Living For Today Or For Eternity

Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good… —1 Peter 4:19 

“Choosing to suffer means that there must be something wrong with you, but choosing God’s will— even if it means you will suffer— is something very different. No normal, healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he simply chooses God’s will, just as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not. God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be.” OSWALD CHAMBERS 

When I was in the Army, I used to say that we practiced being miserable. In many respects that was true.  It is often necessary for the military to go places that are difficult, and, yes, dangerous.  Would God send His children to difficult and dangerous places, absolutely.  For many Christians in the United States, their definition of a difficult place is when there is no air conditioning. The fact is, that in order to find yourself in a difficult or dangerous place, you must be willing to say “yes” to His calling. Jesus said ....

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”  - Matthew 16:24-25

Frankly speaking, most of us are not willing to walk that path of rejection and rebuke.  Living a life with nowhere to lay your head. (Luke 9:58) 

Years ago, a volunteer asked me, while in the midst of the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina, “Do you like being in Mississippi?”  I told them that no one had ever asked me that question before.  After thinking about it for a moment, I answered, “There is nothing better than being in the center of God’s will for your life. Geography has nothing to do with it. So, yes, I love being in Mississippi.”  It really boils down to whether your focus is on you or God. Whether you go and do or not when God says go and do will tell the tale. God’s affirmation is not pouring out of material wealth and comfort.  It is certainly not sleeping in an airconditioned room when you volunteer in a third world country or in an area devastated by a natural disaster. Pastor Rick Warren said, “God is more concerned with your character than your comfort.”  Are you OK with that? God does not change so when you are faced with adversity, the “change” ball is in your court. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Fulfilling Your Calling

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" —Isaiah 6:8

“When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us. The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

When you think of someone being called by God .. hearing God’s voice … do you think of Isaiah, Moses, Abraham, Paul, maybe Billy Graham? Do you ever think of yourself as being among that group?  I would guess, probably not.  It would be like a duffer in golf comparing themselves to Arnold Palmer or Tiger Woods.  Not even in the same class.  Perhaps, but in the case of God’s call, your thinking would be wrong.  Way wrong.  Don’t confuse your role in the mission with the place of your calling.  God gives us different things to do, some seem small compared to others, but God decides that, not us.  

“And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” - Romans 8:30-31 

What do you say in response to God's revealed will for your life - your calling?  “Oh, I could never be like (fill in the blank)” We are all being conformed into the image of Jesus.  We are called into a new life.  Not to be like another Christian, but to be like Jesus. And that is not humanly possible but only possible by faith and the power of God. We all have a common mission but diverse roles in that mission.

Our problem is embracing that Truth, believing that Truth and walking in that Truth.  Seeing it as important in our every-day lives.  Do you live each moment with an awareness that you are called by God?  Not for the sake of pride but are you living in awe of what God has done in you by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) God has given you a place of ministry in the place where you are right now.  The question is, will you be found faithful or will you focus on merely living life on this planet .. doing the best you can to get along with your new nature running in the background.  Waiting for heaven. My point, as Christians, we have been called to so much more than that.  And you don’t have to travel to a foreign land to experience it.  

“For [YOU] are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for [YOU] to do.” - Ephesians 2:10

We all must accept that truth and live in it by faith, just like Isaiah, Moses, Abraham, and Paul.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Taking a Stand For Jesus

"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, for a hypocrite could not come before Him." - Job 13:15-16

I am certain that you are familiar with the Job's story. Job was fully yielded to God. His allegiance was put to the test. The question was raised about what calamity must befall him in order that he might curse God and trust in himself and his own wisdom.

"Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face." - Job 1:9-11

Is your allegiance unshakably with God? Or are you like the sunshine soldiers in the Revolutionary war. Fighting when it suits you - following God when it fits in your schedule or worldly priorities. Those worldly concerns that are not inherently bad but are in conflict with God's call on your life. What might your faith cost you? Are you willing to pay that price? What is it that you have had to choose over God - work - family - reputation - acceptance by the world. It is one thing the agree, in principle, with the Bible. It is yet another when you are faced with worldly choices that vie for your heart and devotion and you choose God.

I have known many Christians - and sadly I have been among them at times - who have chosen poorly. The pressure of work - family - reputation - or acceptance has been more than we could bear. And so, we yielded to the flesh - feeling justified in doing so. Asking the same question that the serpent asked Eve in the Garden. "Did God REALLY say?" After all those things in competition with God are not bad things in and of themselves.

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2

Compromise is the way of the world. We are called to an uncompromising faith. Certainly, when you take a stand for God, you must know it is God. But too often obedience to God is challenged by the desires of our own hearts. Do we love God and then others or do we love others and then God? 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Is Jesus Lord - Really?

 “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." - Romans 10:8-10

The term "Lord" has several meanings: 1) A person who has power and authority, especially a ruler. 2) In some countries, a title of a man with high social rank or the person himself. 3) In religious context, it emphasizes the authority and dominion of God over creation. 4) The Greek equivalent is "Kyrios," [Koo'-ree-aws] signifying God's supreme ruler status and absolute power.

I think that we can become flippant at the notion of lordship. At the moment that we yield our lives by faith to the lordship of Jesus - we lose our right to decide what is good - what is acceptable - and what is not. Think about that. There are many examples of conflicts that arise between what the world says is right and good and what God says about it. But there is no room for compromise with God. 

"Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin" - James 4:17

No wiggle room!  If God speaks for it or against it and the world disagrees - to go along with the world is sin. I recently heard someone interviewed about their particular faith and practice. They felt that their church needed to "catch up" with the way people see things. In their view, what the Bible says is archaic - out of touch with what is right (I will add) in the eyes of man. Any idea who their lord is?

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12

Everything has spiritual context. Social reform that contravenes what the Word of God says is spiritual warfare. What seems reasonable to man is very often just that - man's reason. The cry of the flesh to reject God and choose the devil. It goes back to the Garden. The serpent's suggestion that you can't trust God - God is trying to deny you what is rightfully yours to have and enjoy. Are you thinking of exceptions right now to justify your choices? It is a slippery slope.

So the question - Is Jesus Lord, really? Not just in word but in fact. Your life choices will speak for you. Jesus is asking those who profess faith in Him.

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?" - Luke 6:46

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

To Be Like Jesus

Jesus did not commit Himself to them…for He knew what was in man. —John 2:24-25

“Put Trust in God First. Our Lord never put His trust in any person. Yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, and never lost hope for anyone, because He put His trust in God first. He trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for others. If I put my trust in human beings first, the end result will be my despair and hopelessness toward everyone. I will become bitter because I have insisted that people be what no person can ever be— absolutely perfect and right. Never trust anything in yourself or in anyone else, except the grace of God. Put God’s Will First. […] The purpose of our Christian training is to get us into the right relationship to the “needs” of God and His will. […] Am I allowing my natural life to be slowly transformed by the indwelling life of the Son of God? God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be exhibited in me.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

Is it the desire of your heart that your life would be a perfect reflection of Jesus?  It’s a question I had to ask myself.  Oh, I want to be a Christian.  I love God.  I follow Jesus.  I serve others. But .. do I really want to be like Jesus?  Think about this.  Most every Christian I know would say “yes” if I asked “Do you want to love God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength?” (Matthew 22:37) 

Jesus asked (Luke 6:46) "Why do you call me, 'LORD, LORD,' and do not do what I say?”  God’s intent is that we all become conformed to the image of Jesus. 

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." - Romans 8:29

That means being absolutely like Jesus in our obedience to the Father and His will.  I have a long way to go.  We all do.  But the question is are you moving toward that goal .. each day … or are you content with being where you are?  To be like Jesus means to be willing to lay your life down .. to crucify your old nature … nail it to the cross and no longer be subject to it .. attracted by it .. content with it still having its way in your life.  Treating others the way Jesus did and not the way your ego, insecurities, and emotions cause you to treat them.  Showing the world what grace and mercy look like without compromising your faith in or obedience to the Father.  That requires spiritual wisdom which can only come from God and devotion to God.  Devoting yourself to seeking out the Father’s will – every day.  That is the life that I want but it is also the life that I am prone to neglect if I am not careful.  Take some time to examine yourself every morning and then spend some time with the Lord.  Let the world see what Jesus looks like in the life of a Believer - you.  Fulfill your purpose.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Becoming One

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." -  Galatians 3:28

If you have been watching the news you know about the trouble in the world and in our own country. Most countries are formed around a race or a religion. And still others, like the United States, encourage immigration and the blending of cultures. But in the context of sinful man - that is a "pipe dream". Certainly, a noble goal, but naive in the sense that it is counter to human nature. As you know, birds of a feather like to flock together. People mostly associate with people like them. 

"Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him [Jesus], “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition." Mark 7:5-9

The old Beatles song - "All we are saying is give peace a chance" sounds like a good idea until the goals of or the pains suffered by different people groups come in conflict with one another.  Then there must be a victor. One of the groups must win the day. Get their say and their way to the detriment of the loser - who is typically the minority. 

For Christians, we know what the Word of God says about unity. About being born into the kingdom of God where all natural - carnal - distinctions are set aside in favor of a common identity with Jesus - bound by one Spirit - even the Spirit of God.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:3-10,13-14

We, who are many, are all adopted in one family. Sealed by the same Spirit - the guarantee of our inheritance. There is no room for the flesh and the criteria established by our old nature to be untied with each other. Jesus prayed this prayer. 

"I [Jesus] have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me." - John 17:14-21

I have seen a number of groups try to achieve unity, but eventually they take their eyes off of Jesus and look to their old natures. Cracks in the relationships form immediately. When will we ever learn, Lord?

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

It Was And Is And Will Be Jesus

"Jesus said to him [Thomas], “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

I was not raised in a Christian home. My dad was a nominal Episcopalian married to a Jehovah's Witness. My mom was a nominal Catholic married to a Christian Scientist. I rarely went to church with my dad and never went to church with my mom. While I was in the Army serving in Vietnam, I started receiving letters from my mom, telling me about her newfound faith in Jesus. After I returned from Vietnam and got out of the Army I moved back home for a time. Home life was not what I remembered. Everything was different. I was confused and felt out of place. There was something they had that I did not, but I could not quite put my finger on it. When I talked to mom about what was happening, she told me what the difference was - It was Jesus. I understood the words but equated it to religion as I knew it. And left it at that.

Not long after, I got reacquainted with a girl I had met at a soda fountain in a local drug store and eventually married her. I was confused by and really not interested in religion. She was Catholic, so we got married in a Catholic church, but I did not convert. I saw it as just another religion - like the other religions. I went to church with her, now and again, but I really wasn't interested in it. I went to make her happy. As time passed, our marriage was OK, but it was lacking. We were both committed to staying married, no matter what - but that commitment was getting stretched. 4 years after our marriage my mom invited us to church. That same Sunday, I came under conviction and told Martie that I was going to make a decision that would change our life together. She said later that she thought I was going to ask for a divorce. That wasn't it. It was Jesus. I told her I was going to surrender my life to Christ. She said, "Did you think that maybe I wanted to do that too?" So, we knelt next to the bed together and prayed the prayer of salvation. We started a new life together - because of Jesus.

Years later our daughter told her mom that she would never re-marry if she could not have what Martie and I had in a relationship. We have been married 52 years and our children joke about how we still flirt with each other. I told Martie to tell her that the difference in our relationship was and is Jesus. Jesus makes the difference. I saw a bumper sticker once that said, "No Jesus - No Peace; Know Jesus - Know Peace."

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He came that we could and would have life and have it more abundantly. Just as the Creator Father God intended. Martie and I were on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ Military Ministry for a season. As an acquaintance with Campus Crusade for Christ, Military Ministry would say, "It's all about Jesus and all about grace". The difference was and is and always will be Jesus. He is a difference maker.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

When You Approach God

"The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around. His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory." —Psalm 97:1-6

“A person who has not been born again by the Spirit of God will tell you that the teachings of Jesus are simple. When we come into close contact with the teachings of Jesus Christ, we have our first realization of this. The only possible way to have full understanding of the teachings of Jesus is through the light of the Spirit of God shining inside us. If we have never had the experience of taking our casual, religious shoes off our casual, religious feet— getting rid of all the excessive informality with which we approach God— it is questionable whether we have ever stood in His presence. The people who are flippant and disrespectful in their approach to God are those who have never been introduced to Jesus Christ.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Are you familiar with the idiom “Coming with your hat in your hand”?  It means to approach someone “In a meek or submissive manner. (The removal of one's hat is typically a gesture of respect.)”  Men used to tip their hat or grab the brim and move it downward as a show of respect.  Standing before God with our hats in in our hands is comparable to Moses removing his sandals because He was standing on holy ground. When we come to worship, we may come just as we are, but we must be careful that we are not prideful in our attitude toward God thinking He can “take it or leave it”.  You are thinking, “I would never do that?”  Well, my fear is that many of us refuse to remove our hats when we stand before God.

Over the past 30 years, there has been a shift in how people dress on Sunday morning.  We no longer wear our “Sunday go to meetin’ clothes”, but whatever we pull out of the closet.  If a man wears a suit and tie to church people think he is going to preach.  You know that God judges the heart of man, not his outward appearance.  But very often the outward appearance is a reflection of the heart.  Don’t misunderstand me.  I don’t think Moses had a suit and tie on when God interrupted his life … he had on work clothes.  This is not about clothing.  It’s about reverence.  In times past, I am certain that many people came to church “all dolled up”, “dressed to the nines” (I love those old sayings) with sin in their heart, looking for recognition by men and not God.  What I am concerned about is that we may have lost our awareness that we have come to worship a Holy God.  When we approach Him, on any day, it must be with an awareness that the only reason we have access to God is because of Jesus and His sacrifice. 

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” - Hebrews 4:13-16

The next time you pray .. read the Word of God .. attend a worship service … maybe even take your next breath … keep this in mind.  He is the potter, we are the clay.  We are saved by God's grace and mercy through faith and not works .. with respect to our salvation, there is nothing we can take credit for.  So remember to take off your hat!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Singing Your Song In The Midst Of The Storm

"We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies." - 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

As I was walking down the hall after getting a cup of coffee – my morning motivation – I had an image of a little bird sitting on a wire calling out in the midst of a hurricane.  To what avail does the bird sing?  How can it possible stand against the storm.  How can it possibly be heard above the wind and rain and thunder.  

It may seem to you that the “cultural” storm that rages about us is too much.  The light that shines from us .. the song we sing .. is drowned out by the force of the storm – and we will have no affect.  Not so.  When the nation of Israel finally reached the river Jordan the first time, (Numbers 13-14) 10 of the 12 spies saw the “storm” – the Giants in the land and a great fear came over the people.  They refused to continue to follow the spiritual leadership of Moses.  They would not cross the river. And so they missed a blessing – the very purpose for leaving Egypt.  They did not fulfill their purpose because they did not trust in God but themselves.  And so, they died in the desert.  They missed God’s best.  True, they were no longer slaves, but they missed God all the same.

The second time the nation approached the river … the same storm was raging .. and more .. the river was at flood stage … impossible for men .. but possible for God.  When they stepped into the water by faith … the river backed up and they occupied the land.  Fulfilling God’s plan.  I was sharing how Pathfinder became Pathfinder with some friends the other day.  Before Martie and I submitted to God’s leading to start this ministry, we talked with my mom about it.  We told her about what God was leading us to do.  About the problems.  Our hesitation.  We had not gone to Mississippi with the intention of staying there and certainly not starting a ministry.  She said “Charley, the river Jordan did not back up until they stepped out into the water.”  My response was “Got it Mom!”  We had to step out in and by faith.  Put our trust in God and not in the hardship that we would surely face.  She asked, “What are you going to call it?” We had not thought that far ahead .. we were still trying to get our socks and shoes off before we stepped in!  She said, “What about Pathfinder?”  Pathfinder was the name of the youth ministry that my folks had started in Peoria, Illinois.  So, we decided to go with it .. Pathfinder on Mission.  Pathfinder Mission.  A work of faith.

Each of us is called to step into the water.  These are dark times spiritually .. but I suspect they are not the darkest times that have ever been .. just the darkest that we have seen.  When I flew helicopters in the Army, I sometimes flew at night in the desert.  It was very, very dark.  No visible horizon, meaning you could not see where the sky and earth met.  Hard to keep oriented.  But then someone would light up a chem-stick.  In all the darkness, I could see it from far off.  One light in the midst of the darkness.  Pointing me to my destination.  My encouragement to you … Let the Light of Christ shine through you! Sing the song that God has given you. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Living The Almost But Not Quite Christian Life

All the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen… —2 Corinthians 1:20

 “Jesus’ parable of the talents recorded in Matthew 25:14-30 was a warning that it is possible for us to misjudge our capacities. This parable has nothing to do with natural gifts and abilities but relates to the gift of the Holy Spirit as He was first given at Pentecost. We must never measure our spiritual capacity on the basis of our education or our intellect; our capacity in spiritual things is measured on the basis of the promises of God. If we get less than God wants us to have, we will falsely accuse Him as the servant falsely accused his master when he said, “You expect more of me than you gave me the power to do. You demand too much of me, and I cannot stand true to you here where you have placed me.” When it is a question of God’s Almighty Spirit, never say, “I can’t.” Never allow the limitation of your own natural ability to enter into the matter. If we have received the Holy Spirit, God expects the work of the Holy Spirit to be exhibited in us.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest 

Do you ever feel like living the Christian life is too difficult?  It may not be for some people, but God expects too much of you.  Maybe you have given up trying and are content with living a life of partial obedience? No one knows you have settled for less. Well, except for you and God that is.  Here's the deal.  What the God demands of you is impossible for you to live by self-effort.  But don’t think there is no hope for you.  Don’t resolve yourself to a life of “almost but not quite”. 

 I am not suggesting that you will live a sin free life.  You will not be perfected until you are with Jesus, .. in heaven .. or in the air. But you can live a life confident of who you are in Christ all the while aware, actually reminded every day, of who you were and what your personal limitations are.  Who you were is not who you are and who you are is not who you are going to be. You must keep that focus.  Keep a clean heart by taking your sins to the Lord (1 John 1:9) every day.  Living the Christian life is impossible if you think you can do it on your own. Living the Christian life is a joy if you live it in the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

When We All See Jesus - When Will That Be Exactly?

"For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places." - Matthew 24:5-7

Another Eclipse has come and gone. Millions of people stared into the sky with their special glasses to watch as the moon covered the sun for a moment. Darkness fell upon the earth in the same moment. Not like the evening that we are used to which is the sun gradually setting, but more like someone dimming the lights from bright to dark in a minute or two.

People marveled at the event. I think many if not most felt very small at that moment in time. They could not stop it from happening. It was way beyond their control. Some wondered if God was sending a message. Others were certain He was not, after all in their thinking, there is no God. But still, I think many or perhaps most realized how small each one of us are in this vast universe.

I know some Christians who are looking to the East expecting Jesus to come in the clouds any minute. There is a beating of the war drums in so many places, today - surely Jesus is on the way to bring an end to this madness, to the disasters, and the earthquakes. As much as we would like to know when that day will be, we won't until that day is upon us. 

"As he [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.... “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." - Matthew 24:3-8, 36-40

I think the Word makes it pretty clear that - as in the days of Noah - people will not be ready or even believe it is going to happen. There will be no "Jesus Tracker" on television pointing to where and when the event will happen. Jesus said that not even He knows the time. So why do we think that we can figure it out on our own?  Perhaps because we are not familiar with what the Word says about it. Maybe we "camp out" in the Book of Revelation - it is sensational, isn't it? And ignore the other Books. Peter wrote - 

"They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.  But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." - 2 Peter 3:4-9

Can you imagine this with me. One day in heaven - 24 hours is equivalent to one thousand years = 8 million 760 thousand (8,760,000) hours - on earth. So Jesus was crucified (33 AD) which is 1991 years ago. That is just shy of 2 days in heaven-time. We have a natural perspective on time. It's all we know. If I got my math right, an 80-year life span in earth is equivalent to about 1.92 hours in heaven. Oh, I can hear the fingers typing on the calculators now! (Use Excel - it's easier)

I remember my mom asking me if I thought Don - her husband, my spiritual father and stepdad, who had passed away 8 years prior, remembered her. I did the calculation and said, "Mom he has only been in Heaven for 12 minutes - he is just figuring out where he is!" You probably noticed I did not answer her question. Frankly I am not sure about all of that. What is important is knowing that God is faithful and one day Jesus will return. Until that day, our place is to be faithful in how we live and love. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Trusting God In Spite Of What I See

"I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth." —Genesis 9:13

“Waiting for God to act is fleshly unbelief. It means that I have no faith in Him. I wait for Him to do something in me so I may trust in that. But God won’t do it, because that is not the basis of the God-and-man relationship. Man must go beyond the physical body and feelings in his covenant with God, just as God goes beyond Himself in reaching out with His covenant to man. It is a question of faith in God— a very rare thing. We only have faith in our feelings. I don’t believe God until He puts something tangible in my hand, so that I know I have it. Then I say, “Now I believe.” There is no faith exhibited in that. God says, “Look to Me, and be saved…” (Isaiah 45:22). When I have really transacted business with God on the basis of His covenant, letting everything else go, there is no sense of personal achievement— no human ingredient in it at all. Instead, there is a complete overwhelming sense of being brought into union with God, and my life is transformed and radiates peace and joy.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

You may have heard the saying “Those who can’t do, teach.” Well, that may be true for some, but there are many teachers who are masters at their discipline and have chosen to teach others in that discipline, communicating their skills and knowledge they have gained in “the real world” in the classroom.  In the same way, I could not write the words that I do, had I not experienced what I write about.  That is the nature of discipleship.  I can study books that tell me about flying, but unless I actually have flown, it’s all hypothetical.  So …. as I read Chambers this morning … I was reminded of our faith journey.  God has called Martie and me to a life that is unfettered from conventional wisdom.  In other words, we do things that don’t make sense to “reasonable-rational” men … that is if you want a secure retirement and to live the American dream.  Nothing wrong with those things .. that is unless they are the source of your saying “no” to God.  If that is the case, they are stumbling blocks and should be tossed aside.

The most important question for a Christian to answer is .. “Do I trust God?”  if not, then you trust something else.  Abraham followed God and did not know where he was going.  He trusted God without seeing.  Life is like that.  We should not presume that we can get ahead of God. Martie and I are in the center of His will for us, of that we are confident.  We are doing what He called us to do.  Worldly consequences are not the measure of the “rightness” of the call.  If things don’t seem to be going the way you thought they would or should … will you still follow God and walk in obedience to what you “do” know? Or will you want to turn back like Israel facing the Red Sea. People asked Noah where the rain was.  It was on its way, but God was holding it back. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we must be obedient to what we know today.  

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone