DARKNESS COVERED THE EARTH

I thought I knew what darkness felt like! I remember one very dark night after lights out, still being able to see my hand close to my face. Then one day I took an elevator down a shaft deep into the earth and with a guide, was led through a mile-long cave. The lighting along the narrow path was enough to keep me safe through its many passages. The beauty of the stalagmites and stalactites took my breath away! In the middle of our tour, our guide asked if we really knew what total darkness was like. Most of us nodded in assurance. Then she told us not to move around as she switched off the light. Its darkness was so complete I could feel it. I was not only stunned but also immobilized. I couldn't move! I dared not move! For the first time in my life I experienced total darkness.

Matthew 27:45 tells us that in the middle of the day while Jesus hung on the cross the sun-light was turned off and darkness fell over the earth. Everyone had to stop what he or she was doing. For three hours man was forced to stop, reflect and wonder. There is nothing to compare with life lived in total darkness. Earlier in His ministry Jesus made it clear, "I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Hell is described as a place of "outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt.25:3).

The crowds surrounding the cross were forced into silence during those three hours of darkness. Its parallel to the dark condition of man's sinful heart is striking. All the sins of the world came crashing down upon the Son of God. Even the Father had to turn His back on His Son! The agony of this separation forced Him to cry out, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" He took our sin upon Himself so that His Light could forever dispel our darkness.

The wonder of His cross should forever lead us into worship and praise and in Horatio Spafford's words sing out: "my sin--O, the bliss of this glorious thought, my sin--not in part but the whole, is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!"

When was the last time you thanked Him for dispelling your darkness?

HE WAS BETRAYED!

Dusty the highways where Jesus was found
Healing the sick and raising the dead.
Yet, just a few gave heed what He said
While drinking the wine and eating the bread.

Mockers united to cast Him away
Though He had offered forgiveness for sin.
Cries of a cross began to be heard
Crucify! Crucify! Jesus the Lord!

Alone in the Garden weeping was heard
Jesus was drinking the cup we deserved.
Peter denied while Judas betrayed
The innocent Lamb on the cross was laid.

CHORUS
Betrayed! He was betrayed.
Condemned to die on a tree!
Great was the price redemption is free
Pardon is granted to sinners like me.
--B. Pent

THE CROSS

Crosses come in all sizes, colors and shapes. We see them at cemeteries, in churches, homes, stationary, mugs, and rings and around people's necks. We have wooden crosses, ceramic, silver and gold crosses. But the Cross is more than a fetish or good-luck charm. It is the central theme of Scripture. It was born in the heart of God and pre-dates history. It is the symbol of victory and will post-date history. It is God's masterpiece of redemption! "as a lamb slain from the creation of the world" (Rev.13:8). The Cross reaches upward, downward and outward. It is a personal invitation for all to come and find peace, forgiveness and fullness in Christ. It is offered equally to the rich or poor, religious or irreligious, the young or old, educated or ignorant. The offer is the same: "whosoever will may come!" That's what the murderous thief on the cross found when he reached out in faith for God's forgiveness. Through a repentant heart he cried out, "Jesus, remember me!" and Jesus responded "today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:42,43). Have you made that your prayer?
REMEMBER ME!

Bitter the cries
Haunting the sounds
Cursing the pain
Sin's quilt had found
Lost in the night...
Comes Jesus the giver
And offer of Light.

If you're the Christ!
The thief demands
Come down at once
And loose our bands
And set us free...
Then Jesus responds
There's freedom in Me.

Remember me!
Mine is the blame
Open the fountain
Blot our the stain.
Jesus replies...
Today I will take you
To paradise.

REFRAIN
Heaven rejoices
Praise fills the air.
Jesus has conquered
Sin and despair.
--B. Pent

REACH OUT!

Reach Out!
God's love is sure.
His saving grace
For Adam's race
Will lead the way
And long endure --
God's love is sure!

Reach Out!
God has a plan.
You need not fret
Though wars and strife
Should cloud the path
Of sinful man --
God has a plan!

Reach Out!
God's Truth prevails.
You need not fear
Though stormy seas
Strong winds may blow
Against your sails --
God's Truth prevails!

Reach Out!
God's Gift is free.
Go spread His Word
To every man
Throughout the world
On land or sea --
God's Gift is free!

Reach Out!
Christ soon shall come.
His longing Bride
Awaits the song,
The trumpet blast,
To hear "well done" --
Christ soon shall come!
--Ben Pent

THE POWER OF TOUCH

Our skin is the most powerful of all the sense organs. A person may be blind and deaf or completely lack the sense of smell or taste, but it is impossible to survive without the function of the skin. More than a half million sensory fibers flow from the skin through the spinal cord to the brain. This giant communication system brings the signals and messages of the external environment to the attention of our internal selves. When you touch some one, the skin surface informs you not only about heat, cold and pain, but also literally about how they feel, and how you feel about them.

The hunger for touch and recognition is universal. It is the swiftest and most direct form of communication. Infants will not grow normally without the assuring touch of others. At birth the mother's breast is the physical and emotional supply line for a child's well being. Medical science terms it "bonding." As the child grows older, this primal hunger for actual physical touch is changed to recognition hunger. A smile, nod. frown, word or other gesture eventually replaces some of the touch strokes necessary in human development. Like touch, these forms of recognition, whether negative or positive, stimulate the brain of the person receiving them and serve to verify the fact he is alive and accepted as a person.

While studying the gospel of Mark, I was struck by the number of times Jesus touched people: the blind, the lame, the leper, the deaf and dumb, the demon possessed and little children. In this series of vivid pictures Mark portrays Jesus ministering to people as a true Servant: "the son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45), thus, modeling the characteristic qualities of authentic Christianity. If our faith cost nothing perhaps it is worth nothing! "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17).

When Jesus met His disciples by the shore of Galilee after His resurrection, the true motive for service became the main topic. Three times Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" Striping away all superficiality Jesus seemed to infer: "tell me what you love and I will tell you what you are!" The proof of love must go deeper than mere human affection. Service motivated by agape love needs no law to impel him to action. The man who loves righteousness will do right; law or no law. St. Bernard of Clairvaux put it this way: "the true measure of loving God is to love Him without measure."

Each time Jesus asked Peter "Do you love Me?" He concluded with a command:" feed my lambs; feet my sheep." The nature of love is to give. "God so loved the world that He gave." When the Spirit of God inflames love He inspires courage. That is why Peter was able to serve faithfully and die courageously.

The ultimate proof of agape is whether or not we are reaching out to others. The "great commission" is the mandate of agape. If we claim to be His, then agape love must flow from our lives as we reach out to the sick and lonely, the poor and the dying, the orphans and widows in distress, the heaven-bound and the hell-bound. We simply can't remain silent while claiming to love Him. Jesus was busy touching other lives. Involvement is not a choice. It is a command! "Do not merely listen to the word, do what it says" (James 1:22)

The power of touch is at our disposal. For Jesus' sake, let's just do it!

WRAPPED IN LOVE

You wrapped Your love around my heart
As I stood in the cold.
You filled my life with happiness
And brought me to the fold.
And so I lift my soul in praise
To glorify through endless days
That blessed name of Jesus.

You wrapped Your love around my heart
And loosed the chains of sin.
You freed me from all emptiness
Sweet peace now dwells within.
And so I lift my soul in praise
To glorify through endless days
That blessed name of Jesus.

You wrap Your love around my heart
Each moment of the day.
You go before the path I take
You know the narrow way.
And so I lift my soul in praise
To glorify through endless days
That blessed name of Jesus.
--Ben Pent

SPRING BLOSSOMS & SUMMER FRUIT

Scripture likens the Christian to the fragrant blooms of summer fruit trees. The basket of summer fruit takes us back to springtime where orchards appear as giant flower gardens. Trees, like large bouquets of delicate flowers, fill the countryside with their bewitching scent. These kingly robes of exquisite blooms are nature's promise that in time fruit will appear in abundance.

In writing to the Church, Paul reminds us that our lives are to spread the sweet odor of Christ, "for we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing" (2 Cor.2:15). Fruit is the end for which a tree lives. Spiritual fruit is the end for which we should live because it is only "through us the fragrance of His knowledge spreads" (2 Cor.2:14).

One of the dangers during blossom time is the intrusion of blight. The promise of delicious fruit is painted in the delicate spring flowers. But sometimes a sudden frost, a strong east wind or some insect mars the blooms and affects its fruit. Marred fruit is always second best! How sad when blight destroys a Christian's effectiveness! The early blooms of spring gave such promise of abundant fruit. The "aroma" of Christian character was so evident. But something happened! The blight of a bad habit, wrong relationships or pride wormed its way inside and marred the fruit.

The history of Israel illustrates the blight sin can have among His people. Israel was Jehovah's vine! God intended them to bear fruit for the blessing of the world. But its blossoms became blighted through disobedience. The fruit began withering on the vine. Its fragrance gone! Joel 1:12 makes it clear: the vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered...the joy of people is withered away." Hosea then tells us why, "Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself" (Hosea 10:1).

Producing fruit takes time. There's no such thing as instant fruit! Seed must be planted in prepared soil. As it germinates, the roots go down. When the stem begins pointing upward, branches and leaves appear. In time, springtime blossoms give promise of summer fruit.

Scripture pictures Jesus as the Husbandman who "waits for the precious fruit of the earth" because He "chose us to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last" (John 15:16). In the parable of the vine and the branches, Jesus reveals the secret of good fruit: "no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine." To "abide" means "to remain, to reside, to submit, to live up to as in a promise or agreement." Sap cannot flow through branches unless they are connected and a vine has no value unless it bears fruit. The key to fruit bearing is communion; spending time in His Word and prayer. As we are connected to the Vine, the "fruit of the spirit" will begin flowing through our lives giving forth "the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

With spring in the air, this question begs an answer: "what kind of scent is your life producing?"