A Precious Jewel : Guilty Made Innocent - Colossians 2:13-14

The End : What Will It Be Like? - Luke 23:32-33, 39-43

Death is scary. It's the great unknown. We don't know what it will be like, what it will feel like. What we will see. What we will be like. Death is a slow, painful process, and we largely don't know what's coming up on the other side. Our sin has caused death to enter into this world. Death is a negative consequence of our sin, and while we know it's not right, we don't what what it will be like. We do know at least one thing. We know that we will be with Jesus. Just as Jesus said to the thief on the cross, we know it's also true for us. We will be with Jesus in paradise. Our suffering will cease. Our pain will be no more. We will no longer be afflicted by sin and suffering in our bodies and our lives. We don't have all the details, but we do have Jesus' promises. Jesus has saved us from death, so that we do not have to fear death, experience eternal suffering, but we will be with Jesus in paradise.

A Precious Jewel : Shame Turned to Honor - Luke 18:9-14

We carry much shame with us in our lives. We're ashamed of our past, our actions, our mistakes. If guilt is the recognition of our sin, shame is the emotion and feeling that comes with it. We are ashamed of who we are, what we've done, and this shame drives us to separate ourselves from others, and even from God. Jesus does not let us be ashamed. Rather he takes on shame for us. He becomes the one who is shamed, that he might give us honor. Jesus invites in the one who is most shameful, that he may give them the seat and place of honor at his table. Jesus takes away our shame, by going to the cross, welcoming us into his family, and giving us the honor that he deserves.

A Precious Jewel : The Weak Rescued - Matthew 12:22-29

Compared to the strength of the spiritual powers of evil in this world, we are weak. We are vulnerable to the temptations and oppression of the devil and his demons. We are powerless against sin in this world. We are captive to these things, let alone the earthly powers of this world that can harm us. We cannot protect or save ourselves. But Jesus is more powerful than all these things in this world. Jesus is stronger than that which we believe to be strong and powerful in this world. He saves us from our captivity to the darkness of this world, and he has power over Satan and all evil in this world. While we are at the mercy of the devil and evil in this world, Jesus is stronger, he is on our side, and his promises are bigger than the darkness of this world.

A Precious Jewel : Guilty Made Innocent - Colossians 2:13-14

In our Western world, we often seek to maintain our innocence. We try to keep our hands clean. We stay out of trouble so that we can remain innocent. Yet, we all do things that we regret. We all have made mistakes. We are all guilty of sin. Even though we are and still live as sinners, we know we have forgiveness in Jesus. Our sin has been washed away in our baptism. The record of sin against us has been nailed to the cross, where it has been put to death, so that we may live freely without sin! In Jesus and his work on the cross, we have been forgiven of our sin, that we may live freely, without the guilt of our trespasses.

The Road of a Lifetime - Reaching the Destination, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Psalm 73:26-28, Elderly

The last stage of life is one that we fail to look forward to, and that we often dread. We devalue the elderly and old in our world today, rather than valuing their worth, wisdom, and wellbeing. This is stage where we look back on our lives, reflect, have regrets, and begin to become isolated from the people and things that we love. Rather than enjoying this time and finding fulfillment in it, we fear, dread, and despise it. The reflection stage of life is one that we don't have to dread, but one we can embrace. In this stage, there is still opportunity to serve, wisdom to give, and work to do. There's a lot to look forward to as well. We know what the destination is. It's life with Jesus. We can leave a legacy of faith and a good witness for those who come after us, by embracing this stage, trusting in his promises. As we approach the destination on the road, we do so well, cherishing what we have, serving those we love, and looking forward to life with Jesus.