A Hole in the Ceiling

 

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he joys of home ownership never cease!!!  Several years ago, just as the sun was setting, I stepped into my guest bedroom to close the blinds and turn on the lamps.  I normally do this in the evening as I relax from the day’s work and prepare for the day yet to come.  But when I entered the bedroom, I suddenly realized that this evening would be just a bit different. 

 

As I looked at the ceiling, I noticed two tracks of water running down the wall.  Upon closer inspection, I could see the plaster above the window was bulging and water was dripping down onto the window seal.  There was no water stain on the ceiling itself but undoubtedly, the air conditioning drain line was the source of the trouble.  I immediately called the service company and they sent someone right out to look at the problem. 

 

The technician cleaned out the line but could not locate the source of the leak.  Two days later, the same scenario played out in my guest bedroom and once again I called the service company.  After the third visit, we isolated the problem.  The third technician took a saw and cut a hole in the ceiling exposing the drain line.  The drain line was not connected at the joint and water was freely flowing from the air conditioning unit.  We also discovered that a vital component was missing from the unit’s drain assembly and the technician ordered the part to repair it. 

 

The hole was repaired, and the ceiling restored to like-new condition.  It wasn’t the first time a hole had been cut into a ceiling and I dare say it won’t be the last. I just hope that it is the last time a hole is cut in my ceiling. 

 

There is a story in Mark’s gospel about a hole in the ceiling.  This hole was also made in order that repairs could be done.  The repair, however, was for the home; it was for a man who was paralyzed, a man much in need of repair and so his friends brought him to Jesus. 

 

In Mark 2:3-5 we read the following, “Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.  Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 

 

There are six people in this story: Jesus, the paralytic, and the four friends who carried him. Notice that the story hinges on the compassion and the concern these four men had for their friend.  The man could not walk so they carried him, bed and all, to Jesus.  Then when they arrived at the house, they were unable to enter so they climbed, bed and all, on top of the house.  They proceeded to dig a hole in the roof and then let their friend down to where Jesus could see him.  That’s when Jesus responded to this man’s need.  Notice, however, the scripture says that Jesus healed the man based on his faith and the faith of his friends. 

 

How true this is. What blessing true friends are and how thankful we should be to God for them.  These men had one goal in mind: to make sure their friend saw Jesus, no matter what!  Do you have a friend such as this?  Has God blessed you with someone who has your best interest at heart, someone who will pray for you and stick with you no matter the circumstance until God meets your need? If so, thank God for them and let them know how much of a blessing they are to you today.  

No Triage Needed!

 

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he emergency room at the local hospital was always busy on the weekends and that meant the x-ray department would also have its share of work. The two seemed to go hand-in-hand. For every skinned knee, scraped elbow, bruised shoulder, and sore back, the emergency room physicians seemed to order every x-ray offered on the menu. And, just like waiters in a restaurant, we delivered exactly what was ordered. 

 

I always wondered how emergency room physicians determined just whom to see and what tests to order. So many patients with various ailments, aches, and pains come to the hospital that there simply is no way a doctor can stay abreast of all the patients waiting for treatment.

 

This is where the job of the triage nurse comes into play. Just inside the emergency room door, a nurse in a small office welcomes anyone visiting the emergency room. He/she takes down all the patient’s vital information and reasons for visiting the hospital. Based on the seriousness of the patient’s problem, the triage nurse decides when the physician will see him/her. For example, someone with sharp chest pains will be seen before someone with a scraped knee. 

 

Unfortunately, when it comes to sin, we often adopt this model of the triage nurse in an emergency room. In our view, we treat sin as having different levels of severity. Taking a paper clip from the office is much less severe than stealing 100,000 dollars. So, in our view, God would need to see the money thief before his appointment with the wayward office worker who occasionally lifts a paper clip for personal use.We never take into consideration that both of these people are equally guilty of taking something that does not belong to them for that is the definition of stealing. 

 

The more that is stolen, we believe, the more serious the crime. However, God’s economy is much different from our own. We look at the external circumstances of a situation while God looks at the internal motive for our actions. In the case above, both the office worker and the “thief” took something that did not belong to them, and they took it for personal use. The amount of the money doesn't weigh any more heavily in God’s view than the one paper clip. 

 

Romans 3:23 reminds us of this fact, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Please notice the second word of the passage. The word all doesn't mean some of us, or most of us, or a few of us, it means all of us, leaving no one out. In addition, the word sin means to miss the mark, the mark of God’s glory. So, all of us have missed the mark regardless of the perceived severity of our actions.

 

All of us need an appointment with God and He is never too busy to see us, and He does not categorize us according to what we have done. We have all sinned and God meets us, all of us, at the place and at the moment of our need. 

 

God’s emergency room is always open, and He is always ready to treat our sin—no triage needed! 

Stand Still or Get Moving?

 

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ne of the most difficult challenges in the Christian life is deciding to stand still or to get moving.  At times it seems God places us into situations where He requires us to “be still and know that He is God” and at other times He would have us hit the road at full march. 

 

We are usually reticent to move forward where the path is uncertain and we are most unwilling to stand still when we believe we know what is around the next bend.  We have our perspective and God has His.  The key is for us to make sure we are seeing things as best we can from God’s perspective and when we can’t see we must simply trust and obey. 

 

This was the situation facing the Children of Israel as they left Egypt and approached the Red Sea.  All was going well. Pharaoh had freed them, they were on their way to the land God promised Abraham and everything seemed to be going according to plan.  That’s when they heard a rumble behind them, not the rumble of the sea in front of them but the rumble of Pharaoh’s chariots behind them.  What had been a steady walk to the Promised Land now seemed like more of a death march. 

 

They were trapped.  Pharaoh behind, the sea in front and they had nowhere to go.  They raised their voices in protest to Moses, demanding to know why he had brought them into the desert to die instead of leaving them in Egypt. It should be noted, however, that no one “volunteered” to stay behind and tend the brick pits.  No, everyone lined up for the long march to freedom. 

 

In Exodus 14, we get a brief look at two perspectives on the same situation.  Moses bids the people stand still while God tells them to get going.  Let’s look at this brief passage and see what it holds for us today. 

 

Exodus 14:13-15 reads, “Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.”  

 

After seeing God miraculously move through the 10 plagues on Egypt, Moses wanted the people to know that God would fight for them once again.  He had not brought them out into the desert to abandon them and He had not resigned from leadership.  Moses knew that whenever we take things into our own hands we frustrate and thwart God’s efforts.  

 

So Moses, fully trusting the Lord, told the people to stand still and see God’s salvation. 

God, however, did not intend for His people to remain on the shore of the Red Sea.  He had called them to enter and take possession of the land He promised to Abraham.  God’s agenda called for them to move forward and although the sea lay before them, although they did not know what was about to happen, God was testing their faith. Moving forward into a body of water with no way to cross it save through God’s intervention is a total walk of faith.  And this is exactly what God wants from us—total faith! 

 

There are times when God asks us to remain still, to rest, and to wait on Him.  There are other times when He simply asks us to “get moving.”  Our challenge is to move when He says move or to stay when He says stay.  We are not to rely on our understanding nor refuse to change our perspective on our situation.  God sees far beyond our capabilities and bids us move forward when there seems to be no clear path to tread. 

So, where are you today?  Are you standing at the water’s edge, reluctant to take the step?  Are you more comfortable on the seashore even though you hear the thunder of approaching chariots?  If you listen very carefully you can hear God whispering in your ear, “Trust me.  It’s time to get moving.” 

Walking Wounded

 

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njuries and medical emergencies are par for the course at any Boy Scout camp.  This is especially true, however, at Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.  Each summer thousands of young people from all over the United States and other parts of the world come to hike the rugged backcountry of New Mexico.  For the most part, the vast majority of the hikers challenging Philmont’s trails accomplish their mission successfully and without incident.  There are, however, a certain number of trekkers who encounter difficulties and mishaps that require medical attention. 

 

These injuries generally fall into two distinct categories.  There are those injuries which prevent the camper from returning to the trail. These can vary in intensity from a severe sprain, to a pulled ligament or tendon, to a fracture.  Other medical conditions, such as sudden illness, can also cut the expedition short and land the hiker in the health lodge.  The other form of injury is not so severe.  These are generally twisted ankles, sprains, falls, and blisters.  While all of these require medical attention, they do not necessarily mean the hiker cannot return to the trail. 

 

Upon arrival in base camp, those suffering from these minor conditions are examined and then given a bunk in health lodge tent city. They are observed for a few days and at first chance they are reunited with their crews.  While they are in base camp, these hikers are affectionately known as the “Walking Wounded.”  They are in base camp, waiting the opportunity to rejoin their crew.  All they need is some rest before hitting the trail once again. 

 

There are times in our walk with God when the trail grows steep and rocks clutter the path.  We sometimes stumble and fall and on the way down we suffer some sort of setback that slows us down for a while.  This can come in the form of unexpected medical complications, a death of a close friend or loved one, the loss of a job, or the breaking of a solid friendship.  Whatever the circumstances, our forward progress is halted, and we find it difficult if not impossible to continue.  It is not that we have no desire to rejoin the trail; we simply cannot go forward in our present condition.  We need to be examined and have our bumps, scrapes, and bruises attended to.  We have joined the ranks of the “Spiritual Walking Wounded.” 

 

In Psalm 109:21-23, David describes what it is like to be among the ranks of those who have been wounded along life’s path.  Let’s take a look at what he has to say, “But you, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for your name's sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust." In this Psalm, David enumerates the wounds that come from broken relationships and betrayal.  He understands full well the pain and the difficulties that life throws in our paths, and he calls out to God for deliverance and justice. 

 

We must first understand David’s condition.  He describes himself as wounded in heart.  Who among us hasn’t been here?  Who among us hasn’t had his/her heart broken or wounded very deeply?  We can all identify with David’s condition, but can we all identify with David’s solution?  Simply put, David relies on the goodness of God’s love and asks God to deliver him for the sake of His name.   

 

David recognizes that God’s love is good and that as our father; He has our best interests at heart.   Nothing touches us that does not touch Him.  When we hurt, He feels our pain.  When our hearts are wounded, He understands, and when we “fade like the evening shadows” He gives us rest and renewed strength. 

 

This calls for us to leave the trail for a while.  It seems that our walk comes to a complete stand-still but this is the time God has placed us in safe keeping until our wounds are healed.  Only those willing to cry out to God in their pain can ever know the joy that comes from allowing God to care for them and mend their wounds.   Only those who are willing to admit their pain, their sorrow, or their fear can ever hope to experience the loving touch of the Great Physician.  Have you joined the ranks of the Walking Wounded today? 

A Gentle Whisper

 

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any nights I lay in my bed on Main Street and listened to the telltale signs of an approaching midnight train.  The railroad tracks were located right across the street from our home and I always knew when a train was coming. The dishes in our kitchen cabinets would begin vibrating with a low rhythmic hum.  Soon after, the panes of glass in the windows and the entire front door would join in the music, creating a feeling of harmony and security as the train grew ever closer. 

 

Just as the engine passed our home, the engineer would pull down on the whistle, sending a sharp shrill through the air, splitting the silence that had reigned only moments before.  As the whistle disappeared into the darkness, the familiar sound of the boxcars moving along the tracks, their wheels pounding out a steady rhythm, filled the hole in the air left by the train’s whistle. At such times, all communication was impossible because the sound of the train was overwhelming. 

 

After a few minutes, the last car passed by, the rhythmic hum of the railroad cars stopped, and the kitchen returned to its slumber.  All was still and quiet.  The silence was almost deafening but in the stillness, I heard something I hadn’t been aware of before the train’s passing.  There, in the darkness, I could hear the steady ticking of the grandmother clock in our living room.  The pendulum swung back and forth, marking the passage of the night.  As I listened, I relaxed and dozed off into a deep, peaceful sleep. Had it not been for the train, however, I would have taken little, if any notice of the ticking clock in the next room. 

 

The prophet Elijah could identify very well with my experience.  After confronting the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and defeating them, he was running for his life.  Jezebel, the queen, had promised to treat him exactly as he had treated Baal’s prophets.  Elijah heard the sound of the oncoming train and decided to seek shelter as far away from those tracks as his feet would carry him.  As we look at our scripture today, Elijah is in hiding, worried, scared, and unsure of what the future holds.  He has just experienced a mighty move of God in his life but now it seems that all signs point to his destruction. 

 

God, however, has something else in mind for Elijah and we need only look at a few verses from 1 Kings to understand how God works, not only in the life of Elijah, but in our lives as well.  1 Kings 19:11-13 reads, “The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD , for the LORD is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD , but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 

 

There are three distinct things Elijah learned in this passage.  First, if we are to meet God, we must go where He calls us.  We cannot meet Him on ground of our choosing.  Elijah was told to go out and stand on the mountain, not to remain in the cave where he was.  Second, God doesn’t always appear in a flash of fire or a cloud of smoke.  Elijah experienced a strong wind, an earthquake, and a raging fire.  But each time the Scriptures tell us that God was not in these phenomena.  Instead, Elijah heard a gentle whisper (a still small voice in the King James Version) and God was in that whisper. Third, when we become aware of God’s presence, we are humbled.  Like Elijah, we need to cover ourselves, stand in God’s presence, and worship Him.   

 

There is so much we need to learn from this passage, especially about our Heavenly Father.  He approaches us, not with lightening, or fire, or anything else we conjure up in our minds, but with a gentle whisper.  God is always intimate with us, like a father with his child.  He loves us and cares for us and wants to make Himself known to us in a very real and intimate way.  Earthquakes, strong winds, and fires are sources of fear.  God wants us to approach Him confidently, not out of fear.  The Bible tells us plainly that we are to fear the Lord, that is to respect Him, but it never tells us to be afraid of Him.   

 

Elijah learned that day that God is always near. He is as near as our breath, as near as our thoughts, and as near as the beating of our hearts.  He chooses to communicate with us, not with whistles and peals of thunder, but through the loving caress of a gentle whisper. Do you hear Him speaking to you today?