THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO FAITH

 Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

                 I have been reading Tim Keller’s book, Making Sense of God. It is a masterful response to the prevailing attitude in our society that belief in God is irrelevant. As I have been reading, I was struck with the reality that many people today have bought into the idea that they have the right to determine their own course in life. We have raised the autonomy of the individual to the highest level. Each person has the right to determine for themselves what is right and wrong. Each person has the right to set their own standards for how they conduct their life. No one has the right to tell another person what to do or how they should live. As a society, we have drunk deeply of the cup of selfishness and self-centeredness. We call it self-esteem, and guard it tenaciously.

                In light of this overwhelming acceptance of our autonomy, many people have outright rejected the idea of God. God can only get in the way of a person’s freedom to live life as they wish. So, instead of dealing with the idea that there might be an authority greater than ourselves, we jettison the idea of God as uninformed, prosaic, and outdated. People in ancient times may have needed the idea of a god to give them purpose and direction in life, but we have progressed beyond that. We are better informed about our world and better equipped to face life on our own. We have the right to stand on our own two feet and determine the course of our lives for ourselves.

                This “new” autonomy is the greatest obstacle to faith. I put “new” in quotes because it isn’t really new at all. The sin of Adam and Eve in the garden was the sin of striving for autonomy. If they ate of the tree of good and evil, then they would be like God and would not need Him anymore. I don’t think they really understood that that was what they were seeking, but that was the outcome. They didn’t realize what they were sacrificing to “stand on their own two feet.” The consequences of their decision were no at all what they desired.

                People today are still seeking autonomy; the right to be the master of their ship. They don’t want anyone else telling them what they can and cannot do. At first, this approach to life does seem freeing, but the consequences are almost always not what the person was looking for.

                Several years ago, I read a biography of Ty Cobb, one of the greatest baseball players of all time. When he was a young man, his father told him that he would not amount to anything. He spent his entire life trying to prove his father wrong. As a baseball player and as a person he was ruthless, striving, and unrelenting. He accomplished greatness as a baseball player, although his father didn’t live long enough to see it. He gained financial success. But his life was empty. Near the end of his life, he was asked what he would do differently if he could go back and start again. His response was telling. “I would have friends.” He was the master of his ship. He set his own course in life. And in the end, he came up very short of his goal. Instead of being fulfilled, he was empty.

                We all face the challenge of wanting to be autonomous. We all desire to set our own course and make our own decisions. Within boundaries, this is not bad, but if we stray beyond the boundaries that God has set for us, the consequences will be less than satisfying. Our desire of autonomy is the greatest obstacle to genuine faith. As long as we insist on sitting on the throne of our life, we will struggle with our faith in God.

                The first step to genuine faith is giving up our autonomy. Jesus made it very clear.

Luke 9:23-25

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

                 But rather than losing our freedom, we gain a more fulfilling kind of freedom; a freedom without regrets. Jesus didn’t come to make our life difficult and a drudgery. He came to fulfill our life; to give is the abundant life. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) When we acknowledge God, through faith in Jesus Christ, we enter into a whole new life; a life that lasts for an eternity.

                As Tim Keller points out, all freedom has boundaries. When we live within those boundaries, we experience the joy and delight of our freedom. When we move beyond those boundaries, we actually forfeit our freedom. God has set the ultimate boundaries for life. If we will submit to those boundaries, we will discover amazing joy. If we refuse to submit to those boundaries, we may experience some temporary pleasure, but we will also face some unpleasant consequences.

John 3:16-19

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

 

We Are God’s Masterpieces

 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Ephesians 2:10 

                When my children were in elementary school, I volunteered to teach a simple art class once a month. It was called Masterpiece Art. It’s not that I’m an expert in art. The materials were all prepared in advance; I just had to make it come alive for the children. Each year we studied a different aspect of art. For example, we studied classic portraits, landscapes, and still life. We studied specific painters like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Georgia O’Keefe.  One of my favorites was when we studied American western art.

                Much of what we studied would be classified as masterpieces. These were the defining works of particular artists. Each masterpiece bore the imprint of the artist. A Rembrandt is recognized by the style of the artist and is very different from a Picasso. Each masterpiece is unique. Although some artists painted the same theme over and over again, each painting had unique qualities that set it apart from the others. The untrained eye might think they were copies of one another, but the trained eye can clearly see the differences.

                We don’t often think of ourselves as masterpieces. We can see all of the flaws and the imperfections of our life. We look around and we don’t seem all that different from everyone else, at least on the surface. But the Bible tells us that we are God’s masterpieces. The word workmanship can be translated masterpiece. I want to invite you to attend spiritual masterpiece art class. Let’s explore some of the amazing qualities of God’s masterpieces.

We were created on purpose and for a purpose.

                Few of the great artists painted mechanically. What makes their art stand out is that they painted with purpose and direction. God doesn’t create generic people. He creates each of us uniquely, with purpose. God created us to do good works. Not just any good works, but good works in Christ Jesus. He created us to move in a direction that will demonstrate his glory through us.

We were created to reflect God’s image.

                A number of artists have painted self-portraits. They hoped to capture the essence of themselves and preserve it for all time. That is exactly what God did when he created us. We are the only part of creation that bears the image of God. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

 We were created to reflect God’s glory.

                Every masterpiece reflects the skill and the passion of the artist. We were created to demonstrate the glory of God. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

 We were created to live in relationship with God.

                Every artist has a particular bond with their work. For the best artists, a painting is not just a piece of work, but an expression of themselves. God created us to have a special bond with Him. His love for us is so strong that He sent Jesus to redeem us.

                There is a famous painting by Rembrandt called The Night Watch. It has been known by that name for centuries. Recently some specialists in the preservation of art endeavored to clean the painting. What they discovered startled everyone. The painting was not a night scene after all, but a morning scene. Dust, dirt and soot from candles had so darkened the painting that it took on a totally different look than the artist intended.

                Because of sin, our masterpiece has been marred. God’s glory has been dimmed by the soot of the world. God’s image has been twisted. Christ comes into our lives as the master restorer. He comes to clear away all the filth of sin and restore us to what God intended. In fact, he actually creates us all over again. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

FINDING HOPE

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

                Into what are you placing your hope? That is a question we all need to consider. In the weird, unsettled times in which we live, we need hope. But what is the object of our hope? What is it that we are looking to to give us a sense of peace and confidence heading into the future?

                Many people have placed their hope in politics. If we can just get the right people in office, then the future will be okay. That sounds hopeful, but historically it has not played out so well. No matter which political party has been in power, the general sense of hopelessness has continued.

                Many people are placing their hope in science. Science has been the agent of progress. It has tackled many of the challenging questions that have faced humanity. It has had a significant number of “wins” along the way. But it has also unleashed a number of unintended consequences. It has often raised more questions that it could answer.

                Many people are placing their hope in human nature. If we just give people access to the right resources they will thrive. People are basically good. We can trust them to do the right thing. As much as we want to believe this, this too has proven to be a false hope. There are underlying issues within human nature that undercuts the positive outcome we are hoping for.

                Many people are looking to religion to give them hope. They are placing their hope in the mystery and the rituals of religion. They hope that by going through the outward activities of religion it will address their anxiety and fear. This too often falls short of the goal. Many people who have turned to religion to find hope have been disappointed and have turned away from religion.

                So where can we find genuine hope in our world? There is only one place where hope is to be found. It is to be found in the one who put this world together in the first place. It is to be found in the finished work of Jesus Christ. As Peter wrote, we have a living hope that is based on the amazing reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection validated all that He taught and did. His resurrection transcends all the realities of this world. It raises us to a new plane of existence.

                This hope is not wishful thinking. It is a solid confidence in what God has promised through Jesus. It is a guarantee that no matter what happens to us in this world we are still secure in our relationship with Him. As Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:9-10, This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

                Placing our hope in Jesus does not mean all of our problems will go away. It doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle with the issues of life. It does mean that we will have a resource to draw from during those difficult times. It means that we will have the confidence to face the trials of life with strength and determination. There will be times when we are afraid, but we can go to the one who can take away our fear. There will times when we feel weak and powerless, but we can go to the one who is all-powerful. There will be times when we feel confused and disoriented, but we can go to the one who can lead us onto the right path. Our hope is not in our circumstances but in the person of Jesus Christ, who is above all of our circumstances.

                When we place our hope in Jesus, we have a solid foundation upon which to stand. We can have sure footing in life, even when the storms crash around us. Our life is secure in the living hope we have in Jesus.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

  

SECOND CHANCES

 Acts 13:13

From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

                 In my devotions today, I came across the story of John Mark’s failure to continue in the ministry with Paul and Barnabas. It is passed over lightly in Acts 13, but we know that it became a real point of contention between Paul and Barnabas. In Acts 16, we read that Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them on their second missionary journey, but Paul was dead set against it. Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas taking John Mark to Cyrus and Paul taking Silas as his new traveling companion. But that was not the end of the story. Somewhere along the way things changed between Paul and John Mark.

                Mark is mentioned in positive terms by Paul in Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11.

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) (Colossians 4:10)

    Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.     (2 Timothy 4:11)

                It is obvious that after Paul’s initial rejection of John Mark, he gave Mark a second chance, in which he proved himself as a worthy ministry companion. If that was the end of the story, that would be enough, but there is more. There is credible evidence that the author of the Gospel of Mark is none other than John Mark, the young man who disappointed Paul. God gave John Mark an enormous second chance to make a difference for the Kingdom, and he did.

                We tend to give lip service to second chances in our world today, but we rarely actually grant them. More often, we are looking for a reason to cut our ties with the one to whom we say we are giving a second chance. The old adage, “three strikes and you’re out,” is pretty universal.

                Jesus calls for a different approach. In fact, He insists on unlimited second chances. In Matthew 18 there is an interchange between Peter and Jesus that changes the dynamics of second chances.

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 

                Peter thought that he was being very generous when he offered to forgive seven times. But Jesus blew the doors off of that. Instead, He said that forgiveness needs to be unlimited. Actually, that is really good news for all of us, because Jesus set the standard for His forgiveness. When it comes to second chances, Jesus has an unlimited supply. If we will honestly come to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will always grant it, no matter how many times we have come back.

                I am greatly encouraged by the story of John Mark, because I have needed many second chances in my life. I am so glad that God has not applied the “three strikes and you’re out” rule to my life. If He had, I would have been gone a long time ago. Instead, He continues to offer me forgiveness and reconciliation every time I come back to Him in genuine repentance.

                Of course, this is not license to go on disappointing God at will. As Paul says, we have died to sin, so we should no more live in it. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1-2) What it does offer us is a safety net for when we fail; a place to go and be restored.

                Just as John Mark was given a second chance, so we have been given it as well. And because we have experienced the grace of God in this way, we should extend that grace to those around us as well. God did not give up on John Mark. He eventually used him to write one of the Gospels. God has not given up on us as well. We are all the recipients of Jesus’ second chances.     

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 

MARKING TIME

 Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

                Time flies, as the old adage goes. The older we get, the truer that statement becomes. Although a single day may feel like it is dragging, the months and years seem to move on at light speed. We often look back and wonder what happened to the time.

                In Psalm 90, Moses reflects on life and the brevity of time. He seems to be struggling with what we struggle with; time flies. Listen to his words.

The length of our days is seventy years--

or eighty, if we have the strength;

yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,

for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10

                 Moses’ conclusion is that we need to learn to value the time we have and manage it well. I think it is ironic that Moses said that the span of our life is 80 years, yet he lived to the ripe old age of 120. More and more people are living well past 80 these days. We know a lady who is 103. With this in mind it is ever more important for us to number our days.

                We can waste the time we have or we can invest that time. If we just coast along, we will look back on our lives and wonder where the time went. If we intentionally invest our time, when we are old, we can look back and rejoice over how we used our time. As a friend is fond of saying, life is about collecting memories. We are all collecting memories. Our memories will be filled with either joy or regret depending upon how we have used our time.

                Moses asked God to teach him to see his life in the right perspective. We need to same help. We need to ask God to teach us how to invest our time in things that matter. Paul challenges us to be wise in how we use our time. Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

                We only have so much time to make a difference in our world. The daily choices that we make will determine if we invest our lives well or foolishly. To be very honest, when we look back over our lives it will be a mixed bag. None of us are focused and on task all of the time. But we can determine to use our time wisely. We can look for opportunities to invest our lives in others and in ways that bring glory to God.

                When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he responded with a two-part answer. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

                The clock is ticking for all of us. We cannot stop it or slow it down. But we can maximize the time by living wisely. Then when we stand before God’s throne, we will hear those words, well-done good and faithful servant.

Psalm 34:12-14

Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

 

 

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

 Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

         When you have done something unwise or dumb, you may hear the retort, “What were you thinking?” I have often said that to myself, after I have made an unwise choice.

                We don’t often acknowledge the reality that the things that occupy our thoughts also shape our lives. Our thought life and our external actions are intricately linked. This usually manifests itself in negative ways, unfortunately. We think that someone is being rude to us, so we act rude to them. We think that we are being treated unfairly, so we complain and make a scene. We think we are not being valued, so we sulk. We think we are unloved, so we have a hard time loving others. Our thoughts have a profound impact on our actions.

                But this can work the other way as well. When I think that I am loved and valued, I can better love and value others. When I see the worth in others, I am able to encourage and bless them. When I think about God’s grace and mercy shown toward me, I am better able to extend grace and mercy to those around me.

                What we focus on in our mind manifests itself in our lives. Jesus made this very clear. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (Matthew 12:34-35)

                We live in a world that focuses on the negative. Constantly, day by day, we are bombarded with negative thoughts. Most of what we see on the evening news or read on the internet is negative. Because we are constantly exposed to this, we begin to internalize it. We begin to see the world through a negative filter. Our thoughts become dark and disturbing. This is exactly what Satan wants to accomplish. By focusing on the negative, he can keep us off balance and unfocused. We are tossed here and there by the latest controversy or tragedy.

                There is a better way. It is a two-step process. First, we need to intentionally, actively dispense with the negative. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31) We cannot be passive about this. It takes effort to banish the negativity that permeates our society. We can do this by eliminating, or at least limiting, the negative voices that fill our minds with negative thoughts. We have to stop feeding the negative.

                Second, we need to intentionally replace the negative with the positive. Just eliminating negative input is not enough. It leaves a vacuum that will suck the negative right back. Jesus addressed this in Matthew 12:43-45. "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."  Our negative thinking must be actively replaced with positive thinking. So Paul instructs us to reorient our thoughts and our actions.

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

    Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

                We are all in control of what shapes our thinking and our actions. We are our own gatekeepers; only letting in what we want to come in. If we leave the gate open to the prevailing thinking of the world, we will plunge into a negative mindset. But if we guard the gate well, and focus on what God wants us to focus on, our lives and our actions will be transformed in a positive way. So, what are you thinking today?

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart,

for it is the wellspring of life.

 

ARE FAITH AND SCIENCE INCOMPATIBLE?

 Psalm 19:1-6

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

                It was dark as I sat down to do my devotions this morning. I opened my Bible and read the Psalm for this week, Psalm 19. The opening line of that Psalm is, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” As I looked out the window, I could see the first rays of the sun shining on the underside of the clouds, casting a red glow in the sky. The words of the Psalmist were being displayed in vivid color before my eyes.

                I have always liked science. From the time I was a young boy, I have been fascinated by exploring the world around us. I remember my excitement when I got my first microscope and was able to look at things in depth. Our drug store at the time had a science section and I would periodically by prepared slides to look at under my microscope. I also accumulated a few “science articles” in hopes of doing my own experiments. This fascination with science eventually led me to get a degree in biology.

                It was in high school that I first encountered the idea that faith and science were mutually exclusive. I could never embrace that notion. It was my faith in God that motivated my interest in learning more about our world. When I was in college, I was introduced to the concept that all truth is God’s truth. No matter what the temporal source, if something is really true, then it comes ultimately from God. Therefore, the study of science is just one more way to explore the wonder and greatness of God.

                As a part of my devotions, I have been reading John Ortberg’s book, “Who Is This Man?” Today I came across the following passage, which I want to pass on.

                “The worldview of Jesus is part of how science came about in our world. In our day, many people think that science and faith are enemies. But Princeton professor Diogenes Allen writes, ‘We have begun to realize from its very birth, science owed a great deal to Christianity.’

                According the Allen, there are attitudes Christianity has that were indispensable for science to be able to arise. Christians, unlike Plato, believe that matter is good, since God created it. So to study it would be good. The world was created by an orderly and rational God, and therefore there is reason to expect not chaos, but order and reason, law, regularity in creation, in nature. On the other hand, since God is free and omniscient, we could never predict ahead of time what it is that he would do, so we will have to investigate. We’ll have to experiment to find out.” (Who Is This Man? Page 68)

                Rather than stifling science, faith in God has been the catalyst for exploration at every level. The prevailing view today that life on planet earth is random and undesigned leaves no foundation upon which to build. Only when we recognize that God created a world of order and design can we truly understand what we are discovering.

                The heavens declare the glory of God! If we will open our eyes and really look at the world around us, we can see the fingerprints of God everywhere. If we take God out of the equation, we are only left with non-descript smudges that lead us to a dead end.

Psalm 24:1-2

Of David. A psalm.

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

 

WALKING WITH JESUS

 Matthew 28:20b

    “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

                How would your life be different today if Jesus was physically with you wherever you went? It is a question that needs to be explored. Jesus promised His disciples, and us, that He would be with them always. They lived their lives in that reality. Most often we do not. We tend to live as if Jesus is not with us in any tangible way. Instead, we see Him as being just off stage, waiting for us to invite Him into our lives when we need Him.

                In Acts 1:8 Jesus told His disciples that they would be His witnesses throughout the world. We have deemed this passage the second great commission. It is most often couched in terms of evangelism. But what if there was more to it than that. What if the way that we lived our daily lives was our witness for Christ?

                In reality, our greatest witness for Christ is how we live our daily lives. By our actions and our words, we are either affirming or denying our commitment to Jesus. In fact, the way we live speaks much louder than what we say. Therefore, Paul challenges us to live lives worthy of our calling in Christ.

                One of my many favorite passages of scripture is Colossians 3:17. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. It reminds me that may actions are an act of worship. They are also an act of witness. I demonstrate the reality of my faith by the things I say and do; not just when I am at church, but in my every day encounters.

                This morning, during my devotions, I was reminded that God is omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent. He is everywhere present, all knowing, and all powerful. There is nowhere that I can go where God is not. There is no thought or word that I can hide from God. There is nothing outside of God’s ability to accomplish. This is a reality that I want to live in, yet I so easily forget it in the routine of my everyday life. Although Jesus is not physically present with me as I go through my day, He is spiritually present with me.

                So how will I live my life differently today because of that reality?

Ephesians 4:1-2

    As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

CHANGE IS CHALLENGING

 Acts 15:1-2

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

                We all find change challenging. Change disrupts our normal routine. It disorients us by altering the established patterns in our life. Whether we resist change or embrace change, it always comes with some uncomfortable aspects. Letting go of the familiar is painful. Embracing the unfamiliar can be unsettling and difficult. The old phrase, “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t”, comes into play. Most of us are hesitant to give up the comfortable and the familiar. This is nothing new.

                In the early days of the Church, the issue of significant change raised its head. All of the first believers in Christ were Jews. They were steeped in the laws and traditions of Judaism. They assumed that moving forward all of the established rules would still apply. Then something unexpected happened; Gentiles started becoming followers of Jesus. The Church was faced with the challenge of deciding how these non-Jews could be incorporated into the fellowship. The easy answer (for the Jewish believers) was for these Gentiles to become Jews. That did not sit very well with the Gentiles and with Paul and Barnabas, who were spearheading this new missionary movement. This conflict forced the Church to rethink their approach. In the end they chose significant change over hanging onto the old ways.

                Throughout the history of the church, we have struggled with this issue time and again. Historically, many missionaries assumed that when a person from another culture became a Christian, they would adopt Western ways. When people like Hudson Taylor embraced Chinese culture in order to reach the Chinese people for Christ, he faced stiff resistance. This resistance to change continues to this very day.

                Every church today has had to struggle with the challenges of change. Should we hang onto traditional hymns or embrace the new choruses? Should we insist that people dress up to come to church or can they come in jeans and t-shirts? Should we limit the use of food in church to scheduled meal events or can we offer coffee and donuts between services every Sunday? Should we hold onto the pews that have been in our building for 100 years or opt to replace them with padded chairs? These questions may sound trivial, but they have caused quite a stir within the Church. Bottomline, we tend to hang onto what we know and are comfortable with over what is new and uncomfortable, at least at first.

                We are living in a time of unprecedented change in our society and within the church. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused great disturbance within the Church. We have divided over masks, vaccines, social distancing, meeting in-person or meeting on-line. All of these things have distracted with the purpose of the Church; to bring people to faith in Jesus Christ.

                We need to realize that change is inevitable. If we are going to be able to reach this generation and the next, we will have to adapt the way we do things. Our message must remain consistent and the same, but our methods must always be changing. If we refuse to change and adapt, we will effectively marginalize ourselves and become ineffective in reaching our world for Christ.

                All of us need to take a lesson from the missionaries that we send out to other countries. Before they can effectively reach the people to whom they have been sent, they have to learn their language and culture. They cannot expect those people to adapt to the culture from which the missionary is coming. Instead, the missionary needs to adjust their approach and methods to be relevant to the culture in which they have been transplanted. We, in the Church in America, need to learn to be students of the culture around us. Without compromising the Gospel, we need to adapt our language and our methods.

                Change is always challenging and often uncomfortable. But change is a necessary part of life. Without change, we become stagnant and ineffective. The Church cannot use Morse Code to communicate the message of the Gospel when the world around us is zipping along at light speed on the internet.

                When Jesus came into the world, He brought significant change. He redefined the old traditions and instituted new ways of living. He literally turned the world upside down. Change is challenging, but it is the path that Jesus took. Shouldn’t we follow His lead?

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

 

   

 

CHARACTER MATTERS

 Ephesians 5:1-2

    Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

                We live in a world that has divorced character from public life, especially when it comes to those who are chosen to take positions of leadership. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the political upheaval of recent years. We have been willing to place people into positions of significant leadership who have questionable characters because publicly they have promised us what we want. The lesson we have not yet learned is that character and public performance go hand in hand. Character shapes everything that a person does for good or ill. If a person’s character is faulty, them their actions will be faulty as well.

                As disturbing as it is to realize that we have entrust the leadership of our country to people with questionable character, it is far more disturbing when we discover we have done this within the church as well. I have been listening to a challenging podcast from Christianity Today which exposes the fall of some prominent Christian leaders and the reasons behind their fall. One of the common threads that winds its ways through each of these stories is the lack of a well-developed spiritual character. People have been placed in positions of influence based on their giftedness before their character was ready to handle them. Each of them had amazing “success” for a season, but then had a tragic fall when the reality of their character broke through the façade of giftedness. Character matters far more than outward giftedness.

                Jesus made that clear in Luke 6:43-45. "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

                James highlighted this reality when he pointed out that the origin of sin is within us, not outside of us. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15)        

                Deeply embedded in Jesus’ sermon on the mount is the truth that character matters. We can put on a false front but if our heart is not right the truth will eventually come to light. So, Paul challenges us to do some spiritual house cleaning. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32)

                The point is not for us to become character police for others, but to take an honest look at our own character. What allows us to place people with flawed character into positions of authority is our own flawed character. When we develop a truly godly character we are blessed with the gift of discernment. Discernment is not sitting in judgement of others, but the ability to recognize when things are not right. Discernment can raise a red flag to stop us from moving forward, or a yellow flag that cautions us to slow down. Godly discernment causes us to treat others with kindness and compassion, rather than judgement and criticism.

                Paul gave us sound advice when we encounter those who may be headed in the wrong direction, whether they are a leader or a follower. Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1) A person with a godly character will always seek to correct and restore the other person rather than punish them.

                As I have listened to these podcasts about fallen leaders, it has caused me to examine my own character. There is the temptation for me to take some delight or pleasure in their fall, but that is the wrong response. My first response should be to grieve, both for the fallen leader and for the Church. Then I need to look carefully at my own character and ministry. Where have I strayed into a spiritual ego trip that has caused damage to others’ walk with Christ? Where have I sought my own glory instead of the glory of God? How can I discipline myself so that my character is growing more and more Christlike? Ultimately, at the end of the day, character matters far more than a façade of outward success. God’s will for us is not that we would be successful, but that we would be whole and holy.

Colossians 1:9-10

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

 

BEARING FRUIT

 John 15:8

    This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

                When we bought our new home, one of the things that I was very excited about was that we had fruit trees; apple, cherry, pear, and peach. In anticipation of a harvest of fruit, I fertilized and sprayed our fruit trees. In the end, my results were less than successful. Our apple tree died. One of our cherry trees produced about a dozen small cherries, with worms. Our pear tree, which had been prolific the year before, produced three or four pears. Finally, our peach tree produced a dozen small peaches, which would not win any beauty contests. Let’s just say that I was disappointed, but I will do my best to get better results next summer.

                Jesus said that it was the Father’s will that his disciples would bear much fruit. His focus was not on peaches and pears, but on spiritual fruit. My experience with my fruit trees may shed some light on the process of bearing spiritual fruit in our lives. There are basically three lessons that we can learn from my fruit trees.

                First, we need to do our part to create a positive environment for fruit to grow and mature. Being a novice at growing fruit trees, I did some research to discover what steps I should take. I learned that if I wanted healthy trees, I needed to fertilize them in the Fall and in the Spring. So I went out and bought fertilizer specially formulated for fruit trees. I also discovered that my fruit trees needed a regular dose of water (surprise, surprise). Fortunately, the former owner of our house installed an irrigation system, which allowed me to water my trees freely.

                When it comes to bearing spiritual fruit, we need to do out part to create a positive environment for fruit to grow and mature. We need to be fed and watered spiritually through personal Bible study, corporate worship, and active service (spiritual exercise).

                The second thing that I learned was that I needed to do my part to eliminate negative influences on my fruit trees, in the form of parasites and fungus. So I went to the nursery and bought some fruit tree spray. I faithfully sprayed my trees according to the guidelines I was given.

                If we want to bear spiritual fruit, we need to do our part to eliminate the negative influences that would stifle our growth. Obviously, we need to deal with any known sin in our lives. We need to keep short accounts with God and with those around us. We also need to pay attention to what other influences we are allowing to speak into our lives. In our negative, combative world, we can get swept along by some unhealthy waves. Instead, we need to heed Paul’s admonition. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) The voices that we allow to speak into our lives will shape the kind of fruit we produce. If those voices are negative and condemning, we will produce distorted fruit. If those voices are positive and affirming, we will produce good fruit.

                The last thing I learned was that I am not in control of the fruit. I did everything that I knew to do to produce good fruit, yet my results were less than satisfactory. There were things at work outside of my control that hindered a good harvest this year. I am hoping for better results next year.

                When it comes to bearing spiritual fruit, we are not in control of the outcome, God is. Jesus made this very clear in John 15. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” (John 15:5-6) The essential element for bearing good fruit is remaining attached to the vine, to Jesus. We can do all of the right things, but if we are doing them independently, in our own strength, we will not produce good fruit. It is only as we stay connected with Jesus that His power and strength will flow through us to produce the fruit that we want and He desires.  

                A side note. I have (or had) four different kinds of fruit trees in my yard. They produced four different kinds of fruit. When I was a child, growing up in church, I got the idea that there was only one kind of spiritual fruit; leading someone to faith in Jesus. That idea put a lot of spiritual pressure on me to perform, which I did badly. I have come to realize that there are different kinds of spiritual fruit that God wants to produce in my life. There is the fruit of a character that is being conformed to the image of Christ. There is the fruit of active service to God and others. There is the fruit of a loving community that displays the glory of God. And there is the fruit of introducing others to Christ. But remember, we do not save anyone. All we can do is create the environment where a person can encounter Christ on their own. It is God, through the Holy Spirit, who works to transform a life once they have responded to His call. We are the conduits through which God’s grace is extended to them, but the results are in God’s hands.

                God’s desire for everyone of His children is that we would bear much fruit. He will accomplish that in us if we don’t get in the way by trying to produce spiritual fruit on our own. He is the vine and we are the branches. So, do your part to be ready to bear fruit, then relax and let Christ do His work in you.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

SIMPLE FAITH

 Luke 7:40-48

Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you."

"Tell me, teacher," he said.

"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"

Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."

"You have judged correctly," Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."

Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

                Let’s be honest. Life is complicated, and it is getting more complicated every day. With new technologies come new learning curves. The pace of change and innovation can become overwhelming. Soon we find ourselves discouraged by our lack of ability to stay on top of all that is going on. In the face of this complicated world, many people are looking for a simpler lifestyle.

                What is going on in the world in general is going on in the Church as well. “Church” has become more complicated, and often more confusing. As a pastor, I have been bombarded with many “new innovations” for doing church. Each new book, each new conference adds a layer of complexity and expectation upon church leaders and congregations. Some churches have chosen to not play the game, and have been left behind. Some churches have embraced the new concepts and are in a state of constant change. Most churches are in the middle, struggling to adapt to their changing world as best as they can, but often feeling discouraged.

                What has happened with the “administration” side of church has also happened with the theological side of church. I have been a student of theology for many years. I read books on theology and try to process what I am being taught. This too has been an overwhelming task. Each approach to theology claims to be the correct approach. Each one claims to be biblically based. Yet they are often incompatible. Strong voices are forcing believers to “take sides” in the struggle for theological prominence. It is no wonder that normal, everyday believers are confused, discouraged, and sometimes give up. Many are longing for a simpler faith.

                In Jesus’ day, The Pharisees were the chief theologians. They set the standards for spiritual life for the people. Their theology was very precise, involved, and overwhelming. Only the most dedicated could live up to the high standard that had been established. This left most of the people on the outside looking in.

                When Jesus entered the scene, he began to openly challenge the unreasonable demands of the Pharisees and religious leaders. Luke 11 records some of Jesus’ harsh words for those who were setting the standards of religious conduct. Luke 11: 46 is a good summary of his critique of the religious climate of his day. Jesus replied, "And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

                What Jesus offered to the people was a chance at simple faith. It wasn’t that Jesus watered down what it means to be righteous. In fact, he raised the standard higher than anyone. What he offered was a way to reach that standard, and it was simple; come follow me. The only way that a person could ever live up to God’s standard was if God did it for him or her; and that is what Jesus did.

                In the passage above, we read about an interaction that took place when Jesus was invited to dine at the home of a Pharisee. A women of questionable reputation came into the home and anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume, then wiped them with her hair. The Pharisee was aghast that Jesus would allow such a thing. This woman fell far short of the standards for righteous living. But Jesus turned the tables on the Pharisee.

                Jesus pointed out that this woman understood her great need and responded to Jesus’ great love. The Pharisee was blind to his great need because of his religious façade, and so failed to respond to Jesus. The Pharisee had complicated faith with hundreds of rules to be followed. The woman knew she could never fulfill all of the rules, but in simple faith came to Jesus.

                Theology is an important tool. It helps us to understand ourselves in relationship to a Holy God. But it can become a barrier to genuine faith. We can use theology to divide us into competing camps, instead of leading us to the feet of Jesus. When we focus on our perceived righteousness it becomes a barrier to simple faith. When we understand just how far we are away from true righteousness, we respond to Jesus in simple faith. As Jesus said in Mark 10:15, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

                Simple faith is not simplistic faith. Simple faith is taking Jesus at his word. It is receiving what Jesus wants to give us without all the trappings of self-righteousness. It is understanding our need and then in faith turning to the only one who can take care of our need.

Matthew 11:28-30

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

NEVER GIVE UP

 Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

                On October 29, 1941, Winston Churchill visited his old school, Harrow, and addressed the assembled student body. England was embroiled in war and the people of England were facing enormous challenges. Under those circumstances, Churchill gave one of his most memorable speeches. He challenged the students with these words. “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.” It was with that spirit that Churchill led his nation from the brink of disaster to the pinnacle of victory.

                We are living in challenging times. We are in an ongoing war with a pandemic that does not want to loosen its grip on our world. We are facing the challenges of global unrest as we pull out of Afghanistan and watch as the Taliban assert their will on that country. We struggle with the flood of people, gathering on our southern border, fleeing all kinds of persecution and hardship, seeking a safe haven within our borders. In many ways, these are discouraging times.

                During such times, we have two choices. We can give in to despair and discouragement or we can face the challenge with determination and faith. The message that Churchill gave to the students at Harrow echoes the message that the Apostle Paul gave to us. Never, never, never give up.

                Paul reminds us that the way we choose to face the challenges of life will shape the outcome. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8) If we give in to discouragement and bitterness, we will foster more discouragement and bitterness. If we choose the path of faith and confidence in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be rewarded with a stronger faith and greater confidence.  

                We need to remember that our hope is not in a political system or economic might, but in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Our hope rests in the arms of Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. The writer of Hebrews challenges us during times like this to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3)

                So how do we face the challenges that are before us? We do it by actively living out our faith in every aspect of our lives. As Hebrews also says, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:22-24)

                In a very practical sense, Paul challenges us to take the path of positive action instead of negative reaction.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written:

"It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary:

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:18-21)

                 The first several years of WWII were some of the darkest times in England’s history. Yet they persevered until defeat was turned into victory. We know that we are already have the victory through Jesus Christ. Our enemy has been defeated. So as we face the challenges before us, never, never. never give up!

1 Corinthians 15:57-58

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 

ONCE A WEEK OR 24/7?

Luke 9:23

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

                Is your faith a one-a-week experience or a 24/7 lifestyle? We have all become very adept at compartmentalizing our lives. We divide our lives into neat packages, which remain, for the most part, separate from each other. We have a work compartment, a family compartment, an entertainment compartment, and a spiritual compartment. In our compartmentalized world, it is easy for us to relegate our faith to an hour or two on Sunday morning, then live the rest of the week as if our faith doesn’t apply. It is the classic secular/sacred divide that has permeated our world. We have heard the mantra of separation of church and state so often that we have internalized it. We see some parts of our life as secular and some parts as sacred, and we don’t mix them. But the Bible never makes such a distinction. All of life is sacred in God’s eyes.

                Jesus made it clear that if we want to follow Him, we need to take up our cross daily. To take up our cross means to die to self and live for Christ. It means putting Christ first in every aspect of our lives. Everything we do should be informed by and directed by our faith in Christ.

                Work, for most people, takes up a lion’s share of their daily lives. It is easy to compartmentalize our work to just that, work. We may enjoy it or we may not, but it is a necessary evil. We don’t routinely see it as an act of worship, but we should. God has given to each of us certain talents that He intends for us to use for His glory. Most often we use those talents in our work. The way we do our work speaks volumes about our faith.

                In Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse, he emphasized that our work should be seen as an act of service to Christ. Writing specifically to slaves he said, Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) That is the attitude that God wants us to have everyday as we go to work. It doesn’t matter what the work is as much as how we perform our duties. Even the most mundane tasks can be done to the glory of God. Seeing our work as an act of worship can transform both us and our workplace.

                The way that we interact with those around us is also a measure of our faith. Throughout Paul’s letters he continually calls us to demonstrate Christ’s character for one another. For example, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32) The way we treat others is a reflection of our faith. John makes it very clear that we cannot say that we love Christ if we refuse to love one another. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:20)

                Even our leisure time can be an act of worship. When we delight in the world that God has created and recognize it as a gift from God’s hands, we are offering God a sacrifice of praise. We live in an amazing world with many things that can take our breath away. We can go through life blind to these things. We go through life seeing then but not seeing beyond them. Or we can go through life seeing them and giving God the glory. This world and all of its wonders is a gift to us from God’s gracious hand. When we rightly enjoy the delights of this world and thank God for them, we enter into genuine worship.

                We need to break our faith out of the neat compartment that we have placed it. We need to see that all of life is sacred. We need to actively take our faith out of the church building and live it in the office, in the neighborhood, and in our homes. Let us not be content with a one-day-a-week faith. Instead let us strive to live a 24/7 faith that transforms every aspect of our lives.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

THE GREATEST HISTORICAL NOVEL EVER

 Colossians 1:16

For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

                 I enjoy reading historical novels. I especially enjoy the novels by Jeff Shaara. He ability to take you right into the event is amazing. The best historical novels are based on real events with real people included. Of course, the author much creates the dialog and interaction between the characters. In any historical novel, the characters are unaware of the hand of the author. He or she remains shrouded in the background. If you read several novels by the same author, you can see the unique style is that author, but the characters themselves are totally unaware of the author’s existence. If the author wants the characters to be aware of him or her, then he must reveal himself in some way. The author must insert himself or herself into the story.

                We are living in the greatest historical novel ever written. The author is not human but God. He created the story and the characters before the world began. He is ultimately in control of the pace and the direction of the story. The story will ultimately end in the way that the author intends for it to end. The big difference between this amazing story and all other historical novels is that God has given the characters free will; the ability to make decisions and determine their part in the story. He did this while continuing to maintain control over the ultimate direction of the story.

                Like any historical novel, the only way that we, the characters in the story, can know about the author is if the author reveals himself in some way. Better yet, if the author inserts himself into the story. That is exactly what God did.

                God began by leaving clues of his existence in the world he created. He placed a special kind of curiosity within humanity that directed us to look beyond the tangible world to what lies behind. Throughout the ages, humans have always pondered the question of some power outside of this world that is in some way directing it. This curiosity has led to a variety of theories about the author of our story. They are very diverse and often contradict one another. Yet, they all seek to pull back the curtain and see the author of our world.

                In many ways, humanities attempt to discover and understand God are like people today trying to get to know some other person from a distance. Given the general information they have, they create an image in their mind of that other person. That image may or may not be correct. So it is with humanity’s attempt to give form and shape to God.

                In our everyday world, if we want to get a better idea of who another person is, we may ask people who are closer to that person. Because they have insights into the person that we do not, they can help us refine our image of that person. God took the initiative to reveal more of Himself to humanity by sending spokespersons, prophets, into the world to tell people more about who God is and what He is like. Through these spokespersons humanity gained a clearer, yet still incomplete image of God.

                The very best way to get to know another person is to actually encounter them personally. When I was in seminary, I had formed a rather negative image of a prominent pastor in the area. I thought he was arrogant and aloof. Then several years later I had the opportunity to encounter him personally. What I discovered was that my image of him was all wrong.

                The vast majority of people have an incorrect image of God in their head. The only way for that image to be corrected was for them to encounter God personally. So God took the final step and wrote himself into the story. When God sent Jesus into the world, He invited humanity to get to know Him on a personal basis. Jesus was God in human flesh. He made it clear that to see Him was to see God. Jesus revealed clearly the character and heart of God. He came to correct all of the false images that had dominated the world up to that point. The author walked on stage and revealed himself for all to see.

                Unfortunately, many people have hung onto their false images of who God is. Max Lucado shares the story of a time when he encountered a woman reading one of his books. After making small talk with her for a little while, he revealed that he was the author. She looked at him and bolded declared, “You’re not Max Lucado. He’s taller.”

                God revealed Himself to the world in the person of Jesus. But many people refuse to accept that. They claim that God is something very different. They hold onto their distorted, self-created image rather than accept the reality.

                We are all characters in the greatest historical novel every written. We have not come to the end of the story yet. But the author has chosen to insert Himself into the story. He has let us look behind the curtain and see the one who is putting it all together.

Hebrews 1:1-3

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.