[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #605, Easter 5, 4/20/08

[rmcgregoralbq at aol.com]

Easter 5 – April 20, 2008

Acts 7:55 60
Psalm 31:1 5, 15 16
1 Peter 2:2 10
John 14:1 14


The Blood Bank

A bank is a wonderful invention.  Imagine!  A safe place to put something, so that when you need it you can come and get it.  So much the better, if when you come back to get it, there is more of it.   The original blood bank was founded by Jesus, the first depositor, first president and chairman of the board.  Stephen appears to be the second depositor.  A young man named Paul was watching as he made his deposit, investing his blood on behalf of the church.  Stephen would not be a member of the church on earth when his deposit was redeemed, but all the rest of us have been.  Do not be afraid to invest your blood on behalf of the church.  Where else does an investment stay so good so long?

One of the characteristics of a bank is to have a great stone building, dressed stone with Roman columns in front.  At least that was the tradition of the past.  It represented permanence, dependability and safety.  I opened my first account in such an edifice.  Peter visualizes the church that way, a building made of stone.  He lived in the presence of great stone architecture, Herod's temple, Caesarea by the sea.  He could picture the church as such a structure and the more permanent because it was made of spiritual stones, made of you and me with Christ as the head of the corner the one who sets the building's orientation to the world.  It is more durable because it is a spiritual building; it is more durable because it is an all-volunteer building, not made of conscripted stone.   "...if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.  Come to him..."  (1 Peter 2:3-4)  It is God's building.

 "In my Father's house there are many dwelling places," Jesus says.  (John 14:2)  This house is both the church militant and the church triumphant, the church on earth and the church in heaven.  Stephen knew his life, his blood, was secure in God's house in either case.  He could stay true to his witness on earth because of his dwelling place with the church on earth.  He could stay true to his witness to the death because of his dwelling place with the church in heaven.  God had given him a bank where he could deposit his blood, his life, and rest it save and secure.  His life would become a capital investment forever.  I find it more meaningful that my life be a capital investment forever than that I sit on a cloud and play a harp forever.

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also."  (John 14:3)   What other future does a disciple want than to be with the master.  This is the secure investment of one's life, not the self-centered notion of paradise for the sake of pleasure.  Trust this end.  Trust this bank for the deposit of your life's blood.  Trust the bank because of the identity of the founder or trust the bank because of the performance of the founder, but trust this bank.  People are always looking for the ultimate bank, the place where they are sure their investment will be there in the time of need. 

"Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.  I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."  (John 14:12-14)  When you bank of Jesus, you can draw on his account. What a deal!


May these thoughts strengthen you. 
 
An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors 
>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor 
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