Wheat and Tares

The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.  But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.  So the servants of the owner came and said to him "...Do you want us to go and gather them up?" But he said "No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them.  Let both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers 'First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'"  ~Matthew 13:24-30

The tares in this parable were probably the weed darnel.  Darnel looks very much like wheat in the early stages of growth.  The farmer in this parable would not have known that there were tares among the wheat plants until the crop had matured enough that the differences began to show, at which point the roots would be too tangled to pull the weed without damaging the wheat. The presence of the tares was a problem because the flour ground from the seeds of darnel was poisonous. There was a Roman law which made it illegal to sow darnel in another's field.  Since this was apparently known to occur, Jesus' parable would have been very realistic to His listeners.

Jesus explained the parable privately to his disciples in verses 37-43.  We, the people on the earth, are represented by the wheat and the tares.  This includes the entire population of the planet not just "true" or "false" Christians. It is interesting that we should be indistinguishable spiritually until we mature.  I believe that this is another example of how the potential to embrace the gospel is in all of us.  We all face great moments of decision.  The gospel is joyfully presented with the ring of truth about it, the Holy Spirit nudges us to accept and believe, and yet to do so or not is still a decision.  The ability to make that decision and accept its consequences requires a certain amount of spiritual maturity.

Everyone I know who is a Christian loves people who are not Christian. We have an amazing web of family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances.  This net interlocks with our lives so completely that it would be devastating to have everyone who will never believe in Christ suddenly taken away.  Part of loving is praying for the salvation of friends and family who don't know Jesus.  Sometimes we pray for years, sometimes for a lifetime and we cling to our hope that God will change their heart.  We value their presence in our lives and would not even want them removed.

There are, however, some people we wouldn't mind having removed from the population.  Some that we , as a society, remove to prison and there are plenty that should be in prison, but aren't.  Some of these people, sometime in the future, will intentionally devastate or end the life of another or others.  Wouldn't it be better if God's reapers (the angels) just plucked those evil people out now?  In spite of the damage they do, I hope that even these people are loved by someone.  They have parents, a spouse, children, friends.  Not only is everyone important to God but we are also important to each other and, that too, is important to God.

Consider for a moment the people who are very difficult to be around.  These people, Christian or not, impact our lives and our faith tremendously.  They test our patience, our knowledge, and our convictions.  No matter what they do we are commanded to pray for them, to take care of their needs, to love them, and at times to forgive them for things that, to us, seem inexcusable.  These commands show the world what it means to be a Christian, but they are primarily for the good of us as Christians.  Following the example of Christ, our faith is tested, proven, and refined. The tenets of our faith require an audience of tares. To whom would we witness without unbelievers?  What enemies would we forgive if everyone acted righteously?  Of what value is it to only love people who love you back?

What a joy it is to face the end of your life with your faith so strong that it withstood trials, evil, temptations, and the workings of the devil.  Followers and disciples of Christ face a reward at the end of life on earth and the tares we encounter along the way help to mold and refine us to prepare us for what lies ahead. At the same time, only the farmer - God - can truly tell the difference between the wheat and the tares. We have no way of knowing who will ultimately be saved. It is our duty to continue to grow spiritually and to obediently listen to God as we endure the difficulties of life with patience and grace.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us ~Hebrews 12:1

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/takens/5824302361/)

The Veil is Torn!

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; ~Matthew 27:51

The short time that Jesus spent on this earth changed absolutely everything. His life was the culmination of God's redemptive plan that had been put into motion the moment Adam bit into the fruit. That act of Adam's disobedience to God caused a vast separation between God and His most treasured creation, us. This was a separation that could only be overcome by God himself becoming the atoning sacrifice. This was His plan and His purpose from the beginning.

Philip Schaff writes in the History of the Christian Church:

Secular history, far from controlling sacred history, is controlled by it, must directly or indirectly subserve its ends, and can only be understood in the central light of Christian truth and the plan of salvation.

All of human history, both before and after Jesus, prepares for and points to His life and His work of redemption for all of humanity. History (as well as science, psychology, astronomy, etc.) can only begin to be properly and correctly understood when viewed through the lens of the truth of Christ's life and God's plan. 

When Adam sinned, we were separated from God. Humanity was forced to live apart from His continual and personal presence (Romans 5:12). Before Christ appeared on earth as man, God chose to reveal Himself to humanity and to make Himself known to the world through a single people, the Israelites.  Though the Israelites knew God they were still separated from His continual and personal presence. Only priests from the tribe of Levi were allowed to go through the veil and enter into the inner sanctuary of the temple, and then only one priest and only once per year. 

The veil was a symbolic representation of the required separation from God due to our sin. When Christ died on the cross He paid the price for that sin and the veil was torn. That which separated us from the very presence of God was forever removed (2 Corinthians 3:16). When Christ ascended to heaven He defeated death forever and built a bridge across the mighty chasm that spanned between God and humanity. When He sent His Spirit to indwell and live with us forever, He gave us power over our sin and made us one body. Everyday He molds and changes us us to conform to His very image, bringing us closer to Himself.

We are no longer a people separated from God and unable to enter into His temple. Due to what Jesus accomplished, we have become the very temple itself and the Spirit of the living God lives in every person who accepts this free gift of ultimate love and sacrifice (1 Corinthians 6:19). We are free from the bondage and ultimate penalty of sin. The bridge to our Father and eternal life is built and it is open to all who would choose it. That which separated us from our Creator is forever gone. The veil is torn!

He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. ~John 19:30

 (photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaomancer/211199077/)

Through the Storm

So Joseph's master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the King's prisoners were confined... But the Lord was with Joseph ~Genesis 39:20-21

Joseph had had a pretty rough time of things lately. His brothers were jealous of him, had thrown him down a well, threatened to murder him, and ultimately sold him into slavery. As a slave he had done everything right and, just when things seemed to be going pretty well, he was falsely accused by his master's wife and thrown into the dungeon where he was left for several years. Yet, through all of this suffering and injustice, we are told that God was with Joseph. 

There are times in our lives when things just don't seem to be going according to our plan. In fact they are going horribly wrong. Perhaps we lost a job, had a spouse leave us, are dealing with the death of a loved one, facing our own mortality, or have simply ended up in a place in life where we just don't want to be. It is easy and natural for us during the difficult times and seasons of our lives to question God's plan for us and to wonder if He is even here. 

There are many today that profess to preach the Word of God - well-dressed individuals with their shiny suits and their shiny smiles - that will tell you that God wants only the best for you here in this life and that if you are really on God's "good list" then you will be blessed by God with perfect health and with all the material wealth you need and want. If you don't have good health and lot's of extra spending cash then you must not be right with God. These false prophets lead millions of people away from God as they prey on the innocent by convincing them that they can buy their way into God's favor and gain wealth for themselves in the process.

The lure of health and wealth in this life is certainly powerful but it is not what the Word of God promises. God tells us that this life will be hard, that we will go through difficult times. He even promises that the closer we get to Him and the more obedient we become, the more difficult this life will be as He goes through the process of molding us into the individual masterpieces that He created us to be. God does not promise to save us out of life's difficulties and trials but rather He promises something much greater. He promises that He will be with us through them and that it is through these trails that we become more and more conformed to the likeness of Christ - suffering for righteousness sake just as He suffered for us.

Joseph was highly favored by God and was ultimately used by God to save an entire nation and to bring another nation, the nation of Israel, into existence. During his trails of being beaten, rejected and betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and wrongfully imprisoned Joseph still trusted God and knew that God was with him. He didn't know how God would use these trying times and I am sure that Joseph had many moments of doubt and dejection through those years. Yet through it all God was preparing Joseph for something that he couldn't comprehend at the time. Ruling an entire nation.

 

Those years in prison helped to mold Joseph into the man that God needed him to be in order to rule the nation of Egypt and see Egypt through a famine that would have destroyed it apart from God's intervention. God sees each of our lives with an eternal perspective and while it can sometimes be very difficult for us to understand the trials and difficult circumstances in our lives, God knows exactly what we are going through and asks us to trust Him and rely on His strength to carry us through any difficulty.

Are you going through a painful or difficult time right now? Is there some aspect of your life where you feel you just need to cry out to God? Remember that while God does sometimes calm the storms of our lives, other times He calms us through the storm. Either way He is always there with us and is always working out His plans and His purposes toward His ultimate and eternal goal. What a blessed promise it is to be a part of that!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  ~Romans 8:28

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/irteza/4330754374/) 

Life of Learning

Take my yolk upon you and learn from Me ~Matthew 11:29

A large part of our christian walk is about learning. We study the bible, go to Sunday School, and debate theology with our spouses and friends. Knowledge is one way that we strengthen our faith as well as our trust in God and we are encouraged to pursue it. With knowledge comes the responsibility to act on what we know to be true. Taking responsibility for our failures, working with the Holy Spirit to correct ourselves, and doing God's will in a culture that does not value our faith can be difficult and humbling. Deepening our understanding so that we can increase our productivity in God's service can lead us into some difficult and frightening places. Sometimes we forget what a blessing it is to be in a constant state of growth.

As children we learn rules, both household and social. We go to school and get an education. Some of us chose college and continue our education but at some point we stop pursuing knowledge as a primary focus. We know enough to pursue a career so we set our sights on on our daily lives and on making our way in the world. We get in a rhythm, become comfortable with the expectations of society, and we stagnate. Some people continue to study all of their lives, but their end goal is usually to gain money or influence, or to “keep current”, their goal is not for knowledge itself. It is only in our spiritual growth that there is truly no end to our learning and to our growth. What a great blessing even when it hurts.

Outside the doors of the church lives a vast population of socially adept, comfortable and relatively happy people. They are not morally or ethically inferior to Christians, but without a relationship with Jesus they have no motivation to learn and to grow spiritually. They don't understand that the very concept of a “good person” is an oxymoron. If they heard someone make this claim, they wouldn't believe that it applied to them. Their finances are in order, their culture makes sense and they are respected by colleagues. It is only when they consider the point of it all that they feel uneasy.

Biology tells us that the point of life is to create new life. Poetry tells us to be insightful and expressive. Atheism tells us that we die and end and anyone who can't accept that is weak. These are not great points for a collection of self concerned individuals who face a 100% mortality rate. It is most comfortable to simply not consider the point of living and therefore, without knowledge of it, they are merely waiting to die. Their favorite photos, lovingly crafted scrapbooks, videos and journals are destined for the dump within two generations. When people promise at funerals “We will never forget you” that promise holds only as long as they live, which isn't for very long. Our names and our stories disappear from this world more thoroughly and more quickly than even the atheists admit.

How awesome to have a desire for knowledge that doesn't end when our secular education is complete. How inspiring to seek answers to the difficult questions of life that lead us to faith. How gracious of God to give us a textbook so complex that we can study for a lifetime and still have more to learn. How amazing to know a God that grants us eternity to learn about and to get to know Him and all of His creation!

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness ~2 Timothy 3:16

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ec-jpr/3493900135/)
 

The Morality Argument

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ~Psalm 19:1

In response to a question posed by one of his former students pertaining to the relationship between morality and God, a college professor wrote a note on facebook lamenting on how some people rely on the idea of God to define their concept of morality. He summarizes his post this way:

"The bottom line is that the existence of God is immaterial to virtuous, moral behavior. Good people don't need a pastor, a minister, a prophet, or a church to tell them how to behave. They already know what's right in their hearts -- and if they don't, they have the ability to figure it out."

I do not personally know this professor, nor was his post of sufficient length or detail to fully flesh out the reasoning behind his argument but the gist of it is clear. It is actually an argument I know quite well because it is based on the view that I firmly held as an atheist. There are two basic paths that this line of reasoning generally takes. The first is the idea that there are no absolutes and that all concepts of right and wrong are determined either by the individual or by society.  I address this point of view in the blog post titled Absolute Truth.

The second line of reasoning, and the one that the professor seems to be following, is that there is such a thing as a collective morality and that each of us has an instinctual knowledge of the definition of morality, or at least what it should be. In one sense, this point of view is absolutely correct in that there is an absolute standard for morality and each person does have some internal and inescapable awareness that the standard exists. One aspect this point of view does not account for very well is the question; if we all know about this internal morality, why do we seem to have such difficulty in following it?

In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis describes the matter this way:

"These, then, are two points that I wanted to make. First, that human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and they cannot really get rid of it. Secondly, that they do not in fact behave that way. They know the Law of Nature; they break it. These two facts are the foundation of all clear thinking about ourselves and the universe we live in."

It is vitally important, when addressing a matter of any seriousness, that we ensure that we are starting our thinking from a solid foundation. It is very easy to throw out high-minded, feel-good statements about our own goodness and moral abilities, but upon what do we base our beginning assumptions?  

In our western culture there are two fundamentally opposed world views upon which people generally base all of their thinking. These are the natural and theological. Do your observations and philosophy about the universe begin with the view that all life is the result of a combination of time and random chance and where every ability we have is due to the process of natural selection over billions of years? Or do you see the universe from the perspective that all life was created with purpose and with meaning; that there is a power higher than us that has made Himself known through all that He has created and through specific special revelation (see our post on God's Revelation for more on this)?

If these are the two main competing world views (I am simplifying for brevity) then the question becomes how do we determine which is correct? If you have a personal relationship with God, this question is easy to answer, but what about those that do not yet know God? Is there any intellectually acceptable help to guide them? 

The main criteria for evaluating a world view is whether or not it is internally consistent. That is to say, does my world view ever contradict itself? For example, one of the foundational principles of the naturalistic world view is that every ability we have is the result of, and can be explained in the light of, natural selection. In other words, if a trait doesn't help us survive in this world, then it is eventually discarded as it is not passed on to successive generations. But this point of view is at odds with what we see in people. Our concept of morality and our inescapable internal desire to care for those that are weak and infirm is fundamentally opposed to the idea and theory of survival of the fittest.  

The Christian world view, however, is completely consistent in describing what we observe in human behavior. It fully explains our internal concepts of morality and our innate desires to help those in need as these are characteristics that define creatures designed in God's own image. It also completely explains why we, in practice and in heart, consistently fail to live up to this morality through our fallen sinful nature. Most people, when arguing the naturalistic world view will point to the failures of the church as an example of how religion fails to successfully fulfill the internal law that we all feel. But this failure itself is entirely consistent with what scripture reveals to us about the fallen nature of man and of our inability to navigate the path of moral behavior ourselves apart from God. 

This is just one example of many. At true and honest look will reveal that the Christian world view is the only world view that is completely free from all internal inconsistencies. Precisely what you would expect from the truth.

Much ink has been spilled over the course of human history debating this issue so I do not expect to be able to treat it fully here. For an excellent treatment of the subject in more detail, I would highly recommend Mere Christianity. No one quite says it like C.S. Lewis. In the mean time, if you will remember to ask yourself if your world view adequately explains the universe and observed human behavior in an internally consistent and complete way, you will begin to find that there is only one single world view that succeeds and that is Christianity. 

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ~Colossians 1:16-17

  

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/reisgekki/3999966771/)

Pray Continually

Pray continually ~1 Thessalonians 5:17

This is a pretty short and succinct verse that also, at first glance, seems rather impossible. Could this mean that I am literally commanded to pray continually, every minute of every day? How would I ever get anything done if I spent all my time in prayer? I believe that the answer is yes, we are commanded to be in prayer continually in everything that we do. It is in everything that we do, in fact, that we learn to know God and begin to understand His grace, mercy, and extreme love for us. It is in the details of life that we begin to learn to understand the will of God for us, but only if we are paying attention, listening, casting our own pride and selfishness aside, and focusing on Him and on His will.

In the book of Revelation John describes how he witnesses the throne of God surrounded by four creatures and twenty-four elders. Day and night, the creatures never stop saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come.” and each and every time they say this the elders fall down and lay their crowns before the throne (Revelation 4:1-11). It would seem that these elders have little time for anything else, yet later, one of the elders carries on a conversation with John (Revelation 7:13). So which is it? Is the elder continually praising God or talking with John? The answer is that he is simultaneously doing both. The image that John saw was a picture of how we are to be inwardly oriented toward God in all things and at all times. 

The full context of the verse in Thessalonians is “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). We are not called to be disconnected from our environment or our circumstances but rather we are called to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful in every situation - constantly giving praise and glory to God - no matter how good or how bad the situation may seem to us. In Revelation, the elder that carried on a conversation with John also never stopped praising God and casting his crown at the throne. John is seeing and describing, in a very visual form, the attitude that each of us is to seek and to maintain throughout every moment of our lives.

God never stops speaking to us and desires that we be in constant, unceasing fellowship with Him. We are to cast our cares, our troubles, our hurts, our concerns, our pride, our failures, our selfishness - everything - at His feet. In all things we must pray in the Spirit and let our requests be made known to God (Ephesians 6:18). This sounds difficult, and surely as we let the cares and concerns of this world distract and occupy us, it is difficult to be constantly mindful of God. Focus today on picturing God on His throne. Imagine casting your concerns and your troubles at His feet. Listen to what He says to you. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4:6-7

(Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bagoogoo/3002738501/)

The Greatness of God

Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth ~Deuteronomy 4:10

Fear is a strange and powerful emotion. Because fear, as I consider it, is so intense, it is impossible to maintain. Perhaps I equate it too closely with terror. Real biblical fear is more like recognizing God's unmatched and unimaginable superiority. Biblical fear of God, as we see in the opening verse, is also something we learn which comforts me because I don't think I fear God enough. When our culture thinks of God, it focuses on His love and on His forgiveness which are true and beautiful attributes, but to focus on them alone leaves only a partial picture. God is raw, unmatched, holy power.

A lesser example so that we can try to wrap our puny brains around the concept is that of our sun. Our sun seems benevolent – it gives us light and color, warmth, and even life. Without its glow we would be plunged into cold blackness in just a few minutes. Conversely, anything that strays too close to it is mercilessly pulled into an inferno. Its heat is so intense that the numerical number assigned to it is meaningless in our everyday experience – it is simply beyond our comprehension yet we know that our sun, as compared to other stars is rather small, cool, and ordinary. We stretch ourselves to simply begin to understand our small, cool burning sun that God simply spoke spoke into existence along with the entire cosmos.

God's knowledge and power are just as impressive if you turn your mind from the grandiose to the miniscule. Jesus tells us that “the very hairs on your head are numbered” (Matthew 10:30) and not one sparrow “will fall to the ground apart from the Father” (Matthew 10:29), God knows every nucleic acid in your genetic code and every stray thought that you try to leave incomplete because it reveals a hard and ugly heart. God knows all of this and we can no more grasp His greatness in the minutiae of detail than in the vastness of the universe.

God deals with things smaller than we can imagine, manages with ease things greater than we can imagine and we find ourselves, each individual me, an insignificant blip on a scale that, from our view, has infinity stretching out on either side. Yet we are somehow vastly important to this unimaginable God who is so powerful and so holy. Even in the infinite vastness of His creation we are unable to fade into insignificance because He loves us in spite of who and what we are. He therefore demands nothing less of us than everything. It is here that I begin to learn how love and fear are merged in the worship of almighty God.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. ~Psalm 103:11

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sprengben/6830207657/)

Walking Weary

I am weary, O God, I am weary, O God.  How can I prevail? ~Proverbs 30:1

The term "weary" paints a picture. I see someone walking, back bent, head down. Weariness has a heavy trod as if putting one foot after the other takes all the energy that is left. It is not tired from exertion or a poor nights sleep.  Weariness does not come on suddenly or disappear quickly. Weariness comes from the constant onslaught of responsibilities, worries, discouragements.  It is the daily burdens, difficult relationships, the constant effort of striving that makes us weary. In other words, weariness is a condition rather than a feeling.

God knows that his children get weary.  In addition to the daily burden of living, Christians assume the extra burdens of attempting to live as a Godly example to others, of resisting the temptations of materialism and decadence, of living differently from what is "normal" by cultural standards. It is hard to be a Christian. While it may be uncomfortable to admit that and seem ungrateful for the great mercy and love offered to us, God knew the Christian path would be difficult.  He promises trials, tribulation, and suffering in every book of the New Testament. He also promises rest and strength to everyone who turns to him.

God does not grow weary and has strength in abundance for all that will rely on Him. He will always supply you with what you need to do His work.  Like the condition of weariness, trust and rest in the Lord is also a condition - a habit of living. As you face the daily battle of surviving, daily give your worries to God.  Daily seek his peace and daily remind yourself of His priorities rather than your own.  God is the source of every breath. He is the source of peace amidst turmoil, joy amidst suffering, and rest although we struggle.  He is the source that, no matter how much we draw on Him, will never be diminished.

The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  ~Isaiah 40:28-31

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ssanyal/441258950/)

One Bridge

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. ~Luke 19:10

Tom and Cheryl were lost. They had been driving and driving but were nowhere closer to reaching home than when they had started. They, however, were blissfully ignorant of this fact and were quite content to just keep going, arguing occasionally about the direction, but both certain that they'd get there eventually. Tom was a very reliable and capable man and, being confident in his own abilities, was sure that by picking the path that seemed right to him at the time that he'd find the way. Cheryl had a ton of maps that she had collected from all over the world and she constantly studied them and attempted to apply them to whatever landmarks she saw around her in order to help direct them. Whether or not these maps actually applied to where she really was never seemed to occur to her. One map, after all, is just as valid as any other.

There were two reasons that they weren't very concerned about being lost: One was that they didn't really understand that they were lost in the first place (Cheryl's maps occasionally kind of fit where they were) and the other was that they didn't think it mattered anyway because the trip itself was pretty fun. They had a really nice car and there were lot's of distractions along the way. There were fun places to play and do whatever they wanted. There were great restaurants, good places to gamble, and lots of other things to keep them amused and distracted. Life, they thought, is all about the journey after all. You'd better have fun on the journey because you may never arrive at your destination anyway.

One day, as Cheryl was busily trying to make sense of another one of her maps that had no relation to where they actually were, Tom saw another one of those roadsigns that warned that the path ahead held danger and that the road home was off the freeway and was down one of those tiny off-ramps onto a narrow and rocky little road. He was really sick of these signs and wished someone would just take them down.  They had tried following one of these signs before and it only led them away from all of the things that they needed like air conditioned hotels, restaurants that served good food with well dressed and polite waitstaff, and high-end shopping malls. It led them up rocky mountain paths and down into hot and uncomfortable valleys. His nice car got scratched and dirty and there were miserable broken people all along the way begging Tom and Cheryl to give them some of their hard-earned money. It was a truly horrific experience.

No, it was quite obvious to Tom that the nice wide highway with the smooth, well maintained pavement and with the malls, the restaurants, and the gas stations all conveniently located along the way - the road where that was kept free of the filthy beggars - this was the road that would get them home.  With his sense of direction (and Cheryl's variety of maps) they'd make it there even if they had to ignore the signs some wackos had put up everywhere.

You see, Tom and Cheryl's destination was a kingdom on the other side of a mighty chasm that was uncrossable. The King of that kingdom was very powerful and used all of His strength and all of His resources to build a mighty bridge, a single bridge, across the chasm. He then placed road signs all over the other side directing people to His bridge, the one and only way to the Kingdom. Rather than trust in Him, the people on the other side ignored the King's signs, built their own roads, and attempted to build their own bridges. The roads the people made were beautiful. The paths were comfortable. But the people simply didn't possess the ability to construct a bridge that would span the chasm. Everyone who attempted to use a bridge not made by the hand of the mighty King perished.  

Tom had heard these stories but didn't really believe them. He continued to ignore the signs that had been placed all along the highway, just like all of the thousands of other travelers that were on the road with him. The signs got bigger and bigger, placed every mile or so, and warned of destruction ahead, pointing to the correct path, but choosing to follow others and listen to his own pride (as well as Cheryl's maps) Tom, seeing a bridge ahead and sincerely believing it was the right one, drove he and his wife right off its edge and into the chasm.

There is a mighty chasm that separates us from God. In his great love, God has built a single bridge for us to cross that chasm and come to Him. It is through Jesus and Jesus alone that we may find our salvation. This is not a secret path or hidden way. God has been shouting His warning and calling to you. He has left a detailed map and signs to point you to Him. There are many human roads that look comfortable and promise glory but they all end in destruction. 

The path to God, the path that He calls us to travel, is difficult. You will get dirty along the way. You will have to learn to place the needs of others above your own. You will have to learn to let go of those earthly things that take God's place in your heart. The road will take you through hot desert valleys and up difficult and rocky mountain trails. You will be called to minister to broken people who will revile you for trying to help them. Through this journey, however, you will find who you really are, you will find the person that you were created to be. You will learn to truly love and to truly know God in a personal and intimate way and to live with Him in His kingdom.  

Jesus Christ died to pay for every sin you have ever committed and was raised from the dead to build that mighty bridge for you to cross to the Kingdom that your heart desires. Don't ignore His signs. He is calling you. Listen to Him and heed His call.

  

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. ~Acts 4:12

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jyryk/3580822452/)

Fellowship and Community

For where two or three have gathered together in My Name, I am there in their midst. ~Matthew 18:20

There is much said in the pages of scripture about the fellowship and community of believers. These are concepts and constructs that are not simply helpful to us as individuals as we continue on our own journeys toward the ultimate fellowship with God in Christ, but rather these are absolutely foundational and fundamental to that journey. God has called to Himself a people, a bride in the church universal (Revelation 21:9). We as individuals are part of that bride just as our heart or lungs are part of each of us (1 Corinthians 10:17), and just as a heart or lungs cannot survive outside of the body, neither can we survive spiritually outside of the body of Christ.  

This is a very difficult concept for me personally as even the very idea of participating in social situations makes me uncomfortable. I would much rather stay cooped up inside my house, with the doors shut, safely away and protected from any potentially awkward and painful social interaction. Yet it is not my personal comfort that God calls me to pursue. We are each called to pursue Him, and a foundational part of pursuing Him means actively engaging and participating in the fellowship and community of believers.

Whereas I struggle not to fall into the pit isolation, there is an equally dangerous ditch on the other side of the road that requires caution as well. There are many who thrive on social interaction, and indeed require it to maintain their sanity, but simple social interaction and even friendship is not enough. We must be careful to remember that it is not casual or idle friendship that we are called to, but focused, purposeful, and deeply meaningful relationship built on love. The heart is not placed inside the chest to simply enjoy the company of the lungs, but rather to both provide the lungs with nourishment and to work in harmony with the lungs to nourish the rest of the body.   

While BBQs, play dates, and even men's and women's retreats are good things that build relationships, they, by themselves, are not sufficient. True fellowship requires a level of accountability (Titus 2:15). Accountability can only be granted where there is trust. Trust only comes through practiced and continuous relationship through all life's seasons and storms. It is important to remember that it is not the simple act of fellowship that we are called to engage in as if it were something we could just do to check off our list. We are commanded to love one another even as Christ loved us (John 13:34) and we are told that whatever we do, no matter how great an act it might be, if it is done without love then it is without worth (1 Corinthians13:1-3).     

Take a moment to evaluate your interactions with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Are you engaged with your community or are you disconnected? Are you loving and nourishing others or are you simply feeding yourself? Where is God calling you to focus your attention today? How and who is He calling you to love?

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ~Acts 2:42

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kangster/2773693006/)

Without Complaining

How long shall this wicked congregation complain against me? ~ Numbers 14:27

The Israelites who were part of the exodus from Egypt murmured, grumbled, and complained – a lot.  They were leaving behind a life of bitter slavery and forced hard labor, yet during their journey many of them looked back on Egypt as better than their current circumstance. These Israelites had witnessed incredible miracles: those that allowed them to leave Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, a pillar of fire to lead them by night and a pillar of smoke by day, food miraculously appeared for them each night, and yet their hearts were not grateful. All of the signs of the presence of God did not quiet their grumbling. The Israelites were the chosen people of God not because of their strength or numbers (Deuteronomy 7:7) or because of their temperament (Deuteronomy 31:27) but because God had made a promise to their ancestor Abraham and God always keeps his promises.

Do you have kids or know kids?  Kids often make statements like "I'm thirsty" which is different, in my opinion, from the question "May I have a drink of water?" which is again different from the request "Would you please get me some water?".  The thirsty kids know what they need.  It is just harder to ask directly than to imply.  The Israelites did this also, they complained extensively about their circumstances.  At one point they were so angry at their situation that Moses said to God "These people are ready to stone me"  (Exodus 17:4). Yet nobody ever asked for what they were lacking.

As a parent I don't mind if my kids ask me for things, especially if it is something they need.  I get a little frustrated if they complain a lot about being thirsty without taking care of it themselves or asking me to help.  The Israelites took this even a step farther and complained against God.  Rather than feeling and showing gratitude for their rescue from slavery, they remembered their slavery as good times of plenty.  Rather than holding on to the hope of God's promises, they allowed themselves to become mired in the trials of their daily life.  No wonder God was angry.

I've used kids and the Israelites to illustrate the point that complaining is not an effective way to get what you want, but I'm as guilty as anyone.  Complaining comes so naturally.  There are any number of situations that are not ideal and when we dwell on what is lacking instead of what is given or what is promised, complaining is sure to follow, even if its not voiced.

When we are not deeply troubled by adversity there is no need to practice stoicism.  Our treasure is not in this world and our joy and hope for our future cannot be shaken by anything that is in this world.  Our treasure is safer than Fort Knox.  In light of this great gift, it is no wonder that God does not like us to complain.  When we trust God and our peace is sincere we shine like a lighthouse in the midst of a storm.

Do all things without complaining or disputing that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.  ~Philippians 2:14-15

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/giannaborgnine/4540122324/)
 

Raising the Bar

O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago. ~Isaiah 25:1

One hundred years ago, during the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm Sweden, Alma Richards of the United States took home the Gold medal in the men's high jump by clearing a bar of 6 feet 4 inches. Today, the world record, set in 1993 by Javier Sotomayor of Cuba, is 8 feet 4.5 inches. In the eighty one years between 1912 and 1993 the world record for the men's high jump was broken forty seven times. Each time the record was broken, it was by a very small amount as each generation of athlete would realize what heights were possible and then would try to exceed themselves by pushing the record just a little farther.

The men competing in the 1912 Olympics were no less athletic and were no less talented than those that competed in later generations. As they pushed themselves to move the bar higher inch by inch, as they continued to refine their technique, and as they rejoiced each time that they reached their goal, they simply did not know what they were truly capable of achieving. Had you told one of those athletes in 1912 that, within a few decades, men would be jumping a full two feet higher than them, you would have probably been met with scoffing and disbelief. They would have claimed it to be impossible and would have doubted your grasp of reality.

We are called to worship and praise a God that has set some pretty high standards for us too – standards which to many people seem impossible. We are told that to hate someone is to be guilty of murder and to even look at a woman with lust is to commit adultery. Like the athletes in 1912 who didn't know what they were capable of, our society tells us that the bar of God's teaching is way too high and that to control ourselves to that extent is simply not possible.

As an atheist, one of the objections I had to Christianity was the idea of a god that demanded worship. Any god that is so conceited and insecure as to require my worship, I said, is not a god I am interested knowing. What I didn't understand at the time is why God requires our worship. It is not for His sake, but for ours. We worship God because He is the only thing that is worthy of our worship and as we take our eyes off of the things of this world (and the lowly standards they represent) and cast our gaze upon Him we begin to understand what we are really capable of and we begin to strive for a higher standard – a standard that we were created to achieve and to maintain.

Like the Olympic athletes of the past century, we cannot expect to reach our ultimate goals immediately but must instead make small and steady progress toward a goal, the ultimate 'height' of which is unknown to us. Each day we must press a little farther and take the next step forward, constantly keeping our gaze on the one who gives us strength and encourages us to press on.

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching for those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:13-14

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tjflex/313051066/)

Love Changes Us

They became an abomination like the thing they loved. ~Hosea 9:10

Wow! Wow, did God ask a difficult thing of Hosea. Hosea was the only known writing prophet from the northern kingdom of Israel. He was called not only to speak the prophesies of God, but to model the message of His prophesies by intentionally marrying an unfaithful woman and repeatedly forgiving her and taking her back into his home and into his heart. This was to demonstrate God's love and desire to forgive a nation that had repeatedly turned away from Him to worship false gods whose rituals involved abominable practices. These idols that the people of Israel had come to love had changed the culture and the people themselves. The Israelites had changed from God's chosen, favored people into what God Himself declared to be an abomination.

Love feels like an emotion that only flows outward, but what you love changes who you are. The easiest example of this for me involves sports because I used to love the Kansas City Chiefs. My love for this football team first required that I forgive them for sporting the same colors and mascot theme as my high school's nemesis, the Wasilla Warriors. Next it determined what I filled my Sundays with because anything that happened in the NFL was potentially relevant. I had a KC sweatshirt, and baseball cap. I still have the cups and popcorn bowl, so it influenced what I wore and owned. I also had my head filled with sports trivia: records, rosters, schedules, coaches, positions etc. and I loved to talk football. I could knowledgeably talk about any team in the league-any NFL fan can! Now the point is not to claim that enjoying sports is wrong, but to acknowledge that what you love does affect what you do, what you think about, what you wear and what you own. It affects the gifts you receive, the knowledge you accumulate, and conversations you enjoy. MOST people are not made abominable in the sight of God by loving sports! If we love something more than God, however, it becomes an idol and a stumbling block.

What happens then when our idols are abominable? The Israelites were engaging in temple prostitution, orgies, self-laceration, and child sacrifice. What if our participation requires activities that are intolerable to God? When I was just starting college at UAF, three of us shared a car ride to Fairbanks for the weekend. Two of us were going to get some things set up for school, but a young man-whom I remember nothing else about- was going to spend the weekend with a witch he had met online. Even as an atheist I knew enough to be afraid for him. At the end of the weekend, we picked him up and he was physically unharmed, but he was wide-eyed and awed. He obviously believed that he had experienced something powerful and mystical, but he refused to tell us anything that had happened. Please pray for him and kids like him, it was over 20 years ago and I don't know what happened to him, I don't even know his name, but I do know that something dark touched his life that weekend.

Whether we focus our affections on things that seem to us to be innocuous like sports or dangerous like witchcraft, we are affected in a fundamental way. Love changes us, both for good and for ill. When we seek God, when we love Him more than anything else, we are improved. Here, the object of our devotion works a change in us that makes us more like Jesus. When we reflect on that which is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8) we are changed in who we are and in how we relate to the world.

For our own good God gave us His law. Jesus Himself, when asked, identified the first and greatest commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rosipaw/5023148020/)

Absolute Truth

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ~Romans 7:1

We have a tendency and a desire to rely on our earthly abilities and our personal nature to make sense of the world around us. We are told by the world that we must follow our hearts at all times and to do what is good. Here Paul tells us in the book of Romans that we are incapable of carrying out good and Jeremiah tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). More than that, Isaiah tells us that our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). If these things are true then how are we to live and how can we possibly approach a holy God?

First, can it be true that our hearts really are deceitful, that we are incapable of doing good, and that the good things we do are nothing more than filthy rags? These ideas go against everything that secular culture preaches to us every day. The secular world says that we are all inherently good and it is only bad circumstances beyond our control that force us to behave badly. If that is true, then where do all of the bad circumstances come from I wonder? The truth is that if you search yourself honestly, you will find that you rarely succeed in living up to your own standards, let alone those of a holy and perfect God.

Secular society gets around this question simply by stating that there is no such thing as absolute truth and therefore no higher immovable morality to hold as our standard. The concepts and definitions of morality and of what is good are simply whatever we, as individuals or as a culture, define them as at any given point in time. We, as the masters of our own morality, are perfectly free to modify the definition of what is right and what is wrong based solely on what our hearts tell us at the time or what is currently popular in our culture.

If the inherent difficulties in this point of view are not readily apparent, then take a look again at the foundational principle upon which the world view is based: There is no such thing as absolute truth. Put another way, it is an absolute truth is that there are no absolute truths. While this may sound very deep in a 60’s drug-induced counter-culture sort of way, it is a self-defeating statement which means that if the statement is true then it must be false. A world view based on a self-defeating proposition is like a house built upon the sand. It may feel great to live on the beach, but as soon as a storm hits, the house will crumble around you.

The absolute truth is that we are living in open rebellion against a holy God and there is absolutely nothing within us that is capable of bridging the gap that stretches between us and Him. Only God can defeat our selfish and sinful nature in order to close that gap and bring us into close and personal fellowship with Him. Only through the work and person of Jesus Christ, who paid the ultimate cost for us, can this happen (John 14:6).

There are those that hear this message and despair thinking that if there is nothing within them that is good, then they cannot be saved. Exactly the opposite is true. We have the ultimate cause for rejoicing because God has given every single person, regardless of what they have ever done, the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. The only thing we must do is receive it and receive Him.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ~Romans 10:9

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/feargal/6329704686/)

Thank God For Coffee

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. ~Psalm 100:4

It can sometimes be difficult to be truly thankful for the things that God blesses us with in this life. Usually we don't even recognize that it is God that has provided for us in the first place and instead assume that all things come from our own effort or through luck. Not only are we not thankful to God for those things that he has blessed us with, we are not even content with them. We are constantly desiring and striving for more, taking for granted what we have to such an extent that we begin to see ourselves as not being blessed at all but rather ignored or even abused by God. What a sad state. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus sets the standard for our desires:  

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?
²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)

It is difficult to imagine a section of Scripture that goes more against the very core of our culture than this. This call to living in a way so completely dependent on God is so foreign that many modern theologians errantly teach that, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is talking about the future Kingdom, that now we should fight for what is ours, but then - sometime in the future - all things will be provided. But if this is for us today, how are we to possibly live this way? How can we possibly not worry about tomorrow? I don't claim to know the mind of God, but I do believe that He has been teaching our family the art and the value of His providence and care.

This morning, as I pondered what I was to write and was preparing a cup of coffee, I literally stopped for a moment and thanked God for my coffee. You see, it has been over a week since we've had any in the house because our funds are limited and coffee is, quite frankly, a luxury item. Yet we have some now thanks to God's provision. How does that work? Well, for that to make sense, we need to back up just a bit. 

Over the past year and half, God has been teaching us the truth of His care and of our need and our ability to rely on Him. Sometimes, we need to be brought low in order to remove the blinders that the world places on us. For our family, it worked this way: After spending nine months unemployed and finally getting a job where everything but the paycheck is fantastic, we have had to make some pretty major adjustments.  We have gone through a process of cutting out everything that was wasn't essential.  The home phone, television, texting plans, even the internet for awhile. We have had to learn to live on a budget that, after all basic bills are paid, leaves us just a bit left over for food. For the last three to four months we have had a weekly grocery budget of $20. For a family of four that seems impossible, yet we've managed to keep to that budget without skipping any meals through the grace and provision of God. 

Here are some examples of how God has provided for us: A month or so ago, my wife volunteered to handle the coordination of providing lunches to kids at a play date put on by our church. Many people donated the makings of sack lunches for about 150 kids. The play date was a great success but their were a ton of leftover perishable lunches that ended up being given to us. We spent the next couple of weeks eating peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches for every meal. That got a little old, but we didn't have to extend the grocery budget. During that same time, our pastor put on a big lunch for the whole church to celebrate his 15th anniversary as pastor at our church. There were tons of leftovers that he handed out and we again ended up with a several large meals. My dad made too much potato soup and we ended up with a huge pot. You get the idea. 

None of these people knew anything about our finances yet they provided without even knowing that God was working through them and that they were meeting a real need. You see, sandwiches didn't just go "poof!" and appear in our refrigerator, BBQ pork and soup didn't fall out of the sky (thankfully) yet God arranged things so that our needs would be met. God works through each of us to meet the needs of those around us. The other day, a lady that I work with asked me if I wanted an old tin of coffee that she hadn't opened for years I haven't had morning coffee for awhile so I said "absolutely!". While God promises to take care of our needs as we trust Him, he also occasionally provides for our wants as well. I wanted coffee, but apparently I don't need caffeine because He provided decaffeinated coffee. Yet still I am thankful for His tremendous blessings.

It was only through a time of difficulty that I was able to see the amazing blessings that God continues to provide through all things. He is always there. He is always active. He is always good. How has God worked in your life recently? Take a moment to give Him thanks for your blessings and to praise His holy name!

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. ~Colossians 3:17

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/doug88888/2953428679/)

Meant For Good

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.  ~Genesis 50:20

These words were spoken by Joseph to his brothers who first intended to kill him, but when the opportunity came, instead sold him into slavery. Joseph's father had unabashedly loved Joseph more than his 11 other sons and Joseph added fuel to their anger by tattling on his brothers (Genesis 37:2) and then telling them of dreams he'd been having in which his brothers bowed at his feet (Genesis 37:5-11). Strangely it is the dreams that really upset the brothers rather than the things that actually affected the quality of their lives. Their jealousy and anger reached such proportions that they acted upon the evil they felt and sold Joseph to passing merchants who just happened to be on their way to Egypt.
 

It is such a strange twist of fate when the very actions we take to avoid a situation cause it to happen. By selling Joseph into slavery, his brothers were actually setting in motion the events that would lead to the fulfillment of Joseph's dreams. These situations are easy for great and mighty God to arrange. It is an amazing comfort to know that God's abilities are without limit and that we are His children.  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11)

This was true for Joseph and even though Jeremiah had not yet written these words, Joseph understood them instinctively and he never doubted. Even falsely accused and imprisoned, Joseph never stopped praising God.

Often while we are enduring our own trials, it is hard to hold on to our confidence that God works all things for our good. We hurt, we worry, and we doubt. Occasionally things that happen feel like a punishment.  We are not capable of seeing the whole picture and the simple task of not doubting is sometimes as much as we can manage. Leave the details that are not assigned to you and the outcome up to God. It is His anyway and who else could you possibly trust to use it for the greatest good? 

C.S. Lewis put it well when he said:

"Satan is without doubt nothing else than a hammer in the hand of a benevolent and severe God.  For all, either willingly or unwillingly, do the will of God: Judas and Satan as tools or instruments, John and Peter as sons.” (The Collected letters of C.S. Lewis, vol. 2.  Letter to Don Giovanni Calabria, 9-20-1947). 

I think of this idea often when I struggle with obeying God and must continually resolve to be a willing servant of a God that I look to and that I trust with my future – mine and everyone else's as well.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ~Romans 8:28

(photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/1235026232/)