Past, Present, Future

Many people at the gym have tattoos displayed in a variety of designs, sizes and shapes. Some graphics cover such a large portion of the person’s body that it is hard to discern the message they want to impart. I wonder if the images represent who the person was, who they are today, or who they aspire to become. I’m trying to imagine Paul sporting tattoos from his previous life, when he was known as Saul. Paul said, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 1:13-14 NIV).

Keepsakes

As I unpack boxes from our recent move into a new house, I keep coming across items of family members who lived with us before they passed away – my mom, sister and mother-in-law. When I started organizing the items, I was taken aback to discover that between the three of them, and myself, we had almost 20 jewelry boxes full of treasures and mementos. I suppose I’ve continued to keep the jewelry boxes, with their contents intact, because they have become keepsakes of the one who owned them. Jesus said “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt 6:19-21 NIV). I wish someone could explain to me why I’m storing up treasures for those who are now deceased.

      

Homeless

In America today there is a lot of attention on the plight of the homeless. It occurs to me that even though a person may not have a physical home on earth, if they claim Jesus as their personal Savior, they are never homeless. Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God£; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4 NIV).

The Lost

Wildfires in California have required thousands to evacuate. In an interview one woman evacuated, but then wanted to run back into the home to retrieve her jewelry box which contained he father’s wedding ring. Through tears she said, “But they wouldn’t let me go back in and everything is now burned up.” I’m reminded of the rich man and Lazarus in the afterlife. While Lazarus was comforted at father Abraham's side, the rich man was tormented. He asked if Lazarus could dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue because he was in agony in the fire; however, a great chasm separated them. The rich man said, “Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment” (Luke 16:27-28 NIV). The woman in California has a shared experience with the rich man, neither can go back to retrieve, nor to save what is lost.

The Assembly of Believers

Mature believers understand the importance of assembling together with fellow believers. However, today’s church places the emphasis of assembly on Sunday morning worship, the preacher and the sermon. In his call for people of faith to persevere, the writer of Hebrews places the emphasis of assembly not on church leaders and structure, but rather on worshipers, “…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb 10:22-25 NIV).

Deception

I have a houseplant that looks like a shamrock, but rather than the traditional green, it is a deep purple color and commonly referred to as a black shamrock. In my old house the plant had lots of indirect sunlight, but remained listless and seldom had new spouts coming up. In the new house the plant is on the kitchen counter under small LED strip lights and it is thriving, putting out new shoots every few days. It appears that the plant is being deceived by the fake light. Similar to the plant, believers too can be fooled into accepting a fake light. James said, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (James 1:16-18 NIV).

Pure Joy

I attended a Bible study where one member announced she would be leaving the church to start attending another church in the community. She gave several reasons for the decision, but became specific when she said, “There is no joy here.” As she elaborated it became clear that she wanted a more charismatic form of worship that included talking in tongues, which she said she was learning to do. Mentally I questioned how one “learns” to talk in tongues, but I set that thought aside and focused on the woman’s claim that there was no joy in our church. It occurs to me that she has misjudged the situation. The joy she is missing is not found in the church, but rather in found within herself. James said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV).

Making the Right Connection

When we packed our electronics, we tried to keep all the cords and attachments together, and to some degree we succeeded. However, when everything winds up in one box, you then have to sort out and untangle which cord goes to which device. Even though there is only one power source, if you don’t have the correct cord or attachment, your device is useless. There are some people and religions who try to connect with God using a variety of means. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7 NIV).

Not Against Us

I have liberal friends on Facebook who one minute will re-post deeply spiritual messages proclaiming Jesus Christ and the next minute shoot off fiery darts of the evil one whose target is President Trump…a professed man of faith. The disciples saw a man driving out demons in the Lord’s name, but told him to stop because he was not one of them. Jesus said, “Do not stop him. No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward” (Mark 9:39-41 NIV). Let me suggest that President Trump is not against Christians, nor has he said anything bad against Christ.

Read the Manual

My new house comes with all new appliances, as well as heating and cooling units, and there is an instruction manual to go with each one. I don’t have time to sit down and read manuals when I can’t even find the toilet paper that I packed somewhere in a box. This experience is reminiscent of getting the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven when I became a Christian and my youth sponsor gifting me with a Bible as my instruction manual. Paul said, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15 KJV).

Rejoice With Me

My friend has two saucer-size pet turtles that live outside in a sandbox type enclosure. One turtle escaped and became a poster-child for lost pets. Prayers and signs posted on telephone poles finally bore fruit and after two weeks the turtle was reunited to his owner. The turtle had been rescued by neighbors while he attempted to walk across a busy street. Many were praying for the lost turtle and his return ranks right up there with the emotion found in Jesus’ parables of the Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, and the Lost Son.  Jesus said, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety–nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety–nine righteous persons who do not need to repent” (Luke 15:4-7 NIV).

All Things

Our old house sold quickly and I can see God’s provision in each step of the process. Even though there were other people involved in the sale, I’ll admit that I felt as though God was watching out for my interests alone. However, at the closing I learned the house was absolutely perfect for the buyer, including having the workshop wired with 220, which the new owner needed for his welding projects. It became clear that all of the maintenance and improvements on our house over the years were not made for us alone, but for the young man who purchased our house. Paul said, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Ro 8:28 NIV).

Moving On

After 36 years of living in the same house we are moving into a new house. Our two children were raised in that house, as well as having family members (mother, sister and mother-in-law) live with us when their health declined. After all these years I still get bulk mail, advertising and solicitations for all those who’ve lived with us. Some days my mother-in-law Ruth, who passed away 18 months ago, gets more mail than we get. Interestingly, those letters become somewhat of a memorial of remembrance to those who have passed on.

Object Lesson

Earlier this summer I scurried up the Post Office steps and crammed my foot into the granite riser and broke my big toe. It became swollen, painful and turned eggplant purple. For a couple weeks I favored the toe with a limp, had a hard time with balance and was forced to reduce my walking speed on the treadmill. The injured toe affected my whole body, including my mental attitude. Any injury is a great object lesson to help us grasp our membership in the Body of Christ. Paul said, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Cor 12:26 NIV).

When the Spirit Speaks

During a Bible study the ladies discussed what held them back from witnessing, evangelizing and testifying about the Lord. Generally speaking, they seemed to agree it was their lack of knowledge and the fear that they could not respond if they were asked questions. Many of these ladies have been Christians for decades. My sense is they not only underestimate themselves, but also the Spirit living within them. I’m reminded of Stephen who was known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom and who was one of seven men chosen to oversee the daily distribution of food. “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke” (Acts 6:8-10 NIV).

Preaching Ourselves

It is difficult to preach, teach or give a program without, to one degree or another, interjecting ourselves into the presentation. However, there are some who short-change the Gospel of Christ by making themselves the focus of their message. Paul reminds us, “For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:5-6 NIV).

Life Application

The church continues to develop programs and studies to help people understand the Bible and apply it to their lives. I get the concept; however, teaching “life application” to adults implies they don’t have the wherewithal to hear the Gospel and make application for themselves. The writer of Hebrews said, “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:11-14 NIV).

Healing vs. Relief

When people have an incurable disease or long-time disability many of us stop praying for healing and focus our prayers on the symptoms. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside when they heard Jesus was going by. When they called out to Jesus he said, “What do you want me to do for you?” The men didn’t ask for new canes, handicapped housing or live-in care-givers, “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him” (Matt 20:32-34 NIV).

Mouthy

The body of Christ as being made up of many parts and each of us has a part of it. There should be no division in the body and we should have equal concern for each other. Paul said, “If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body…The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you” (1 Cor 12:15-16; 21 NIV)! It occurs to me that the one thing all these body parts have in common, and the one thing that always gets them in trouble, is the fact that they have a mouth. 

Agenda

The Voice is a blind audition singing competition and one element of the television series is to give the backstory of contestants. Recently transgender participant was asked what it meant to be a participant on The Voice the she-turned-he said, “I want people to see me for who I am.” My sense is that this person would rather use the platform to wave a transgender flag than they would to showcase their talent. Unfortunately, the church is not immune to such personal agendas. We sometimes allow our ministry efforts to become more import than the One we minister for, that is Jesus Christ. Paul said, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col 3:17 NIV).

Covetousness

Many Democratic presidential candidates are, in one form or another, promoting socialism. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren plan to take money from the wealthiest Americans and give it to others and in doing so they want us to believe they are looking out for the interests of the less fortunate. However, these political candidates are so obsessed with wealth that I’m now wondering if they aren’t in fact leading their supporters into coveting wealth. Paul said, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10 NIV).

Pressing Forward

A Facebook post stated that Ken, a high school friend, was recently admitted to hospice and will now reside in a care facility. One of his former high school buddies commented on the post, “I’m sorry I haven’t been a better friend.” These classmates, who graduated more than 50 year ago, have apparently remained friendly, but the friendship itself appears to have faded. Spiritually speaking, some of us may have regrets for not being a better friend to Jesus over the last 50 years. Paul, who persecuted Jesus, is an example for us to press forward, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:12-14 NIV).

Do Not Even Judge Yourself

God calls us into ministry and service, but unfortunately fellow believers sometimes waylay our efforts as we try to respond to that call. It’s not unusual to be kept from teaching, leading and serving because others judge us by human standards. Paul reminds us that it is the Lord who judges us, “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God” (1 Cor 4:3-5 NIV).