LAST LESSONS #171 — LAST LESSONS — TRUTH

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

This blog is sort of a re-write because I have written on truth before in my book LIVING THE WORDS OF JESUS. The book was first published by Kregel in 2003 and then revised and reprinted by Rafiki in 2019. But if we ever needed to think about truth, it is today, so I’ll re-write some of what I wrote about 25 years ago.

It seems that we don’t believe anybody anymore. We especially do not believe politicians as we listen to them tell us all they will do if we elect them. History has proved that untrue. And we are most concerned when we find that government leaders lie and get away with it.

On the other hand, we should be able to trust the church. It should do our hearts good when we read of a church that fires their pastor for living a lie. I recently read of that happening in a well-known church, and though I felt sorry for the ousted pastor, I was pleased that the church did what was right in God’s eyes.

We know what is right in God’s eyes only when we read the Bible. God does not lie, and his Word guides us in the truth.

Maybe a study Bible would be a good Christmas present for someone who needs to read it. ESV from Crossway is my choice. Also available from Amazon.

But here is what I wrote more than 20 years ago:

“Truth is that which is accurate and agrees with reality, and truth characterizes God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Truth also characterizes God’s Word. I must know it, seek it, choose it, believe it, love it, walk in it, live by it, obey it, worship in it, and speak it. And if I do so, what does truth do for me? It protects me, guides me, sets me free, sanctifies and purifies me.”

And these words are still true today.

P.S. I will not be writing a blog until after the New Year. Therefore, let me wish you a Merry and BLESSED Christmas and a Happy and FRUITFUL New Year. You have my love. 

LAST LESSONS #170 — LAST LESSONS — HEAVEN

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that were I am you may be also.” John 14:2-3

I am thinking of heaven this week because Bishop Erasto Kweka has just entered there. You may not know who he was unless you read the book Rafiki published called HUMBLE HEROES. Bishop Kweka was the Archbishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania and the one who helped us start Rafiki and to start it under the Church. When we were praying about starting a village with an orphanage in Tanzania, I assumed that the capital of Dar es Salaam would be the obvious place. When the government wanted us to put our village in a completely Muslim area near Dar es Salaam, we went up to Moshi (where we had lived in the 60’s) to get Bishop Kweka’s advice and he said, “Why don’t you come under the Lutheran Church in Moshi and put an orphanage here? After all, it’s your home!”

And so we did! And Bishop Kweka helped us do everything necessary to start the Rafiki Foundation in Africa with its Home Office in San Antonio, TX. That was in 1984.

Bishop Kweka was also the one who made it possible to start the Widow’s Program. He provided a place (Usa River) for our missionaries to live and for making ceramic jewelry to sell in Tanzania’s game parks.

Now this man of God has gone to heaven at age 89 and I look forward to seeing him when I arrive there.

Heaven is the place that Jesus said he was preparing for those of us who believe in him. It’s a real place where Jesus is. We know that the Father is there too because in the Lord’s prayer we pray, “Our Father in heaven.” We know Jesus is there seated at the right hand of God the Father praying for us, Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Consequently, he (Jesus) is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” In heaven we will see the Father and we will see his Son. How wonderful that will be!

And I am sure that Bishop Kweka will be there too, and so will my dear husband Bob, and my parents, and my siblings, and so many Christian relatives and friends.

As I write these words, it makes me eager to go to heaven—and I will as soon as I finish the work God prepared for me to do on earth (Ephesians 2:10).

What about you? Are you ready to go to heaven?