1st Epistle of Jerusalem

Near the end of his life, the Apostle Paul was sitting, uncomfortable in chains, writing awkwardly with his poor eyesight, at a makeshift corner “desk”. He was in a prison cell in Rome – filthy, dark, smelly, with rats running over and pooing at his feet, nibbling.

I can imagine this scenario: Paul was diligently writing another epistle. This one is like the one to Corinth, but addressed to Jerusalem. He would edit this later, he told himself, thinking of the individuals he knew from his days in Jerusalem:

²To the church of God in [Jerusalem Corinth], to those sanctified (set apart, made holy) in Christ Jesus, who are selected and called as saints (God’s people), together with all those who in every place call on and honor the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

³Grace to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

As he thought deeply in prayer, writing, his cell door banged loudly against the rocks, and he was jerked up and out and herded roughly down the dark corridor towards the execution room. As he was forced to his knees, he continued praying,

“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). He started, ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come”(Matthew 6:9-13)… when suddenly his head dropped off his neck as the Roman sword executed the swift justice of Rome.

As he arrived in a flash in Paradise, Paul finished the prayer (almost as an afterthought) “…Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.”

What epistle are you “writing” with your life – this moment, this day, this month… as you march to your ending moment?

We all, followers of Jesus, have been commissioned as Ambassadors to represent Jesus on earth. How is that going for you? I suspect we all need help with that. Our prayer should be like Paul’s,

pray for me, that words may be given to me when I open my mouth, to proclaim boldly the mystery of the good news [of salvation], ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains. And pray that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly and courageously, as I should. – Ephesians 6:19-20

Most of us are not in chains, but maybe we’d be better representatives for Jesus if we were not so free, you think?

How am I using my freedom, now?

God’s warnings about today
The world scene is getting more and more hurricanous, hugely evil – as predicted for the End Times. People go about living as if Jesus never predicted end time events. How can they not believe Jesus now in THIS day?!

Just like in the days of Noah, when they were warned of a punishing flood coming: people today also do not believe God’s warnings about today.

“What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

³⁷For ^[ab]the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. ³⁸For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹and they did not ^[ac]understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. – Matthew 24:37-39

(Matthew 24:12– “Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold”)

“Do not be afraid“
Bolster up your faith. ¹ The times — they are worsening. But fear not. God is in control.

“See that you are not frightened,
for those things must take place….”
– Matthew 24:6

“…do not be afraid
of those who kill the body
and after that
have nothing more that they can do….”
“…but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
– Luke 12:4; Matthew 10:28

Be afraid …if you are not following Jesus. Be very afraid. Because Jesus very much “can destroy both soul and body in hell.” And He will, soon. Turn to Jesus. He wants to save your soul.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We are destroying
sophisticated arguments
and every exalted and proud thing
that sets itself up against
the [true] knowledge of God,
and we are taking every thought
and purpose
captive
to the obedience of Christ