True Loyalty

I may live in Australia, but it didn't take long for the news to reach our shores that the San Diego Chargers intend to relocate to Los Angeles.  For someone born and raised in San Diego, it is a low blow first to lose our beloved NFL franchise, but to leave for a rival town who claims not to even want them adds insult to injury.  The purpose of this post is not to lament this loss, for as we all know the National Football League is a business, and in business the aim is to invest money today with the highest level of future return.  Detailed analysis of how or why this has finally happened cannot change the fact it is happening.  The Chargers are moving, and that is what loyal supporters are processing today.

I am sad for the many loyal Chargers fans who feel betrayed by an organisation which did not extend enough loyalty to them to remain.  Many fans are loyal to their local team, supporting the team unconditionally, regardless of personnel changes or performance on the field, holding out hope for a future year which will bring a championship home to their city - though the trophy would be likely kept on private property.  Because this hope of Chargers' supporters has been dashed, it was reported within half an hour of the announcement fans arrived at the Chargers complex to throw their prized jerseys in a pile and and burn Chargers gear to show their disgust.  For the Chargers organisation to obtain their goal of more, newer, and better, they threw aside the loyalty of people who already had invested all they could.  Football is a game of emotion, and it's no surprise when people are emotional when you take what they love away from them - not to mention making their dreams forfeit as well.

This situation fleshes out a characteristic common to humans, that people give their loyalty to what has no loyalty to them.  We can be loyal to a brand of clothes or tools over another, a company, a sports team, even to a preferred beverage!  Brands and beverages have no favourites but are marketed to make money.  The trouble is not that we are loyal, but it is human nature to be loyal and emotionally attached to the wrong things.  Our loyalty is often misguided.  We can demonstrate more loyalty to a company fueled with corporate greed than family members who love and need us.  But the one thing human beings are most loyal to is self.  A man is loyal to the company because it gives him the opportunity for personal wealth, promotion, and power.  I do not believe a company or a sports team is worthy of unconditional love, yet we love just the same.  We can't help ourselves.

The glorious truth is God loves us, and He is worthy of our utmost loyalty.  The sad reality is we can be loyal to countless things in greater degrees rather than unashamed, complete, true loyalty to God.  It is good to recognise we have chosen bondage through ungodly loyalties, and only Jesus Christ can deliver us from these chains.  He is the One who opens our eyes to see, sets us free, and gives us boundless, eternal horizons.  Enjoy sport, the feeling of accomplishment of a job well done, cheer on your team, and thank God for all He has provided.  At the same time guard your heart, enduring God has your complete loyalty, reverence, and love.  Share God's love generously and graciously, for He loves without measure.  He is the One who brings to pass realities which are greater than temporary championships and even your wildest dreams.

The Good Old Way

I've enjoyed reading through G.K. Chesterton's What's Wrong with the World, and because the nature of humanity has not changed he remains insightful and strangely prophetic.  Chesterton was able, with eloquence and humorous poise, to point out inconsistent folly in his day which has continued unabated until now.  I see no reason why these observations will not remain relevant for another hundred years - or until we start actually learning from our mistakes.

One of the paragraphs I have turned back to a couple of times concerns a modern approach to education, one that was on display during the life of Chesterton and I have also observed myself.  There is a push in an effort to "save the children" to inject new and virtually unproved methods and programs to benefit students.  Recent examples of this are "Common Core" curriculum pushed through in the United States and the ridiculous "Safe Schools" program in Australia.  It seems many schools and governments which fund them have a different vision from the educational system which produced their minds.  It seems like philosophies concerning education can overrule practical reading, writing, and arithmetic, even as the Chairman's "Great Leap Forward" was a self-inflicted catastrophe.  What students write about and how they express themselves seems more important these days than actually knowing how to write and communicate effectively.  The ever-elusive lure of using compulsory education to shape the minds of others into one agreeable with our own is as strong as ever.

Consider the musings of Chesterton on the subject:

"Now most modern freedom is at root fear.  It is not so much that we are too bold to endure rules; it is rather that we are too timid to endure responsibilities.  And Mr. Shaw and such people are especially shrinking from that awful and ancestral responsibility to which our fathers committed us when they took the wild step of becoming men.  I mean the responsibility of affirming the truth of our human tradition and handing it on with a voice of authority, an unshaken voice.  That is the one eternal education; to be sure enough that something is truth that you dare to tell it to a child.  From this high audacious duty the moderns are fleeing on every side; and the only excuse for them is, (of course,) that their modern philosophies are so half-baked and hypothetical that they cannot convince themselves enough to convince even a newborn babe.  This, of course, is connected with the decay of democracy; and is somewhat  of a separate subject...The trouble in too many of our modern schools is that the State, being controlled so specially by the few, allows cranks and experiments to go straight to the schoolroom when they have never passed through the Parliament, the public house, the private house, the church, or the marketplace.  Obviously, it ought to be the oldest things that are taught to the youngest people; the assured and experienced truths that are put first to the baby.  But in a school today the baby has to submit to a system that is younger than himself.  The flopping infant of four actually has more experience, and has weathered the world longer, than the dogma to which he is made to submit...Today we all use Popular Education as meaning education of the people.  I wish I could use it as meaning education by the people."  (Chesterton, G. K. What's Wrong With The World. 1st ed. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1910. Print.)

Nothing in this world is truly new unless God makes it so.  It is not a new way that is needed, but the true way - a hotly debated topic in a subjective society when anyone is bold enough to step near to it.  I have observed this in churches as well as in the education sector, that a fresh approach is needed to reach a new generation.  I am all for freshness as far as fruit and vegetables go, but let us call them what they are.  New wine should be placed in new wineskins, and it should be called new wine.  The modern approach to freshness is to avoid talk of man's sin, judgment, hell, man's need for repentance for salvation, and the blood of Jesus which cleanses us through faith.  This is not fresh; this is folly.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  If we do not believe in the truth of the Bible ourselves, it does no good for us to offer it as one option among many.  There is the saving Gospel, and there is everything else. Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"  It is the ancient way which is the good, right way.  You will see many different gaits and a variety of people joyfully travelling this road, and there are few who find it.

Our Secret Spring

This morning I read of the interaction between Abram and Lot after their herdsmen had quarreled together.  So plentiful were their flocks and herds that the land was unable to support them both.  Though Abram was his elder, he graciously declared to Lot in an effort to make and keep peace in Genesis 13:9, "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."  He gave Lot the opportunity to go wherever he wanted, and promised to go in the opposite direction.

Abram was good as his word for Genesis 13:10-11 tells us, "And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. ¹¹ Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other."  For a man walking by sight, choosing the well-watered plain was a no-brainer.  Lot went to the well-watered plain which looked like an oasis, and Abram went the opposite way likely across arid, rocky, and hilly land.  Abram (who would later be called Abraham) walked by faith in God, knowing the God who promised would be faithful to establish and preserve him regardless.

It's likely you noticed the foreboding little parenthetical comment in verse 10.  The land which was truly lush and well-watered ended up being destroyed by God when Sodom and Gomorrah were judged.  It became a land of sulfur where nothing grew.  And what became of Abraham?  He wisely chose a source of Living Water when he chose to walk by faith in God alone.  Genesis 13:14-17 says, "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; ¹⁵ for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. ¹⁶ And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. ¹⁷ Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."  Abraham trusted God, and God gave him great promises which extended to his many descendants.

Abraham built altars unto the LORD, and he also dug wells.  Though many of these after the death of Abraham were filled with earth by the Philistines, Abraham's son Isaac went back and dug them again (Genesis 26:15).  Isn't it thought provoking, that Lot chose the attractive, well-watered plain which was later uninhabitable, yet Abraham had an enduring legacy because God keeps His promises?  Abraham found a source of Living Water which was unseen by men, even as the refreshing water which his men discovered as they dug wells to water Abraham's flocks.  Beersheba was a place where Abraham claimed a well and there the LORD met with Abraham's son Isaac in Genesis 26:24-25:  "And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." ²⁵ So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well."

This passage teaches us when we choose God's way - the way of trust and faith in God - He will supply our needs according to His promise.  God is more trustworthy than man's perceptions of the direction which is best for our lives to head.  Walking by sight caused Lot to go to a place which would be severely judged for sin and he would lose much of his precious herds he sought to provide for.  We do not read of him building altars but a sordid tale of his daughters plying him with alcohol to rape him.  Abraham went God's way into the arid land of Canaan and not one word of God's promise failed, a promise which has been kept to this day and will continue forever!  How true are the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ who said the man who tries to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for God's sake will find it.  Jesus provides a spring of Living Water through the Holy Spirit for all who trust in Him!

No Coincidence

During the holidays it is easy to stay up a little later at night and rise a little later in the morning.  I set an alarm on my phone to ensure I do rise at an hour before the house is awake and bustling.  Eliminating these potential distractions is a big help to a sustained and focused time of prayer with God.  The scripture says a man's heart devises his way, but the LORD directs his steps (Prov. 16:9).  One way this works out daily is I set the alarm, but God wakes me up when He wants. :)

Today He woke me minutes before my alarm was to sound, and this is always lovely.  Whenever this happens I am convinced this is no coincidence, for my times are in God's hands.  After I knelt in my customary place it was a sweet time of thinking about God and affirming my appreciation for Him.  Time during prayer can rush by or feel like time stands still as a soul draws near to his Creator.  At one point I opened my eyes and noticed a flash of silver near my knee.  It was a sewing pin!  I was so grateful God caused me to notice the potential hazard and pushed it back into the classic tomato pincushion.

If I did not believe in the existence or providence of God, I could have taken credit for finding the pin myself, even as I could have been proud of my well-tuned body clock.  Yet as a follower of Jesus, it was profoundly satisfying to give all credit to where credit is due:  to the God who Created me, sustains my life in His hands, and protects me from hidden dangers.  Even if the pin pierced my knee, I could maintain confidence in my great God who allows pain.  When all is well it is quite easy to "trust" God, but it is the painful circumstances which provide a clearer indication of our genuine faith and loyalty.  Job refused to curse God and die despite the pains God sovereignty allowed, and God remains praiseworthy in times of plenty and loss, in peace and pain.

Haters of God accuse Him of great evils, but as one who knows God through divine revelation it is clear wickedness has its origin and rabid continuation in man.  Many see the spectre of God as severe, brutal, arbitrary, and delighting in the pain of others, but this reveals they are not able to see clearly.  They do not know God.  Martyrs have intentionally embraced the flames of the stake, knelt without resistance before claws and teeth of wild beasts, willingly faced imprisonment, torture, and the loss of all things rather than deny their good and glorious God.  People were offered life if they would only recant, but they wisely realised their lives were forfeit forever if they did recant.  We follow the God-Man who said on the cross, "Into your hands I commit My Spirit," Jesus Christ who rose from the dead glorified forever.  He is the Resurrection and the Life, and the reality of His life and comforts is more real than burning flame, the crushing of bones, being nailed to a cross, or being sawn in two.

We do not need to suffer as martyrs to prove our resolve, but are called to daily deny ourselves, take up our cross in obedience to Jesus, and follow Him wherever He leads.  Christianity is a continual laying down of a life which urges us to take matters into our own hands again.  God's providence, protection, and even pain He allows are not coincidences but opportunities to thank and trust God more than ever.  God uses wealth and lack to test us, and we can rejoice in our God in every season.  It is written in 1 Peter 1:6-9:  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls."

Off the Rails

It is newsworthy when a train derails, and always bad news.  No train goes "off the rails" without incredible damage due to the sheer size and weight of the train.  With immense force linked carriages pile into one another, creating a twisted pile of metal carnage.  A train which leaves the track whilst transporting people is a greater catastrophe still.  The aftermath is a nightmare for all involved.

Sometimes the lives of people have been compared to a train wreck, a personal disaster which causes people to stare and wonder in amazement.  A life which seemed to be going along smoothly to a profitable destination suddenly veered off course possibly due to bad choices.  Complications and severe consequences can quickly escalate out of control.  We say such a person has gone "off the rails."  A life which was once promising can be stopped in its tracks through drugs, alcohol, and debt.  There are undoubtedly many factors which lead to the derailment of a train, and there are a myriad of potential dangers to a healthy, fruitful, and prosperous life.

When we ask ourselves how someone with such positive potential - or really with so much to lose - could go "off the rails," it is important to recognise life for us is not like a train on a rail which can only go forward, reverse or stop.  A train is a machine at the mercy of the engineer, the design and quality construction of the track, and the arbitrary schedules of men.  It has no will of its own like a man does.  A man is more like a pioneer, exploring a wide world on foot and trying to find a place for himself to build a life which best meets his ideal.  Human beings could only be "off the rails" if they were first on a rail, and the only path a man is on from birth is a scenic descent to hell.  This is one area where man has no choice, for sin is master and ruler over us all from the womb.  Ultimately eternity in hell is the place where all will go, having fallen short of God's righteousness.

Those who recognise their eternal end afar off and repent, seeking salvation through trust in Jesus, will be delivered from this fiery destruction.  A train is rightly restricted to a track, but Jesus Christ has brought freedom, forgiveness, and deliverance for all who trust in Him.  Going "off the rails" in this sense is the best thing ever!  AC/DC sung a song about heading down a highway to hell, a "season ticket on a one-way ride." and people happily sing along.  Ozzy Osbourne has long sung of a crazy train he's riding, saying "I'm living with something that just isn't fair."  He expresses resentment for the hand he has been dealt, wounds that never seem to heal.  On the Day of Judgment, all whose names are not written in the Book of Life will receive what is fair, for the wages of sin is death.  But by the grace of God we can turn around and avoid our deadly destination, and Jesus will save us from what we deserve by trusting in Him.

I don't know about you, but I will never use the phrase "off the rails" the same way again!  I am eternally grateful for the freedom and the new life I have realised through Jesus and the glorious future which awaits all those who love Him.

The Aerated Heart

We have been experiencing summer in full swing in Sydney, and areas of our lawn without shade have begun to dry out.  Though the Sir Walter turf is very hardy, additional water is needed at times to keep it green and growing.  It took me mowing and edging to notice the dusty and dry condition of the lawn.  It's funny, isn't it?  I look across our green lawn every day, but it isn't until I tend to it that I notice areas of neglect which escaped notice.  Yesterday I spent a good half-hour watering the lawn and offering my skin to thirsty mosquitoes (I found this out later).  The soil was so dry it took a while before the water penetrated the surface.  A large portion of the turf slopes down to the street so it was necessary to water above the area I wanted to soak because of the water runoff.  Thirsty and dry as the soil was, it was like it was incapable to drink the water in.

As I stood watering, it occurred to me dryness is one of the reasons soil is aerated from time to time.  Sun-hardened soil and roots packed tightly together do not allow water or fertiliser to adequately penetrate.  To aerate a machine with sharp teeth pulls plugs out of the soil, and this stimulates growth by ensuring water and nutrients are able to soak in beneath the surface.  As Jesus compared the condition of human hearts into various soil types in the Parable of the Sower, this sun-baked ground was also instructive to me.  Dry and thirsty souls are often incapable of receiving the Living Water God supplies through the Holy Spirit.  God allows words and situations to cut us deep like the sharp teeth of an aerator so we will be receptive to His truth.  He allows our hearts to be broken so He can graciously heal them.

Pain is an impetus to prayer.  For those who have the Holy Spirit within us, pain breaks the fallow ground of our hearts and moves us to offer petitions, requests, and praise to God we wouldn't be mindful of otherwise.  I find physical pain wakes me up and helps me rise in the mornings for prayer when I might be tempted to remain in bed for a few more minutes.  When we perceive danger to ourselves or others we pray fervently and more diligently.  All the while God rains His grace, love, and truth upon our hearts, stirring us to consider Him in our pains.  God breaks us to restore and save.  Financial ruin, marital woes, work and family conflicts have worked salvation for many who have suffered such things, for it is often a heart painfully aerated by trials which is most receptive to God and spiritually refreshed in the end.  The pierced heart is a soft one, divinely prepared for fresh growth.

Friend, are you dry?  Perhaps you haven't invited the LORD to search your heart for a while.  God invites you to come to Him as it written in Isaiah 55:1, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."  We are perpetually thirsty, but Jesus is able to satisfy what this world cannot.  He said to a Samaritan woman in John 4:13-14, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  He is our Source; He is our life.  Those who are thirsty need never be thirsty again, for Jesus provides eternal life.

The Prosperous Word

This is a picture I took in 2005 during my first trip to Israel of the theatre in Caesarea.  Though there are various accounts, this location may be the spot where Herod Agrippa was struck by God according to the historian Josephus (Josephus, Antiquities 19.8.2 343-361)  The biblical account is found in Acts 12:21-24:  "So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. ²² And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" ²³ Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. ²⁴ But the word of God grew and multiplied."  There is debate over the exact malady which killed the proud ruler, but the Bible is clear Herod's grave, worm infested condition was God's judgment upon a man who denied God rightful glory.

The people flattered Herod for his fine oration as a god who walked among them, and Josephus recorded his silver clothing shone brilliantly in the sun.  Herod's voice would be swiftly silenced, and verse 24 holds forth a contrast:  "But the word of God grew and multiplied."  There are many voices in this world, and often it seems voices which contradict God's word are plentiful and amplified.  Many are unwilling to glorify God, much less acknowledge His existence.  But we can rest assured man's word will not endure as God's word, nor can the effectiveness of it be compared.  Notice the passage does not bother to tell us what Herod said, for the power of his words - polished as they may have been - perished with him.  God's Word, on the other hand, will endure forever (1 Peter 1:25).

Today at Calvary Chapel Sydney we considered Isaiah 55 and the divine authority and power of God's Word.  Isaiah 55:10-11 says, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."  Into the darkness God said, "Let there be light!" and there was light.  With the power of His words God spoke into existence the earth, plants which bear fruit and seeds, the atmosphere of the earth, the sun, and all living things.  From nothing God brought life!  A seed sown in the ground may not impress you immediately, but it will sprout in due season according to God's design.  In the same way, the scriptures of the Bible are effectual and will accomplish what God pleases with power.  Caesarea is a reminder how man's words will fail and ultimately be forgotten, but God's Word will prosper, grow, and multiply.

Dare To Joyfully Receive (what you didn't ask for)

One of the first things which happened after followers of Jesus were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was the healing of a lame man at the gate of the Temple.  Peter and John were going to the Temple at the hour of prayer when a beggar asked for money.  Acts 3:4-5 reads, "And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us." ⁵ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them."  I imagine some people walked by the beggar as if he did not exist, and others dropped a coin into his lap without a word.  But Peter and John stopped and spoke to the man, and he gave them his full attention because he expected to receive something from them.

The man had asked for money, but what Peter said next must have amazed him and all who stood by.  Acts 3:6-7 says, "Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength."  This is a bit out of the square, isn't it?  The man sought a charitable donation, but Peter offered healing and strength by the power of Jesus Christ.  Immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength from God, and the man stood to his feet.  Has it ever occurred to you that there are content beggars in the world?  They are quite comfortable shaking coins in a cup at passersby, and some who claim they make more begging than working!  The expectancy of this man was rewarded with healing, and the passage tells us he rejoiced to receive this gift he didn't ask for from God.  Acts 3:8 tells us, "So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God."

It is common in some households to know what a Christmas gift is because it was asked for!  I have seen people disappointed after opening a gift to discover it is not what they asked for or "what they really wanted."  We Christians rightly ask God for many things, but you might have noticed He doesn't always give us what we want.  The question is, will you receive what God has for you joyfully - even it is isn't what you asked for?  The lame man dreamed of receiving silver or gold from a generous soul, but a man who had neither silver or gold provided something through Jesus he perhaps stopped dreaming of:  healing and strength for his weak and lame feet.  How tragic it would have been for the man to stand to his feet healed, then sit back down and place his garment in his lap, sighing and disappointed silver or gold wasn't on offer.

The man who entered the temple walking, leaping, and praising God is a great illustration of how we should respond to all gifts from God - even when we didn't receive what we hoped for.  God allows us to experience injuries, pain, and limitations in our lives for the purpose of drawing us closer to Him.  A gift from God might be a loss He can transform into practical and eternal gain.  God is good and He is able to cause to work for good all things in the life of a Christian.  Even when you haven't received what we wanted or asked for, in looking to God expectantly we will receive good things beyond price.  Let us give God our full attention, expecting to receive all we need from Him.  Ephesians 3:20-21 provides a fitting conclusion:  "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Windows Of Heaven

The Bible speaks of opening the "windows of heaven," and this is used in a literal and a metaphorical sense.  When God judged the earth in the days of Noah, the windows of heaven were opened to send a deluge of water which covered the planet (Gen. 7:11).  This term is also stated figuratively in a promise to those who give their completed tithe in Malachi 3:10:  "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it."  The windows of heaven are figurative, but when opened can provide quantifiable increase and fruitfulness from God.

It appears the windows of heaven are able to pour out judgment upon the unbelieving wicked and blessing upon those who fear God and are obedient to Him.  There is only one other occasion in scripture when this phrase is used, and it contains a useful application.  The city of Samaria had been besieged by the Syrians and the situation was dire.  The famine had grown so severe people had resorted to eating their own children to survive.  Though the seige had been long and the outlook hopeless, God promised a complete and almost immediate reversal of the situation in 2 Kings 7:1-2:  "Then Elisha said, "Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: 'Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.' " ²  So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, "Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?" And he said, "In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it."

The adviser to the king could not believe the word of the LORD spoken through Elisha.  With the horrors he had seen perhaps he wondered if God existed at all, and if He existed was He able to make windows in heaven to supply their needs?  It seemed beyond improbable; it was impossible and unthinkable!  Through miraculous circumstances, the two-fold prophesy of Elisha did come to pass:  God provided abundant provision and salvation for the people in Samaria, and the man who did not believe saw with his eyes but did not eat of it because he was trampled by starving people in the gate.  The lesson for us is there are windows of heaven, and God is able to open them.  He is able to bless and curse, to destroy and save.  He is the God of the impossible.  Those who believe God are those who will see and receive the good things God has prepared!

"Set For Life"

When someone strikes it rich with money and fame, it is commonly said they are "set for life."  This is spoken of inventors, musicians famous for a "one hit wonder," actors, athletes with multi-million dollar contracts, corporate executives, and people born into great wealth.  I understand what is meant by the phrase, but I believe it masks an obvious lie because it does not take eternity into account.  Money and fame in this world provide privilege and opportunities coveted by many, but they have a downside as well.  Fame opens doors as well as closes them.  Money is useful but has its limits, and its personal benefits perish when a man does.

This morning I heard the beloved actress Carrie Fisher, famous for her portrayal of Princess Leia in Star Wars movies, suffered a massive heart attack and is in critical condition.  I pray for her recovery.  She is a world-famous actress whose net worth is counted in the millions, and some might say acting in the original Stars Wars trilogy had her "set for life."  The words of Jesus contradict this idea.  He said life does not consist in the abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15).  Our life is compared in scripture to transient things like a vapour, grass, or a flower in a field which is here today and gone tomorrow.  Money cannot supply life.  There is more to life than money or toil on this planet, for the souls of men were created to endure forever.

Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16:24-26, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  The only man who is truly set for life is the one who loses their own life for Christ's sake, the one born again through faith in Jesus.  There is infinitely more to life than what we call "the good life" on earth.  There is more to life than food, clothing, a career, fame, sex, music, and acquiring stuff.  We all like the idea of being "set for life," not having to worry about money in an uncertain world.  But God would have us without worry even when we do not have money, knowing our future is secure through Jesus Christ.  When we do have money the hearts of Christians should not be set upon it, but look to God who bountifully supplies our needs (Psalm 62:10).

Only the followers of Jesus are "set for life."  Life does not consist in good health, fame or recognition from others, money, in holidays, travel, or earthly security.  Life is found in losing our lives for Christ's sake, for in Him is eternal life we will enjoy forever.  Are you "set for life?"  What does it profit to gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

Heed Your Shepherd's Voice

Jesus often taught in parables, sharing profound spiritual truths through simple stories and illustrations.  These parables were much more than metaphors or a literary device designed to cleverly disguise the truth:  for those who believed Jesus, it would reveal truth from God impossible for unbelievers to comprehend.  God is the author and sole source of all divine wisdom, and He is the One who reveals Himself and provides guidance to those who trust in Him.

Jesus said in John 10:1-6:  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.   2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.   3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.   4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.   5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."   6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them."  Jesus is the exclusive Way; He is the Truth and the Life.  The only authorised way to be accepted in the flock of God and become a citizen of heaven is to come through the Door, entering through faith in Jesus Christ.  Because the people did not understand what Jesus meant (a very common occurrence - people often understood what Jesus said but had no concept of what He meant!), He went on to say in John 10:7-9, "Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

Jesus made an effort and took time to patiently teach people, and He offered explanations to those who didn't understand.  Often Jesus was approached by His disciples after the crowd dispersed and inquired into the meaning of His sayings and parables.  The Gospels all show Jesus was glad to answer these queries.  The passage above shows two major distinctions of the sheep in God's fold and those who have come another way:  they have entered it the correct way through Christ, and they follow Jesus because they know (or recognise) His voice.  These are good questions for self examination:  have I repented and trusted in Jesus as Saviour?  In my daily life do I obey the words of Jesus, fleeing from and rejecting all other voices I recognise are not Him?

As followers of Jesus and sheep of His pasture, we ought not be fooled by voices other than Christ which softly beckon for our attention.  They appeal to our good sense, sound reasonable and intelligent enough, and are attractive.  Yet if we will examine these various voices through the clear lens of scripture and the things Jesus Christ has already spoken, the messages of deceit are unmasked.  Comedy is all about good delivery, and good words are all about sound biblical content.  If the original message is lost, the messenger has failed in his task despite his polished speech and courtesy.  As followers of Jesus Christ, we must heed His voice and will almost instinctively flee from all others.  But as human beings we do not share the instincts of sheep.  We are allowed the freedom to weigh words and choose what we will believe and obey.  We can be led astray, and this world is filled with potential suitors.

If we will be saved, then we should listen to our Saviour.  This is only reasonable, and looking no further than myself I can say at times my feelings and ideas are completely unreasonable!  For this reason I must ensure I am listening for the voice of Christ and choosing to follow Him, not giving ear to imposters.  The most clever sheep are those who realise they are not so clever after all and choose to stay close to the Good Shepherd who loves them and leads them in an abundant life.

Value God's Gifts

Christmas is a wonderful celebration of the best gift ever given:  Jesus Christ.  He has brought forgiveness, eternal life, and liberty to all who believe.  All in this life we love and appreciate is a gift from God who graciously loves us.  The things God gives are beyond price.  Family, relationships, and a joyous future cannot be earned or be bought with money.  We can trade these things for money and stuff, but that is another post.  The question is, do we appreciate the value of what God has given us?

Placing value on gifts is very subjective.  There are gifts we appreciate more than others, perhaps because of the monetary resale value.  We can value gifts which were not expensive at all but show care and thoughtfulness of others toward us.  I have kept many gifts which have no monetary value at all but treasure them because they were given to me by a loved family member who has passed away.  Our memories of people can be perpetuated in little reminders like birthday or Christmas cards.  Other times we appreciate a gift because it is better quality than we would buy for ourselves.  And then we value gifts which are so useful or practical we wonder how we lived without it!

When it comes to gifts from God, some of these reasons for thanksgiving and appreciation are relevant.  The gifts God gives are beyond price and therefore are not for resale or trading in.  I would also say if we view spiritual gifts or priceless promises of God with a sentimental lens, this is indicative of a break of relationship with God.  Since we are to be in a presently growing, vibrant relationship with God, sentimental feelings likely suggest we are mourning current distance between us and God.  The gifts God gives are intensely practical, for there is no life apart from Him.  God gives us little reminders all the time of His presence and care for us.  We should treasure these.  How often God has given gifts better than we could have ever imagined!  Let us repent when we have treated gifts from God as common things.

Cards and heartfelt notes are commonly displayed for a season and then filed away or recycled.  Christmas and birthday gifts are used for a while and then can collect dust.  They were appreciated for a while, but for whatever reason lose their lustre.  Is it possible the gifts God gives us are treated in similar fashion?  Or is there found in us a heart of appreciation and gratefulness, remembering God's grace and thanking Him for the good gifts He has given?  It is good for us to maintain good works using the talents and gifts God has provided.  How healthy it is for us to do personal inventory, acknowledging what God has already given us.  We don't need to be afraid of being left out, for it is God's good pleasure to give the sheep of His flock the kingdom (Luke 12:32).  God gives us many things we can only use rightly when we give them back to Him.  I think of the twenty-four elders throwing their crowns at the feet of the Lamb.  That's the perfect response for Christians when we receive authority, wealth, and gifts from God

What is more practical than love, acceptance, and eternal life?  That's what God has given to us, and may our lives be a revelation of all this and more to others for the glory of God.

The Successful Soul

One thing I love after worshiping God with song is how a particular tune or lyric later will reverberate through my mind.  I often find myself unwittingly singing the song long after the service has ended.  Hailing from Southern California, it seems fitting to call this effect a "worship aftershock."  Experiencing communion and fellowship in the presence of God is a blessing beyond words.

I have found when I am impacted by something it tends to be rehearsed in my mind.  For example, these memories could be a scene from a movie, a statement a person makes during a conversation, or a quote from a book I am reading.  If I can watch a movie without later reflecting on it or after reading a book no specifics high points come to mind, it obviously had little impact on me.

There was a quote of J.C. Ryle in Zeal Without Burnout by Christopher Ash which did stick with me.  Ryle said concerning "successful" Christian ministry as it appears in Zeal Without Burnout:

"Success is what all faithful labourers in the gospel field desire...All long to see Satan's kingdom pulled down, and souls converted to God...The desire is right and good...Let it...never be forgotten that the time of success is a time of danger to the Christian's soul.  The very hearts that are depressed when all things seem against them, are often unduly exalted in the day of prosperity.  Few men are like Samson, and can kill a lion without telling others of it (Judges 14:6)...Most of Christ's labourers probably have as much success as their souls can bear." (Ash, Christopher. Zeal without Burnout. Good Book, 2016. 104-05. Print.)

It is the last line which hits home.  God is gracious and blesses us with great successes, but few of them are known or easily quantifiable.  God does miraculous wonders behind the scenes and in the hearts and minds of people continually, and because they escape notice our pride is not stirred which lurks within each one of us.  How good God is to allow success to open our eyes to our tendency to boast and pride, and yet restrains us in His grace to keep us from grave harm.  Our souls can handle only so much success, and the hard times are often the forging, strengthening times so we will be able to endure success without shipwreck upon a deadly reef of pride.

It is God who brings success.  This "success" is not the quantifiable increase or profitability others will appreciate or applaud, but denotes sure success in all God has ordained us to do in due time.  It is obedience to God's Word which brings this success, as God said to Joshua in Joshua 1:8:  "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."  When we meditate on God's Word and obey Him, we will be successful.  Many successful men and women of God were deemed utter wastes and complete failures by their contemporaries, yet they had good success and were prosperous in God's view.  God's definition of success is the one which counts for eternity!