8/11/2020

Good morning, Heaven Bound.

Song for the Day: https://youtu.be/fC6jl9WFIOA

Complete the Verse & Name the Book: And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, . . . (completion at the end)

Oscar Wilde wrote the story The Happy Prince in which a prince lived in a palace where there were many parties, an abundance of good food, and everything available for a him to enjoy life of pleasure. The prince knew nothing of sorrow for sorrow was not allowed to enter the palace. When he died, a grand statue of him was constructed and placed in a position overlooking the city.

One day a swallow sought shelter on the statue. The bird noticed a raindrop fell on it. He was about to fly off to a drier place when he noticed the raindrop was actually a tear from the statue of the prince. The swallow and the prince began to talk, and the prince told the bird that when he was alive, his whole life was centered inside the walls that surrounded the palace he lived in. He had no idea of what lay beyond the walls. Now that he was elevated, he could look over the city and see things like a poor seamstress working late into the night embroidering flowers on a satin gown to be worn by the Queen’s maids-of-honor at the next ball while her little boy was in bed in a corner of the room with a fever asking for oranges. All she had to give him was river water. The prince asked the swallow to pluck the ruby out of his sword-hilt and fly to the mother and deliver the ruby. 

After completing the task, the swallow wanted to fly South for the winter, but the prince kept seeing more hurting people like the man in an attic room who was trying to finish a play for the Director of Theater, but the man’s hands were so cold he couldn’t write, and hunger had made him feel faint. The prince asked the swallow to pluck one of his eyes out that were made with rare sapphires and take it to the man.

This continues for many days. The prince has the swallow tear off leaf by leaf the gold that is covering the prince. The swallow gives the gold leaves to the needy. Finally, the prince tells the swallow it must leave and fly South for the winter, but it is too late. Winter has set in and the swallow dies from the cold. 

In the spring, the mayor notices how shabby the statue of the prince looks. He orders the statue pulled down after the art professor at the university said, “As the statue of the Happy Prince is no longer beautiful, he is no longer useful.”

The mayor had the statue melted in a furnace and remade into a statue of himself. While the workers were busy in the foundry, they noticed a broken lead heart that wouldn’t melt in the furnace. They pulled it out and threw it on a dust-heap where the swallow was lying. 

The story ends with God saying to his angels, “Bring me the two most precious things in the city.” The angels bring him the leaden heart and the dead bird. God says, “You have rightly chosen for in my garden of paradise, this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold, the Happy Prince shall praise me.”

Oscar Wilde knew how to write a good story. This story has a great plot and tugs at one’s heartstrings. However, it’s not true to life; a person can’t do good for others after they have died (see the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus found in Luke 16:19-31).

Sometimes in this life it seems like there are those who prosper well while they live lives far away from God. On the other hand, it seems like there are those who live lives close to God and suffer many hardships. Psalm 73 says:

Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hears are pure. But for me, I almost lost my footing. My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone. For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such painless lives; their bodies are so healthy and strong. They don’t have troubles like other people; they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else. They wear pride like a jeweled necklace and clothe themselves with cruelty. These fat cats have everything their hearts could ever wish for! They scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others. They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth. And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words. “What does God know?” they ask. “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?” Look at these wicked people—enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply. Did I keep my heart pure for nothing? Did I keep myself innocent for no reason? I get nothing but trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

If I had really spoken this way to others, I would have been a traitor to your people. So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is! Then I went into your sanctuary, O God, and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked. Truly, you put them on a slippery path and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction. In an instant they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors. When you arise, O Lord, you will laugh at their silly ideas as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant—I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Yet I still belong to you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Those who desert him will perish, for you destroy those who abandon you. But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

The entire chapter of Romans 5 tells us why it is so worth it to follow Jesus. Those who seem to have it so good in this life but have nothing to do with God, will not inherit eternal life. Nothing in this life compares with eternal life with Jesus! The first five verses of this chapter along with the last verse say:

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Reminders

·      Sunday service only online at 8:30 am @  https://www.facebook.com/NCCUnion/videos 

·      Tuesday, Addiction Ministry, 6:00 pm at the Sunday School Building

·      You can watch any of Pastor Michael’s studies on our Media menu above.

·      Join Lola in prayer on Wednesdays at 10:00 am on Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/NCCUnion/videos 

·       You can also call the church office for prayer: 360-898-7855.

·      Join Ron for Transformative Prayer at 6:30 pm on Wednesdays. 

·      Prayer Group, Friday, 9:15 am, NCCU tent area

Verse Completion: . . . be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)