Yes! There is Good News! 9.1.18

It seems that the sci-fi movie genre today is mostly about comic book heroes and Star Wars. But when I was younger, the big news in television sci-fi was Star Trek. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock moved on from saving the world to saving the galaxy – heady stuff in those days.

Like most things these days, I have forgotten the details of their adventures, but there is one thing that has stuck with me all these years: they were given a commission to explore “strange new worlds” and to seek out new life forms – kind of like a future Lewis and Clark expedition! But they were also commissioned with what was called a “prime directive.”Those two words have embedded themselves in my memory.

Do you have a prime directive today? All of us have directives and visions and dreams that we either follow closely or fantasize about. One of the dreams from my younger days was to build a straw bale house. Now that I am older and not as physically capable, this dream has shifted into the realm of fantasy.

Ah, but what about those things which are first and foremost in your mind? Well, as a parent, you must have the directive to provide for a family; not just financially, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually. That is an extremely important concept. There are many more that I am sure we could think of and share.

But what about in our spiritual lives? Someone may say, “I am not concerned with things spiritual.” I am sorry for you. If it is only for this physical life that you strive then the Apostle Paul has a word for you, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Cor. 15:32) How sad!

Paul’s comment here deals with those who say there is no resurrection of the dead. Hmmm!! Could this be a “prime directive” for us, being raised from the dead? Paul spends an entire 58 verse chapter in 1 Corinthians on this very subject. The bible tells us that death is an enemy and even an atheist will agree with that. A loved one dies and we are filled with sorrow. And yet our true “loved one” died – yes He died for us that we may live – and He was resurrected from the grave, sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and is looking forward to spending eternity with those who have a faith in His saving power. It is in the death of this One that we rejoice. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You trust in God, trust also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many abodes, if it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may abide where I am.” What a promise!!

Let us take a look at this directive again and see if it is the “prime directive” we might be searching for. Until next time remember, in Christ we have good news!!