The 12... in 2010 (Part 1)

Time now for a character study of the Apostles...2010 style. Over the next 3 blogs, I will look at what the 12 Apostles would have been in modern terms... so just to let you know... you have been warned...

We start with Peter. Scripture tells us Peter was a tough-talking, rough-handed, impulsive, risk-taking leader. He reminds me of the man who worked himself from the factory floor to the C-E-O's office. He would be a man who got the the top by hard work and raw ability. He would not be one for doing it by the book-- just roll up your sleeves, look at the task, and get it done. He would be the one who would just do it-- and apologize later for the china he broke on the way to getting the job done.

Andrew was Peter's right hand man. He was the "consultant" apostle-- the one who did not reach the top, but gave great advice to the one who was there. He was mentioned with Peter a lot, and he probably spent a lot of it in contact with Peter. He was the one who was mentioned as consulting Peter to get him to come to Christ... he also consulted with the boy with the loaves and fishes, and he consulted with Philip about bringing some Greeks to see Christ during the Passion Week. As such, he is he apostle "most likely to belong to a Board of Directors."

James was the shortest surviving apostle. He lost his life to the tip of a Roman sword in an early persecution. Before that, he was considered a pillar of the Early Church, he was a member of Christ's inner circle, and he was the Early Church's anchor in Jerusalem. He was the strong, silent type-- he wasn't quoted in Scripture, but everyone knew where he stood on leadership matters. He was the first Apostle to be martyred-- with 10 others to follow-- but his example was not forgotten.

His brother John was the last Apostle to go. Whereas James was the first martyr, John was "The Last Eyewitness." Wow...sounds like a Tom Clancy novel... and with all the intrigue in his life and the death defying actions in his ministry (to the point of being boiled in oil and surviving it!!) in a sense, he is a little James Bondish... but God wasn't done yet. After he survived an oily grave, he was exiled to a little place called Patmos. There he wrote the Gospel of John, the 3 books of John, and Revelation. Scripture sees him as a wise old man-- but in his younger days with Jesus, the Lord call him and James "sons of thunder." Leave it to time and ministry to turn him from temper into tenderness... but he left the 2nd Century believers with a 1st Century eyewitness to Christ-- and the Transfigured Christ as well!! He saw Christ on the cross, he saw the Resurrected Saviour, he saw the Glorified Jesus, and he saw Jesus in Heaven, along with the Ark of the Covenant. The one place where Raiders of the Lost Ark had it spot on was when the Ark was lifted to Heaven. The Book of Revelation places it there too. How do we know? The true testimony of John... "The Last Eyewitness."

Next time, four more Apostles will get a 21st Century makeover.... including a 2,000 year-old Rush Limbaugh... More to come friends, stay tuned!!

"Choose wisely..."

This is the final blog dealing with "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," I promise!! Near the end of the movie, the 800 year-old knight says to Dr. Jones and the others in the room when one of them remarks how many goblets there are... he said to them "You must choose-- but choose wisely...for as the true Grail gives eternal life, so the false one will take it from you."
We face a similar choice today. But just as Indiana Jones had the Grail diary to help him get to the choice, so we have a "diary" of our own to help us... the Holy Bible. It contains not 1,000 years of clues, but at least 6,000 years of clues to help us make the right decision-- to help be the "penitent man" who kneels before God... to step on the right stones to negotiate the Word of God-- by trusting in the Word Himself--Jehovah... (just remember-- in Latin, Jehovah starts with an "I"...) and to take the Path of God... Interesting that it said it would be a leap from the lion's head that would allow him to prove his worth. Today, we are saved because we leaped from the Lion's Head-- the Lion of the Tribe of Judah-- and took the Path of God to eternal life!! That Path was paid for by the blood of the Lion who looked like a lamb... a lamb who had been slain, according to Revelation.
However, we also have a choice of goblets. Many religions who promise all sorts of awareness and social goodness... or more soothing yet, that our works can somehow bridge the gap between the ledge and the chamber of eternal life. Remember, my friend.. only in a leap (of faith!) from the Lion of the Tribe of Judah can we take the path of God to eternal life!! At the end of this chamber there is but one to choose-- the Lord Jesus Christ...who says He provide the Water of Life freely to all who would take it...
You have a lot of goblets to choose from... but choose wisely... because in a leap from the Lion of the Tribe of Judah... you can take the Path of God to Eternal life!! And there won't be an 800 year-old knight studying a book with a sword when you get there... instead there will be the Lord of Glory saying "I knew you would come... Welcome home!!"
It is up to you to choose... but choose wisely... and "stay thirsty for Him...my friends..."