WAITING TO BE FOUND

 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

                As I was doing my devotions this morning, I was struck by a thought from my childhood. It was a strong sense of wanting to be sought out. Let me explain.

                I was always a shy child. Somewhere along the way I got the idea in my head that it was wrong for me to put myself out or promote myself. Consequently, I found myself in the position of waiting for others to take notice of me. The more I waited, the more isolated I felt. I can remember several times when I was alone and longed for someone to seek me out. As I moved into adolescence, this got worse. I was caught between wanting to be noticed by the “right” people and hoping that I wasn’t noticed by the “wrong” people. When I was in college, I began to learn how to initiate interactions with others in a positive way. Yet, even today as a mature adult, I still have times when I long for others to take the initiative to seek me out.

                I believe this desire to be seen, to be found, to be known, is hardwired into all of us. We don’t all respond to this desire in the same way. Some people tend to live in the shadows hoping that someone will notice. Others intentionally step into the spotlight calling people to notice them. Most people navigate a middle ground, being content with whatever interactions come their way.

                I think this desire to be found comes from our need to connect with God. The vast majority of people in the world are engaging in religious activities in order to get God’s attention; to be noticed by God. Many people satisfy their desire to be known by God through human relationships. They place other people in the place of God and try to find their desire fulfilled through them. Still others take an aggressive “I don’t care” attitude and go through life as if they can do it all on their own. All three of these approaches fall short of satisfying that need to be not just noticed, but to be known.

                God understands our need to be found and so He entered our world looking for us. God sent Jesus into the world for the express purpose of seeking us out. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:10 (NIV) The parable of the lost sheep tells us that God is seeking us as individuals who are lost and need to be found. Jesus has opened the door for us to know Him and be known by Him. Through the Holy Spirit, He continues to reach out to us to assure us that we are seen and loved. All of the world’s religions are attempts to seek out God. Only Christianity reveals the truth that God is really seeking us. He has taken the initiative and is waiting for us to respond.

                As it says in Revelation 3:20, Jesus is standing at the door of our life waiting for us to let Him in. He has already reached out to us. He has already noticed us. He sees us as valuable and worthy of having a relationship with Him. He knows all that there is to know about us and still loves us unconditionally. All that is needed is for us to open our hearts to Him and receive the gift of friendship that He is freely offering.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

 

IS CHRISTMAS REAL?

 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

                This Sunday we will celebrate Christmas. It is an exciting time for most people. Most people, in one way or another, will celebrate Christmas, even if they are not religious. At the heart of Christmas is the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. For all of the other things that have been added to Christmas, the birth of Jesus is still at the center. The question that needs to be asked is, is the story of Jesus’ birth true or is it just a religious myth?

                Christmas is so embedded into Western society that most people would not bother with the question of it being true or not. It just is an annual tradition. Yet there are those who routinely want to eliminate Christ out of Christmas; to make it a purely secular holiday. But without the birth of Jesus, Christmas falls apart. It has no real meaning or purpose, other than to benefit the retailers we make an enormous amount of money off of it. If the story of Christmas is true, it has important implications for all of life. If the story of Christmas is just a myth, it has no relevance at all.

                Those who want to oppose Christmas point out that December 25 used to be a pagan holiday and has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. This seems like a legitimate argument, except upon closer examination it is really a paper tiger; irrelevant. Every thoughtful Christmas knows that December 25 is not the actual date of Jesus birth. No one knows the actual date. December 25 is the date the church has chosen to celebrate Jesus’ birth. It was intentionally chosen to counteract the pagan practices associated with that date.

                There is really no problem with celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25. In Great Britain, Queen Elizabeth the II’s birthday was celebrated on the first Monday of June, even though her actual birthday was April 21. In the US we celebrate Presidents Day, originally named Washington’s Birthday, on the third Monday of February. Our celebration of Jesus’ birth on December 25 is no different.

                What is more important is the truth of the story. Christmas is not just about any baby being born to a young woman in a stable in Bethlehem. It is about the promised Messiah being born to a virgin in Bethlehem. If the “historical Jesus” born on that occasion was just another Jewish baby, then Christmas has no meaning. If the Jesus born on that occasion was the incarnate Son of God, then it makes all the difference in the world.

                C.S. Lewis, in his book “God in the Dock”, makes the argument that the real issue isn’t if Christianity is helpful or desirable, it is if Christianity is true. If it is just another human philosophy to help people cope with the trials of life, then it is of no real value. But if it is true, then it changes everything.

                I want to suggest that it all begins with Christmas. According to the Bible, God invaded our world in person on that first Christmas.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1-2,14 (NIV)

                In his account of the birth of Jesus, Luke is very careful to record the important details of the event. He places the event in real time and in a real place. Along with Matthew’s account, they show how the birth of Jesus fulfilled the promises about the coming Messiah. He was born of a virgin. He was born in Bethlehem. He was born into the line of David. None of these things could have been manufactured artificially, unless somehow Mary and Joseph were the most amazing coconspirators of all time.

                When you strip away all of the trappings and traditions that have surrounded Christmas, we are left with one thing, the birth of a child. Not just any child, but the very Son of God. If this is true, then it changes everything. If it is just a heart-warming myth, then it isn’t worth celebrating. Each of us must make the choice for ourselves. As Ripley said, believe it or not.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7 (NIV)

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25 (NIV)

 

REDISCOVERING INTERDEPENDENCE

 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV)

                There are two competing forces in our world that seem to be tearing us apart. These forces have been solidified in political movements, which have shaped the landscape of our world. They keep nations at odds with one another. They have been the catalyst for wars on a large scale and internal conflict on a smaller scale. What are these two competing forces? They are radical dependence and radical independence.

                In large parts of the world, radical dependence holds sway. In its most blatant form, we see it in Communist societies. In these settings, the individual is absorbed into the whole. What is most important is what promotes the success of the whole, even if it means the sacrifice of the individual. The value of the individual is measured only in terms of what they can contribute to the whole. Ultimately, the individual is expendable.

                On one of my trips to Ukraine, we were taking a bus tour of Kiev, the capital. At one point on our tour, we passed the former headquarters of the KGB. At that point, our guide began to complain that under Communism everything was for the masses, but nothing was for the individual. She felt like her life didn’t matter. She is just a cog in a larger political engine.

                We see a similar situation in China, although its roots go deeper than Communism, all the way back to Confucius. Historically, Chinese people have been taught that their top loyalty is to the collective whole. Their individual dreams and well-being must be sacrificed for the collective whole. Their well-being is dependent upon the government, who controls what they do and where they go. This is often called “The Golden Rice Bowl.” A person owes their loyalty to the one who feeds them.

                On the other end of the spectrum, we find radical independence. This way of thinking is valued in the West and promoted in “democratic” societies. In these societies, the needs and desires of the individual trump the needs and the desires of the whole. Independence fosters a self-centered and selfish approach to life. We see this being played out in America today. “I can do whatever I want with my life, and you cannot tell me differently” has become the dominant cry in our society. Total independence leads to arrogance and a disregard for others. Right and wrong become relative and in many cases irrelevant. Many people in America have fallen under the spell of “I can do whatever I want, as long as I am not hurting someone else.”

                To be fair, there are positive aspects of both dependence and independence. Dependence acknowledges that we have limits and that we need other people in our lives. Independence acknowledges that we have value and worth as individuals. Both of these are part of what it means to be human.

                The Bible takes these two concepts and melds them into a third alternative; interdependence. The Bible teaches us that we are totally dependent upon God. Our very life comes from Him. Our abilities are a gift from His hand and not something that we have created ourselves. At the same time, the Bible teaches us that we have been created in the image of God. We have value and worth that goes beyond our abilities. In addition, God has created each of us as unique individuals with different gifts and abilities that we can use and offer to others.

                This concept of interdependence is seen clearly in Paul’s writing, as he describes believers as the Body of Christ.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 12:14-27 (NIV)

                There is an important concept that Paul wants us to understand. We are part of a collective whole, but we do not lose our individuality. Paul makes it clear that we are all dependent upon one another. One part of the body can not say to another part, I don’t need you. In order for the body to be healthy and function properly, it needs all of the parts working together. On the other hand, no part of the body should feel inferior to any other. Each part of the body has a unique roll to play that is just as important as all the other parts. In other words, we are interdependent. We have value as individuals and we have a responsibility to the whole. Holding these two things together promotes health and vitality. Separating these two things results in a total breakdown of the body.

                Our society today is divided into two extremes: those who want to champion the collective and those who want to champion the individual. As believers in Christ, we can offer a healthier alternative; care for the whole, without losing the value of the individual. Each of us has value and worth as an individual. We all need one another for support and encouragement. We have great abilities and we have limits. We were not created to live in isolation, but in relationship with one another and with God. We have been called into a life of interdependence where we freely offer what we have to others and freely receive what they have to offer us. By doing this we all thrive.

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)

Joy in a Grief Filled World

 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

                As we enter this Christmas season, joy does not seem to be the prevailing feeling. Ukraine is still embroiled in a war with Russia that has devastated the country. Iran continues to face reprisals from an oppressive government that is willing to sacrifice their own people for their ideology. China is in upheaval over the restrictive COVID policies put in place by the government. And our own political system here in America is in turmoil as we fight over election returns, inflation, and immigration issues. The joy of this season seems to be overshadowed by despair and gloom.

                All that is going on in our world reminds us of the impermanence of our world. Everything around us is temporary and one day will disappear, including ourselves. As our world seems to be falling apart, it is easy to fall into a spirit of depression and hopelessness. That is why, more than ever, we need to message of Christmas.

                When Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, the world they lived in seemed just as oppressive and discouraging as ours. They made the trip because Caesar Augustus decided that everyone had to be taxed; at best an imposition and at worse another reminder of their lack of real freedom. Although there was relative peace in the land, it was kept in place by the iron fist of Rome. All dissention was quickly squashed with brutal force. There was not much joy in Judah.

                Then God broke in with a message that has changed the course of human history. It was a message of hope and of joy. The long-awaited Messiah had finally come. God delivered this important message to a group of shepherds. But it was not just for them, it was for all people: a savior has been born.

                2000+ years later, that same message rings true. A savior has been born to us; He is Christ the Lord. It is a message of good news and joy to all who will receive it by faith. How can this be?

                The answer to that question is found in John 3:16. 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. Our joy is based on God’s promise of eternal life and not upon our current circumstances. The joy we can have in Christ transcends our temporal world. It is an eternal joy that God implants within our very souls. It is a joy that can weather any storm we face in this life, because our life is secure in Christ.

                There is more. Our joy is based not just on the promise of eternal life, but also on the reality that we have been given a new status: we have become children of God.

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 4:4-7 (NIV)

                Through the one who was born in a stable and laid in a manger, we can become a part of God’s eternal family. We are adopted as full heirs of all of God’s blessings and riches. We are brought into an intimate relationship with God the Father through Jesus. We can approach Him, not in fear, but in love. We can rejoice because we have been accepted, we belong, we have value and purpose. We have been set free from our slavery to sin and death. We have been embraced by God Himself.

                The book of Revelation tells us that the circumstances of our world are going to get worse over time. The kinds of things we are seeing will continue. There will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be famine and disease and natural disasters. From a worldly perspective, things are going to go from bad to worse. But in the midst of all of this, God continues to hold out hope. He invites us to come to Him in faith and receive, with joy, the salvation He has to offer.

                Jesus said it clearly in John 16:33. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

                There is joy, even in a time of grief. Our grief awakens us to our own frailty and our deepest needs. Jesus comes to us in our grief and offers us hope and His joy; a joy that can shine even in the darkest hours.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

 

 

OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN

 "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

Matthew 6:9 (NIV)

                In my devotions, I have been reading Tim Keller’s book on prayer. This morning the chapter I read dealt with the Lord’s prayer. I was struck with the thought that Jesus instructs us to approach God as our Heavenly Father.

                What is your image of a father? For some people a father is a person who makes them feel secure and loved. For others a father is a person who doesn’t care and has abandoned them. For some a father is kind and compassionate. For others a father is hard and judgmental. For some a father is close and personal. For others a father is distant and impersonal. The image we have of our earthly father shapes our image of our Heavenly Father.

                In Jesus’ day, as is still common today, God was viewed as distant, unapproachable, judgmental, and harsh. A person did not get close to God. Jesus changed that image in a radical way. When He taught his disciples to pray, He taught them to approach God as their Heavenly Father. Not only were they to view God as their Father, they were to see God in positive, even intimate terms.

                In most churches, we place our primary emphasis on Jesus, our Lord and Our Savior. I think this is right, but it often leads to a distorted view of God the Father. Unintentionally we begin to see God the Father as distant, unapproachable, and someone to fear. The beginning of the Lord’s Prayer opens the door for us to view God the Father from a different perspective.

                There are a couple of things that are implied by that simple phrase, “Our Father in Heaven.” By referring to God as our Father, we acknowledge that we have a relationship with Him. But not just any relationship. As our Father, God is the very source of our life. He has brought us into the world intentionally to live in relationship with Him.

                In addition, we recognize that He is in heaven, which implies that He is different from our fathers on earth. Because we all have different images of our fathers, we need to move outside of our personal experience to encounter the father who stands alone and unique. God is the ultimate standard for who a father should be.

                How does the Bible describe this ultimate Father? Psalm 103 is one of the most complete statements about who God is in relationship with us.

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
Psalm 103:8-18 (NIV)

                In contrast to the image of God being distant, hard, and judgmental, the Psalmist gives us an image of a compassionate father, who cares for his children beyond measure.

                In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that God is a Father who genuinely cares about our ever need.

"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV)

                Jesus invites us to approach God, not in fear, but as dearly loved children. Paul tells us that we can expect an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. When we place our faith in Christ, we become adopted into God’s family and we have ready access to the Father.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
Romans 8:15-16 (NIV)

                Children have different ways they address their father. Some call him Dad, some Papa, some Pa, some father. The closer the relationship, the more intimate the name a child will use. The word used in Jesus’ day for an intimate relationship with one’s father was Abba. It is a term of endearment. The Bible invites us to approach God is this way.

                I had the privilege to grow up with a loving, caring father. It is not hard for me to view God in a similar way. For those of you who had a negative relationship with your father, I can understand how hard it can be to see God as your father. But that is exactly what God offers to all of us; He desires to be our Father, to embrace us in His arms of love and enrich our lives.

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
1 John 3:1a (NIV)

READJUSTING OUR ATTITUDE

 Praise the Lord. O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and for get not all his benefits

Psalm 103:1-2

                As we approach Thanksgiving this Thursday, it is a good time to stop and reflect upon all of the blessings that we enjoy; and too often take for granted.

                The truth is, we are not naturally thankful. We are naturally the opposite. We are more often ungrateful for what we have, complaining about what we don’t have. Those of us who live in America are blessed far beyond what the majority of the world experiences. Yet, we fail to be thankful for these blessings. Instead, we are constantly in a state of discontent and complaint. We think of ourselves poor, when by world standards we are rich. We think of ourselves are deprived, when in reality we have access to more than most of the world. This is all fostered by the contentious world in which we find ourselves. We are being told every day that we don’t have what we deserve and that we are victims of some conspiracy to deprive us of our rights. It is time to stop and do an attitude adjustment.

                Let’s start with the basics. Last night I slept in a bed inside of a warm house. Currently there are 26 million refuges in the world, most of which are living in tents and sleeping on the ground or folding cots.

                This morning I took a hot shower and brushed my teeth with safe water. Many people in our world do not have access to safe drinking water, nor do they have the luxury of taking a shower every morning.

                This morning I selected clothes to wear out of a closet filled with shirts and pants. I know a man who has only two sets of clothes to his name.

                This morning I got up and had breakfast and made a sandwich for my lunch. According the Feeding America, 50 million people in America have experienced hunger and food insecurity this year.

                Today I got in my car and drove from Whitehall, MI to Grand Rapids, MI. The vast majority of people in the world can not afford to own a car. In many places it is not safe to drive the distance I drove this morning. In many places in the world the roads are dirt not pavement.

                Today I will not live in fear of a bomb dropping on my house. I will not live in fear of an army overrunning my town. In places like Ukraine, both of those threats are a daily reality.  

                Recently, I had the privilege to vote in a safe orderly election. This is not true for millions upon millions of people in our world.

                Recently, I was able to go to Walgreens and get my prescription refilled. According to the United Nations, half of the world’s population does not have access to basic health care.

                As I write these words, I am connected to the internet. According to the United Nations, 1.1 billion people in the world do not have such access. In addition, in many countries an individual’s access to the internet is controlled and restricted by the government.

                This past Sunday I had the privilege of joining with a group of people for worship in a church building. I had the freedom to preach from the Word of God. There are places in our world where this is a capital offense.

                It is time that we readjusted our thankfulness meter. As David says in Psalm 103, “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” All of the things we complain about pale in comparison to the abundant blessings that we receive from God. The greatest blessing of all is salvation through Jesus Christ and a renewed relationship with God.

                Paul challenges us to go from complaining to thankfulness and contentment in Christ.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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 4:4-8 (NIV)

                No matter what our circumstances currently are, we have a multitude of reasons to be thankful. This Thanksgiving, let us readjust our attitude away from complaining and toward praise and thanks to God for all that He has given us.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

 

THE PROBLEM WITH EVIL

 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

Ephesians 4:17-19 (NIV)

                As a part of my daily devotions, I have been reading Dallas Willard’s book, The Spirit of the Disciplines. In my reading today, he asked the question, why are we always surprised when bad things happen? Whenever there is some tragedy, our first response is to ask why. We often respond with; I can’t believe that happened. Yet evil things happen all the time. Why are we continually surprised by them.

                If we follow the logic of evolutionary thinking, we should expect bad things to happen as a normal course of action. Of course, we can’t call them bad. They are the outcomes of the evolutionary process; the survival of the fittest. The strong should dominate the weak. The powerful should control what goes on. And yet, when these things appear in real life, we have this uneasy feeling that they should not. We see them as wrong, even though in theory there is no absolute standard of right and wrong.

                One of the big reasons we are surprised by evil in our world is that we have lost our awareness of sin. As a society we have done everything we can to mask sin as something else. People do not sin today; they make bad choices. Sin is relative, depending on the point of view of the person. Sin is not objective, but subjective. In some circles, it is a sin to even mention the concept of sin. It is unloving and judgmental.

                Another reason that we struggle with evil is that we see it as something outside of ourselves. Evil is always what bad people do, not what people like me do. There is something unnaturally wrong with people who engage is evil activities. By making sin something “out there”, we take away any responsibility we have to deal with the root cause of evil; sin. We also place ourselves squarely in the position of always being the victim of evil, never the perpetrator. When some horrendous evil comes to light, we are quick to say, I would never do that!

                The Bible tells a completely different story regarding evil. Evil is the child of sin, and we are all sinners. Evil is not something out there that we don’t have any control over. Evil is resident within us, waiting for the opportunity to emerge when the conditions are right.

                James makes it crystal clear that if we are ever going to deal with the problem of evil, we need to begin with ourselves.

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 (NIV)

                The birthplace of evil is within each of our hearts. When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, evil took up residence within humanity. Evil is a part of our sinful, fallen nature. It is our natural response to situations where we feel entitled, wronged, or envious. Again, James confronts this unpleasant reality head on.

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
James 4:1-3 (NIV)

                The cause of all the evil that occurs in our world comes directly from our selfishness and pride. We want what we want, and so we will take whatever action is necessary to secure it. We should never be surprised by the evil in the world. In large and small ways, it is resident in each one of us.

                But we do not have to despair. Evil does not have to have the final say. In fact, there is a solution to the problem of evil in our world. That solution is not found in new laws or social programs. It is found in the transformation of individual hearts.

                Jesus came into the world to set us free from the power and control of sin in our lives. Through his death and resurrection, the power of sin has been broken. When we turn our hearts away from the world and toward Christ, we are set free from being slaves to sin. But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:17-18 (NIV)

                We now have the power to do something about the evil in our world. We cannot only resist the power of sin and evil, we have been empowered to live in a totally different way. We can now live in harmony with God. To do this though, we must be intentional about how we live our daily lives. We need to recognize the influence of sin and evil in us and refuse to give in. Instead, we need to continually give ourselves over to the control of the Holy Spirit. Not just in our thinking, but in our very actions.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
Romans 6:11-14 (NIV)

                As we yield more and more to the Holy Spirit, the influence of sin and evil in our lives diminishes. Although vestiges of it will remain, our power to resist will increase.

                But we can take our battles against sin and evil one step farther. In fact, we need to. Evil is a personal issue, but it is also a corporate issue. We cannot afford to fall into the trap of spiritual isolation, where we shut the doors of our lives to the outside world. We have been called to be salt and light in our world. Jesus wants us to be a positive influence that counters the natural tendency of evil within our society. We can do this by intentionally living differently, counter-culturally. We can choose to relate to those around us with love and compassion. We can overcome evil through good.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 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 12:17-21 (NIV)

                As individuals we cannot tackle the problem of evil in our world, but we can tackle the problem of evil in our homes, in our neighborhoods, in our places of work. We can be a part of a spiritual resistance movement that sabotages evil one personal interaction at a time.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

 

THE BEAUTY OF CLOUDS

 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

                It is my habit to get up at 6:00 AM, have my breakfast, and then sit down for a time of devotions. The past couple of mornings I have been rewarded with some spectacular sunrises. This morning the sky was awash with reds and oranges. The sky was also filled with clouds. In an odd way, the clouds are what make for such a spectacular sunrise.

                Just down the road from our house there is a place on the shore of Lake Michigan where people park in the evening to watch the sunset. We have done it on several occasions. Interestingly, the best sunsets are seen when there are clouds in the sky. When there are no clouds, the sunset is just an intensely bright ball on the horizon. When the cloud cover is too thick, the sunset is a faint glow. But when there is the right amount of cloud cover, the sunset is amazing.

                As I was observing the sunrise this morning, I realized that it is when God allows clouds in our life that we see His glory the clearest. Peter wrote that God allows a certain amount of suffering and trials in our lives for this very purpose. It is when we go through these “cloudy” times in our life when our faith is refined. If we focus only on the clouds, we will miss God’s glory. If we intentionally look for God in the midst of the clouds, we will discover His glory.

                The bright sunny days of our life actually obscure the glory of God. We bask in the brightness, but forget that it comes from God’s hand. As Moses was preparing the people of Israel to enter the promised land, he warned them to not be enamored with the blessings they were going to inherit and forget God.  

When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you--a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant--then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 (NIV)

                On the other hand, when the clouds are thick in our life it is hard for us to see God’s glory. We can become discouraged and feel like God has abandoned us. He has not, but it can truly feel that way. In those times we need to remember a simple truth. Even on the cloudiest, most dreary day, the sun is still shining. We just can’t see it. I have experienced this when I have gotten on an airplane on a dreary, cloud covered day, buckled in, taken off, broken through the clouds, and there, in all of its glory is the sun. On the cloudiest days of our lives, God is still present. His glory is not diminished, even if we cannot see it.

                But on those days when clouds skidder across our spiritual sky, if we pay attention, we will see clearly the glory and beauty of God displayed. We can feel the warmth of God penetrate through our clouds and into our soul. We can rest in the hope we have in Christ, knowing the end of our story is secure in Him. For He has promised never to leave us or forsake us; even on cloudy days.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

WHOLE AND HOLY FAITH

 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)

                What does it mean for us to be both holy and whole as a person? That is an important question if we want to experience the fullness of our new life in Christ. I have been challenged recently by two books that both point to the reality that we have tended to separate our spiritual life from our bodily life. For many of us, our faith is far more intellectual than it is physical. We have placed our emphasis on believing the right things. We give lip service to doing the right things, but that is seen as secondary to what we think.

                One of the things that has led to this dichotomy is our proper rejection of works righteousness; the idea that we somehow have to earn God’s love and grace. In our efforts to distance ourselves from this false idea, we have rejected works altogether. This has led to an almost exclusive intellectual faith that has very little effect on how we live our lives.

                The Apostle James challenged this approach in his powerful letter.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
James 2:14-17 (NIV)

                James was very bold to denounce a faith that was purely intellectual. If a person’s faith does not shape the way they actually live their daily life, then that faith is meaningless.

                Whole and Holy living is more than being a good, moral person. There are many people in our world who are good and moral people and do not place their faith in Jesus. So there needs to be something different, something unique about how we are to live.

                At the heart of this concept is the question of why do we do what we do? What is our motivation for living in a certain way? As a follower of Christ, our motivation should be to glorify God in all that we do. Our actions are not an attempt to get God’s attention or to win His favor. Our actions should be a response to the love and grace that God has already showered upon us.

                Both of the books I referred to earlier make the point that our habits shape our lives far more than our thoughts. Our habits are those things we do without thinking. Some habits are good and some are bad. We know this intellectually, yet we still yield to our habits when the circumstances of life come our way.

                I was vividly reminded of this just yesterday. The power company has come through our property and cleared a path to allow them to have access to the powerlines. As a part of this process, they have cut down a large area of brush and several trees. They cut one of the trees down yesterday, which happens to be in a lightly wooded area behind our house. Instead of taking the branches away, they cut them into small pieces and left them in a pile. I found myself getting angry over this. In fact, the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Then it dawned on me that I am allowing a sinful response to dominate my life. I was reminded that my anger, even if unexpressed to others, is a destructive response. As James writes: My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20 (NIV)

                My point is that I have a habit of getting angry about things that don’t go the way I want them to go. I have to recognize that and work to change my response. It is not that my emotion of anger is wrong, it is what I do with that emotion that matters. Do I stew on it, fondle it, embellish it, or do I acknowledge it and give it over to Christ. As Paul says: "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:26-27 (NIV)

                The way we change our sinful habits is by replacing them with godly habits. This does not happen automatically or even easily. We have spent a lifetime honing our current habits. It will take time and effort to create new ones. The classical way that Christians have accomplished this is through what is called spiritual disciplines. These are activities that are intentionally entered into on a regular basis that re-program our minds and our bodies to respond in godly ways to life’s challenges.

                To put it all together, it is not enough to just think the thoughts of Jesus, we need to also do the actions of Jesus. Our outward lives need to be a reflection of the inward reality of our heart. In fact, they will be, in one way or the other. To be whole and holy we need to form godly habits that point people to Jesus.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)

 

WHO’S IN CHARGE?

 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Proverbs 15:3 (NIV)

                Every year in November communities gather to exercise their right and responsibility as citizens. We call this annual gathering election day. Every four years we come together to elect the President. Every two years we come together to elect Congressmen. In addition, we vote for Governors and State representatives, as well as significant proposals. All of these things combined shape who we are as a nation.

                This time of the year tends to be a time fraught with anxiety and much hand wringing. Those whose party is currently in power worry that they will lose their control. Those whose party is not in power worry that they will not be able to gain control. Both sides of the aisle agonize over proposals that will have long-term consequences for all of us. In recent years, this anxiety has been stoked to a fever pitch. It has fostered anger, aggression, fear, and hopelessness. It has called into question the very system that has assured our freedom for generations. Some have even gone so far as to declare that if this current election doesn’t go their way it will be the end of democracy in America.

                As followers of Christ, we have not been immune to these trends. Many sincere Christians have been captured by a spirit of fear and discouragement. We have given in to the temptation to draw battle lines and stake our faith on the outcome. In all of this I think we have lost sight of who we are and who is really in control.

                The Bible makes it clear that the ebb and flow of our world will continue until Jesus returns. But the ebb and flow of our current society does not change the plans and purposes of God. God is still in control, even when we don’t see it. If we pay attention to the history of the people of Israel, we can see that God has used the ebb and flow of society to accomplish His purposes. As Pastor Larry Osborne has said, we need to remember that God is in control of those who are in control. Yes, even the ones who seemingly stand in opposition to the things of God.

                As a part of my daily devotions, I have been cycling through the book of Proverbs. I am on my third time through that book this year. Like many people, I had the idea that the book of Proverbs is a book of promises, but I have come to realize that it is not. It is a clear statement of the realities of the world we live in. Rather than promising us some blessing, it is stating what we can expect as we navigate this confusing and ever-changing world.

                Throughout Proverbs a common theme continues to emerge; God is in control. During the tumultuous time we find ourselves in, we can find comfort and courage in the assurance that even when things look the darkest, God is still in control. Let these words from Proverbs sink into your mind, your heart, and your soul, and give you comfort and courage to face the future.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:25-26 (NIV)

For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. Proverbs 5:21 (NIV)

The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil. Proverbs 10:29 (NIV)

The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous. Proverbs 15:29 (NIV)

The LORD works out everything for his own ends-- even the wicked for a day of disaster. Proverbs 16:4 (NIV)

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. Proverbs 16:33 (NIV)

A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way? Proverbs 20:24 (NIV)

The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases. Proverbs 21:1 (NIV)

HEALING OUR WOUNDS

 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)

                I was an accident-prone kid when I was growing up. If someone was going to get hurt, it was most likely me. I have the scars to prove it. I have often toyed with writing a book titled “My Life as a Crash-test Dummy.” All of those wounds have long ago healed. But I am also a sensitive person and that has caused me to suffer other wounds that no one can see from the outside. Some of those wounds that were inflicted a long time ago are still tender. Those internal wounds are not obvious, and so much harder to heal than physical wounds that are obvious.

                We all carry around with us our own set of wounds. Some of those are inflicted by others and some are self-inflicted. The scars from those wounds are always with us. If we are fortunate, many of those wounds have healed, but not all of them. There are some wounds that have cut so deep that even years later they still hurt. How can we bring healing to those places?

                The beginning of healing is bringing our hurt to God and accepting His grace and forgiveness. As Peter writes in 1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. We do not have to carry these burdens alone. By bringing them to Jesus, we allow Him to carry them with us. In fact, Jesus has invited us to share our burdens with Him. "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." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

                To fully accept the relief that Jesus offers us, we have to release our hurt to Him and accept the forgiveness He offers. This means that we have to forgive ourselves, before we can forgive others and begin to heal. Although others may have caused the initial wound, we are responsible for what we have done with that wound. Our natural tendency is to pick at the wound and keep it open. We allow it to fester and grow. As we bring our wounds to Jesus, we need to confess that we have allowed them to continue. We need to ask for His forgiveness and for the power to forgive ourselves. I know that not everyone is self-incriminating, but many of us are. We beat ourselves up for things we regret and refuse to truly let go of them. If we are ever going to heal, we need to bury our self-incrimination.

                Once we have brought our hurts to Jesus, and released them to Him, then we need to forgive those who have hurt us. The person who suffers the most from a lack of forgiveness is you. Someone has said that holding on to resentment and anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Forgiving others drains away the poison that damages our soul. If we want to heal our wounds, we need to forgive as Jesus forgave us; unconditionally. This means that there can be no stipulations to our forgiveness. We cannot make our forgiveness contingent upon the other person repenting, or changing, or making up for what they have done. Jesus forgave us with no strings attached. We must forgive others in the same way.

                Forgiving others is not excusing what they have done or letting them off the hook. Forgiveness doesn’t take away the consequences of the other person’s actions. Forgiving others frees us from the burden of carrying those actions ourselves. We no longer have to carry around our resentment, bitterness, and anger. We can move on with life in a more mature and wholesome way. An important part of this process is replacing those negative feelings with positive ones. As Paul wrote in Colossians 3, we are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

                Jesus was under no obligation to forgive us, yet He did willingly. Because we have been forgiven by Jesus, we can forgive others. If we will willingly forgive others, we can heal the hurts that plague us. The scars will remain as reminders of what has happened, but they will no longer cause us pain.

 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Luke 6:37-38 (NIV)

What is Shaping Your Daily Life?

 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.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV)

                I have been reading “You Are What You Love” by James Smith. In this book, the author is making the case that we are unconsciously shaped by the influences around us. He calls these influences “liturgies.” In a rather challenging chapter, he exegetes the Mall as a place of worship. He reveals the liturgies that the Mall offers to those who enter in. When viewed through this lens, it reveals just how much our daily lives are shaped by the influences all around us, and how this is happening subtly and is often not even on our radar screen.

                In many “Free Churches” we are leery of liturgy. We see liturgy as dead ritual; a going through the motions without any true heart response. Although liturgy can become this, it doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, as Mr. Smith points out, most of the learning that we do in life is formed through repetition. We learn how to read and write through repetition. We learn to play an instrument through repetition. We learn to play a sport through repetition. We learn a new language through repetition. So why shouldn’t we use repetition to learn and reenforce what we believe about God?

                Paul understood the importance of training our minds and hearts to live daily for Christ. In his letter to the Philippians, he challenged them to practice living out their faith. 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 4:9 (NIV) It was not enough for the Philippians to know what Paul taught, they had to actually apply it to their lives.

                We have placed much emphasis on gaining the correct spiritual information. We pride ourselves on knowing the right answers, but those answers don’t always translate into actions. If what we learn is going to shape our lives, we need to work that information into the daily liturgy of our life.

                Dallas Willard has written a book called “The Spirit of the Disciplines”. It is a powerful book that challenges us to develop a spiritual exercise routine that will actually shape the way we live our lives. This is done through learning to put into practice the ancient, traditional, spiritual disciplines of the church. These include worship, study, prayer, sacrifice, solitude, silence, community, hospitality and others. These disciplines, when used correctly, are not a list of rules to be kept, but a set of tools to be used to develop us into mature followers of Jesus Christ.

                Every athlete embraces a routine that allows them to become a better athlete. Every musician embraces a routine that allows them to become a better musician. As followers of Jesus, we need to embrace a routine that will allow us to become better followers. It cannot be hit and miss; it must be consistent and intentional. Just as an exercise program will benefit you only if you follow it faithfully, so a spiritual exercise program requires the same determination. As we incorporate these routines into our daily lives, they will become second nature to us. There will come a time when we don’t struggle to “get them done”, but when we naturally enter into them as the routine of our life.

                We are being shaped daily by the subtle liturgies of our world. We need to be honest with ourselves about that. We need to begin to recognize those influences for what they are. As followers of Christ, we have been called to consciously choose a better way.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)

THE FINGERPRINTS OF GOD

 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.

Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV)

                I recently finished reading Lee Strobel’s book, “The Case for a Creator.” Lee did a deep dive into the questions surrounding the origin and workings of our world. He shows how, as we dig deeper into the mysteries of our world, the evidence points to intelligent design and ultimately to God.  

                The most common explanation of the origin of our world is known as the Big Bang Theory. It was first proposed in 1927 by Belgian Catholic priest, theoretical physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and professor of physics George Lamaitrie. His theory has become the prominent concept of how our world began.

                In many ways, the Big Bang theory correlates with what is written, in poetic form, in Genesis. What baffles and amazes those who study these things is the precise fine tuning of our universe. It is so precise that it is statistically impossible for it to have happened by random chance. The vast universe in which we live declares that there is meaning and purpose in our world. Rather than an accident of undirected chance, it is a masterfully put together, finely tuning environment suited for the creation and sustaining of life. Those who have committed their lives to the study of our universe are more and more embracing the uniqueness of the earth and its place in the universe.

                If we zero in more closely on the earth itself, we begin to see that God has left his fingerprints all over it. There is a period in geological history known as the Cambrian period. During this time there was something called the Cambrian explosion, where vastly diverse species of animals appeared on the earth, seemingly all at once. This explosion created a world full of diversity. This world could have been a mono-chromatic world, but instead, it is a world immersed in color. This world could have been populated with relatively few creatures, but instead, we live in a world filled with a vast array of very different creatures. The diversity of our world points to the creativity of God.

                If we look in the mirror, we can see the fingerprints of God as well. The Bible tells us that we were created uniquely in the image of God. There are many aspects of what it means to be human that reflect this concept. But one of them that stands out from the rest is that we are self-conscious beings. We are not only aware of our surrounding, but we understand that we are separate from them. We have a consciousness that cannot be explained completely by our biology. We do not just act instinctually, but react in a variety of ways with our environment. We can think about the past, present and future. We can think about the consequences and the benefits of our actions and choose the course we desire to take. Of all the creatures on the face of the earth, we humans have the ability to change and transform our environment like none other.

                We know that the fingerprints of every human being are unique. But our fingerprints are not obvious at first sight. They must be revealed. God’s fingerprints are unique. They are not obvious at first, but when we take the time to look closely, we can see them all over our world. There are many in our world today, who for various reasons, are trying to convince us that our world is just the outcome of random chance, and has no ultimate meaning and purpose. But if we look at the world around us and within us, the evidence points in a vary different direction. We have been intentionally created to know God and to be known by Him. God has placed his fingerprints on our world and on our heart.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:18-20 (NIV)

THE ULTIMATE VIDEO GAME

  Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

                Video games are very popular. I have tried my had at several video games over the years, although I fall far short of being a gamer. The best video games are the ones that take strategy and require the player to make choices, which affect the outcome of the game.

                Video games are designed to give the player multiple options. Each choice opens up a different pathway that the gamer can follow. Some pathways lead to victory and others lead to defeat. The gamer doesn’t know which is which until he or she has traveled down the path. When a gamer enters a game, they are free to make their own choices, even though the programmer has determined ahead of time the outcome of those choices.

                One of the great debates in Christian theology is the debate between free will and predestination. This debate is often cast in very black and white terms, with no middle ground. As I read the Bible, I am convinced that there is a middle path that acknowledges both sides of the equation without negating either one.

                There are many classic verses that are used to support the concept of predestination. Romans 8:29-30 is one example. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. This passage seems to clearly teach that God predestines our lives.

                There are also passages that suggest that God has given to us free will, and has allowed us to choose our own pathway. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 is an example of this side of the equation. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In this passage, God, through Moses, is clearly giving the people of Israel a real choice.

                So which is it; free will or predestination? I would like to suggest that video games may give us a clue to discovering a middle way. As beings, created in the image of God, we have been given the gift of consciousness. We are self-conscious, in the sense that we are aware of ourselves as distinct, unique beings. Our self-consciousness allows us to evaluate our surroundings and choose the course of action we want to take. This is an act of free will, which reflects the free will of our Heavenly Father. Without free will, there are really no choices, no real options, only preprogrammed responses to certain stimuli.

                Given that we have the gift of free will, we do not have control over the outcome of our choices. Here is where the illustration of a video game comes into play. I believe that God has designed the world like a video programmer. He has designed the world with real choices that affect the pathway that a person will travel. At the same time, he has predetermined the outcome of those choices. Rather than leading us toward victory or defeat, each choice is leading us closer or father away from God. Every choice we make will send us in one of those two directions. If I take choice A, it will lead me to sin, pain, and hurt. If I take choice B, it will lead me to joy, grace, and fulfillment.

                To clarify my point, I believe that God has determined in advance the outcomes of the choices we make, but has given us the freedom to make our own choice. If we go back to Deuteronomy 30, we see Moses clearly laying out the outcome of the choices before the people of Israel. Then he calls them to choose their path. In the same way, I believe that God continually sets before us choices with predetermined outcomes and then invites us to choose.

                C.S. Lewis touched on this idea when he said that each choice we make is shaping us into the being we will be in eternity. We are either becoming more and more like Christ or less and less like Christ. The good news is that with every choice we make God’s grace is available. No matter how far down the wrong path we have taken, there is always an off ramp that can redirect our lives back toward God. God is at work within us, guiding and directing us through the Holy Spirit, but we still have the option to make our own choice, for which we will be responsible.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

A DEEPER LOOK AT CONFORMITY

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)

                We all feel the pressure to conform in one way or another. We may feel the pressure to conform to the culture around us or the sub-culture that we identify with. Usually, conformity takes the form of outward appearance. We put our emphasis on the obvious; the way a person dresses, the political stance a person takes, the way a person responds to the moral issues of the day.

                As believers in Christ, we have most often placed our emphasis of not conforming to the current moral culture of our day. We tell ourselves that we are not conforming to the world because we have an orthodox view of marriage, sexuality, drugs, alcohol and the like. We pride ourselves in not giving into the pressure all around us to compromise our moral stand. On the surface, this is commendable, but it misses the point of what Paul wrote in Romans 12.

                Satan has masterfully used the hot button issues of our day to mask the ways that he subtly pulls us into his plan. The way that we respond to these issues reveals that we may be more conformed to the value system of the world than we realize.

                In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made it very clear that God is more concerned about what is going on in our hearts than our actions, even though our actions are important.  This point was brought home clearly by God in 1 Samuel 16. God was directing Samuel to choose the next king of Israel to replace King Saul. Samuel was impressed by David’s older brothers, but God saw things differently. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

                God is much more concerned that our hearts are in the right place than that we take the “correct” stance on any current issue. How we respond to the issues of our day speaks volumes about where our heart really is. There are several ways that Satan has subtly manipulated us to conform to the pattern of this world. These have become fairly obvious during our recent period of social upheaval. Looks look at a couple of them.

                Satan has manipulated us into an attitude of rebellion instead of an attitude of submission. From the debates over wearing masks and taking vaccines to the insurrection over the outcome of the presidential election, we have seen many believers blatantly rebelling against submission to those in authority. Yet the Bible clearly tells us that we are to have an attitude of submission not rebellion. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13:1-2 (NIV) Keep in mind that when Paul wrote these words Nero was on the throne. No matter what we think about those who are currently in political leadership, we have a responsibility to submit to their authority.

                Satan has manipulated us into an attitude of hate and anger at those who are on the other side of the issues from us. That applies to both sides of the equation. Instead of treating others with respect, we vilify and condemn them. We feel justified in our “righteous anger” but our hearts are far from where God wants us to be. As it says in James 1:19-20, My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Jesus told us that if we are to be a follower of His, we need to change our attitude toward those who oppose us. "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:43-44 (NIV)

                Satan has manipulated us into an attitude of combativeness. If there is anything that characterizes our world today it is that we are divided. We have bought into the “us vs them” attitude that so pervades our world. We create our little enclaves to protect ourselves and then we throw stones at all those who don’t fit into our group. Again, it doesn’t matter which side of the current debates you are on, we all share the same attitude. If you are not a part of my group, then you are my enemy and I must resist you. This is counter to what Jesus taught us. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus made it clear that even those who are different from us are our neighbor. As followers of Christ, we are called to be peace makers. We are to build bridges to those who are different from us, not walls to keep them out. As Paul says in Romans 12:18, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

                The issues of our day are important, but how we respond to those issues is even more important. God wants us to be filled with grace and compassion, recognizing that every person has value in His eyes. He calls us to resist conforming to the patterns of this world by having our very mind transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Colossians 4:5-6 (NIV)