Matthew 28:18-20 and First Post

So, this is my first blog entry.  That would explain why it's a little awkward, and why you can't seem to find any older posts!  Haha!  Anyway, by way of introduction, this blog is simply a public journal of my thoughts.  These may be, and probably are, pretty random at times, but I will try to keep them edifying to others and centered on Christ, who is the center of my life.

The title comes from a few different things.  It sounds cool and adventurous to me, for one.  But really what inspired it was Matthew 28:18-20:

And Jesus came and spake unto them saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway even unto the end of the world."  Amen. [KJV]

This is most commonly known as the Great Commission--in other words, the verse that pastors turn to when they want to beat people over the head with the importance of evangelism! That's not to say that evangelism is unimportant, or that it's not a big part of this verse, but there is something more to it.  This passage is also a wonderful promise.  In the last verse, Christ promises that he will always be with us, as His disciples.

This promise means a lot to me.  First of all, it means that Christ, God Himself, is present with me when I need Him.  When I am desperate and have tried everything I can think of and then some, to no avail, Christ is with me.  When I call on Him for help, He's there.  And He's not just a comforting presence and a friend to empathize with me (though He does that as well): according to verse 18, He has all power in Heaven and Earth.  That's a lot of power!!!  The power to eternally condemn or eternally justify is His (John 5:22).  The power to still the sea and shake the mountains is His (Mark 4:39 and Psalm 114).  Also, the power to help me through every trial and temptation I face is His, and He will use that power to help me (1 Corinthians 10:13).  Knowing that has been and continues to be an immense help to me when I'm in distress.  Second, it means that Christ is present with me when I don't think I need Him.  When I'm not acknowledging Him or living life in conscious dependence on Him, my actions and my state of mind do not change the reality of His presence and our relationship.  I still need Him and He's still there for me (John 15:5).  This is something I need to work on acknowledging.  Third, it means that Christ is present with me when I really don't think I want Him to be.  When I'm tempted and I start to give way, I don't want Him to see.  I don't want to acknowledge that what I'm doing is wrong and that I am doing wrong of my own free will (because, of course, if I wanted to make the right decision, He's right there to help me).  I want to have my fun my way, even though I know that, in the end my way is not any fun at all.  His way is best and I need to acknowledge that and stop resisting Him and plunging myself into old sins (or new ones for that matter).  There is no secrecy with Him (Psalm 139:11-12).

But Jesus takes it one step further and personally tells us how He'll be with us, how long and where and under what circumstances.  He says, "to the end of the world."  That means several things.  First, it means the end of this present world, the time when the world is judged and destroyed--and remade by God as a place where we, His saints, can enjoy Him for all eternity (Revelation 21:1).  This is how most versions translate the phrase.  It can also mean the ends of the earth, the remotest place we can imagine.  Even when we are isolated from all that's familiar and feel (or actually are) a hundred miles away from any form of comfort, God is with us, and He is able to comfort and help us even there (Psalm 139:9-10)--though "there" may be the glaciers of Antarctica or the jungles of Indonesia or a prison cell in North Korea, God is there.  Finally, "the end of the world" can mean, especially today a traumatic time or event, such as: "When Romeo saw Juliet playing dead in the crypt, it was the end of the world for him."  Let's face it, life is stressful, even if you're not a character in a Shakespeare play.  Sometimes, it feels like you've got a planet or two weighing you down and a sharp sword (or other form of doom) hanging over your head suspended by a single thread.  A paper is due, that big exam is tomorrow, the rent isn't paid, you're sick, or you've just come to a major crossroads in your life (and you can't seem to read any of the signposts).  Whatever crisis is making this seem like the end of the world for you, Jesus is with you, and He will not leave you, and He has the power to help you through whatever it is (Philippians 4:13).

Finally, to return to the Great Commission, Christ is not with us just for kicks.  God does not hang out with us just because we are that cool (if we think we are, we need to have our ego deflated before it gets us airborne).  True, God, through Christ, has given us the right to be Children of God and actually have His righteousness as saints (John 1:12 and 2 Corinthians 5:21)--which is more than that cool, it's incredible!  Yet this is not by our merit but by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Nor does God remain with us to give us warm fuzzy feelings and help us out with all our pet projects.  God actually has a mission and a purpose and a vision for all His time with us, which is far bigger than ourselves.  He is with us so that we can complete a mission, the teaching and conversion of all nations, so that all people everywhere may experience the grace of God and intimacy with Him which we now enjoy and will enjoy for all eternity.  God is empowering us to evangelize the nations with our lives and with our words.

Well, it's late, folks, and I have gone on for a while.  I pray God used something in there to encourage you with His presence!

With Him,
-Aaron