Good News in evil’s wake
Acts 10:15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”
There is so much to unpack in this story of the Apostle Peter’s vision from God on the rooftop that day. God had given him a vision of a sheet from heaven rolled down to him, and all of God’s creatures descending down to him. Peter was hungry, and God told him in vs. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter was confused, and refused. All of his life as a Jew he was told to abstain from eating certain things set forth in the Mosaic Covenant with God. 14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” God was showing him many things, including the New Covenant given in Christ to both the Jew and the Greek; all were open to receive God’s grace. God repeated this three times to Peter.
There is no hierarchy in Christianity; no elite ethnic group you are born into; no special church you must attend; no religious system of practices you must follow to become a child of God. You must only humble yourself before God in a plea of forgiveness of your sin, and acceptance of Christ is the only way to God. You can never do any thing that will earn your Salvation with God. You will die in your pride if you feel you have earned it, or become elite with it. Salvation is available to every saint and sinner the same. Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Christ spent His time in His ministry in the company of what we might call the bottom of the barrel; for He knew their hearts.
In all the emotion of the last weeks tragedy, our hearts have been torn. An anger wells up inside of us with no outlet; a grief wells up inside us that spills into memorials. We want to blame something or someone for this tragedy; many even ask where God was in it all. He was right there picking up those children, comforting them, and escorting them to His home for eternity. As Christians we should seek to share the hope we have in eternity with everyone God gives us a chance to. This tragedy opens the door for discussions on life, death, pain, and comfort. You have been given a means to share the hope that lies within you. 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. Do not miss the opportunity to share the Good News with everyone in the wake of the horror Satan meant to steal our hope.
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