Time Travel!



I have a sappy confession to make. One of my all-time favorite movies is based on the Richard Matheson's, 1975 novel “Bid Time Return”. It’s about a playwright named Richard Collier, (The Late Christopher Reeves) who journeys back in time from 1979-1912 to fall in love with Elise McKenna. (Jane Seymour).

The movie is set back in time on Michigan's, Mackinac (Pronounced Machinaw) Island, located on Lake Huron (500 residents, 15,000 visitors per day!) complete with period costumes and a moving musical score by the famous Russian Pianist Rachmaninoff….

Time travel is an interesting proposition. Who of us wouldn’t want to go back to some specific event or time in our lives to alter something, to spend more time with someone, to relive a moment in time, now etched in memory?

I believe that heaven will afford us many spectacular experiences. Perhaps we will be able to stand on the shore of the Red-sea as Moses lifts up a staff, and God parts the water as easily as parting a child's hair. To look on with eyes wide as water piles up and a four lane super highway opens before the people escaping Egypt oppression!

To stand silently on a windswept hill outside of Jerusalem, as the Prince of heaven gives His life for us…..to run stride for stride with Peter and John, to discover an empty tomb, 40 days later, to be seated with 120 other believers, as the sound of a mighty rushing wind fills the room, and the promised Holy Spirit, fills our hearts!

I am thinking today, about what it would be like to step back 2,000 years ago, to see firsthand “The Amazing First Century Church” Notice the Characteristics of that long ago group of believers:

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2: 42-47 CSB

 One of the marks of a New Testament Christ honoring Church, then and now, is a passion for God’s Word!

In fact I will say to you that an absence of interest and affection for reading the Bible, studying the Bible, is a red flag. A person who says they love Jesus will love His Word. A lack of desire to draw deeply from the unlimited benefits of the Bible, suggests someone is not truly saved, or certainly not filled with God’s Holy Spirit.

James Montgomery Boice, was the Senior Minister of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia from 1968 until his death, in June, of 2000, writing about a love for God's Word, he stated: "If you are spirit filled you will be drawn to this book!"

Pastor and author J. Oswald Sanders said, “We are as close to God as we choose to be.” God has made it perfectly clear He is vitally interested in being close to every man and woman He has made. 

The difference in the 1st century believers was incredible. I want that for me and for you, I choose to avail myself to opportunities to go deeper with the Lord. I want to model that desire and interest to my family! How about you?



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