The End of the Journey

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-6 ESV). Yesterday I wrote a little about the journey of life and our need to pray and read the Scripture in our perseverance. We are kept by God, but we also need to keep our love for Him. Today I return to one of my favorite passages as I read the following story: A missionary couple who had served for many years in Africa were returning to the United States. Leaving Africa with broken health and no pension, they felt defeated, discouraged, and afraid. As it turned out, President Teddy Roosevelt was traveling on the same ship. Of course, it caused a great commotion as everyone tried to catch a glimpse of the president, who was returning from a hunting expedition. The missionary commented to his wife, "Something is wrong. Why should we, who have given our lives in service to the Lord all these years in Africa, come back and not receive any fanfare or attention? And this man, who has done nothing more than just go on a hunting trip, is the center of attention. It just doesn't seem right." When the ship arrived, a brass band played and the mayor welcomed the president. The missionary was so discouraged. "It isn't fair," he told his wife. "Why have we not received any attention or adulation for what we have done? God is not treating us fairly." She said, "Honey, why don't you just go tell that to the Lord?" A little bit later, he was smiling. His wife said, "You look different. What happened?" He said, "Well, I told the Lord how bitter I was that the president received this tremendous homecoming, while no one greeted us when we returned home. Then it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and said, 'Son, you are not home yet.' " God has a wonderful home he is preparing for us. He sees all those things you do for Him, and He will bless you. But those are not the focus of our Father. He desires that we get home. For some of us, that journey takes longer and is more difficult than for others. When I begin to feel like I haven’t really been given the best in life, I simply need to remember I’m not home yet. The end of the journey has been written in the heart of my heavenly Father. Whatever the path looks like to get there won’t matter at all when I see his open arms welcoming me home. Enjoy your walk through life. It really is a very short stroll compared to eternity with Him!

Kept

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. (Jude 1:17-23 ESV). Sometimes I’m exactly sure about something. I think I know, but a little bit of doubt goes a long way. There have been times when I have been faced with options that seem to be equally good. I often wondered how to determine the precise will of God. While these kinds of doubts are not as serious as others, it does still shake me a bit. As I read today’s passage I was reminded that there is an answer to the doubts that come into our minds from time to time, whether they concern major or minor decisions in our lives. Jude simply says we should keep ourselves in the love of God. Some would cite the first verse and say that it is not our responsibility to “keep” ourselves in the love of God. While I certainly agree that God’s grace does keep us for all eternity, there is a part we play in the journey that makes our path much more tolerable. It is true that we don't keep ourselves saved, but we can help keep ourselves safe. God's love is unconditional. And fortunately for us, Jesus Christ loves, preserves, and intercedes for us before the Father. But we can do things that will get us out of harmony with His love. That's why we are reminded to keep ourselves in the love of God, which means that we are to keep away from all that is unlike Him. We are to keep away from any influence that would violate God's love and bring sorrow to His heart. We are loved by God, and He will protect His investment. For example, if you own an inexpensive pair of sunglasses, you may not be all that concerned about where they are. But if you have a more expensive pair, then you will tend to know their whereabouts. Or, if you went to a crowded mall with your children, you wouldn't just forget about them. Instead, you would keep your eye on them, because you want to protect what is dear to you. In the same way, we are preserved, we are protected, and we are being kept by the power of God. But we need to keep ourselves in a place where He can actively show His love to us. We need to keep ourselves in the love of God. The best way to maintain that kind of relationship is through both prayer and Bible study. We talk to Him and He talks to us. It renews our relationship and helps make the decisions easier to make!

White Cushions and Muddy Paws

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:8-10 ESV). We have a gray couch with different color cushions on it. There are three colors of cushions, white, gold, and maroon. While that sounds rather odd, they go very well together. Our problem is that our dog can come in with muddy paws from time to time. He is a terrier and does enjoy catching the moles in our yard! It is quite a sight to see him begin to dog furiously, stick his nose in the hole, and all of a sudden a little black object is thrown into the air and caught again before it hits the ground. While I don’t mind him ridding the yard of these pesky critters, it does make for dirty paws! When the dog comes inside, it is usually at a full run. He dashes through the back door and immediately runs to the couch, jumping on the cushions. I know that doesn’t represent very good training on my part; however, I would have you remember he is a terrier! The white cushions always seem to get dirtier than the others. However, if you look closely, you’ll see that they simply show the dirt more than the darker colors. Stains and dirt are just more noticeable against a white background. This causes me to think of the common belief among some who say they really don’t sin that much since they have become Christians. The truth is we are still sinners and need to recognize the need for confession daily. This confession doesn’t change the fact that we were forgiven in Christ; it does put us in a position to recognize the work of the Holy Spirit in our continued growth in Christ. So whether we think we need it, we still need to pray, "Forgive me my sins." Our reading today is very clear: If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. The more you have grown spiritually, the more aware you will become of your own sin. Against the “white” background of the holiness and perfection of Christ, it is very easy to see the muddy paw prints of life. A couple married for 15 years began having more than usual disagreements. They wanted to make their marriage work and agreed on an idea the wife had. For one month they planned to drop a slip in a "Fault" box. The boxes would provide a place to let the other know about daily irritations. The wife was diligent in her efforts and approach: "leaving the jelly top off the jar," "wet towels on the shower floor," "dirty socks not in hamper," on and on until the end of the month. After dinner, at the end of the month, they exchanged boxes. The husband reflected on what he had done wrong. Then the wife opened her box and began reading. They were all the same, the message on each slip was, "I love you!" Confess your sins to Him. His response is “I love you!”

Fig Trees and Tennessee Winters

Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:12-16 ESV). When we moved into our home a few years ago I had enough room to plant some fruit trees and berry vines. We have peaches, apples, blueberries, wild raspberries, and figs. I know that is quite an eclectic collection, but it seemed to be what I wanted to grow at the time. Everything is doing very well except the figs. Perhaps it is due in part to the variety of figs I have planted, although I was very careful to select varieties that could survive this winter zone. I did exactly as instructed, planting them on the south side of the house to give them some shelter from the harsh cold winds in January and February. So far they have not done as well as I had hoped they would. They haven’t died, but they die back to the ground every year. Then amazingly they sprout from the root and grow three to four feet and do put on a few figs. This isn’t anything like I remember when I was growing up in Galveston, Texas. We had two fig trees in our backyard that were nearly twenty feet tall and covered at least that much ground space. We had all the fresh figs we could possibly want! I fondly remember going out back with a paper bag and picking the ripe figs for my grandmother to make some Italian confection. The yellow jacket stings were well worth the reward of her fig cookies and breads. As I look at my fig trees today, they have once again died above ground and are sprouting from the root. It reminded me of our reading today. Jesus is called the “root and the descendant of David.” It is another one of the conundrums of Scripture. How can something be both a root and a shoot from the root at the same time? Only with the combination of the divine and human nature in Jesus is it possible. And, in that truth we find the greatest of hopes. Like my fig tree, we will always have life as we are connected to the root. Since Jesus is indeed the Root of David we will always have life. And, again like my fig, as long as we draw on that life, we will also produce fruit. Regardless of the harshness of winter, the root lives. And, it understands that harsh winter wind. Jesus is coming soon. Rest in the Root of David and know he cares for you. He will produce fruit in its season!

I Don't Like that Answer

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:13-15 ESV). There are times when I get news that I don’t particularly like. I was in a big box DIY store not long ago and needed a piece of glass cut. The width was 9½” and the length was 38”. I went to the associate and gave him the measurements and was promptly informed that would be impossible. I did ask, “Why?” He informed me they didn’t have any glass that long. Well, I didn’t like that answer at all! Sometimes that’s really what we say to God when we feel like he hasn’t answered our prayers. When people say that God never answers their prayers, what they are usually saying is they prayed and didn't like the answer. “No” is as much of an answer as “yes.” So if you have prayed for something and God said no, don't say that God didn't answer your prayers. It is more accurate to say that you didn't like the answer God gave you. The primary objective of prayer is to align your will with God's will. This is the impact of our reading today. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (cf. Luke 11:2). True praying is not overcoming God's reluctance; it is laying hold of His willingness. Prayer is not getting your will in heaven; it is getting God's will on earth. When you have lived for awhile, you begin to understand that God knows more than you do. And you even will thank God for unanswered prayers. You will thank God that He said no to you at an earlier time, because you will realize, as you look back, that you didn't know what you were asking for at the time. The goal is to pray according to God's will. And nothing lies outside the reach of prayer except that which lies outside of the will of God. Once while Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden, he was asked, "What would you do if you were suddenly told you would die at sunset today?" He replied, "I would finish hoeing my garden." I believe we would all be better simply by understanding that God holds the future. If the answer is “no” it must be for our good. That is His will for us. As hard as it is to imagine, those answers work together for our good too! Trust in the Lord to answer you perfectly in all things. Keep praying. You don’t need to pray “right;” he will always answer “right.”

Breaking the Point of the Spear

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.” (Acts 23:11 ESV). Our reading today recounts the experience of the apostle Paul when he was in a Roman dungeon for his faithfulness to the gospel. Jesus was revealing to the great apostle that he was more than aware of his situation. Just because he was in a prison didn't mean that God had lost track of him. There is a story of a minister who came to visit John Bunyan, the minister who wrote Pilgrim's Progress, in prison. He told Bunyan, "Friend, the Lord sent me to you, and I have been seeking for you in half the prisons in England." "No, that cannot be," Bunyan said. "For if the Lord had sent you to me, you would have come here at once, for He knows I have been here for years." Jesus is there with us in our "prisons," as well. For some people, it is a literal jail cell they are in because they have broken the law. Yet, as they have asked for God's forgiveness, Jesus is with them there in that prison cell. Maybe you are in a different kind of prison right now, the prison of a hospital bed. You would love to get up and just walk out, but you can't. Even so, Jesus is there in that hospital room, convalescent home, or room in their home, saying, "Be courageous. You are not alone, and I am fully aware of your suffering." Perhaps it is a prison cell of mourning, because of the loss of a loved one through death. Whatever or wherever your prison is, Jesus is there with you now. Jesus also knows what lies ahead. That is why He came to Paul in this hour of need, because He knew he would need this special touch. God reveals to us as much as we need to know, when we need to know it. Not necessarily more and certainly not less, but what we need to know. Your troubles, though unexpected, did not come as a surprise to God. I like the following quote from C.H. Spurgeon: The Lord knows all about your troubles before they come to you; He anticipates them by His tender foresight. Before Satan can draw the bow, the preserver of men will put His beloved beyond the reach of the arrow. Before the weapon is forged in the furnace, and prepared on the anvil, He knows how to provide us with armor of proof which shall blunt the edge of the sword and break the point of the spear. Take courage! He knows and has already made the way clear for your ultimate victory!

Loving Others

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:18-20 ESV). I wish that I knew why so many strangers feel a need to talk to me. Most of the time it is not even the slightest inconvenience. However, every once in a while I just want to be left alone. On this one occasion I was standing in front of a “Mary store” while she was inside shopping. We were in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at the Five Oaks Outlet Mall. That’s one of her favorites. An older man saw me checking my phone. I was looking at some of the posted notes for this year’s football season for Texas A&M. He came up to me and asked, “What’s the stock market doing today?” Believe me, the last thing I wanted to talk about was the rise or fall of the stock market. And, honestly, when I looked at him, I thought, “Really. He wants to know about the stock market.” He was dressed in old clothes, some of his teeth were missing and the ones left were yellowed from cigarettes. In fact, he had a cigarette hanging precariously from his lips as he spoke. I was polite and told him I was looking a football notes from Texas A&M. Surely that would put him off. But, he persisted. He proceeded to tell me his life’s story. Some of it was filled with sadness; other parts were cause for rejoicing. He was in Pigeon Forge with his family whom he had not seen in years. He had an eight year old granddaughter he had never met before this trip. And, ultimately I was able to share a bit about myself with him. When I told him I was a preacher, the conversation really began! He was real. He had no pretensions, no conceit, and no desire to be anything more than he was. You got the raw, beaten down man. And, sadly, I would never have spoken to the guy on my own if he hadn’t walked up to me to ask about the stock market. His life was a mess until recently. He had wandered into a rescue center and heard about Jesus. I was able to tell him a lot more. Our reading today encourages us to do that. It’s funny how I’ve never really needed to go looking for people to love. God puts them all around me. Some don’t look like much on the outside; but, God puts them there for us to reach out to that don’t fit our ideal image of people we want to be around. They could reek of smoke, have few teeth, or even champion political views we don’t like. It’s enough to make us squirm. But there’s one key here that we cannot forget: He loves them. Jesus touched the diseased, dirty, and destitute. We can’t let being uncomfortable prevent us from sharing that love.