Beyond the Fairy Tale or I Don't Want a Happy Ending.

Have you ever read any of those wonderful "Fairy Tales"? If you are a parent or moved into the grandparent season of life it is likely that you have been exposed. If you do not read them, Disney has put them into animated, computer generated or even live action movies. They hold a common thread. The bad folks lose and the good live "Happily Ever After". You may find your way back to Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, or fast forward to Frozen or Tangled, the premise is pretty much the same. Who would ever argue against a happy ending?  

Many of us look at the world around us and can't wait for the LORD to return. We speak of the hope of heaven (actually the new Jerusalem) as some blissful return to the Garden of Eden. One man said, "It will be like an eternal vacation." It would be hard to find a happy ending that could exceed that story. As for me, I like the poster my daughter has that says, "I don't want a happy ending, I want more story." That is my anticipation. More story. My final resting place will not be some cemetery or perhaps a decorative container with ashes waiting to be returned to the earth. No, I believe there is more story.

Have you heard people say, "Well, when we get to heaven all our questions will be answered." Where do you find that in scripture? There is this strange idea that in some perfect state we will know everything. Maybe, but maybe not. I'm not sure I want to be where I know it all. I want to be amazed in new and exciting ways without the gray shadow of sin corrupting my vision. I hope to serve my Savior in ways I never have before. I want new challenges with a new body that is not flawed by a fallen world.  I want to work together with other Messiah worshipers with no divisions, irritation, anger or selfishness. The truth is, I want more story! 

I do have hope that this might be so. The two, somewhat parallel, parables in Matthew 25:14-23 and Luke 19:11-19 are said to represent the Kingdom of Heaven. Both speak of a master or lord who leaves with the promise to return. Both also speak of the matter of giving some of his servants talents or minas to care for while he is gone. Upon his return the master asks for an accounting of what they have been given. Two of the three have invested what has been entrusted to them with success. The third has not. I would like to focus on the successful investors. "His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord" (Matt. 25:23) and in Luke 19:17, “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities."

I know that the point of the parables is, to whom much is given much is required. It is also true that there is not necessarily an exact parallel to the Kingdom of Heaven. However, there is an indication that those who join the Master in His Kingdom do stuff. Actually it indicates that they do more stuff. "Ruler over many things" and "authority over ten cities" sounds like an upgrade to me. It also seems that these servants were going to learn a lot of new things. New responsibilities with new things to do. If you have never ruled over ten cities before I would guess that there would be a thing or two that you had to learn to be effective. It also seems that there would be some significant interaction with others to accomplish the task.

God is simply very vague when it comes to the future. The new earth has a new Jerusalem with gates, so it seems we can go in and out. Thus we do stuff. It will be incredible to worship Him without the hindrance of sin and self consciousness. Uninhibited worship with myriads of others just sounds like an awesome experience. Yet, I am not so sure that is all there is. I know I will not be disappointed with whatever eternity turns out to be. However, I really like to learn new stuff. I am pretty jazzed when what was trapped in the darkness of my brain suddenly becomes clear. I honestly do not want the journey to end when the Lord mysteriously  transfers or translates me to His eternal kingdom. I don't mean to sound selfish but, I don't want a happy ending, I want more story. How about you?

You Are Invited to a Biblical Worldview Seminar

One week from today - 

Most of us are aware that Jesus was Jewish, as were

the twelve Apostles. We may be less aware that all the

writers of the Scriptures wrote from a Jewish or Hebraic

cultural perspective, while we are immersed in a Western

American culture grounded in Greek philosophy.

This two session seminar is an introduction to some of the basic

cultural differences to help us better understand God's Word.

Cultural perspective does matter.

Having a better understanding of the culture surrounding

Scripture may help us work through some difficult passages

and may cause us to rethink what we thought we knew.

There is No "Being" or Talk Like Captain Kirk

We often take little words for granted. Some of those are those "being" verbs. Words like am, are, is, was, were, and will be. They are important in making our sentences flow and showing how things connect. They are 'helping verbs". Little words out there to give the regular verb a helping hand. We use them with little thought. However, if we lost them, communication would be rather interesting. Somewhat choppy to say the least. This being true, it is interesting to note that there is a significant lack of those little verbs in the Scriptures. It is especially true in the Psalms. You may not notice, as the translators supply those little words to help our English versions flow better. In several of our translations the editors put these in italics (KJV, NKJV, NASB) so we, as readers, will know what has been added. The NIV, ESV, RSV simply add the words without any indication of the additions. The thought, and a pretty reasonable thought, is that these verbs are just assumed. 

You might ask, "What does it matter? The important thing is that we have the Scriptures in readable English." I have felt led to read the Scriptures without reading the editorial additions. Much of the time it makes little difference; however, sometimes it makes a pretty significant difference. I have noticed in the Psalms that deleting those little italicized words intensifies the references to God and what He has done. I have not concluded that it is by Hebraic design or necessarily David's intent, however, it does make an interesting read. If you are familiar with Captain Kirk you can appreciate the staggered sound of the text. The pauses that replace the "being" verbs and those "helpful" clarifications just place heavier weight on the words that follow.

For example Psalm 3:1-3 would read like this, "LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many - they who say of me -No help for him in God! But You, O Lord, - a shield for me!". Or Psalm 22:9-11, "But you - He who took me out of the womb; You made me trust - on my mother's breasts. I was cast upon you from birth. From my mother's womb you - - my God! Be not far from me for trouble - near! For --none to help!" Psalm 136 adds the word "endures" in every verse. The repeated phrase "His mercy endures forever" speaks of God's remarkable care. The Hebrew word hesed is difficult to capture in English. Which is why we have the words mercy, love, lovingkindness, steadfast love, or faithful love as a way to translate the word in various English translations. Hesed carries the reality of the mutual conventional love shared between God and His people. It encompasses God's love, mercy, kindness, grace, affection, affirmed by His eternal covenant that we share relationally with the God of the universe. It is a rich and amazing word. David's point is that in all that God has done for him this hesed relationship will never end. He seems to pause after each proclamation and then erupt with the word "forever". Leaving out the translators "helpful" addition changes the intensity of David's Psalm of praise. 

The Psalm would read something like this:

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for - - good! For His hesed  -  forever! Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His hesed  -  forever! Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! for His hesed  -  forever! To Him who alone does great wonders. For His hesed  -  forever! To Him who by wisdom made the heavens. For His hesed  -  forever! To Him who laid out the earth above the waters, For His hesed  -  forever!"

And so it goes for another 20 verses! In case you didn't get it His hesed, His love, His, mercy, His covenant love, His kindness, His mutual lovingkindness with you - FOREVER! I invite you to read the entire Psalm with a thought to the depth of the word your translation uses for hesed and then bask in the reality that this love never ends. It lasts forever. It is eternal. 


Admittedly the italicized words can help in our reading. However, I encourage you to pick up a translation that lets you know of the words added and read the passage eliminating those added words. Being verbs are necessary and I mean no offense if you are committed to those little "helpers" (By the way there are a number of added pronouns as well). There is no insult intended to those who added the helper words for they certainly help in the reading of the text. Yet, on your own time, during your own devotional reading try putting on your Captain Kirk outfit and read --------- the -------- text -------- with those ----- rather --------- awkward  pauses. It may give you a new appreciation for the Psalms and praises David brought to the Lord.