Wednesday, January 31, 2018

It's The Same Old Story

F
requent visits to my grandparents’ house were a common occurrence.  When I was younger, I would walk to their home or I would ride my bike.  As I grew older, I would drive my car.  But no matter whether I was older or younger, whether I rode my bike, walked, or drove my car to get there, visits with grandma and grandpa constantly ranked in the top ten things I enjoyed most in life.

I recall many hours sitting in the den watching television or just sitting and talking.  Invariably, granddaddy would tell one of the many stories I had heard at least a thousand times.  He used the same words, the same gestures, the same tone of voice, and he paused in the same places. But the stories were always wonderful and always made me laugh. I never grew tired of hearing the same old stories and I looked forward to hearing everyone of them again and again.

We all have similar experiences about the important people in our lives.  Now when we gather for family reunions we are the ones telling the stories we heard as children.  We use the same words, the same gestures, the same tone of voice, and we pause in the same places.  The stories have the same effect on our listeners as they had on us!  We tell and retell the stories because we love them and because they mark important moments in our lives, moments when things changed, moments that brought us happiness, and moments that changed the way we view the world.

A man in the New Testament had a similar experience!  He was reading a passage from the Scriptures that he didn’t understand.  Philip, one of Jesus’ disciples, had the opportunity to tell this man the story of Jesus and Acts 8:35 records this for us. “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”

This man is better known in the Scriptures as the Ethiopian Eunuch.  He held a place of prominence and authority in the kingdom of Ethiopia.  He had been to Jerusalem to worship and was on his way back home. In his hands he held the writings of the prophet, Isaiah and the passage before him was confusing.  He was reading Isaiah 53:7-8.  Philip approached the man and asked him if he understood what he was reading.  The man replied he couldn’t unless someone explained it to him.

Philip then began to share with this man the same old story that has been told and retold for years on end.  Beginning with that very passage in Isaiah, Philip explained to the Ethiopian all about Jesus.  He explained about his birth, his life, his ministry, his crucifixion, his resurrection, and his ascension.  When Philip finished the story, the eunuch asked to be baptized right there on the spot.  He wanted to accept Jesus as savior and lord.  So the two men went into the water and Philip baptized him.

Do you realize that the road of life is strewn with people just like this man from Ethiopia?  They have heard about God and Jesus but they can’t see the big picture.  They need someone to talk to them and to explain to them how God’s love was manifested to us in the person of Jesus Christ and how he gave his life for our salvation.  All they need and want is for someone to stop along the way and tell them the same old story that has changed millions of lives. 

To tell the story, all you need do is use the same words from the Bible.  You can use the same gestures you’ve used before and the same tone of voice.  You can even take pauses, now and then.  But the story will be the same and the results of that story are powerful and far-reaching.  Who knows, perhaps you will have a chance to speak with someone today about Jesus.  How good of a story teller are you?

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Look What I Found

T
he problem with basements is that they become the repositories for all the things we no longer use but don’t have the heart to discard.  Does this sound familiar to any of you?  How many of you out there have waded through the sea of endless boxes and containers in your basements looking for something you just had to have?  How many of you vowed never to “junk up” your basements only to break that promise within a week after making it?  How many of you have stored items in your basement, fully intending to throw them out within a couple of days and then never seeming to get around to that task?

Of course, there is another side to this story.  There are those times when you find a hidden treasure buried in your basement.  You might be looking for something else when you come across one of your long-lost possessions that you had totally forgotten about.  When you find it, you forget your original reason for visiting the basement and focus all your attention on your new-found treasure.  It might be a piece of clothing, an old toy, a card, or a piece of jewelry discarded many years ago.  However, when you locate it, wonderful memories flood your mind and a sense of excitement and happiness fills your heart.

I remember having such an experience in the fall of 1990.  My brother and I purchased an old office building in town and we spent 18 months renovating it.  Finally, the day came for us to move from our parents’ home over to our house.  We were only four or five blocks away from them but it seemed to be much further.  After moving the essential items and installing them in our new home, we had to address the matter of the basement.  It took several trips but finally, we moved all our important stuff from mom and dad’s and stored it in our own basement.

One afternoon, I was in the basement looking for something when I spied a small, black ring box.  I picked it up and recognized it as the box that held my college ring when it arrived.  I hadn’t seen that box in years and never thought it would end up in my basement.  When I opened it, however, I received a wonderful surprise. There, inside that box, was my high school class ring.  Several years earlier, I had misplaced that ring and had given up all hope of finding it.  Now, there it was, in beautiful condition, looking just like it did the last time I saw it.

I put the ring on my finger, dropped the box, ran upstairs, and made several phone calls.  I called my mom, I called my grandmother, I called one of my aunts, and I even called my dad at work to tell him I had found my ring.  They probably thought I had lost my mind, but I was so happy and I wanted everyone to know I found that ring.  I was so ecstatic and I wanted to share that exuberance with everyone around me.  Although it was just a ring, it was very important and precious to me.  Finding it again was one of the most wonderful things in the world.

Jesus told several stories that stressed the happiness that accompanies finding something that was lost.  However, Jesus’ stories weren’t concerned with material things.  Instead, they were concerned men’s souls and the happiness that accompanies someone accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior.  Three of these stories can be found in Luke 15 and involve the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coins, and the lost son. 

It is the second parable, the parable of the lost coins that is the focus of our attention today.  The story is very short and matter-of-fact but its implication and truth have far-reaching ramifications for us today.  The story is recorded in Luke 15:8-9, "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, `Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.”

Please take notice of that last line in the verse.  Jesus said the woman called her friends and neighbors and invites them to a celebration all because she found her lost coin. She was happy and she wanted those around her, her family and friends, to share in her happiness. Her excitement and joy was such that she couldn’t contain it and she shared it with those around her.  This is the same thing that happens when someone accepts Jesus as the savior and the Lord of their lives.  Just after this passage of scripture, Jesus says that there is more excitement over one soul who is saved than over all those who do not need to repent.  The angels in Heaven shout and are happy that another one of God’s children has been found and has come home.  They just can’t keep quiet about it.

I remember that day in my basement like it was yesterday.  That ring is now sitting on my dresser as a constant reminder of how wonderful it is to find the things that were lost and to restore them to their proper place.  This is exactly God’s perspective when someone accepts Jesus and is saved from their sins.  God fills Heaven with shouting, and laughter, and joy because another one has found the way home.  God knows what it’s like to find something that has been lost for many years.  He felt the same about me when I accepted Jesus and he felt the same about you when you became a Christian.  The portals of Heaven rang with the laughter of angels as you accepted Jesus.

Today, the sounds of rejoicing still echo through the streets of heaven.  Have the angels shouted and rejoiced over you?  Have you experienced the true joy that comes with accepting Jesus Christ as your savior and Lord?  If not or if you know someone who hasn’t, won’t you share the good news of God’s redeeming love and salvation with them today?  The party is just beginning!

Monday, January 29, 2018

Expected Delays

T
he flashing sign on the side of the road offered me little hope.  Traffic had already been heavy due to road construction and now the sign promised that farther ahead, delays could be expected.  Now there is nothing more uplifting when you are in a hurry to get somewhere than being told that delays are not only likely, they are guaranteed.  Faced with this prospect, I determined to enjoy my drive and take the delays, and whatever else came along, in stride.

Not too far past the flashing panel, those wonderful little orange cones came into view and slowly but surely the right-hand lane grew narrower.  Finally, the lane disappeared completely and a three-lane Interstate highway was reduced to two lanes.  As you can imagine, this caused all types of “interesting challenges” as drivers waited until the last possible second to leave the right-hand lane and join those of us trying our best to keep our patience and maintain forward momentum.

If you’ve ever been in a similar situation, and I’ll just bet you have, you understand the frustration that comes with moving along at a snail’s pace down a major highway.  It wasn’t so much that I was frustrated with the drivers attempting to join the slow but steady flow of traffic; instead, I was aggravated with the whole idea of being delayed in the first place.  I was on a schedule and it didn’t include delays on the highway.  I was determined to be at a certain place at a certain time, but the delay in the traffic’s flow completely wrecked that idea.  The delay, however, didn’t prevent me from enjoying my ride; it just altered my arrival time.

It should come as no surprise that in the Christian walk there are slow-downs, detours, delays, and sometime complete halts.  The Scriptures are filled with example after example of times when things didn’t go exactly according to plan.  Time after time we see God halting the forward momentum of His people when they would rather have continued going.  But God’s perspective is so different from ours and He knows when delays and detours are necessary in order to teach us to rely on Him.

One man who knew all about delays was Joseph.  Betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers, having committed no wrong against them, Joseph’s life in Egypt seemed to be one series of delays after another.  He became a slave in Potipher’s household and just when things seemed to be moving forward at a good pace, bam, there was a roadblock and a detour which landed him in prison.  While he was there, Joseph was place in charge of his fellow prisoners and just when he thought he saw a way out, he was forced to sit through a delay.

This delay is found in Genesis 40:23-41:1, “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him…When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile…” While in prison Joseph successfully interpreted the cupbearer’s dream and requested that when he regained his position that he use his influence with Pharaoh to free Joseph.  As the Scriptures tell us, however, the cupbearer forgot Joseph and he experienced a two-year delay.

But at the end of those two years, Pharaoh had a dream and the cupbearer remembered Joseph.  What seemed like another rejection, another bump in the road, was in fact God’s divine intervention.  He had not forgotten Joseph and the Lord had not caused this delay in order to be cruel or overbearing.  Instead, Joseph had a place of service in the prison that prepared him for service to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt.  When the two-year delay was over, Joseph was raised to second in command over all Egypt and was placed in charge of the entire country.  When the delay was over, was no longer on a two-lane road but on a major highway!

Today you may be experiencing a delay in your walk with God.  It may seem he has forgotten you, that you have been sitting still for the longest time and you wonder if you will ever make any forward progress again.  At times such as these, the temptation is to shut down, withdraw from God and from others, and become easily frustrated.  What you may not realize is that God is way up the road, smoothing out rough places, laying new pavement, or putting in more lanes so that your walk with him will be better than it has before.  These times are also the times God chooses to test your faith and your reliance on him.  He knows where you are at all times and will never abandon you.  That day on the road the sign read “Expect Delays!” It did not say “Turn off your car and get out!” 

Friday, January 26, 2018

Let Me Give You A Tip

W
orking in a restaurant provided dozens of opportunities to learn about people. You get to know their likes and dislikes, their preferences, their quirks, their attitudes, and their moods. Every time I waited tables, I always learned something new about my customers and, invariably, something new about myself as well.  Everything I learned was useful but not everything was pleasant or easy to accept.

One of the most difficult things to master was the concept of the tip.  Most people figure up a certain percentage of the bill and leave that as a tip.  Depending upon the level of service, the tip may be more or less.  In extreme cases, customers refuse to leave anything, expressing their dissatisfaction with the service or representing their desire not to leave a tip at all.  The danger for a waiter or waitress is judging people according to the amount of money left on the table.  I’ve seen this happen repeatedly.  Servers would become upset because a customer left a smaller tip than they anticipated and the end result was anger and bitterness on the part of the waiter or waitress.

However, if the server considered the amount of the tip as a percentage of the whole bill, he might be pleasantly surprised to discover he was well compensated for his service.  I learned this from a wonderful customer I used to wait on.  No matter what the amount of his bill, he always tipped at twenty per cent.  If he ordered a cup of coffee, he tipped twenty per cent and if he ordered a large meal, the tip was the same fraction of the ticket.  No matter what, he remained consistent in his giving and he was generous.  When I finally realized that I should look at my tips as a percentage of the ticket instead of a fixed amount, I became more encouraged and humbled.

In Malachi 3:6a, God teaches us a very important principle about himself.  This passage of scripture reads, "I the Lord do not change.”  Yes, you read that correctly.  God does not change.  No matter the circumstances, no matter the need, no matter how small or how large our burden, God always provides generously for us. 

Our problem lies in how we perceive his gift.  We fall into the trap of assuming we know how God should address our needs and how he should resolve our difficulties.  When he doesn’t follow our line of thinking, we become bitter or angry, essentially believing He has refused to honor our request.  However, we must change our perspective and see that God’s giving is always consistent, always generous, and always available.  It is not based on our actions, works, or on our belief that we deserve it.  Our actions are never good enough, we can’t work enough to earn it, and we never deserve it. But God gives anyway, and He always gives at one hundred per cent.

The cross of Jesus Christ is proof of God’s grace and generous giving to us.  While we were still steeped in our sins, incapable of having a relationship with God, He gave His son so that we might have forgiveness and eternal life.  This must become our perspective.  We must understand that God has given us His best and that He continues to do so based on our relationship through Jesus Christ.  God did not calculate the smallest percentage needed to offer us salvation.  Instead, He gave us His all, one hundred per cent, holding nothing back.  What kind of tip are you giving God today?  Is it all you have or just a mere percentage? 

Thursday, January 25, 2018

The End of the Line

I
n the middle of a war, commanding a group of soldiers defending a strategic hill, is not where you would expect to find a college professor.  Flying bullets, exploding ordinance, and smoking cannons seem an unfit and poor substitute for chalk, books, and blackboards.  The safety and security of the classroom is the complete opposite of the danger and mayhem found on the front lines of a war and yet this is exactly the setting from which we draw our study from God’s word today.

The place was Gettysburg.  The date was July 2, 1863.  The man was Colonel Joshua Chamberlain from Maine.  His assignment was to defend a hill known as Little Round Top and to prevent the Rebel Army (the southern states) from capturing the hill.  Colonel Chamberlain was trained in the art of Rhetoric and also undertook seminary studies.  He chose to become a professor and this was his profession at the time of the Civil War.
 
His assignment at Little Round Top was simple.  He and his men were to stop the advancing Rebel army.  They were placed at the very end of the line, the extreme left flank of the Northern Army.  From this position there was no retreat.  From this position the enemy could break the line and inflict horrific casualties.  From this position, the entire Northern Army could be exposed if Colonel Chamberlain and his men failed in their assigned duty. Not a very inspiring place to be, is it?  But Chamberlain accepted the assignment with no questions and he performed his duty faithfully and admirably.

Ronald F. Maxwell captured this wonderful scene in his movie, Gettysburg, based on the bookThe Killer Angels by Michael Shaara.  The scenes of the battle show in vivid detail how the Southern Army tried several forward assaults only to be refused every time. Finally, with their ammunition spent and many of their number wounded, Chamberlain had a decision to make. He knew the enemy would advance one last time and he knew he had no ammunition with which to fight.  He knew he had to stand firm at all cost and hold that position.  He ordered his men to affix their bayonets and to charge forward in order to refuse the line.  His tactics worked perfectly and that day the battle for Little Round Top was won at the end of the line.

This scene is one with which the Apostle Paul would have been very familiar.  In fact, he was very familiar with it.  Paul knew that the Christian life is a battlefield where intense struggles and skirmishes are constantly being waged.  Paul also knew, as Chamberlain demonstrated much, much, later, that sometimes the best way to win a war is to stand firm, to hold our position, even if that means we are at the end of the line.

1 Corinthians 15:58 tells us, “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.”  Notice Paul’s first two sentences in this passage.  They leave little room for doubt as to his intended meaning and purpose. No matter where we are in our walk with God, no matter what the circumstances are around us, no matter what sounds we hear sights we see, we are to hold our ground and not yield.  God is on our side.  He is doing battle for us.  When the orders come to hold our ground, that is what we must do.  We must not give the enemy so much as an inch of ground or he will cause trouble and difficulty among the ranks.  We are to thwart his advances and refuse the line simply by standing firm upon the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Even when we feel as if we’ve been place at the end of the line and no one knows we are there.  Even when it feels and seems we are all alone with no help, no guidance, and no support.  Even when we have no knowledge of how the overall battle is going and it appears we are at the point of defeat.  God’s word is clear—stand firm!  He will not let you fall.  He knows where you are.  Every place on the line is important and every position is carefully surveyed by our Lord.  He knows where you are, he knows what you are facing, and he knows what you need to be victorious.  Remain in formation, dig in your hills, and stand firm.  The outcome of the battle is sure—we win!!

Wherever you are today in the thick of battle, know that God is with you.  He has not forgotten you and he will never forsake you.  It doesn’t matter if you are at the head of the conflict, in the middle of the battle, or at the end of the line.  Every place is important.  Every skirmish counts.  And every soldier is always supported and accounted for!  Stand firm in him today!

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Worth The Price of Admission

A
 trip to the Holy Land is something a lot of people dream of.  What a wonderful opportunity to visit the places where Jesus walked and to see first-hand the locations of all those wonderful Bible stories we learn as children.  It is an opportunity rarely afforded most eight-year-olds and one that I turned down when I was that age. 
Our church sponsored a trip to Israel and my mother and grandmother decided they were going.  My parents both agreed that I could go and initially I was very excited about traveling.  There was enough fuel to fire my imagination for several weeks.  I dreamed of seeing Jerusalem, of visiting the Garden ofGethsemane, of seeing the walls of Jericho, and of taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee
All these things got me very excited and I was very eager to take the journey.  However, there was one thing that kept me from going, shots!  Yes, when I learned I had to take a series of shots, the beauty and the romance of the trip rapidly faded.  All I could see was those needles and I decided the price of admission was just too high.
My mother allowed me to make up my own mind. She did not influence me one way or the other.  As the time approached for her to leave, I began regretting my decision.  I really wanted to go but the window of opportunity closed and the time for her to leave came.  All during her absence I imagined the places she was seeing, wishing I were with her, but the idea of taking those shots was just too frightening.  It was a price I was not willing to pay!
When mom returned home, her pictures and stories made me wish even more that I had gone with her.  For her, taking those shots, paying the price of admission, had been worth it. I promised myself that someday I would make that trip and experience the wonderful things she had seen and done. If the opportunity ever presents itself again, I'll go and, this time, the shots won't stop me.  I'll pay that price.
The Apostle Paul understood the idea of paying the price of admission.  He was imprisoned, beaten, starved, and shipwrecked.  He depended upon the generosity of others and his own industry for the daily necessities of life.  Sometime he had plenty and sometimes he had very little. But Paul knew the true value of living for Christ.  He understood that the greatest fulfillment in life is living for Jesus Christ and working to further his kingdom. 
That is why in Romans 8:18 Paul writes, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."  He knew that present trials and difficulties were no comparison for the things God has prepared for us. Paul never focused on his present circumstances but always looked to the future gain reserved for God's children.
Today, let me encourage you to keep looking forward to what God has in store for us.  Every trial, every disappointment, every unkind word spoken to us, and every impossible situation we face will be worth it.  Every setback, every tear, every frustration, and every heartache will be worth it.
For Noah, the 100 years of building the ark were worth it. For Abraham, leaving home was worth it. For Moses, the wanderings in the desert were worth it.  For Joseph, the years in Pharaoh's prison and the false accusations were worth it.  For Daniel, the lion's den was worth it.  And for us, my dear brothers and sisters, when we hear God say to us "well done," it will be worth it It will all be worth the price of admission!  We have His word on it!

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Funds Now Available

I

 love banking via the Internet, especially when my schedule prevents me from running by the bank to make a deposit or a withdrawal.  Actually, deposits are like Haley’s Comet, they only come around once every 76 years it seems!!!  A quick gander at my checkbook register reveals that money flies out of my account much more readily than it flows in.  I am always in the black but it seems that the money in my account doesn’t stay in there long enough to even get comfortable!

My banking program allows me to connect with my bank and download all my transactions.  This helps me stay current with the bank and keeps me ever mindful of the funds I have available to spend during the month.  One of the most wonderful feelings comes from connecting to the website and seeing that my direct deposit has been made by the university.  During the night, while I sleep, the university’s accounting department forwards my paycheck directly to my account. The next morning, those funds are displayed on my screen and are available for use!

Has it ever occurred to you that God works the same way in our lives?  While we sleep, God is working, taking care of us and providing for us.  When we wake, we find that He has made a direct deposit of 24 hours into our lives.  The first rays of light, the first sounds of the day, the first movements of our bodies, and that first cup of coffee all serve to remind us that a fresh deposit of time has been placed in our accounts.  How we spend it is up to us.  The funds are available upon our waking but do we always spend the time God gives us in a wisely fashion?

This thought occupied the mind of Moses, the author of Psalm 90.  In this psalm, Moses offers a wonderful prayer to God.  He begins the psalm by praising the Lord for caring for His people throughout all generations.  Moses praises and thanks the Lord for His faithfulness, for always making deposits of time, grace, mercy, and love into the lives of His people.  Moses continues by enumerating the mighty acts of God drawing his examples from the created order and speaking of God’s eternal existence.

But Moses also realizes that man has a responsibility before God, a responsibility he often neglects and takes for granted.  It is this very fact that has caused him to write this psalm. Moses knows that people forget their maker too easily.  They need to be reminded that he is God, that he is eternal, that he is sovereign.  They need to know that without God their very existence is impossible.  That is why he calls on the Lord to return to his people and to teach them how to live and walk before Him in a right relationship.

In Psalm 90:12, Moses asks God to teach the people how to use their time wisely.  The New Living Translation renders the passage this way“Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.”  Please notice that this request carries with it a direct result.  Moses understands that the time God give us is precious. He also knows that only God can truly teach us how to use the time we have wisely and for His glory.  The result is that we may grow in wisdom.  When we learn to use our time in the right way and for God’s purpose, we do indeed become wise.  That means that when we neglect to use our time for the Lord and when we take it for granted, we become foolish and act accordingly.

This morning, the bank’s website told me I had funds that were available for use.  Those funds must last me until the end of the month so I keep looking for ways to spend the resources I have in a wise and responsible manner.  If you are reading this today, you are doing so because God made a direct deposit of 24 hours into your life account.  Those funds are now available.  Are you spending them wisely today?

Monday, January 22, 2018

Firm Footing

T
here is a river in the south of France called the Gard.  Over this river there stands a large aqueduct left by the Romans.  The aqueduct is known as the Pont du Gard (the bridge of the Gard) and it is frequented by tourists from all around the world.  The aqueduct is indeed a feat of engineering, designed to carry water from a distant source and deliver it to large villages many miles away.  But the most spectacular view comes not from the base of the Pont du Gard, but from its top.

In 1983, when I visited the Pont du Gard, it was possible to walk across it.  Today, the privilege no longer exists; but when I was there visitors were greeted with a small sign written in several languages.  This sign delivered a solemn and sobering warning to all those wanting to get a closer look at the aqueduct.  The following message was emblazoned on a white panel just a few feet from the aqueduct itself:  “Warning!  Walk at your own risk.  Many people have slipped and plummeted to their deaths!” 

Not very uplifting is it?  Nonetheless, people read the sign and ventured forth to walk on top of the aqueduct, several hundred feet in the air, crossing from one side of the Gard to the other. The Pont du Gard is only wide enough for two people to walk abreast and since people travel in both directions, crossing over is somewhat of a challenge. In addition, the wind constantly blows and the hiker must maintain his balance lest he slip and fall to the river below.

I don’t know of a clearer example of the gospel than this bridge across the Gard River.  In Matthew7:14, Jesus states very clearly that there is only one way to salvation: “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”  There were several tourists at the Pont du Gard on the day we visited. However, only a few of us ventured forth to walk on the aqueduct and cross over the river.  The way was narrow and very small but our footing was sure and we knew the aqueduct wouldn’t give way.

From that vantage point, the river posed no threat.  Its depth and rapid currents could not harm us because we were walking above it.  The river bed was actually the support for the aqueduct and kept it in place.  The wind did blow but the solid structure of the aqueduct held us up and ensured our passage would be safe as long as we walked with confidence and did not venture too far to one side or the other.

The narrow road Jesus spoke of is the same way for all those seeking to walk with God.  The way is narrow, but it rises far above the worries, cares, and pitfalls of everyday-life.  Most people stand at the base and look longingly upward, wanting ever so desperately to climb and walk above the cares of this life.  They want to have that narrow walk with God but because of fear or doubt, they never climb to the top and walk on the aqueduct.  But for those who take that step of faith and venture forth, there is no walk as exhilarating nor as rewarding, as the walk we take with God.  True, the winds of adversity continue to blow and buffet us, but we are safe as long as we keep our focus and our steps on the way ahead.

Where are you in this picture?  Are you at the base of the aqueduct, longing to walk above the cares of this life?  Do you want to accept Jesus’ call to walk and have fellowship with him?  Perhaps you are walking on the top already but the winds of adversity have frightened you and the way ahead looks long and difficult.  Wherever you are, at the top or at the bottom, please know that Jesus means for you to walk across to the other side.  Through faith in him, you can walk across that bridge and overcome the difficulties of life.  The way is not easy, and there are few who actually search for it, but for those who decide to take it, life is never the same.  Cone on up!  Jesus is waiting for you to join him on that narrow road.  He will walk with you every step of the way!

Friday, January 19, 2018

The Cake Plate

T
he metal container sitting on the counter told me all I needed to know about the up-coming Thanksgiving meal my mother was preparing.  I had seen the shiny metal object many times during my childhood.  Whenever the plate was sitting out, on the counter or on the table, it meant that mom was going to bake a cake.  It didn’t matter what type of cake it was, pound or German chocolate, the results would be the same, happy faces and full bellies!

On this particular occasion, the components for a Dream Sickle Cake (orange cake with coconut cream icing—three layers of it!) were awaiting assembly.  The metal cake plate sat on the counter, just a few feet from the assembly line where the cake would be made.  Once finished, mom would transfer he cake to the protective plate and place the whole thing in the refrigerator.  The cake had to remain covered and cool so it would not dry out before our Thanksgiving meal.

I took a few moments and looked that cake plate over.  It’s amazing what you notice when you take the time to really inspect something.   The cake plate was constructed of aluminum with a flat base and a domed top.  The top was held securely in place by a series of clips that were opened and closed by a lever in the base.  Once the cake was placed inside and the clips closed, it was safe.  The whole container could be moved without causing damage to the precious cargo inside.   At some point in the past, the cake plate had been hit and damaged.  A large dent near the top pointed to this fact. The interior, however, was intact and remained unaffected by the blow.  A cake was still safe and secure inside the cover.

A few days later as I was removing a piece of the cake from the cake plate, I thought of something I had never really considered before.  Our walk with Jesus directly parallels the relationship between the cake plate and the cake it contains.  As long as the cake remains inside its container, it is safe from exposure, it holds its shape, it does not dry out, and it safely goes wherever the plate is taken.  Any thing striking against the plate does not damage the cake inside.  The protective cover absorbs the blow and protects the cake from being marred or damaged.

This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was describing in Romans 8:1. In this passage Paul writes, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Please notice the last three words of this verse. Paul wants us to understand that when we are in Christ, we are no longer found guilty of our sins.  The condition for being found not guilty, however, is that we must belong to Christ and be placed in him.  This means we accept his sacrifice on Calvary as the only way to salvation.

The words, “in Christ,” appear 92 times in the NIV version of the Epistles. Paul uses this image over and over again in his writings to underline our position as believers.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God places us in Christ.  We are not separate from him but we are placed in him.  His love, his grace, his mercy, his sacrifice, and his peace are all around us.  They protect us and shield us from the dangers of sin.  Christ does not take us out of the world but he protects us while we are in it.

Without Christ, our lives resemble an uncovered cake.  The elements dry us out, we fall apart, we have no sweetness in our lives, and we offer no enjoyment to those around us.  Moreover, we are exposed and vulnerable to all the bumps, and knocks that life throws at us.  At any moment we can be crushed, cut, flattened, or tossed aside.  I don’t know about you, but I have gained a deeper respect and appreciation for that metal cake plate.  Just think how much more precious we are to God and how much more he shields us and protects us because we have accepted the gift of salvation through his son, Jesus Christ.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Camping With God

O
ne of the things I loved most about our house was its backyard.  We had several trees, a row of bushes that separated our property from one set of neighbors, a neat ditch that separated us from the neighbors behind us, and a common driveway creating the property line with the neighbors on the other side of our home.  There was enough mischief in the backyard for an inquisitive, growing boy like me.  Needless to say, I took full advantage of the opportunity and got into more than my share of trouble.

The kids in our neighborhood also liked our backyard.  We would gather there for games of hide-and-seek, or to play basketball on our goal, or to play baseball, or just to swing on the swings.  One time, my dad erected a huge tent for us and all of the neighborhood boys came over and we camped out. 

Being in that tent was a big adventure. Here we were out in the big outdoors, sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, eating chips, watching television, and going into the house anytime we wanted to raid the pantry.  So much for braving the great outdoors!  We were really roughing it, weren’t we?  Indiana Jones had nothing on us!

I have often thought of that night long ago when six boys got to spend the night in that tent.  Although we were camped in the backyard, we knew that anything we needed was just a few steps away.  Mom and Dad left the backdoor unlocked so that we could have direct access to the house.

Camping was not a foreign concept to the peoples of the Old Testament.  In fact, several of the patriarchs lived in tents and moved from place to place, following God’s leading and direction.  But their needs were always met and God provided for them and for their families.  This is nowhere more evident than in the story of Abraham, especially when God promised to give him all the land he could see.

In Genesis 13, we find the account of Abraham and his nephew Lot.  They were travelling and living together in the land God promised to Abraham.  Their families and possessions soon grew too large and they were in conflict with each other.  So, Abraham gave Lot his choice of the land and told him to settle where he wanted.  After making his choice, Lot and Abraham separated.  It was at this time that God came to Abraham and promised to provide for him and his family.

Genesis 13:17 is a small verse; but packed inside is one of the most wonderful promises in all the Scriptures.  God makes the following promise to Abraham: “Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”  Wow! What a promise and what a command!

Did you notice the first word of the verse?  Abraham was not to sit idly by, looking at the land.  Instead, he was to “arise” and “walk” in the land, to explore its length and width, to live in it, and to enjoy it.  As long as Abraham remained in the land, he remained in the center of God’s provision for his life.  Wherever he went, he was in God’s provision.  Whatever he saw, it was in God’s provision.  Everything he touched, smelled, ate, and did was in God’s provision.
Abraham’s life was full because he lived it completely upon the land that God provided.  God’s own words were for him to walk its “length and width.”  A few verses before, God told Abraham to look as far as he could see in all four directions and all the visible land would belong to him and to his descendants.

This story has wonderful implications and applications for us today.  God’s promise of provision remains. God never calls any of us to a place of service unless He first provides all that we need for the task at hand.  God never leaves us holding the bag and he never fails to meet every need we have. As long as we remain in the land, that is, in his provision, then everything we do, think, and touch comes directly from our Heavenly Father.  The secret is to remain in his provision, wherever that may lead.  Abraham lived in several places after arriving in the Promised Land.  However, wherever he pitched his tent, he was always living in God’s provision and so was his family.  God provided for them all.

That evening in the backyard of our home was a wonderful experience.  We stayed in the tent but we also had full access to the pantry!  Whatever my dad had in the house he gave to us to enjoy.  Our Heavenly Father is the same way.  As long as we seek to live in the center of his will and as long as we are content to live in his provision, we will always be satisfied and will always have all that we need.  So, when was the last time you slept in a tent?  Don’t you want to go camping with God?  I highly recommend it!

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

City Lights

I
 will never forget flying back to Fort Worth in January of 1998.  I had been home for my first Christmas since coming to seminary.  My vacation lasted almost five weeks and the flight back gave me time to reflect on my family and the wonderful time we had spent together.  It's funny, but it seems the farther you are away from family and friends, the more time you find to spend with them.  When I lived in North Carolina, I saw my parents every week but only for a few minutes each time.  But now, during my visits home, we spend days or even weeks together and I so enjoy it.
           
In January of 1998, I boarded an airplane to return to Fort Worth.  I made the reservations for late in the afternoon, wanting to spend as much time at home as possible.  My dad took me to the airport and it was already dusk when the plane took off from Charlotte.  Not long after takeoff, the plane climbed through a large weather system bearing down on the southeastern United States.  Above the clouds, the moon was shining, the stars were out, and the air was calm.  The clouds stretched out like a milky, white carpet below the plane and gave the illusion that we were only several hundred feet above the ground instead of several thousand.

For the majority of the flight, there was no sign of civilization on the ground below us.  All I could see was the clouds below and the moon overhead.  About 90 minutes into the flight, the captain announced we would be approaching the Dallas/Fort Worth area in the next 30 minutes.  The plane began its long descent and not long afterwards, the clouds began to take on an eerie glow.  They changed colors from white to an amber color.  There were several areas of intense glow and others where just a tint of amber colored the clouds.  The captain announced we were over the Metroplex and would be penetrating the clouds in the next few moments. 

When we punched through the clouds, there was nothing but light below us.  It was my first glimpse of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex from the air at night and the sight was spectacular.  Everywhere were indications of movement, from the other planes in the air, to the cars on main highways and small roads below.  No one could doubt the city was below us and people strained and craned their necks for a look at the beautiful sight below.  Just a few minutes before, it had been completely dark; now everything was bathed in warm, glowing light.

This was the idea Jesus conveyed to his disciples.  He taught them that their lives indicated what they believed; that the condition of their hearts would be reflected in their faces and in their daily living.  In Matthew 5:14, the New Living Translation of the Bible records his words, "You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see."  There are three great truths in Jesus' statement: 1) we are light, 2) the world is dark, and 3) everyone sees us.  The idea of light is a very important one in scripture.  The very first thing God created was light and he separated it from the darkness (Genesis 1:3-4).  Jesus also referred to himself as "the light of the world" (John 8:12), promising that those who followed him would have the light of life.

Truths 2 and 3 go hand in hand.  The world is in darkness.  A quick look at the daily newspaper or newscast demonstrates the thick darkness that shrouds our world.  These are not the claims of a doomsayer but a spiritual fact.  The world is without Christ and is therefore in darkness, looking for the light of truth.  We are that light, not because of who we are but because we have accepted Jesus Christ as savior and lord.  God gives us the important task of shining forth, of dispelling the darkness, and of showing others the way to Christ.  Notice that Jesus said that we shine in order "for all to see."  We have a great responsibility to show others the way to Christ, to be the beacons of hope in a dark world. 

Even before we penetrated the clouds, there was evidence of the vast city below us.  The clouds could not shut out the millions of watts of power flowing through the wires and lights in the city beneath the plane.  Could this be said about us today?  Are we allowing the power of God's love, the blinding truth of his word, the glowing warmth of his grace to flow through our lives?  Is their evidence of Christ in our lives even when there is darkness all around us?  Does our light shine forth in such a way that the evidence of Christ's presence can be seen even in the thick, black storm clouds of life?  When it is darkest, we should shine the brightest!  Shine on!!

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Ripe for the Picking

T
he other day some one asked me if I had a sweet tooth.  I didn’t even have to think about my answer.  “Let me put it this way,” I said. “Give me a five-pound bag of sugar and a spoon and I’m happy!”  I’m not exaggerating!  The guy who said, “Life’s short, eat dessert first” has my full support and admiration.  You’ve just got to respect someone who has his priorities in the correct order!  One of my life goals is to sashay into a restaurant and order a cheesecake and a fork. That’s right, not a slice of cheesecake but the whole thing!   I’m just waiting for the right occasion!
My favorite dessert, hands down, is banana pudding.  My mom will be happy to share that dirty little secret with you.  Whenever I’m home I bargain with her, telling her that I’ll buy the ingredients if she will make the banana pudding.  The result is always the same; she buys the ingredients and makes the pudding!  I just love this arrangement!
The ingredients for this delicacy are not difficult to find. However, in order to make a perfect banana pudding, the bananas have to be ripe.  As a small boy, I remember going to the grocery store with my mother.  She always looked for bananas that were almost black because they made the best desserts.  I couldn’t understand this.  Bananas were supposed to be yellow, not black!  All the books I’d ever read said so.  But black, or very dark, bananas were what she bought because they had the best flavor!  And since mom always made perfect banana puddings, I didn’t argue!
The Apostle Paul addresses this idea of ripeness or maturity in his letter to the Ephesians.  Paul knew that in order for God’s work to move forward with the best results, he needed and required spiritually mature workers. 
Ephesians 4:12-13 follows a list of the different duties God assigns to some of his children.  Although there are different jobs, there is only one goal and that goal is training the members of Christ’s body ending in spiritual maturity. In this passage Paul writes, “to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  The role of teachers, and pastors, prophets, apostles and evangelist is to prepare God’s people for works of service.  The result is that the body of Christ will be unified and mature.  We are to be of one mind and one spirit, understanding and doing the work of God in the world around us.
Notice Paul’s words in the last portion of this passage.  In order to experience the entire fullness of Jesus Christ we must be spiritually mature.  This means that our desires become God’s desires, that our ambitions take a back seat to his will, that we see everything coming from his hand, and that we wait with patience until he is ready to use us for his purposes. 
Remember, in order to make a good banana pudding, you’ve got to have ripe bananas.  Green bananas are too bitter, yellow bananas are better but still lack fullness of flavor, but black bananas, those that are completely mature, make a perfect pudding every time.  What is the condition of your soul today?  If God were making a banana pudding, would you be chosen to add flavor and body?  Have you weathered life’s storms and difficulties, bending your will and your life to his purpose?  Are you ripe for the picking?

Monday, January 15, 2018

Everything Looks Fine

O
ne Friday morning, around 11:30 a.m., I went to a local restaurant to grab a bite to eat.  I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted which meant that everything on the menu was fair game.  Would it be the fried chicken or the meatloaf?  The chopped steak was tempting and so was the baked cod fillet.  After much debate and more than a few visits by the waitress, I decided to order a chef's salad, just so I would feel better about eating healthy.

The salad arrived and I began eating right away.  However, I hadn't made very much progress when something happened.  As I bit down on a piece of bacon, there was a distinct crunch in my mouth.  The crunch indicated that something more than the bacon and the croutons were being chewed.  A quick survey of my mouth soon verified what I feared.  One of my teeth had chipped, leaving me with an odd feeling in my mouth.  I finished the salad and went on with my regular activities, in no pain, but well aware that something was not quite right.

The following Monday, I visited the dentist and he confirmed what I already knew.  There was no way to repair the tooth; it had to be pulled.  When I asked the dentist what had caused this, he told me about a sizable cavity in the tooth.  This came as quite a shock to me because outwardly, there were no signs of any decay.  The enamel on the tooth looked healthy.  It was white, shiny, and apparently strong. 

However, the dentist explained that some decay had made its way under my gums and had begun slowly deteriorating the soft interior of the tooth.  It was only a matter of time before it shattered and it didn't matter whether it was bacon or a grape, the result would have been the same.  He showed me the results of the x-rays and, sure enough, there is a cavity inside the tooth, leaving the outside unmarred.  Bacteria had worked its way inside and had effectively destroyed the living tissue causing the tooth to decay and died on the inside.  Eventually, this decay weakened the solid structure of the tooth and it broke.

What a strikingly vivid picture of the way sin works in our lives.  James, the brother of Christ, explains it this way: "Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death," James 1:15. The problem with sin is, that like tooth decay, it takes very little of it to eat away at the very fabric of our lives.  Usually, it goes undetected, lying hidden from our view but it is working nonetheless. 

Notice James states that desire is the conduit through which sin enters us.  As humans, we constantly want things.  It could be money, power, position, influence, reputation, or status.  It could also be the desire to have things because we feel incomplete without them.  How many of us have purchased something only to discover later that we had made a poor financial decision?  We find our resources depleted and other areas of our lives suffering because we acted out of impulse instead of making a rational financial decision.  Again, how many of us have suffered emotionally because of something we said or did, or failed to do or say?  That one little decision, left unchecked, festered and eroded several areas of our lives.

In the same way, sin wrecks havoc in our relationship with God.  Outwardly, it may seem everything is all right.  There may be no signs we are in imminent danger.  Suddenly, however, the structure of our relationship with God is compromised and we find ourselves weakened, broken, and decayed.  James says that left unchecked, desire leads to sin and sin, if left unchecked leads to death.  Spiritual death, which James is addressing, is separation from God.  We cannot serve God and harbor any sin in our lives.  It gets in under the surface, erodes, and decays our relationship with God to such an extent that the smallest test or trial results in our being broken. 

The only cure for sin is to remove it, to extract it, to pull it out by the roots.  Only then can we be assured that its influence will no longer affect us.  If we tolerate it, if we do not have it checked, if we refuse to let God remove it, it will eat us alive and render us decayed, useless, and spiritually dead.  This is just where Satan wants us to be.  Christians with a dead relationship pose no threat to the enemy.  They do not work for the furtherance of God's kingdom and they don't share Christ with others.

I did not look forward to having my tooth pulled.  The dentist chair held no great allure for me.  However, I was grateful for someone capable of recognizing and repairing the problem.  I could not do it on my own.  In the same way, we cannot fight the power of sin on our own.  We must deal with it daily and be ready to let God examine us and, if necessary, to remove whatever is hindering us from enjoying a perfect relationship with him. 

When is the last time you had a thorough examination?  Is there anything lurking below the surface which is decaying your relationship with God? Why not make an appointment for a checkup with him today?