The unbelievable world of faith (Hebrews 7)

Have you recognized recently the other worldliness of the bible?

For Lorelai's birthday party this year she wanted a mermaid theme. So we decorated a friend's home with all kinds of under the sea things; animals and sparkling sea weed. All kinds of stuff. The children who came wore costumes. Lorelai's was of course a mermaid. They painted faces with glitter and jewels and took on different identities. Lorelai has told me several times,"Daddy, when I get to heaven, I want to be a mermaid." What is the last fantasy novel you have read? Or the last fairy tale you have been told of watched? When was the last time you read something that was completely outside of your world of experience?

I would have to say for me it was the bible...this morning...Hebrews chapter 7 to be precise. We are talking here about a line of priests who don't die. They live forever. There are two the bible tells us about. The first was Melchizedek and the second is Jesus. Melchizedek (wow try typing that one 10 times fast) shows up to receive a tenth of the war plunder from Abraham. Hebrews tells us he had no beggining and no ending. He had no father or mother and would live forever. He is the king of salem which means the king of peace. Jesus is said to be in the same line. He has no father of mother and will live forever. He is said to be the king of kings and the prince of peace.

I have heard different theories on who Melchizedek was, some say he was the holy spirit or maybe God the father. Well all I know for sure is he is beyond anyone I have ever met or experienced. When the bible talks about these kinds of things, immortality and such, it is so hard to hold onto. We don't know what this is like. We have nothing to understand it with in our own lives or the world of empirical science. We haven't observed it we can't test it. This is the stuff that magic is made of. These are the stories of fantasy and magical places.

We are so oblivious to the world outside of our world because we just don't understand it. And that's OK! It's OK to not know everything. It's OK for there to be mystery and wonder. It's OK for there to be a world of angels and demons and priests who live forever. In fact it is this world of faith which saves us. Hebrews 7 tells us it is by this immortality Jesus is able to save us completely. He is our eternal intercessor. There is a covenant better than the blood and guts of animals. It is something beyond. And it's OK...in fact its very...very...good.

I pray we might enter into wonder today. I pray we would be OK with mystery and the unexplainable today. I pray we would be opened to the world of faith today.