Living the Eternal Word in a Temporal World

You’ve probably noticed, but we live in a temporal world. Everything around us is temporary. We buy a new car, but before long it has scratches or a few dents. Soon the ‘new’ on the car has worn off and it’s looking old compared to vehicles just out of the showroom. It’s the same with houses. We find one that’s “move-in ready,” nothing needing to be fixed. But after a while it requires repairs – roof, plumbing, paint, flooring, lighting.  

The temporal state applies to living things too. We delight in beautiful flowers bursting with color, only to watch them fade and droop. We enjoy our pets, but sadly they have a limited lifespan. We’ve all mourned the loss of beloved friends and family members. And the clock is ticking on our own lives. Wrinkles and gray hair, aches and pains remind us of that. Nothing lasts.

 

That is, on earth. In the heavenly realm it’s a different deal entirely. There everything is eternal, something we struggle to grasp in our clock and calendar-centered world. Recently I was reading Psalm 136, which offers many descriptions about God – His goodness, wondrous works, wisdom – each followed by the phrase, “His love endures forever.” That’s a long time!

 

Deuteronomy 33:27 gives us the assurance, “The eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you.” And in 1 Timothy 1:17 the apostle Paul writes of giving honor and glory to “…the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God….” When we find ourselves struggling with things in our time-limited world, we need to shift our focus to the eternal.

 

We find the contrast between the temporal and the eternal in 1 Peter 1:24-25, in which the apostle observes, “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.”

 

The late Ted DeMoss, who devoted much of his adult life to the mission of introducing folks to Jesus Christ, used to say, “The only things in this world that will last are the Word of God and people.” He would explain that if we truly believe this, it should figure prominently in our lives and help in determining where to place our priorities.

 

The question is, living in a tangible, temporal world when all we know for sure is what our five senses tell us, how are we to live in the light of eternity? It may not be as difficult as it may seem. Because as Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “[God] has set eternity in the human heart.” Deep down the Lord has given us the awareness that this life isn’t all there is.

 

I think of a fellow I used to interact with – an atheist – who boldly stated something to the effect that when we die, we go into the ground and that’s it, nothing more. But most of us – if we’re not shaking our fists at God in anger for some reason – hope and believe that this world is not a dead end, that there’s more to come, which serves to give meaning and purpose in this life.

 

What we struggle with is that we can’t know for sure what that is, although the Scriptures give us lots of clues. Even the rest of Ecclesiastes 3:11 says as much. Here’s the passage in its entirety: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” 

 

There’s the rub: We can’t comprehend what He’s done from start to finish. We read passages like these:

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

“Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens…. Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea” (Job 11:7-9).

“O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!..” (Romans 1:33).

“…No one has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

 

We could cite many similar passages, but even though we can enjoy the wonderful things in this life, God didn’t create us for it alone. We can say with great assurance, based on what He has revealed in His Word, that the best is yet to come.

 

Within this context, then, we might ask the question wise individuals have asked: How then shall we live? Many books have been written seeking to provide a satisfactory answer, but I think we need not look any further than King Solomon’s closing words in Ecclesiastes: “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” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

 

Yes, we have our lives here on earth – work, relationships, learning, hobbies, entertainment, and so on. But knowing this life isn’t the end, that it’s just the introduction to what God has for us in eternity, we should strive to worship our Creator; seek to glorify Him through our thoughts, words and actions; and serve Him and others in ways that reflect our Savior Jesus Christ who declared, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

 

Considering all He has done for us, providing the way for life eternal, how can we do any less?

The Short-Term Benefits of Instant Gratification

One of the advantages of being older – among many – is being able to appreciate how our society has changed over time. Case in point: Instant gratification. Things we once waited long periods of time for are now at our fingertips within minutes, even moments. A lot of them have to do with food.

 

For instance (or instants), coffee. Growing up, my mom would put coffee grounds in the percolator and wait patiently for the morning brew to get ready. Then came instant coffee – if you were in a hurry, you could get it much faster. You still needed to heat up the water, but it didn’t have to ‘perk.’ Of course, now we have Keurig cups (or whatever brand you prefer) and the machines heat up the water…instantly.

 

The same was true of pudding, one of my favorite childhood desserts. It had to be cooked over the stove, then put into the refrigerator to cool and set. When instant pudding was introduced, it was heralded as a time-saver.

 

Ovens and stoves still play a huge role at mealtime, but I remember when I and a friend debated whether to invest in microwave ovens. Hours slaving over the stove were condensed to mere minutes – almost instantly. The ‘watched pot’ that never boiled became the watched microwave that didn’t beep. And for those who didn’t want to go the microwave route, have you heard of “fast food”?

 

Our instant gratification impulses weren’t limited to our hunger cravings. Television sets with tubes used to take minutes to warm up; TVs now turn on with the click of a remote. Drive-thru windows spare us having to get out of our cars, whether to buy food, pay bills, or pick up merchandise. And let’s not even start on how communicating has been revolutionized by the Internet, email, texting, and our smartphones (speed-dialing?) to expedite whatever we want to do right now.

 

Instant gratification’s something we’ve all experienced and enjoyed. But even as it has accelerated the physical world in so many ways, instant gratification doesn’t work in our walk with the Lord.

 

One of the Bible’s foundational truths is the doctrine of sanctification. As Romans 5:1 tells us, “…we have been justified through faith.” Salvation can happen in a moment. However, sanctification – the process of becoming like Jesus Christ – isn’t instantaneous. Not even close. This is why the apostle Paul wrote with great confidence, “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). 

 

Presumably many of the people he was addressing in Philippi had been walking with Christ for quite a while. But Paul knew the so-called “Christian life” is day-to-day, at times arduous and never predictable. It takes time for an artist to create a beautiful sculpture or awe-inspiring painting; it takes a lifetime for God to shape us into the people He desires for us to be.

 

Often, we’d like the Lord to work swiftly, whether to free us from the bondage of destructive sins and habits, intervene in the lives of loved ones, or meet a specific need. But while we’re expecting Him to answer our prayers with a resounding “yes,” many times His answer is very different. The Psalms make this clear. We’re told to, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” But a few verses later we’re told to, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him…” (Psalm 37:3-4,7).

 

Lest we disregard this and think, ‘Well, He didn’t really mean to wait,’ the same psalm later instructs us to, “Wait for the Lord and keep His way” (Psalm 37:34). Being still and waiting aren’t things most of us do very well. Instant gratification demands, “I want it…and I want it now!”

 

And yet God keeps underscoring the importance of waiting. Psalm 46:10 affirms the earlier psalm, admonishing us to, “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” We could say this a promise still hasn’t been fulfilled completely. Because in many parts of the world, including our own nation, the one true God isn’t being honored and worshipped. Faith and trust in Him are often ridiculed and dismissed.

 

The Lord, however, isn’t worried at all, nor is He frustrated or disappointed. He declares, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

 

So, when we’re frantically hunting for a new job, anxiously searching for a new house, fretting over a serious health concern, or praying desperately about a painful family situation and wondering why God hasn’t answered our requests, we must remember: The Lord isn’t about instant gratification. His ways are perfect, and perfection doesn’t usually come with the blink of an eye or snap of the fingers.

 

It doesn’t bother God that His timetable isn’t the same as ours. “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness…” (2 Peter 3:8-9). If you want instant gratification, go to McDonald’s. But you want what’s best, go to “God’s throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16) and if necessary, wait with confidence for His response.

Giving: It All Gets Back to the Best That God Gave

Now that we’ve gotten past Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s officially Christmas season. Santa Claus, the Grinch and the Clydesdales are figuring prominently in TV commercials. Most radio stations are playing carols (for those of us who still listen to the radio). Heartwarming, timeless Christmas movies are reappearing on networks, cable stations and streaming services. Ads on smartphone apps are teasing us with intriguing gift suggestions. And today’s “Giving Tuesday.” What says Christmas more than that? 

Giving is something we can – and should – practice year-round, but Christmastime has always been regarded as “the season of giving.” There are many reasons for this, but none better than being reminded about the greatest gift of all: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” (John 3:16-17).

 

God “so loved the world that He gave….” In the Bible we find the Lord giving and giving and giving, even though we’re so undeserving. That’s a topic for discussion in itself, but considering that our Creator has given so much, how can we not be inspired to give as well?

 

Ironically, it’s not hard to turn the ‘season of giving’ around and make it the ‘season for receiving.’ We compile lists of wants, ready to share them with anyone who might be inclined to give us something for Christmas. I know, having spent many a Christmas season eagerly anticipating what might be inside the brightly wrapped and bowed gifts awaiting me under the tree.

 

But Jesus’ statement that it’s “more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35) isn’t a simple, nice-sounding platitude. It’s as profound a declaration as we can find anywhere. Because when we give to others we also receive, even if not in a tangible sense.

 

For more than 20 years I benefited directly from the generosity of others. Working with parachurch ministries, I had the responsibility for raising my financial support, as do missionaries who serve the Lord in foreign lands. If my support wasn’t there, there was no paycheck. So, I had great appreciation for the many people who believed in the work God had called me to do. They didn’t have to be coerced – they eagerly wanted to help in making that possible, often saying they considered it a privilege.

 

One byproduct of this was cultivating my own enthusiasm for helping to support causes the Lord has placed on my heart. It was humbling to know people cared enough to invest in the work I was doing. Often Jesus’ statement came to mind that, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return” (Luke 12:48). It truly is a joy to participate in what God’s doing in so many areas, and giving financially is one means for doing that.

 

At this time of year, I’m also reminded of a statement made many years ago by Bob Lupton, who had established an inner-city ministry in Atlanta. Experience had taught him a simple reality for the poor. He said, “The greatest poverty is the inability to give.” What I understood this to mean is that always being a recipient and never a giver can be discouraging, even demeaning.

 

We find this illustrated in the Scriptures. Writing to Christ followers in Corinth, the apostle Paul observed, “…the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability…they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in the service of the saints” (2 Corinthians 8:1-4).

 

Can you imagine being so impoverished and yet pleading to be allowed to give materially to support others? That’s genuine giving, determining to give even when it hurts.

 

Which brings us back to God’s greatest gift, taking on human flesh not only to teach, to minister to people in need, and to give us an example to follow, but also to give His own life to satisfy the penalty for our sins. As Paul wrote to one of the men he was mentoring, “…we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:13-14).

 

This Christmas season, let’s try to avoid having the distractions of the sparkling lights, lilting holiday songs and festively colored packages take our focus off this “blessed hope.”  

Trying to Put Pain in Its Proper Perspective

We just observed another Thanksgiving Day, thinking of numerous things for which to be thankful. But as I mentioned in an earlier post, how many among us could pray with sincerity, “Thank you, Lord, for the pain I’m going through”?

 

For most of us, pain would fall to the very bottom of the list of things for which to be grateful – if on the list at all. In fact, a book by author Philip Yancey is titled, Pain: The Gift Nobody Wants. (Yancey is probably among the minority in being able to be thankful for pain, since a number of his best-selling books focus on that subject.)

 

I’ve been thinking about pain a fair amount lately, since I’ve got a torn meniscus in one of my knees that will require repair work very soon. It’s been reminding me of one of my personal mottos: I wouldn’t mind pain…if it didn’t hurt so much. 

 

Pain’s no stranger to any of us. If not physical suffering, we’ve had to deal with pain in other forms: Divorce, depression, loss of beloved family members and friends, having to watch helplessly as others endure serious illness, unexpectedly losing a job, coping with major expenses that weren’t in the budget. The list could go on.

 

As we go through such circumstances, we might wonder: What’s the point? Is there purpose behind the pain? We can debate to what extent God actually causes pain to occur, but He obviously allows it to come into our lives. Does He have reasons behind the pain we experience?

 

Author and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in his book, The Problem of Pain, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

 

What Lewis said is true. When things are going well, when we’re reveling in our successes and good fortune, we have a tendency to feel that we don’t need God. ‘I’ve got this!’ He might be speaking to us, but we’re not paying attention. But in the throes of pain, we often turn to Him. ‘Lord, I don’t think I’ve got this!’

 

The Bible declares that pain is part of our ‘job description’ as followers of Jesus Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:10, “I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection,” which sounds great, but then he adds, “and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” Wait…what? “Sharing in His sufferings”?

 

Another apostle, Peter, made a similar statement about our journey with Christ: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:12-13).

 

In his devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes, “In the history of the Christian church, the tendency has been to avoid being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ. People have sought to carry out God’s orders through a short cut of their own. God’s way is always the way of suffering – the way of the ‘long road home.’... We never realize at the time what God is putting us through – we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment and realize – ‘God has strengthened me, and I didn’t even know it!’”

 

Studying the Scriptures we find the Lord can – and does – use the pain in our lives in many ways. For instance, circumstances beyond our control reveal need for Him. “It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees” (Psalm 119:71).

 

Going through various kinds of suffering can be part of God’s process for transforming us into the people He wants us to be. “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” (James 1:2-4). We find the same idea in Romans 5:3-4, “…And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

 

Another purpose for pain in our lives can be to cultivate humility, as Paul recognized: “To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’... That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

 

Theologian J.I. Packer offered this perspective: “Perhaps He means to strengthen us in patience, good humor, compassion, humility, or meekness by giving us some extra practice in exercising these graces under difficult situations.”

 

I needed an MRI to confirm the cartilage tear in my knee; lying with my leg completely still for 20-25 minutes caused pain more intense than I ever experienced. To shift my focus, I thought about Jesus having endured scourging and then hanging on the cross not for minutes but for hours, nails piercing his hands and feet. My appreciation for what He went through for all who believe in Him was heightened more than I could have imagined.

 

No one likes pain and suffering. But what a privilege it is to know, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Why Thanksgiving – and Giving Thanks – Are So Important

Thanksgiving Day can bring many things to mind: Mouthwatering aromas emanating from the kitchen. A festive table covered with turkey and dressing and “all the fixin’s.” Get-togethers with family and friends. Football games on TV. Annual Christmas parades. 

These holiday traditions have certainly become integral to our annual fourth Thursday of November celebration, but the primary reason for the observance remains to give thanks to God for all He has done for us.

We could have a spirited debate about how the American observance of Thanksgiving Day originated. When I was in school, we talked about the first thanksgiving shared by the Pilgrims and the Indians. (Native Americans, as we know them now.) And there’s solid historical evidence of a harvest feast the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people shared in 1621. Some historians, however, point to an earlier event, a thanksgiving service held by Spanish settlers in 1565 in what is now known as St. Augustine, Florida.

 

It wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving holiday, an effort to unite the country during the Civil War. The tradition of observing Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday of each November was fixed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Congress in 1941. But how the day got started might be a moot point – the important thing is that we still celebrate it. I fondly recall the first phrase of the “Doxology,” still sung in many churches today: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow….” 

 

Not everyone, of course, bows before the God of the Bible when they give thanks. I think of the s scene from the movie “Talladega Nights” in which the main character, race car driver Ricky Bobby, scans the table covered with food mainly from fast-food restaurants and proceeds to “say grace” over the food. 

 

He prays to “Dear Lord Baby Jesus,” expressing thanks for the “bountiful harvest of Domino’s, KFC and always delicious Taco Bell.” He chooses to pray in that manner, he later explains, because “I like the Christmas Jesus best.” A foolish scene no doubt, but it captures the confusion in many households when deciding to whom to be thankful. It also underscores the reality that many of us choose to worship and be thankful to the God we want rather than the God who is.

 

In our pluralistic society, the mention of God prompts myriad images. Expressions of thanks might be more ritualistic than heartfelt. Yet on the day that marks the official start of the Christmas season, it remains a wonderful thing that through the centuries, men, women and children have endeavored to acknowledge and thank the Creator God who truly is the source of all things.

 

Recently I heard an interesting distinction between gratitude and thanksgiving. Gratitude is a feeling – being grateful for something. Thanksgiving is an action – the conscious giving of thanks to whomever we feel gratitude. I can feel grateful, for instance, to my wife for an act of kindness, but if I don’t express my thankfulness for what she’s done, I might seem ungrateful or that I’m taking her for granted. 

 

The Scriptures abound with declarations of thanksgiving to the Lord, the One from whom, as the words from the Doxology assert, “all blessings flow.” One of the first Bible verses I memorized was “in everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Another translation says, “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 

This puts a different perspective on the importance and role of thanksgiving. It’s easy to feel grateful or thankful when things are going well; it’s not as simple in times of trial and adversity. How can we be thankful for that chronic pain, the empty checkbook, the cherished relationship that’s been seriously damaged?

 

I always think back to my friend Albert, whose lifetime has served him and his family with more challenges than many of us can imagine. Despite that, he’s one of the most cheerful, encouraging followers of Jesus I’ve ever encountered. He even wrote a testimonial booklet called “Saying ‘Thank You’ When You Don’t Feel Thankful.” Albert could be the spokesperson for “giving thanks in all circumstances.”

 

When King David brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem after a resounding victory over the Philistines, he declared these words: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice” (1 Chronicles 16:8-10). 

 

This psalm of praise, which echoes many other psalms the shepherd-king wrote, captures the attitude the Lord wants us to have on this Thanksgiving Day. We might have been blessed in so many positive ways that we've lost track of them all. Or we might be dealing with unrelenting hardships, making it difficult to feel thankful. Or we might have a mixture of both. 

 

Regardless of what’s going on in our lives right now, we’re called to exercise our faith, as the apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:20, by “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” I wish you a greatly blessed Thanksgiving – in the Lord!

Finding the Connection Between Common Sense and Faith

Have you noticed how common sense seems so uncommon these days? Things considered obvious for so long being kicked to the curb, replaced by ideas that reasonable people would never have imagined? Today’s ‘common sense’ seems easily confused with nonsense.

 

Our world prizes rational thinking. Except when it doesn’t. We believe we can solve conundrums and resolve problems simply by exercising our minds. And it bothers us when our reasoning powers fall short. But let’s face it: Some things don’t just stretch the boundaries of our imaginations – they surpass them altogether. 

 

We discuss things like eternity, light years, evolution and/or creation, even philosophical matters such as love, purpose and the meaning of life, thinking we know what we’re talking about. Cognitive capacities, however, have their limits. Even AI – artificial intelligence – can’t answer our most profound questions.

 

Where does that leave us? At some point we must admit faith is necessary, even though we might prefer not to do so. Everyone exercises faith in some way. Even atheists need to hang onto faith, if only trusting that everything observed in creation all around us came about without a Creator. This despite science acknowledging that everything must have a cause. Along with the wisdom from “The Sound of Music” that, “Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could.”

 

The fear many people have is that yielding to faith means dispensing with common sense. Good news: The suspicion that faith and common sense are antagonists, forcing us to choose one or the other, is unfounded. They can – and should – coexist quite peacefully.

 

I’ve mentioned my favorite devotional writer, Oswald Chambers. Over the years his insights in My Utmost for His Highest have blessed me more times than I could count. Concerning how common sense and faith relate, he said:

            “Faith in active opposition to common sense is mistaken enthusiasm and narrow-mindedness, and common sense in opposition to faith demonstrates a mistaken reliance on reason as the basis for truth. The life of faith brings the two of these into the proper relationship.

            “Common sense and faith are as different from each other as the natural life is from the spiritual and as impulsiveness is from inspiration. Northing that Jesus Christ ever said is common sense, but is revelation sense, and is complete, whereas common sense falls short. Yet faith must be tested and tried before it becomes real in your life.”

 

There’s a lot to chew on there, but we can think of many everyday examples where common sense and faith intersect. For instance, a man and woman standing at an altar declare, “I do,” fully convinced that the other is ‘The One.’ There’s no guarantee, however, that this commitment will last “as long as we both shall live.” Common sense, utilized during the dating phase of their relationship, must merge with faith as they pledge to spend their lives together.

 

An employer invests a lot of time, energy and money screening potential hires for a critical position in the company. A final decision is made based on due diligence and common sense, but again there aren’t any guarantees the individual chosen will meet or even exceed expectations. It’s also a step of faith – by both.

 

The Bible speaks about this at length. In the New Testament book of James the apostle addresses it, without specifically using the term ‘common sense.’ He writes, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?... In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17). 

 

James goes on to elaborate, but his point is clear: If a person has genuine faith, it should be evident by their actions, how they live. If a husband tells his bride “I love you” on their wedding day, but never says it again, does nothing to demonstrate his love, and proceeds to violate the marriage covenant repeatedly, common sense tells us that he really doesn’t love his wife.

 

For the follower of Jesus Christ, faith and common sense must work in partnership. We see this illustrated in Hebrews 11, termed by many God’s “hall of faith.” One of the people mentioned is Noah, who was instructed by the Lord to build a massive ark to save his family and selected animals from a coming flood. 

 

Until that time it had not rained on the earth, so Noah probably had a hard time even conceiving what such a flood would be like. It required faith for him to trust that God’s command was reasonable. Common sense came in because he had the necessary skills and expertise to build the ark. But would Noah act in faith and do as he was told? Hebrews 11:7 answers that question: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

 

This chapter in Hebrews lists many others whose common sense merged with faith, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, even a prostitute named Rahab. They did what they believed God had told them to do; when they reached the limits of their common sense, they continued in faith.

 

The same applies for each of us as we strive to walk faithfully with the Lord. We go through each day using common sense (hopefully), doing things that seem right and reasonable. The time comes, however, when He presents an opportunity that would require stepping outside our comfort zone. ‘Are you sure, Lord?’ ‘Oh, I couldn’t do that!’

 

God has brought me to this point numerous times. Based on what I knew, sometimes common sense was advising me not to obey – but faith said that I should. I’m thankful for the many times when by faith I said yes, when ‘common sense’ was insisting that I say no. If I hadn't, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today, doing what He's enabled me to do.

Is the Lord asking you to take a step of faith now in some significant way when your common sense is insisting that you shouldn’t? “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). 

Making Disciples Amounts to Spiritual Parenting

Entering into parenthood is joyous – and filled with surprises. We look at someone else’s baby and think, ‘Aw, how cute!’ Once we begin having our own children, ‘Aw, how cute!’ remains true. But living with them 24/7 also brings the reality that raising children is demanding. Difficult. Even daunting at times.

 

The hard work doesn’t stop after the potty training, helping to walk, and teaching them how to feed and dress themselves. Every stage of raising children – toddlers, adolescents, teenagers, and even well into adulthood – comes with its own set of challenges. Over time we realize that children, no matter how old, remain our children. And we remain their parents, long after they’ve left home.

 

In a similar sense, this is true for those taking part in Jesus’ instructions to His followers to “make disciples of all nations…teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). What this doesn’t say explicitly is that making disciples basically amounts to spiritual parenting.

 

The apostle Paul addressed this clearly in writing to believers in the early Church. He explained, “...we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us…. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8,11-12).

 

Paul was recalling that in spending time with them, he was “like a mother caring for her little children….” As well as was responding to them “as a father deals with his own children.” 

 

If this parenting analogy for disciplemaking comes as a surprise, it might be that we misunderstand the term “disciples.” In Greek the words for disciple and convert are very different. The word for ‘disciple’ in Greek is mathētēs, while the work for ‘convert’ is epistrephō. They’re distinct, not even derived from the same root.

 

A convert has turned and faces another direction, perhaps reflecting a change of heart. A disciple, however, has not only turned but is also moving forward. Webster’s definition for “disciple” is “a pupil or follower of a teacher or school. A true disciple is not just a student or a learner, but a follower: one who applies what he has learned.”

 

I’d take it a step further in terms of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. He or she also is one able to reproduce spiritually. That’s why Jesus didn’t just command us to make converts – because converts are merely spiritual babes, unable to do much for themselves. He wanted spiritual reproducers.

 

How does one change from being a convert to a genuine disciple? This is where the idea of spiritual parenting comes in. Jesus implied this as He concluded His Great Commission when he declared, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” He was promising to remain spiritually present with these disciples, in whom He’d invested countless hours instructing, admonishing, encouraging, correcting, and providing an example. 

 

The Lord wasn’t about to leave them to their own devices. He’d entrusted them with a crucial assignment with eternal consequences. Mark 16:15 records His command as “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Jesus’ zealous but rag-tag collection of disciples would need much more than good intentions to accomplish this ambitious responsibility.

 

Paul fully understood this. A number of times he referred to men in whom he had invested much time and energy as his “son.” In a letter to followers of Christ in Philippi, he wrote, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon…Timothy has proved himself because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (Philippians 2:19,22). Elsewhere Paul cited Timothy as “my true child in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2), and “my beloved and faithful child in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 4:7).

 

Lest we incorrectly conclude that Timothy was Paul’s biological child, Acts 16:1 describes Timothy ”whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek” (a non-believer). The apostle also said he was “our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ…” (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Similarly, Paul addresses a man named Titus as “my true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4).

 

Over the years I’ve had the privilege of meeting with a number of men in discipling relationships – some only a matter of months, but others that spanned years, even decades. I and one good friend whom I regard, to borrow Paul’s words, as a “son in the faith,” remain in regular contact more than 40 years after our first meeting. He now lives in another city, so we often chat via FaceTime, sharing with each other about our everyday lives and our walk with Christ.

 

Another man I met more than 20 years ago at a Christian conference. Much has changed in our lives since then – we’ve had great conversations about many challenges encountered along the way – and we continue to check in periodically to talk about what God’s doing in our lives. Both have had a significant impact for the Lord in their homes, where they work, and in their communities.

 

What a joy it is to enlist in Christ’s Great Commission to become spiritual dads and moms. In so doing, one day we’ll be able to declare, as did the apostle John, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 4).

A Refreshing Focus on Faith, Flag and Family

Several weeks ago, my wife and I joined a couple dozen other folks from our church’s seniors’ group for a bus tour to Branson, Mo. Although we’d never been there, based on what friends had said about Branson we were eager to go.  

 

One of our fellow travelers said she had expected “something like Las Vegas,” but what we all found was an entertainment community culture that lived up to the city’s unofficial motto of “Faith, Flag and Family.” Or “God, Country and Family,” depending on whom you ask. Each venue we attended included aspects of at least one of those, usually all three. An online travel reviewer has described Branson as a place where “an inspirational, God-and-country style of Christian nationalism serves as comfort food for the American soul.”

 

‘Christian nationalism’ is a provocative term, eliciting a range of feelings, but I frankly don’t find fervent faith in Jesus Christ and taking pride in being a U.S. citizen necessarily a problematic mix. But let’s not wade further into that debate. Our time in Branson was a welcomed break from the vitriol, divisiveness and antagonism manifested in some segments of our society.

We didn’t have time to take in all of Branson’s notable attractions, but enjoyed a representative sampling, including the Haygoods, a remarkably talented family in which it seemed everyone was trained to play more than one instrument – including the harp – as well as sing. Then there was Clay Cooper’s Country Express, a seamless blend of patriotism, family and faith, along with some good ole country charm.

 

The area’s spiritual focus was even more evident at The Mansion, which was hosting a “PraiseFest” over several days, with an emphasis on traditional gospel music. And at Sight and Sound, where a lavish stage show called “David” (about one-time shepherd boy and then King David) was presented, including live animals – sheep, a camel, horses, llamas and birds. How they trained them to come and go on cue without creating chaos I haven’t a clue.

 

Refreshing. That’s the word I’d use to describe what we experienced at Branson. But it’s also an example of how it’s possible to integrate faith in God into every area of our lives, rather than restricting our piety to regular worship services and maybe an occasional spiritual conference or gathering.

This is what I’ve been striving to communicate through my writing over the years. To make Jesus Christ the center of every aspect of our lives is something the Scriptures instruct us to do – and it’s a blessing and a privilege to do so.

 

I’m often reminded of the apostle Paul’s exhortation to believers in ancient Colossae: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him…. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:17, 23-24).

 

One of the things we Americans seem to do well is to compartmentalize – to keep separate different parts of our lives, including our work, families, our pastimes, and faith. The “separation of church and state,” which I believe has been greatly distorted from what Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers intended, has been misapplied in attempts to divorce faith matters from the business of everyday living.

 

So, a visit to a place like Branson – there aren’t many places like it across our great land – serves as a reminder that we can successfully integrate our belief in God with everything we undertake. As Paul wrote elsewhere, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

As I’ve written before, it’s been heartening to see an increase among athletes at all levels giving praise to the Lord, in defeat as well as victory. Hopefully this isn’t a passing fad, since it’s very appropriate to credit Him for the abilities and talents He’s given us, along with opportunities to refine and put them to use.

 

At times our society – and our world – seems hellbent on outdoing the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, Babylon and Nineveh. However, we’re also seeing a surge of people in the realms of entertainment, the arts, politics, commerce, education, the sciences – and churches – zealously embracing and seeking to honor Christ not only as Lord of the ‘sweet by and by,’ but also of the ‘nasty now and now.’ Even being thankful for where we live.

As God said through the prophet, “but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight” (Jeremiah 9:24). 

A Day Worthy of Remembrance and Appreciation

Veterans’ Day always reminds me of my father. He served in the U.S. Army for more than 22 years and saw combat in Europe and Northern Africa during World War II in both infantry and armored divisions. This included the famed Battle of the Bulge, fighting against German forces. His service earned him the Bronze Star for meritorious service, along with two Purple Hearts for wounds suffered during battle.

 

The old John Wayne war movies depicted memorable experiences and wartime camaraderie, but my father never talked about the war. The memories were too painful. I do remember the nights he would wake up screaming from nightmares of his times in battle. That was long before anyone talked about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Residual effects from war back then were known as “battle fatigue.”

 

My father.

Dad’s the reason I was born in Germany. He was stationed there after the war; my mom had gone to be with him – and I wanted to be close to her at the time. After a year we all returned to the States, so I didn’t have time to learn to speak German or meet any ‘frauleins.’ Among my dad’s many post-war assignments was to serve as an interpreter in interviewing Hungarian refugees, since he was proficient in speaking Hungarian, and received commendations for his skill. He retired with distinction.

Unlike my dad, I never served in the military. I used to joke that he had spent enough time in the Army for us both. When the Vietnam War was at its peak I was in college, which exempted me from the draft. And my father never urged me to enlist in military service. But I’ve always had great appreciation for those who did serve and believe Veterans’ Day is a well-deserved day of remembrance.

 

The battlefields on which American soldiers and sailors served are too numerous to mention. However, whenever there’s a protest of some sort, in a sense it’s a tribute to the many men and women that served nobly and courageously to defend our many freedoms, including the rights of free speech and assembly. 

 

Through the centuries, there have been many debates over how engaged Christians should be in matters of war. The realities and evils of war are well-documented in the Bible’s Old Testament. But if we believe the Scriptures there’s no doubt that we all should be participants in a different kind of war – one that’s spiritual in nature.

 

Ephesians 6:10-18 describes “the full armor of God,” which includes “the belt of truth…breastplate of righteousness…feet fitted with the gospel of peace…shield of faith…helmet of salvation…sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” and prayer. Indeed, like it or not, we're in spiritual war, with the minds, hearts and souls of men, women and children at risk.

 

We find more details in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 which says, “For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 

 

Every day we see, hear about and even encounter evil in many forms. As 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Successfully opposing such evil can’t be accomplished through philosophy, psychology or positive thinking. It requires divine power and utilizing the protective armor of God has provided for us through His Spirit.

 

I recall many years ago singing “Onward Christian Soldiers” in church. “Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus going on before….” This hymn has fallen out of favor in recent decades, with many arguing it’s too militant. That, however, doesn’t negate the fact that God does call us to be Christian soldiers, warring against the evil forces and growing darkness in our world.

 

The apostle Paul exhorted his protégé Timothy, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:3).  He also instructed him – and us – to “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12).

On this Veterans’ Day we remember the faithful service of those who engaged human enemies both overseas and on American soil. But we also must never forget the ongoing spiritual war in which we’re all unavoidably enlisted, one that won’t end until Jesus Christ makes His promised return.  

Prayer: That Powerful, Profound Mystery

“When all else fails, pray.” How many times have you heard someone say that? Perhaps you’ve thought it yourself at times. As if the primary purpose of prayer is like sending an ‘SOS’ to God, reserved for times of crisis and distress. 

The Scriptures teach that prayer isn’t to be treated as a fire alarm for use only when all other courses of action have been exhausted. Prayer, admittedly mysterious in some respects, serves as our means for uninterrupted communication with the God of creation, the One who declares, “Call on Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

 

Yes, we can – and should – use prayer to present urgent needs to the Lord. That’s what Jonah did after spending three days and nights inside a great fish: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and You listened to my cry” (Jonah 2:2). Similar pleas for help appear in the Psalms. But we do ourselves – and God – a great disservice by limiting prayer to crisis management.

 

Recently I found these comments in a devotional book by Charles H. Spurgeon, the great 19^th century British preacher: “Prayer is the never-failing resort of the Christian…. Prayer is an open door which none can shut…. Prayer is never out of season…[it] gains an audience with heaven in the dead of night, in the midst of business, in the heat of noonday, and in the shades of evening…. Prayer is never futile. You may not always get what you ask, but you will always have your true needs supplied.”

 

This truth is expressed succinctly in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. It says we’re to “pray without ceasing,” while another translation expresses it in two words: “pray continually.”

 

Much is made of “the full armor of God” described by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:10-17 – “belt of truth…breastplate of righteousness…feet fitted with the gospel of peace…shield of faith…helmet of salvation…sword of the Spirit.” However, the next verse points to perhaps the most powerful weapon of all. We’re told to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” 

 

Then Paul adds, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel…” (Ephesians 6:18-20).

 

I don’t know how many times I’ve been guilty of undervaluing prayer. Someone asks me to pray for them, and I promise I will, but then I forget. Or if I do pray, it’s more like a ritual than an act of sincere intercession. When the going gets tough, however, I suddenly remember how important prayer is.

 

I mentioned earlier that prayer is mysterious. We know from the Bible that prayer is an essential part of one’s relationship with God, but often it seems like one-way communication. Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.” It doesn’t say that He will get right back with us. Sometimes what we get is only silence. ‘Is God listening? Does He even care?’

 

This is where faith comes in. When we pray, we can’t see God, make eye contact with Him. We don’t hear an audible response. His answers to our prayers often aren’t immediate – and may be different from what we expected. As Spurgeon noted, “You may not always get what you ask, but you will always have your true needs supplied.”

 

How, then, are we to pray? Years ago, a friend, Bob Foster, offered a simple acronym that can help us in shaping our prayers and not saving them for emergencies only. The acronym is ACTS:

A – Adoration. For all that He is and all that He has done, is doing and will do, God deserves our sincere and fervent praise.

C – Confession. Even if we are born again, “in Christ” as 2 Corinthians 5:17 states, sin remains a perpetual problem. Jesus Christ died on the cross, paying the penalty for our sins, but when we do sin we confess, acknowledging them and repenting to restore our healthy relationship with the Lord.

T – Thanksgiving. God is at work in our lives every day, often in ways we don’t even recognize. In prayer we express our gratitude for what we know He has done – and for the things we haven’t realized, at least not yet.

S – Supplication. This is where we present needs to the Lord – our own needs and concerns, as well as the needs of friends, family members, our communities, missionaries, people in distant lands, and whatever He brings to our minds.

 

As I write this, I’m convicted that my own prayer life isn’t what it should be. We’re busy people, easily distracted, focused on myriad important and urgent things that must be addressed. But it may be that prayer is the most important thing we can do – even today. Even right now.

Gift-Giving Season Is Near, But It’s Always the Season for Spiritual Gifts

Have you noticed how the Christmas hype is building up, especially now that Halloween is out of the way? Yes, Thanksgiving comes first, but it’s basically turkey and pumpkin pie. As far as advertisers are concerned, let’s get on with Christmas. Full speed ahead!

 

There are so many layers to Christmas. First and foremost, of course, is what it’s really all about: the birth of Jesus Christ, God incarnate. That will be the focus for another upcoming post. But when someone says ‘Christmas,’ what else comes to mind? Peppermint sticks. Parties. Frosty the Snowman, and the Grinch. Yuletide carols. Fruitcake. “The Nutcracker.” Santa Claus, Rudolph and the other reindeer. Christmas gifts.

I’m old enough to remember the spectacular Sears Wish Book -- its Christmas catalog. What a treasure. For a youngster, it was a true winter wonderland. Page after page of toys, anything we could imagine. Upon arrival, the catalog had my full attention. Like many other kids, it sparked a Christmas gift list that terrified my parents. ‘We don’t have money for all that!’ Every year the people at Sears Roebuck & Co. produced a savvy marketing tool that induced dreams much better than visions of sugar plums.

 

Then came Christmas morning, with the early wakeup time. Who could sleep with all the anticipation of what the gaily colored gift packages contained? For me, there were cowboy and Indian sets (we weren’t politically correct back then), toy trains, maybe a toy rifle (gun violence wasn’t an issue), games, books, model cars and planes, and the obligatory clothes.

 

But it wasn’t just one-sided. I remember one Christmas I saved up enough money to buy my mom a lighted, framed picture of “The Last Supper.” She loved it. And I loved that she loved it. Receiving and giving gifts made memory upon memory.

 

Have you ever considered that God loves gift-giving, too? He does. Several passages in the Bible describe them. However, these aren’t the kinds of gifts you find in a retailer’s catalog or on the shelves of a department store. No, these are spiritual gifts, and every follower of Jesus Christ is promised at least one. But they’re not baby dolls, Lego sets, electronics, or board games.

 

As the apostle Paul explains in Romans 12:36-8, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

 

Elsewhere the apostle lists other spiritual gifts, including evangelism, apostleship, pastoring, wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, speaking in tongues and interpreting them. Some theologians contend there are more kinds of gifts God gives to His people, but the point is He wants each of His children to have gifts uniquely designed for their use.

 

Why does the Lord give these gifts? Paul tells this as well: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7).

 

That last statement is the key. Unlike Christmas gifts we receive, they’re not given for our personal benefit alone. The gifts from God are intended “for the common good.” As Paul writes in another of his epistles, these gifts are “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12-13). 

 

The Scriptures compare spiritual gifts to parts of the human body, each of which has a specific purpose to benefit the whole. If you’ve been blessed by the preaching or teaching of individuals expounding on what the Bible says, you’ve benefited from the gifts God has given them. Many of us came to know Christ through people utilizing their gift of evangelism.

 

When I was working with parachurch ministries and non-profits, having to raise my own financial support, the Lord blessed me with a number of generous friends who had the gift of giving. Leadership, service, administration, mercy – we’ve all benefited from people exercising these spiritual gifts.

 

So, over the coming weeks as we view commercial after commercial about the newest and greatest consumer products that you, your family members and friends would love to have, don’t forget about the spiritual gifts God lavishly bestows on His children. The toys, trinkets and clothes we unwrap Christmas morning will one day break or wear out. But God’s spiritual gifts don’t. In fact, the impact of those gifts we use for His glory and the benefit of others will last for eternity.