When You’re Wondering, ‘Is That All There Is?’

Years ago, Peggy Lee recorded a haunting tune, “Is That All There Is?” Written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller in the 1960s, it wasn’t one of those upbeat, feel-good songs. Not the kind that keeps us humming during the day with a smile on our face. Basically, the tune puts a story of disillusionment to music.

“Is That All There Is” tells about a little girl’s disappointments: She witnesses her family home go up in flames. At the age of 12 she enjoys a circus, but afterward experiences a feeling of emptiness. The girl grows up to be a woman and falls in love, but eventually that love is lost. 

 

After each loss or disappointment, the song repeats the refrain, “Is that all there is, is that all there is? If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing. Let’s break out the booze and have a ball, if that’s all there is.” In other words, when life lets you down, focus on the distractions of the present moment.

 

This is hardly a new perspective. King Solomon of Israel expressed similar sentiments more profoundly thousands of years ago. Describing his life, the king honestly wrote, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure…. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11). Other translations express it, “vanity, all is vanity” or “everything is futile.” Solomon might as well have been singing, “Is that all there is?”

 

Chris Simpson speaking at 
the annual Chattanooga
Leadership Prayer Breakfast.

At the recent Chattanooga Area Leadership Prayer Breakfast, speaker Chris Simpson shared his life story, recounting how he had risen from a family of modest means to achieve great success in college, the military, and then in the U.S. Secret Service, serving under seven different Presidents. Any casual observer would have concluded, ‘That guy has it made!’ And outwardly, Simpson certainly did. 

Except inwardly, he too was wondering, ‘Is that all there is?’ Like King Solomon, as Simpson appraised his many accomplishments, terms like meaningless, vanity, and futility must have been marching through his mind. That all changed, he explained, when he decided to stop chasing after worldly success and recognition, choosing to follow Jesus Christ instead.

 

Over the years I’ve met and interviewed dozens of high achievers like Simpson, people who had devoted their lives to climbing the proverbial “ladder of success,” only to discover it was leaning against the wrong wall. Great amounts of time, energy and talent invested, and for what? Only when they experienced life-changing encounters with Christ did life take on true meaning.

 

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon did not remain stuck in a dismal tale of woe and dissatisfaction. He learned that in the midst of this transitory life, he could experience fulfillment in a relationship with God. He observed, “Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him – for this is his lot” (Ecclesiastes 5:18).

 

And the king closed with this declaration: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

 

Today, Chris Simpson appreciates the successes he attained, but has a new mission. Instead of serving Presidents he’s representing the King of kings, living out 2 Corinthians 5:20 which says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

 

As president of CBMC International, Simpson travels the world, meeting with business and professional people and telling them his story. He has gone from emptiness to fulness, discovering the truth of Christ’s promise, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). 

 

This assurance is available to us all, no matter where we find ourselves in life. When we reach the point of asking, “Is that all there is?” Jesus is waiting to fulfill His promise, as another translation states it, “that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Lest We Forget, It’s Another Memorial Day

Recently I received a fund appeal letter about the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. I didn’t know there was such a thing. But the correspondence touched something deep inside since my father served in that war, both in Europe and North Africa. He was wounded twice in combat, receiving two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and other commendations.

My dad never spoke of his wartime memories – most veterans don’t. Contrary to what old war movies portrayed, emphasizing the camaraderie of fighting alongside fellow soldiers, war is a terrifying experience most wish they could forget. I remember Dad occasionally would wake up screaming due to nightmares in which battlefield images had resurfaced.

 

I never served in the military but have often said my father’s 22 years in the Army were enough time for us both. So, each Memorial Day I reflect not only on his service but also on the millions who have served and defended our nation, our Constitution, and our way of life through the centuries.

 

War has been a tragic constant throughout human history, and our nation was born at war. The Revolutionary War was the first of many wars in which the United States would engage. It was succeeded by the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and now conflicts in the Middle East.  

 

A display at the National Medal of Honor
Museum in Chattanooga, Tenn.

In all, more than 1.3 million people serving the U.S. armed forces have lost their lives in combat, with countless thousands of others suffering serious wounds physically, mentally and emotionally. We owe a huge debt to each of these individuals for what we commonly refer to as “the ultimate sacrifice.”

War is detestable, and most of us wish they all would cease. Sadly, the sinfulness and brokenness of humankind have not allowed that to occur. In Ezekiel 13:10 we read about God condemning false prophets, “Because they lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace.” Strife, rather than peace, has been universal.

 

The biblical narrative does not whitewash human history, recounting how greed and the lust for power have kept various peoples at war. It does, however, promise a day when all that will end. “Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolations He has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear, He burns the shields with fire” (Psalm 46:8-9).

 

Nearing the end of His earthly ministry and just hours from betrayal that culminated in His crucifixion, Jesus Christ told His followers, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus was primarily making reference to His own impending death, but the principle applies to anyone giving his or her life on behalf of others. This certainly applies to the many we remember on this Memorial Day.

 

Thankfully, my father survived the horrors of the battlefield, but many did not. Let’s pause for a few moments today in gratitude to those who died for the freedoms we now enjoy. Even more, let’s be thankful for the One who said, “I am the good shepherd…I lay down My life for the sheep” (John 10:14). Let us never forget. 

Do You Know Where Your Treasure Is?

Treasure. When comes to mind when you hear that word? I think of buried treasure, the whereabouts of which can only be discovered via a crude treasure map. Or maybe swashbuckling pirates sailing the ‘seven seas,’ searching for gold and jewels they can stash in their treasure chest. “Yo, ho, ho! Avast, me hearties!” (I’m not sure what that means.)

 

I remember as a boy reading novels about epic treasure hunts. Adventure, mystery, and intrigue. Not only the search for treasure but also discovering exactly what’s been hidden. The wonders of a young person’s imagination! 

Engaging in a great quest for treasure sounds like fun, but in one sense it’s unnecessary. Because deep down, we all know where our treasure can be found. As Jesus wisely and divinely observed, “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

 

Reversing what He said, all we need to do is ask ourselves, what are our passions? What are those things we value above all else? When we awaken each morning, what comes immediately to mind – the primary objects of our focus and desires over the course of the day? When we answer questions like those, we can quickly discern where our hearts (and our treasure) are.

 

“Treasure” can mean many things to just as many people. For some it’s their marriage or family. Nothing is more important. For others, it’s career – pursuing promotions, authority and prestige, along with the requisite financial rewards. Or it might be an ever-growing investment portfolio, necessitating frequent daily checks on how the stock market’s doing. Picture King Midas counting and recounting his extensive stash of cash.

 

That long-coveted car is the treasure some embrace. You can tell by how they react when even a small scratch mars the impeccable finish. Similarly, some find their treasure in houses, designed and decorated with much care and expense. Others might treasure education and the never-ending quest for knowledge, producing a parade of collegiate degrees and commendations.

 

We could add many other potential treasures to this list, but whichever ones we choose they tend to consume copious amounts of energy and time. During His ‘sermon on the mount,’ just before declaring that what we treasure follows what’s in our heart, Jesus admonished:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal”(Matthew 6:19-20).

 

Pondering that gives a different perspective of those things that command our attention. Most of the things we value most – our stuff, bank accounts, hobbies and pastimes – eventually will lose their luster. As someone once said and has often been repeated, we never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer. Everything we’ve devoted our lives to acquiring we’ll have to leave behind.

 

Recognizing that within the context of eternity our earthly lives are little more than the blink of an eye, doesn’t it make sense to “store up treasures in heaven,” as Jesus said?

 

What are those treasures? Again, these can take many forms, but first and foremost is ensuring that our eternal relationship with God is secure. That we’ve repented of our sins, received His forgiveness, and trusting in Christ’s atoning death on the cross, gained the new spiritual life He promises. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

 

But beyond that, do our lives represent investments in eternity? Are the things we treasure most ones that are having eternal impact? As a friend of mine often used to say, “The only things that will last for eternity are the Word of God and people.” Therefore, relationships centered around the truth of God’s Word are the treasures we can store up.

 

Even this can look different from one person to another. For extroverts, this means a long line of friendships and acquaintances through which the light of Christ can shine. For introverts, however, interactions with people aren’t as easy. We tend to have a much smaller group of folks regarded as friends. But we can invest time, energy and even resources in those more deeply.

 

We live in a tangible, temporal world, but we live best when we never lose sight of the eternal home that awaits us. If that’s where our heart is, our treasure – the time, talents and resources God has graciously entrusted to us – is certain to follow.

 

In another setting, Jesus gave a simple description of what this might look like: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all that he had and bought that field” (Matthew 13:44). If what we treasure aligns with what God treasures, chances are we’ll be willing to give up all else if necessary to obtain it.

Finding Freedom Within the Boundaries

Are you a fan of soccer? I must admit I’m not, even though it’s called “the beautiful game” in many parts of the world. Nevertheless, having had several grandchildren actively involved in soccer, I’ve watched a lot of it. The fact that they’ve been good at the sport has made the watching more enjoyable.

Soccer’s not my cup of tea because there’s too much back-and-forth without tangible results. Kind of reminds me of the party game in which you try to pick up cotton balls with a spoon while blindfolded. You keep scooping, but rarely do you succeed in capturing a cotton ball. That’s how I feel when I watch soccer – or “futbol,” as it’s often called by its devotees.

 

I find one aspect of the game fascinating, however. It’s the goal. The official dimensions for a soccer goal are 24 feet wide by eight feet high – 192 square feet, or 27,648 square inches. That seems like a large target, but not when you have an agile, athletic goalkeeper standing in the way of each shot on goal. This is why when a player does succeed at scoring, the announcer ecstatically shouts, “Gooooooooooal!”

 

When player take a shot at the goal with foot or head – no hands allowed – they’re aiming at a 192-square foot target. If they’re able to get the ball past the goalkeeper, anywhere within those boundaries, they and their teammates are entitled to a spontaneous celebration.

 

For folks like me, matches might be more fun if the goal were 12 feet high and 36 feet wide, but that probably would make scoring too easy – and less suspenseful for avid fans. Still, offensive players do have nearly 200 square feet to work with. Top, bottom, sides, or corners. Doesn’t matter, just as long the goalkeeper can’t stop the ball before it gets within the goal and crosses the goal line.

 

A similar principle applies for every follower of Jesus Christ. Some people regard the commandments and statutes that serve as the foundation for Christian living as too limiting, too restrictive. However, they actually provide much latitude. For instance, when some asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second it like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).

 

In other words, love God as much as you want, as much as you can. And love your neighbor as you would love yourself, as much as you want, as much as you can. That doesn’t sound very limiting or restrictive, does it?

 

However, in another sense becoming and being a disciple of Christ is unapologetically restrictive. Jesus told a large crowd of people, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

 

We live in a society in which many folks choose to make their own rules, to live out their own “truth.” They live by the mantra, “If it feels good, do it. Follow your heart.” But feelings are fickle, and the heart is deceptive. In fact, the Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). 

 

So, the “wide gate” and “broad road” may seem like the right route to follow – until you discover too late there’s a huge sink hole in the middle of it and you tumble in.

 

We hear a lot about freedom these days, but what people often have in mind instead is license – doing whatever you want, no questions asked. That’s not freedom; that’s anarchy and rebellion. The Scriptures teach that God designed us and knows what’s best for us.  This is why some of His commands are “do,” and others are “don’t.”

 

Within the parameters of the Lord’s sovereign and moral will He gives us great latitude. Like a soccer goal, anything within it is good. It allows for love, joy, fulfillment, meaning, and most of all, an eternal relationship with our loving, merciful, gracious and forgiving God. Anything pursued outside of that, however, leads to destruction.

 

As with soccer, we might not like all the rules. We’d like to change them or do away with them altogether. But God’s statutes and standards are perfectly designed for His purposes – and for our good.

‘Clothes Make the Man!’ Well, Yes and No

The adage tells us, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” That’s true. A poorly designed cover doesn’t necessarily mean the contents of the book aren’t worthwhile. Likewise, even the most captivating cover doesn’t guarantee the pages inside are worth turning. But in today’s visually oriented world, a book’s cover can be a major factor in a potential reader’s decision about whether to pick up the book and consider what’s inside. 

 

I remember when USA Today debuted in the early 1980s, with its emphasis on strong photos and colorful graphics. It set newspaper page designers scrambling. The only way newspapers could successfully compete with TV and computer imagery was to create pages that were visually compelling as well as content-rich.

 

What it boils down to is our human tendency to make snap judgments based on outward appearance. We do this with cars, houses, appliances, magazines, and just about anything else– especially people. 

It might not be fair – or accurate – to formulate initial conclusions about folks based on their external appearances, but we do it all the time. If someone were to walk up to us with ketchup stains or chocolate smeared on his or her outfit, we’d probably conclude this was not a fastidious dresser. Their clothes might taste good, but it wouldn’t appear they dress in good taste.

 

Remember the TV detective of years ago, “Columbo”? He used outward appearance misconceptions to his advantage. He’d show up in a rumbled trench coat, stumbling and muttering along like he couldn’t find his way out of a three-foot tunnel. Yet by the end of the show, he would have deftly solved the mystery to the amazement of all.

 

When I was entering the business world, I encountered the book, Dress for Success. Its simple thesis was that to make a favorable impression, we should take pains to wear appropriate attire. I was reminded of this recently when a friend, a clothier, wrote, “Be careful what you wear, because it tells the world what you think of yourself.”

 

This is hardly a new concept. In William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Polonius tells his son Laertes to dress well because, “apparel oft proclaims the man.” In that day, clothing would reveal an individual’s rank and status in society. American writer and humorist Mark Twain had his own take on this observation. He said, “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” 

 

But long before Twain, or even Shakespeare, this annoying tendency to judge people based on the first impressions they make was well-established. When the prophet Samuel was directed to go to Jesse and identify from among his sons the successor to Israel’s King Saul, the prophet thought several of the young men fit the bill – based on their physical traits. But God saw things differently.

 

Speaking about one of the sons, He told Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected 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).

 

Since God hadn’t chosen any of the sons Jesse presented, the perplexed prophet asked, “Are these all the boys?” To which Jesse replied, “The youngest is still left, but behold, he is tending the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11). This “youngest” was David, then a humble shepherd boy. He might have been voted “least likely to become a king” in Shepherd Today magazine. Nevertheless, Samuel insisted that Jesse send for David to join them.

 

When David arrived, Samuel saw that he was “glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features” (1 Samuel 16:12). Certainly not bad on the eyes, but this wasn’t what God wanted. Upon deciding Saul was unfit to serve as king over Israel, the Lord had declared He was seeking “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

 

Speaking to religious leaders in Pisidian Antioch, the apostle Paul confirmed this. “After removing Saul, [God] made David their king. He testified concerning him, ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’” (Acts 13:22). 

 

What does this say to us today? It’s not saying that the way we appear outwardly is insignificant. However, what the Lord is seeking most of all is men and women, boys and girls, whose hearts are aligned with His own, who desire to serve Him, obey His commands, and carry out His will.

 

In effect, this is a double-edged sword for us. We’re not to be quick to judge others based on what we observe outwardly. We should ask God to enable us to discern what’s happening on the inside – their heart and motivations. 

At the same time, as “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20), we shouldn’t let our own outward appearances become stumbling blocks for others by causing negative first impressions. As people of “the Book,” we want to ensure that our “covers” don’t turn folks away from checking out what’s inside.  

Decision-Making and the Will of God

Have you ever thought about how many decisions we make during a lifetime? Or even over the course of a single day?

 

Probably not, because we’re too busy making decisions to bother tabulating how many we’ve made. But as a speaker recently reminded me, from the time we reach high school, life becomes an endless parade of one decision after another.

 

When we’re kids, the ‘decisions’ we make are more like impulses: Which toy to play with. Whether to eat the food Mom puts in front of us. Whether to read a book or play a video game on our tablet. Whether to clean up our room as we’re told. At that stage of life, we don’t really calculate the significance or consequences of what we do. It’s simply a matter of ‘I want to’ or ‘I don’t want to.’

Decisions – and the decision-making process – take on much more gravity when we reach the high school level. In high school we start to discover and confirm our interests. We decide whether to try out for sports – and which ones. Or we can opt for things like band, which I did. Being in our school marching, concert and dance bands were the highlights of my time at ole Franklin High.

 

As a freshman, being on the college-prep track, I had to choose things like which foreign language to study and which elective subjects to take. I chose Latin and Spanish, which turned out to be very beneficial for my writing career – even though I didn’t realize it then. I also took a year of personal typing, another serendipitous decision that would prove extremely useful.

 

From high school, our decisions become more numerous and complex. Should I go to college? And if so, which one? What should I major in? If I don’t go to college, which line of work should I pursue? We make decisions about where to live, whether to accept a job offer, which car to buy, whether we’re on the right career path, whether we should get married (and to whom), whether we should have children (and when)?

 

Before we know it, we’ve made thousands of decisions, some with very little thought but others we agonized over, realizing they could have long-term ramifications.

 

How are we to master this lifelong process of decision-making? I’m reminded of the young man who asked his mentor, “How do you make good decisions?” The mentor answered, “Through experience.” “How do I gain experience?” the protégé asked. His mentor smiled and replied, “By making bad decisions.”

 

No one wants to make bad decisions, but inevitably we will. Our hope is that the consequences of bad decisions aren’t too serious and can be remedied.

 

There are many perspectives on how to make decisions. For instance, the late New York Yankees catcher and ‘sage’ Yogi Berra suggested to someone, “If you find a fork in the road, take it.” Poet Robert Frost, in “The Road Not Taken,” one of his best-known poems, wrote about “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

 

Those of us who are followers of Jesus Christ wrestle with decision-making from a different angle. We ask, “What is God’s will?” reasoning that if God is omniscient – all-knowing – then it would be a good idea to know what He expects of us. The problem is, His will isn’t always clear, especially in regard to specific options we’re considering.

 

For instance, nowhere in the Scriptures does it say, “Go to XYZ College,” or “Work for Such-and-Such Company.” The Bible doesn’t tell us which car to drive. Nor does it specify the name of the person we should marry.

 

However, the Word of God does provide us with sound principles to follow for making crucial decisions. If I’m wondering, “What flavor ice cream cone should I buy?” I’m pretty sure God would say, “Makes no difference to Me. You choose.” But if we’re weighing whether to attend a party where we know there will be an abundance of alcohol and raucous behavior, even a cursory look at the Scriptures makes clear what His will is. We’re told in 1 Thessalonians 4:37, “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified…. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

 

In some cases, God’s will couldn’t be more obvious. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, for example, we’re told, “in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” In other words, whether we find ourselves in desirable or undesirable circumstances, we’re to be thankful for them, trusting God is working through them for our ultimate good.

 

The apostle Peter admonished, “It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:17). We will encounter suffering in this life. There’s no question about that. But we should make certain when suffering comes, we haven’t brought it on ourselves. That’s God’s will.

 

If we want to learn how to make good decisions – and avoid making bad ones – there’s no better source for counsel than God’s Word. Whether it’s learning from the bad decisions made by central figures of the Old Testament; drawing insight from wisdom books like Psalms and Proverbs; or studying and seeking to apply the teachings of Jesus, we can find more than enough help for navigating the complex and often confusing world of decision-making.

As Proverbs 1:7 instructs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Good decision-making starts with knowing God, trusting Him, and obeying what He says. 

Finding Ourselves Stuck in God’s Waiting Room

Ever walk up to a cashier who says, “Sorry for your wait”? The first time I heard that I hesitated, wondering if she was referring to what the scales told me that morning. Then I realized she wasn’t saying “weight.” 

 

But many times we do wish people would sincerely apologize and say, “Sorry for your wait.” We’re an impatient people and hate being kept waiting, especially when driving. If we’re at a red light and the person in front of us doesn’t move the instant it turns green, we reach for our car horn to “wake them up.” 

 

When road construction narrows a highway by a lane or two, we see “special” people speed along the berm to get a few cars further ahead. Why wait when you can cut in line, right? And when someone decides to take his or her good old time in the fast lane, we’re inclined to think or say uncomplimentary things about their ancestry.

But our widespread lack of patience isn’t limited to our time on the roadways. Who hasn’t started fidgeting while waiting in the doctor’s office, checking the time every couple of minutes, nervously tapping our toes, or imagining new symptoms we didn’t have when we arrived? Physicians may have patients, but their patients quickly grow impatient.

 

Self-checkout lines at grocery and department stores have become popular because we don’t have to wait behind people at the regular checkout line who dilly-dally, ignoring the conga line of shoppers behind them. Recognizing our proneness to impatience, Amazon has capitalized by offering same-day delivery in some areas. ‘I want it. And I want it now!’

 

Our aversion to waiting becomes evident when we’re ready to leave for a special event but our companion’s still in the midst of final preparations. We grow impatient for someone to answer whom we’ve called on speed-dial. Patience may be a virtue, but our collective lack of it as a society serves as further evidence that we’re not a virtuous nation. 

 

So, it’s not particularly comforting for many folks to discover that waiting – and exercising patience – are important recurring themes in the Bible. They’re among God’s most effective strategies for fostering our spiritual growth.

 

You don’t want to know how many times the word “wait” appears in the Scriptures. The term “be still” is used more than a dozen times. And the words “patient,” “patience” and “patiently” combined are found more than 40 times. So, they must be significant for the Lord and His purposes.

 

In my favorite of the Psalms, we’re instructed, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7), and then for emphasis we’re told, “Wait for the Lord and keep His way” (Psalm 37:34). Verse 10 implies waiting when it declares, “A little while, and the wicked will be no more….” It doesn’t stipulate how long a “little while” will be. In the eyes of many of us, we’re still waiting for that.

 

What’s the purpose for all this waiting, this ‘being still’? Psalm 46:10 gives us a partial answer: “Be still and know that I am the Lord.” As we’re waiting, knowing we’re helpless – and maybe even feeling hopeless – to do anything about our circumstances, God is taking His time so that when the solution comes, there will be no question that it’s His doing.

 

Often periods of waiting have to do with suffering. Whether physical, mental, emotional or all of the above, we desire for our suffering to end. At such times, waiting and being patient are just the things we don’t want to do. But even in times of great adversity, God’s delays have a purpose.

 

Romans 5:3-5 states, “…we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.” This informs us that suffering and waiting can be key ingredients for shaping our character and ultimately, our faith.

 

James 1:2-4 expands on that: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

 

Reading that, I’m reminded of Hebrews 11:1 which affirms, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Couple that with 2 Corinthians 5:7, which asserts, “We walk by faith, not by sight,” we realize that God’s “waiting room” is an important part of His process for building and strengthening our faith.

 

If the Lord gave us whatever we asked for, whenever we wanted it, that wouldn’t require much if any faith, would it? But He isn’t our servant. He’s our loving, all-knowing Father who promises to answer all of our prayers and requests according to His perfect will.

 

Sometimes we have a need that must be met immediately, and God graciously meets it. As Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Other times, however, our ‘urgent’ needs are merely reflections of our impatience and reluctance to wait on the Lord’s perfect timing – never early, never late, but always right on time.

 

If you find yourself in God’s waiting room right now, keep trusting. The Lord certainly has something far greater in mind than to provide the answer to your prayers right now. In fact, He might even be preparing an answer that you couldn't have hoped for or imagined. I’ve experienced that many times in my life, even though admittedly, I’m still not good at waiting.

The Environment: Skip the Complex, Focus on the Simple

These days there’s a lot of wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth. Over what? We can think of many things. But near the top of the list is the environment.

 

We hear a lot in the media about “global warming.” Wait…that’s so last decade. Now it’s called “climate change,” because whether it gets too cold or too hot, whether it rains too much or not enough, we can still blame it on climate change. When I was growing up, we called it “weather.” 

 

During the late 1960s and early ‘70s, newspapers, magazines and science journals were running feature articles about “global cooling” and “the coming ice age.” Living in the Midwest then, my family and I experienced weeks of extreme cold and blizzards, which seemed to support those predictions. There were also reports of an impending natural gas shortage, fanning fears there wouldn’t be enough fuel to heat homes during that frigid period. Thankfully, the prognosticators were wrong. 

 

As for today’s festering and fomenting environmental debates, some might claim “settled science.” However, one certainty about science is that it’s never settled. Consider the scientists who were convinced the earth is flat; that the sun revolved around the moon; that blood-letting leeches could cure diseases; and that “there is a world market for maybe five computers.” In case you don’t know, computer scientist Thomas Watson, president of IBM in 1943, made the latter prediction. 

 

Global environment problems are far too complex, too hard for most of us to understand, much less solve. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be concerned about the world God created. In fact, the Lord stipulated from the beginning that humans were to serve as stewards over all He had made.

 

In Genesis 1:27-28 God declared what some theologians call “the cultural mandate”: After creating man and woman “in His own image…God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creative that moves on the ground.’”

 

This assignment, Bible scholars tell us, was to serve as “keepers of the garden.” Not just the garden of Eden, from which Adam and Eve would be evicted following their sinful disobedience, but all of God’s glorious creation. He was delegating to them dominion over the earth. And to us.

 

The problem is, we haven’t done particularly well with that. Just drive the highway and observe the litter collecting along the roadsides. The oceans are teeming not only with fish and other aquatic life but also with plastic bottles and various kinds of refuse. We could cite numerous other examples of what we might call “dominion malfeasance.”

 

We can do better. We should do better. Even though the task seems overwhelming. The earth might be a microscopic speck on a map of the universe, but it’s still big to us. What impact can one person possibly have? Maybe that’s one reason it seems easier to cede the responsibility to the government and the scientists. Unfortunately, mixing politics with science is never good – as we’ve seen so clearly in recent years.

 

What can we do? Getting serious about not littering would be a good start. But I’m thinking of another option that takes very little effort. And it can quickly become a good habit. What I’m referring to is a simple practice relatively few people engage in: Recycling.

 

Frankly, I’m amazed that with its fingers in so many of our pies, governments don’t put forth a stronger effort to persuade people to recycle things like paper, plastic, metal and aluminum cans, and plastic bags.

 

My wife and I have been doing this for several years, and we’ve cut about in half the amount of stuff we take to the curb in our garbage can. The plastic bottles and bags, paper of all sorts (including junk mail), soda and food cans we used to throw in the trash we now take every week or two to our local recycling center. 

 

This might not sound very spiritual, but it’s one way of being obedient as stewards of what God has made and entrusted to our care. When Jesus told His parable of the talents, in which three servants were entrusted to different amounts of money to handle while their master was away, that might not have sounded very spiritual either. But He was teaching an important principle. 

 

Those who were deemed “good and faithful servants” had been “faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things” (Matthew 25:14-30). On the other hand, the “wicked, lazy servant” received no reward. He was cast out.

We don’t have to be “tree-huggers” or “save the planet” fanatics to recognize our role, as small as it may be, in the stewardship of this wonderful world God has given to us. It might seem like a small thing, but this honors our Lord. We might not have any direct effect on changing weather patterns, but we can keep some plastic bottles from being swept out to sea. 

Why Are Our Words No Longer Our Bond?

Something terrible has happened in our society. While it’s hard to pinpoint exactly when it began, there apparently was a moment when the masses decided one time-honored human virtue was no longer needed. I’m referring to…Integrity.

 

It’s not just in the world of politics, where elected officials and candidates routinely say what they think their audiences want to hear, then proceed to do whatever they planned to do anyway, regardless of what they’ve promised. No, there’s been a drastic decline of integrity virtually everywhere in society.

 

There was once the day when if someone said, “My word is my bond,” they actually meant it. When someone made a commitment, we could trust them to live up to it. Deals were struck and solidified with handshakes. Contracts were drawn up and signed, but firm handshakes alone constituted a binding agreement.

 

That was then. This is now, however. We see it in marriages. The traditional vows that included the phrase, “till death do us part,” apparently have been rewritten to “till divorce do us part.” In fact, many weddings have discarded time-honored vows altogether in favor of warmer, fuzzier, but less dogmatic terms of endearment. 

 

In the employment world, people now change jobs almost as often as they change clothes. The notion of spending an entire career with a single company and receiving a gold watch upon retirement has gone the way of the dodo and dinosaurs. Causes are complex. Companies increasingly demonstrated low commitment to their employees, and in response workers decided a day’s notice before leaving was excessive, much less two weeks or more. And maybe the cost of gold watches got too high.

 

We’re seeing this issue with integrity – or the lack of same – reflected perfectly in what’s become known ominously as “The Transfer Portal.” Used to be most athletes made commitments to a college or university and remained there for 3-4 years. Some athletes did transfer, but decisions weren’t taken lightly or made in haste. 

 

Now athletes vow allegiance to Alma Mater and then just a few weeks later, decide Alma Pater looks or smells a little better. Something like that. There are even athletes who play for three or four different schools during their careers. ‘I love you – until I don’t love you anymore.’ Of course, college coaches are notorious for making bold promises to recruits and then, after the ink on letters of intent has dried, they also leave for presumably greener pastures.

 

Problems with integrity are hardly new or the product of the 21^st century. An episode in my own history illustrates this. I don’t remember how old I was, maybe 10. I’d been visiting my grandfather in another city and had befriended a little boy who lived nearby. One day he invited me to his birthday party, and I eagerly agreed to come. 

 

Then a better offer came along. My birthday was approaching too, and a friend of my grandfather said she would take me to a bookstore in town and buy me a book as a gift. Bookaholic that I was even then, it seemed an offer I couldn’t refuse. It didn’t take long to decide a book in the hand was worth more than a party hat and a piece of cake. So, without telling little Billy, I skipped his party and went book shopping.

 

My self-centered decision still haunts me from time to time. ‘Billy, if you’re reading this, sorry I didn’t attend your birthday party.’

 

This might seem like a minor infraction, a tiny lapse of integrity attributable to my adolescence. Perhaps, but we can’t cultivate “a little bit of integrity” any more than a woman can be a little bit pregnant. You either are or you aren’t. Over the years since, I’ve strived to do better.

 

Integrity’s a prominent theme in the Scriptures. In fact, Numbers 23:19 declares, “God is not a man, that He should lie. Nor a son of man, that He should repent; has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”

 

As believers in Christ, if we are to “follow in His steps” as 1 Peter 2:21 exhorts, we should put a very high premium on integrity. Jesus Himself instructed His followers, “But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is of evil origin” (Matthew 5:37).

 

A common excuse for not keeping our word is we made a decision hastily; after due consideration, we realized it was unwise. Proverbs 20:25 offers the solution: “It’s a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows.” We’re to carefully weigh our options beforehand, then stick with whatever decisions we make.

 

If we fail to maintain high standards of integrity, our witness as believers and reputations as people of truth are at stake: “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9). “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3).

 

Having high regard for integrity was an area of emphasis  for the Israelites: “When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said” (Numbers 30:2). Centuries later, King Solomon reiterated, “When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow” (Ecclesiastes 5:4).

 

Living in a world of compromise and broken promises, a commitment to integrity may seem archaic, even impossible. Actually, it’s fairly simple: “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment” (James 5:12). Just as even a small light can dispel darkness, we can stand out by upholding integrity when no one else seems willing to do so.