21 March 2019 — Third Thursday of Lent

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Jacob’s vision encouraged and assured him that God was real, and God had something planned for him. What the vision didn’t do was say everything was going to be easy, and that he (and his family) would always be safe. Even when God says, “…I will bring you back…” certain assurances are missing, such as how long or when. While the vision has aspects of comfort, there really is a lot left completely open.

While the promise is made to Jacob, by extension the promise is also to his descendents. God promises to Jacob that his offspring will have the land, and that God would not leave until that occurred. In others words, while the promise was immediate, the fulfillment and God’s presence was far in the future.

This now and future aspect is very important when we come to Jesus’ words. Jesus is strongly implying that the concept of past, present, and future aren’t quite as we think. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob were all buried. Scripture even tells of them specifically being buried. They were dead! Jesus turns that upside down and says that everybody (even those who have died) are living from God’s perspective. We measure our days. When we think of legacy, our legacy is what outlives us. According to Jesus, our legacy cannot out live us!

It seems to be contradictory. We know we die, yet God says we live. We know people in our lives who have died, yet for God they live!

1) We all leave a legacy. Will the legacy you leave give life, or is it something else?

2) Throughout scripture there is a tension of now and not yet. Why is that important in regards to legacy?

3) There is a tendency in many Christian circles that a good relationship with God means that we will always be healthy, wealthy, long-lived, and safe. Scripture never delivers that message. Why, then, do you think that so many Christians hold on to this belief?