Tents and eternity

Here my September article:

Many people will have spent time this summer under canvas: whether that's camping holidays, festivals, events with marquees or blanket dens. And for many being under canvas is a happy experience or evokes nostalgic memories of care-free childhoods – though for others it can evoke traumatic memories!! Last month my family and I spent time at a Christian festival, staying for the week in a tent and listening to teaching and worship also under canvas. And so it was rather appropriate that on one of the days we were there, the church recalls the Transfiguration of Jesus.

This episode in Jesus' life is recounted in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; and John also alludes to it (John 1:14). Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray and while he was praying he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Then Moses and Elijah (who had both died hundreds of years previously) appeared and talked to him. Peter said “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4). Then the voice of God the Father endorses Jesus and his ministry before everything returns to normal. The Transfiguration was a demonstration of Jesus' divine glory as well as the affirmation by God the Father and the Old Testament scriptures (symbolised by Moses and Elijah) of the mission he'd just revealed (his death and resurrection).

The reason this was appropriate is that the word Peter uses that's translated 'shelter' also means 'tent.' Peter recognised that to be in the presence of the glory of God was a good place and so wanted to stay there. But Jesus knew that the time was not right: they must go down the mountain and head towards Jerusalem where he would fulfil his death-and-resurrection mission.

Holidays can be great times of relaxation, and we often wish we could stay on holiday forever – but we have to come 'back to reality'; back to the responsibilities and demands of normal life. However, that glimpse of peace points us towards that eternal rest that Jesus won for us by his death and resurrection; that existence in the presence of God 'lost in wonder, love and praise.' Christian festivals often give us a foretaste of that 'good place' and so should worship in our local churches. But like the Transfiguration experience for the disciples, we sometimes treat those heavenly experiences in church as shelters to escape from the difficulties of daily life rather than oases to fuel us through the difficult times, whilst reminding us of what we're journeying towards.

So if you're finding life difficult and struggling to see the purpose of it, come to the oasis of church for a foretaste of the eternal life God is inviting you to – but let's also remember that until Jesus comes to take us into his eternal presence we have his work to do down the mountain.

Image by JTD444 from Pixabay