Romans 8 – As I was saying…

so funny

I have to be honest. The minion movies are some of my favorite kid flicks for all time. Somehow they just tickle my funny bone, and I giggle, chortle, titter, tee-hee, snicker, and guffaw throughout the whole movie. When I laugh like this I feel better afterward. When I chuckle and giggle for an hour and a half, I come out the other side feeling refreshed and alive, and my burdens seem a little lighter. Intended or not by the film makers, I know this is God’s design.

The wisest man to ever live said,

There is an appointed time for everything.
And there is a time for every event under heaven…
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance…
[Ecclesiastes 3:1-4]

The Creator of the Universe once appeared in human flesh as the Son of God. When He taught the people he said,

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh…
[Luke 6:20-21]

When King David was a little anxious of his enemies, he remembered the God he served with these words,

They return at evening, they howl like a dog, and go around the city.
Behold they belch forth with their mouth; swords are in their lips, for they say, “Who hears?”
But YOU, O LORD, laugh at them; YOU scoff at all the nations.
[Psalm 59:6-8]

One more, from King David, helping us trust in the LORD,

The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes at him with his teeth.
The LORD laughs at him, for HE sees his day coming.
[Psalm 37:12-13]

What do we glean from just these verses? The Creator laughs at us when we fret over things which He controls, and we do not. The Creator also created us to be able to laugh like He laughs, so we can get over our fears and anxieties. The Creator has given us His word that He is in control, that He has the authority, and that He is ever-present with us. What’s not to laugh?

I’ve done this all my life, and I’ve been ridiculed, mocked, or judged for this simple response to the pressures of life. When something bad happened, when I’ve gotten bad news, when someone abandoned me, when some enemy came at me strong, my first reaction often was an almost silent chuckle. Some people, and rightly so, would call this a defense mechanism. In defining my action this way, they suggest I’m weak. However, I believe with all my heart that this reaction is a gift to me for my faith in the Creator. For I have an overwhelming assurance that nothing can come at me from heaven or earth that will ever separate me from Jesus my Savior, God my Father, or the Holy Spirit my comforter. [Romans 8] The silent chuckle is my great defense, because in that moment I am reminded who loves me the most.

I believe this truth so strongly that when faced with pain, loss, frustration, or temptation, I can just chuckle, and know My God will deliver me from this too. When I look into the eyes of my enemy. I’m more like Kevin, the minion above, … “You are so funny!”

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via Jiggle

My uncle Wylie was a funny man. My memories of him are somewhat questionable according to my sisters. They don’t remember him quite the way I do. I may have mentioned him in previous articles. One of my favorite memories is being at his house when the phone would ring, he would grab it up, and say, “ummm… Jello!” Cracked me up every time. I think he did it just for me.

jello
(Jello TV ad circa 1960)

Jello was a staple at the Wilkins home. My favorite of course was either purple or green. Grapes and Limes. I don’t know why, it just was. I liked how the Jello squished in my mouth. Mom said Jello was good for you all the time. When my own kids were growing up their mother would make Jello Jigglers, because that was the “in” thing at the time. Jigglers are easy to make, just use your favorite cutter and make Jello shapes the kids love to eat. My favorite part was eating the left overs from the cutouts, the shapeless throw aways, the fringes and edges.

Sometimes it seems to me we have a “Jello Jiggler” approach to studying the Bible. People love to cut out Psalm 23, Luke 2, Jeremiah 29, John 3, and Romans 8, shake them up and watch them wiggle and waggle as our favorites to study and digest. Sure there are lots of favorite stories, pet stories, pastors love to teach about. But what about the cutouts? What about all the left overs that no one really wants to eat? Are they too dry? Do they not wiggle enough? They don’t have that delightful little jiggle? Are they so hard to understand that most of God’s children just avoid them altogether?

Yes. And there is one book of the Bible in particular that draws very little attention, in fact is avoided most of the time… the Book of Revelation. If God didn’t want us to read it, study it, learn from it, or eat it like Jello, then why is it there? There are letters to the church in this book, dictated personally from Jesus. There are miracles and wonders describing the glory and majesty of God. There are promises and explanations of why we are here, our very existence is explained in detail, and purpose! No other Book in the Bible gives us the glimpse of our future home, that is found in Revelation. The promise of Christ’s return is described and guaranteed in the Book of Revelation! There is plenty of shake, joggle, waggle, wiggle, fidget, squirm, quiver, tremble, and jiggle in Revelation.

Is it always easy to understand? Nope. Is it worth trying? Yep. I offer you the opportunity to go on a journey few have been willing to make. Travel with me into the rough edged, cutout, loose ends of the Jello in the Bible … that is Revelation. It is a tasty treat!

Tag: Romans 8

Just for Giggles

Jello