6 June 2010
Psalms 24, 29; Eccles 6.1-12; Acts 10.9-23; Luke 12.32-40

What’s the use in working hard if you can’t enjoy the fruit of your labors? If everything you do is to feed an appetite that can’t be satisfied, what is the use? Either this life is wasted effort or it has some purpose to it. One of the biggest problems with atheism is that purpose has to be invented and the only community possible is with those who have determined a similar purpose. Two of the problems, even in that instance, are, one, it is not truly possible to impose that world view onto the rest of society without either violence or law-making which can always be changed (see Prohibition) and two, how to live out purpose isn’t necessarily an agreed upon item, ethics has to be worked out as well. How much of what we do and what we concern ourselves with is, as Solomon says, vanity? How much is truly eternal?

Preparedness for the coming of the kingdom requires action and alertness. The beginning of preparation is to seek after the kingdom, set our lives on it rather than anything else. Jesus begins this passage with a startling statement, sell everything and give alms. That is a high demand but it does reveal a great deal about who we are and where our treasure is in this life. Solomon has said it doesn’t matter anyway, a bunch of ingrates will inherit it. Even if we believe that, are we prepared to sell it all? What are you doing right now that would convince Jesus that you are preparing or prepared to receive Him?

Peter’s world-view is being changed. First, the heavenly vision regarding dietary restrictions shakes up his understanding and then these men come to fetch him on a missionary errand. The vision enables the mission as it breaks down one of the dividing walls between Jews and Gentiles, table fellowship is made possible. Peter objects as one under the law concerning what he can and cannot eat and remain faithful and yet the voice rebukes him. The voice further tells him to go with the men who are searching for him. He had to have been surprised when he went down and there they were, a group of Gentiles, taking him to see a Roman centurion who had experienced his own vision. Are we prepared to share all that we have and allow God to be sovereign in directing our steps, even when it seems out of step with our ideas?

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;
worship the Lord in holy splendour.