BEGINNING WELL

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)

                Every part of a race is important, but beginning and ending well is critical. If a person has a poor start or stumbles over the finish line, it really doesn’t matter how the rest of the race went. This is true of all of life. If a person fails to give their best effort at the beginning, they spend the rest of their time trying to catch up. This often leads to a poor finish.

                 We measure our lives by years. Although the beginning of a new year is an arbitrary designation, it does mark a benchmark in life. At the beginning of each new year, we get a chance to make a new beginning. We can determine to live a better, more productive life in the year to come. When we string a series of these “best efforts” together, our chances of finishing well increase.

                 Another way of looking at this is to think of life as a series of seasons. Sports revolves around set seasons. We are coming to the end of the football season. For many teams, their season is already over. Every coach is looking ahead to next season and how they can strengthen their team. Every team wants to end their season well and then carry that success into the beginning of the next season. The period in between seasons is a time to evaluate and prepare for the next season.

                Beginning well is all about developing the proper perspective. The more that we understand our purpose and goal, the better we will perform. As followers of Christ, it is important for us to look at our lives through a set of three filters that help us to run the best race that we can.

                 We first need to look through the filter of our end goal. Who do we want to be and what do we want to have accomplished by the end of our race. Looking at the end goal can keep us on track and help us to avoid dead ends that can hinder our progress. As Paul looked at his life, he always kept the goal of truly knowing Christ before him. Paul clearly articulated that goal in Philippians 3:7-11.

                But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

                 We next need to look at the seasons of our life. What season am I in right now? What are the pluses and minuses of this time of life? How can I best use this season of my life for the cause of Christ? Each season of life comes with challenges to face and opportunities to grasp. Knowing what season you are in can help you to make critical decisions about what is most important right now.  Although in every season of life, there will be times of intense activity and times of less activity, we can never afford to put our life on auto-pilot and just coast. Again, Paul expressed this well in Philippians 3:12-14. 

                Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

                 The third filter is the present year before me. What do I need to do this year to move me toward my desired goals as a believer? How can I use this year to grow spiritually and to bear fruit for Christ? It is important, at the beginning of each new year, to set realistic goals that can motivate us to keep striving toward the ultimate goal. Every year counts. The way we live our lives in the present will shape who we become and how we will end our race. Paul challenges us to be intentional about how we live today.

                Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

                 As we launch into a new year, it is important that we begin well. We can set a pace for genuine, spiritual growth in the new year. At the beginning of the new year, it is important to put things into proper perspective. To put it in sports terms; we need to look at the game, the season, and the legacy. Each game (year) builds toward a successful season. Each season builds toward an enduring legacy. What kind of a legacy do you want to build toward this year?

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

STILL AMAZED

 John 1:14 (NIV)

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.

               I confess that I have always been sentimental about Christmas. Even as a young boy, I would get choked up when we sung certain Christmas carols. Unfortunately, that has only gotten worse as I have grown older. We attended our grandchildren’s Christmas program recently and when we were asked to sing Silent Night with the children, I found it hard to sing. I think the reason I get so emotional at Christmas is because of how amazing Christmas really is. Christmas celebrates the most amazing event of all of human history, the very creator of the world entered our world in the form of a baby. What could be more amazing than that?

               There are many things about the Christmas event that still amaze me. I am amazed at how God orchestrated events so that Jesus was born at the right time in the right place.

Luke 2:1-7 (NIV)
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.

               The prophet Micah had predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. God used Caesar Augustus to move Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem in time for Jesus to be born there.

               I am amazed at the response of both Mary and Joseph to this entire event. Mary willingly took on the role of being Jesus’ mother, even though it meant that she would be misunderstood and possibly shunned. Joseph, in the same way, took Mary as his wife, knowing that the child she bore was not his own. Yet, when the time came, Joseph claimed Jesus as his own.

               I am amazed that God chose to send Jesus as a baby, with all of the inherent risks that went along with that. The infant mortality rate at that time was 50%. There were no vaccines, no pediatricians, no health care as we know it. It was quite a risk. Also, Jesus grew up in a dangerous time, as Rome solidified its hold on the Middle East.

               I am amazed at the indifference of the very people who were looking for the coming of the Messiah. Mathew’s gospel tells us that when Herod inquired of the chief priests and teachers of the Law where the Messiah was to be born, they gave the right answer. What is more amazing is that they did nothing with it. Herod sent the Magi to seek out the child, but the chief priests and teachers of the Law stayed home in Jerusalem.

               John tells us that when Jesus came into the world, the very people who had been prepared to receive him failed to do so. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:11 (NIV) After looking forward to the coming of the Messiah for centuries, they failed to recognize Him when He arrived.

               I am amazed that God chose to reveal the reality of the Messiah coming to unexpected people. He announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds. Shepherds lived on the fringe of society. Because they had to care for the sheep and often had to deal with dead animals, they were barred from participation in worship. Ironically, the shepherds we cared for the sheep that would eventually become sacrifices at the temple, could not enter the temple themselves. Yet, God chose to reveal the truth of Jesus’ birth to them.

Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

               If that was not enough, God revealed the birth of Jesus to Magi from the east. These Magi were both spiritual and political leaders in the Medo-Persian empire. No one could sit on the throne without their blessing. God showed them a sign that a new king had been born in Israel and so they made the long journey to acknowledge and worship him.

Matthew 2:1-2 (NIV)
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

               Still today, God reveals the reality of Jesus to those who are available and open to His message. The message of Christmas, that a Savior has been born to you, is still for all those who will joyfully receive it.

John 1:12-13 (NIV)
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

               I am still amazed every Christmas that God loves us so much that He sent Jesus into the world. Christmas is the greatest gift that the world has ever received. Many have received that gift with joy. Many have still left that gift unwrapped and unappreciated.

Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)
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."

GOD STILL SPEAKS

 Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV)

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.

               One of the things that stands out to me about the Christmas season is how hard it is for people to ignore Jesus. There is a new Christmas movie this year about a genie entering our world at Christmas. In the promo for the movie, there is a dialog between the main character and the genie. The genie asks the man what Christmas is all about. He tells her that it is a celebration of Jesus’ birth. She announces that she knew Jesus. Then the man says that we believe that Jesus is the Son of God. The genie is taken aback and states, I thought he was kidding. I think there are many people who embrace the Christmas story as a nice story, but don’t take it seriously.

               I have been reading a book by J.I. Packer called God Has Spoken.  It is a defense of the Bible. Packer makes the case that God has spoken in the past and is still speaking today through His word and through His church. Twice a year the reality that God is still speaking to our world comes to the forefront: Easter and Christmas. On both occasions the world tries to hide the true meaning of these events by overlaying them with superficial mythology. But God continues to speak all the same.

               On my drive into church, I pass four different billboards, which declare that Jesus is the true center of Christmas. I was in a store the other day and next to Jiggle Bells and I’ll Be Home for Christmas I heard Away in a Manger and Silent Night being played. As I drive through various neighborhoods I see snowmen, reindeer, and nativity scenes all missed together. People cannot ignore Jesus, even though they try.

               We can choose to not listen to God’s voice or we can tune in to what He is saying to us. All around us, God is declaring His glory and inviting us to join Him. The world He created shouts about His power, creativity, and ingenuity. The Bible invites us to get to know the character of God in a personal way. Not only is He a God of power and justice, but He is a God of love, grace, and mercy. Jesus came on that first Christmas to fully reveal God to humanity. He came to make the unknowable knowable, the untouchable touchable, the distant near, the eternal finite. As Hebrews tells us, 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. Hebrews 1:3 (NIV)

               Almost everyone is drawn to a baby. When our first son was just a baby, we took a trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior. Everywhere we went total strangers would come up to us and comment of our baby. He acted like a magnet that drew people to us. God knows the human heart. He knows how to get around our defenses so that we can encounter Him. So He chose to enter our world as a baby. If He had come as a warrior or a king, we might have revered Him or bowed to Him, but we would not have gotten close to Him. But when He came as a baby, He invited us to come near and to experience His love. Each year at Christmas, God sends the same message to the world. God is still speaking for those who have ears to hear and hearts that are open.

Luke 2:8-20 (NIV)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 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. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

A TIME FOR PEACE

 Luke 2:14 (NIV)

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

               As I drove into the office this morning, I heard the latest report from Gaza. Israel continues to push its military advance against Hamas. There is no peace in Israel today. The war in Ukraine continues to grind on. There is no peace in Ukraine today. Throughout the world there is turmoil of all kinds. Although there is peace where I live, there is little peace on earth.

               The Christmas season is supposed to be a time of joy and of peace. Yet for so many people there is no peace. So, has the message of the angels failed? The answer to that question is a resounding NO! The message that the angels gave to the shepherds is still valid today for all who will seek the Prince of Peace.

               The peace that the angels declared was not the absence of strife, but the reality of a new relationship with the Living God. The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom. It means inner peace, well-being, blessing even in the face of difficulties. There is a peace that passes understanding and it is found in the babe born in Bethlehem.

               We can have peace even in a time of turmoil and upheaval. It is a peace that comes when we take our eyes off of our circumstances and put them on God. In Philippians 4, Paul challenges us to place our confidence in the one who can sustain us no matter what.

Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)
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.

               No matter what is going on around us, we can hold onto the reality that the Lord is always near to us. Jesus promised that he will never abandon us or forsake us. Because the Lord is near, we can take all of our concerns to Him with confidence. And He promises to replace our anxiety with His peace.

               The Psalmist put into words the confidence we can have in the Lord, especially in difficult times.

Psalms 46:1-7 (NIV)
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

               He ends this Psalm with words of confidence and hope. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Psalms 46:10-11 (NIV)

               For many people, the Christmas season is a positive time of joy and hope. It is a season to set aside all of the turmoil in the world and experience peace, if only for a short time. For many others, the Christmas season is a time of heartache and grief. It is anything but a time of peace. Paul again speaks to both groups. True peace is not temporary or out of our grasp. It is available to all who will personally encounter the babe born in Bethlehem, just as the shepherds did.

2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NIV)
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
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.

               Jesus knew full well that the world we live in would be filled with trouble and hardship. He knew that because of sin, there would be little political peace in our world. But He promised us that through Him we can have peace even in a world in turmoil. "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." John 16:33 (NIV)

               The message that the angels gave to the shepherds is still true. God has come into our world in the form of a baby to bring genuine peace to all who will seek Him. That baby grew into a man who revealed the true nature of God and who willingly took upon Himself the sin of the world, in order to set us free and to give us lasting peace.

Isaiah 9:2 (NIV)
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
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.

ANTICIPATION

 Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)

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.

               This is the season of anticipation. This anticipation is increased by all of the holiday hype. But lurching just in the shadows of seasonal anticipation is impatience. We are told that we must buy now before the sales end. We want everything shipped next day. We don’t want to wait in lines or take the time to go to the store, so we buy on-line. It seems like we are being rushed to get through the season as quickly as possible.

               The people of Israel were promised that a redeemer from the line of David would come and rescue the people. They called him the Messiah, the Anointed One. They longed for his coming. They looked for his coming. But they also got impatient. On more than one occasion, they took matters into their own hands and tried to manufacture the fulfillment of God’s promise, but it never worked. It only increased their impatience. Ironically, when the Messiah finally arrived, the majority of people missed it. In their impatience, they created an image of the Messiah that blinded them to the real Messiah.

               As followers of Jesus, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Messiah. But we are also called to live in anticipation of His return. The beginning of the story of Jesus’ ministry on earth took place in Bethlehem. But the end of the story is yet to come. When Jesus comes again, He will rescue His people from sin and death for all of eternity. But until that time, we must wait and anticipate His return.

               Jesus said that no one will know the time of His return. Instead, He told us to be ready at any time. We are to live in anticipation of the day when He will again break into His creation.

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36 (NIV)

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

Matthew 24:42 (NIV)

               The church has been waiting for over 2000 years for Jesus to return. Many have become impatient and have tried to calculate Jesus’ return, often with damaging effect. Early in my ministry I received an unsolicited copy of a book titled “88 Reasons Why Jesus will Return in 1988.” When Jesus did not return in 1988, the book was reissued as “89 Reasons Why Jesus will Return in 1989.” We can shake our heads and discount efforts like this, yet many people have been caught up in these theories and have made some bad decisions because of them.

               These failed efforts to calculate the return of Christ have served to fuel the fires of skepticism and scorn for the Gospel. The world mocks people who take the return of Christ seriously. They point to 2000 years of waiting and conclude that there is no substance to the promise. But they are wrong, very wrong. If we can learn anything from the history of the people of Israel, God’s timing is never humanity’s timing.

               Peter warned us long ago that the world would reject the reality of Jesus return. In his second letter, he lays out the scenario that we find ourselves in today.

2 Peter 3:3-10 (NIV)
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.

               Peter was clear that we could expect the world to become impatient and to turn against us. He reminds us that God’s timing is not our timing. God’s patience means increased opportunity for more people to come to faith in Him. He is not impatient to end the story of humanity. He is giving the world a chance to repent and turn toward Him.

               But Peter goes on to address those of us who are anticipating Christ’s return. In light of God’s patience and the reality that one day Jesus will return, how should we live our lives new?

2 Peter 3:11-13 (NIV)
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

               Peter tells us to live lives of anticipation. We are be intentional about living holy and righteous lives in the present and to keep our eyes on the horizon. We are to live in eager expectation of Christ’s return and the new world that He will usher into existence at that time.

               The Advent season is indeed a time of anticipation. It is appropriate for us to look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ with our family and friends. But it should also fuel our anticipation of the day when Jesus will return in power and glory. The greatest gift we can give to Jesus is to faithfully serve Him until He comes.

Matthew 24:45-47 (NIV)
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE THANKFUL?

Colossians 4:2 (NIV)
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

               As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we are reminded that we ought to be thankful. But what does that really mean? Most people don’t really take thankfulness seriously. Their thanks are superficial at best. Saying thank you has become a courtesy with little substance behind it. So, what does it mean for us to be genuinely thankful.

               It begins by being intentional about recognizing the blessings we have received. Not only do we take so many things for granted, we often see them as our right. Rather than being thankful, we presume upon the blessings we have received. For us to be truly thankful, we need to consciously recognize and name our blessings. Like the old hymn says, count your blessings, name them one by one.

               Let’s name just a few of the blessing many of us take for granted. I have never truly gone hungry. Throughout my life there has always been food on the table. I know that is not true for everyone, but it is for the vast majority of us. I have never not had clothes to wear. I may not have had the latest fashions or the best brands, but I have always had clothes to wear. In fact, I have more clothes than I actually need. Most of us have a closet filled with clothes at our disposal. I have never been homeless. From the time I was born until this day I have had a place to call home. There are homeless people in our world, but most of us do not live among us. All of these things and more are blessings from God that we take for granted.

               I think the second thing we need to do to be truly thankful is to value our blessings. We live in a society that devalues what we have and over values what we do not have. The cell phone in our pocket is never good enough. The car we drive is never good enough. The home we live in is never good enough. Instead of valuing our blessings, we tend to demean them.

               The Apostle Paul took a very different view. He said that the foundation for a truly thankful life is contentment. True contentment is enjoying and celebrating what we have, not obsessing with what we do not have. Look at what Paul says in Philippians 4:11-13.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

               We can be content in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, if we get our eyes off of what we do not have and onto the blessings the Lord has already provided.

               That leads me to the last component of being truly thankful. We need to acknowledge to whom we are giving thanks. For most people, thankfulness floats in a vacuum. They know that they should be thankful, and them may even feel thankful, but they don’t focus on to whom they should give thanks.

               Twenty times in the book of Psalms we are commanded to give thanks to the Lord. As James has said, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV) Every blessing that we receive comes from the hand of God. He has done this because of His everlasting love for us. His desire is to fill our lives with good things. He doesn’t do this because we somehow deserve these blessings. He does it out of His mercy and grace toward us. The Psalmist put this in perspective for us in Psalm 103.

Psalms 103:1-5 (NIV)
Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalms 103:13-18 (NIV)
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.

               As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, we can just go through the motions, or we can be intentionally and genuinely thankful. If we are going to be truly thankful there are at least three things we need to do. Intentionally acknowledge and celebrate all of the blessings we have received. Give those blessings the value that they deserve. And express our thanks to the one who is the author of every blessing.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

  

LIVING UNDER THE SHADOW OF DEATH

 Psalms 23:4 (NIV)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

               This morning as I drove into the office I got run over by the shadow of a semi-truck. I am very glad it was the truck’s shadow and not the actual truck. The outcome would have been very different. If we are caught by surprise, a shadow can frighten us, but it cannot harm us. A shadow can make us aware of some presence, but it has no real substance itself.

               The Psalmist David wrote that even if he walked in the shadow of death, he would not be afraid. He knew that his life was in the hands of his good shepherd. All of us are walking in the valley of the shadow of death. Some days we are aware of this shadow. Most days we are not.

               I am in the process of preparing for a special event titled “First Christmas in Heaven.” It is a time for people who have lost a loved one during this past year to gather to remember and to grieve together. This year I will be joining the group not just as the speaker, but as a fellow mourner. I lost two significant people from my life this year; my mother and my older brother. It has caused me to reflect upon the reality of the shadow of death.

               Death is the reality that few people want to think about. Someone once said that when it comes to the statistics regarding death, the odds are against us. 100% of human beings will die. The only question is when. Some will die young and some will die old, and many will die somewhere in between. Most people, at least in the Western world, try to distance themselves from death. They don’t want to think about it, especially when it comes to their own demise. In some ways, people spend their lives running away from death. They join health clubs, take multiple supplements, and even have cosmetic surgery in an attempt to distance themselves from death. But in the end, all of these efforts are futile. Death always wins.

               But we don’t have to live that way. In fact, we can face death head on without fear. How? By placing our faith in Jesus Christ. When Mary and Martha were faced with the death of their brother Lazarus, Jesus came to them and gave them a whole new perspective on death. Jesus said to her (Martha), "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NIV) Jesus took the finality out of death by declaring that He is the source of life eternal. Even though we will have to face physical death, it is only a shadow. Our physical death is the birth channel into eternal life with Christ.

               Paul picked up on this new reality in his first letter to the Corinthians. He pointed them past death to the reality of the resurrection and the new life that awaits us. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 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. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (NIV)

               Paul gave us further words of hope and encouragement as we face death in his first letter to the Thessalonians. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)

               Death is the ultimate reality that every human being has to face. It is a formidable enemy that we cannot defeat. In the end, death will always win. For those who have rejected God and the message of the Gospel, the shadow of death will become the darkness of an eternity separated from the light of God. But for the believer in Christ, death is only a shadow that we must pass through. On the other side of that shadow is the light of life found in Jesus Christ. He will dispel the shadow of death and welcome us into the light of eternal life in Him.

Philippians 1:21 (NIV)
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

 

 

THE ARROGANCE OF OUR SENSES

 Colossians 1:16 (NIV)

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.

               We have been blessed with what are referred to as our five senses: taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing. It is through these five senses that we encounter our world on a daily basis. From the time we are born, we explore and learn about the world through them. They are amazing tools that we really take for granted most of the time. They are always running in the background, so to speak. Yet, they are constantly gathering information about our world that is stored in our brain and shapes the way we interact with our world.

               The hard sciences are based on the use of our five senses. They interpret our world through what is tangible and encounterable. As a biology major in college, I was enthralled with getting into the lab and seeing for myself the things we talked about in class. Doing the experiments was the highlight of every class for me. There is so much we can learn about our world through the avenue of science. Using our five senses, we can make so many amazing discoveries.

               But there is a problem. Not everything in our world is tangible. Not everything in our world can be taken into the lab and explored. There are things that are intangible, yet very real. In this case our five senses tend to work against us. We can fall into the trap of tangibility. If I can not see it, touch it, smell it, taste it, or hear it, then it must not be real. Only that which is tangible is really real.

               The social sciences have struggled with this. They deal with many of the intangibles of our world. They try to understand human nature and make sense of things that are not easily tested in a lab. They have defined some of the intangibles, such as feelings, motives, and ideas. These things create tangible actions and consequences in our world. But even the social sciences stop short of really exploring the intangible world around us. They limit their study, for the most part, to the boundaries of human interactions.

               When we enter into the realm of theology, we open up a can of worms that seems to be in conflict with the tangible world in which we live. Theology tells us that there is an intangible world that coexists along side of our tangible world. This intangible world interacts with and influences our tangible world, but in ways that are hard to discern. If we limit ourselves to the tangible world, every action has to be explained in some tangible way. When we open the door to the intangible, things get more complicated.

               In the ancient word, and some non-western societies today, the spiritual world was readily accepted as a reality. They believed in demons and angels, spiritual powers and influences, that influenced the world in which they lived. Today, many people see this as superstition and fantasy. The only real world is the one we live is; there is nothing beyond our tangible world.

               As believers in Christ, we are caught in the middle of this debate. We fully recognize the tangible world in which we live and how our five senses inform our understanding of the world. At the same time, we accept that there is also an intangible, spiritual world that is just as real and has the power to influence our tangible world in ways that we cannot fully comprehend. The Bible refers to these entities as angels, demons, principalities, and powers. They are a part of the created order. Colossians 1: 16 tells us that Christ is the one who created these beings for his purposes. They are all under his authority, even those who are in rebellion against him. Just as there are opposing forces of good and evil in our tangible world, there are opposing forces of good and evil in the intangible world. Human beings, created in the image of God and commissioned to be His representatives on earth, are the ultimate battleground in which these opposing forces contend. The actions of the spiritual world have direct effects upon the physical world. What we see as a clash of philosophy or culture is actually the product of the clash in the spiritual realm.

               Paul challenges us, in Ephesians 6:12, to accept the reality of these intangible forces that produce tangible consequences in our world. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. The powers of darkness and the powers of light are in a constant struggle to win the hearts and minds of humanity. The powers of darkness want to pull us away from God and Christ. The powers of light are drawing us toward God and Christ. Every struggle we face in life comes down to this. Will this struggle sour me toward God or encourage me to seek Him more fully?

               Here is where the arrogance of our five senses comes in. If we limit our understanding of life to our five senses, then we must limit the solutions to our problems to the tangible world. There is no resource, outside of human ingenuity, that can help us deal with life. But if we are willing to acknowledge the reality of the intangible world, it opens up the possibility for us to tap into a source of power, found in Christ, that can overcome any of our tangible issues. Acknowledging the intangible actually empowers us to deal with the tangible in better ways. This takes humility; the humility to acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers, nor can we discover them. It is the humility to allow God to step into our life and take control.

               Bottomline, the tangible world is temporary and transient. Everything in this world will eventually pass away. In fact, that is the very thing that humanity is most afraid of. We put enormous effort in preserving and sustaining this life, because it is all that we have. The intangible world, on the other hand, is eternal. It is not transient and it will not pass away. If we are willing to connect these two worlds, through our faith in the one who created them both, then we can truly experience life.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)
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.

 

SAINTS AND SINNERS

 Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

               When I was growing up Halloween was just a fun event for children. We did not think ghouls and goblins were real, so it was all make-believe fun. In fact, our church often had a Halloween party in the basement of the church complete with costumes, games, food and candy. 

               Today, Halloween has taken on a much more sinister persona. Although many children see it still as a fun night to dress up and go door to door gathering candy, some adults have co-opted the evening for less innocent activities. The emphasis on evil spirits and witches has lent a satanic bent on the event. Secular people who laugh at the idea of a real spirit world, use the night for uninhibited revelry, often with negative consequences. 

               So how did this whole thing get started. Why is there a Halloween? The answer may surprise you. Halloween actually has its roots in the Church. Halloween falls on the evening before the Christian holy days of All Hallows Day, also known as All Saints' Day, on 1 November, and All Souls Day on 2 November, thus giving the holiday on 31 October the full name of All Hallows' Eve (meaning the evening before All Hallows' Day). These three days are collectively referred to as Allhallowtide and are a time for honoring the saints and praying for the recently departed souls who have yet to reach Heaven. All Saints was introduced in the year 606, but was originally celebrated on 13 May. In 835, it was switched to 1 November. On All Hallows' Eve, Christians in some parts of the world still visit graveyards to pray and place flowers and candles on the graves of their loved ones.

                "Souling", the custom of baking and sharing soul cakes for all christened souls, has been suggested as the origin of trick-or-treating. The custom dates back at least as far as the 15th century and was found in parts of England, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy. Groups of poor people, often children, would go door-to-door during Allhallowtide, collecting soul cakes, in exchange for praying for the dead, especially the souls of the givers' friends and relatives. Shakespeare mentions the practice in his comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. 

                The custom of wearing costumes has been explained by Prince Sorie Conteh, who wrote: "It was traditionally believed that the souls of the departed wandered the earth until All Saints' Day, and All Hallows' Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving to the next world. In order to avoid being recognized by any soul that might be seeking such vengeance, people would don masks or costumes to disguise their identities".

                 Folklorist Kingsley Palmer has suggested that the carved jack-o'-lantern, a popular symbol of Halloween, originally represented the souls of the dead. On Halloween, in medieval Europe, "fires were lit to guide these souls on their way and deflect them from haunting honest Christian folk." In addition, households in Austria, England, and Ireland often had "candles burning in every room to guide the souls back to visit their earthly homes". These were known as "soul lights". 

                Many Christians in Europe, especially in France, acknowledged "a belief that once a year, on Hallowe'en, the dead of the churchyards rose for one wild, hideous carnival," known as the danse macabre, which was commonly depicted in church decoration, especially on the walls of cathedrals, monasteries, and cemeteries.  The danse macabre urged people not to forget the end of all earthly things." This danse macabre, which was enacted by "Christian village children who celebrated the vigil of All Saints" in the 16th Century, has been suggested as the predecessor of modern-day costume parties on this same day.

                With regard to the evil spirits on Halloween, "barns and homes were blessed to protect people and livestock from the effect of witches, who were believed to accompany the malignant spirits as they traveled the earth." In the 19th century, in some rural parts of England, families gathered on hills on the night of All Hallows' Eve. One held a bunch of burning straw on a pitchfork while the rest knelt around him in a circle, praying for the souls of relatives and friends until the flames went out.

                Many Evangelicals today want to distance themselves from Halloween, for many different reasons. I am not advocating for Halloween, but I think it can serve as a reminder to us of some truths we so easily forget.

                All of us have come to faith on the shoulders of those saints who have gone before us. The Bible is clear that every believer is a saint. The term saint refers to anyone who has responded to God’s offer of salvation and by God’s grace has been set apart for His service. It is all too common today for church members to be ignorant of church history in general and denominational history specifically. The danger of this is that we cut ourselves loose from the spiritual foundation upon which our faith is built. We begin to believe that our generation is the only one who understands the truth and that history has nothing to teach us. In that we are sadly mistaken. Many churches are in danger of giving up certain fundamental practices and beliefs because they don’t understand how and why they came to be.

                The writer of Hebrews stressed the importance of remaining connected with those who have run the race before us. In Hebrews 11, he goes to great lengths to remind us of our spiritual heritage. Then he begins chapter 12 with these words. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

                Another thing that we have lost as a society is our connection to family. Not just our immediate family, but to our historical family. We tend to live such isolated, independent lives that we give little thought to our personal history. Understanding where we have come from and what influences have shaped our lives is essential for being a whole person. None of us was born into a vacuum; we were all born into a family, warts and all. In the Old Testament, honoring and respecting one’s family and heritage was very important. The Jews kept meticulous records of family connections all the way back to the patriarchs. This was especially true for the priests and Levites. In fact, nestled in the center of the ten commandments is the command to honor your father and mother. This command extended well beyond the nuclear family.

                There is one other truth that Halloween should remind us of; the reality of the spiritual world, both good and evil. There is a whole spiritual realm of angels and demons that are actively involved in our world. We most often live oblivious to this reality. That does not diminish its influence. The Bible speaks often of God sending his angels to guide and protect his people. It also speaks of the evil spirits in the world that seek to do harm to God’s people. Paul reminds us of this in Ephesians 6:12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Paul goes on to tell us to take this seriously by putting on the whole armor of God so we can take our stand against such evil forces.  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

               We often see ancient times and primitive societies as superstitious and backward. In our scientific age, we tend to discount anything that cannot be tested in some tangible way. But in many ways, those who we view as primitive were and are more in tune with the spiritual realities of this world than we are. We often deny what the Bible clearly teaches is a present reality.

                There are many inappropriate and even evil aspects to Halloween as it is observed today. There is also still an innocent, playful aspect as well. But behind it there is some spiritual truth. We are not on this journey through life alone. We are connected with our fellow travelers from the past, the present and the future.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3

 

   

 

WHY SHOULD I?

 1 Peter 4:2 (NIV)

As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

               Anyone who has raised children or works with children has faced the persistent question of “why.” Children are notorious for responding to directives by adults with “why.” Much of the time they ask why out of curiosity. They really do want to understand. They want to know more about this world that we live in. Why is the sky blue? Why do birds fly south in the winter? Why do the leaves turn colors in the autumn? But there is another category of why questions that is more a statement of resistance or even defiance. Why do I have to go to school? Why do I have to go to bed at 8:00 PM? Why do I have to do what you tell me to do? One why is given with an open mind and heart. The other why is given with a closed heart and crossed arms.

               In the ancient world everyone believed in some god or gods. They saw the gods as having a direct impact upon their everyday lives. When they asked why, they were usually trying to understand why some misfortune had befallen them. There are many people today who do not believe in the existence of a god, in any form.  For many of them, when they ask why, it is a question of control. Believing that they are in total control of their lives, they ask “why do I need to believe in God?”

               From a human perspective, the question, why should I follow the directives in the Bible, is a real question. They see all that the world has to offer to them as positive and good. The world offers them fun, fulfillment, and maximum enjoyment. To them, the Bible is restrictive and archaic. Why should I live a life of self-denial when a life of self-indulgence is at my fingertips?  

               At the heart of this question is the existence of God. Not just any god, but the God who created and sustains all that is; things we see and things we do not see. If this supreme God does not exist, then I am free to live my life however I want to. But if this supreme God does exist, then I have an obligation to listen to what He has to say.

               Many people today see Christianity as only a moral code that does not mix well with our current world. If Christianity is just another moral code among many, then a person has the right to pick which code seems to fit their life the best. Unfortunately, the church has often presented our faith as a moral code to be followed. But by doing so, we have cut the heart out of the true message of our faith.

               If we want to really find the answer to the ultimate why question, then we need to start at the beginning. All religions teach that the world had a beginning. Even the majority of scientists today believe the world had a beginning. Christianity makes the case that the source of this beginning was God. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (NIV) As a part of that creation God made humanity. He made humanity not to just one more piece of His creation, but to be His special agents within His creation. 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 (NIV)

               God created humanity is His image and give humanity the role of ruling as God’s representatives over all the rest of creation. They were to care for the earth so that it would be fruitful. They were to do this in partnership with God Himself. All of creation was to be blessed by God through humanity. But something went wrong.

               Adam and Eve were the first to ask the question why. God had given them free access to everything expect to the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. One day Satan, in the form of a serpent, planted the question why in the mind of Eve. Why can’t I eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge? Isn’t having knowledge a good thing? Is God holding out on me? You know the result; she took of the fruit and give some to Adam and they ate. When their eyes were opened, they realized the mistake they had made, and our world changed forever.

               After sin came into the world, instead of caring for the world so that it would thrive, humanity began to destroy the world with violence, greed, and self-indulgence. This is the world we all live in. What God created to be perfect is anything but perfect today. But God did not abandon humanity. Instead, He made a way for humanity to be restored into a right relationship with Him and with our world. He did this through Jesus Christ.

               The Gospel of John takes us back to the beginning and sets the stage for God’s renewal plan.

John 1:1-5 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:14 (NIV)
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 3:16-17 (NIV)
"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.

               God sent Jesus into the world to restore what was lost. He came to rescue humanity from itself; from its destructive, self-centered life. He came to open the door for humanity to again walk with God in peace and harmony. But this can come only through letting go of a person’s desire to control their life and in humility accepting Jesus’ control of their life. It is only as person recognizes their rebellion against God and genuinely repents and asks forgiveness, that they can be restored to full humanity.

               Let us return to my original question. Why should I live a godly life? Why should I not just live for today and grasp all the enjoyment I can? The answer is found in Romans 6:23. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Living in relationship with God is life. Living without God is just existence. Living according to God’s will makes it possible to experience life to its fullest, without regrets and the negative consequences of sin. Jesus didn’t come to take away our freedom and restrict our lives. He came to set us free to really experience 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 (NIV)

               Watching football, I have been alarmed at how many ads there are for on-line betting sites. Each one promises big rewards for betting with them. What they don’t tell you is that their goal is not to give you money, but to take your money away from you. For every one who wins big, thousands more lose. Satan has offered the world the ultimate on-line betting scheme. He promises you the world, but his goal is to steal away your life.

               Setting my own course and living however I want to is opening the door for the ultimate thief, whose end goal is to destroy me. Living my life in relationship with God through Jesus Christ opens the door for me to experience life to the fullest.

               So why should I live a godly life? It is what I was created to do. It is only by living according to God’s will that I can experience life to the fullest.

STAY FOCUSED

 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, 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. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:2-3 (NIV)

                We hear a lot today about distracted driving. Routinely, on my drive into the office, I see people absorbed on their cell phone while driving 80 mph down the freeway. Recently, the state of Michigan passed a law against the use of cell phones while you are driving, but people continue to do it. Old habits are hard to break.

                What we don’t hear about today is distracted living. As dangerous as it is to be distracted while you are driving, it is far more dangerous to live a distracted life, yet many people do. To be honest, we all do, from time to time. There are so many things that grab our attention and pull our focus away from what is really important. There are many good things that we give too much attention to and that distract us from living focused lives. There are many causes and conflicts that grab our attention, and in doing so distract us. And there are intentional efforts by some to distract us for their gain.

                Suanne and I attended a celebration banquet last night for Grace Adventures, a Christian camp (which happens to be where our son and daughter-in-law work). Throughout their presentation, they shared stories of lives changed through encountering Jesus at camp. But at the center of everything they said was their focus to impact lives with Jesus Christ. Although they offer a variety of activities and formats, all that they do is focused on that one goal; to impact lives with Jesus Christ.

                The early church was often distracted from their main purpose. In the church at Corinth, the church was distracted by a debate over who was their favorite preacher. The church was distracted by the cultural environment around them and what they could participate in and what they could not. They were distracted by making the use of spiritual gifts a competition. They were even distracted by a skewed concept of what it really means to love one another. Paul had to write to them and bring them back to the Gospel of Christ.

                Many churches today are distracted by a variety of things. Many of these are good things, but are being given the wrong place. Some of these things are harmful. They consume our energy and distract us from living out the Gospel in our world. We get caught up in endless debates and unending projects, and in the process, we lose our focus. The Bible warns us to not get caught up in these controversies that drain our energy and our resources.

                Paul instructed both Timothy and Titus to steer clear of endless debates and controversies. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (NIV)
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Titus 3:9 (NIV)

                The writer of Hebrews challenges us to keep our focus on Christ. In Hebrews 12:3 he tells us that if we keep our focus on Christ, we will not grow weary and lose heart. I appreciate that, because I know what it is to become weary and lose heart. At one season in my ministry, I went through a very difficult conflict from within my church. It drained my energy and distracted our church from what we were supposed to do. It took us quite a while to regain our focus.

                Satan is working double time to distract believers from living focused lives. He does it by sowing the seeds of conflict within the church. He does it by overwhelming us with choices, each of which demands our time and attention. He even does it by offering us good things that keep us busy and distracted from the best things.

                Every day we need to take the time to reset and refocus. We need to seek to put things in their proper perspective and to never lose sight of Jesus. It is a battle to live our lives focused on Christ and His mission in the world. It will often put us at odds with those around us. But if we really want our lives to count for eternity, them we need to be vigilant and stay focused.

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)

 

               

ARE WE RESPONSIBLE?

 Romans 14:12 (NIV)

So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

               It’s not my fault! We have all heard that phrase used to excuse some action that a person has taken. Even though the freely made the choice, they do not want to be held responsible foe that choice. There is always an excuse for why they should be let off the hook. So, are we responsible for our choices? Or can we live our lives however we want, without the fear of facing the consequences?

It seems that we have a love/hate relationship with personal responsibility. As a society we want to hold people responsible for their actions. Many people are quick to make blanket condemnations of others who they determine have violated some standard. The public wants to hold the police responsible for their actions. Scientists want to hold humanity responsible for Climate Change. We all want to hold our leaders responsible for a down economy or rising costs. Yet, when the spotlight is turned on us, we do not want to be held responsible for our own actions.

               When it comes to the issue of personal responsibility, we are all culpable. We are quick to excuse our actions, while at the same time condemning the actions of others. Our actions are understandable, while others actions are inexcusable. We are living examples of Jesus’ parable of the man with the plank in his eye trying to remove the speck from another’s eye.

               Where the issue of personal responsibility really hits a snag is the idea of ultimately being held responsible for how we have lived our lives. Many people have bought into the idea that they can live their life whatever way they want to without being held accountable. When a person takes God out of the equation, then that makes sense, in a way. But we cannot take God out of the equation. The Bible makes it very clear that some day everyone of us will stand before God and give an account for our lives.

               We are created in the image of God, and a part of what that means is that we have the freedom to make choices. We are not robots, but free moral beings. This freedom to make choices is a great asset, but it also come with some qualifiers. We are free to make our own decisions, but we then have to own the consequences of those decisions. If we make wise and godly decisions, then the consequences are positive. If we make unwise or ungodly decisions, then the consequences will be negative. This is a fact that is in play right now. There are natural consequences to every decision we make and we don’t have to wait too long to experience them. Some consequences are immediate, while others take longer to develop, but we don’t have to wait until eternity to find out what they are. If we make bad decisions, we get bad results. If we make good decisions, we get good results. We might forestall the bad results for a while and we may have to wait for the good results to develop, but in the end what we receive will line up with our choices.

               Here is where this thing called personal responsibility comes in. We are quick to take credit for the good things we have done. We are not so quick to take responsibility for the bad things we have done. In fact, we will often do whatever we can to avoid responsibility. We blame others, society, or our genetics. To put it another way, we want the freedom to make mud pies, but we don’t want to have to eat them.

               Throughout the Bible we are told that God is going to hold us responsible for how we have lived our lives. When God called the people of Israel to be His chosen people, He told them clearly that if they followed His laws He would bless them abundantly, but if they disobeyed and went their own way, He would punish them. Ironically, more often than not, Israel chose to go their own way, then complained to God for being unfair to them.

               The Apostle Paul reminds us that a day is coming when we all will have to stand before God and be judged for how we have lived our lives. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV) We are responsible for the decisions we have made and we will be held accountable. Therefore, we should live within that reality. How we live our lives and the decisions we make are important and they matter to God.

               We live in a world that acts as if there is no personal responsibility. People feel free to do whatever they desire. Few people think about the consequences of their actions. They approach life much like the government approaches the national debt; they just keep trying to push the consequences down the road. But one day the bill will come due.

               As followers of Christ, we have been called to live differently. We are called to take personal responsibility for our actions. When we sin, we own it and ask for forgiveness. We strive to live lives pleasing to God. We strive to make choices that are in line with God’s design for our lives. And we know that ultimately, God will reward us for our efforts.

Matthew 16:27 (NIV)
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

 

 

IS MY FAITH GENUINE?

 These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

Matthew 15:8 (NIV)

                Do you ever question if your faith in genuine or not? This is a question I have pondered often through the years. At times when I feel dry or disconnected from God I wonder if my faith is real. My faith has been affirmed many times in various ways, yet that nagging question remains.

                The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were the religious elite. They dedicated their lives to the study of the Torah. They were obsessive about keeping all of the ceremonial laws. From the outside, they looked like they had it all together spiritually. If anyone was right with God, it had to be them. But Jesus didn’t agree.

                In Matthew 15, some Pharisees challenged Jesus about his disciples not following all of the traditions of the elders. Jesus countered their complaint by showing that they were willing to set aside what was written in the Torah in favor of their own traditions. Then Jesus quoted from Isaiah 29:13.

"'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV)

                Jesus’ pointed words remind me that it is possible to say the right things and do the right things and still not be in a right relationship with God. Throughout history, the Church, like the Pharisees, have added different rules and traditions to the scriptures. These rules have become the measure of a person’s faith and spirituality. If a person did not wear the right clothes, or use the right words, or conform to the right interpretation of the Bible, then their faith was called into question. In that environment, it was easy to become a “checklist” Christian. If I do these things and I don’t do these things then I’m in. God has to accept me. Faith became a matter of outward appearance and not of the heart.

                For many years I fell in the camp of being a “checklist” Christian. I was very legalistic in my views. There was a right way and a wrong way and nothing in between. I most often applied this to my own life, judging my faith by how well I was living up to the checklist. The outcome was that the question of the genuineness of my faith kept surfacing. Was I really placing my faith in Jesus, or was I just going through the motions. As I gained a fuller, more mature understanding of faith, I came to accept that my standing before God was not based on my performance, but upon what Jesus has done for me on the cross. The more I looked to Jesus, the less I depended on the checklist.

                The question, is my faith genuine, is a good one to reconsider regularly. For my faith can become stale and unproductive. The question is not am I saved, but am I genuinely living out the reality of my salvation. As Paul writes, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. I think even Paul struggled to make sure that his faith was genuine. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul hints at the spiritual struggle that he went through.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)

                Paul did not want to stumble and fail just before the finish line. He wanted to make sure that his faith was genuine right up to the end. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he challenged them to examine their faith to see if it is genuine. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?
(2 Corinthians 13:5 (NIV)) Paul was telling the Corinthians and us not to be complacent about our faith. We need to regular test our faith to make sure that we are on the right track.

                I don’t believe that a person can lose their salvation, but a person can let their faith grow cold and be unproductive. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3, what we have done with our salvation will be tested by God.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15 (NIV)

                Is my faith genuine? I believe that it is based on what God has revealed in His word. My faith is genuine, but it is not completely mature. I still have much work to do to make my faith is what it needs to be. So I will press on toward the goal to win the prize in Christ Jesus.

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)