Our Next 40 Days

Eugene Cho recently asked this question in a blog he wrote concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Resurrection! So What?” His comments were made in this context; the importance of the sermons we preach after Easter has come and gone. After much wrestling and hand wringing I couldn’t agree more!

After praying on this matter, I was led to the following scriptures in the book of Acts. Here is what Luke had to say.

The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 1:1-3 NASB

 In keeping with Cho’s admonition regarding our sermons, the same can be said for how we carry the message of the resurrection to those we meet on a daily basis. Our sermons even being how we live out our life! The idea being that the message of the resurrection is the cornerstone of the church and our eternal life in Jesus Christ. Radical ideas if you ask me. However, we are called to be radical believers as well! Lets look at each admonition seen in the scriptures below.

“…after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.”

 This is a very important aspect of our walk with Christ. We too have received the Holy Spirit; this means that Christ has given us our orders as well. This very important aspect is witnessed in Acts 2. The Holy Spirit indwelled upon the early church on the day of Pentecost, in the form of “fire” coming to rest upon each of the Apostles whom Jesus had chosen. Each receiving the ability to communicate in a different language. Thus the message of the cross could be spread in a cross-cultural manner. We are no different. We have the same Holy Spirit as that of the Apostles. We are to “Go” as Jesus tells us to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone. Christ chose us with blood shed on the cross!

“To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days…”

Forty days is a significant amount of time. John Polhill has this to say to whet our theological appetites.

“It (the forty days) is a time frame with rich biblical associations—the period in the wilderness, the time Moses spent on Sinai receiving the law, the period of Elijah’s sojourn…most of all it evokes the period of                                                                      Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4:2). Just as it was a time when Jesus prepared for his ministry, so for forty days the risen Jesus prepared his followers.” (Polhill 82)

 This coming and going of Jesus is important; that Jesus found it necessary to continue to demonstrate to them, the miracle of the resurrection in clear and convincing ways, “proofs” if you will. The Greek word “proofs” (tekmeriois) “is a technical term from logic, meaning “demonstrative proof, evidence.” (Polhill) The Bible lists these proofs very emphatically through Luke: the Emmaus road (24:13-32), to Peter (24:34), and to the disciples (24:36-43). This clearly gives us the knowledge that as Jesus was preparing his apostles for the work ahead, the same can be said for us. We too are being prepared for the work ahead. Thus, the thrust of what I am writing about today.

 It has been sixteen days since we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus. This means there are twenty-four more days in the forty-day post resurrection day period. My question is this, “are we taking advantage of the forty-day period to prepare for what God is going to ask us to do in 2011?” Are we truly seeking God in prayer, fasting, and meditation on his word? Are we prepared to undertake the calling of a true disciple of Jesus?

 Finally, are we “… speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God” to the culture we inhabit? To our family? Our children? Each other? This is one of the most important aspect of being a follower of Jesus Christ. The end-result of our spiritual journey is heaven, of course. However, the end-result of Jesus’ reign is the unfolding or coming of the Kingdom of God. The time will come when the world as we know it will no longer exist.

 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10 NASB)

 If this is the case, how then are we to act, to prepare for that day. Peter gives us the answer to this as well.

“Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you…” (2 Peter 3:15-15 NASB)

salvific process? Paul says this in this regard.

 “So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you,                                                                     both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:11-13 NASB)

 This is a lot to take in, in such a short space as this; however, the ramifications of not examining this—our walk with Christ—can’t be over stated or discussed for that matter. A lot is riding on this! Our lives as well as the lives of others. Lets not waste precious time thinking (although we need too); let’s use the time praying, fasting, and meditating on being intentional in the area of what Christ called us to do. Read God’s word! Renew your walk with Christ! Attend church! Serve outside the church!

Most importantly, if you don’t know Jesus as your savior, don’t hesitate; accept him as your savior! Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins; receive your gift of the Holy Spirit! It’s never too late.

Let us not waste anymore time!