A Better Life

 

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ecently, while flipping through the channels trying to find something entertaining and informative to watch on TV, I stopped to watch a short infomercial.  This particular show advertised computer classes to help you get ahead in the job market and to help you make a wonderful salary.  One of the interviews was with a young man who talked on and on about how great the program was and how his increased salary had helped him afford things he never had before.  When the interviewer asked him what his motivation for taking the classes was, he didn’t hesitate one instant but answered straightforwardly, “To make a better life for my family and myself!”

I sat there and let that statement sink in for just a few minutes.  From what I could observe from the infomercial, this man had increased his salary, purchased a nice home, owned two cars, and wore beautiful clothes.   For all intents and purposes, society would say that he had definitely arrived and was in a position to improve his lifestyle as well as that of his family.  But had he really made a better life for himself?  That was the question.

When I was growing up, I remember my dad telling me that all parents wished a better life for their children.  While I knew he wanted me to avail myself of opportunities he didn’t have, I could never figure out what about my life needed improving.  I had my own bed, I had my own clothes, I had a wonderful family, I had plenty to eat, and I was warm and dry. 

As I grew older, however, I began to understand that the choices I made could determine just how good my life would be.  If I made wise selections, I would be able to enjoy life more fully than if I squandered my choices and acted foolishly.  Still, I learned that the quality of life is not based on the things we can afford to keep but on the things we can’t afford to lose!

The children of Israel had a similar choice during their Exodus from Egypt.  They had an opportunity to make a better life for themselves and for their children.  However, their success would depend on the choices they made and Moses wanted to make sure they understood how to choose wisely.

In Deuteronomy 30:18-20, Moses gives the people explicit instructions about securing and making a better life for themselves:  “I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”    

After wandering in the wilderness for forty years, the people are ready to cross over into the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Notice the choice Moses gives the people.  It is a choice between life and death, between curses and blessings.  His advice to the people is to choose life.  It would seem that this choice was evident but given the track record of the people coming out of Egypt, Moses wanted to make sure they understood the consequences of choosing poorly.  He tells the people to choose life and continues by saying that the Lord is their life.  In other words, we choose a better life when we choose God.  This choice would not only bring life to the people but to their children as well.

The same choice is ours today.  We are free to choose so we must choose wisely.   The only choice we have, the only choice that leads to life, is God.  We come to Him through the knowledge of Jesus Christ who promised life to all who believed in Him.  Do you want to make and have a better life?  God is waiting for you to make your decision for Him.  What choice will you make today?

All Along the Road

 

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s I drove the more involved, scenic route back to the Interstate, the evening sun was sinking low in the west.  It splashed everything with a wonderful wave of orange-red light that reflected off the windows of houses I passed.  The metal trailers of passing trucks looked as if they were on fire, giving the impression that the tractor trailers were pulling great plumes of fire behind them instead of metal containers filled with different goods.  As I crested a small hill, I took notice of the many telephone poles lining the highway.  Like everything else in the path of the setting sun, they wore an orange mantle, taking on the reddish color of the great California Redwoods.  But what caught my eye was not the poles themselves; it was the lines that connected them that became the focus of my attention.

All along the road, these sentinels stood guard over the Interstate, faithfully performing their mission.  Between each pole were draped several lines over which literally thousands of messages were passing.  Those wires carried news of marriages, births, engagements, and conversations of reunions between old friends.  All of these were traveling much faster than my car and the poles made sure all the messages were successfully delivered.  What type of messages, I wondered, is my life transmitting?  Is the message of Jesus Christ being faithfully communicated to all those crossing my path on a daily basis?

The Apostle John was very much concerned with the message of Jesus Christ and its successful transmission to everyone he met.  John was known as the “Beloved Disciple” and shared a very close relationship with our Lord.  John also wanted his readers to understand that there was only one message that he and the other followers of Jesus Christ wished to communicate. We find this message recorded in 1 John 1:5, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 

In this first letter, John goes to great lengths to stress to his readers that he was among those who personally knew Jesus. John heard him, saw him, and touched him.  He saw the feeding of the five thousand, he witnessed the raising of Lazarus from the dead, he was present at the Last Supper, and he witnessed the crucifixion.  John also encountered the resurrected Lord and saw him ascend into heaven. No wonder he wanted his readers to understand that he and the others had received this message first-hand and wanted to pass it on down the line to those who had not seen Jesus in the flesh but who believed in him through faith.

That is why John writes that they received this message from Jesus, himself.  The message is that God is light.  What a wonderful promise and truth this is.  In a world that is dark, cold, and uncertain. In a world where wrong is seemingly rewarded and right is punished, John wants us to understand that the light of truth does burn brightly and that light is found in God.  Our job is to make sure this message is passed all along the road to everyone we meet.  No matter where you are in your walk with God, the message is still the same and everyone needs to hear it.  People need the Lord; won’t you be one of the lines of communication all along the road of life today?

For Sale by Owner

 

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 ride through town is always a good thing, especially when you’re not pushed for time.  Usually when I am visiting my family, I take my sister for a ride around some of my old stomping grounds.  We ride past the house where we grew up, we ride past several parks where my friends and I used to play and ride bikes, we visit neighborhoods that haven’t changed in forever, and we drive right through the middle of downtown. 

For me, it is a visit to an earlier time, a time of no worries and no cares.  As I drive through neighborhoods, as I pass parks and schools, pictures of old friends and the memories of good times spent together flood my mind. The sidewalks I took to school are still the same, the trees I used to pass as a boy are still in their places, the buildings on Main Street have the same facades, and life still moves at a pretty leisurely pace.

Changes, though, are evident in many sections of town.  New houses have been built and old ones have been torn down.  New developments and new businesses dot the landscape and new faces are rapidly replacing more familiar ones.  Several houses have signs posted in their front yards advertising they are for sale.  Some of the signs bear the names of prominent real estate agency but others simply say “For Sale by Owner.”  Everywhere it seems, things are in constant flux.

If you think about it, people live their lives in much the same way.  We are constantly on the move, changing jobs, changing relationships, changing scenery, changing, changing, changing.  We never seem to be satisfied with the way things are and we are constantly looking for that next move which we promise will be our last.  The problem is, we never really find what we are looking for, do we?  The areas of life we move into soon lose their appeal and allure and before long, we put up the sign, “For Sale by Owner” hoping someone will come along and buy us, getting us out of the situation we are in.

This idea of constantly moving and forever searching was very familiar to the Apostle Paul.  In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul admonished his readers to remember who had purchased them and how their lives were to reflect that new ownership.  Paul writes the following to the Corinthian believers, “For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Corinthians 7:22-23).

In this brief statement, Paul makes it clear the relationship the believers in Corinth, and we as believers today, should have.  He takes great care in underlining the fact that their former way of life is over. Those who were slaves are now free in Christ and those who were free are now slaves to Christ.  Paul, here is not speaking of the Christians life as one of indentured servant hood.  Christ sets us free from sin and from its slavish hold on us.  When we become believers in Christ, he becomes our lord, savior, and master.  Our lives are to reflect him as our new owner.  Christ can claim ownership because he paid a high price for our salvation.  That price was his own blood and life on Calvary.

What are you looking for today?  Is there a sign in your front yard advertising you are for sale?  Are you looking for a new neighborhood in which to live?  Do you believe that a new job, new friends, a new location, or a new relationship can improve your life?  Are you ready to accept any payment as long as your situation changes?  Stop and think for just a minute.  If you are already a believer in Christ, then you need to turn every situation over to him.  Don’t make a move unless God tells you to do so.  If you are not a believer, I invite you to accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior.  He will place you under new ownership and will supply all your needs.  He is all you need to make your life all it can be.  Trust him, accept him, and turn your life over to him.  It will be that last life-move you’ll ever need to make.  

How Low Can You Go?

 

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t was a gorgeous Friday afternoon. I had just finished teaching my last class and was enjoying the drive back home.  The sun was shining, the sky was clear, the music was pleasant, and I was feeling great!!  Everything was going my way, no problems in sight!

All that changed in a split second!  One glance at my instrument panel sent a wave of fear over me.  Suddenly, the music didn't seem so cheerful, the weather didn't seem so pleasant, and the weekend seemed like an eternity away.  The needle on my fuel gauge was parked right on empty.  There was no distance between the needle and the E!  I was riding on fumes, hoping against hope the car wouldn't stop on the freeway!

I quickly calculated the distance to the nearest gas station and began praying.  I was praying and driving, driving and praying, doing my best to remain calm in the face of this desperate situation.  I normally keep a close watch on my fuel levels but this particular week, I hadn't kept as close a watch and I was paying for it.

Finally, I saw my exit, left the freeway, and pulled into the filling station.  The gas wasn't the most inexpensive, but I didn't have any choice. I was just glad to have the opportunity to fill my tank, regardless of price!  While I stood there, slowing my breathing, I reflected on what had just happened. If I had paid closer attention to my gauges, I would have had no worries and I could have paid less for gas.  As it was, I was scared, worried, and a few bucks over budget for gasoline that week.

My adventure at the gas pump has a direct parallel in the New Testament.  In Matthew 25, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins who were awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom so they could go in with him to the marriage feast.  Five of them brought extra oil for their lamps and five of them didn't.  When the bridegroom came, five of them were ready to go in, but the other five were not.

Matthew 25:3 reveals Jesus’ assessment of those who were not ready, who didn't pay attention to their fuel levels. “The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.”  These five did only half the job!  They took their lamps, they made provision for the short term, but they brought no oil in case the party started later.  That is exactly what happened.  The bridegroom delayed his coming and their oil ran out.

When the groom came, they were unprepared to meet him.  They asked their five friends to share oil with them but they refused lest there not be enough oil for them.  While the five foolish virgins went to buy oil, the bridegroom came and they missed the party!

The application for us is a good one.  How low can we go before we realize we are in trouble?  How often do we pay attention to the fuel gauges in our spiritual lives?  Are we keeping our tanks full, drawing our supply from God and his word?  Are we refueling our lives from his provision, running on the fuel he provides?  Or are we like the five foolish virgins, making provision for the short term but never thinking ahead?

When we fail to keep our tanks filled, when we let them run dry, then we run a great risk.  We will stop to fill them at the nearest station, taking on lower grade fuel at a higher price and we always pay for it.  God never intends for this to happen to us. He provides the best fuel in constant supply.  All we need do is fill our tanks each day and keep a watch on our gauges.  The world cannot supply the fuel we need; it can only come from God.

So, what does your fuel gauge read?  Do you have a full tank, half of a tank, or are you slap on empty?  Are you enjoying the ride or are you panicking today?

A Little Paint On My Pants

 

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 brand new pair of blue jeans!  That’s what I was wearing the day I learned a very important lesson from my dad, a lesson I still think about to this day.  My uncle was painting his house and I wanted to watch.  Mom had just fitted me with a new pair of jeans and I wanted to model them for all the neighborhood kids.  Actually, I didn’t want to take them off because I really liked them and they looked and felt good. 

My dad refused to let me go over and watch them paint my uncle’s house.  I begged and begged him to let me go and every time the answer was no.  I would wait several minutes before asking him again, hoping against hope that he would change his mind.  No matter what I did, no matter how much I asked, and no matter how much I begged and cried, he simply would not let me go.

He said no because he knew I would get paint all over my new pants if I went to my uncle’s while they were painting.  I reassured him I would be very careful, that I would in no way go near the painters, and that I wouldn’t touch any paint.  Finally, after wearing him down, he relented and let me go. However, he made it clear that if I got dirty, I would receive a spanking.  I don’t remember hearing that part very clearly; I was too ecstatic about visiting the house.  I couldn’t wait to watch the painters do their work so I dashed off to watch those modern-day Rembrandts do their stuff. 

You know what happened, don’t you?  Yep!  I wasn’t there five minutes when I noticed I had some paint on my new pants.  Although my uncle lived within sight of our home that was the longest walk I believe I ever took.  I knew what was waiting for me when I got there and I knew I deserved it.  If I had just listened to daddy, I wouldn’t have dirtied my new jeans and I wouldn’t have walked home dreading the consequences.  My dad was true to his word.  As soon as I got home he fulfilled his part of the bargain and applied the hand of knowledge to the seat of experience.  Looking to mom for help was useless. I had done wrong and I knew it, even at three year’s of age!

When it comes to our walk with the Lord, we aren’t very different from a three-year-old, are we?  We want to bargain with God, cutting deals and making promises in order to get our way.  But God, like a good father, knows when to say no and He has His reasons for doing so.  This lesson is repeated over and over again in the Scriptures, especially in the Old Testament.  Let’s take a quick look at a passage from the book of Deuteronomy and get a glimpse of how God sets boundaries for His people.

Deuteronomy 30:16-18 reads, “For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,  I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.”

Somehow I don’t think Moses would be considered as the keynote speaker charged with the responsibility of motivating the audience.  This passage sounds more like scare tactics than a rip roaring “atta-boy” speech!  But let’s take a closer look at this verse.  Moses, and God for that matter, is not interested in making the people feel good. He is not interested in stroking their egos or in patting them on the back.  Moses wants to make sure the people understand they are to love and worship God and Him only. 

After all, it was God who brought them out of Egypt.  It was God who provided safe passage across the Red Sea.  It was God who fed them and cared for them for forty years in the desert even after they deliberately disobeyed Him.  Moses knew that once in the land, the potential for the people to abandon God was great and he wanted them to know what would happen if they chose that path.  The people could never say they didn’t know and that they hadn’t been warned!  They would make their choices with the full knowledge of the consequences.

We find ourselves in the same position today, don’t we?  We concentrate more on feelings than on fact.  We want God to make us feel good. We want Him to bargain with us and give us our way.  Sorry!  God doesn’t do deals and He certainly doesn’t change His rules or His standards just for us. 

When we go out into the world without listening to what God says to us, we always come home with paint on our pants.  We were warned not to go, but we wouldn’t listen; we had to do things our own way.  Now we have to receive the consequences for our actions.  It’s not fun, but we can never say we weren’t warned and that we didn’t know what the results would be.  God has spoken very clearly in His word.  We are to obey Him and keep His commandments.  That means when He says ‘No,” He means no.  When He says “Do this,” He means do this.

We can take great encouragement from this passage of scripture, though.  My dad didn’t want me to go watch the painters because he knew I would get dirty and perhaps injured.  God knows the world is a dirty place and that it holds many dangers for us. He has provided wonderful instructions for staying clean and free from injury.  Why do we insist on having our own way?  Why do we insist on going where we shouldn’t and doing what we know will bring us harm?  Do you have paint on your pants today?

Your Place is Set

 

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hanksgiving morning, my telephone rang at 6:45 a.m. Now, I am a heavy sleeper so I wasn't sure if the phone was real or if I was having a dream. After a few more rings, however, I determined that the phone was indeed real and I needed to answer it. Slowly I ascended into consciousness, rolled over, picked up the phone, fumbled with the talk button, and said "Hello”. The voice on the other end of the line greeted me with a hearty "Happy Thanksgiving!" It was my dad. He called to wish me a very happy holiday.

My mom was in the kitchen making the final preparations for her Thanksgiving meal. Everyone in my immediate family was going to be there, except for me.  Dad informed me, however, that I had not been left out or forgotten. Earlier, mom had set the dining room table and she set a place for me. Although we are separated by over one thousand miles, to mom and dad I was present at today's meal. The place setting at my chair spoke to that fact.

After our brief talk, I hung up the phone and lay back on the bed. I replayed the conversation I had just had with my dad several times in my head. One image kept coming into view, that place setting at my chair.

My parents missed me; and they knew I wanted to be there. However, the distance between us didn't prevent them from setting a place for me. It didn't stop them from considering me to be present with them, it didn't lessen their love for me, and it didn't make me any less their son. In fact, by placing the silverware and the plate on the table, they demonstrated that my presence is always with them, no matter where I happen to be.

Paul underscores the idea that from God's perspective we are already in Heaven with him, now! Ephesians 2:4-6 states, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..."

There are three things we need to see in regards to this passage of Scripture. First, God loved us long before we came to love him. Before the foundation of the earth was laid, God made provision for mankind to be reunited with him. God's love spanned the great distance that separated us from him and he made a way for us to return home, to be with him eternally.

Second, we are dead in sin, separated from God. We cannot come into his presence, we cannot approach his throne, and we cannot have a relationship with him until we accept Jesus as our savior.  Just as God made Christ alive and raised him from the dead, so too are we alive because we have accepted Christ's death as the only means of salvation.

Third, we sit in heavenly places now. In essence, God has set a place for us at his table.  There is no distance too great, no obstacle too large, and no situation so dire that can keep us from being God's children. We are his, with the full right to eat at his table. His love is for us and his desire to be with us is so strong, that he sets a place for us at his table in advance of our arrival.  

My dad called that morning because he wanted me to know that he was thinking of me.   No matter where I am, nothing will ever be able to separate me from my mom, dad, brother, and sister. I was present at the holiday meal just as surely as if I had been there in person.

The spiritual application is just as real. Although we are not physically with God at this time, one day we will be.   He welcomes us into His presence, He showers us with His blessings, and He makes room for us at His table. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, this invitation to dine at God's table is open and available to you. I am so glad that my place is already set. How about you?  Is there a place reserved for you at God’s dinner table?   

Something is Missing

 

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ave you ever felt that something was missing from your life?  I mean, you have all the pieces, or so you think, but they just don't all seem to fit together; something is missing.  When I was younger, my brother and I began collecting jigsaw puzzles.  Every week we would get our allowance and we would go to the local variety store and purchase puzzles.  Although there were several varieties and difficulty levels from which to choose, we decided to collect puzzles with only 100 pieces.  We would buy the puzzles, get on our bikes, dash home, and immediately begin putting them together.  Our mom, who loves puzzles, would sometimes help us, especially when we got into a confusing area of a puzzle.  She taught us to separate the border pieces and to assemble them first and from there, to construct the body of the puzzle.

We had hours of fun and gained a real sense of accomplishment from working those pieces until a completed puzzle emerged.  Once completed, we would start working other puzzles from our collection.  I remember one day, I was assembling one of the puzzles when I noticed one piece was missing.  I looked under the table, around on the floor, and under the furniture.  Nowhere was that piece to be found.  I searched in the other puzzles as well with the same result, no missing piece to be found.  The puzzle was 99% complete, but that one space troubled me.  I wanted to finish it, to complete the puzzle, to make it what it was supposed to be.  Instead, all I could see was the space left by the missing piece.  The entire puzzle suffered because one piece was missing.  It was no use trying to pretend the puzzle was complete without it, the evidence of that one missing piece was blatantly obvious.

Jesus must have enjoyed puzzles because today's scripture lesson addresses the idea of the missing piece.  The story of the Rich Young Ruler provides a wonderful example of what God wants to do in each of our lives.  This young man had come to Jesus desiring to know what he had to do to have eternal life.  Jesus told him to keep the law and the young man stated he had kept it since his youth.  Jesus did not dispute his claim but answered him in the following manner.  In Mark 10:21 we find these words, "Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Jesus concentrated on that one missing piece in this young man's life.  He wasn't interested in the rest of the puzzle.  He didn't concentrate on what this young man owned or on his accomplishments.  He wasn't concerned with his knowledge, his status, or his ambitions.  The only thing Jesus focused on was the one area lacking in this man's life.  Jesus saw this young man from a different perspective.  He noticed the part of him that was missing; the part that kept him from being what he was meant to be.  In love, Jesus addressed the one thing that would satisfy this man's longing to be whole, complete, and satisfied.  Unfortunately, since he was very wealthy, this young man refused to follow Jesus' advice.

Today, Jesus still works like this!  He looks at your life and sees the one thing you lack.  Perhaps your faith is not what it should be.  Perhaps you are struggling with trusting God completely, or you might be wrestling with what the future holds for you.  All of these issues leave a void in your life, a missing piece.  You, like the Rich Young Ruler, search and search, but you can never find the piece that fits.  Then Jesus comes, looks at you in love, and says "One thing you lack!" The hard part is acknowledging he is right.  The exciting part is that if Jesus locates the missing piece, he, and only he, knows how to fill it.  So, what piece of the puzzle are you missing today?

Anchored to the Wall

 

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he box of tools sitting in the back hallway was my first clue.  The hammer, nails, drill, screw drivers, bolts, washers, and other assorted fasteners confirmed what I knew to be true.  Daddy had been hanging something in the house.  It didn’t matter whether the object weighed 1 pound or 100 pounds, daddy always treated it the same way.  He wanted to make sure that whatever the object; it had zero chance of falling or coming off the wall.

The object in question was a mantle piece mother wanted mounted in the kitchen of our home.  As soon as she mentioned the word “hang”, daddy was already elbow-deep in the tool chest, getting out all the fun toys he would use to attach the mantle to the wall.  From what I understand, it was quite a production.  Not only did he use special bolts to anchor the mantle to the wall, he also drove nails in it, making sure each one was driven solidly into a wooden stud that supported the wall.  He wanted to make sure the mantle never came loose.

He did a wonderful job too.  Mother was convinced that if the house collapsed, the mantle piece would be suspended in thin air!  In fact, when my parents moved, they couldn’t take the mantle piece down because removing it would prove too difficult and would ruin the kitchen wall.  When daddy anchored something, he really anchored it!  Nothing in the tool box or in any other tool box for that matter, could remove it from the kitchen wall.  It was a permanent fixture and as much a part of the house’s structure as its foundation or walls.  Now, I’m not giving my dad hard time.  That mantle taught me several lessons, one of which is the subject of today’s Tidbit.

The writer of the book of Hebrews understood the importance of being anchored in Christ.  In fact, he used the analogy of a ship’s anchor to make a very important point about the Christian’s walk and his faith in God.  Hebrews 6:19 reads, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” What is the hope the author speaks of and what can we glean from this picture of a ship’s anchor?  Let’s take these two questions in order, shall we?

First, the author is speaking about the certainty of God’s promise to the believer.  When God promised Abraham he would have a son and that the entire world would be blessed through his descendants, He took an oath.  God took the oath in His own name because there was none greater to swear by.  Therefore, God, Himself, guaranteed this promise to Abraham.  And since we, as believers in Christ, also partake in this promise, we have a wonderful hope from God.

Second, the notion of a ship’s anchor paints a vivid picture of this reality.  A ship’s anchor holds it in position, preventing it from drifting away on the tide.  Although storms come, although winds blow against the ship, and although waves beat against its hull, the anchor holds it firmly in position, keeping it safe and secure. 

But there are other ways of anchoring things as my dad demonstrated in the example above.  It is possible to anchor one object to another by the use of strong fasteners.  These fasteners marry one object to another so that the two are inseparable.  This, I believe, is also a picture of the message contained in this passage of scripture.  When we believe in Christ and become one of his followers, we are anchored to God in him.  That means we are so closely identified with and attached to God, that nothing can separate us from His love.  No matter how rocky the road, no matter how steep the incline, and no matter how rough the seas, nothing will ever be able to separate us from God and the salvation we find in His son, Jesus Christ.

That day in our kitchen I learned a great lesson which I am only now beginning to appreciate.  Daddy exerted all that effort and went to such great lengths to make sure that mantle piece never pulled away from the wall, no matter what!  In a similar way, on Calvary’s hill, God did exactly the same thing.  With the same tools, the hammer and the nail, God anchored, once and for all, our salvation!  By placing His son on a tree to pay the penalty for my sins and yours, God anchored every believer to Himself.  We are securely and firmly placed in Him when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior.  Are you anchored to the wall today?

Constantly On The Move

 

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very evening when the lights are out and all is quiet, I lie in my bed listening to the sound of the ticking clock that hangs on the wall in my living room.  All through the day and night, this vigilant sentinel keeps watch over my home, faithfully marking the passing hours.  While the pendulum swings back and forth, the hands move around the clock, marching through the hours with a determined and steady cadence.  This dance of time occurs whether I am present or not.  The clock continually fulfills its purpose, no matter what!

Clocks have always been a part of my life.  Our house was filled with them because my dad loved, and still loves, listening to a ticking clock.  What continues to amaze me is the precision with which these wonderful instruments work.  The most important part of the clock is the pendulum because without its faithful back and forth motion, the clock would not function.  As the pendulum swings through space, it causes the hands of the clock to move around the dial at a steady pace.  Each swing of the pendulum results in the forward motion of the hands as they mark the passing seconds, minutes, and hours.

The real secret of the clock lies in the fact that its parts are constantly on the move.  The visible motion of the hands and pendulum belie the intricate dance of the clock’s wheels, springs, and gears.  Yet the very fact that the hands move with such devotion indicates that the steadfast march of time moves forward from one passing moment to the next.

The Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles reveals the importance of being constantly on the move in God’s service.  2 Chronicles 27:6 is a brief passage about a man named Jotham, King of Judah, who walked in a manner pleasing to God.  “Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the LORD his God.”  But who was this Jotham and what do we know about him?

Jotham’s name appears 28 times in the Old Testament.  His father was King Uzziah who had leprosy.  Uzziah could not enter the Temple and he lived in a separate house, relieved of his responsibilities.  Jotham represented the people and ruled for his father.  When his father died, Jotham became King of Judah.  He rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord’s Temple.  He was 25 when he became king and he reigned for 16 years.  He conquered the Ammonites and they paid a tribute to him for 3 years.

But what we know historically about Jotham does not compare to our scripture passage today.  Notice that there is a direct correlation between Jotham’s power and his walk before God.  In the Old Testament, walking before the Lord meant to please Him on a consistent basis.  Like a clock’s pendulum swinging back and forth, walking also requires constant movement, placing one foot in front of the other. The goal of walking is to move forward, to go from one place to another in a methodical and determined pattern.  Walking before God is a commentary on a person’s life and Jotham’s life was pleasing to God.  We know this because the Scriptures also say that Jotham increased in power and that his walk was steadfast.

This is always true of a man or woman today who walks with God.  The word steadfastly means determined, continually, and consistently.  God wants us to walk with Him on a daily basis, always looking to Him for all our needs, always communicating with Him in every situation, and always walking forward with Him as we mature in our faith.  When we walk with God in this fashion, we find that our spiritual lives become more powerful, that our relationship with God grows ever deeper, and that our faith and trust in Him grow ever stronger.

What do the hands of your spiritual clock tell you about your walk with God today?  Is your pendulum swinging, marking out a constant rhythm, making the spiritual gears of your life turn?  Are the hands of your spiritual clock indicating that you are moving forward, growing and maturing in your walk with God?  Or do the pendulum and the hands show no movement, showing that your forward momentum and your walk with God have stopped?  If this is the case, don’t rest until you talk with God and have your clock rewound.  Remember, in order to please God, you must spend time with Him.  Are you constantly on the move today?

You Are Cleared for Takeoff!

 

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he DFW airport is a place of constant activity.  At anytime during the day or night airplanes take off and land at a steady pace.  The sky above the Metroplex area is always filled with planes that are either leaving the airport or are awaiting permission to land.  It is not unusual, especially at night, to see multiple sets of landing lights as the planes make their final approach to the airfield.

Driving to the airport is also an adventure.  People are always making a mad dash to catch that last-minute flight and it seems that the traffic on the ground is as congested as the traffic in the air.  Yet, amidst all this seeming confusion, the flights at DFW take off and land on schedule and, with very few exceptions, everything runs pretty smoothly and according to plan.

As you enter the airport and pick up your parking ticket, you are immediately faced with one of three traffic control towers.  These towers are the brains of DFW. Nothing happens, not one plane lands or takes off, not one plane enters or leaves a gate, without the permission or the knowledge of the people in the tower.  They stand guard over the entire complex, keeping abreast, not only of all the planes on the ground, but of every plane on approach to DFW.  One can only imagine the atmosphere in that tower as several controllers keep careful vigil over their radar screens, tracking every movement of every plane in the air and on the ground.

Would it surprise you to know that this example clearly demonstrates the way God watches over his children?  Do you realize that nothing you do escapes the loving eyes of your Heavenly Father?  Everything we do, every move we make, every trial we face, and every joy we experience captures God’s attention.  What a comforting thought this should be to us today.  When we feel as if life is upside down and that nothing makes any sense, we must remember that God is in the control tower, observing us, making sure that all conditions are favorable so that we arrive safely and on time.

Deuteronomy 11:12 speaks of God’s watchful eye and of his promise to oversee every aspect of our lives.  Before the Hebrew children entered the Promised Land, God already knew where they were heading and all of the obstacles they would face.  He had watched over the land for centuries, preparing it for their arrival.  However, God also prepared the people so that they would be ready to take the land once they arrived safely in it.  Let’s look at what this passage of scripture says. “It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end.”

Here, in this passage is one of the most wonderful promises God gives us.  Notice that His eyes were on the land “continually, from the beginning of the year to its end.”  That means God’s eyes never left the land.  He always kept vigil over it, knowing every move that was made in it and He waited until the conditions were right for the people to enter.  God watched over the land because He had promised it to Abraham’s descendants.  God will never break His promises and He will never forget them.

So, if God carefully watches over the land where we are heading, doesn’t it make sense that He would diligently keep His eyes on us as well?  Yes, His eyes are on us all the time.  They never leave us and His presence is always with us, no matter what we are facing or what our circumstances tell us.  God keeps watch over us from the beginning of the year until its end.  God sits in the control tower of our lives, making sure that all conditions are favorable for us to taxi to the run way and take off.  As long as we maintain contact with Him, we can be assured of arriving at our destination safely and on time.  Are you cleared for takeoff today?

A Talk in the Garden

 

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 remember my dad telling me on more than one occasion that you are nearer to God in a garden than in any other place on earth.  It is in a garden that you really understand how patient God has to be with us.  Look how long it takes plants to grow and the constant care they require in order to mature and produce fruit.  If plants require that much attention and care from the farmer, just imagine how much more love, care, and attention God lavishes on us as He grow us toward spiritual maturity.

There is another lesson, a much harder one, the garden also teaches us.  That is learning to accept and pray for God’s will.  Anyone who has ever worked a garden knows the frustration and the disappointment of receiving too little rain.  I have seen my dad work in a garden—staking tomato plants, pulling weeds, plowing around plants—all the while waiting for and praying for rain with no results.  It almost seems God shuts His ears to our requests and our circumstances grow worse instead of better.  Then, one day, the heavens open up and send down rain, just in the nick of time. 

This sounds familiar in our spiritual walk as well doesn’t it?  We go to our knees before God and pour out our hearts to Him.  We bring our concerns for our families, our friends, our co-workers, our pastor, our churches, and ourselves before His throne.  We wet the bed with our tears and we pray with all our might for God to act and move in our behalf.  We then close the prayer by asking that God’s will be done. But do we really mean that?  Do we fully understand all that entails?

Jesus, himself, prayed this very kind of prayer.  In the Garden of Gethsemane he had a talk with God.  Jesus poured out his heart and was so full of agony that drops of blood fell from his forehead.  In unspeakable and incomprehensible agony he asked God for some other way to fulfill the plan of salvation.  Look at his request as recorded in Matthew 26:39, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."  Jesus prayed this prayer, not once, but twice that evening in the garden.  Jesus knew the difficulty of praying and accepting God’s will and in this prayer we find great encouragement to do the same.

In life’s garden there are many opportunities to talk to our Heavenly Father.  Sometimes we speak to Him of the goodness of His blessings on our lives.  Sometimes we bring requests to him on behalf of other people and at other times we bring heavy hearts and kneel before Him in silence.  But every time we come to Him, we must ask that His will be done.  This is difficult when we are facing unknown and trying circumstances.  When there seems to be no way out of a trial but to go through it, we still need to pray for His will.  God promised to be with us through every part of life; He never promised to remove all the obstacles so that life’s road would be easy.

In the garden that evening, Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done.  This is the acid test of faith.  We must be earnest in our request for God’s will to be done, even when we don’t understand all that entails.  We must believe that God is in complete control and that He knows what is best for us because it is certain that we don’t know what is best for ourselves.  So, the next time you are in prayer, don’t be afraid to pray that God’s will be done in your life.  He will be with you in every situation, working to bring you to full maturity in Christ.  When was the last time you had a heart-to-heart with God?  When was the last time you had a talk in the garden with Him?  How about having one today!

Experienced Required

 

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 quick perusal of a newspaper provides insight into the worlds of international politics, business, sports, and entertainment.  You can find the latest information concerning the weather, you can read other people’s opinions in the editorial section, and you can even work a crossword puzzle, or have your funny bone tickled by the comics section.  Finally, you will come to the classified section which can prove both informative and comical to the discerning reader.

The classified section is always chock full companies’ requests for employees.  There are always jobs to be had in several businesses on a daily basis.  A survey of these advertisements will quickly show one common thread among them.  The words, “Experience required” figure prominently and either provide an incentive for someone to answer the ad or move on to something else.

Have you ever been frustrated by those two little words?  Have you ever read through the classifieds, diligently seeking an opportunity to change jobs only to be thwarted and disappointed by the need for experience?  This is the catch for most college graduates.  They have all this knowledge and training but lack the experience needed for many of the jobs in the “real world.”

What are God’s requirements?   What kind of experience is he looking for?  It is a very different kind than that for which the world is searching.  This is seen very easily in the life of a familiar Old Testament character, David, the shepherd boy from Bethlehem.

When David arrives to check on his brothers, he is introduced to something very strange.  A giant, Goliath of Gath, is taunting the Israelite army, begging for a fight.  The soldiers, however, refuse to answer the ad, refuse to take up their arms, and refuse to fight.  They have all this training in war and the use of armor and weapons but they have no experience with God.

Enter David, the lowly shepherd.  He has no experience in battle, no experience in tactical warfare, and no experience with weapons. However, he does have first-hand experience of God’s might and, based on this, David answers Saul’s ad for a champion.   

In 1 Samuel 17:33-35, we find an exchange between these two men as they discuss David’s qualifications. “Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth."  But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.”

Here we have a classic difference of opinion.  Saul believes David to be unqualified because he lacks the necessary training.  He has never studied war, he has never learned to throw a spear, and he has never faced an enemy as big as Goliath.  David begs to differ.  His enemies have been the lion and the bear that delighted in taunting his flock.  They attacked without warning, intent on killing as many of the sheep as possible, something David could not and did not allow.

Although David’s experience is not exactly what Saul has in mind, it is more than adequate.  I mean, David stands head and shoulders above the rest of the applicant pool who have more knowledge and more training than he.  But they aren’t applying for the job!  David’s best response is found in verse 37, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."  How do you say no to that? You can’t and Saul didn’t!

Will you answer God’s classified ad today?  Do you have the experience of a personal relationship with him that equips you to face any of life’s circumstances?  When you read the words, “Experience required,” does this motivate you or dissuade you from answering God’s call?  All you have to do is apply, that is, apply God’s word to your life and you will have the necessary experience to answer any of life’s challenges!

A Common Language

 

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e was from Japan; I was from the United States.  He didn’t speak English; I didn’t speak Japanese.  Yet, here the two of us were, sharing a compartment in a train leaving Germany and heading for France.  The trip was going to be a long one, especially if neither of us could communicate with the other.  I remember staring at the floor, looking out the window, trying to think of some way to communicate with my fellow passenger.  Speaking English didn’t work; speaking more slowly and in a louder voice, didn’t help either.  He was also experiencing the same frustrations and was just as exasperated as I was.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I heard him say: “Parlez-vous francais?”  What music that was to my ears.  Yes, I spoke French and he did too.  This changed everything.  We spent the next several hours getting acquainted.  He was from Tokyo and was studying in France for the year.  I was also studying in France that year so we had a lot in common.  During the train ride from Munich to Paris, I learned about his family, his study program, and I learned a lot about Japan.  Likewise, he learned about my background and things about the States he had never known.

All this happened between two people from opposite ends of the world.  Had it not been for French, we would never have been able to communicate, share stories, or become acquaintances.  What a picture that was.  Two people, from two different cultures, having two different views of the world, sharing with each other in a language that was foreign to both!  My high school French teacher, Mrs. McGinnis, would have been both proud and shocked!  I was!

Do you realize that the same thing happens between us and God?  As sinners, before we come to the knowledge of salvation through Christ, we do not speak the same language as God.  We cannot communicate with Him because we have nothing in common.  As the Scriptures say in 2 Corinthians 6:14, “Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

But there is a way we can approach God to have a wonderful relationship with Him and that way is through His son, Jesus Christ.  1 Timothy 2:5 tells us, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus…” Jesus makes it possible for us to communicate and have a relationship with our Heavenly Father.  Instead of staring out the window, looking at the floor, or wondering how we can relate to God, we simply turn to Christ and he becomes the common language between God and man.  Once we’ve accepted Christ, we learn all about God, His family, His love, His grace, His mercy, and His plan for our lives. The language of Christ is the language God uses to speak to mankind about love, forgiveness, and eternal life.

The application to our lives isn’t difficult to make.  Unless we accept Christ as the Lord of our lives, unless we come to God through him, we cannot communicate with our Heavenly Father.  We remain on the outside of the conversation with no way to communicate and no way to learn about God.  So, really, the question is quite simple: Are you and God speaking a common language today?  If you need a dictionary, just open the pages of your Bible!  

Take Your Vitamins

 

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hen I was a little boy, my mom used to give me vitamins.  She bought vitamins made for kids that were shaped like animals or famous cartoon characters.  They came in a variety of colors and flavors and one of the hardest decisions I had to make was which shape and which flavor I wanted.  My brother also got in on the act and we made sure we had taken our vitamins before leaving the house.

As soon as I had taken my daily tablet, I felt stronger, had more energy, and could perform better in school.  To me the vitamin was the promise of instant strength and invincibility; but the vitamin didn’t work like that.  Instead, it slowly released its elements to support, strengthen, and protect my body.  Throughout the day and night, without my being aware of it, the vitamins continually worked, helping me stay healthy and grow up strong.

Spiritually speaking, we need vitamins in our daily walk with God.  The Christian life is full of twists and turns and without daily nourishment from God’s word, we grow tired and our spiritual walk with God is never what it should be.  God’s word is filled with the necessary elements we need in order to mature and grow spiritually strong. 

One of my favorite places to find daily spiritual vitamins is in the book of Psalms.  In moments of great stress, great trial, and great despair, many people have found the Psalms to be a constant source of strength and encouragement.  They provide the added strength we need when the road ahead is difficult and filled with the obstacles that life places in our path.

Psalm 121 is a great source of encouragement and strength.  It reminds us that our strength does not come from within us but from God.  This psalm also ensures us that God is with us, that He is our protection, that He keeps us, and that He watches over us in ever situation of life.  I would like to suggest this psalm to you as today’s spiritual vitamin.  As we follow world events that change from moment to moment, let us grab hold of the one thing in life that never changes—God!  These words are as much for us today as they were for David several thousand years ago!  Read the entire psalm below:

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD ,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip-
he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD watches over you-
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm-
he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Firm Footing

 

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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!

Shift Change

 

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hift change in a hospital is a very exciting time.  The outgoing shift makes final preparations to leave while the incoming shift gets ready to take over and complete the work already in progress. 

The most important aspect of this “changing of the guard” is the passing of information.  All the nurses, technicians, orderlies, doctors, etc. are briefed concerning the conditions of all the patients.  In addition, updates are given about any procedures occurring during the first shift and any changes of medication or therapy are also shared.

In June of 1975 I experienced my first real shift change.  It was on a Monday morning.  Doctors had just performed open-heart surgery the Friday before and I arrived on the ward over the weekend.  But at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning, everything changed!

The first shift supervisor’s name was Mrs. Strickland and when she arrived on the floor, things began to hop.  She was an excellent supervisor, making sure everything ran according to the book.  Nothing escaped her notice and I could tell that all the nurses respected her and were a little afraid of her as well.

It amazed me how one person could have that much influence, could pull that much weight, and could set the tone for so many other people.  Whatever Mrs. Strickland said, was law on that ward.  The interns and the doctors respected her as well and knew their orders would be followed to the letter.

The Old Testament records many such shift changes in the history of Israel.  In her history, Israel had many kings.  Some of them were good and some were evil but all of them set the tone for the nation.  The man on the throne, the man supervising God’s people, exemplified for his people the manner in which God would be worshipped and honored during his reign.

2 Chronicles 33:1-3 records one of these shift changes.  Let’s take a look at what the scriptures say about a man called Manasseh. “Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years.  He did evil in the eyes of the Lord , following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.  He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had demolished; he also erected altars to the Baals and made Asherah poles. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them”

This was a devastating shift change for Israel.  Manasseh did not follow his father Hezekiah, but undid all his father had done.  He led the people astray (vs. 9) and encouraged them to worship other gods.  His supervision of Israel led to their demise and further separation from God.

Finally, the people were attacked and Manasseh was taken in chains to Babylon.  He cried out to God for forgiveness and God restored him and brought him back to Jerusalem where he tore down the idols and altars to foreign gods.  This time, the shift change went smoothly and God was honored and obeyed and the people were brought back to God.

Today, you may be facing a shift change in your life.  You may be experiencing a change in job, a change in location, or a change in relationship.  Whatever the situation, let God be your supervisor.  Let him dictate the road ahead and make the decisions for you.  When we take matters into our own hands, shift change never goes smoothly, not for us or for those around us.  When God takes the floor, however, everything goes according to plan and always by the book!