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!

Water Water Everywhere

O

ne of my favorite movies of all time is The Hunt for Red October, a movie based on the Tom Clancy novel by the same name. The story is rather straightforward.  During the height of the Cold War a Russian admiral decides to defect to the United States.  The whole thing is complicated by the fact that the admiral has stolen the latest and most advanced submarine in the fleet and intends to turn it over to the United States when he defects. His actions prompt the Soviets to track him down with the goal of destroying him while theUnited States desperately tries to locate him and give him political asylum. 

In order to avoid detection, the Russian admiral orders his crew to take the submarine to great depths. As they descend, the vessel moans and groans as it acclimates to the pressure changes it encounters on the way down.  The deeper the vessel sinks, the greater the pressure on the outside hull.  Although the submarine makes noises, the metal skin holds, protecting the men inside.  They go about their business, knowing they are safe within the protective arms of the submarine.

The Christian life is exactly like this and the Apostle Paul knew it only too well.  After his conversion to Christianity, Paul had several opportunities to experience the kind of persecution he himself had inflicted on the followers of Jesus.  He was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, rejected, and hunted throughout his life.  He knew what it was like to be tired.  He knew what it was like to be in great pain.  He knew what it was to have plenty and he also knew what it was like to live with nothing. Paul understood the pressures and the demands that walking with Jesus can require of his followers. And he was all too glad to suffer all things for the cause of Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, Paul shares his faith and confidence in Christ with his readers.  He writes,“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  What a resounding statement of faith this is.  Paul wants his readers to understand that we are simply jars of clay.  Paul wants them to understand that whatever is accomplished in his life, it is accomplished by the Spirit and the power of God.

But notice the wonderful list of opposites that follows.  Paul says that he is hard pressed from every direction.  The mounting pressures of life are all around him.  There are those who seek his life and there are those in the churches he founded who are doing their best to cause upheaval and discord.  Yet, Paul is not crushed.  He finds it difficult to understand the why’s and how’s of his situations but he is not in despair.  Even in persecution he clings tight to Jesus’ promise never to leave or forsake his own and although he is struck down again and again, Paul refuses to be destroyed!

This is the life of faith and of confidence in Jesus Christ.  This is what it means to come to the end of one’s self and to know that no matter what happens we are resting safely in the hand of God.  Like sailors hundreds of feet below the surface of the ocean where the crushing pressure of the water is at its greatest, the all powerful hand of our God keeps and protects those who are firmly rooted and established in him.

We can never know just how strong God’s love and care for us are unless we plummet to great depths and endure great pressure.  When the walls of your heart moan, when you feel as if you can’t go any further, and when your prayers seem no more than mere whispers, that is when God’s presence, his power, his strength, and his love are the most evident.  Pressed on every side we may be, but we are still afloat!!! 

Just Keep Looking

“I

 know it’s here somewhere, it’s has to be!”  These were the words I kept repeating over and over to myself one Saturday morning as I sat in the barbershop waiting for my turn on the chopping block.  I was thumbing through a children’s magazine and became enthralled with a section containing an artist’s drawing of a particular scene.  What made the drawing so fascinating was that cleverly drawn into the picture were approximately a dozen items that were hidden.  The opposite page listed the hidden items and included a picture of each one so the reader would know what to look for.

I had successfully located eleven of the twelve items but the last one was eluding me.  I honestly could not find it, no matter where I looked and no matter the angle at which I held the magazine.  Each time I thought I had located the missing picture; it turned out to be part of the background.  My imagination, as well as my eyes, played tricks on me, leading me to believe there was something where there wasn’t’ and nothing where something definitely was.

The time was rapidly approaching for me to have my haircut but I didn’t want to leave that picture.  I was determined that no kid’s magazine was going to get the best of me.  I doubled my efforts and began searching more diligently, looking over every inch of that magazine, turning it every way but loose.  Finally, just before utter frustration set in, I found the image.  I had looked at that very spot several times, I just hadn’t noticed the special way the artists had placed the image in the picture.  With a great sense of satisfaction, I closed the magazine, went to the back of the shop, and received a nice haircut.

We are all familiar with this process, aren’t we?  We lose our keys, we lay aside our ink pen, we put down a book for just a minute, and then it’s gone.  We know it’s there somewhere; we just have to find it.  We become very determined, tearing up every part of the house or car until we find it.  Usually, it’s right there under our noses, we just didn’t see it because we weren’t looking for it!

We can also apply this situation to our daily walk with God.  The writer of Hebrews addresses this idea of searching for God in chapter 11.  This chapter is famous because it speaks about the role of faith in the Christian life.  The opening of the chapter contains a list of some the great heroes of our faith.  But not very far into the chapter, we find a profound statement, one that hits us right between the eyes and causes us to stop and consider its truth.

In Hebrews 11:6 we read the following statement, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  Read that once again, very carefully.  We often quote the first part of the passage to the exclusion of the second part.  We all know that we must have faith in God in order to have a relationship with him.  We must believe in his existence to claim to be his children.  But look at what the last part of the verse says.  In order to receive anything from God, we must diligently seek him!!!

Don’t take that word, diligently, too lightly.  Remember your search for your lost keys or my search for that hidden picture.  I was determined not to relinquish my death-grip on that magazine until I found that last image.  This is exactly what the writer means here!  We are to seek after God with full vigor, determined to find him no matter what the cost, no matter how long it takes, and no matter from what angle we have to approach him.  God promises us he will be found but only if we search for him—diligently!

Far too often we pay lip service to God.  We believe in him and affirm this to our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family.  But when was the last time we wrestled in prayer, seeking his face?  When was the last time we poured over the Scriptures looking for more of our Heavenly Father?  He is there among the words.  His truth is embedded in the pages of our Bible.  He is waiting for us to open it and to diligently seek his face in everything and at all times. Are you earnestly, diligently, consistently seeking him today? 

You Can't Win If You Don't Run!

T

he story of the Scotsman, Eric Liddell, was immortalized in the movie “Chariots of Fire” released in the early 1980’s.  Liddell had a natural talent for running, a talent that culminated in victory at the 1924 Olympic Games held in Paris where he won a gold medal in the 400 meters in record time.  The movie, while including this wonderful accomplishment, also traces the development of one of Liddell’s most ardent rivals, Harold Abrams, himself a wonderful and capable athlete.

At one point in the film, the two men are introduced as they race against each other.  Abrams is confident he can defeat Liddell but at the end of the day, Abrams loses.  One of the most poignant scenes in the entire movie finds Abrams sitting in the stands, looking over the track, replaying the race in his mind.  Repeatedly, he sees Liddell crossing the finish line ahead of him.  For the first time, Abrams experiences defeat and it proves devastating, especially to his ego. 

His girlfriend and future wife joins him in the stands and attempts to salve his wounds.  “I lost,” quips Abrams, to which she replies, “I know.  I was there!”  She continues by assuring him he was “wonderful” but that Liddell was “more wonderful.”  This doesn’t seem to help poor Harold and understandably so!  Due to this one setback, he determines to quit saying, “I won’t run if I can’t win!”  This elicits the following from the love of his life, “You can’t win if you don’t run!”

Ouch!  That smarts!  But she is right on target.  Harold’s question is one of the will.  He decides that since he lost one time, there is no sense in continuing—he won’t run if he can’t win.  Her statement is one of fact, he can’t win if he doesn’t run—it’s just that simple.  Abrams comes to the realization that she is right.  The ability to win is only possible if he runs.  It is utterly impossible if he remains on the sidelines and licks his wounds!

Christ did not come and die for us to sit on the sidelines and lick our wounds! He did not come so we could abandon the race and throw in the towel at the first sign of difficulty or disappointment.  He came so that we could run, keep on running, and finish the race.

This fact is summed up wonderfully by the writer of the book of Hebrews.  In Hebrews 11, we are introduced to the members of the Faith Hall of Fame!  Everyone listed here was inducted through the demonstration of his/her faith and they all had set backs and disappointments.  They did not, however, throw in the towel, lick their wounds, or take their toys and go home.  No!  They stayed the course, they ran the race, and they crossed the finish line!

Hebrews 12:1 echoes the advice given by Abrams girlfriend above, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

The last twelve words of this passage hit home don’t they?  The writer is clear, we are to continue the race, no matter the cost, no matter how challenging the course, no matter the weather, no matter the distance, no matter the competition.  We are to run with perseverance—that means running continually, never stopping, never giving up, never losing our focus—until the race is complete.  God has marked the race out for us.  He designed the course, he knows we can finish it, and he provides the strength and the endurance so we can do just that.

In order to see the race to its end, we must determine to run it.  There will be difficulty along the way, that is a given, but there will be no cause to abandon the race.  We can win the race (winning means finishing) if we run it; but if we choose not to run we can’t finish it.  The choice is ours.  To run or not to run, that is the question.  What will your answer be today?

That Don't Make No Sense!

“T

hat don’t make no sense!”  Movie aficionados among you may recognize a quote from the movie “O Brother Where Art Thou?”  I must admit, the first time I saw it at my parents’ home I fell out in the floor laughing when I heard this line.  What could be more nonsensical than a band of three convicts, having escaped prison, searching for a buried treasure which doesn’t exist and in the process getting into more trouble than you can imagine?

Watching their exploits, I wondered what would happen next that could make the situation they were presently in seem harmless.  And, just about that time, I received my answer.  Something more fantastic, far beyond anything you can imagine occurred, and the boys found themselves in another fix, much worse, more complicated, and more serious than the preceding predicament.  In all honesty, the movie could be have been subtitled, “The Predicament du Jour!”

We are all familiar with this scenario, especially if we are living a life of faith.  Just about the time we have the next step figured out, just when we have the master blueprint all drawn, when every “T” is crossed and every “I” is dotted, that’s usually when the unforeseen happens and all our plans go up in smoke.  We look at the new situation life throws our way, we scratch our head, we may even shed a few tears, and we say, “God, that don’t make no sense!”  I’ll bet you didn’t know God spoke Southern, did you?

Well, lest we believe we are all alone when this happens, let us look at the life of a man who lived a long, long time ago; who understood that life “don’t make no sense” and that sometimes even our best and most noble attempts often fail.  The don’t fail because they are bad or wrong, they fail because God has something better for us, even though we can’t see or understand it from where we are now standing.

Genesis 41:1 gives us a very straightforward look at the life of Joseph.  The passage simply says, “When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream…” The whole of Joseph’s life can be summed up in this statement.  His was a life of waiting, of not understanding the difficult circumstances.  I am sure Joseph never understood why his brothers betrayed him, why Potipher’s wife tried to seduce him, why he was unfairly imprisoned, or why the cupbearer forgot him.  In fact, the Scriptures never tell us that Joseph ever received any of this information.

After trying to orchestrate his own exit from the prison by asking the cupbearer to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf, we find Joseph waiting two more years until Pharaoh had a dream.  But once Pharaoh had his dream, Joseph was positioned and ready for God’s use.  After all that had happened to him, after all the false accusations, after all the betrayal, and after all the long nights in a lonely prison wondering what had become of his world, Joseph found himself second only to Pharaoh in all the land of Egypt.

My fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to take great encouragement from this passage of scripture and from this man Joseph.  The last verse of Genesis 40 tells us the cupbearer forgot Joseph.  The cupbearer did; God didn’t.  For the next two years, he was with Joseph and he was already making preparations for Joseph’s promotion two years down the road, a promotion Joseph never dreamed of!

This is the way God works.  Whatever your present situation today, I pray you will know that God is not only above it; he is working beyond it!  It’s when life just “don’t’ make no sense” from our perspective that God does his greatest work in us and through us.  Stay the course! Hang in there! Trust God’s heart even when you can’t see his hand.  One day it will all make sense!  Who knows, that day just might be today!

Lug Nut Faith

W

hen it comes to cars, I’m not too mechanically minded.  Oh sure, I can crank the thing, I can have the oil changed, I can put gas in the tank, and I can make sure it gets washed.  Other than that, I have no clue about how cars operate.  I can’t hear noises the engine makes, I don’t know how liquid gas explodes in an engine to make it go, and you can forget about me understanding the inner workings of fuel injection systems, hydraulic brakes, or anything else pertaining to a car that has more than one syllable in the word.  Gas, oil, start, stop, go, crank, shut off, that pretty much sums up my knowledge of the automobile.

In late November, I saw a car in the distance with its flashers going full-tilt.  Beside the vehicle, on his hands and knees, was a man trying to remove a flat tire and replace it with another.  He was at the fun stage of unscrewing the lug nuts in order to remove and replace the flat.  He didn’t look to happy about his current situation, especially since it was raining.  Nonetheless, the tire had to be changed and he continued removing those lug nuts in the hopes of soon being back on the road.

As I continued my drive back to Fort Worth, I turned off the radio and thought about what I had just seen.  It wasn’t the first time I had witnessed someone changing a flat. In fact, that is a pretty common occurrence in a place as large as this.  But it was the first time I had actually thought about the role of the lug nut and how important it is to all of us who drive cars on a regular basis or on any basis for that matter.

If you think about it, the entire driving process comes right down to the effectiveness and the integrity of the lug nut.  No matter how expensive the car, no matter how much leather and wood is on the inside, no matter the brand, and no matter the dealership’s name emblazoned on the trunk, unless the lug nuts hold the tires on the wheels, the car will go nowhere.  It will in fact be useless to the driver.  Isn’t it something that a car with a price tag reaching perhaps twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars is only as good as the lug nuts holding its tires?

So what does all this have to do with the Christian faith?  Everything!  What the lug nut is to the car, faith is to the believer in Jesus Christ.  It doesn’t matter where we go to church, it doesn’t matter how many committees we serve on, it doesn’t matter how many church functions or socials we attend, it doesn’t’ matter how much money we put in the plate on Sunday morning, nor does it matter that our family has belonged to that church since the corner stone was laid.  Without faith in God, all of that, and I do mean all of that, our walk with Him is nonexistent. 

The writer of Hebrews 11:6 reminds us of this fact, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”  The emphasis placed on faith here is clear.  Without it, we cannot be pleasing to God.  This is the lug nut of the Christian life—faith!  It is the foundation of our walk and the very essence of our relationship to God.  With faith, we have full access to our Heavenly Father but without it, we are as helpless as a car with no lug nuts. 

Today it is not very popular to talk about faith in God or faith in anything for that matter.  The world operates on fact, not on faith we are told!  Yet, I see thousands of people on the highway each day who have placed their faith and their lives in a little piece of metal that keeps their tires on their cars and their cars on the road.  How strong is your belief in God?  Are you living with lug nut faith today?  I surely hope you are!

Out Into Nothing

“L

adies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages….” The Ring Mater’s voice boomed from center ring and reverberated from the walls and ceiling of the Charlotte Coliseum where my parents had taken me and my brother to see the circus.  It was everything they said it would be.  There were animals from all over the world—my favorites were the elephants and the lions.  There were clowns, jugglers, fire eaters, magicians, and something I had never seen before nor expected.

High above the circus floor, flying through the air, defying all laws of gravity were acrobats.  I was mesmerized from the moment I saw them.  The Ring Master walked the audience through their entire performance, telling us about the impossible feats they were conducting high above our heads.  I remember shuddering with fear and excitement as these men and women sailed through the air, turning somersaults, hanging upside down from the trapeze, and trusting the other members of their troupe to catch them.  It was an amazing sight and one I never forgot.

The moment of truth, however, came when the Ring Master announced that one of the acrobats would be performing a difficult maneuver high above our heads.  He would swing out on the trapeze several times, do a combination spin/somersault, and land in the outstretched hands of his partner who would deliver him safely to the other side of the arena.  As if this weren’t adequately heart-stopping for the audience, this last feat would be performed without the added safety of a net!

The two acrobats began their performance.  The gentleman who would perform the maneuver began swinging back and forth, faster and faster, and higher and higher.  His partner also began swinging but he was not in sync with his partner.  From the ground, it looked as if the two would never be in rhythm and I became very worried.  How would the one acrobat catch the other?  Would he be in a position to catch him when he released the trapeze?  Would the other acrobat release the trapeze and trust his partner?  What would happen?

Finally, I got the answer to all of these questions.  The two acrobats approached each other.  The one performing the spin/somersault had his back turned to his partner.  He swung out, released the trapeze, performed the trick and landed squarely in the hands of his partner who delivered him safely to the other side.  The audience breathed a collective sigh of relief and applauded thunderously.  What was so amazing to me was not so much that one partner caught the other.  What impressed me as a young child was that the first acrobat, without being able to see his partner, had the guts to let go of the trapeze in the first place.

The Scriptures are filled with examples of men and women who exercised great faith, trusting God to catch them when they stepped out into nothing and had no net catch them.  This is the type of faith God wants us to have. It is the type of faith that only comes from experience, from learning that no matter how high the trapeze, no matter how out of rhythm life seems, and no matter how difficult the maneuver, God will always be there to catch us! 

But there is one proviso in all this, one requirement which we must meet, we must be willing to let go of the trapeze.  We cannot put our hands into the hands of God if our hands are full.  We cannot reach out and take hold of the things God has for us if we continue to hold fast to things in the past or present.  In order to experience God’s wonderful grace, in order to understand what it means for Him to care for us, and in order for us to truly know God in all His fullness, we must let go of the trapeze.  It’s just that simple.

In Luke 9:62, Jesus, himself, gives us this requirement for being servants in God’s kingdom, “Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Look at the first two words of this passage. The words no one are all inclusive, they leave no one out!!  In order to be servants in the Lord’s kingdom, we must let go of all we hold dear, be that a job, a home, a stock portfolio, a friend, or a family.  This does not mean God will take them from us, but we must be willing to release our hold on them so He can give us His best.

Like the acrobat, we must be wiling to let go of the trapeze, knowing there is nothing below us to break our fall.  With our backs turned, without the luxury of sight, without being able to hear, we must let go in faith, knowing God will catch us.  Has your walk with God prepared you for the moment when you must let go?  Are you ready and willing to let go of the trapeze today, to step out into nothing except the hand of God and experience the joy that comes from landing squarely in His arms? When you do, you will find that it truly is the “greatest show on earth” or anywhere else for that matter!

             

Bring Me Your Dirty Laundry

I

 remember the excitement of going off to college.  As soon as I received my acceptance letter, I determined to buy myself a T-shirt and give the college some free advertisement. When the weekend came, I drove over to the college and bought a T-shirt which I proudly displayed at school the following Monday morning.  I was really excited about being accepted and looked forward to starting my college career.

In the few months that followed, things grew very hectic.  I contacted my new roommate and we decided who would bring what for the room.  There were also all the necessities to buy: sheets, towels, washcloths, clothes, toiletries, a refrigerator (a definite necessity), a stapler, a calculator, etc. You get the idea; I needed a lot of stuff.

Finally, the big day came.  We loaded the car, jumped in, and my parents packed me off to college. After receiving my schedule, moving into my dorm room, and telling my parents goodbye, I settled in for the excitement of college life.  Oh, what a surprise was in store for me!  Classes started the following Tuesday and by Tuesday afternoon, I began wondering if I had made some sort of terrible mistake.  The hunger for independence had left me hungry indeed:  hungry for home, hungry for familiar surroundings, hungry for my room, and hungry for mom’s cooking.

At least one weekend a month, I went home. Since the college was only 45 minutes from our house, one of my parents would pick me up at the dorm.  I always called the night before to make sure they hadn’t forgotten about my visit (like that would ever happen!!!) and mom always told me the same thing:  Bring me your dirty laundry!!

I always wondered how she knew my laundry was dirty; moms always seem to know those things.  So, in accordance with her wishes, I brought home huge duffle bags full of the stuff.  As soon as we got home, she started!   I got a kick out of listening to her as she went through my clothes, commenting on the level of “filthiness” of each item and wondering how I could stand to wear things like that.  In her own way, she was letting me know she enjoyed feeling needed.

Then we came to the whites, especially the socks!!!  Boy did I take a ribbing then.  Needless to say, chlorine bleach was a foreign concept to me and when I washed I just dumped everything together.  Hey, fifty cents is a lot of money when you’re a poor student!!!  But I have to admit, my socks and whites were just a little on the dingy side but when mom finished them, they were white as January snow!

Two Old Testament writers had a lot to say about dirty laundry.  In fact, both of these men had a very good understanding of just how dingy, unclean, and downright filthy our lives are before a holy God.  The first of these writers is the prophet Isaiah.  He understood all to well that all our attempts at righteousness are doomed to failure and the best we can do is to present God with dirty, smelly rags that are in no way spotless.  In Isaiah 64:6 we read these words, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”   

Isaiah has the right idea, doesn’t he?  Without God, there is no way we can be righteous. All our works, no matter how wonderful or well intentioned, can’t even approach God’s standards for righteousness.  We are filthy before Him and we need His touch to make us clean.  Isaiah says that all of us (no one is left out) “have become like one who is unclean.”  The idea of uncleanness is so important to the understanding of the Old Testament and the ability to approach God.  Under the law, almost anything one did or touched could make him unclean.  In order to be clean, he had to wait a certain period of time and then offer a sacrifice. It was impossible to come into God’s presence while one was unclean.  Needless to say, the priests were always busy offering sacrifices to atone for the people’s uncleanness.

In Psalm 51:7, we read another perspective on the filthiness of sin before a holy God, "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”  The writer of this verse is King David.  Although the Scriptures described David as a man after God’s own heart, he was very familiar with the concept of sin’s stain on his life.  During his lifetime, David was guilty of deceit, adultery, and murder. When Nathan the prophet finally confronted him with his sins, David repented and wrote these words in Psalm 51.  His words seem a fitting response to Isaiah’s observation. 

David knew he had sinned and he knew he was unclean, very unclean.  His sins separated him from the wonderful relationship he had enjoyed with God and they affected his ability to govern his people.  In this Psalm, David cries out to the Lord to cleanse him.  He knows that only God can remove the stain of his sins and restore the relationship David broke.  Like Isaiah, David knows he is dirty but he also knows that God can make him clean, whiter than snow. 

This is the great truth both of these men, living in different times, understood.  God’s righteousness never changes and we can never be clean in our own right or on our own terms.  We need God’s touch to make our hearts clean so that we can enjoy a right relationship with Him.  This is why Jesus came, to shed his own blood to save us and cleanse us from the stain and the filthiness of sin.  We cannot do this on our own.  Only by faith in Jesus Christ and only by accepting him as our savior can we hope to be clean from sin’s stain.

S

o are you tired of doing your laundry on your own?  Are you tired of washing and scrubbing only to find out that your life’s laundry is still dingy, dull, and filthy?  Bring everything to God.  He can take your life and make it clean, whole, and acceptable before Him.  Don’t you hear Him saying to you, “Bring me your dirty laundry today!”  Well, what are you waiting for?

Whether You See It Or Not

R

umor had it that, beginning around 10:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, a full eclipse of the moon would get underway.  It was to be the first full lunar eclipse visible in North America in three years. The newspapers talked about it, the television news rooms gave specific details about where to look and what to look for, and I even received an e-mail from somewhere reminding me not to miss out on viewing one of nature’s most spectacular displays.

But if seeing is believing, I would have to say there was no eclipse that evening.  In fact, I would be hard pressed to say that the moon or stars even existed.  I went outside on two occasions,  looked toward the east where the moon should have been, and saw only thick cloud cover which veiled the moon and its celestial dance with the earth and sun from my view.  Yep, as far as I was concerned no eclipse took place and there was absolutely no evidence out there that anything wonderful, spectacular, mysterious, or unusual was occurring.

Now anyone listening to my line of thinking would at once believe me to be just a little off center if I actually believed no eclipse occurred last evening.  It started and ended at the precise moments predicted by scientists all around the globe.  It is preposterous to even think that nothing happened last evening and it would be even more preposterous to stand on the rooftops and announce that everyone who believed an eclipse had occurred was somehow out of step with reality.

Yet, when it comes to professing belief in God and His son Jesus Christ, the vast majority of the secular world will cry foul!  Immediately they will spew forth one argument after another claiming there is no God because there is no physical evidence of His existence. Or they claim if God existed, He would do something about all the evil in the world.  In addition, most people think that those who do believe in God’s existence and that He actually seeks a personal relationship with them are just a little out of step with reality. 

Doubt, it seems, is just part and parcel of the world in which we live.  However, the twenty-first century certainly doesn’t have the corner on the market where doubt it is concerned.  As a matter of fact, we need look no further than a few days after the resurrection of Christ and among his hand-picked followers to find this thread of doubt sewn into our human nature.  Let’s visit a man known as Thomas, one of the twelve disciples who found it difficult to believe Jesus had risen from the dead.

Like the other disciples, Thomas had been witness to Jesus’ arrest and he knew of the events during the evening and following day that culminated in Jesus’ crucifixion.  He understood that his friend and master had been killed on a Roman cross and his heart was broken.  Now, a few days after this event, people were speaking of having seen Jesus and were talking of his resurrection from the dead. The other disciples also claimed to have seen the Lord but Thomas wanted incontrovertible evidence. In John 20:25, we find the account of Thomas’ doubt: “So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

As we said, Thomas wanted proof, unquestionable, concrete proof that Jesus was alive. He wanted to touch the wounds and see for himself that Jesus had risen again.  A week later he got this opportunity. Jesus appeared and told Thomas to touch him and when he did, Thomas worshiped him.  In John 20:29 Jesus answers Thomas’ doubt with this statement, “Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Since the time of Jesus’ ascension, the number of those believing without seeing has grown enormously.  All professing Christians today have never physically seen Jesus but they will tell you he exists and that he has made and continues to make a great impact on their lives.  When pressed for a reason for their belief they will point to their personal relationship with Christ and the wonderful sense of peace and fulfillment he gives.

The fact of Jesus’ resurrection was not based on Thomas’ acceptance of it; and Jesus’ existence was not affected by Thomas’ doubt or faith.  However, that doubt or faith made the world of difference to Thomas.  Notice that Jesus does not scold him for his lack of faith but he says that all those who believe in him without the advent of physical sight are indeed blessed.  Jesus was speaking about faith, believing when we can’t see and knowing when we have no physical proof of God’s existence.

Yes, there was a lunar eclipse on that night. The moon, earth, and sun once again danced as they have since the dawn of creation.  God continues to work in the lives of people today as He has since the dawn of time.  He is still on His throne and He exists just as surely as does the screen on which you are reading this Tidbit right now.  The truth of God’s existence is not the truth only if I believe it; it is the truth whether I believe it or not.

W

herever you are today, I pray that God’s presence and His love will be very real to you.  I pray that during your time with Him you will have the opportunity to understand that He loves you, that He cares for you, and that He is real and close to you whether you see Him or not!

A Popcorn Lesson

T

he opening and closing of cabinet doors in the kitchen told everyone in the house that mom was up to something.  I can still hear the sounds of her rummaging in the lower cabinets as she looked for the old faithful piece of equipment that always brought a smile to everyone’s face.  The closing of the cabinet doors, the sound of something being placed on the counter top, the opening and shutting of the pantry door, and the sound of hard kernels being poured into a metal pot soon confirmed what we already knew.  Mom was making popcorn, again!

For my mom and dad, popcorn is almost a religious experience.  They love it and I can hardly recall an evening in front of the television when popcorn wasn’t’ served.  Now I’m sure I’m over exaggerating and I know my mom will let me know I’m stretching the truth about the frequency of our eating popcorn, but the fact remains we love the stuff.  I remember watching her as she placed the corn into the old popper we had for years.  A little bit of corn, a little oil, a dash of salt, and about 15 minutes were all that was required to make a huge bowl of popcorn, and my mom had it down to a science!

There was one other element needed to make that popcorn, however.  All the effort in placing the ingredients into the popper would have been worthless had she not plugged the unit in and turned it on.  This supplied the heat necessary to make the corn cook, sizzle, and eventually pop.  I loved to hear the corn as it exploded, banging against the sides and the lid of the popper.  It started off slow but toward the end the sound was almost deafening as the kernels in the popper changed from something small and hard into something hot, salty, and yummy!

But no matter how many bowls we popped, one thing was certain.  Not all of the kernels would turn out as white fluffy pieces of popcorn.  Invariably there would be kernels that just didn’t make it.  They were unchanged by the heat of the popper, remaining in their shells, refusing to change and falling short of their potential.  Although they all looked the same in the jar, in the heat of the popper, it was a completely different story.  When put to the test, some of them just didn’t make the grade.

Has it ever occurred to you that our walk with the Lord is very much like being inside a popcorn popper?  Only when the kernels are placed into hot oil are they really challenged to change from what they are into what they were meant to be.  It is only in the heat that the real interior of the popcorn kernel is revealed.  Without the high temperature and boiling oil, the kernels remain just that—kernels—filled with wonderful flavor but never releasing it.

The story of Abraham’s walk to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son, Isaac, gives us a bird’s eye view of what it is like to be a kernel in God’s popcorn popper.  After promising to give Abraham a son, God requires this father to travel for three days toward a mountain that He will show Abraham.  For the entire journey, the Scriptures do not reveal any conversation between Abraham and God but it is a certainty that the heat and pressure on Abraham grew ever more intense with each step he took.

Genesis 22:6 paints this vivid portrait of Abraham during this time of testing, “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together…”  Can’t you feel the heat as it builds up in this man’s heart?  He places the wood on Isaac, (the corn goes into the popper) he takes the fire and the knife (the heat is applied), and they begin walking toward the mountain (the heat builds, the kernels sizzle, and Abraham is ready to explode)!!  There is no place to turn, no where to run, and no chance of getting out of this test.  The only thing Abraham knows is that God will fulfill His promise of providing him with descendants through this boy.

And God never disappoints.  Abraham places Isaac on the altar and raises the knife to perform the sacrificial act.  At that moment God stops Abraham, telling him not to harm the boy.  Now God knows that Abraham loves Him because he has not refused to sacrifice his only son.  In the heat of the moment Abraham’s character was revealed.  Here was a man who loved and trusted God above all else.  In the hottest part of the test, with his heart breaking and his mind swirling, Abraham held to God’s promise.  He trusted the Lord even when it looked as if all hope was gone.  The whiteness of Abraham’s faith was revealed only because God turned up the heat, causing what was on the inside to pop out for all to see!

T

oday, God is still in the business of making popcorn.  He knows that without the heat of trial and testing it is impossible for the best to come out in His children.  He also knows that unless we are tested in this way, our lives will never serve the purpose He has in mind and that purpose is to glorify Him.  So, if you are in the popcorn popper today, know this.  The heat and the pressure you feel around you serve only to perfect that which is inside you.  God sees through the shell of the kernel to the white, fluffy, refreshment that only comes through the heat of testing. The real question we must answer is whether we will be a kernel that pops or one that remains unchanged.  I believe I hear the sound of corn popping.  Do you?

Viewer Ahead

E

ven though we arrived early to get a good seat, my best friend David and I still had to wait in line before entering the movie theater. It seemed everyone else had also determined to arrive early and get a good seat.  The end result was an extremely long line and very short tempers.

For months, television commercials, bill boards, and newspaper advertisements had been touting the latest arrival from Paramount pictures.  Clips from the movie, aired over all the television stations, showed just enough of the film to guarantee a record turnout at the box office.  David and I were among those bursting at the seams to see the film and we finally got our chance.

We bought our tickets, entered the theater, and found good seats.  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the room grew dark and the large screen came to life with previews of other films and advertisements for refreshments in the lobby.  The suspense was killing me!  At last, the feature presentation began and I sat back in my seat, hands gripping the arm rest of my chair, eyes straining to see the first signs that the movie had started.

The theme music began and the movie started.  The title flashed across the screen, “Start Trek, The Motion Picture!”  That’s right, I’m a Trekkie!  Not a hard core fan but I like the show, especially the original series and cast.  All my favorites were here, Spock, Bones, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura, and of course, Captain James T. Kirk. 

One of my favorite scenes is the Enterprise leaving space dock and Earth’s orbit.  The familiar theme music plays along with the signature view of the sunrise behind the spaceship as it orbits the planet.  The order is given to leave Earth’s orbit and Mr. Sulu sets his course accordingly.

As the Enterprise pulls rapidly away from Earth, Kirk makes the following request: “Reverse angle on the view.”  The Enterprise’s screen shows the Earth as it rapidly disappears.  The crew is leaving home and everything they know behind them.  The planet grows ever smaller until it is out of sight.  Kirk then orders, “Viewer ahead!”  Sulu throws a lever and the view changes from what was behind to what lies ahead.  What you see on the screen is empty space but the Enterprise’s mission lies in that space not back on Earth.

The call of Abraham bears a striking resemblance to the scene described just above.  No, I’m not suggesting that God’s call to Abraham is the same as Capt. Kirk commanding the Enterprise. However, God’s command to Abraham bears all the hallmarks of Kirk’s orders as the Enterprise leaves Earth’s orbit.  Let’s take a look at what God told Abraham to do.

We find God’s orders in Genesis 12:1, “The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.” Notice the two distinct orders in this one passage of scripture.  First, Abraham was to pack up and leave everything he knew behind him.  This included his family, his friends, his job, and his home, everything he knew and loved.  Can’t you just see him as he sets out, not knowing where he is going?  As he makes his way around the final bend, he glances back over his shoulder.  He wants to see the reverse angle on the view.  Abraham watches as everything known to him grows ever smaller until it disappears from sight.

But the best part is yet to come!  As Abraham’s home disappears from view, he turns his face forward, staring into empty dessert, knowing his mission and God’s call lie before him.  At that point, God orders Abraham to turn his eyes toward Him and to never look back.  God essentially says, “Viewer ahead!”  This is the second part of God’s order.

You see, all of God’s promises lay ahead of Abraham, not behind him.  Everything God had in store for him was out in front of Abraham.  The Promised Land was there, Isaac was there, God’s covenant, and a deeper relationship with God than Abraham had ever imagined, all these were waiting out there, “where no man had gone before!”  How’s that for a prelude to all that Star Trek would become?  It doesn’t even compare does it?

T

he same is true for us today. God has not called us to look back to what used to be.  He has called us to move forward with Him.  God has so many plans for us, He has so many things He wants to share with us, but we can’t enjoy any of them as long as we keep the reverse angle on our viewer!  God wants us to completely trust Him and to place all our faith in Him.  He has called us not to what was but to what will be.  To enjoy all of God’s blessings we must be constantly moving and looking forward.  Are you following God’s order, “Viewer ahead” today?

The Back Roads of Scripture

T

he back roads of home are one of my most favorite things in life.  When I visit North Carolina, I always take a drive around the areas I knew as a boy.  Sometimes I go the long way just to enjoy the view, to take in all the scenery, and to drink in all the wonderful sights and sounds that an out-of-the-way-jaunt provides.

When I was home for the Christmas holidays, my sister and I took one of these drives.  We were gone for the better part of two hours, traveling more than fifty miles during that time.  We explored roads I hadn’t driven down in years.  We drove past the high school where I taught French for eight years, taking the same route I drove every morning to work.  The curves in the road were still the same, houses, yards, and fences were just as I remembered them, and the same trees and shrubs lifted their branches to greet us as we rode by.

We veered off this road and journeyed down several more, each one winding its way through a different part of my past, all of them bringing back wonderful memories of trips with my dad, conversations with friends, and time spent exploring new places and meeting new people. Not much has changed since I left home.  Every inch of that ground still fills me with a sense of belonging, a sense of safety, a sense of adventure, and a wonderful sense of peace.  No matter which back road I take, I always know the way home, and should the car break down or I have an accident, help is not very far away.

The Bible is filled with stories of back road journeys but we seldom pay any attention to them.  We know about Noah and the flood but very little about a man named Mephibosheth.  The story of Sampson and Delilah is very popular but the accounts of Obed-Edom the Gitite, Shallum the doorkeeper, and Araunah are virtually unknown.  We remember Abraham’s journey up Mount Moriah to offer Isaac but we know very little about his wanderings in the land of Canaan.  Yet it is these very back roads of scripture that hold some of the most wonderful truths and lessons God would have us learn, understand, and apply to our lives.

The road away from Pharaoh is one of these back road journeys for our consideration.  The Children of Israel have just left Egypt and are heading for their famous crossing of the Red Sea.  Everyone reading this story charges quickly through the verses leading up to the crossing because they can’t wait to see God open the waters before the people.  But there is a very important piece of scripture, a back road if you will, that shares volumes with us about the love and care of our Heavenly Father.

Exodus 13:18 is our back road trail off the beaten path: “So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” There it is in black and white—a back road journey.  Notice that God takes the people “around by the desert road.”  Earlier in this passage we are told that God does this to keep the people from being attacked and growing discouraged.  He leads them the long way around because He loves them, He wants to encourage them, and He wants them to enjoy His presences, His guidance, and His provision.

Not a bad trip is it?  The direct route is not always the way God chooses for our journey.  Sometimes He takes us off the beaten path, through the woods, down through a valley, or around by a desert road.  Whatever the scenery, the back road path is never an afterthought with God.  These jaunts off the beaten path give us opportunity to walk more slowly, to see more clearly, to hear more acutely, to drink more deeply, and to rest more soundly than if we charged straight ahead toward the end of the road.

T

oo often in the Christian life, we concentrate on conquering the next hill, on climbing the next mountain, on putting many more miles behind us before the day is done.  Rarely do we stop to consider that sometimes God’s greatest lessons and His most wonderful blessings lie on the back roads of scripture.  A word here, a sentence there, and our perspective on His word and our understanding of who our God is completely changes and grows ever deeper. I invite you to explore the back roads of scripture in your walk with God today.  I don’t believe you’ll be sorry you took the time to walk “around by the desert road.”

That First Step Is A Doozy!

T

here is an old Chinese proverb that reads, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”  I have often repeated these words to myself and I have often written them on a blackboard for my students to consider.  It is amazing to watch as the reality of this small statement becomes evident, especially for high school or college seniors who are standing on the threshold of a new stage of life.

But college seniors and high school graduates are not the only ones who experience the truth of this statement.  All of us, at some point in our lives, will face the truth of this old proverb. Many of us have already experienced it at least once and many more have faced it several times.  It happens when we must make a career change, or when we have to move away from familiar surroundings and set down roots in a strange place. For others, the journey comes with the loss of a loved one and they must face the road ahead without the presence of their one-time companion.

Whatever the circumstances, one thing is sure, the journey, when taken as a whole, is overwhelming and that first step is always a doozy!  In fact, the whole secret to the journey is contained in that first step. If we can find the courage to put our foot forward for that first step, we find that the rest are easier.  It is the first step that is the most difficult and it is at the first step that the enemies of doubt, fear, insecurity, and mistrust attack us the most strongly and the most effectively. 

The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who walked with God and who took great journeys with Him.  Who can forget Moses leading the people in the wilderness?  Who hasn’t read about Noah and the ark?  And the story of Paul’s missionary journeys fills the New Testament pages with the history of the spread of the Gospel.

But to get a feel for the importance of the first step, to really appreciate what it means to move forward into God’s hands, to actually experience walking with God when you don’t know where you are going, we need look no further than Chapter 12 of the book of Genesis. The first verse of this passage tells us all we need to know about a man called Abraham and the journey he took with God.  Genesis 12:1 reads, “The Lord had said to Abram “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”

Notice that God’s words contain a command, “leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land” and a promise, “I will show you.”  The command part had to be the most difficult for Abram.  He knew God had called him, and he knew God would show him where to go, but taking that first step would be a difficult and heart-wrenching decision.  Not only was Abram stepping out into the unknown; he was also stepping away from the known, leaving his home, his family, his friends, his life, and his security behind him.  That first step was indeed a doozy but Abram exercised his faith and took it.

There is a great lesson here which God has been teaching me in recent days.  The life of faith is always one away from the camp of security and comfort.  Abram’s faith in God was secure but the circumstances of his life were not.  He lived in a tent, not a permanent dwelling.  He lived in a land in which both he and his neighbors referred to him as an alien and a foreigner.  But Abram learned the only way to please God and to receive His best was to walk continually in faith.

W

herever you are in your walk with God today my friend, my prayer is that you will not shy away from taking that first step.  It is a doozy in more ways than one.  That first step will separate you from the world but it will also separate you unto God.  It may take you a thousand miles away from home, but it will never take you where God is not.  The journey may have uphill struggles, rocky mountain slopes, and deep valleys, but it will also provide you with views and joys you could never experience at home in base camp.  My prayer for you today is that you will pack your bags and determine in your heart to take that first step of faith with God.  It will be a doozy, I grant you that, but it will be one that will change your life forever.  Are you ready to take that first step today?

Come On In

I

 distinctly remember the first day my brother and I moved into our new home.  For eighteen long months we had worked, preparing the house for occupancy.  At last the long-awaited day arrived.  With the help of our parents and a few friends, we moved our furniture, our clothes, and all our belongings into the new house, cutting the apron strings with home and taking up the reigns of home ownership.  

It was exciting and frightening at the same time.  During the previous eighteen months, we had lived with our parents but our new home was across town, waiting for us to enter and set up house keeping.  During this time we were in limbo; we lived in one place but were looking forward to another.  Although we had enjoyed living with mom and dad, the time had come for us to move on and start a new life of our own.

A few days after moving into the house, I received a reality check. You know what these are, don’t you?  They are those little moments when you understand just how big the hole you’re in is and you know the shovel you are holding isn’t large enough to dig you out.  It had never occurred to me that the money we borrowed had to be paid back.  I had written checks to pay for the plumbing, the wiring, and all the other needs we had.  But that was the bank’s money, not mine.  Now I was faced with the reality that I had to use my money to repay the loan.  Talk about scared!

I imagine this is the way Joshua must have felt as he stood on the threshold of the Promised Land, ready to make his entrance with the children of Israel.  For forty years they had been wondering in the desert, walking in a great circle, paying for their disobedience to God.  The Lord was using this situation to prepare them to take possession of the land. The wonderings in the desert would teach them about God’s faithfulness and His trustworthiness.

Finally, the day came when they were to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land.  There must have been wonderful excitement in the camp that day.  The promise made to Abraham hundreds of years before was about to be fulfilled.  God had opened the door and had extended an invitation for His people to go into the land of promise.  The responsibilities for leading the people into the land and for conquering it fell to Moses’ servant, Joshua.

Can’t you just imagine Joshua’s fears and worries?  For the past forty years, the people had received their instructions and their leadership from Moses.  This great man of God had stood before Pharaoh, he had led them through the Red Sea, he had given them God’s law, and he had built the tabernacle in the wilderness.  How would Joshua ever fill Moses’ shoes?  Would the people listen to him? Would they respect him? Would they carry out his instructions?  The fear of the unknown must have plagued Joshua and weighed heavily on his mind.  God, however, had great plans for him and gave him wonderful words of reassurance.

In Joshua 1:1-3, God gives these words of encouragement to Joshua, “After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-to the Israelites.  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.”

There are three things we need to learn from this passage of scripture today.  First, Joshua must face reality.  Moses is dead!  The people can no longer rely on his leadership.  This left the people and Joshua with not only a sense of loss, but also caused them great anxiety.  Their security blanket had been ripped right out from underneath them.  But God does not stop here.  The next sentence demonstrates that God’s plans do not change. 

Second, God tells Joshua that the people will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land He promised on oath to Abraham.  What wonderful reassurance this must have been.  God’s promises are not dependent on one individual or set of circumstances. God’s promises are dependent on Him and, therefore, can never fail. 

Finally, God restates His intention.  That intention is to fulfill His promise, to be with the people as they cross over and to settle them in the land just as He told Moses and just as He promised Abraham.  No matter how daunting the circumstance and no matter how impossible and hopeless the situation may seem, God’s promises remain true.  He will keep them all!

This morning, as we face the day ahead, we can and must draw great strength from these verses.  The events of yesterday are gone.  All of its successes, all of its comforts, and all of its security are forever in the past.  God is calling us to move forward into territory unknown to us but very familiar to Him.  He is calling us to move from where we are into the promises He has given us.  We can not dwell in the desert when God has called us to a land flowing with milk and honey.  We must get up, move forward, leave the past behind, enter the land, and possess it.

G

od has opened the door on this morning and He extends to us the following invitation:  “Come on in!”  The rest is up to us.  Personally, I’m going to wipe my feet on the welcome mat and go on in!  How about you?