I received the word today that longtime San Diego Charger great Junior Seau, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest today at the age of 43. Though I never personally met Junior, I feel like I knew him. I had watched him play linebacker at USC and remember him being drafted to the Chargers. I remember his exuberance on the field, how he was ejected from his first game as a professional because of his enthusiasm. I always loved Junior Seau, and there can never be another 55. His number 55 jersey still hangs in my closet to this day. Junior Seau owned a restaurant in Mission Valley and I still remember the commercials and food. My sincere condolences and heart goes out to his family and all those who are grieving his passing. It stings a little more knowing that Junior may have hurried along his own death. It is a sad ending for an otherwise exemplary life in the public eye.
When I heard of Junior's passing, I thought of San Diego Padre great Ken Caminiti who died of a drug overdose at the age of 41. These are two men from my two favourite sports teams who perished through a series of decisions they made. I don't know that I ever idolised these men, but I always respected and held them in high regard. I loved to cheer them and rejoiced in their mastery. Watching Junior perfectly time the snap count for a quick sack and seeing Caminiti launch switch-hit home runs in a single game were legendary. But there is more to life than gridiron and baseball. There is a life outside the lines that counts for more than what happens between them. Many people are idolised for their conduct between the lines based upon how good, fast, strong, and skilled they are. No man is worthy of being idolised because he is not God.
In the big picture, a football or baseball career is over soon after it begins. Wise athletes make preparations for a career after their sporting career. Investments are made; money is carefully set aside. They recognise there is more to life than hitting a ball or sacking a quarterback. Most people will never play professional sports. Those who are wise will seek the provision of security - not only for the remainder of a life lived upon the earth - but a home in the heavens eternally basking in presence of God. This is obtained in only one way: through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When I was born again by grace through faith, it was then I obtained and entered into a life worth living no matter what trials I faced. Because Jesus has given all for us, we should be joyous in giving all back to Him.
Perhaps the temptation is to judge Junior for his alleged regrettable decision. Instead of judging, please pray for comfort, mercy, and peace for all who are grieving. The reality is, Junior Seau, nor any other man, will ultimately be judged by men. All people will stand before the Living God and be judged according to their works in light of God's law. Those who have had their sins atoned by the blood of Jesus will be rewarded or suffer loss for the stewardship of their time on earth. All who are in Christ will receive a joyful entrance into the heavenly presence of God forever. However, those who die in their sins without the atonement and reconciliation afforded through the blood of Jesus, will be separated from God for eternity in hell. How Junior's life ended is tragic, yet God is able to make good even come from this. The Bible teaches that it is appointed for men once to die, and then comes judgment. Eternity for Junior has been decided. It is the most important choice a person can make, for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul?
Rest in peace, Junior. Philippians 4:6-8 reads, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." Junior Seau did many praiseworthy things, and that's the way I'll always remember him.
02 May 2012
30 April 2012
Chicken or Duck?
When I was a kid, I saw the Disney movie "The Ugly Dachshund" starring Dean Jones. It was a modern adaptation of "The Ugly Duckling," the classic fable written by Hans Christian Anderson. The Disney tale is about a Great Dane raised among Dachshunds who believed he was a Dachshund, despite the obvious differences! It isn't until "Brutus" saw another Great Dane at a dog show that it made sense: he had been a Great Dane among Dachshunds, but living and thinking as a Dachshund. Instead of crawling along the ground, he stood tall and impressed the judges - and hopefully that female Great Dane too!
My dad told me a similar story about my sister and brother-in-law who keep egg-laying hens. After my family and I left for Australia, they acquired a duck. The duck was kept in the chicken's hutch. Because I have two young nieces and a nephew, the chickens and the duck are pets that receive much love and attention - as only determined young children can provide! It was always sweet to see them carrying around their chickens after catching them again and again. My dad told me that they filled a plastic tote with water and that is when the duck discovered its element! My mom later sent me a video and boy was the duck having fun! The chickens couldn't be bothered, because they are chickens. They are content to hunt and scratch. But ducks are made for water! They have webbed feet, oiled-feathers and down, and are designed to spend much of their lives in water. "So there's no danger of the duck flying away?" I asked. "Eventually it might happen," my dad replied. "But that duck thinks it's a chicken."
Ducks and chickens are both birds, but how diverse they are! Their beaks, feet, behaviours, calls, and places they typically live are very different. Ducks can fly and swim almost effortlessly. Chickens, on the other hand, do not fly and typically do not swim well. Their wings and bodies are not designed for flight, their feet are not webbed for swimming, and their feathers become quickly saturated with water. Being a Christian in this world is like being a duck raised among chickens. People in the world seek after the things of the world. People scratch out a living, acquire possessions, have children, maybe have a "nest egg," but their inevitable end always looms before them. No chicken lives forever.
Ducks can scratch around in the dust like a chicken, but that is not what they were designed to do. They are designed by God to fly, soaring high into the heavens. They are meant to swim in the water, diving deep into rivers and streams to eat small fish. Instead of one rooster for many hens, ducks for a year or sometimes more remain monogamous. God meant for all people to be ducks, to live on a higher plane in continual fellowship with Him. But when Adam sinned, sin passed to all men and death through sin. Men throughout all the ages have sought after what cannot satisfy. Man has sought to find significance in physical relationships, earning a comfortable salary, pursuing pleasure, traveling, even through religious exercises. But this will leave a person feeling out of place, just like a duck among chickens. A man hopefully at some point of his life looks at the chickens busy all around him, knowing the axe is being sharpened, and says, "Is this it? Is this all there is to life - clucking, scratching, laying, and pecking each other? I want more than this rat-race! I was made for greater things than this!"
To that man or woman I say: yes, you have been designed for greater things than scratching out a living on earth. Your life is much more than eating, seeking a career, having sex, raising children, retiring, traveling, and eventually dying. You are designed to fly and swim! You have been designed by God to have intimate, eternal relationship with Him. As I grow closer to Jesus Christ, the more the things of this world lose their lustre. I'm no longer interested in scratching around and hen-pecking others. I want to soar in worship of God in the beauty of His holiness. I want to dive deep and swim around in that stream of Living Water issuing forth from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. There is much more than the little kiddie pool filled with water we have been swimming in: there is abundant life and joy unspeakable for all who trust God and obey His Word. Once you have lived the life of a duck - freely flying, swimming, and diving - only a fool would go back to live with the chickens confined in a small pen. Once we have tasted and seen a life with Christ is the only life worth having, we cannot with joy return to the beggarly elements.
The pleasure we experience from earthly things will pass away. It is not until we are adopted into the family of God as children by faith in Christ that we will finally fit in. It is only in a relationship with God when we discover why all that time we remained empty and dissatisfied with life. It's because we had not yet laid hold of eternal life through Jesus. Once we see God for who He is, we discover who we are in Him. Let us spread our wings and leave the life of a chicken behind. "The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back."
My dad told me a similar story about my sister and brother-in-law who keep egg-laying hens. After my family and I left for Australia, they acquired a duck. The duck was kept in the chicken's hutch. Because I have two young nieces and a nephew, the chickens and the duck are pets that receive much love and attention - as only determined young children can provide! It was always sweet to see them carrying around their chickens after catching them again and again. My dad told me that they filled a plastic tote with water and that is when the duck discovered its element! My mom later sent me a video and boy was the duck having fun! The chickens couldn't be bothered, because they are chickens. They are content to hunt and scratch. But ducks are made for water! They have webbed feet, oiled-feathers and down, and are designed to spend much of their lives in water. "So there's no danger of the duck flying away?" I asked. "Eventually it might happen," my dad replied. "But that duck thinks it's a chicken."
Ducks and chickens are both birds, but how diverse they are! Their beaks, feet, behaviours, calls, and places they typically live are very different. Ducks can fly and swim almost effortlessly. Chickens, on the other hand, do not fly and typically do not swim well. Their wings and bodies are not designed for flight, their feet are not webbed for swimming, and their feathers become quickly saturated with water. Being a Christian in this world is like being a duck raised among chickens. People in the world seek after the things of the world. People scratch out a living, acquire possessions, have children, maybe have a "nest egg," but their inevitable end always looms before them. No chicken lives forever.
Ducks can scratch around in the dust like a chicken, but that is not what they were designed to do. They are designed by God to fly, soaring high into the heavens. They are meant to swim in the water, diving deep into rivers and streams to eat small fish. Instead of one rooster for many hens, ducks for a year or sometimes more remain monogamous. God meant for all people to be ducks, to live on a higher plane in continual fellowship with Him. But when Adam sinned, sin passed to all men and death through sin. Men throughout all the ages have sought after what cannot satisfy. Man has sought to find significance in physical relationships, earning a comfortable salary, pursuing pleasure, traveling, even through religious exercises. But this will leave a person feeling out of place, just like a duck among chickens. A man hopefully at some point of his life looks at the chickens busy all around him, knowing the axe is being sharpened, and says, "Is this it? Is this all there is to life - clucking, scratching, laying, and pecking each other? I want more than this rat-race! I was made for greater things than this!"
To that man or woman I say: yes, you have been designed for greater things than scratching out a living on earth. Your life is much more than eating, seeking a career, having sex, raising children, retiring, traveling, and eventually dying. You are designed to fly and swim! You have been designed by God to have intimate, eternal relationship with Him. As I grow closer to Jesus Christ, the more the things of this world lose their lustre. I'm no longer interested in scratching around and hen-pecking others. I want to soar in worship of God in the beauty of His holiness. I want to dive deep and swim around in that stream of Living Water issuing forth from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. There is much more than the little kiddie pool filled with water we have been swimming in: there is abundant life and joy unspeakable for all who trust God and obey His Word. Once you have lived the life of a duck - freely flying, swimming, and diving - only a fool would go back to live with the chickens confined in a small pen. Once we have tasted and seen a life with Christ is the only life worth having, we cannot with joy return to the beggarly elements.
The pleasure we experience from earthly things will pass away. It is not until we are adopted into the family of God as children by faith in Christ that we will finally fit in. It is only in a relationship with God when we discover why all that time we remained empty and dissatisfied with life. It's because we had not yet laid hold of eternal life through Jesus. Once we see God for who He is, we discover who we are in Him. Let us spread our wings and leave the life of a chicken behind. "The cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back, no turning back."
29 April 2012
Giving as a King
Few things make as large an impact as simple generosity. Being generous makes others feel welcome and loved. It is both personal and practical. The beautiful thing about giving is you need not be a king to have the generous heart of one. God was more pleased with the two mites of the poor widow than the surplus gold of the wealthy. All the money and precious resources of the earth are already Gods: He loves to see a heart lay hold of His giving heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us of God's perspective: He loves a cheerful giver. Givers consider the needs of others more important than bolstering their own reserves. Because Christians find their provision and security in God and not in things of this world, our giving ought to emulate the giving of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Last night I read a great example of giving in 2 Samuel which describes the aftermath of David numbering the children of Israel. A grievous plague broke out among the people, and King David approached Araunah with an offer to buy his threshing floor for the purpose of offering a sacrifice to God. 2 Samuel 24:22-24 reads, "And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. 23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
Araunah was not a king, but verse 23 says he had the generosity of a king. He offered his threshing floor, oxen, and even his tools and equipment for kindling wood! David had asked to pay for the threshing floor, but Araunah offered the threshing floor, oxen, and tools at no cost! He gave unto his king as he would unto God. Though David was a king, he refused even such kingly benefits. He knew something about giving to God as well. David refused to give to God which cost him nothing. Araunah's generosity revealed his heart.
David's philosophy of giving is one we ought to observe. If he would not give to God what cost him nothing, then all David gave to God cost him something. In fact, it is clear through scripture that because Jesus has purchased believers with His own blood, we owe Him everything! Everything God requires us to do will come at a cost. Yet it is an amazing thing: giving unto the LORD is not without great benefits! When we give in faith, we recognise that God knows our needs, has led and enabled us to give, and will not forget to supply our needs - even as He faithfully supplies food and water for birds every day. Once our eyes are opened to how God freely has given to us, we then follow His example to give as He leads.
Let's give God our first and best. Let us not be content to give our leftovers, but tithes and offerings which He richly deserves. God's willing to receive your tithes and offerings, but not your donations. It's a funny thing - I've never known anyone who gave themselves into bankruptcy. People become bankrupt when they overextend their finances on themselves. A man who goes bankrupt giving unto God can never be bankrupt, because such a man is rich in God. He is a wise man who gives as a king on earth and stores up heavenly rewards which do not make wings and fly away. Let us give of our time in God's service, even if it is at great cost to us. Jesus is coming quickly, and His reward is with Him!
Last night I read a great example of giving in 2 Samuel which describes the aftermath of David numbering the children of Israel. A grievous plague broke out among the people, and King David approached Araunah with an offer to buy his threshing floor for the purpose of offering a sacrifice to God. 2 Samuel 24:22-24 reads, "And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood. 23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The LORD thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
Araunah was not a king, but verse 23 says he had the generosity of a king. He offered his threshing floor, oxen, and even his tools and equipment for kindling wood! David had asked to pay for the threshing floor, but Araunah offered the threshing floor, oxen, and tools at no cost! He gave unto his king as he would unto God. Though David was a king, he refused even such kingly benefits. He knew something about giving to God as well. David refused to give to God which cost him nothing. Araunah's generosity revealed his heart.
David's philosophy of giving is one we ought to observe. If he would not give to God what cost him nothing, then all David gave to God cost him something. In fact, it is clear through scripture that because Jesus has purchased believers with His own blood, we owe Him everything! Everything God requires us to do will come at a cost. Yet it is an amazing thing: giving unto the LORD is not without great benefits! When we give in faith, we recognise that God knows our needs, has led and enabled us to give, and will not forget to supply our needs - even as He faithfully supplies food and water for birds every day. Once our eyes are opened to how God freely has given to us, we then follow His example to give as He leads.
Let's give God our first and best. Let us not be content to give our leftovers, but tithes and offerings which He richly deserves. God's willing to receive your tithes and offerings, but not your donations. It's a funny thing - I've never known anyone who gave themselves into bankruptcy. People become bankrupt when they overextend their finances on themselves. A man who goes bankrupt giving unto God can never be bankrupt, because such a man is rich in God. He is a wise man who gives as a king on earth and stores up heavenly rewards which do not make wings and fly away. Let us give of our time in God's service, even if it is at great cost to us. Jesus is coming quickly, and His reward is with Him!
26 April 2012
None of Self, All of Thee
In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, one of the antagonists was a churlish boy named Eustace. He was cynical, spoiled, and a thankless snob. After finding himself with his cousins in Narnia aboard the Dawn Treader, Eustace was introduced to a world of adventure, talking animals, and Aslan. When they came to a certain island, Eustace left the others and slipped an enchanted bracelet onto his arm. While he slept, he magically turned into a great dragon. The novelty of being a hulking beast was short-lived. He felt very sorry for himself: he was unable to communicate and the bracelet bit painfully deep into his foreleg. As a beast, however, Eustace began to change. He became an asset and friend rather than a self-absorbed loner.
The final turning point for Eustace is when he was met by the great lion, Aslan. The lion led dragon-Eustace to an inviting bubbling pool and told him before he could enter he must first undress. So Eustace dug a claw into his hide and stepped out of his skin painlessly, only to see a fresh skin in its place. After three failed attempts, Aslan told Eustace that only he could undress him. Eustace was desperate for a change from being a dragon. He lay still and Aslan pierced him to his very heart, painfully tearing away the dragon flesh. Aslan placed Eustace in the pool and he was changed back to being a human. But Eustace was no longer the same Eustace: he was a new boy, born again.
This story is an allegory concerning the fact that no man can change his own heart. Eustace was filled with wickedness, and no effort of his own - even repeated, sincere attempts - was enough to change him from being a dragon to a boy. The change had to come from outside Eustace. The only one who has the power to transform a man is the one who raised Himself from the dead: Jesus Christ. The point God keeps hammering home to my heart is complete surrender to Him. Eustace could not have only have his legs or arms cleaned of dragon flesh: it all had to come off. When we first make a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, we are hardly aware of all the areas God desires to change within us. God desires our first and best, seeing this is His just due. He wants our spiritual appetites, dreams, desires, and future to be completely placed in His hands. While Satan and the world are only too happy to control and oppress us, God waits for us to voluntarily give ourselves to Him. Too often we are like Eustace at the beginning, thinking that we can change ourselves with the spiritual power and authority Jesus grants by grace. No, God must change us. He will only do it when we are desperate to be done with the dragon.
The danger of the deception of partial commitment to God is revealed in the lives of Ananias and Sapphira. Changed hearts in the early church was evidenced by transformed lives. People generously gave all they had in the service of God for His use and glory. Ananias and Sapphira, like other people, sold a possession and brought the proceeds to the apostles. However, under the pretense of giving all, they had agreed to secretly keep back a portion of the sale. They lied to the Holy Spirit and therefore had lied to God. Their deceit and hypocrisy cost them their lives, for they were struck dead by God. Their sin of holding back proved costly. What was a secret before men was laid bare before God.
Should God always act in this fashion, I confess I would have been dead many years ago. How many times did I say "I surrender all!" when I had no intention to take steps to do so! Perhaps He spared my life so I could die to self for His glory every day until He takes me home. I am grateful for God's patience and faithfulness to die for me when I was a sinner and enemy, and thank Him not destroying me even after I sinned against His grace by continuing to live for self. In William MacDonald's book My Heart, My Life, My All, a poem by Theodore Monod on page 154 strikes at the heart of the matter:
The final turning point for Eustace is when he was met by the great lion, Aslan. The lion led dragon-Eustace to an inviting bubbling pool and told him before he could enter he must first undress. So Eustace dug a claw into his hide and stepped out of his skin painlessly, only to see a fresh skin in its place. After three failed attempts, Aslan told Eustace that only he could undress him. Eustace was desperate for a change from being a dragon. He lay still and Aslan pierced him to his very heart, painfully tearing away the dragon flesh. Aslan placed Eustace in the pool and he was changed back to being a human. But Eustace was no longer the same Eustace: he was a new boy, born again.
This story is an allegory concerning the fact that no man can change his own heart. Eustace was filled with wickedness, and no effort of his own - even repeated, sincere attempts - was enough to change him from being a dragon to a boy. The change had to come from outside Eustace. The only one who has the power to transform a man is the one who raised Himself from the dead: Jesus Christ. The point God keeps hammering home to my heart is complete surrender to Him. Eustace could not have only have his legs or arms cleaned of dragon flesh: it all had to come off. When we first make a commitment to follow Jesus Christ, we are hardly aware of all the areas God desires to change within us. God desires our first and best, seeing this is His just due. He wants our spiritual appetites, dreams, desires, and future to be completely placed in His hands. While Satan and the world are only too happy to control and oppress us, God waits for us to voluntarily give ourselves to Him. Too often we are like Eustace at the beginning, thinking that we can change ourselves with the spiritual power and authority Jesus grants by grace. No, God must change us. He will only do it when we are desperate to be done with the dragon.
The danger of the deception of partial commitment to God is revealed in the lives of Ananias and Sapphira. Changed hearts in the early church was evidenced by transformed lives. People generously gave all they had in the service of God for His use and glory. Ananias and Sapphira, like other people, sold a possession and brought the proceeds to the apostles. However, under the pretense of giving all, they had agreed to secretly keep back a portion of the sale. They lied to the Holy Spirit and therefore had lied to God. Their deceit and hypocrisy cost them their lives, for they were struck dead by God. Their sin of holding back proved costly. What was a secret before men was laid bare before God.
Should God always act in this fashion, I confess I would have been dead many years ago. How many times did I say "I surrender all!" when I had no intention to take steps to do so! Perhaps He spared my life so I could die to self for His glory every day until He takes me home. I am grateful for God's patience and faithfulness to die for me when I was a sinner and enemy, and thank Him not destroying me even after I sinned against His grace by continuing to live for self. In William MacDonald's book My Heart, My Life, My All, a poem by Theodore Monod on page 154 strikes at the heart of the matter:
Oh, the bitter shame and sorrow
That a time could ever be,
When I let the Saviour's pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answered,
All of self, and none of Thee.
Yet He found me; I beheld Him
bleeding on the cursed tree;
Heard Him pray, Forgive them, Father,
And my wistful heart said faintly,
Some of self, and some of Thee.
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing helping, full and free,
Sweet and strong and ah! so patient,
Brought me lower while I whispered,
Less of self, and more of Thee.
Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last hat conquered:
Grant me now my soul's petition,
None of self, and all of Thee.
The sooner we are fed up with ourselves and the passing pursuits of this world the better. It is time to submit all we are and all we have to the God who has purchased us with His own blood. Forgive me Father for all the times I have only offered some when I needed to give all. No price is too great to pay. Strip me of self! None of self, and all of Thee.
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