Stamped

(by Lorie Codispoti)

When my husband, John, was a boy he collected stamps. His grandmother traveled around the world and would send him stamps from all the places she visited. Over the course of time he amassed quite a collection. But the thing that connected all of John’s stamps, no matter how varied they were, was his grandmother and the hand written letters that sealed their special relationship and gave them treasured memories.

The idea of pre-paying for a letter to be mailed took off when the first postage stamp was created in 1840. As the value of these little adhesive backed wonders began to increase so did the interest in collecting them. With subjects from Argentina to zebras, one can literally span the alphabet and never run out of interesting material to study. Did you know that you can even design and produce your own postage stamps? You have the ability to customize your stamp using photographs, your child’s artwork, or a symbol to communicate your passion; the possibilities are endless. Today, collectors of all ages and from around the world gather to trade, sell, and share stories of their mutual love for all things stamp related. 

Stamps also tell us something about the designer.

The Holy Bible remains the number one best selling book of all time. It is an anthology divided into two parts: the Old Testament (before the incarnation of Christ) and the New Testament (post Incarnation). Our sacred text comprises 66 books, written in three languages by 40 authors from three continents over the course of 2,000 years. Traditional versions are arranged in a logical order by topic (except for Genesis and Revelation which bookend the beginning and end of time), and chronological versions are arranged by epochs. And, according to BLB Institute, “The books were named after their subject matter, literary style, person or group addressed, or the name of the author.”

So why have I included this interesting bit of Bible trivia in a piece about stamp collecting? Well, it’s not only because I am a bit geeky about the subject, but because the history of this book points to the One who put His stamp of approval on every page within the collection. In ancient times, important documents were sealed with hot wax and stamped with the king’s signet ring. This not only provided authentication, but it elevated the importance and value of the document. Today, our unique signature serves as the identifier that authenticates things like important documents, letters, and artwork. (At this very moment the gallery door of my refrigerator is featuring, for a limited time only, creatively designed works of art signed by my grandchildren. Treasures, every one!)

There are many reasons why the Bible is the sacred text of Christianity, but the main reason that it’s more treasured than any other written work is because the King of all kings wrote this special love letter to tell us of His divine plan to redeem the world from the chaos caused by His arch enemy. The story begins and ends in a garden, and on every page we see the mark of a glorious and holy God who wants us to know who He is so that we will be drawn to love and worship Him.

What if?  

If John’s grandmother wrote to him about visiting every National Park in the United States, describing every detail of her experience, would she be able to fully capture and transfer the beauty and scope of her experience to him? If she sealed each letter with a photographed stamp that focused on each park’s defining feature, would his senses respond in the same way they would if he was standing next to her? No and no! But, what if her letters weren’t meant to be reports of her adventures, but rather, a form of preparation? What if she was preparing him for the day she surprises him and shows up at his doorstep, instructing him to pack his bags for a face to face adventure that will take him far beyond anything she described in her letters? Indeed, what if? 

I submit to you that our lives are a tiny little pixel, lived within the borders of our postage stamp world. While there is beauty to be discovered, it doesn't even compare to wonders we willl experience as we walk with God in the garden to come.  

We live in the tension between the “already” and the “not yet.” 

Listen to what Paul Tripp has to say about this in-between life: “Every one of God’s children lives between the “already” and the “not yet.” Already this world has been broken by sin, but not yet has it been made new again. Already Jesus has come, but not yet has he returned to take you home with him forever. Already your sin has been forgiven, but not yet have you been fully delivered from it. Already Jesus reigns, but not yet has his final kingdom come. Already sin has been defeated, but not yet has it been completely destroyed. Already the Holy Spirit has been given, but not yet have you been perfectly formed into the likeness of Jesus. Already God has given you his Word, but not yet has it totally transformed your life. Already you have been given grace, but not yet has that grace finished its work.” 

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed (stamped) with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph.1:13-14)

When the veil of eternity is lifted, and the King returns to restore His creation, will your name be among those written in The Book of Life? Only those who have been stamped by the blood of the Lamb will enter into the restored garden and eat from the Tree of Life. When we stand face to Face with our Redeemer He’s going to show us how the things He wrote about in His letter prepared us to enter into a paradise that is above anything we could ever think or imagine.

To Know, Love & Follow

(by Lorie Codispoti)

“Day by day… Three things I pray…”

Who remembers this popular song from the 1972 musical, Godspell? I never saw the musical but the song remains a catchy tune in my head to this day.

The 1970’s may seem like a long time ago, but the origin of these lyrics actually trace much further back. History records that as the 13th century English bishop, Richard of Chichester, lay dying, he wrote this prayer…

“Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me, 0 most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and Brother. May I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly.”(The phrase "day by day" was added when it became a hymn.)

While my thought is that Richard was fixed on the eternity that lay before him, I like the idea of using his prayer as a daily petition that seeks to “know,” “love,” & “follow” Christ. The prayer then becomes part of my desire to be more like Him on this side of eternity.

The other thing I really like about Richard’s prayer is the progression of his requests…

TO KNOW THEE MORE CLEARLY

When we surrender our lives to Christ, exciting things begin to happen in the soil of our hearts. We’re no longer content with vague, generic descriptions of our Savior. We’re no longer satisfied with reading interesting facts about Him, or studying great works of art that depict famous events in His life. Our desire shifts as His Spirit seeds & waters a lifetime quest to KNOW Him more CLEARLY.

TO LOVE THEE MORE DEARLY

As we learn more about who God is our LOVE for Him becomes as dear to us as the life giving refreshment we would find under the ever-blooming, outstretched canopy of a beautiful tree. Love grafts us into Himself, assuring us that the more time we spend under the shade of His glory the more DEAR our LOVE for Him becomes.

TO FOLLOW THEE MORE NEARLY

When a breeze blows through the Master’s garden, it picks up & carries His scent through the air. A believer who has purposed to “know” & “love” the Gardener hears His voice in the wind. It whispers the call to “Come & follow Me!” Our desire is to FOLLOW so NEAR that His fragrance permeates our being & infuses us with His scent.

Dear Lord, three things I pray…

In a world that wants to skew Your image, refresh me with your attributes that I may KNOW you more clearly. In the heat of the desert, lead me to the shade of your canopy that I might be revived & enjoy LOVEing You more dearly. When the stench of sin & death saturate the land, bathe me in Your fragrance so that I not only want to FOLLOW you more nearly, but I want to share your scent with those soaked in the polluted air. May I be reminded that meandering through the garden of Your immeasurable beauty gives me a taste of what eternity will be like in the fullness of Your unveiled presence.

The Main Character

(by Lorie Codispoti)

I may be among the minority here, but I welcome spoilers when it comes to stories. In fact, most of the time I receive a book or movie recommendation the first thing I want to know is how it ends. I’ve been known to START with the last chapter of a book and the last scene in a movie. Perhaps it’s my distain for lousy endings and love for happy ones that motivates this behavior. Or, maybe it’s my curious nature that compels such impatience. The bottom line is I simply must know what happens last, first.

Take the life of Moses, for example. My favorite part of what the Bible tells us about his story occurs at the end of his life. In his last hours Moses charges and commissions Joshua as Israel’s new leader. (Deut.31) Then he composed a song about God’s faithfulness and the consequences of sin, and taught it to the Israelites. (Deut.32) And in his last public act, Moses calls the tribes together and pronounces a blessing over each one. (Deut.33)

As if all of those things aren’t impressive enough, what happens next is nothing short of extraordinary. The Lord instructed Moses to climb a mountain, where God presented him with a panoramic view of the Promised Land. (Deut.34:1-7) In verse seven it says, “Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.” (Deut.34:7)

Good night, y’all! The man climbed a mountain at 120 years old, with the strength of a young man. And, when he reached the summit, his clear, cataract-less vision beheld a spectacular view of what God had long since promised his people. Is that a wow moment, or what?

Because the Book is complete, we have the advantage of being able to read “the end” of many stories. But, do you know what the real advantage is - the thing that should captivate our hearts from beginning to end? It’s God! It’s everything that God reveals to us about Himself in every single moment of every person’s life throughout the entire book of the Bible.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut.29:29)

The story of Moses is not so much the story of a great man, as much as it is the story of a great God. Moses had no way of knowing how prophetic his life would be, or how God would use every detail as a means to deliver an entire nation and foreshadow the promised Deliverer. He had no way of knowing how closely God planned for his story to parallel Jesus’ earthly life. But God knew! And because of His great love for us, He makes sure we know by giving us His Word. “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” (Romans 1:19)

Look again at the actions performed at end of Moses’ life - only this time let’s shine the spotlight on the central Figure:

~ “The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you…” (Deut.31:3)

God assures Moses that He will go before them. Sin may have prevented Moses from entering into the Promise Land, but it didn’t shut him out of being assured that his life mattered and that God’s plan would prevail. Likewise, God assures us that not even our sin can hinder Him from making our lives count for His purpose.

~ “For the Lord your God, He is the one who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut31:6b)

God not only went before His people, but He went with them and stayed with them. Is there any greater gift than God’s very presence? Jesus went to the cross and was forsaken so that we never have to be. We can be “strong and courageous” (31:6a) because of His ever present presence.

~ “For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is He.” (Deut.32:3-4)

In the same way that Moses was compelled to sing of God’s greatness in his last hours, our lives proclaim His never-ending perfection and faithfulness. At the end of our story, may our lives also sing of the magnitude of His greatness, and may the sound echo through all generations.

~ “The Lord came… and dawned upon us; He shone forth…; He came… Yes, He loved his people…so they followed in Your steps, receiving direction from you.” (Deut.33:2-3)

Moses introduced his blessing over each tribe with reminders of how God’s great love compelled Him to come to their aid. It is that same love that rescues us from the bondage of sin. Because He "first loved us" we can love.(1Jn.4:19) He came, dawned, & shone forth His Light that we might follow Him.

Moses, God did something marvelous in your last hours on Earth. Despite the sin that prohibited you from entering into the Promised Land, God summoned you to the top of a mountain, so He could show it to you. This amazing display of God’s grace in your life speaks to the depths of His forgiveness and the fullness of His restorative work in our hearts. May we, like you, reach the end of our days with a clear vision to see the beauty of our Promised Land. Because of the One who is both Beginning and End, the last part of our story will be the best part too!