Kingdoms and Canaries

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalms 118:22–29

Can you name one thing in your life that will endure forever? Can you name one thing in the history of the world that has endured forever? Kingdoms or canaries neither of them last. Approval, achievement, money, status, comfort? No, no, no, no and . . . . no.

Now don’t hear in these words something depressing, hear in them an amazing invitation: “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Do you see the really good news there? It is good news for your future and it is good news for your present. God’s love as the only thing that endures frees you from the futility of putting your hope, trust and identity in things like approval, achievement, money, status or comfort. None of those things gives a rip about you, none of those things seeks your good, none of those things will last — they all promise things they cannot deliver. But, the love of the LORD endures forever. He is good, he seeks your good, he knows you better than you know yourself and he is for you. The result? Freedom. Freedom from sin to an eternal kind of life and freedom from striving and bondage to things that promise freedom but always let you down.

Freedom is a long road, it takes work. The non-enduring things that falsely promise freedom have been promising them for a long time. Their voices are familiar. Freedom is a long road. But, Jesus walks that road with you and for you. Palm Sunday, Holy week is where you come to the intersection of that road and a decision: Do you join him or do you let him walk on by. It is your choice, true love is never forced.

The road to freedom is walked with Jesus. It is the road of hosannah, the road of calvary, the road of resurrection; to the cross, through the cross and from the cross with the only one whose love endures forever and empowers you to be free.

The journey continues this Friday night at 7:00pm with Creekside’s Good Friday Service and then Sunday morning at 9:30 as we celebrate Easter Freedom. Bring a friend — heck, bring a stranger. The world is filled with people dying to be free, and at least one of them is counting on you to take the first step for them.

Peace, hope and love

Doug