"The Dominos Are Standing"

 

“The Dominos Are Standing”

 

The Guinness Book recognizes the record for the most dominos falling in a circular arrangement as 89,995, done by a group in Abn Dhabi, UAE, in 2018. However, this feat pales in comparison to the individual standard of 321,197 toppled by Lin Yang in China in 2011 or that accomplished by Weijur Domino Productions in the Netherlands in 2009 at a whopping 4,491,863. Seeing these “achievements” makes one wonder if some people have too much time on their hands.

These game tiles standing in a row has given rise to the term “Domino Effect”, defined by Wikipedia as “the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events”. Usually we think of this phenomenon in the negative, paraphrased by “Murphy’s Law #1241”: “Anything that can go wrong will!” And once the process starts it can be very difficult to stop.

In 1 Corinthians 15 the Apostle Paul addresses the fact and impact of Christ’s resurrection in great detail. In verses 12-19 he explains the “Domino Effect” if this great truth isn’t so, Summarized, if His resurrection has been confirmed by witnesses (see v.5-8) how can the concept of resurrection be denied (v.12, Domino #1)? And if there’s no such thing, Christ didn’t rise and His body is still in a Middle East grave (v.13, Domino #2), Further, if Christ isn’t alive our faith is useless (v.14, Domino #3), And if this is the case we’re believing and testifying to a lie (v.15, Domino #4). Consequently if it’s a lie Jesus didn’t rise (v.16, Domino #5). And if such is the case we are hopelessly lost in our sins (v.17, Domino #6) and the readers’ loved ones who had died have no hope (v.18, Domino #7). Finally, if this present life is all there is we’re to be pitied for believing there’s something more and far better (v.19, Domino #8).

But then Paul shouts triumphantly (or writes in bold letters), “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead….” (1 Corinthians 15:20, emphasis added). Volumes have been written showing the certainty of this greatest truth of our Christian faith. All attempts at explaining it away pose more questions than answers so there’s no reason to deny its reality. The dominos are still standing—and always will! Hallelujah! And Happy Resurrection Day!

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"God Plus Us"

 

“God Plus Us”

 

On an episode of the 1950’s police series “Dragnet” Sgt. Joe Friday and his partner investigated a case in which an infant had serious injuries but ended happily with the child’s recovery. In reporting this good news to the officers the physician said, “Either there’s a God or I’m a good doctor because the baby will be OK.” Friday’s reply: “I think both are true, Doc!”

I thought of this response in light of my brother Dave’s near fatal car crash this past May. After seven weeks in ICU and three more in rehab he returned home, a testimony to God’s healing power and His using people, medications, equipment and procedures in His answering the prayers of many. As I write this in mid-February he’s doing well and caring for his wife Jean as she deals with some health issues. To God be the glory!

I preached a message in two of the churches we served entitled “How God Gets His Work Done” based on the story of the tabernacle’s construction in Exodus 35. In this passage we see the Lord’s choice of Bezalel to lead the project (v.30), His equipping His servant by filling him with His Spirit (v.31), giving him extraordinary abilities (v.31-33) and enabling him to teach others the needed skills (v.34). This sequence was seen in Dave’s hospital care as God had physicians available with the needed expertise He’d put in them as well as others trained in various areas of medical practice, all orchestrated by His grace and power. Again, to Him be the glory!

God has raised up His people today and gifted them to work together to accomplish His purposes. Paul reminded a troubled church that they were “…God’s fellow workers….” (1 Corinthians 3:9) and “…to each one (was) given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, NASB). Later his fellow apostle states, “Each one should use whatever gift (he or she) has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” (1 Peter 4:10). Just as there are specialists in medicine, law, business and sports there are uniquely prepared believers in the Body of Christ. In other words, we each do our part then He takes over (“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.”—1 Corinthians 3:6, emphasis added). So it’s God plus us. Consequently I must ask, Am I doing my God-given part to get His work done? Are you?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"God of the Middle"

 

“God of the Middle”

 

In “Beyond Christmas” I shared about a “story” I used to tell children: “Once upon a time they lived happily ever after.” I tried to get away with saying the “story” had a beginning and ending but only lacked something in the middle but it rarely if ever worked. (The late comedian George Burns once observed that a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending and to have the two as close together as possible.) But what’s between the start and finish matters and is often the most important. (See “The Dash” for an example.)

Karen and I recently read a devotional based on Revelation 22:13 where Jesus says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” We recalled a message on this passage by a pastor in South Carolina who emphasized what was between the extremes. Alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet but there are 22 intervening ones. Communicating in Greek would be impossible without all 24 letters used in meaningful ways. Similarly, these bookends representing Christ’s eternal existence encase everything else He is and does. In other words, Jesus is the “God of the Middle”.

In “The Dash” I shared how that small mark on a tombstone represents a person’s life from birth to death. When it comes to Jesus, however, the “dash” between His being the Alpha and the Omega includes His life before Bethlehem (“…Before Abraham was born, I am!”—John 8:58); His coming to earth “…to find and restore the lost.”—Luke 19:10, TM); His death and resurrection (“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”—Romans 4:25); His return to earth (“…Jesus…will come back….”—Acts 1:11); and His reign (“…He will reign for ever and ever.”—Revelation 11:15).

The Apostle Paul states, “(Christ) existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.” (Colossians 1:17, NLT) and Luke echoes, “…His kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:33, NLT). And we respond to the “God of the Middle” with Paul in 1 Timothy 1:17: “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"How's Your Eyesight?"

 

“How’s Your Eyesight?”

 

If I live until this coming July I’ll become an octogenarian. I’m grateful to God for the good health He’s given me (I’m taking no prescription medications) but was astounded to find that when I checked my on-line patient portal I have twelve professionals in various specialties listed on my Health Care Team! Some I see only when needed but I go to others once or twice a year for monitoring conditions, none of which (by God’s grace) are serious. One of these is an ophthalmologist due to keratoconus, a thinning of the cornea, and pending cataract surgery. I tend to take my eyesight for granted so I periodically thank God that I can read, eyeball family and friends and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

Paul wrote to his coworker that “…God…provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” (1 Timothy 6:17). But at times we misuse His blessings, including our eyesight. Who of us hasn’t read or viewed things we shouldn’t have? We’d do well to make the commitment David did long ago: “I will set before my eyes no vile thing.” (Psalm 101:3). 2 Samuel 11-12 tells of the tragic consequences when he broke this promise.

One of the best things we can use our eyes for is reading and studying God’s Word. In Psalm 119:18 the psalmist asks God to “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” This is the basis for the words of Clara Scott’s hymn, “Open my eyes that I may see glimpses of truth Thou hast for me….” But we need more than the physical act of reading Scripture’s words—we need the insight given by the Holy Spirit (“…People who aren’t Christians can’t understand…{truth} from God’s Spirit…only those who have the Spirit can understand what the Spirit means.”—1 Corinthians 2:14, NLT). Only then can we move from being hearers to doers (see James 1:22).

God instructed His prophet to tell His people, “You will hear my words, but you will not understand. You will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning.” (Isaiah 6:9, NLT). Jesus told His disciples this was true of Israel in His day (Matthew 13:14-15)—is it any less so today? So I must ask myself: How’s my eyesight when it comes to the things of God? Will you ask yourself the same question?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan