It’s Friday…
And I just put fuel in my car…
I don’t say gas, because I have a VW diesel. Which means more pain even though I get good mileage out of each gallon.
So why don’t we have it better than before?
I remember not too long ago (not my teenage $0.89 a gallon) but in 2020, when I was paying $1.00 something for it! Remember?
So, what do you want? The pandemic and cheap gas?
No, but we were thinking maybe there is something in this new Great America thing…
Don’t worry, I am not getting political here…
The point is, many of us were kinda hoping for a Zion on the Fox (as opposed to Zion on the Mississippi—this was what some called the Saxon immigrants who established a confessional Lutheran church body in Perry County, Missouri. They are today known as the LCMS.)
That is also what the Puritans were meaning to do in New England, since Geneva under John Calvin failed to do so.
There is a guy (a pastor) in Moscow, Idaho, who has the same notion up there. They have a university and everything. Our secretary of War, Mr. Peter Hegseth is a member of one his churches in D.C.
They believe in what is called Post Millennialism. Simply, this is the belief that Jesus waits until we establish a moral and believing remnant on earth, and then He will come back.
Yes, we DO want to establish a type of heaven on earth—or at least our best facsimile of it.
No one seems to notice that this is exactly the temptation that our first parents were being tempted with.
And you are saying that that is why gas (diesel) is over $6 per?
Well… yeah.
And it is good for us to like lima beans and castor oil. At least that is how we look at it.
But it happens… all this… so that we do not get comfortable down here—well not yet. Not until the new creation is complete. Even nature, the Bible says, awaits in turmoil for this.
The Scriptures repeatedly tell us not to count on, rely upon, trust in, or look to the princes—the leaders and governments of this world… no matter what they can and do end up accomplishing.
Pray for them. Yes! As they have a responsibility that weighs heavy on them. Sinners like us are not easy to govern.
It is good when things go well. When we prosper. When we have enough. And even better when we have more than enough….
But this never lasts. It is not meant to, until the real King comes back to rule forever.
Because that is what it takes. The best form of government is a benevolent dictator. But therein lies the problem. Even if you get one, who is to say the next will be benevolent? Or competent?
And if he is a sinner like us… well he will not be fully capable either. He will miss quite a bit of injustice and not be able to enact all the needed justice. This because he is not all-knowing or all-seeing or all-powerful.
But I know a guy…
He is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And it will be Him who will sit on the throne forever.
Then there will be peace at the last. Then there will be…
All those things we yearn and long for. And this forever.
So yes, even though this is Friday, thank God that Sunday is only 2 days away…
Where we can once again see a bit of this that is to come… to hear and taste what is promised.
God always keeps His promised.
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This coming Sunday – Ascension of Jesus – May 17th 2026
Old Testament – Isaiah 57:15
Epistle – Acts 1:1-11
Gospel – Mark 16:14-20
Sermon – WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US – Based on the Gospel reading
Prayers: For a lasting peace in our world and in our cities. That there would be between the people of Israel and Gaza as well as for the people of Russia and the Ukraine. That the war with Iran would come to an end quickly and that justice would be served. That the people of Iran would be free from tyranny and that the evil there would be put down. For our congregation that it would please our Lord that we would increase in numbers and there remain in this place a congregation that calls upon Him rightly, practicing the faith according to the Scriptures. For those who are being persecuted and murdered because they call upon the name of Jesus—especially in Africa. For the end of violence in our cities and that our schools and congregations would be protected from those who wish them harm. For our families that parents would courageously discipline their children and raise them in the fear of the Lord, teaching them about salvation in Jesus alone.