Heavenly Kingdom!

For Wednesday, October 21, 2026:

John 17:5 NLT, Jesus, praying: “Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”

What we can infer from this text is huge! Our one God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – existed before the earth was created. We think of Jesus as the Son of God, and that’s not wrong. But we also need to accept Jesus as 1/3 of the Holy Trinity. We can more easily identify with that form, fully God and fully man, since we’re human beings. But all three iterations of God are of one mind. Therefore, they’ll share the same goals and be pulling in the same direction.

My work frequently takes me out of town. I enjoy road trips, an opportunity to escape the rat race and enjoy new experiences. But that can get old after a while, and then I look forward to getting back home. I suspect that Jesus felt that same way. His visit to planet Earth was about to draw to a close. By the end, all goals would be accomplished and it would be time for him to return to the Father.

We can’t even begin to understand the glorious nature of God’s Kingdom. But know that what we have never seen can’t be adequately described with human words. It’s that magnificent! The Good News is that Jesus wanted to get there first so he could prepare a place for his loyal believers. It will prove to be the best place we have ever lived!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Good vs Evil!

For Thursday, May 7, 2026:

Colossians 1:13-14 NLT: “For the Father has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom (with his blood) and forgave our sins.”

The Father rescued us through the Son’s actions, and the Spirit keeps us on the Holy path! We hear about “God’s vast eternal plan,” and this is part of it. The rescue of mankind was no accident. It was well planned out by God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It’s perhaps easier for us to think of them as three separate entities, but they are of one mind. Mankind was living in the darkness of Satan’s world, but Jesus showed us light. The story of Jesus’ actions is called the Gospel or Good News.

Here’s how the story develops: Humans were floundering like fish without enough water. Our lives had no goal, no purpose. Not surprisingly, very few ever made it to heaven. But the Bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. All! How’d that happen? I can picture God saying, “What went wrong? What happened here?”

Let me explain. There is good in this world, and there is evil. God is good, and Satan and his demons are evil. Those who have bonded with Jesus belong to God. The rest are subject to constant tempting by Satan. In fact, we’re all subject to the devil’s temptations, and the result is always pain and misery. But Christians have a higher standard, something to live up to. If Christ is our model, we have his reward in our sights, which is eternal life in the Father’s Kingdom. Eternity is a long time!

Paul advised us to focus our eyes on the prize!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church