Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
The “empty words” that the apostle warned his readers about come in many forms. Today I want to look at a general understanding as we follow the Lord. Remember that some of these concepts were brought into clarity for me by my recent experience with back surgery. I won’t share a lot of the details of the experience, but suffice it to say that I have had lots of advice on how best to recuperate! Some of it has been good, some not so good. I have found the key is in measuring it all by the standard of the doctor’s orders.
Yesterday I wrote that guilt and shame were two of those empty words for children of God. I want to emphasize that I am not saying that the Christian does not sin. Clearly the bible tells us differently. What I am saying is that our sin has been atoned for in the work of Christ and grace is available for all in Christ. Let’s deal with the shame. Satan loves to keep us in our past looking at ourselves. If we continue to think about our past failures, it will wear us down spiritually, and the next thing the enemy aims at is getting the picture of ourselves distorted. He wants us to look at our past failures so much that we begin to see ourselves as failures! Anybody who has been thinking about their past sins for long will begin to see themselves as dirty sinners and failures. The complete opposite of what they really are under the new station God has granted in salvation. We are not failures because Christ has not failed.
Shame and guilt are based upon deception. These are empty words which are the opposite of truth. You need to stop thinking about your past failures. Are you ignoring them? No! You are ignoring a lie, not the sin, because the sin has been dealt with and washed away. Therefore, you are meditating on something that no longer exists! If your sins are in the depths of the sea, then why are you still thinking about them? You need to stop focusing on the problem (which has been dealt with), and begin to praise God for the solution to the problem, and think about how you have been washed clean from those failures! Instead of meditating on a lie, begin to meditate on the truth in God's Word concerning your past failures.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
"The Land of the Liviing" (Part 2)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
The Land of the Living is just as it sounds on the surface. It is dwelling in a place of life! I suppose I have thought a little more about that than I have in the past. Perhaps it is a natural result of facing a physical challenge serious enough to call for surgery; or it may just be that it was time for me to begin to ponder this great truth of God’s grace. You’d think that having preached through Ephesians several times in different churches I would have already gotten this one. However, as is often the case, God surprises me over and over again as I yield myself to His message in the Scripture.
Let me remind you of some of the contrasts of this life in our reading. Paul says it is a life in the light instead of darkness; a life of fruitful deeds of righteousness; and a life that is fully awake and alert. There are lots of things we can say about these things, however, as I promised yesterday, I want to look at the “how” before we do anything else. The Apostle Paul says we should not be deceived with “empty words.” Certainly the opposite could be said. We ought to be listening to words that are full, brimming with faith, hope, and love. These are the real words of grace. That’s where I want us to begin our little journey. How do you recognize words of deception and thus avoid them?
In Jesus’ day, these words were spoken by the Pharisees. The entire twenty-third chapter of Matthew is Jesus’ description of their empty words. He ends the description by saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV). Steve Brown may have captured the application best when he said, I fear too often the church has become an organization of guilty people with a guilty preacher standing in the pulpit telling guilty people they should feel more guilty.
Let me be VERY clear. There is no reason for guilt as a child of God. If you have come under the blood of Jesus through faith, your sins are forgiven! Of course, you will find those times in your life when you have wandered off the path of righteousness, but his grace and forgiveness have already been provided. Our only need is to appropriate that grace and live life as people who are alive! We can get so entangled with each step we can easily forget what that looks like. The Pharisees knew the right words, the right works, and the right ways but they didn’t have life. Grace is not about doing as much as it is about being. When you get the being part of life right, you’ll get the doing much better.
I’m almost out of space for today’s devotional. Let me summarize with this: Words of shame and guilt are of the devil, deceptive and empty; words of forgiveness and grace. Far too many believers feel dirty, worthless and ashamed of themselves. As a result, they feel unclean and therefore unworthy to approach God and have the living and intimate relationship that He wants to have with them! Shame prevents us from intimacy with God because it makes us feel unworthy and distant from Him. That’s not what Christ gave His life for! Stay tuned tomorrow for more on this tragic deception from our enemy. Today, let go of your past and give it to the Lord.
The Land of the Living is just as it sounds on the surface. It is dwelling in a place of life! I suppose I have thought a little more about that than I have in the past. Perhaps it is a natural result of facing a physical challenge serious enough to call for surgery; or it may just be that it was time for me to begin to ponder this great truth of God’s grace. You’d think that having preached through Ephesians several times in different churches I would have already gotten this one. However, as is often the case, God surprises me over and over again as I yield myself to His message in the Scripture.
Let me remind you of some of the contrasts of this life in our reading. Paul says it is a life in the light instead of darkness; a life of fruitful deeds of righteousness; and a life that is fully awake and alert. There are lots of things we can say about these things, however, as I promised yesterday, I want to look at the “how” before we do anything else. The Apostle Paul says we should not be deceived with “empty words.” Certainly the opposite could be said. We ought to be listening to words that are full, brimming with faith, hope, and love. These are the real words of grace. That’s where I want us to begin our little journey. How do you recognize words of deception and thus avoid them?
In Jesus’ day, these words were spoken by the Pharisees. The entire twenty-third chapter of Matthew is Jesus’ description of their empty words. He ends the description by saying, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.” (Matthew 23:27-28 NIV). Steve Brown may have captured the application best when he said, I fear too often the church has become an organization of guilty people with a guilty preacher standing in the pulpit telling guilty people they should feel more guilty.
Let me be VERY clear. There is no reason for guilt as a child of God. If you have come under the blood of Jesus through faith, your sins are forgiven! Of course, you will find those times in your life when you have wandered off the path of righteousness, but his grace and forgiveness have already been provided. Our only need is to appropriate that grace and live life as people who are alive! We can get so entangled with each step we can easily forget what that looks like. The Pharisees knew the right words, the right works, and the right ways but they didn’t have life. Grace is not about doing as much as it is about being. When you get the being part of life right, you’ll get the doing much better.
I’m almost out of space for today’s devotional. Let me summarize with this: Words of shame and guilt are of the devil, deceptive and empty; words of forgiveness and grace. Far too many believers feel dirty, worthless and ashamed of themselves. As a result, they feel unclean and therefore unworthy to approach God and have the living and intimate relationship that He wants to have with them! Shame prevents us from intimacy with God because it makes us feel unworthy and distant from Him. That’s not what Christ gave His life for! Stay tuned tomorrow for more on this tragic deception from our enemy. Today, let go of your past and give it to the Lord.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
"The Land of the Living" (Part 1)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:6-14 NIV).
As I mentioned yesterday, today’s Morning Devotional will begin a series that I have been thinking about for some time, but came into sharp focus while I was going through all the steps to back surgery. I am not going to bore you with the minutiae of that experience; however, I do want to focus your attention on some of the incredible truths Paul gives us in our reading today that were sharpened for me in that experience.
So let me begin with some overview. If you have had any surgery in your life, you know as soon as you receive your anesthesia you are completely “in the dark.” You are artificially placed in a state where you can neither feel nor think for yourself. It was amazing how many more tubes were in my body after the surgery than before! And, I’m told there were others that were removed prior to being awakened! Paul begins this paragraph with a sense of urgency for all Christians to “walk in the Light.” I have paralleled this statement with the words in our title, Land of the Living.” Walking in the light is living in the land of the living.
Think about it. When you are placed under anesthesia some things happen very quickly. I remember being rolled into the surgical suite and several people introduced themselves to me, telling me what their function was going to be during the surgery. One would administer the anesthesia, another would monitor vital signs, another would assist the surgeon… all the while a plastic mask was being placed over my mouth and nose and sending me into “la-la land” (the doctor’s words, not mine)! If there was more said to me after that point I sure don’t remember them. The next thing I remember was being awakened by three orderlies pulling me from the gurney to the bed. I could tell you that hurt, but truthfully I didn’t feel anything for some time yet. Here’s the point. As a believer in Christ, we no longer walk in darkness. For the most part, we know what’s happening and have a choice about it.
When the room went dark, I had no choice about anything they did to me. Fortunately the hospital and staff have the greatest of history and reputation, so it was easy to trust myself to them. But, do you want to grant that same level of trust to the one who controls this world? Not me. Satan only has my worst in mind. To give him any control over my life would be disastrous. And, the good news is that I don’t have to give him that power. As a child of God I can walk in the light, the land of the living. I can yield my life to the One who has conquered darkness and death to bring light and life to the world. We’ll talk about the how of that in subsequent days. However, today please listen to the Spirit as He calls to you to a life of righteousness, godliness, and truth.
As I mentioned yesterday, today’s Morning Devotional will begin a series that I have been thinking about for some time, but came into sharp focus while I was going through all the steps to back surgery. I am not going to bore you with the minutiae of that experience; however, I do want to focus your attention on some of the incredible truths Paul gives us in our reading today that were sharpened for me in that experience.
So let me begin with some overview. If you have had any surgery in your life, you know as soon as you receive your anesthesia you are completely “in the dark.” You are artificially placed in a state where you can neither feel nor think for yourself. It was amazing how many more tubes were in my body after the surgery than before! And, I’m told there were others that were removed prior to being awakened! Paul begins this paragraph with a sense of urgency for all Christians to “walk in the Light.” I have paralleled this statement with the words in our title, Land of the Living.” Walking in the light is living in the land of the living.
Think about it. When you are placed under anesthesia some things happen very quickly. I remember being rolled into the surgical suite and several people introduced themselves to me, telling me what their function was going to be during the surgery. One would administer the anesthesia, another would monitor vital signs, another would assist the surgeon… all the while a plastic mask was being placed over my mouth and nose and sending me into “la-la land” (the doctor’s words, not mine)! If there was more said to me after that point I sure don’t remember them. The next thing I remember was being awakened by three orderlies pulling me from the gurney to the bed. I could tell you that hurt, but truthfully I didn’t feel anything for some time yet. Here’s the point. As a believer in Christ, we no longer walk in darkness. For the most part, we know what’s happening and have a choice about it.
When the room went dark, I had no choice about anything they did to me. Fortunately the hospital and staff have the greatest of history and reputation, so it was easy to trust myself to them. But, do you want to grant that same level of trust to the one who controls this world? Not me. Satan only has my worst in mind. To give him any control over my life would be disastrous. And, the good news is that I don’t have to give him that power. As a child of God I can walk in the light, the land of the living. I can yield my life to the One who has conquered darkness and death to bring light and life to the world. We’ll talk about the how of that in subsequent days. However, today please listen to the Spirit as He calls to you to a life of righteousness, godliness, and truth.
Monday, November 8, 2010
"Frozen Solid"
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power...." (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV).
I read about a ship discovered over a century ago among the icebergs of the Arctic Ocean. In it was the captain, frozen as he was making his last entry in the log-book. The crew was also discovered, some in their hammocks and some in the cabin, all frozen to death. The last date in the log-book showed that for thirteen years that vessel had been moving among the icebergs, "a drifting sepulcher manned by a frozen crew."
Someone suggested that there are some churches in a similar condition. Today's Scripture talks about people who have a form of godliness but without its power. Certainly there are some churches and religions like that too. They have an outward form of godliness but are frozen in that, while they have the outward trappings of religion, they are out of touch with God and reality. When Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen has jokingly been rendered as: "Many are cold and a few are frozen."
In the last few years we have seen a great increase in some of the worst kind of violence and terrorism worldwide committed by radical Muslims, all in the name of Allah. Let us not kid ourselves, their relentless goal is to kill “infidels,” namely: Christians and Jews; and also to rule the world with their religious-political ideology. At the same time, at least in North America, we are seeing an ever-increasing amount of "Christian bashing." Would-be opponents of the Christian faith are doing all in their power to destroy the very principles upon which western civilization has been built. The only answer to combat evil is the gospel of Christ and unless we the church, and we Christians wake up, I am afraid we will be witnessing an ever-increasing amount of violence and terrorism around the world.
Let us remember the words of Edmund Burke spoken over two centuries ago: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." More importantly, let us heed God's Word that says, "'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." This is not a call to more works, but works that matter. I’ve done some thinking as I’ve convalesced after surgery. We will begin a series soon titled “The Land of the Living.” It will be about living your life where you are under grace so that your part of the world has an opportunity to see God’s different way.
I read about a ship discovered over a century ago among the icebergs of the Arctic Ocean. In it was the captain, frozen as he was making his last entry in the log-book. The crew was also discovered, some in their hammocks and some in the cabin, all frozen to death. The last date in the log-book showed that for thirteen years that vessel had been moving among the icebergs, "a drifting sepulcher manned by a frozen crew."
Someone suggested that there are some churches in a similar condition. Today's Scripture talks about people who have a form of godliness but without its power. Certainly there are some churches and religions like that too. They have an outward form of godliness but are frozen in that, while they have the outward trappings of religion, they are out of touch with God and reality. When Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen has jokingly been rendered as: "Many are cold and a few are frozen."
In the last few years we have seen a great increase in some of the worst kind of violence and terrorism worldwide committed by radical Muslims, all in the name of Allah. Let us not kid ourselves, their relentless goal is to kill “infidels,” namely: Christians and Jews; and also to rule the world with their religious-political ideology. At the same time, at least in North America, we are seeing an ever-increasing amount of "Christian bashing." Would-be opponents of the Christian faith are doing all in their power to destroy the very principles upon which western civilization has been built. The only answer to combat evil is the gospel of Christ and unless we the church, and we Christians wake up, I am afraid we will be witnessing an ever-increasing amount of violence and terrorism around the world.
Let us remember the words of Edmund Burke spoken over two centuries ago: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." More importantly, let us heed God's Word that says, "'Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." This is not a call to more works, but works that matter. I’ve done some thinking as I’ve convalesced after surgery. We will begin a series soon titled “The Land of the Living.” It will be about living your life where you are under grace so that your part of the world has an opportunity to see God’s different way.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
"Surgery Day"
Jesus said, "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:25-34 NASB).
Today is surgery day. You may be receiving this devotional with some others for the coming days as I prepare to be out for a few days, but if you read this devotional on Thursday, November 4th, I will be in surgery by late afternoon. I have been told by the doctor that it is a relatively minor procedure to repair and correct a lateral herniated disk in my lower back. That was reassuring. I had read as much information about the procedure as I could find. That was reassuring. I have seen a video of the procedure. That was reassuring (well, sort of). I know the reputation of the hospital. That is reassuring. I have heard from many people who have had this procedure and herald the results as wonderful. That is reassuring. However, after all of that it really comes down to whether I trust my heavenly Father to do best by me and for His glory. And I do… THAT is what reassures me most!
In today’s reading Jesus makes two observations about the troubles we anticipate: First, tomorrow will care of itself. We can’t know how things will work out for us tomorrow. We can certainly envision our future, both good and bad. Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Our imagination works extremely well, giving us plenty to worry about, but we just can’t know what resources, what help, what deliverance will come our way at the moment those things are needed, which isn’t now. Second, each day has its full quota of trouble. Jeremiah wrote, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:11). Those plans may include a fair amount of pain and suffering, but God has His reasons, and for those who are His, it will always turn out for their good, and His glory (cf. Romans 8:28). In the meantime, God promises to give us, for the particular moment, and for the particular trial, whatever resources we will need to deal with it. What He does NOT promise is the power to face now what doesn’t even yet exist (and may never materialize).
Remember this: Worry is not a weapon against the enemy; worry is a weapon of the enemy! Mark Twain, in his folksy way, hit the nail on the head when he quipped, “In my life I have known many troubles – most of them never happened!” Be like the infant taken to the doctor for his vaccinations: he coos and giggles all the way there. Not knowing what’s in store, he can enjoy the moment and not fret the future. Oh when the needle pricks, he’ll cry hard enough – it’s okay to cry when it hurts. But it’s not okay, and highly unnecessary, to cry ahead of time. I am looking forward to being back, “live” so-to-speak, soon. I ask for your prayers. And, I trust in my Father in heaven! I encourage you to do the same as you face your days.
Today is surgery day. You may be receiving this devotional with some others for the coming days as I prepare to be out for a few days, but if you read this devotional on Thursday, November 4th, I will be in surgery by late afternoon. I have been told by the doctor that it is a relatively minor procedure to repair and correct a lateral herniated disk in my lower back. That was reassuring. I had read as much information about the procedure as I could find. That was reassuring. I have seen a video of the procedure. That was reassuring (well, sort of). I know the reputation of the hospital. That is reassuring. I have heard from many people who have had this procedure and herald the results as wonderful. That is reassuring. However, after all of that it really comes down to whether I trust my heavenly Father to do best by me and for His glory. And I do… THAT is what reassures me most!
In today’s reading Jesus makes two observations about the troubles we anticipate: First, tomorrow will care of itself. We can’t know how things will work out for us tomorrow. We can certainly envision our future, both good and bad. Perhaps that’s part of the problem. Our imagination works extremely well, giving us plenty to worry about, but we just can’t know what resources, what help, what deliverance will come our way at the moment those things are needed, which isn’t now. Second, each day has its full quota of trouble. Jeremiah wrote, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord… (Jeremiah 29:11). Those plans may include a fair amount of pain and suffering, but God has His reasons, and for those who are His, it will always turn out for their good, and His glory (cf. Romans 8:28). In the meantime, God promises to give us, for the particular moment, and for the particular trial, whatever resources we will need to deal with it. What He does NOT promise is the power to face now what doesn’t even yet exist (and may never materialize).
Remember this: Worry is not a weapon against the enemy; worry is a weapon of the enemy! Mark Twain, in his folksy way, hit the nail on the head when he quipped, “In my life I have known many troubles – most of them never happened!” Be like the infant taken to the doctor for his vaccinations: he coos and giggles all the way there. Not knowing what’s in store, he can enjoy the moment and not fret the future. Oh when the needle pricks, he’ll cry hard enough – it’s okay to cry when it hurts. But it’s not okay, and highly unnecessary, to cry ahead of time. I am looking forward to being back, “live” so-to-speak, soon. I ask for your prayers. And, I trust in my Father in heaven! I encourage you to do the same as you face your days.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
"Confirned or On Standby?"
Jesus said, "In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world; I am leaving the world again and going to the Father." His disciples said, "Lo, now You are speaking plainly and are not using a figure of speech. Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:26-33 NASB).
Bill Hybels tells a great story that illustrates an important truth. He wrote of his experience waiting in an airport to board a plane:
Sometime when you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say; will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?
Knowing that you have a “confirmed ticket” is essential to a believer. After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation. "But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled. Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity.
The great tragedy is no one needs not to be sure. Jesus has overcome the world. He has defeated death. The root of uncertainty is in where we place our faith. If your faith is in your ability, position, or works you will never have certainty. There will always be room for improvement. To be sure, you must place your faith completely and totally in the One who has already gone before us conquering sin and death forever. You must place your faith in Jesus who has made the final sacrifice for all our sin. Have you done that? You can. Do it right now and confirm your ticket!
Bill Hybels tells a great story that illustrates an important truth. He wrote of his experience waiting in an airport to board a plane:
Sometime when you're in an airport, observe the difference between passengers who hold confirmed tickets and those who are on standby. The ones with confirmed tickets read newspapers, chat with their friends or sleep. The ones on standby hang around the ticket counter, pace and smoke, smoke and pace. The difference is caused by the confidence factor. If you knew that in fifteen minutes you would have to stand in judgment before the Holy God and learn your eternal destiny, what would your reaction be? Would you smoke and pace? Would you say to yourself, "I don't know what God's going to say; will it be 'Welcome home, child,' or will it be 'Depart from me; I never knew you'?
Knowing that you have a “confirmed ticket” is essential to a believer. After John Wesley had been preaching for some time, someone said to him, "Are you sure, Mr. Wesley, of your salvation?" "Well," he answered, "Jesus Christ died for the whole world." "Yes, we all believe that; but are you sure that you are saved?" Wesley replied that he was sure that provision had been made for his salvation. "But are you sure, Wesley, that you are saved?" It went like an arrow to his heart, and he had no rest or power until that question was settled. Many men and many women go on month after month, and year after year, without power, because they do not know their standing in Christ; they are not sure of their own footing for eternity.
The great tragedy is no one needs not to be sure. Jesus has overcome the world. He has defeated death. The root of uncertainty is in where we place our faith. If your faith is in your ability, position, or works you will never have certainty. There will always be room for improvement. To be sure, you must place your faith completely and totally in the One who has already gone before us conquering sin and death forever. You must place your faith in Jesus who has made the final sacrifice for all our sin. Have you done that? You can. Do it right now and confirm your ticket!
Monday, November 1, 2010
"The Tripod" (Part 5)
At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:22-30 NASB).
I want you to picture the tripod one last time as we look at the essentials of the Christian life. There are three legs that rise about ten feet to a platform. On that platform is a swivel mounted seat. It makes for a very comfortable place above the normal line of sight as you watch for wild game to move about their trails. As I thought about that, two interesting points struck me.
First, there must be a way to get to the seat. On the tripod there are welded “steps” on one of the legs. Without getting too “process” oriented, let me just say there are some things that you can and should do. You should be in the habit of prayer and meditation. This is the means of communication to and from God. There’s no “right” way to do this. In fact, anyway is the right way. Prayer is conversation with God. Reading the Scripture is conversation with God. One is more our talking to Him; the other is more Him talking to us. The key is doing it! Of course here are other things to be done to help in your “climb” up. But they are merely steps to the goal.
Second, the goal is to sit in the seat. What good is the tripod if it doesn’t lead you to sit down in the seat? Imagine how silly it would be to set up the tripod and never climb up and sit down! God’s invitation to us has always been to come and sit in His lap. Remember how Jesus put it:
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30 NASB).
Well, that’s the short version of how to live an abundant life! It is a journey. You will never arrive unless you begin. Have you begun the journey? Have you stumbled and quit? Come on, join me and climb on up into the tripod!
I want you to picture the tripod one last time as we look at the essentials of the Christian life. There are three legs that rise about ten feet to a platform. On that platform is a swivel mounted seat. It makes for a very comfortable place above the normal line of sight as you watch for wild game to move about their trails. As I thought about that, two interesting points struck me.
First, there must be a way to get to the seat. On the tripod there are welded “steps” on one of the legs. Without getting too “process” oriented, let me just say there are some things that you can and should do. You should be in the habit of prayer and meditation. This is the means of communication to and from God. There’s no “right” way to do this. In fact, anyway is the right way. Prayer is conversation with God. Reading the Scripture is conversation with God. One is more our talking to Him; the other is more Him talking to us. The key is doing it! Of course here are other things to be done to help in your “climb” up. But they are merely steps to the goal.
Second, the goal is to sit in the seat. What good is the tripod if it doesn’t lead you to sit down in the seat? Imagine how silly it would be to set up the tripod and never climb up and sit down! God’s invitation to us has always been to come and sit in His lap. Remember how Jesus put it:
"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30 NASB).
Well, that’s the short version of how to live an abundant life! It is a journey. You will never arrive unless you begin. Have you begun the journey? Have you stumbled and quit? Come on, join me and climb on up into the tripod!
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