When The Lights Go OUT!!!!

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:14-16

Years ago, before blogs and such, I started writing stuff like you have been reading. I used to send it via email directly to folks in my list. Well, computers change and address lists get lost and so does time and I lapsed into not writing for a while. Actually it wasn't right for me just to send everyone that I had an email address for a copy of my theological opinion, people need to be asked first. I guess back then I was sort of a "Spiritual Spammer." I just want to briefly say "thank you" for your reading and reception to these postings. I trust with God's help and guidance I will be able to continue this, and please forward them on to your friends if you feel you can do so.

Having said all that, the title this week, not really dealing with New Years, is one from my old email devotionals. I used to live on a dark road in Logan, WV. We did have one street light but it never burned all the time, so there were periods we would go without light out there at night. When Christmas time came most everyone on the road put out a lot of lights. We would put out those big large bulbs sort of from the fifties, plus we would put out our ancient lighted nativity which we still put out. Anyway, all this light made the road brighter and dispelled the darkness. Then came New Year's Day and everyone began turning off their lights for good. The street became pitch black again. As I stood outside one night just looking around it occurred to me that this once well lit area, now dark, is symbolic of what will happen when the Church is raptured out of the world. The Light of our witness will be gone.

Of course we are not the Light, as John wrote of himself, but we are the carriers of the Light. No matter how the world treats you, it does not know how valuable the Christian is, until the Light they have taken for granted is removed from their sphere of existence. There will be of course 144,000 Jewish evangelists in the world during the Tribulation, yet in all this it will not be as bright in the world as it is today.

As I think about this subject again, I am sitting here looking at our wonderful Christmas tree. God has blessed us with a 9 foot artificial beauty that has about 600 lights on it. The tree glows in the darkness and illuminates all the corners of the room. This is how you and I are to be in the world we live in today. Let's look at some ways our Light of Christ impacts our world. In reading this also think of how it will be when these impacting forces are removed.

First, our Light illuminates man's sin. Now I'll admit this is not a seemingly great opening point. Seemingly no, but in reality, most definitely yes. Man feels it cruel and judgemental to have his or her sin pointed out. When done lovingly that is the best news however they can ever hear since it does not end there but gives way to hope. If hope were not present, we would be the worst lot of depressive doom talkers that ever walked. People don't seem to care to be revealed in that manner of knowing they are sinful. Man would rather be comfortable in the dark where no one sees, rather than change. Or, man feels that he will not be condemned because he doesn't believe in sin's penalty according to the Scriptures.
Dr. Charles Stanley, my favorite Bible teacher, once remarked profoundly and simply, (paraphrase) "Man cannot change God's Truth. When God says something will come to pass it is not dependent on what man believes. God's promises will come to pass as He said, it makes no difference whether we choose to believe it or not."
I don't like to go to doctors. But if there is something wrong with me that I know can be cured, the diagnosis would not be as scary or fearful to hear as it would be if there were no cure to be found. Such is true with our Light. The Light of the Gospel does reveal bad things, but it produces a cure all in the same manner. Far better it is to be cured than to live and then to die of what was easily preventable. Think what will happen when the free witness of man's sinful condition will be not heard of when the Lights go out.

Second, our Light draws the curious and the needy. For some folks, the Light of the Gospel does not intimidate them. Light always draws a crowd. Just look at the gnats in the summer and how they flock to a light bulb shining in the darkness. Folks who come seeking know on the surface at least that the Light of God's Truth is different than what they are used to. Out of curiosity here they come. This is wonderful. Folks who are unsaved ask questions inwardly and outwardly as they observe believers. They wonder in themselves how can Jesus transform me? They see the Light and want it for themselves. Hard to do when a majority of this Light is gone away from them one day. Then there is the needy. Jesus encountered the needy on a regular basis. Many came to Jesus with all sorts of needs. They knew He could relieve them of sickness and burdens. People today do the same and more so when they know their needs are deep in the soul. People feel unwanted, unloved, unattached, etc. They may have been divorced, hurt, grieving, in poverty, etc. This is the open door to shine the Light of Christ in. Christians need to help the needy understand that Jesus will help them with their problems if they put their faith in Him. Just as people stranded in a cave come running to a source of light for hope of escape, it is precisely what a non-believer does inwardly when you show Christ to them. Someone you know may not seem curious or needy now, but they will be one day and you can stand, never in pride, but in love ready to help them. That is until the Lights go out of the world.

Third, our Light warms and comforts the broken. Light has so many qualities. I think there is no greater fitting than for Jesus Christ to be clothed in glorious Light. We read how Light draws but it can also warm and restore. Think of a campfire or bonfire on a cold fall night. It is refreshing for its Light that helps us see, but mostly for its heat to warm our body. We gravitate towards light because it comforts us. There is so much to say here on this point. But distinctly, Light makes the grand difference in a person's health and their soul's destiny. One who is constantly exposed to physical darkness are more depressed, their bodies do not function well, and their attitudes are usually negative. People walk into my church every week with great weight upon their hearts. If the church of our Lord were no different and our message was no different then we rank no better than a secular counsellor. People don't go to a dentist when they are having stomach pains. Likewise, the Light is where they need to go, where they know there is help, comfort, relief, and acceptance. Not so easy when the Light goes out of the world.

Lastly, our Light gives an eternal hope that no one else gives. It is true that people come to church for hand outs, be it monetary, food, or something else. That is fine, Jesus did not turn these people away. BUT. our kind of Light does not promise dollars on trees, but is far more concerned with what is about to come in a person's life, namely eternity, and will outlast the problems of this life without blinking. Yes people need groceries and power bills payed. But deep down they (even the wealthy) know there needs to be more. Nothing we earn or do can assure us of our spiritual needs. When Jesus encountered people, yes He saw their immediate needs, but He saw their souls within the body. He came as a Shepherd to guide the wayward flock out of the prairies of disillusion to the Delectable Mountains of His grace. The forgiveness of an eternal condemnation is worth more than all the money in the world. We will clearly see that more profoundly when we cross over and see the glories of God in us. People yearn for this. They may not do it properly or with religious piety, but they desperately want someone to lead them out of their darkness. This is our job. A job coming at an end, quickly.

Do you remember the dark void left by turning off the lights? Do we take for granted the freedom we have to be expressers of the Light of God? Have you considered how dark the world around you will be, when no Light is to be found.

We need the desire afresh from God to be working in the fields while it is yet day, for night comes, when NO one can work. Value the Light God has put with in you, then share it with others in some way. We cannot make people come to Christ, but while we are here we can help lead the way. What a horrible thing it will be for those who scoff at the Light to plunged into eternal darkness! Hell is that place. The main characteristic of Hell is darkness. This should tell us how important our Light is.

Remember, one small candle is enough to fill a whole dark empty space. Wherever there is the True Light of Christ, darkness cannot co-exist.

Father, please help me and all who read this to use our time wisely for You. As 2009 arises, our Light may be raptured out soon. What a glorious day for us, but a horrible day for the unbeliever. Help us to shine brightly as a beacon of Your Hope in the days ahead. In Your Name, Amen.

Image by Santa Lane

Good King Jesus

Scripture Reading:  John 1:1-14

In the United States, we do not know what it is like to live under a monarchy (the rule by a King or Queen). My ancestors on both sides all knew what it was like. They knew that the rule of one family can bless or alter adversely the affairs of many. In 1620, the Sampsons came to the shores of the New World. They boarded a small leaky vessel called the Mayflower. At the time, the voyage must have seemed like a desperate venture, now written into a once respected chapter of America's history. The Pilgrim's as they were called left what was dear to them in England because the King had made the practice of faith in Christ unlawful. Even after the colonies in America were established, the King still had chief control. His authority could be felt in every matter of life. Should the King have been fair then there would not have been any reason to desire a move away from his control. Interestingly, in the Revolutionary period of America, the control of the King was demanded heavily to which the common reply from many patriots was, "we have no King but Jesus Christ."

In the world of the Bible as well as in our semi recent past, the King was either loved or hated depending on how he saw the way of life should be for the common man. Most times the King became a tyrant, but in the case of the Kings of Judah, most feared the Lord God and it showed in their goodwill to the people.

Though you may feel yourself far removed from the monarchical system, you need to realize we are living under the Supreme Monarch. When people hear words like this, unbelievers scoff and say you are throwing in religion where a monarch is clearly something really on Earth. Such people are blinded to the confines of this planetary sphere. They can see nothing of what lies ahead or the divine world that is ever present among them. That is precisely why we have Christmas. It is the celebration of the One Who stepped out of the Divine and into the Earthly by being born in a humble fashion and then presenting the way for mortal men and women to come to His Divine Kingdom once we are finished living on this Earth. Poets and playwrights from all ages have tried to equate this true and awesome plan but they can never come to the real understanding and heart experience that comes from knowing Jesus Christ personally rather than academically. As you read this, many of you have trusted in this One who came as a babe to save us, yet some do not know. The remainder of this text will be joyous for both saint and sinner alike. For the saint, the graciousness of our King towards us is forever praiseworthy. For the sinner who has not trusted in Christ, this is the best liberating news that can ever be spoken to you.

This Christmas Day, here are three quick points that set apart King Jesus from all others:

First,  King Jesus has a heart that goes beyond His own interests.  Even the best of earthly Kings on their best day still in the deepest of their hearts look after number one.  After all, kings are powerful and the people under their control are just there to service him.  Yet Jesus sees the heart and hears the hurt.  Jesus not only rules over His creation, but one of the reasons why He loves His subjects is that He created them.  He not only created them to live on this Earth, moreover, He created them to live in His Kingdom in Heaven.  This love is so strong that it made Him leave all of His comforts far beyond our understanding, and step into this world.  Christ did not simply step into this world for all to see and laud as a typical king would do, but came to be one of us.  Not in effect, but literally become the lowliest of all His own subjects.  This is His heart for you and me.  Earthly rulers may make good choices for others benefits, but only King Jesus personally got involved.  Of course, His ultimate involvement was the sacrifice of His own life on the cross, there could be not a greater expression of selfless love.  But we tend to forget the sacrifice of just becoming and living as a man.  He put on vile flesh, lived in a disease infested smelly world.  He hungered, worked, laughed, wept, and did everything that we do, all because He desired to be our High Priest so that one day we would have an advocate who not only paid for our sins, but knew how desperate the mortal condition is.  No one but Jesus would dare to do this.  Romans 5:8 tells us that when no one else would consider the lowliest of creation worthy to die for, Christ died for us.

Second, King Jesus does not ignore any of His subjects for any reason.  It is the habit of mankind to play favorites.  In fact the best way to have favor with an earthly king was to prove your loyalty by act of gift.  Should the king like you, you were favored, if not, life was miserable at best.  However, King Jesus made no distinction.  Jesus does not have a partiality scale.  Romans 10:9-10 tells us that whoever comes to the Lord shall be saved from wrath to come.  John the Apostle who knew Jesus best recorded that whoever comes to Christ will not be turned away for any reason.  The foundation under this is the contrast between the strength of love and the strength of need.  Earthly kings favor certain individuals because they need their influence or wealth or loyalty to bolster the kingdom's success.  Christ needs no one, Christ CHOOSES us.  The kingdom of God does not rest on the pillars of human power.  Citizenship in Heaven is a privilege.  His shed blood covered every sin we commit so no one can possibly be left out.   If we are left out of His kingdom it is by our own choice.  The thief on the cross asked most simply and most profoundly, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  This was a request typical of subjects to monarchs, a plea for acceptance and mercy.  Bear in mind this was a man rightfully punished probably for murder or treason, yet King Jesus told him without reservation that the thief would be with the King in Paradise this very day.  No one is turned away from the Kingdom of the King of Kings.

Lastly, King Jesus fulfills His promises according to His own Word.  Whether we live under the rule of a monarch or an elected political official, their word is no good.  I don't mean this accusatory or condemning, but simply stated their word is no good because they don't have it within themselves to keep the truth.  This is not because they are political, its because they are sinful, as we all are.  The binding that holds all the promises of God together is because the King is God who cannot lie.  Should Christ forfeit a promise in any slight way, the Kingdom would be imperfect and alike to any other Earthly kingdom.  God's Word cannot be broken.  Christ not only always tells the Truth, but He is the TRUTH, the author of it and the fulfiller of it.  The Kings name in the Trinity of God is "The Word."  The promise of the Word was not just verbal but practical.  The promise of the Word was given and was carried out by its Author. 

Earthly kings promises have good intentions, but only God has perfect Truth behind it to enforce it.  That same Truth is the same guarantee that He makes to you and me.  Can you grasp hold of a stalwart never changing Truth?  The Truth is the definition of who King Jesus is and the confidence we have in Him is based on His unfailing perfection in Truth.  Jesus even made the assurance that not one small punctuation mark in all of His promises will not go unfulfilled when time is at an end.  Even if the promises of God seem far off from being fulfilled, know that in His time nothing promised will be left out.  Nothing in God's Word is placed for filler or embellishment, absolutely everything has meaning and purpose backed by His own Truth.

If your a Christian, we have much to rejoice over.  Just to think that our King is not like others that we have to wonder about or live in dread of.  Such a comfort it is to know that such a powerful King, who could use all of His might against us, chose to use all of His might for our good and benefit!  We have a home, a King and a Kingdom awaiting us when we die, can there be any better news?  

If you are not sure about your relationship to King Jesus, you can be.  The fact is, we are all sinners, lost and condemned to the dungeon of Hell.  This was already laid upon us before we were born because of Adam's sin.  BUT, King Jesus came into this world on the day we celebrate as Christmas just for you.  He lived, died on the cross and rose from the dead so that you wouldn't  have to face Hell for your sinful penalty.  He has an outstretched hand towards you.  He desires you become not a subject, but a son or daughter in His royal family.  You can be that today and forever by simply admitting you are a sinner and placing your faith in Him to pay the sin debt for you and trust in Him as your Lord and Savior.  Call upon Him to save you and He will.  You are the reason for His birth, don't shut Him out of your life.  

He who loved you so much is Your Friend, Savior and King.  

Praise the Lord for His wondrous love to the children of men.  Lift up your hearts in praise of His goodness and reign that we should be alive in Him and not condemned as we deserve.  Blessed be the name of the Lord forever.  Good King Jesus Christ. King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

How can we express our gratitude for Your matchless love!  Thank you that the King of Kings thinks and acts on our behalf.  We can be no greater a blessed people.  For eternity shall break forth upon us and the full wonder shall be ours through You Lord.  Accept our thanks  and praise and blessed be the day of Your birth.  Amen.

Peace For Our Time

Scripture Reading: John 14:25-27

Recently I had an opportunity to share God's Word with a group of senior citizens at an assisted living home. Of course it is Christmas time and I wondered what to share with folks, some of which have heard the Christmas message scores of times. The theme of Christmas throughout the ages has been the message of the angel to the Shepherds of "peace on Earth." This buzzword seems to be involved in a lot of things from decorations to cards. Men want peace on the Earth, but they are not so sure how to get it or to maintain it. So I was wondering how to get the message of the Promise of Peace across. So I recalled two illustrations from the past of the greatest generation. Two people. Prime Minister Chamberlain of England and General Douglas MacArthur of the USA. Now you may think what does these two people have to do with peace or Christmas? Well....here it goes......

In the late 1930's the United States was burdened with an economic disaster called the Great Depression. Europe, though financially more prosperous, had a storm cloud looming over it with the portrait of Adolf Hitler in its billows. British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain thought he could appease Hitler's thirst for conquest by making available the Sudetenland. He heralded the Munich Agreement as a tremendous success and said this agreement was guarantee of "peace for our time." Shortly thereafter Germany seized Czechoslovakia and the Second World War commenced not long after that. Why? Simply because REAL peace cannot be negotiated by man or granted by man. Any man is lawless and depraved and incapable of righteous behavior apart from the help and influence of Jesus Christ in the life of a believer. The second major flaw in mankind trying to establish "peace" is that man's peace is established by man's wavering standards.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY author of "peace in our time." Of course that seems narrow minded to most folks, but they either fail to see or choose not to see how human peace doesn't last or doesn't work. The reason why is because true peace is an inward matter of the heart, and particularly of the soul's eternal standing. Jesus said that the kind of peace that He gives is not like the world gives. The world makes a divine promise on a flawed table. Until you meet the Prince of Peace in your heart and have your eternity settled, than no earthly peace will be gained as well. This is not to say that if you get nervous, worried, or depressed that it is a sure mark you're not really a Christian. What it does mean is that when the Prince of Peace reigns in your heart, you have someone to lean on when it looks rough. You know that even if the present circumstances look hopeless we have the surety that God will work things out. Lost people have no such guarantee. Their hope of peace is always foreshadowed by the unsurety of man's explosive emotions.

This unsurety sets the stage for a man or woman to look upon the Christmas scene more intently. When the prophet's Isaiah and Micah penned God's promise of a Messiah who would not only bring peace but would rule in it, man began to have hope. The prophets identified what kind of a person Christ would be, the town in which He would be born, and His given Name and Program. Man is searching for something deep inside. He or she may not know what it is, but they need to understand its not in a what but in Who. If they would be open to listening to what God says then the blanks would be filled in their empty hearts with proper information.

When Jesus Christ was born into the world EVERYTHING changed. Though it may have seemed on the outward appearance that very little to nothing had changed. The first dramatic change was that PEACE literally came to the world. Peace, the Person, came as a Light to a dark place. Peace illuminated our gloom, reshaped our goals, transformed our hearts, and secured our eternal destiny by His Death and Resurrection. The power of darkness, though mighty at the time of this writing, now had its death sentence pronounced by the King of Kings. Had Jesus' birth not been that important, Satan would have not tried so desperately to kill Him both then and all the while He lived. As Jesus was born, all hopes of a dark empire now vanished. The King dwells with His people! Emmanuel--God with us!

Mr. Chamberlain couldn't guarantee the peace of Christ. because He didn't have the authority of Christ. Mankind cannot guarantee what he or she does not have to begin with.

After His Resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven. The next phase of His great promise was now beginning. That was His return in power and glory. Here is the second parallel that was shared with my talk to the Assisted Living folks. Perhaps you recall from history the phrase made by General MacArthur to troops he temporarily left behind. The phrase is, " I shall return" is a promise that Christ made over a Milena before MacArthur. Like the General, Christ left us in the world to do His instructions. Believers will be under fire, mocked and scorned, etc. Still the promise holds hope and rings true. One blessed day we shall see Him return for His church. We shall behold Him face to face and live with Him.
The signal of MacArthur's return was the waves of airplanes and sight of naval war crafts. They all said one thing, "MacArthur kept his word." So to shall the coming of the Messiah be. The whole sky will be filled with His Glory and we shall be changed instantly to the body we have believed and hoped for.

Alter a time of unspeakable tribulation, peace will come in our time in a literal physical fashion. At the Second Coming, the whole program will be different. The King is here not to be lowly and walk among His haters, but now clothed in majesty like no other. There will literally be peaceful relations with nations, peace with unfriendly beasts, peace with the government, peace with all men because the King is here on His throne to personally oversee it. There will be no empty letter of promises, but a sure and certain reign of THE PROMISE. What a glorious time to look forward to!

In conclusion, while I write this, even I admit that all that has been discussed and what we are looking for seems distant and far off, perhaps by human reasoning even too good to be true. However we must remember that Christmas set the stage for a new order of living far different than what we have always known. Had Christ not been born in Bethlehem, the darkness would have thickened to the point of total hopelessness. Imagine a world without John 3:16, or a world where God does not care to intervene. Christmas is all about peace, but its peace that is not like the world's cheap substitute. Real peace comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you have Him in your heart? If you do then the miracle of Christmas is fulfilled in you. The peace given by salvation in Christ only awaits that glorious day when every eye shall behold Him. Those who cursed Him will wail at His piercings, but we the redeemed know no beautiful portrait than nail prints that made possible our peace. When all of life is said and done, there is nothing more a man craves than peace. All the money, fame, popularity, etc fades into the abyss of eternity. But for the believer, Jesus Christ stands in that place with an open hand to welcome us home. What a great and certain peace available in our time!

Father, thank you for sharing Your Son in this world to be the perfect Son of Peace and the payment for our sins. As we celebrate this Christmas season, cause us to remember the great price and plan made for our personal redemption. We as a a people are so underserving. But more than we are undeserving are You loving. Help us to share that Gospel message with others and in a tangible way too. We love You Lord, thank You for first loving us. Graciously we thank You for the wonder that is ours in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Herod: Puppet On A String

Scripture Reading: Matthew 2:1-18

Once the Messiah Prophecy was fulfilled, it made no small stir in the community. Many people rejoiced, many scoffed, but one man became really worried, really fast. Herod, set up ruler of Israel under Caesar Augustus. Herod is an interesting character in the Scripture.

Three things are interesting to note about this "king."
First, Herod wasn't a Jew. Second, Herod wasn't a royal member or even a distant cousin nine times removed of King David. Lastly, Herod was a coward in a brave man's throne. The most significant realization of Herod is that he was controlled by the Devil, for the Devil's purposes, while all the time Herod thought he was acting on behalf of his own interests.

In the latter middle ages, many carols came to life in England. Many of these carols have found a place in our Christmas traditions. One of these is the "Coventry Carol." It is of a stark contrast to traditional carols in that while they speak of joyous tidings, Coventry recounts and remembers the "massacre of the Innocents," carried out by Herod. One of the carol's lyrics defines Herod as "this man of might in his own sight." How true. Man sees only himself and what he does. Man's centralized thinking writes God out of plans and actions. Man does this because he is blinded by Satan and has no concept of Divine matters. Naturally then man sees his own affairs of paramount importance. This is why mankind is largely self centered, desperate, controlling, fearful, obstinate, and overly wise in their own rationale and perception (for this is all they have).

Like Herod, all sinful mankind is but a puppet on Satan's string. Man does as Satan voluntarily or involuntarily directs. Man thinks himself or herself to be acting on their own impulses (which they do) but are unknowingly fulfilling Satanic purposes against themselves and Christ all behind the curtain they are blind to. So why talk about Herod at all in this time of the Christmas season? Simply, Herod plays an important role in helping us see that the King of Kings has nothing to fear or compete with from earthly rulers. Let's see why.

First, God's Kingdom doesn't advance on the fear of loss. When Herod heard what the Messiah, this new King, would do, one thought crossed his mind. "I am not the rightful King of Israel, I will lose my position, my castle, my status, the new King must be killed, or I will be." All Herod could see is what lay before him. God's Kingdom on the other hand looks at not only what is ahead, but what will last for eternity. Herod didn't really, I think, sort out all the spiritual implications of the Messiah's birth, he just saw a threat. When a man cheats or gets somewhere unlawfully, deep down inside the thought plagues him that he will lose eventually to the right person or manner. So Satan capitalized on this and used Herod. As long as Satan could keep the status of King dangling in front of Herod's eyes, Satan could mask a more sinister plan to kill the Infant King Jesus. Who is it then that can steal anything from the Lord? Who has seriously challenged the security of His Kingdom and stands a chance against Him? No one. Yet a helpless cooing baby was enough to unnerve a puppet king to rash fearful action. In the end, God's Kingdom will triumph and that never taking thought of loss. Jesus said that the Church will crash through the gates of Hell and never be defeated.

Second, God's Kingdom doesn't resort to duping its servants to do God's will.
Though God doesn't always fill us in on the complete details of every plan, He never has us do one thing in order to unknowingly do something else. There is no guile in God's camp. When God spoke to the prophets, He gave them a clear message to tell. The standards of God's law do not change. This is so opposed to a world swallowed up in change. God never tells us to do something against His own standards. We ought to have and can have an open relationship with God. None of the Devil's servants are the Devil's friends. Yet Jesus in John 15:15 plainly told His disciples, "I have not called you servants, but My friends." Friends have a relationship not formed in deceit. Herod had very little friends. Those he did have probably were such out of fear or want. To live under a tyrant breeds no true friendship. But it was all the Herod knew being the child of darkness. We have it better, we as believers are children of Light. Light always reveals, it never disguises.

Thirdly, God's Kingdom doesn't rely on earthly power solely to accomplish its goals. But wait a minute! Didn't Jesus send out twelve ordinary men? Didn't God promise Abraham the seed of the nation of Israel? Wasn't it John the Baptist who prepared the way of the Lord? The answer to all these is "yes." The important thing to remember though that God is not dependent on us, He chooses to use us. Satan on the other hand does depend on human involvement. Satan influences man to wreack havoc in the world. The reason is that Satan is bound to this world. On the other hand, God directly rules everything and everywhere. God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. Satan is none of those things. Satan is powerful, much too powerful for even the strongest of Christians to take on single handed. Yet, in all his rage and power, Satan MUST use flawed beings. If God solely depended on such, the world could not and would not have any justifiable hope in Him. We see from the text that Herod had to send out the Wisemen to find Jesus. Herod had to use soldiers to slaughter in order to preserve himself. Herod had to rely on religious men to tell him the Truth recorded by Micah the prophet, for he had no knowledge himself. The king of any nation is nothing without his servants. God is the Supreme Exception!

Lastly, God's Kingdom doesn't have to shoot in the dark to achieve its needs. God has no "Plan B" for the salvation of mankind. It has never entered in the mind of God to desperately try to hold control over everything. When God acts, it is intentional and direct. Satan on the other hand could not quite kill baby Jesus directly. Herod's grand plan was to kill every male child born in a certain time frame. Herod figured that he would surely end this threat to his rule by carrying out a massive shotgun raid. All he managed to do was fulfill a prophecy in spite of himself (Jeremiah 31:15). Though in all that sadness that cannot be accurately described, comes the Prince of Peace and the Giver of Life. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He didn't wonder, "now will this do it?" Sovereignty shoots a straight arrow and hits the mark every time. Satan is not Sovereign, nor are his servants.
Blanket attacks, endless attempts, redirected strategies, vain endeavors, all this has no place in God's Kingdom. Even in the last hours of the known world, Satan will try to rally a force against King Jesus. It is interesting that the Saints coming with Christ in the battle of Armageddon wear no weapons. We simply watch God wipe out evil with His words. God spoke the world into existence in a single purposed manner, likewise He can speak them out too.

So here we are. Its Christmas time, lots of busy preparations. In all this consider the power of God. After all, had God not acted purposefully and sovereignly as He did, we would flounder with all the world in a never winning battle. We would all be led along by the Old Liar never knowing who was really controlling our movements, thoughts, or blinded us from our condemnation. But God who is rich in mercy, saved us from all our sins and cut our strings by the love of His heart, the shedding of His blood, and the Resurrection of His body.

How about you today, are you trusting in your own wisdom or desires above God's? Does the attitude of your life reflect a life dependent on God, or, strung along by Satan? I urge you to consider the fate of a life not placed in Christ. If your life is in Christ, let's humbly show the world there is a better life with no strings attached!

Heavenly Father, thank You for not being such a one as the Devil. Thank You that You love us and have no plans to condemn those who trust in You. Forgive us when we falter and turn our hearts once again to the great all encompassing wonder of why You came just for us. We have in You a Sovereign who is not disturbed with fear, duping, or rash behavior. Thank You for the privilege of calling You Father and Jesus, Brother and Friend. Help us to keep this in mind this Christmas. In Your Name, Amen.

Image by: Meul

Annunciation To The Heart

Scripture Reading: Luke 1:26-38

It is perhaps one of the most respected and celebrated events in all the Bible, The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary the Virgin. This singular event signaled the complete and wondrous turning point of events to change the human soul. There has been scores of paintings made to illustrate the event, there is a church in Israel dedicated and named for the event, there have been songs written, movies made, and many other such elements to commemorate the event.

The Annunciation was made particularly unique because of the Message, the messenger, and the implications the decree would fulfill. The Annunciation Message to Mary was in some sense a prophecy, as she did not give birth at that instant, but moreover it was a Royal Decree that was going to happen. The Annunciation was not a suggestion, the angel informed Mary she was chosen, the Christ would be conceived in her without sexual relations, she would deliver, and He the Christ would in turn deliver the whole world from their sins. All these plans were decrees from God who made it happen. This was His will towards us, it was not for debate or challenge.

The Annunciation was unique because of who delivered the Message. The Angel Gabriel. This was no small thing. God sent His finest and most powerful messenger to proclaim the enacting of the Messianic event. Gabriel had the direct Word from the mouth of God. Gabriel stands at the throne of God and dispatches His decrees. I personally believe that it was Gabriel who appeared to the Shepherds in the field, and though I cannot prove it, he may just well be the angel that sounds the trumpet, proclaims the woe of the world, and announces the judgements to fall in the world in the book of Revelation. If you were to receive a visit from Gabriel, it would not be taken lightly. This singularly is evidence of the important nature of Christ's birth into the world.

The Annunciation was the most important because of its implications for the world. The Messiah, the Deliverer, Savior, was to come into the world and end the darkness of condemnation. Gabriel told Mary specifically the name of the Child was to be Emmanuel, "God With Us." Now the last three words of the previous sentence you've probably heard over and over again to describe the name of Christ. However, when you stop to consider the all out change and difference in the experience of mankind, to have the Creator physically live amongst the creation, is astronomical in thought, realization, etc. This is something that no other pagan god ever could fulfill or even promise. The Divine not just stepping into the world, but taking on human form to live as we do is just flat out incredible! Rightly so, we often are awed by the sufferings of Christ at Calvary, but do we stop to consider the awesome sacrifice it took for God to lay aside all of His glory and put on a defiled body for our sakes!?? The birth of Christ forever changed the course of our soul's destiny, what an awesome message that God would think upon us, and make a way that we should live with Him by His loving choice. The Annunciation ripped open the gloom of this world and set the stage for the realization of mankind that Heaven can be reached and peace with God can be obtained by trusting in Christ. No more was the message of Hope and the coming Messiah a seemingly far off event. Now it was about to happen!

Now after two thousand years of church history, does the Annunciation have any place in the believer's heart other than an appreciation for what happened? I believe it does as it teaches us three things:

First, The Annunciation teaches us that God is intimately interested and involved in the affairs of men. The mind cannot grasp the wealth and knowledge of God, let alone comprehend that all of this wondrous blessings are targeted towards undeserving mankind. Just to think that the Sovereign God who created all that we know and experience not only thinks of us but gets involved on a physical plain to bless us. God so separates Himself from man made religions in the fact that false gods are always seen lording over the people. Yet while God certainly does rule and reign, He does not stay in His elaborate temple. God walks, breathes, talks, and hears from a man's perspective of our plights and problems. Jesus healed the sick, forgave sinners, freed the spiritually bound, opened eyes, washed feet, and taught in person. He does the same today in the form of the Holy Spirit that resides personally in the believer.

Second, The Annunciation teaches us that God can use any form of communication He desires. God has no limits. God spoke to Adam with His own voice. God spoke to Moses through a burning bush. God spoke to John by a vision, and God used an angel to not only speak to Mary but others through the Scriptures. So the question here is, does God still use an angelic messenger to proclaim His message? On the whole I would say not. I say this only because the job of the Holy Spirit within the believer is to direct and guide. However, I would not deny that someone in the world today has encountered a real angel either in human form, or in their divine state. There have been numerous reports of angelic "sightings" by many. Though we don't hunt for them like some do for UFOs, God has every right to allow one of His created beings to appear directly to either communicate or in many cases to protect.

Thirdly, The Annunciation lets us know that God favors us by letting His purposes be accomplished in our frailty. The first words to the messenger Gabriel out of Mary's lips were, "how can this [divine conception] happen since I have had no sexual relations with a man?" She admitted her inability to conceive other than the natural way and she admitted the inability of her mind to understand the whole matter. Neither would we in the same situation. But God kindly favored Mary despite herself. He was willing to place in her the most precious apple of His eye, His own Son. He entrusted Mary and Joseph to look after Jesus in His growing up years. This was no small task! God knew though His Son was perfect, that His earthly caretakers were not. God knows you and I are frail and prone to sin, yet He gives us opportunities every day to witness, be a blessing, meet a need, pray for others, give our finances, support the work of the ministry, achieving His plans and timetable through flawed beings.
When Mary found out all the things the Angel Gabriel said, she exclaimed, "my soul does magnify the Lord!" This was an expression of joy partly for the honor of the task, but also she knew God was going to use her fragility in His Strength. She knew it magnified His might not hers. The same exclamation ought to be true of us.

From that time till now, only two other announcements has been knowingly made with such great power and Divine physical presence to men and women and that was Paul's conversion on the Damascus road and John's Revelation. But there is another Annunciation, in fact, the greatest ever given. The Annunciation that Jesus died for your sins, and by simply trusting in Him, repenting (turning) from your sin and receiving Him into your heart as Lord and Savior, you personally can have eternal life in Heaven right now. This Annunciation doesn't come with the rush of angel's wings, or thunder and lightning from the sky, but that still small voice pleading with you to come to Christ before the gates are shut and grace will have ended.

Christian, the Annunciation keeps us in mind that one greater than Gabriel, God the Holy Spirit, resides in us. Listen for His divine decrees in your life. Be so thankful He is willing to talk with us and be patient with us. Thank Him today for the wonderful ways He comforts and talks to us when no one else listens or understands. One who stays in constant contact with you and me all through life. Give Him glory and thank Him for being willing to tell us where we were headed and now change that heading to walk with Him forever!

Heavenly Father, thank You for being willing to proclaim to us not only the Gospel but to encourage us and announce to us Your Truths and ways. Help us to be good listeners and appreciate all the more Who You are and what You have done for us who never deserved anything better than Hell itself. Help us to tell others about You, to announce to them how they can have You in their hearts and lives too. Thank you Lord, In thy name, Amen.

Blessings Beyond Words

Scripture Reading: Psalm 100



The more I grow as a Christian the more I realize that the words, "Thank You," are such weak ones to deliver to our Provider. This doesn't mean we stop giving thanks, but it seems God deserves so much more, some greater memorial of praise to Him. Some discourse of deeper and greater expressions of our gratitude that goes far beyond "thank you." Unfortunately, many times this mortal tongue is bound by its known vocabulary. However, we see that the offerings of our thanksgivings are far greater than the words we say when it genuinely comes from a heart that showcases true gratefulness and joy to God. The illustration here at the left is one I never have seen before of the Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving. But the image on the man's face (standing in prayer) so reads well his heart that should be the outpouring of our heart to God. There is many faces to be studied in this painting. Each face typifies an attitude common to mankind. There is one face though that is either curious or disturbing. Notice the man at the end of the table to the right. While everyone else bows in prayer, the man here is looking away. I haven't figured out if he is not having anything to do with the thanks offered to God, or, if he is curious to know what makes these other people give thanks like they are. Either way, it shows that some folks aren't acquainted with our God as we believers are.

Believer's have so much to be thankful for. This should be noted in three areas of the Psalm reading for today. I trust you are clicking on the link or opening your Bible to read these. Psalm 100 is the second Psalm I learned in Christian grade school. The verses have stuck with me ever since. The declarative statements in the latter part of this Psalm contain blessings that are ours and that no one can take away. Note these three areas that Christians ought to be extremely thankful beyond words for.

For the Lord is good. This may sound like something we have known and have a firm grasp on since Sunday School days. Its obvious, its review, its...........the key doctrine the Devil attacks when beating down the Christian's heart. When I reread this passage I sort of liken this last part of the Psalm to perhaps a father on his deathbed giving the last pearls of knowledge and wisdom he can impart to his children before he goes to meet God. These three elements are essential in his mind for the road left to trod by his offspring. THE LORD IS GOOD. We should be thankful that the God we serve has a heart of goodness towards us. God could have chosen to afflict us every day with torment and that for no purpose. He could have never made any room in His heart for you and me. God was under no obligation to send His only Son to die for us. God did not have to provide your turkey in the oven either. The blessings of God are manifold and countless. It is difficult though to see this when our lives are given so many months left to live by a doctor, or when your "secure" employment just got its termination notice, or when your child totally abandons the precepts and principles of God's Word for some other desire. None of these things are light things. They are real and they happen. But the Lord is good. Though God blesses us immensely, the complete expression of this thought will completely be understood in glory. When we finally see all that He has prepared for us and all that He kept us from in this world, then we shall fully know the meaning and find a greater voice of uttering our thanksgiving.

Secondly, His Mercy Is Everlasting. This would take longer to articulate in words than you have time to read or I have the description to write. A verse I am constantly reminded of is Lamentations 3:22, "It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not." I often wonder how close I have come to being vaporized by God's Holiness in light of my sin. Thanks be to God that the precious blood of Jesus stands in our behalf, not as a license to continue in sin, but a payment for that sin that should condemn us. If we really grasped how black stained sinner's we are then our lips would never cease to thank and praise Him for His unfailing mercy. The mercy of kings and people have shown that there is a condition or a very thin limit to their "mercy" towards an offender. The thing that makes God's mercy so far more powerful and different than that offered by a man is unfailing, unsearchable love. Unredeemed man forgives in obligation to a standard or law. Christ has no sense of obligation, but a love that tears His heart to see us chained and condemned in sin. Friends the gulf between obligation and love are wider than the span of the universe itself. You and I are loved and therefore have His mercy. That is certainly worth all our thanks and praise, as feebly as this old tongue can say.

Lastly, His Truth Endures to All Generations. Again, I can't describe the perimeters of this fact. The key word is "endures." The truth of man lasts only as long as it suits man. Human truthfulness is in a constant state of change. Things that were once true are now replaced. Nothing in this world is fixed or stable. Suppose God emulated man in this point. One minute saved by grace, the next minute grace really wasn't enough! Can you imagine the total despair we would all be in! His Truth not only endures, but endures to ALL generations. Every people of every decade since time began have the same promise that God doesn't change. What He promises to one people of His love, salvation, grace, etc. He grants to all people. God is not in the business of playing favorites. It is true that He has chosen Israel for His own, but the offer of salvation is made manifest to both Jew and Gentile. There will be no segregation in Heaven. The same Lord is rich unto all who call on Him (Rom. 10:12). Imagine a society where the standards are righteous and nothing can corrupt them. No dependence on a political party, empty promises, failing motives, etc. This describes the effect of God's Truth. God's Truth totally enacted in the Millennial Kingdom, of which we as believers will all enjoy.

In conclusion, we haven't spent much time talking about the traditional thanksgiving list of blessings, like family around us, good food, warm homes, etc. All of this is most worthy of thanksgiving to God. But consider this. If the three points of this Psalm were absent from God's character, we would have little to celebrate. In deed all that we have in this life and in the life to come all hangs on these three points. If God were not good, we would live in mortal torment and be subject to divine affliction every day. If God were not merciful, we would all be in Hell right now. If God's truth was not everlasting our world and very lives would be in more chaos than we could imagine.

Ponder a moment in your heart the meaning of this Psalm in your life. As you sit down at the dinner table this week, look around and see the evidence of Psalm 100 all around you. We know that God desires true gratitude and thankfulness of the heart. Lip service alone He does not desire. Remember the older man in the picture. See his face, study his pose. Incorporate that in your heart of thankfulness. Words need to be spoken, but the outpouring of your heart is what God delights in. Read the Psalm at your table this Thanksgiving. Express your heart from it to your table guests and families. Show Christ's love for you in a tangible way. Blessings beyond words are ours everyday.

Heavenly Father, Provider of all the good things we have. Our words are so feeble compared to the magnitude of your blessings. All we have is by Your hand and we're so grateful. Help us to expound that gratitude in our hearts. May Your Name be praised for all Your works towards us. Help us not to be complacent in thanking You. Forgive our offenses, heal our hurts, and nurture us with Your peace. May we show it towards others as You have shown it to us. We praise Your Name High King of Heaven, Provider, Savior, and so wonderfully our Friend. Amen.

Of Pilgrims and Progress

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:9-15

Last week we talked about John Bunyan's allegory, Pilgrim's Progress. This title is one that well defines its story content. There is a new movie about the book which is recommended you see. However, in a more general sense let's talk about what it means to be a Pilgrim and what progress are we making.

In Bunyan's story, the Pilgrim was a traveler in search of Heaven. An image of a Pilgrim in our society is one that we see in paintings like the one above by George Boughton depicting Elizabethan clothed travelers in search of religious freedom. Some cultures also use the idea of pilgrims. Islam has its traveler's on a pilgrimage to their sacred places and shrines, as do the Hindu's their places, and even the Jews have pilgrimFWAs to Jerusalem, and even in "Christendom" the Roman Catholics have pilgrimages to Grottoes and the Holy Land. So with all these images, what really is a Pilgrim? Is it someone who we think of at Thanksgiving who wears buckles on his shoes and drags a dead turkey home to dinner? Or could it be someone who is devoted to someone or something in search of inward spiritual desire?

In the most real sense, the latter is true. A Pilgrim is one who follows to find. Following what or whom is the big question. A true Pilgrim, or better said, a correct Pilgrim is one who follows and searches Jesus Christ. A person who is saved by Christ no longer needs to look for Christ as if they cannot find Him, rather now a Pilgrim is on the trail of knowing and becoming more like Christ. We have the seal of Christ upon us and everyday we are heading towards an eternity with Him, so while in the way we are to desire to take on His heart and character.

The Pilgrims of the Mayflower are prime examples of their own name. The whole reason for their coming to America was not primarily for new lands or new adventures. In fact if the truth were told of most of them wished not to leave their homes and families. They had already fled to Holland and now on the trail to the New World for one purpose, to seek a place where God and God alone can be pursued and worshipped freely. Thus by doing, they laid the foundation of immense blessing that germinated into the freedom Americans have yet today of the same ideal. Pursuing the knowledge and worship of God was their key focus.

Another key point to being a Pilgrim is again found in our Mayflower ancestors. This point is that to truly follow Christ then we must be willing to weather the elements of life and not be discouraged to the point of turning back. It is said that the majority of the time spent on the crowded wooden vessel was vexed with disease and harsh conditions. In fact, once the Pilgrims made it to the shores of Massachusetts, they nearly all died in the fierce northern winter that soon fell on them. Yet in all of this they pursued on. Jesus said that good seed sown in the ground will take root and grow despite the difficulties. Jesus likens poor seed as that which springs up and appears to grow a little while but burns up when difficulty comes (Matt. 13:3-8}. Nobody likes to suffer. Sometimes, not always, growth cannot be achieved without suffering to some extent. Suffering doesn't always con notate persecution, but it will include being made uncomfortable. Notice that these harsh elements are not to thrash us into total hopeless despair, but rather so that we will draw closer to God. The Pilgrims certainly drew closer to God as they realized they just landed into a place where there wasn't all the help of their countrymen (in their former country) they were used to leaning on. Such is the case with us. We need to see God as our Supreme Benefactor of all we have or all we hope to have.

Now moving on from what a Pilgrim is, what about his or her progress through life? By this I mean their growth chart for Christ. A Pilgrim ought to be showing signs of growth and should keep track of it. Not to have bragging rights to our fellow man or to God, but as a foundation. No doubt you have seen or remember the markings on the wall of the kitchen where the parent would measure the growth of a child. The same scale of markings are what we should define as the Progress of the saints, or, the Pilgrim. The progress is evidenced in our daily walk with Christ. Are we devoted to reading and studying His Word? Do we spend quality time in prayer? Do we show others the change Christ makes?

Part of this measuring of progress is found in our desire to know more about Christ. Like a muscle that gets more strong and more strong with repeated exercise, so should our desire to know Christ needs to be. We cannot make progress if we are stuck in neutral and complacency. Just as refusing to row a boat gets the occupant nowhere, so complacency stunts or completely hinders growth.

Another area of measurable Progress is our physical service to Christ. It is most important to pray, and absolutely essential to read the Word of God, but we must begin to serve Him in ways beyond our inner man. We have to engage the outer man to service. This is hard. The outer man can get tired and wearied. But beginning to exercise the outer man by joining an outreach group, or helping prepare meals for shut ins, or driving someone to the doctor, or providing financial help for brethren in need are just some of the way we measure our Progress in the Lord. When we look back on say the last year of our life for whatever point today, we should hopefully be amazed at what God has done. What once spiritually was not true in your life last year, is now abundant this year. Being careful though not to forget to Whom the service is to glorify.

There is an old hymn called "Higher Ground." Some of the lyrics explain this progress of growth best. One verse says, "I'm pressing on the Upward Way, new heights I am gaining everyday, still praying as I'm onward bound, Lord plant my feet on Higher Ground." Make it a daily prayer request for you to grow in the Lord. When we plant corn we expect to see a crop, God desires no less from His investment in us.

How are we doing as Pilgrims? Are you a Pilgrim on the trail of knowing Christ better each day? If you have got off the path, ask Christ for a fresh glimpse of Him in your life. If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, then I urge you not to be deceived to think you have plenty of time to do that. You need to trust Him now, while the Spirit is sill tugging. For the Christian, we are to keep focusing our desires and attention on Christ. Let's do that with a joyous new spirit!

One final note. Sometimes being a Pilgrim con notates being a weary traveler with no home or future. Some think of pilgrims in the sense of vagrancy. But friends and brethren, the Bible says we have a Home most assuredly, and we as followers of Christ are on the right road that ends in Glory! (John 14)

Kind Father, help us to be on the trail in search of Your will in us. Help us to appreciate and emulate the spirit of our forefathers who left all to freely worship You. Help us to not only look towards You and for Your return, but tell others how they may be on the same pilgrimage for Heaven as we. Help our progress to be pleasing to You. May it be that we shall we grow taller and stronger for you each day. Guide us with Your Hand, and let us never cease to praise You for the bounty of provision we have as we enter this season of Thanksgiving. In Your Name. Amen.

The Slough Of Despond

Scripture Reading: Luke 15:11-24

It has been said that John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress was second in popular book sales only to the Bible. I am not sure of that contest now. However, if you have never read the allegory I would challenge you to do so. It is the tale of a Christian's plight through this world. People and places he encounters all have allegorical names. Such as Mr. Pliable who represents a fair weather friend, or, Evangelist who represents the persons telling of the Good News of the Gospel. The City of Destruction denotes the places of this world slated for judgement. So on we could go. The book starts with Christian, the main character, having a burden on his back (sin) and desiring salvation sets out to find the Wicket Gate and the path to Eternal Life ending in the Celestial City (Heaven). Now if you're not familiar with the story I can assure you it is most Biblically sound. The writer Bunyan wrote it while in an English dungeon of which he was put there for preaching the Gospel.

The first hardship Christian encounters is the Slough of Despond. This is a term so described by Bunyan as:

"It is the low ground where the scum and filth of a guilty conscience, caused by conviction of sin, continually gather, and for this reason it is called the Slough of Despond."

Christian falls into this Slough and sinks under the weight of his burden of sin on his back. He does this by not heeding the stepping stones the King (Jesus) put in the slough as a way of escape. Near to drowning, and left by his temporary companion "Pliable" Christian is rescued by a goodly man named "Help."

The Slough of Despond is interesting in two ways to me.

The first, we find that the Slough of Despond is a place of discouragement but can also be a place of remembrance pointing to thankfulness. Though the Lord does not at all wish us to dwell in sin and be languished with its guilt and shame, we ought to remember our guilt only long enough to give us a fresh renewal of Christ's salvation. He paid All He had so you and I would not be forever drowning in our own muck of sin. Drowning is a horrible thing, but more so when its in mire. I have fallen in quicksand once. Fortunately there was a strong branch I grasped held of to pull me out of the mire. Such a Branch is the Righteous Branch, of whom the Strong arm of the Lord extends to everyone in trouble. It reminds us of just how gracious our Lord is by making an escape of a humanly inescapable horror.

This next short paragraph is speculative. This is just me talking. Opinion. Nothing more. But I have for some time wondered at the thought if when we reach the portal's of Heaven, when we receive our glorified un-cursed bodies, once we have encountered every wonder there is, even to the point of seeing the Savior's wonderful loving face, will we completely and fully, 100 percent appreciate and fully recognize all that was paid on our behalf for such a salvation as we have? I wonder if at sometime, NOT that we are in any means unappreciative or apathetic of our Supreme Benefactor, but will it be when we shall see the hordes of the Lost (those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior, not a Christian who has committed a sin) have their final judgement pronounced on them, cast into the Lake of Fire, hearing the agony of our lost friends and even family as they disappear forever into that great cauldron of suffering simply because they refused the Strong Branch that wanted so desperately to save them. Will it be then, LITERALLY seeing what could have and should have been our fate too, then appreciate so great a salvation to its fullest? Will we then run to bosom of our dear Savior and thank Him in joyous weeping? Reminding us of His price for our salvation by the gentle touch of His Hand on our shoulder, we feel the scab of the nail prints that He bore for us.

The second point is that this Slough of Despond can be instrumental in working out our own need for restored fellowship. When we sin, it cost us inwardly and outwardly. Sometimes Christians refuse out of pride to admit to our sinfulness. The mire has to sometimes rise to uncomfortable levels around us before even we cannot go any longer in denial of sin. Is there some burden of sin you have, perhaps something you have been dealing with for a long time? Perhaps its something that no one but you and God knows about. The prophet Jonah tried such a ruse to run away from God in refusing to own up to his prejudice about going to preach revival to Ninevah. Jonah's Slough of Despond was worse than a mud bog, but in the literal digestive tract of a large fish (let your imagination take over). But it was good for Jonah because it made him come to realize that his sin and the all seeing eye of God cannot be dismissed in secrecy. I urge you if your in a situation that keeps making your life miserable, to let it go, repent and turn away and out of Slough.

The Slough of Despond was aptly named. Despond is that emotion or state in which deep depression and lack of joy flows freely. There are other causes for this same emotion, but when it is Sin, its clear to the Christian. Despond will crowd you, choke you, stifle your life until we are brought to the place of confession and repentance. We can be so glad that "Help" (Christ) stands ready to forgive and pull us out of the mire we have made for ourselves. Not only did Help pull Christian out of the mire, but He put Christian back on the right road that leads towards Heaven. We can be assured that Christ will do no less for us too.

Watch for the Slough of Despond, avoid its clutches, but gaze for a slight moment and remember that those who are by choice languishing in Despond can be freed as you have been. To go a step deeper, perhaps the Lord would use you to rescue someone from that state today. I do not mean that we can offer salvation to the Lost in the sense we do the saving, but we can encourage and lovingly confront a failing brother and by the Lord's permission help to lift them out of the mire, pointing them to Christ who is their Benefactor.

Father, thank you for rescuing our poor helpless souls from the Slough of Despond. We do not deserve such kindness. We ask You to help us to avoid the pitfalls of life that lead to miry bogs. If we find ourselves trapped inside one such bog, may it not take long to call to You for help and forgiving lift us out. We pray for a brother or sister living in some form of sin. Help them not to desire the filth any longer. May today be the day, like the prodigal, they will arise and head towards the Father. Thank you for Grace, greater than our sin. We love you Lord. In Your Name, Amen.

Central Is Never Busy

Scripture Reading: Psalm 69:30-34

In my last post I mentioned I like old things, particularly old hymns and songs that are mostly forgotten. Out of these hymns there are certain phrases that makes wonderful sermon and teaching topics. Cliff Barrows, the choir and song leader for Billy Graham, once remarked that good hymnology makes wonderful theology. Though a lot of songs are not completely theologically structured, they have good references to Biblical principles. The reference we are going to look at today is one of prayer.

The old hymn we're looking at is "The Royal Telephone." by Frederick Lehman 1919.

The lyrics are extremely clever in their analogy to our open line of communication to our Father in Heaven. We as Christians have an always "open line" direct with Heaven at any time or any place in the world. The question is, how often do we use it or take advantage of such a privilege? Let's look at some privileges and one urgent suggestion that we should appreciate about our "connection" to Heaven.

First of all, we have no intermediate operator. It used to be back before even the dial telephones that one would have to call the operator to speak to whoever they wished. Later on there were, and I suppose still are, direct line phones. When I think of such, I am reminded of the "red" phone that you would see in the movies of the 60's era, where some secret service man would pick it up and the call without dialing would go immediately to the Oval Office of the President. This "hot line" is exactly what we have with God. We need no priest, no pastor, not anyone to connect us with God. That is one of the greatest blessings we have over all other false religions. You can talk to God anytime without any interference or anyone listening in. Prayer is a personal matter and is not limited by the greatest joy of the soul to the greatest sorrow of the heart. Direct line always.

Secondly, there are no busy signals. Before the advent of "call waiting." we would be constantly annoyed and upset when the buzzing of a busy signal was heard. This was due to either the phone being off the hook purposely or accidentally, or, the person on the other end talking only to someone else. Maybe today you feel like God hands you a busy signal or has too many voices to listen to. We cannot judge God with human means. We cannot understand how He can listens to millions of voices every second and yet heed and understand each one as if they were singularly it. But He does. God stands open and willing to listen to you the believer. You're not bothering Him. The sum of all the world's urgent needs are but a trifle to His Omnipotence. God has never had more than He can handle. The line is open.

Thirdly, there are no charges to be paid. Ever since there were telephones, there have been monthly fees. Now with cell phones, those fees include roaming and data charges too. It can be expensive if not overwhelming. The Devil would like to discourage us with the lie that because we are not as Holy as God, or, because we did not do a great job in the Christian life yesterday, that God cannot and will not hear us. We have to work our way back and earn His trust and ear. No. Do we sin? Yes we do. Does God forgive? Yes He will. Does God act like a tyrant in keeping us down with earning anything? No He does not.

A completely interesting side note about the lies of Satan. Whenever Satan accuses God of being whatever, fill in the blank, and tries to discredit what God says and promises, Satan is only trying to mask himself, because his discrediting accusations towards God is really and truly the way he acts towards his own children, the unbelievers.

The blood of Jesus Christ takes away our need to pay for our sins and earn confidence with God. God sees us as He sees Christ, pure and blameless. He sees us as we will be apart from the world and these fleshly bodies. The Bible does say that we must repent of our sinful practices to restore our fellowship with God, but that is a far cry from trying to win it back. You are His freely, and He is yours freely.

Fourthly, there are no dropped calls. This sort of correlates with what we just talked about with the difference that God is not in the business of "hanging up" or losing you because of anger or some hostility. Cell phones are notorious for losing a call right in the middle of usually something important. One moment you have a full signal, the next you might as well be in a cave. As you talk to God in prayer you have His full undivided attention. In fact, God delights in us talking to Him. He wants a personal dialogue with us. So He will not drop you or leave you stranded. Once you are connected to Him in Christ through salvation, its like having a heavy anchor chain from His throne to the depths of your world. No element, no trial, no doubt or no sin can sever the connection.

Finally, the urgent warning. Prayer is a privilege, and being constantly connected like a line telephone is a great privilege. However, the greatest tragedy of prayer is that its only seemingly used when disaster strikes. This speaks and smells of deep carnality on the part of the believer. Of course, we can freely and always should turn to God in prayer when a tragedy strikes, there is never any shame in that at all. What I am saying is, prayer is supposed to be a constant connection in the good times as well as bad. We are never in need of more prayer to God for us than when we find ourselves in the times of prosperity and plenty. It is such times that we sort of feel free from depending and thanking God for all we are and have. When times are easy we sort of feel like we can do this thing called "life" on our own with no Divine Assistance. How awful we treat God by not giving Him but a sentence prayer in the fields of plenty, but give Him a screaming scroll in the times of agony. How great His love is! This was case with Israel so often. In fact if the Old Testament could be summed up in one thought it would be that God tried and tried for Israel to acknowledge Him and His love everyday, and the same from them to Him.

Spend every day thanking Him, Praising Him for Who He is towards you, Bless Him with praises of song, and speak to Him words of your love as you hear words of His.

Central Is Never Busy.

Father, help me and all who read this to appreciate this awesome privilege of prayer. We can't fathom its full blessing, but we do know what it is like to feel lonely and cut off by people in the world. Thank you that You do not treat us this way and that we can come to your listening Ear and that You not only desire to hear us, but delight in it as well. We hold the attention of the God of all that is, help us to fully realize this everyday. Thank you for not being too busy to talk to us. In your Name, Amen.

Faithful Voices Of The Past

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:4

I have a great desire to know about the past. Whenever I am in a crowd, I tend to gravitate towards older people. The reason is because I grew up with people all older than me and I like to hear what used to be in America. Unfortunately when I hear about what used to be I wished I had been born earlier than I was. The world which many older people lived in was far different and better than we experience today. The other unfortunate thing is that these voices are going into eternity one by one, and generations of history are being silenced. Some times we have the good fortune of having stories and wisdom recorded for us or at least written down. Stuff like this is a lasting memorial to them. Particularly of interest to me from the past is old hymns. I recently bought rather cheaply an old Revival Hymnal No.2 book from a local antique store. The book was published in 1910. I was surprised to find a lot of the hymns I knew, but the majority of them I didn't. Since I cannot read musical notes I cannot tell what the unfamiliar songs sound like, but I can read the words someone long gone has written. The words of these old hymns in my opinion far surpass in depth and scriptural meaning most anything put out today. It seems that folks 80 to 150 years ago perhaps knew the Lord better than people do today. It is at least evidenced in their writings. Nonetheless, the works were not done in vain, they survive in tattered print form for more generations to read and be challenged by.

With this in mind we know that there is absolutely nothing we can take out of this world with us into eternity, but there is a great deal we leave behind us that can potentially make a difference in someone else's life. I am not sure that Charles Wesley or Jonathan Edwards would have supposed when they penned the songs and sermons they did, that at the instant they dobbed the quill into the ink bottle they thought, "now this is going to be read and appreciated by millions long after I am dead." Yet whether they supposed it or not, they wrote what they did and God used it and still is using it. The same thing can be true for you. You may not be a great hymnwriter or Evangelist, but God has imparted to every believer a general and personal understanding of His Word. Such an understanding needs to be recorded for other's benefit.

Dr. Dennis Swanberg, famous Christian comedian, once recorded that good works done in our lives have recurring blessings for others in our future. Such blessings Dennis called "shade trees." You have it within yourself to be a source of immense blessing to others in your present but also in your future. If you can think of nothing you have done that will be of some benefit to others, ask God to give you a burden for some specific way you can invest in eternity.

So with all that introduction, how can we make a difference in someone's life that perhaps we do not know or has not even been born yet? Here are a few suggestions to appropriate age groups.

• Grandparents--what a privilege you have! I can say as a grandchild, what a treasure it to have a Godly example in a grandparent. As God leads, spend a whole day or maybe several days with your grandchildren (if you have several, space these times apart where you can make the most time with them as individuals). Talk to them about your days as a child or young person, but most importantly tell them about Spiritual challenges and victories you have had. Tell them how God led you through them and what you learned. If possible take them to the spot where you were led to Christ (perhaps a church or home place) and if they don't know Christ, by all means impart the Gospel to them. Show them literature, Bibles, teaching materials, etc that you learned and grew in Christ with. If they are old enough, trust them to take a memento with them that is given with the explanation of how it helped you to learn something about Christ better by either how you received it or how God spoke to you through it. Perhaps you can share with them some ways you wished you had done things differently in your earlier life and encourage them to follow Christ more closely to avoid problems later. You may not think the kids are listening, but it will stick with them, and later on in their adult lives, mean the world to them.


• Parents--Your job is right now. You are in control under Christ's supervision of your child's formative years. What you do and say now will form the basis for their decision making and character qualities as they will someday have their own families. Make a daily habit to talk to them about Christ. Challenge them to serve and to witness to their friends who may be not as privileged in the home as they are. Godly example and witness are paramount at this stage of life as one day what you do and say now will be in their minds and hearts later when you are not around. Their minds will replay what you invested in them either good or bad. Perhaps it would be good for you to write out some things about how you came to know the Lord, and then share some hopes you have for them about their future. This will be very special to them.


• Singles--Well we have no kids to pass down things to yet, but we have a world around us of young and old alike to impact. Ask God to help you find a way to minister to people who need to hear what you have to say. Start writing about the Faith in Christ. If you don't have it within you to write expositionally, just keep a journal. No one for years may ever read it, but its there available and God can use it to impact someone that you may never meet. So many times God uses our talents in a covert manner, that is, us never knowing the direct impact we are having on someone unknown, yet the impact is there.

The whole conclusion to this is that no matter in what stage of life you find yourself, the truth is one day you won't be in the world any longer. All that you are and all that you do will be only a memory. I think we would all agree that we would want our lives to count and be remembered for something significant. Such was the case of Abel in our reading today. The third or fourth human being ever to live, who surely would be forgotten after thousands of years is remembered by God for his act of obedience and faith. Then there is the Widow who cast her two mites, Mary who washed the feet of Jesus with costly ointment, or the Magi who traversed a great distance to see the newborn King of Kings. All of these people by all respects should have been forgotten as the sands of time shift, but their deeds and works for God were recorded so you and I could read, profit, and edify others with. That is the kind of life we all would want. A life that Jesus was clearly seen and remembered by the living. We should not want a temple or shrine built to our lives, but we should desire that the time spent on Earth was valuable.

What are you doing that will impact the future generations? If you have not seriously considered this, do so. There should more to your life than just a stone marker in a green pasture. Once you are in glory, you can no longer speak to the living on Earth, but if you leave a legacy that reflects Jesus Christ you will have done more than all the Alexanders, Caesars, Napoleons, Socrates, Platos, Einsteins, all put together could hope to do.

Someone once said, "Heaven and Earth will fade and pass, only those things done for Christ will last." You will be counted one day as a "voice of the past." May that voice be clear and helpful to others. As whoever finds something about you that is left behind, make sure it contains Jesus in word, action, plan, and history that will spur others to come to Him and know Him too.

Heavenly Father, please help us to consider making a difference in the world which we live in that something will be remembered after us for Your sake. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves, but cast all glory coming towards us, away from us and to Your throne. Yet Lord, we desire to help others and leave them with things that they will benefit spiritually by. So use us Lord to do just that. Help us not to be slothful, but as You give us the time, let us give the evidence of a changed life in you to impact future generations. In Your name, Amen.