Determining to ‘Choose Your Hard’ With Wisdom

Have you noticed that life isn’t easy? When we’re children, our parents ask us to do tough stuff like, “Eat your peas,” “Pick up your toys,” and “Don’t jump in the mud puddle.” Who knew being a kid could be so demanding?

 

We transition to adolescence and our teen years, and things are still hard. We’re required to do homework, clean up our rooms, get our first job, learn how to drive, and be home by curfew. None of those is easy.

 

Even as we get older and more mature, life doesn’t ease up. Getting a college education or technical training to begin a career; seeking full-time employment and then doing the work; finding a place to live, paying bills, and trying to live as a responsible adult. None of which is the proverbial walk in the park.

 

Listening to the radio while driving to another state, I heard a different perspective on the hard things in life. A poem attributed to Devon Brough made the following observations:

“Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.

Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.

Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.

Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.

Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.”

 

At the very least, this prompts us to stop and think, doesn’t it? Take the first point: When we choose to get married, that’s the easy part. Choosing to stay married, when the ‘richer or poorer,’ ‘sickness and health’ parts start kicking in, is a very different matter. Just within the past week I’ve talked with two friends whose adult daughters are choosing to get divorces. They’ve discovered marriage is hard. Divorce, they’ll soon learn, is hard too. Moving forward they will have to ‘choose their hard.’

 

The hardness of being in debt is something I can relate to easily. Struggling in debt was very hard – the easy part is never forgetting how hard it was. It took a lot of time, discipline, sacrifice and the grace of God to get out of debt. Choosing that ‘hard’ was well worth it.

Researching on the poem above, I saw that some pushed back against its message, noting sometimes the hard things in life are thrust upon us through no fault of our own. While that’s true, we still have the option of choosing how to respond to adverse circumstances, whatever they are.

 

I just finished reading Though He Fall, a biography by Scott Mitchell. In it he recounts an evening outing with some college friends when he slipped and fell off a cliff, dropping of more than 70 feet. He suffered severe injuries to his spine and legs, leaving him a paraplegic. While he didn’t use the phrase ‘choose your hard,’ Mitchell had to do just that. 

 

He could have chosen to wallow in self-pity and resign to defeat because of his disability. Instead, he endured the agonies of rehabilitation, physical therapy and numerous setbacks, determining to maintain a positive attitude anchored in his faith in Jesus Christ. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Mitchell learned to drive a car using hand controls, graduated from college with a ministerial degree, got married, had a fruitful itinerant preaching ministry, and even pastored two churches for nearly 20 years.

 

The Scriptures are replete with teachings that support the “choose your hard” approach to life, including the all-important decision of whether to follow Christ. After leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, Joshua acknowledged they had an important choice to make, being surrounded by peoples worshiping pagan gods. He declared, “…if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

 

We each face a similar choice today. The world around us presents a variety of ‘gods’ and idols we can worship, including materialism, prestige, popularity, self-gratification, and various ideologies. But no matter which we choose to follow, we’ll find the way is hard, frustrating, and offers rewards that are temporary at best.

 

The alternative is to commit our lives to following the Lord, even though that path is hard as well. It’s our faith that enables us to face, accept and even revel in adversity. We can trust in promises like the one God gave the Israelites during their exile in Babylon: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

 

We also have assurances like Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” And Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

 

God never promised that following and serving Him in this life would be easy. There is no promises of rose gardens in the Bible. In fact, Psalm 34:19 tells us, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

The ultimate ‘choose your hard’ is whether to live with the Lord and live for Him – or to live without Him. As Joshua said, we must choose for ourselves this day whom we will serve. Choose wisely. 

Spring Points to the Marvels of Rebirth

Spring has officially sprung, as they say. You know how I know? I spotted the first weed already sprouting in our monkey grass, a clever imposter whose welcome has already worn out. A quick glance revealed other weedy “springers” making their appearance as well, contributing their unique brand of peskiness to the emergence of spring’s prettiness.

Even though some parts of the country apparently didn’t get the memo – with significant amounts of snow falling upon them – most areas are eager to be out with the cold and in with the warm. As I mentioned, the advent of spring isn’t all sunshine and marigolds. Along with the weeds, bugs also will soon be in force. Evidence that outside every silver lining you’re likely to find a gray cloud.

 

But enough of the negativity! Spring’s about to break forth with all the wonders of nature, greenery galore, and a plethora of flora. (I’ve liked the sound of that word, ‘plethora,’ ever since Howard Cosell brought it to public awareness decades ago on Monday Night Football.)

 

Trees are budding and soon will display their annual array of green leaves. Honey-minded bees will buzz from flower to flower, gathering pollen for their hives and, in the process, cross-pollinating other flowers they visit. Grass will grow, followed by the roar of lawnmowers to keep the green blades in check.

 

When I think of spring, rebirth comes to mind. Plant life that had been dormant for months suddenly explodes with energy. Birds have renewed cheer in their chirps. All forms of wildlife scurry about, reveling in the sunlight and warmth.

 

I can’t help but think of the Creator, in the midst of this revitalizing of our world. One passage in the Old Testament book of Isaiah specifically comes to mind:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to My people, My chosen, the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise” (Isaiah 43:18-21).

 

Granted, here God isn’t talking about springtime and all its verdant glory. He’s referring to His unending mercy and faithfulness, remembering the covenant He made to His chosen ones even though they have strayed and rebelled time and again. He speaks of deliverance for His people and the establishment of His glorious future kingdom.

 

And yet, every spring, don’t we see the Lord doing a new thing, reawakening His creation in breathtaking beauty that even the most gifted artist can’t fully capture?

 

Whenever I see the twitter of birds heralding a new day of spring, blossoms bursting from branches to greet the sun, the laughter of children reveling on playgrounds that had been abandoned for months, I can’t help thinking of rebirth.

 

Rebirth is at the heart of the Gospel message. As Jesus told Nicodemus, the curious Pharisee, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again…. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at My saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:3-8).

 

The marvel of spiritual rebirth is every bit as amazing as nature’s rebirth every spring. Science can observe the cycles of nature but can’t create them. In a similar and yet far more profound way, we can observe the effects of one becoming born again, even though our understanding of it must be anchored in faith. It is, as Ephesians 2:9 states it, “the gift of God, not by works, that no one can boast.”

So, as we enjoy the new season before it inevitably melts into the heat of summer, we’d be wise to remember that while seasons come and they go, the blessing of being born again is eternal. As Peter the apostle wrote, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever’” (1 Peter 1:23-25). 

Too Much Emphasis on Outward Appearances?

Have you ever considered how much time, energy – and money – we expend working on and worrying about outward appearances?  

The global beauty and personal care industry generated more than $640 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed more than $675 billion this year! That is a lot of makeup, mascara, eye shadow, lipstick, hair color, shampoo, conditioner and other products. For some, it’s just an effort to enhance natural attributes. But for others, it’s more like trying to make the proverbial silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

 

Digital photography and specialized software now make it possible to delete flaws and blemishes from photos. Don’t like those freckles or that beauty mark, scar or wrinkle? No problem. With a few clicks or swipes, we can make them disappear from the photographs. (But they’ll still be on your real person.)

 

We have red carpets where the famous and infamous parade wearing costly gowns and tuxedos; A-list folks trying to look better than their fellow celebrities. And even though their popularity has waned, beauty contests are still being staged, ranging from Little Miss Podunk to Miss America and Miss Universe. Even though we’re told, ‘Beauty is only skin deep.’ 

 

Each of these, along with many other pursuits, are strategically geared toward our fascination with outward appearances: Seeking to impress people with how we look externally.

 

But just as we can’t always judge a book by its cover, what we see of someone on the outside isn’t always what we’d find on the inside – if we ever get close enough to get better acquainted.

 

As a journalist, including serving as editor of newspapers and a magazine for more than 27 years, I interviewed hundreds of famous people, folks you’d immediately recognize by name. In many cases, even as a professional, I couldn’t wait to meet them and get to know what they were really like.

 

Some proved to be an absolute delight, the ‘what you see is what you get’ kind of individuals. Others, however, not so much. There were some who, from the introductory handshake, had an air of “How nice it is for you to meet me.” Ever encounter people like that?

 

Often the personas we see on TV, the movie screen, or standing behind a podium don’t line up with who someone really is. That can be disappointing, but the outward appearance in many cases is all we have to go on. Sometimes when we’re thinking, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to get to know that person and spend time with him (or her)?’ it’s a good thing we can’t. Why pop our bubbles?

 

Interestingly, in the Scriptures the Lord repeatedly shows He has no illusions about outward appearances. Addressing the Pharisees and the religious leaders, Jesus repeatedly rebuked them for their outward hypocrisy. “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside also?’” (Luke 11:39-40).

 

Another time Jesus was speaking to crowds of people and His disciples, denouncing superficial religious practices. Among His statements was this observation: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness” (Matthew 23:27-28).

 

Clearly Jesus was more concerned about the truth rather than trying to win friends and influence people.

 

Well, if God puts little stock in outward appearances, no matter how good we look, what is important to Him? We find the answer in the account of how He chose shepherd boy David to succeed King Saul, another sad example of someone who looked better on the outside than the inside.

 

The Lord had sent the prophet Samuel to the home of Jesse to find the one He had chosen to become king. After reviewing each of Jesse’s sons – or so it seemed – and having God say, “No, not him…. Not him…,” Samuel learned there was one more son: David, out in the fields tending the sheep. In those days, if shepherds didn’t rank at the bottom of the totem pole, they didn't have far to fall.

 

Nevertheless, Samuel instructed Jesse to send for his youngest son. Because God had told him, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

 

This isn’t the only time the Scriptures tell us the priority God places on the inner person. Proverbs 16:2 tells us, “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” Similarly, we see in Proverbs 21:2 that “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart.” If only we could do this with politicians, right?

 

Society places special emphasis on women’s outward beauty, including annual selections of ‘the world’s most beautiful woman.’ But it’s clear the Lord uses very different criteria. In a passage about marriage, the apostle Peter wrote to wives, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and find clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4).

 

This doesn’t mean He wants us to present ourselves to the outside world as slobs, that we should consciously neglect our outward appearance. But if our desire is to serve Christ and represent Him to folks we encounter each day, it’s our inner person – integrity, compassion, sincerity, and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) – that He wants to shine brightest.

Finding Peace in a World of High Anxiety

The film “High Anxiety,” Mel Brooks’ comedic spoof of Alfred Hitchcock-style suspense mysteries, was released in 1977. Without going into what the film was about, it occurs to me that high anxiety might be a good way of describing many people today, nearly 50 years later.

 

Ever feel like you're approaching a waterfall,
about to go over the edge?

Every day it seems we encounter more and more reasons for feeling anxious and nervous about our everyday lives and society in general. According to one online source, high anxiety can result from the complex interaction of many factors, some of genetic, environmental, and
psychological origin. Stressful life events and many kinds of trauma also can trigger high levels of anxiety. 

 

As I’ve mentioned before, just a daily dose of broadcast news is sufficient to put our teeth on edge. Frankly, I think that’s the newscasters’ goal. You know the mantra, “If it bleeds, it leads”?

 

Anxiety is something I’ve dealt with a lot over the course of my life. Sometimes I couldn’t even trace the source of my anxious state of mind; some days I still wake up with troubling thoughts coursing through my mind. It might involve family matters, finances, making difficult decisions regarding the future, or a variety of other things.

 

When those moments arise, I’ve concluded I have two choices: I can continue to dwell on them, fretting and worrying about things that for the most part I can’t control. Or I can pray, entrusting my concerns to the Lord, since He’s fully capable of handling them. He doesn’t need my help.

 

Several Bible verses serve as reminders of the benefits of letting go of my anxieties and allowing God to deal with them instead. One of my favorites is 1 Peter 5:7, which says we’re to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” When circumstances seem overwhelming, this enables me to pray, ‘Here You are, Lord. I’ll let You wrestle with this. Thank you.”

 

Another powerful passage is found in the fourth chapter of Philippians. After being admonished to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” we’re given this assurance: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4,6-7).

 

Rejoicing – and giving thanks. Those are two activities that seem foreign to many of us when we’re struggling with trials and challenges that have reduced us to bundles of nerves. But they’re important, because doing so means acknowledging our trust in the Lord and His sovereign control of even the most difficult times in our lives.

 

I just finished reading The Hiding Place, written by Corrie ten Boom. It’s about her experiences in Nazi concentration camps after she and her family had harbored Jewish fugitives in their home in the Netherlands during World War II. Even though the events she describes occurred more than 80 years ago, they still seem unbelievable. How could humans be so inhumane?

 

At one point Corrie and her sister, Betsie, were assigned to a huge dormitory jammed with women who also had been arrested and sentenced to grueling labor and horrific living conditions. On top of everything, they discovered their beds – if they could be called that – were infested with fleas.

 

How could things get worse? Corrie wondered. However, her sister encouraged her to be thankful even for the fleas. Corrie found this incomprehensible – until they discovered that the dormitory was the only place they were free from the hateful watch of the Nazi guards. The reason? Because the guards didn’t want to be anywhere near the fleas.

 

The Psalms are replete with declarations about how we can find peace with the Lord even in the most difficult, anxiety-causing circumstances. One I often call to mind is Psalm 55:22, “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” That is not a ‘hope-so’ statement but one of confident assurance, the earnest expectation that the Lord will always do as He has promised.

 

I could cite many more examples, but here’s one that King David, during one of the many times of fierce opposition that he faced during his reign, wrote: “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

 

Whether I wake up in the morning with anxious thoughts filling my mind, or something distressing happens during the day, I try to remind myself to rest in promises like these. Even in the troubling 21^st century, we can choose either to endure high anxiety, or to trust in the Lord and cast our fears and concerns upon Him.

What’s Wrong With ‘Do As I Say, Not As I Do’?

The story is told of a fellow named Tom who received a last-minute invitation to a formal dinner party. Excited about the invite, he eagerly accepted. Then he realized his tuxedo was badly wrinkled and needed to be pressed. Tom had to find a dry cleaner that could take care of his tux right away.

 

With a sense of urgency, Tom searched the Yellow Pages (this was years ago, before the Internet) and was delighted to find Same Day Cleaners. Best of all, it was nearby. So, he hopped into his car and rushed over to the shop, confident they could de-wrinkle his tuxedo in plenty of time.

 

When he arrived, Tom told the person at the counter that taking the wrinkles out of his tux was literally a pressing matter. “Well, we can have it for you by next Tuesday,” the clerk responded. “Next Tuesday?” Tom exclaimed. “Your shop is called Same Day Cleaners!” “Yeah, that’s what we’re called, but it’s not what we do.”

 

I recall as a boy I often heard grownups say, in all seriousness, “Do as I say, not as I do.” I think of an older cousin that I looked up to both figuratively and literally – he was six-foot-seven. He smoked cigarettes, but told me, “If you ever start smoking, I’ll break your arm.” I don’t know whether it was his threat or the fact I didn’t think smoking was a smart thing to do, but I never did take up that vice.

 

Even though we don’t hear the phrase as much, ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ remains the mindset of many people. It might be the self-proclaimed ‘Christian businessman’ who’s willing to cut corners and shade the truth if it seems expedient. Or the parent who warns against the dangers of drinking but makes time to regularly get together with friends at the local pub. Or the prominent clergyman noted for preaching stirring sermons yet engages in scandalous activities. Maybe you can think of other examples.

 

At its essence, Christianity is a show-and-tell belief system. We’re charged to proclaim the message of the Gospel – that salvation, redemption and eternal life are offered through Jesus Christ alone. But we’re also to model what He and the rest of the Scriptures have taught.

 

Writing to Christ followers in ancient Corinth, the apostle Paul made a statement that at first seems very bold. He said, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Another translation states it this way: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” I sometimes ask myself if I would dare say that. But Paul was merely expressing confidence in his devotion first to Jesus, and then to teaching and discipling others. 

 

Elsewhere he wrote, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice…” (Philippians 4:8). His ministry motto clearly was, ‘Do as I say – and do as I do.”

 

Paul not only expected his own walk to equal his talk but also expected the same from those in whom he invested much time and energy. Writing to his young protégé Timothy, Paul exhorted him to “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

 

This certainly pertained to how Timothy taught the Scriptures, but also to how he conducted himself. Because Paul quickly added that he should “avoid godless chatter…. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace…” (2 Timothy 2:16,22).

 

Over my years of working with parachurch ministries I have observed many people who faithfully lived out biblical teachings, as well as some who weren’t nearly as consistent in doing so. I’m thankful for those who served as my mentors and positive examples of what a devoted follower of Jesus should look like. But even when I’ve seen instances of folks who failed to do so, it’s reminded me that ultimately Christ, not people, who should be our foremost example.

 

When Jesus gave His disciples what we call the Great Commission – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20) – He was speaking to people who had spent three years with Him, 24/7. They’d seen Him live out the truths He so powerfully expressed. He was truly the incarnate Word of God, practicing what He preached.

If we desire to live out our faith consistently and be able to encourage others to “do as I say – and do as I do,” we’d be wise to follow the admonition of Hebrews 12:2, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” 

The Send-sational Aspect of Faith

“Send” has been a big part of the American communications experience. The short-lived Pony Express became legendary for doing its part in delivering mail sent to and from people in the ever-expanding frontier. We’ve long depended on the post office for delivery of mail sent to us: letters, cards, periodicals, bills, packages – and the ever-popular junk mail.

 

To speed up the process, UPS, FedEx and other delivery services were created. Our urgent need to send and receive mail and parcels had to be met. Fax machines emerged to hasten the delivery of important communications. And these days, we’re sending more than ever. Text messages and email transmitted almost instantaneously simply by pressing the “Send” button. Haste can sometimes lead to unfortunate consequences, however, if something’s written impulsively or in anger.

I’m old enough to remember the hit ballad “You Send Me,” first recorded by Sam Cooke and years later by Aretha Franklin. You might also recall these stirring words:

“Darling, you send me

I know you send me

Darling, you send me

Honest you do, honest you do

Honest you do, whoa-oh

 

You thrill me
I know you, you, you thrill me
Darling you, you, you, you thrill me
Honest you do….”

You get the idea. Of course, that was about an entirely different kind of “send.” But I suppose you could say that as a society, we’ve always been a bit “send-sational.”

 

Shifting the focus, have you ever thought about how central the verb “send” is to the Gospel message? Almost from the start, God has been sending His people to other places to carry out His will. 

 

Abram was perfectly content in Haran, but when he was 75 years old, the Lord told him to leave and go to the land of Canaan. When Joseph’s jealous brothers sold him to a passing caravan, they didn’t realize they were part of God’s plan for sending Joseph to Egypt where he would become instrumental in dealing with the coming famine.

 

Jesse, worried about his older sons who fighting with King Saul against the Philistines, sent his shepherd boy son David to bring them food and see if they were safe. Upon arrival, God turned David into a hero, using him to slay the giant Goliath.

 

After four centuries of Egyptian captivity, it was time to God to free His petulant and rebellious chosen people. He sent Moses to demand that Pharaoh free them. He told Moses:

“…I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:7-10).

 

Later in the Old Testament we read about God calling Isaiah to prophecy to the nation of Israel – even though he regarded himself as totally unworthy. “‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty’” (Isaiah 6:5). Isaiah learned God often sends people not on the basis of ability, but availability.

 

When the Lord called out, Isaiah was ready. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send. And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’’” (Isaiah 6:8). Today, the book of Isaiah is the longest of the prophetic writings; the words God expressed through the prophet still speak to us today.

 

The sending aspect of faith becomes even more prominent in the New Testament. Jesus wanted His message spread throughout the world – the Gospel of salvation, forgiveness, redemption and transformation. To prepare His closest followers to become His ambassadors, the Lord gave them their first missionary assignment:

“…Jesus sent them out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: “The kingdom of heaven is near’….” (Matthew 10:5-16).

 

Both Matthew 9:38 and Luke 10:2 recount Jesus’ the urgency of this commission to His followers: “Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.’”

 

Following Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus made His first appearance to the disciples, who had been cowering in fear in a locked room. He reaffirmed that He was sending them out to tell others about Himself. “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’” (John 20:21).

 

And the very last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before His ascension to heaven also concerned where He was sending them: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19-20). He also said, "you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

 

What does this mean for us? Just as a text message or email is of no value until we press “Send,” our impact as followers of Jesus is minimal unless we’re open to go wherever He might choose to send us. It might be to another part of the world, another state, another city, or just across the street. One thing I know: If we respond in obedience, the result is bound to be "send-sational."

We Don’t Have to Justify Being Justified

Years ago, a spiritual mentor offered me sound advice for reading and understanding the Bible. “Always keep in mind that it says what it means – and means what it says.” He also advised, “When you read a passage, if the first sense makes good sense, don’t look for any other sense. 

That counsel has served me well over the years. Having read through the Scriptures numerous times, I’ve concluded if God could create the vast, wonderful universe, and could design our minds and bodies in such incredible ways, He’s certainly capable of compiling a book for clearly teaching us how we’re to live our lives and enjoy a growing relationship with Him.

 

This doesn’t mean that all the principles and truths we find in the Bible are simple or easy to grasp. More than 40 years into my walk of faith, there still are times when I read a passage and wonder, ‘Now what did the Lord mean by that?’

 

Case in point: the words “justified” and “justification.” These are terms frequently discussed and debated by theologians and in seminaries. They’re central to Christian doctrine, yet we often gloss over them without a full appreciation of their magnitude.

 

Years ago, I was mentoring a man who had recently committed his life to Jesus Christ. He had a doctorate in chemistry, and each week this very intelligent man would raise some challenging questions. One of them arose as we read Romans 5:1, which says, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

“What does ‘justified’ mean?” he asked, not trying to be sarcastic. He said as a chemist he often would have to justify conclusions based on data he had collected. In another sense, he noted sometimes he would try justifying things he did or said to his wife. “Is that what this verse is talking about?” he inquired.

 

One of the perplexities of the English language is a single word can have multiple meanings. We can say a scientific or mathematical conclusion is ‘justified’ by data. And in attempting to explain actions by giving a rationale for them, one might assert what he’s done is ‘justified.’

 

But in this case, “justified” carries a legal connotation. It comes from the Greek word for “righteous,” and means “to declare righteous,” a legal verdict. Used in the context of Romans 5:1 and other Scripture passages, it means being pardoned from the guilt and penalty of sin, and having Christ’s righteousness credited to our account.

 

There’s another sense of the word ‘justified’ that I’m especially familiar with, having spent my entire career working on newspapers, magazines and books. It’s a printing term: Type is considered “justified” if it’s perfectly aligned on both the left and right sides of the column. Type is presented that way in most books of the Bible, with both sides lined up perfectly all the way down the page.

 

Applying this to Romans 5:1, it means that by faith in what Jesus has done on our behalf – taking on the penalty for our sins on the cross – we are eternally “justified,” put in perfect alignment with God the Father. This relationship is based solely on Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

 

As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus ‘became sin for us’ that we might become the righteousness of God. Looking at our lives from day to day, even moment by moment, we’re inclined to say, “That’s impossible. How could Jesus take on the penalty for every sin I’ve ever done?”

 

We can accept this only through faith – which is what trusting in Christ, striving to walk with Him and serve Him every day, is all about. There will be a day of judgment for each of us. But having been justified by faith, we won’t need to defend or rationalize our sins – the wrong things we’ve done, the wrong things we’ve said, or the wrong things we thought. We’ll be acquitted – by words as simple as, “Jesus Christ is my Savior and Lord. By His mercy and grace, my sins are forgiven and I’m a child of God.”

 

According to the Bible, we’re ‘justified’ in believing and saying that! “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10). 

 

Romans 4:2-8 puts it this way: “If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness’…. ‘Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.’” 

 

If this understanding of being “justified” seems too good to be true, remember what my spiritual mentor taught me: The Scriptures say what they mean and mean what they say. Every follower of Jesus Christ has the assurance of being put into right relationship with God solely because of what He has done for us. In God’s sight this makes sense – so don’t look for any other sense.