” (1 Cor. 15:4). First, consider where Christ was buried. Eight hundred years before the death of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). According to Matthew 27:57-60, on the evening of Christ’s death, a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph “gathered up courage” (see Mark 15:42-43) and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus.

Second, consider how Christ was buried. After Joseph was granted permission to take the body of Jesus, he was joined by Nicodemus who helped him prepare Jesus’ body for burial according to the Jewish customs of the day (John 19:38-40). Joseph and Nicodemus took linen wrappings (strips of linen cloth about a foot wide) and wrapped the body of Jesus from the ankles to the shoulders. According to John 20:7, the head of Christ was wrapped with a separate piece of cloth [see also John 11:44]. This fact argues against the Shroud of Turin being the burial cloth of Christ. When John and Peter arrived at the empty tomb, they noticed “the face-cloth, which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself” (John 19:4-8).

Third, consider what was done after Christ was buried. Once Christ’s body was placed in the tomb, a large stone was rolled into place, tightly covering the entrance to the tomb.  The chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and asked that the tomb be secured until the third day because they remembered that Christ had said, “After three days I am to rise again” (Matt. 27:62-66). Pilate wanted no more trouble so he gave the Jews a Roman Guard. Matthew 27:66 states that “along with the guard they set a Roman seal on the stone.” This was an extra precautionary measure that was taken to prevent anyone from tampering with the contents of the tomb. Breaking or violating the Roman seal was a serious offense, bringing upon the law-breaker the weight of Roman law. Mgr. E. Le Camus commented, “Never had a criminal given so much worry after his execution. Never had a crucified man been granted the honor of being guarded by a squad of soldiers.”

Christ was Raised | After Christ died and was buried, “He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:4). Something happened on the third day that changed the course of human history from B.C. (Before Christ) to A.D. (Anno Domini – “the year of our Lord”) — something so dramatic that it completely changed eleven men’s lives so that all but one died a martyr’s death. That something was an empty tomb that a fifteen minute walk from the center of Jerusalem could have either confirmed or disproved. Consider the following facts about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

First, the Roman seal was broken. The seal that had been stretched across the face of the stone and represented the power and authority of the Roman Empire was broken! Who would be brave (or foolish) enough to break the Roman seal. Certainly not the Roman soldiers who knew the penalty of such a crime, and certainly not the disciples who had displayed signs of cowardice and hidden themselves (see Mark 14:50). Only John was present at the crucifixion.

Second, the tomb was empty. Christianity had its beginnings in the one city in the entire world where it could have been forever stopped had the tomb not been empty. The Jews, the Romans, and the followers of Jesus all knew that the tomb was empty.  The only questions worth arguing about were why the tomb was empty and what its emptiness proved.

Third, the large stone covering the entrance of the tomb was moved. Mark 16:4 recorded that the stone “was extremely large” (Mark 16:4). It’s not likely that the cowardly disciples rolled it away, especially with the presence of a Roman Guard. And, it would also have been impossible for a man to push it away from the inside as suggested by the proponents of the “Swoon Theory” who say that Jesus did not die on the cross but merely fainted.

Fourth, something happened on that first Easter morning that frightened away the Roman guards (Matt. 28:4). After the stone had been rolled away and the Roman Seal broken, the guards fled to the chief priests and reported to them what had happened. The chief priests then bribed them to say that the disciples had stolen the body and assured them that should the event come to the governor’s attention, they would keep the soldiers out of trouble (see Matthew 28:11-15).

Fifth, the grave-clothes were still in the tomb. When Peter and John arrived at the tomb, they saw the linen wrappings lying there with the face-cloth rolled up in a place by itself (see John 19:4-8). The first thing that struck Peter and John was not the empty tomb, but rather the empty linen wrappings. The linen wrappings were undisturbed. They were lying in the tomb like an empty cocoon. The body had vanished from within the linen wrappings.

Sixth, consider the post-resurrection appearances of Christ. According to 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus appeared to many people after His resurrection — friends and foes alike. He appeared to Mary Magdalene and the other women, Peter, the Emmaus disciples, to over 500 people at one time, to James, Stephen, Paul, and John (while on Patmos). In 1 Corinthians 15:6, Paul inserted the little phrase “most of whom remain until now.” The majority of those who saw Christ after His resurrection were still alive and available for questioning.

Finally, consider that it was the women who saw Jesus first. This is an authenticating feature of the resurrection because, according to the Jewish principle of legal evidence, women were invalid witnesses and did not have the right to give testimony in a court of law. If the resurrection accounts had been contrived, then the fabricators of the account would not have included women in the story, at least not as the first witnesses.

Thus, Christ was “raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” The resurrection confirms that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be — the Son of God who came to make a way for man to be reconciled to God. The empty tomb is the silent witness to the resurrection of Christ which has never been refuted. The Romans and Jews could not produce the body of Christ or explain where it went. Those who suggest that the disciples stole the body cannot explain how these cowardly men, who fled when Jesus was crucified, could have mustered the courage to fight off a Roman Guard and steal the body. In addition, they cannot explain why such men would then devote their entire lives to a lie and then die a martyr’s death for that lie. When it comes to the resurrection the burden of unbelief is far greater than the burden of belief. The difficulties of belief may be great, but the absurdities of unbelief are greater. In the words of the great hymn, “I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today, I know that He is living, whatever men may say.”

• • • • •

Click here to read more Easter Reflections.

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Posted in Easter Reflections

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 31, 2010

My Ministry Mentors

   I will observe thirty-two years in full-time ministry in June. Each year I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have been the beneficiary of the time and energy of others who believed in me. And, I understand a little more each year why God allowed certain individuals to invest in my life and how He used each of them to prepare me for what He had prepared for me. I’m grateful for the kindness, honesty, and wisdom of my ministry mentors. There were times when I wished they had not been so honest and direct with me. But I realize now more than then how necessary it was for them to speak the truth to me in love.

   As I have strolled down my own memory lane over the past few days, I have felt increasingly compelled to write a brief note about the people God has used to chisel and shape me. These individuals all have one thing in common. They loved me, cared for me, and spent lots of time with me. As a result, they understood me and knew how to best invest in me. The best way I can repay them is to live a life pleasing to God because, ultimately, that is what they all challenged me to do.

Kindness Experienced | Joe and Nadine Tubb are my spiritual parents in the ministry. I met them before I became a Christ-follower. When I was in high school, I knocked on their door while out selling fruitcakes to raise funds for the band. The Tubbs bought a fruitcake from me. They were the kindest family I had met on my sales route. Joe served as Music Pastor of First Baptist Church in McAllen, Texas and later invited me to play in the church orchestra. When I placed my faith in Christ for salvation, the Tubbs were the first to help me grow in my faith. After I graduated from college they invited me to speak at Second Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas. That invitation from them led to an invitation from the church to serve on their staff.

First Steps | Dr. Gene McCombs was the pastor of Second Baptist Church. His brother Red owned the San Antonio Spurs at the time. For years, Dr. McCombs preached three sermons on Sunday and one on Wednesday. What amazed me is that he preached three different sermons every Sunday. He taught me how to prepare a sermon manuscript instead of just an outline. He said it was the best way for me to think deeply about every word, stay focused on the central truth of the message, and consequently to speak clearly.

Compassionate Shepherd | Dr. J.H. Wright served as Associate Pastor under Dr. McCombs. He too had served as a pastor for more than forty-years. God used Dr. Wright to teach me how to baptize, how to make hospital calls, how to speak at funerals, and more. He was an exceptional shepherd. Under his leadership I made more than three-hundred hospital calls annually and officiated at dozens of funerals. He challenged me to walk slowly among people and to respond intentionally and compassionately to their needs.

Encouraging Friend | Dr. Tommy Lea served as the Dean of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas and wrote several books on the New Testament. I never took a class under Dr. Lea, but God arranged for us to become good friends outside of class. Because of his encouragement and help, I became a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources and have written almost two-hundred lessons for LifeWay over the past fifteen years. Dr. Lea called to check up on me a few days before he died of cancer. He always thought of others before himself, even in the final days of his life. He set an example worthy of imitation.

Kingdom Ambassador | The late Dr. Rudy Hernandez was an international evangelist who also served as a denominational officer, helped to revise the Baptist Faith and Message, and preached the gospel in more than 70 countries. Dr. Rudy took me on my first two international mission trips to Ukraine to assist with his televised crusades. God used him to open my eyes to the needs of the world. One day when he and I were driving out of the parking lot at DFW airport he told me to share Christ with the lady working at the pay booth. I replied that I did not have time because there was a line of cars behind us and we would have less than thirty-seconds. When we stopped to pay, he leaned over and said, “Young lady, has anyone today told you how much God loves you?” Her eyes widened as she replied, “No sir.” Dr. Rudy said, “Then, let me be the first.” Dr. Rudy taught me that there is always time to remind others that God loves them.

Thinking Deeply | Jerry Perrill served as a missionary for thirty-years. He served in Laos and later taught at a seminary in Thailand. He and I met when we both served on the staff of Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, Texas. Jerry challenged me to think critically about topics ranging from Bertrand Russell’s anti-Christian essays to concerns about open-theism and more. He also challenged me to think deeply about God’s Word and its practical application. I asked him to hold me accountable for my research and writing for LifeWay as well as my preparation for leadership meetings. And, he did. He helped me to be more intentional about what I read and what I wrote. I miss my daily conversations with Jerry. He is one of the best examples I know of a Proverbs 27:17 man, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

   I am thankful to each of my ministry mentors for allowing God to use them to encourage and guide me. Although I still have a long way to go in so many areas of my life, I am a better person today because of their influence. I look forward to the next thirty-two years and hope that they are as meaningful and adventurous as the years gone by.

• • • • •

PS | Please read my post on Historical Mentors.

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Posted in Missions Musings

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 27, 2010

God’s Agents of Hope

Uganda en route to Houston

Hope for a Nation | My friend Steve Hyde is a big man with an audacious vision. He wants to reach the nation of Cambodia for Christ in his generation. And, he just might be the guy God uses to do it. Steve is the founding director of Asia for Jesus, a multi-faceted ministry based in Cambodia. Steve and his staff train thousands of national pastors, translate and publish Christian materials in the Khmei language, produce Christian radio broadcasts that span the nation, and operate homes for orphans and at-risk kids, And if that were not enough, Steve has a team that is working to translate the Bible into all of Cambodia’s tribal languages.

I met Steve last year when I joined Kurt Dillinger, President of Life International, in Cambodia to teach on the sanctity of human life. Steve, Kurt, and Kingsland will team up this year to take the first steps to start a pregnancy help center in Poipet, Cambodia — the Devil’s front porch! Steve joined us in Uganda to learn about The Comforter’s Center, the pregnancy help center we underwrite in Kampala. Steve met with the staff, volunteers, and board of directors to get an idea of how a pregnancy help center functions. We had very fruitful and encouraging meetings.

Hope for a Generation | Steve’s ministry cares for a few hundred Cambodian orphans. So, I arranged for Steve to visit Watoto (the Swahili word for “children”) – one of the most impressive ministries to orphans I have ever seen. Watoto cares for eighteen-hundred orphans in Uganda. My friend Wayne Thomas, who works for Watoto, introduced me to this ministry last year. Watoto takes my breath away. Their homes and staff give new meaning to excellence. The folks at Watoto are giving hope to a generation of children that would otherwise be dead or without hope in the world.

Hope for the Oppressed | Steve and the staff of Asia for Jesus also fight for the oppressed in Cambodia. Steve recently opened two homes for orphans at risk of being trafficked to brothels in Thailand. After visiting Watoto, we met my with my friend Annette, the director of Rahab House – a ministry that cares for young girls rescued from the forced commercial sex trade. Rahab House is one of many ministries working to give hope to the oppressed. More than 27 million people on the planet are in some type of slavery. People like Steve and Annette are each addressing issues of injustice in their corners of the world. God is using them to rescue and to restore hope to those who have suffered gross injustices. I’m glad that Kingsland is also involved in seeking justice for the oppressed. To learn more about Kingsland’s justice initiatives, please visit KingslandJustice.com.

Hope for the Poor | After our meeting at Rahab House, we traveled across Kampala to visit Miracle Destiny School located in one of Kampala’s poorest districts. My friend Robert, pastor of Miracle Center Kawempe (my home church in Kampala), and his wife Rose, acted on a vision to provide quality education for poor kids. I was impressed by what I saw and the teachers I met. They care deeply about the children and families in the neighborhood. We visited a single mom who has two kids in the school. She is HIV-positive, lives with her two kids in a home that is roughly 100 square-feet, and earns about $2.00 per day. Pastor Robert and Rose and Miracle Center Church have given this young mother, and many more like her, hope for the future.

Hope for the Villages | Our final stop of the day was at Warriors of Christ Church. I met Joseph, the pastor of the church, on my first visit to Uganda several years ago. Last year we conducted a training seminar on the sanctity of human life at this little church with only half a roof. The place was packed. Kingsland provided funds for the church to purchase materials to complete their roof. Pastor Joseph asked me to stop by because the church family wanted to express their gratitude to Kingsland. We enjoyed a sweet time of worship. Small rural churches like this represent hope for the villages of Uganda. In recent days the media has reported on child sacrifices in Uganda. We need folks like Pastor Joseph and his church family to stand for life in tough places. I’m grateful for these warriors who are fighting a good fight with the weapons of love, grace, and truth.

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Posted in Uganda

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 25, 2010

Grateful Young Moms

   The Comforter’s Center | Kampala, Uganda

   I am glad to be back in Uganda. Jon Davis, our Missions Associate, and I arrived here on Wednesday afternoon. We are here to introduce Steve Hyde, Director of Asia for Jesus, to the work of The Comforter’s Center, the pregnancy help center we helped to start in cooperation with Life International. Later this year we will work with Life International and Steve to help start a new pregnancy help center in Poipet, Cambodia. Steve is already doing some remarkable things to rescue children at risk in Cambodia and wants to start a pregnancy help center there. One advantage of starting a work like this in Cambodia is the ease with which Cambodians can adopt children. In most cases, the paperwork is completed in an hour and costs only a few dollars. And, Cambodians are very willing to adopt unwanted babies and children. Adoptions by foreigners are not allowed at this time.

   This morning we spent the day talking with each of the ladies who serve on the staff of The Comforter’s Center. They gave Steve a detailed understanding of the process of working with the young girls and women who come to the center for help. But, the best thing that happened this morning was unplanned. Five young women who chose to give life to their babies stopped by the center for prayer. These young girls from different parts of the city met each other at The Comforter’s Center and formed friendships. They meet for prayer every Thursday. When they learned that we were here, they asked to speak with us. One of the mothers spoke for the group and said they all wanted to thank the people of Kingsland for supporting the work of The Comforter’s Center. “Without your support,” the young mother continued, “our children would not be here. We would have continued on the wrong path to abort our babies. So, please thank the people of Kingsland for caring about us.” Enough said. That makes it all worthwhile.

   I thanked each of the moms for choosing life and promised that we would remember them and their children in prayer. I am so glad that we had the opportunity to meet these mothers and children today. Every week I read reports and statistics sent from around the world by our ministry partners. But, today we met the human beings behind some of those statistics — babies who are here because of a decision we made to promote the sanctity of human life from our own community to places like Kampala, Uganda.

   Please remember these mothers and children in prayer. The names of the children in the photo below (from left to right) are: Shanita (4 months), Prince (1 week), Kilabo (13 months), Veronica (1 year), and Joshua (14 months). I asked Kilabo’s mother to tell me the meaning of her daughter’s name. She smiled and replied, “Gift.” That says it all.

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Posted in Uganda

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 23, 2010

New Friends in the Air

   Dubai, UAE en route to Kampala, Uganda

   I am between flights in Dubai while on my way to Kampala, Uganda. I have flown this route many times before and know the routine well. I was happy when Emirates Airlines, currently my favorite airline, started offering a direct flight from Houston to Dubai a few years ago. It’s a long 15-hour flight but offers me lots of good options for reaching the places I most often visit. I must confess that flying was lots more of an adventure for me when I started traveling internationally many long years ago. As for the present, I don’t always look forward to long flights in an economy class seat. But, it’s necessary since we do not have Star Trek technology available that can beam travelers to their destinations.

   One thing that does make long flights bearable is the opportunity to talk with other travelers and with flight attendants. I especially appreciate flight attendants. These hard-working individuals can make long-flights more bearable and certainly more enjoyable. I had an opportunity to meet and to converse with three of the flight attendants working in the economy class section on my flight from Houston to Dubai. One young lady is from France and two are from Mexico. I enjoyed learning a little about each of them, where they are from, why they chose this career, and about their own travels. They were not only delightful to meet, but they did their work with excellence and made the flight enjoyable for me and my fellow passengers.

   Every time I speak with flight attendants or fellow travelers, one question always comes up – “Why are you traveling and where are you going?” This question always provides great opportunities to tell the story of Kingsland’s global initiatives and involvement in addressing the issues that matter to God. In regard to this trip, I was able to share the story of our pregnancy help center in Kampala. I also shared that this trip is one of the initial steps we are taking to help start another pregnancy help center in Cambodia with Life International and with our new Cambodian partner and friend, Steve Hyde. I also shared about our work to address justice issues by helping to support homes in Kampala and Kolkata for girls rescued from sex trafficking. Talking one on one with others is a good way to raise awareness about issues like the sanctity of human life and the need to seek justice for the oppressed.

   I am thankful that I had the opportunity to meet and converse with some new friends on this flight. The young ladies who work for Emirates meet lots of interesting folks and travel to lots of places around the globe. Their positive attitudes, friendly dispositions, and their care for travelers like me make the long hours in the air enjoyable. Geraldine, Veronica, and Fernanda were kind enough to stop by my seat to thank me for what we are doing to address important concerns around the planet. Wow! That was a very nice thing to do and tells me that their hearts also connected with what we are doing.

   The more I travel and talk with others about why we must address needs and help the least of these, the more convinced I am that people from all walks of life care about these same things. And regardless of whether they know how to personally address these issues, they are always glad to know that someone is fighting hard on behalf of the oppressed and the needy. Just before we landed, one of the young ladies remarked, “We need more people to do what you and your church are doing. Thank you for your good work and for helping people in need.” Her words were both refreshing and encouraging and serve to remind me that we must continue to go beyond and to do for others what Jesus would do.

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Posted in Uganda

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 22, 2010

A Lesson from Amistad

   Amistad is one of my favorite movies. It’s the compelling story of mutiny onboard a slave ship traveling from Cuba toward the Northeast Coast of America in 1839. As the ship is sailing to the United States, a slave named Cinque leads a mutiny and wrestles away control of the ship from their captors. However, when the ship reaches the United States, all of the slaves are imprisoned. To complicate matters, none of the slaves can speak English, making it impossible for them to tell their story. The slaves seem doomed to die for killing their captors until an abolitionist lawyer agrees to represent them. Their case eventually reaches the Supreme Court where John Quincy Adams, played by Anthony Hopkins, agrees to represent Cinque and the slaves. In one of my favorite scenes, Adams explains to Cinque that the case will be difficult to argue. At that point Cinque responds, “I will call unto the past and beg my ancestors to come and help me, for at this moment I am the whole reason they have existed at all.”

   We don’t think or talk much about our ancestors — those from whom we are descended. Yet, as Cinque points out, were it not for them we would not be here. The Bible talks a lot about the generations. And while we are never told to worship our ancestors or to beg them to come to our aid, there is a sense in which one generation can come to the aid of another. There is no doubt that one day our children and our children’s children will find themselves in difficult situations, just like Cinque. And, they will need help. It’s sobering to consider that what we teach our children about God today will make a difference in how they handle their difficulties tomorrow.

   Psalm 78 points out that fathers have a responsibility to equip the next generation to “put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments” (Ps. 78:7). These lessons are important and will make a difference in the lives of our children, our children’s children, and those who will be born long after we have joined our ancestors. We must also teach our children about the things that are important to God, issues like justice and the welfare of the least of these. One of my favorite songs, written by singer Christy Nockels, is entitled “By Our Love.” One of the verses of the songs says, “Children, you are hope for justice, stand firm in the Truth now, set your hearts above. You will be reaching, long after we’re gone, and they will know you by your love!” If we teach our children about justice today, then it’s possible that our children and their children will come to the aid of those who will be oppressed in the generations to come.

   I am convinced that what we teach the present generation matters. At some point in the future one of our descendants, like Cinque, will be in a tough spot and in need of help. Or one of our descendants, like the character played by Anthony Hopkins, will encounter someone in need of help. We can come to their aid by investing wisely in the present generation. My prayer is that those who come after me will look back and thank God for my faithfulness. The day is coming when I will join my ancestors, but I pray that my influence will continue to touch the future through those in whom I have invested.

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Posted in Home and Family, Justice

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 18, 2010

Enduring Love

   I traveled to my hometown this week to visit with my Dad. He is a healthy and active octogenarian who is still coping with the death of his beloved Frances, my beautiful Mom. It’s been almost nine months since Mom passed away, very unexpectedly. We will never get over Mom’s death but we are learning to live with her absence. It’s hard. Dad still goes to the cemetery every day. After Mom passed away, he and I did lots of work on our family plot. It’s a lovely and quiet place where two generations of our family are buried beneath the shade of old trees. Dad likes to go there to read from his daily devotional guide and to reflect on almost fifty-four years of marriage to the beautiful girl who had first taken his breath away when he was a young man.

   I realize now more than ever how fortunate I am to have had a Mom and Dad who were head-over-heels in love with each other — and never got over it. After Mom died, a long-time neighbor commented that my Mom always talked about my Dad like a school girl talks about her first boyfriend. When I was growing up, I took it for granted that my parents loved each other so deeply. Today, looking back across the years, I see things more clearly. As an adult, I have searched the archives of my childhood memories but can’t find any evidence that my Mom or Dad ever exchanged harsh words or were unkind to each other. I didn’t think there was anything unusual about that when I was a kid. However, after investing countless hours helping families in crisis over thirty-two years of ministry, I now realize just how unusual it was.

   The best thing that my parents did for me and my siblings was to love one another. We were the beneficiaries of their enduring love. It made our home a stable and safe place. My siblings and I never went to bed at night worried about what our parents might say or do to hurt one another — or us. Their love kept that worry, and other childhood worries and fears, far away from our door. Love makes a difference! I understand why my Dad continues to grieve in his own quiet way and why he goes to the cemetery every day. He and my Mom had become one — and because of that, a part of him was buried with her on June 2 of last year. Cancer destroyed my Mom’s body and took her from us. But, cancer and death were powerless to destroy my parents enduring love. I learned about faith, hope, and love from my Mom and Dad. And today, I understand a little better why the greatest of these is indeed love (1 Cor. 13:13).

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Posted in Home and Family

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 16, 2010

Kingdom Judgment

Reflections on Matthew 13:47-50

After sharing parables about kingdom growth and kingdom worth, Jesus shared a final parable about the kingdom of heaven with His disciples. In Matthew 13:47, Jesus said “the kingdom of heaven is like a net.” The mention of a net would have immediately caught the attention of the fishermen in the room — Peter, Andrew, James, and John. These men had been working with nets beside the Sea of Galilee on the day Jesus had called them to follow Him (Matt. 4:18-22). Their nets represented their previous profession. However, these men chose to follow Jesus, left their fishing nets behind, and instead became “fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19).

Jesus told a parable about a net that was let down into the lake. The net was probably a large and rectangular dragnet. This type of net was generally used in one of two ways. The net was either secured to two boats and pulled through the water or anchored to the shore on one end while a boat pulled the other end through the sea. Either way, this seining process effectively resulted in a catch of “all kinds of fish.”

While visiting the Reindeer People in northern Mongolia, I had the opportunity to observe how men fish with nets on frozen lakes. The fishermen cut a series of holes in the ice and then lower a net through one hole and stretch it under the ice to the farthest hole. Then, they leave the net and return to pull it out of the frigid water the following day. Amazingly, this process results in a catch of all kinds of fish. I observed as these Mongolian fishermen, like those in the parable, sorted their catch, tossing the good fish in one pile and the bad fish in another pile (Matt. 13:48).

All kinds of people get caught in the kingdom net — those who have been truly converted and those who have never actually trusted Christ for salvation. However, Jesus explained that at the end of the age people will be separated on the basis of how they responded to Him (Matt. 13:49). The wicked — those who rejected Christ or feigned citizenship in His kingdom — will be separated from the righteous and consigned to a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 13:50). In light of this, we must not remain silent knowing that one day all people will be subject to judgment. Every person who has a saving knowledge of Christ has a personal responsibility to share that knowledge with others. We owe Christ to all people (Rom. 1:14).

The disciples had listened patiently as Jesus taught them about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus asked them, “Have you understood all these things?” (Matt. 13:51). The disciples replied affirmatively. Jesus continued by explaining that they were responsible for the knowledge they had received about the kingdom (Matt. 13:52) — “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

The disciples were like scribes or teachers of the law who had received special instruction in matters concerning the kingdom of heaven. This knowledge was like a wonderful treasure deposited in the storeroom of their hearts. They were not to hide and hoard that treasure. Instead they were obligated to share that treasure with the world. We too, are obligated to share what we know about the kingdom. John R. Mott once said that the greatest crime we can commit is to withhold what we know about Jesus from the world. Unless we are willing to open the storeroom and bring out the treasures, many people in the world today will remain spiritually impoverished. So, how should we respond to what Jesus taught about the kingdom of heaven?

First, make certain that you are a citizen of His kingdom. Jesus said that “no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (Jn. 3:3). Have you placed your faith in Jesus for salvation? Have you submitted to His will and rule in your life? Are you certain that you will be counted among the righteous at the end of the age (Matt. 13:49)?

Second, live under God’s rule. Submit to His leadership daily (Col. 1:13-14). Remember that as a citizen of His kingdom you are not under any obligation to obey Satan, your former master.

Third, seek His kingdom ahead of everything else (Matt. 6:33). Make His kingdom the top priority in your life. Abandon selfish pursuits and invest in those things that will advance the kingdom of heaven and last for eternity. Live like a responsible citizen of His kingdom.

Finally, do your part to grow the kingdom. Remember that your life and influence should be like the pervasive power of yeast. Share the gospel of the kingdom with those in your household and in your sphere of influence. And, cooperate with others in taking the gospel of the kingdom to those with the least access to it (Matt. 24:14).

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Posted in Missions Musings

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 14, 2010

Kingdom Worth

   Reflections on Matthew 13:44-46

   Jesus told his disciples two parables to illustrate how the kingdom of God grows from something small into something great (Matt. 13:31-35). He continued by sharing two more parables that illustrate the surpassing worth of the kingdom. He introduced each of these parables with the phrase “the kingdom of heaven is like.”

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. | In Jesus’ day, people sometimes buried their valuables in the ground in order to hide them from burglars or raiders. Jesus told of a man who was digging in a field and unexpectedly found such a treasure (Matt. 13:44) — perhaps buried in a chest. Overjoyed by his discovery, the man covered up his find. Realizing he could not live without the treasure, the man then willingly and gladly sold everything he had and legally purchased the field.

This parable reminds me of another man who also unexpectedly found the treasure of a lifetime. Like the man digging in the field, the Apostle Paul discovered the treasure of a lifetime on the road to Damascus (Acts. 9:1-19). Like the man in Jesus’ parable, Paul recognized the worth of what he had found. He later commented, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8). Paul considered the loss of everything in order to gain Christ the greatest bargain of his life — a very profitable exchange. Sadly, some people fail to recognize the surpassing worth of the kingdom and prefer instead to hold on to what they have. Jesus cautioned, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. | In Jesus’ day, pearls were expensive and generally beyond the purchasing power of the average person. Jesus told a story about a merchant who was searching for fine pearls (Matt. 13:45-46). When this merchant found the pearl of his dreams, he immediately recognized the surpassing value of that single pearl. All other pearls he had ever seen paled by comparison. Without hesitation, the merchant eagerly sold all that he had and purchased the single pearl.

A few years ago, I met a young missionary from the Czech Republic while I was in Mongolia. She shared with me how she had eagerly embraced the gospel when she had first heard it preached. Soon afterward she felt God leading her to take the gospel of the kingdom to the people of Mongolia. This young woman had joyfully exchanged the comforts and security of her home in order to advance the work of the kingdom in Mongolia. She expressed to me that she felt there was nothing greater in life than the privilege of knowing God and serving the interests of His kingdom. This young woman understood the surpassing worth of the kingdom.

Like the man who found the treasure and the merchant who found the pearl, we should willingly and joyfully surrender whatever we must in order to gain the kingdom. Nothing we possess or pursue can surpass the value of being a child of God and living under His rule.

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Posted in Missions Musings

Posted by: Omar C. Garcia | March 11, 2010

Kingdom Growth

   Reflections on Matthew 13:31-35

   One day, after a confrontation with religious leaders (Matt. 12:22-45), Jesus spoke to a large crowd by the Sea of Galilee (Matt. 13:1). He had to get into a boat and use it as a platform from which to speak (Matt. 13:2). Jesus told those assembled along the shore many things in parables (Matt. 13:3). A parable is best defined as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus told a series of parables to describe “the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 13:31), that is, the sovereign reign of God. The kingdom of heaven is not geographical or political. The kingdom of heaven is first and foremost relational — it is the rule of God in the hearts of believers. Each parable Jesus told (Matt. 13:34) cast light on some aspect of the kingdom (Matt. 13:35). He introduced the parables of the kingdom with the phrase “the kingdom of heaven is like.” Two of the parables he shared illustrate how something small eventually grows into something great.

The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. | Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) — believed to be the smallest of all seeds (Matt. 13:32). A single mustard seed was so small as to seem insignificant. But, once planted, the tiny mustard seed eventually breaks through the surface of the ground and grows to become the largest of garden plants (Matt. 13:32) — growing to a height of ten or more feet. Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of heaven among humanity when He began His earthly ministry. At that time, the kingdom seemed as small and insignificant as a single tiny mustard seed. At other times it seemed the tender shoot would not survive in the harsh environment of religious, philosophical, and political opposition and persecution. However, like the mustard seed, the kingdom of heaven has steadily grown into something immeasurably larger. Today, God’s kingdom rule continues to expand across ethnic and geographical lines as people submit to Him all across the planet.

The kingdom of heaven is like yeast. | Jesus also likened the kingdom of heaven to yeast (Matt. 13:33) — a small piece of fermented dough kept from a previous baking. A small piece of yeast is capable of permeating a large amount of flour. Yeast was usually a symbol of that which was evil or unclean (see Matt. 16:6; 1 Cor. 5:6). However, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to the pervasive power of yeast. Like yeast, the kingdom of heaven quietly spreads from one life to another — transforming individuals one by one. This leavening activity happens as citizens of the kingdom understand and fulfill their responsibility to “preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:2). As we faithfully share the good news about Jesus, the kingdom of heaven quietly spreads from one transformed life to another and then another.

   So, don’t be discouraged by small beginnings and don’t underestimate the power of your influence for the kingdom. The kingdom of heaven continues to grow because of the faithfulness of those who know the message, live the message, and share the message.

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