“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”

Matthew 5:17-18

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible. What do you think about it? What do you think it is? How much authority do you think it has? How important is it that we read, study, learn, and follow the Bible’s teachings? And, what are we to do with the Bible? Should we involve ourselves in the abolition of the Bible, the alteration of the Bible, or the application of the Bible? These are crucial questions to be addressed in our post-modern world.

Let me begin by making myself clear as to who is being addressed in this blog. I am speaking directly to those who would identify themselves as believers in Jesus Christ. I am speaking specifically to those who profess to be Christians. I am not addressing non-believers, except in an indirect way. If there are those reading these words who do no profess to know Jesus Christ, then I am thrilled that you are here, and you are certainly welcome to read and share your thoughts. But please know that these words are directed to those who identify as Christian.

The way this writer sees this subject is very simple. First, there are Christians, as well as congregations, who seem to think that the Bible should be abolished. Not abolished in the sense of destroying all extant copies of the Bible, but in the sense of relegating to the Book, along with its teachings, to the annals of antiquity. Perhaps it would be more appropriately placed in a museum of ancient artifacts. Perhaps it would be best to understand its teachings as having been relevant for another time, and even another place. Surely, they would have us believe, those old-fashioned ideas about the sanctify of life, the meaning of marriage, message of morality, the beauty of human sexuality as God intended it, ethics of Christianity, and so many other Biblical themes and teachings, are not to be thought of as normative, but rather as issues relative to another era in history, if ever normative at all. So, these would simply nullify the teachings and inform us that we need to be more progressive in our thinking.

Second, there are others who would suggest that the abolition of the Bible is far too radical. They would rather argue that the Bible should be altered. These are the ones who would say they believe in the inspiration of the Bible, but in a far different way than previous generations of Christians. They would be the first in line to make the Bible’s message to be one of cultural relevance. Now, please read this next statement very carefully: I believe firmly and adamantly in the cultural relevance of the Bible. The problem with this type of professing believer is that they would argue for the Bible to be subjugated to culture, whereas the Bible calls for culture to be subjugated to the authority of Scripture. So, those same Biblical themes mentioned in the previous paragraph – the sanctify of life, the meaning of marriage, message of morality, the beauty of human sexuality as God intended it, ethics of Christianity – are to be changed to conform to culture. The light is to simply blend in with the darkness.

Then, there is one final category of Christians and churches. These are the ones who do not desire to abolish the Bible, nor do they want to alter the Bible’s teachings. Rather, they are the ones who want to study the Scriptures with the intent of making application of Biblical truths to life, and to culture. These are the ones who take Jesus’ words (quoted at the beginning of this blog) seriously.

From my observations there are those churches who are striving to remain true to the teachings of Scripture, and trying to find innovative methods of conveying those teachings to their congregants. These should be applauded, as they are trying to follow the teachings and the example of the Apostle Paul. Read carefully this powerful word of testimony:

“I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”

1 Corinthians 9:22-23

No one would ever accuse Paul of abolishing or altering Scripture. He was one who remained committed to the truth of the Word of God, calling for everyone everywhere to bring their lives under the authority of the Bible. But he would meet people where they were, and lead them from there to where they needed to be.

The church of today, and the Christian of today, need to understand this truth. There is no room for questioning the veracity and reliability of the Bible. We are to live true to its teachings, and lead others to follow along. We are not to water down the Bible’s call for morality but teach it clearly and unapologetically. We are be true, sincere followers of Jesus Christ, living our lives as His disciples, and striving to lead others to come out of the darkness of a sin-laden culture into the light of His love and grace. Please remember: God has not changed, nor has His Word. If the Bible calls it sin, it is sin: Period!

So, where do you fall? Are you striving to abolish the Bible, or alter the Bible? If so, then as you read these concluding words, please make a commitment to abide in the Bible and seek God’s guidance in making proper application of the Bible. You will be better for it, and you will be a better witness because of it.

We’ve been inundated with predictions and warnings about the impending snowpocalypse of 2022. Our weather prognosticators have been honing their forecasts for the past several days. Their predictions have become more pinpointed as the weather front has moved from the Pacific northwest to the southeastern part of the country. And so much has been done as we have prepared ourselves for the worst, while hoping for the best.

Well, now it is here. Some areas have awakened to a blanket of snow several inches deep, while others have a mixture of ice and snow, while still others have only had a rain event. But as we have listened to the predictions, and wanted to be as prepared as possible for whatever might come our way, we did everything we could to be ready.

Teresa and I went to WalMart yesterday to pick up a few items we needed, and we were met with many empty shelves as a run was made by the general public, stocking up on items they thought they needed to survive. Even though the winter weather event is predicted to last a very short period of time, it was as if we thought it was the end of the world as we know it.

Which causes me wonder why we don’t take the end of the world as we know it more seriously. Perhaps some who will read this blog would have to admit the end of the world is a foreign thought to you. Perhaps you are so busy with the day-to-day affairs of life that you give no thought at all to the end of the world, or, more importantly, to the end of your life.

As I think about my own life, I can quickly identify many times that I have spent hour after hour preparing for some coming event. Perhaps, as now, it was preparation for a major weather event. Or, maybe it was making plans and preparations for an upcoming speaking engagement, or revival, or marriage retreat. Or perhaps it was the enjoyment of getting everything ready for our next vacation. Or one of countless other things.

We spend much time, and expend much energy, preparing for upcoming events, while we overlook the most important upcoming event we will all face. There is coming a day when we will stand before God, giving an account of our life, and most importantly, giving an account as to what we did when given the opportunity to commit our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible makes it amply clear that each and every individual human being will experience physical death. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews says it like this:

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment…”

Hebrews 9:27

We all have an appointment that we must keep. So far, death has a proven record: one to one. No one will ever escape passing from this life through the vehicle of death. And once we have suffered that fate, we will stand before the living God and give an account. The main question we will face is, what did we do with Jesus? Did we accept the Bible’s testimony that He is the only means of salvation, and the only hope for entrance into heaven? Of, did we give no attention to matters of eternity at all, giving every moment of our lives to the things of this world?

Jesus made this astounding assertion:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

You may be one of those who did everything you could do to prepare for the winter storm. Perhaps you went overboard with your preparations. Perhaps you stocked up for days, or even enough for weeks, making sure that you had done everything you could do to be prepared.

Or maybe you are right now making preparations for the next big event on your personal calendar, or your family’s calendar, or your company’s calendar. Even though that event is still months in the future, you are spending enormous amounts of time making sure everything is ready.

Well, the biggest event of all is looming just ahead. We don’t know when it will happen. It is not a date we can circle on the calendar. But it is absolutely certain. And each of us should make sure that we have made the proper preparations for this coming event. So, allow me to remind us of the proper preparations so that we are sure we are ready when that day comes.

First, we must agree with the Bible’s testimony that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (see Romans 3:23). There is not a person who has ever lived, other than Jesus Christ, who did not commit sin. We were born with a sin nature, and we act out of that nature. As Paul asserts, ALL have sinned.

Second, we acknowledge the Bible’s teaching that the wages of sin is death (see Romans 6:23). There is coming a day of reckoning, a pay day, for our life of sin. The book of Revelation reveals the truth that records are being kept in heaven, and all non-believers will be judged according to their sin. However, there is hope for the sinner.

This brings us to our third observation. Going on in Romans 6:23, we learn that even though the wages of sin is death, there is hope if we will confess. Paul states that if we die in our sin we will receive our wages, but the gift of God is life (Romans 6:23b). We do not have to suffer eternal death, as Jesus has paid the penalty for us, in our place. So, how do we go about accepting this amazing gift?

That is our fourth observation. A little later in this same letter to the Romans, Paul speaks directly to this matter. Read carefully and prayerfully the following quote:

“For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:10

So, God’s plan of salvation is extremely simple. First, I must confess that I am a sinner. Second, agree that my sin is worthy of God’s judgment of death. Third, acknowledge the Bible’s teaching that Jesus is God’s gift of salvation that will save me from the penalty of my sin. And fourth, believe with my heart, and confess with my mouth, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is nothing in all of life that supersedes the importance of being ready for eternity. Are you? If not, and you have questions beyond what I have given in this blog, please contact me. I would love to speak with you further about this most important decision.

We’re now two weeks into the new year. Oftentimes, the beginning of a new year is a time of reflection and resolution. These two mental exercises are actually very good to do, not only at the beginning of a new year, but at other times as well. It is a healthy investment of our time to reflect on things we have done, and things we have left undone. Then, it is a good time to resolve to do better – to make better choices, to eat healthier food, to get more exercise, to spend more quality time with our family and loved ones, to go deeper in our relationship with God – and on and on it goes.

It is also a very good time to make sure we are living true to our personal convictions and commitments. For those of us who profess to be believers in and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is good to consistently review our own beliefs, behavior, and practices. With that in mind, let’s focus our thoughts this week on our commitment to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We will use the following personal testimony of the Apostle Paul as our discussion starter:

“Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Acts 20:26-27

This is a statement which should not be passed over lightly. It is a truly remarkable assertion, as Paul states emphatically that he cannot be held accountable for any person’s not knowing the truth about Jesus Christ because he has failed to share it. Can this be said about you? About me? Have I, have you, been faithful in sharing the truth of God’s grace to everyone we have met?

I, for one, cannot in good conscience and with sincerity say that this is true of me. I know there have been times in which I have failed to share the Gospel when given the opportunity. Many of these opportunities haunt me, as I know that God was encouraging me to share His grace. Added to that are, I’m sure, many other times I am not even aware of. It is my desire to share with everyone I meet, but too often I pass by opportunities. Perhaps I feel I don’t have time, or they are not willing to listen, or I am fearful of some form of reprisal, but, too often I am not faithful to share.

And how about our behavior? Is our behavior a testimony to our belief? The Bible says that believers should be more and more like Christ with each passing day. Our lives should be in imitation of His life. Our behavior should mimic His behavior. Our actions and attitudes should be in alignment with His actions and attitudes.

Matthew Henry tells about a pastor acquaintance of his in one of his commentaries. He said that his friend was such an eloquent speaker that when he was in the pulpit he should never come down. But, when he was not in the pulpit, his behavior was so unbecoming his life in Christ that he should never go up into the pulpit. Do our actions, our attitudes, our behavior, our speech, our conduct, our way of life, bring reproach to our Savior’s name?

Sadly, it seems to me that cultural beliefs and behaviors have infiltrated the church. The vocabulary of the world is heard from the lips of professing believers. The practices of our culture are becoming more and more embraced by those who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps it would be wise to ask ourselves that probing question: If I were arrested and put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict? If my co-workers were brought in to give testimony, could they give supportive evidence to validate my claim? What about my family? If my wife, my children, my grandchildren, were brought to bear testimony to the reality of my profession, could they honestly say that I truly bear the characteristics of a child of God?

Paul says that he had been faithful in sharing the Gospel with everyone, and therefore he was innocent of the blood of all men. There would be no one who could bear testimony that would prove otherwise. He was definitely one who would be welcomed into the very presence of God hearing those words, “Well done My good and faithful servant.”

What do you think you would hear? If you died before the sun sets on another day, would you be welcomed with those words? Do you think God could testify to His pleasure with the testimony of your life? If not, as you reflect on your present lifestyle, why not resolve to make a 180 degree turn. It’s called repentance. Cast aside those things that are bringing reproach to His name and clothe yourself with the righteousness of Christ. As Paul said in his correspondence with the Romans, let’s “reckon our bodies to be dead to sin and alive to righteousness.” God will be honored, lives will be touched, and your life will bear sincere testimony to the truth of your profession.

It’s sort of like peering into a room, seeing only darkness beyond the open door. You’ve never been there before, and you’re wondering if you should take that first step into the uncertainty of what might lie ahead. You are pondering the ‘what ifs’ of making that move, of taking that step, of braving the uncertainties that are just through that threshold leading from what you know and have already experienced into what you have no way of knowing.

Perhaps you would rather turn back. Perhaps you are one of those who does not like not knowing. You are the timid type, the one who fears the unknown, the one who likes the status quo, the one who does not like the thoughts of any kind of change. So, you decide to stay right where you are. You decide that you will turn away from that open door leading into an uncertain future.

But, try as you might, you cannot stay, nor can you turn away. There is a force driving you on, pushing you into the realm of the unknown. You must pass from the experiences of 2021 into the uncertainties of 2022. You cannot continue to stand, peering into the darkness of the unknown. You must move on.

Now I realize that moving from the end of one year into the beginning of another is nothing more than the passing of a day. We’re not really moving from one year to another, but rather from one day to another. It’s not like 2021 has passed in a moment. It took a while. As a matter of fact, it took 365 days to pass, as will 2022. But, now we can look back on all the moments of 2021 and, even though certain things happened that leave us pondering the ‘why’ question, we see everything in the light. But, as we peer into the doorway of 2022, all we see is the darkness of uncertainty.

We are now a couple of days into this new year, and our eyes may be adjusting somewhat to the darkness. We may be seeing a little more clearly as our eyes adjust, and we are able to begin assessing the state of things to come. Some things, of course, will pretty much remain the same. The same job, the same responsibilities, the same demands, the same deadlines, the same, the same, the same… Well, you get the picture.

However, some things may not remain the same. As a matter of fact, some of those things we think will remain the same will change drastically. That job you think is going to remain the same, may not. In fact, it may end as a result of downsizing and cutbacks. Or the responsibilities on the job that you think are going to remain the same as last year, and the year before that, and so on, may change as you are given more to do because of the downsizing and the staff reductions. Or, the health that we take for granted may all of a sudden take a drastic turn, causing us to have to take time off for recuperation and recovery, or even causing us to have to step down from our job all together. And that person you love dearly, that you take for granted will be there for years to come, is suddenly taken – through illness, or accident, or even perhaps because they simply decide to call the relationship quits.

Bottom line is simply that we don’t know what’s in there. Certain things we think we know, and we take for granted that it will be as we think it will, may in fact not turn out as we think. As I think back over the year just past, I am reminded that we really don’t know. My mind reels as I think about so many friends and family members who have suffered the ravages of illness, and so many who have succumbed to illness by passing through that valley of the shadow of death.

In my own life I have witnessed my wife go through life-altering health problems that have resulted in so many changes in our personal pilgrimage through life. Her latest health issue led to her doctor advising her that she should seriously consider retiring from her part-time job, which she has now done. As we stood at the threshold of 2021, gazing into the uncertainties of this past year, we never expected that to happen, but it did, and now, by God’s amazing grace, we are at the beginning of another year. We, as everyone else, are gazing into the darkness of the uncertainties of 2022, not knowing what we may encounter over the next twelve months.

But, to use a well-worn phrase that can easily lose its significance through over-use, we don’t know what the future holds, but we do know the One who holds the future. This is a truth that we all need to hold onto as tightly as possible. As we think about the past year, we can quickly recognize incidents and events that took us totally by surprise. We can also see, in retrospect, that God was in control throughout the entirety of those events. And now, as we gaze into the darkness of the uncertainties of 2022, we can take heart in knowing with all certainty that God is in control. He always has been; He always will be!

Things will happen in the coming twelve months that will take us completely and totally by surprise. From our human perspective some of those things will be good while others will be bad. We may turn out to be like the little girl in the latest AT&T commercial. When her brother is given a bigger sucker than she is given, she protests in the most disgustingly pouty way when she exclaims, “That’s not fair!”

Let’s remember, it wasn’t fair for God to have to send His Son, Jesus Christ, into a sin-laden world to provide salvation for sinful human beings. It would have been fair for Him to consign us all to eternal punishment because of our willful disobedience to His prescribed will. And yet, in a completely undeserved act on His part, Jesus came to die in our place, taking upon Himself our punishment, and providing for us the means of redemption.

So, let’s not be afraid of what’s in there! This new year provides us opportunities to glorify our Savior through the eventualities of life that come our way. We are to live our lives for His glory by letting our life light shine in a world of darkness so that others might see the amazing grace He offers.

Whatever happens, whatever comes our way, whatever we experience, let it all be used for His glory and praise. Welcome to 2022 – turn on the light!

Twas the day after Christmas

And all through the home

Boxes and wrappings and bows were all strewn.

The presents lay scattered all through the house

While everyone slept in, quiet as a mouse.

The boxes, now empty, were a silent reminder

Of the gifts that were given to each family member.

The day was now over, the excitement now gone,

But what of the memory of the One who was born?

Have we forgotten? Has it slipped our mind?

What is the true meaning of this most special time?

We are taught in the Bible of the birth of a Son

Who would come into the world to renew the undone.

For sin had entered the world God had made

And left mankind reeling in its awful wake.

Dead in sin, destined to die

With no hope, no help, unless from on high

A Savior would come who could right the wrong

Of the sin-filled cursed world that was rushing headlong

Into eternal damnation because of the sin

Committed by man in rebellion against Him.

So the meaning of Christmas must not be forgotten

In the midst of the boxes, the bows and the wrappings.

Let’s remember the reason we celebrate the day

And never forget that, unless He came

We would still be dead in our trespasses and sins

With no hope in sight; just an awful end

To a meaningless, pitiful, unforgiven life

That is doomed forever in eternal strife.

But Jesus did come, and now extends to us grace

That will keep us from going to that awful place.

He has gone now to prepare for us a home

Where we will dwell around His throne

In the glory of Heaven, that home up above

Where we will enjoy the fullness of His love.

So, let’s not lose sight of the true reason

That we celebrate this most wonderful season.

It is because of His coming that we can recite

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

This week I would like to do something a little different, so allow me to being with a disclaimer. As I think about Thanksgiving, my first thoughts go to how very thankful I am for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so blessed to be able to call on God as my Father, and to have a relationship with Him through the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

But this week I would like to take a little different slant toward the subject of Thanksgiving. The older I get, the more like my father I become. There are so many reasons I make this assertion, but I will focus on just one: TV. My father loved to watch old westerns: Bonanza, Wagon Train, Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Rawhide, and so many others. When I was a boy I didn’t care too much for this genre of television programs and movies, but now that I am older I find myself drawn to them. As a matter of fact I very much enjoy them.

But this blog is not about those shows and movies. It is rather about the way of life depicted in them. And it is a cause of thanksgiving for the many modern conveniences we enjoy, and, for the most part, take for granted pretty much all the time. I can’t even begin to imagine living without all the modern-day conveniences we enjoy. Running water, electricity, air conditioning, heat (utilizing any one of quite a number of choices), automobiles, and so many others. I watch those shows depicting wagon trains making their way across the frontier, enduring heat and cold, rain and storms, cooking over a campfire, having to find wood for that fire, traveling across the wide-open spaces having to pick one’s way through changing terrain.

And then, once arriving at the desired location, after weeks, months and sometimes even years of tediously making their way across the country, having to clear the land, cut the trees for the lumber to be used in building a dwelling, tilling the land, working from dawn to dusk in all kinds of inclement weather. We could go on and on talking about all of the inconveniences and hardships they endured, but what I would like to simply remind us of in this blog is how very, very blessed we are.

My wife and I have chosen a very simple lifestyle as we have moved into semi-retirement. Granted, it isn’t for everyone. As many of you know, when I retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2018, we sold our house, upgraded our camper, and are now enjoying life without all the hassles of home ownership. We have talked with many who say they would love to be able to live this lifestyle, while others look at us like we are insane. And then, there are those who seem to think that we have been forced to choose this lifestyle against our best interests, and even those who look down on us for living in a campground.

But we chose this lifestyle, and we truly, sincerely, enjoy it. There may come the day when we decide to move back into home ownership, but right now we love where we are, what we do, and the simplicity of camper living.

However, having said all that, as I look around my camper, I am still overwhelmed with the amazing conveniences we enjoy. We have heat and AC. We enjoy the conveniences of having WiFi, streaming TV services, cellular service. We have a fifth-wheel with five slides, a living area with two full size sleeper sofas and a two-person recliner. We sleep on a queen size bed in a comfortably sized bedroom. We have the freedom to hook up to our Ram 3500 dually and move if we choose to do so. In other words, we enjoy the conveniences of life.

Yes, we should always be grateful for the work of salvation God has wrought for us. We should also be grateful for the ongoing work of sanctification the Holy Spirit continues to accomplish in our lives as believers as we strive to walk in step with Him. But might I suggest that we take time to be thankful for those things that we so often take for granted? He is the giver of all good gifts, so let’s be sure to thank Him for them all.

“The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit?”

Proverbs 18:14 (NKJV)

I have had too many – far, far too many – friends and family who have suffered from physical ailments and personal adversities of varying kinds. And in the midst of their struggles I have seen the reality of the depth of meaning we can glean from the verse quoted above. It amazes me how important this truth is as we face difficulties of different types and magnitudes.

We could simply focus our attention on Covid-19, could we not? Just today I discovered that a pastor friend of mine has been hospitalized for several days with Covid, and two long-time friends have also been diagnosed with the virus. My wife, daughter and I have all had the virus, and we know so very many others who have suffered the ravages of this illness. Sadly, we have also known several who have passed away from complications brought about by the disease.

We also know several who are battling diseases of different kinds. Heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, and various other maladies. Added to these health issues are many other life challenges that can quickly rob us of our sense of joy and contentment, and cause us to become embittered toward life in general.

The writer of Proverbs states assertively that the spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, and, we could add, life difficulties of other kinds. But, once the spirit is broken, who can bear it? The writer here is speaking of the human spirit. It is the spirit of man that gives vitality to life, that buoys one up under the pressures of life, that maintains a sense of purpose in life even in the face of life’s difficulties, troubles, diseases, and dilemmas.

But what happens when the spirit is broken? What happens when we no longer have the buoyancy to bounce back from the hurdles and obstacles that come our way? It can happen suddenly, or it can be a very gradual progression. It might be brought on by the dreaded “C” word given by the doctor after extensive tests. Or, it can be the gradual wear and tear of fighting a chronic disease day after day, with the body becoming weaker and weaker, and the loss of hope for the future.

Whether sudden or gradual, we might find ourselves living under that dark cloud of uncertainty that is consistently eroding our sense of well-being. Instead of viewing each day as a step in the direction of wholeness, we begin to see each day as just another in a long succession of days with little hope, little joy, little peace, little love. We feel the whole world closing in on us, robbing us of our desire to even survive.

When one reaches this point of utter hopelessness, is there any thing that can be done? When the doctors say they have done all they can do and the best now is to strive to keep you or your loved one comfortable in the time they have left, is there anything to look forward to? Any thing that would give a sense of hope?

I would like to offer a couple of suggestions for anyone who might be experiencing the agony of a broken spirit. It could possibly be an adversity affecting you personally, or it may be affecting someone you deeply care for.

First, and foremost, a broken human spirit desperately needs a fresh infusion of the Holy Spirit. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity. He has actually taken residence in us, and it is by His presence and power in our lives that we are enabled to face anything and everything this life can throw our way. The Apostle Paul is a graphic case in point here. In the first chapter of his second letter to the Corinthians he makes an astounding assertion. Listen carefully to this declaration:

“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11, NKJV

Paul admits that he despaired even of life, having the sentence of death hanging over him. But even though his human spirit was being severely tested, he was strengthened by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and in the midst of a most horrific trial he could still have hope for the future.

Second, we need to remind ourselves constantly that we are here for God’s glory. Our individual lives are to be lived for His glory and His alone. An incident recorded in John’s Gospel illustrates this point well. In John 11 we have the very familiar story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. However, before this miracle was performed, Jesus informed His disciples that Lazarus’s death was for the glory of God. There is certainly a sense of consternation on the part of the disciples, as well as Mary and Martha, the sisters of Lazarus. Their hope was that Jesus would arrive before Lazarus died so that He might perform a miracle of healing. But alas, Jesus did not. As a matter of fact, Jesus purposely stayed away long enough for Lazarus to die, and be buried four days before Jesus’ arrival.

Mary, Martha, the disciples, and the crowds gathered to mourn the death of Lazarus, must have all been wondering why Jesus acted in such a strange and unusual way. But the lesson Jesus wanted them, and us, to learn is that everything that comes our way in life is to be viewed as an opportunity to glorify God.

So, we need a fresh infusion of the Holy Spirit, and we need a reminder of the fact that this life provides us with the arena to bring glory to God in all we do. Then, third, we need to constantly remind ourselves of the promise given by Paul in his correspondence to the Romans:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Romans 8:18

This life offers each of us amazing opportunities for testifying to the greatness of God. It doesn’t matter if what happens to me tomorrow seems to be good or bad from my limited human perspective, it presents me with the avenue to point people to the goodness, the grace, and the abundance of God. It is my opportunity to testify to my personal faith that all things do indeed work together for the good of those who love God. It is my “preaching platform”, as it were, to proclaim just how awesome God really is, and just how much He loves me and cares for me, even in the midst of situations that might temporarily cause a momentary lapse of a broken spirit, but one which can quickly be mended by the indwelling, enabling, empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

So, whatever comes, let’s let our light shine before men so that they might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked one abandon his way, and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgive. ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'”

Isaiah 55:6-9 (NKJV)

What an astounding declaration! What an amazing avowal of the thoughts and ways of God as compared to those of man. We may try as hard as we possibly can to figure out the ways and thoughts of God, but we will always be left shaking our heads in bewilderment, as we are left with the undeniable reality that His ways and thoughts are, indeed, above our ability to comprehend.

To understand this passage properly we must strive to place it in its historical context. God’s people have rejected the purposes and plans God had for them, and have therefore fallen under the judgement of God. Isaiah has been inspired by God to call God’s people to repentance. This is clearly seen in verse seven, where Isaiah calls for the wicked one to abandon his way, and the sinful one to abandon his thoughts. When one accepts this invitation he then experiences the forgiveness of God.

Even though this was written specifically to and for the nation of Israel, the spiritual applications are meant for all who identify themselves as children of God. We are called to holy living, and when we choose to step outside the parameters of God’s revealed will as seen in His Word, then He calls for us to repent, turning back to Him in a spirit of contrition, seeking the favor or His forgiveness.

But, for many, this is where the difficulty begins. It seems that the lines of demarcation between what is holy and what is profane have become extremely blurred. It seems that much of what the Bible denounces as being wrong is now viewed as right, and what it pronounces as right is now viewed as wrong. The words of the Apostle Paul to the church in Galatia will illustrate this point clearly:

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5:19-21 (NKJV)

This list of the works of the flesh is certainly not to be viewed or understood as being exhaustive, but rather a list of examples of the sort of activities that are contrary to the perfect will of God. Several of them will be readily recognized as common actions of our contemporary cultural setting. Adultery, sorcery, hatred, selfishness, envy, and drunkenness are prevalent. And it seems that they are just accepted as the norm rather than an aberration. This can only be understood as a rejection of God’s word, and an acceptance of actions, activities and attitudes which are diametrically opposite of God’s will.

We may convince ourselves that these things are of little consequence in the big scheme of things. But it is actually in the big scheme of things that these things are of greatest consequence. Why do I say that? Simply because of what Paul said. Listen once again to these explosive words of Paul:

“…those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Galatians 5:21

The individual who practices – lives in habitual life patterns such as those described in this passage – will not inherit the kingdom of God. That is the reason Isaiah, and Paul, as well as practically every other Biblical author, calls for repentance. True, sincere repentance is the act of the individual to turn from his ways to the ways of God. It is a two-fold process: a change of mind that leads to a chance of action. First of all, it involves changing one’s mind, one’s way of thinking, to the align with the mind of God. And how is one to know the mind of God? By reading His Word, His revealed will as recorded by human authors under the inspiration of God.

But remember: His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. So, when we read a passage such as the one quoted above from the Apostle Paul, and understand that adultery, or fornication, or sorcery, or drunkenness, are lifestyle choices that will keep me out of the kingdom of God, I must align myself with God’s Word, changing my mind about those things that I might have previously viewed as right, but now see as wrong.

However, it is not enough to change my mind to align with God’s Word: I must then change my actions to align with my changed mind. You see, it is possible to change my mind to align with God’s Word, but continue doing what I now view as wrong. For example, I might see in the Bible that adultery is an abomination in the eyes of God, and agree with the Bible’s assessment, but continue living in adultery. So, my change of mind did not lead to a change of action, so it is not true, sincere repentance.

Now, someone might ask, “What gives God the authority to prescribe for me what is right and wrong?” The answer to that is really quite simple, even though it will not be sufficient for many. God created us. As a matter of fact, God created everything. Thus, everything belongs to God. We are His possession. He can do with His creation/possession whatever He chooses. His Word, the Bible, gives us the progressive revelation of God’s purposes and plans for His creation. In that revelation He lays out for us the parameters of what is right and wrong. And He has the perfect right to hold us accountable for our acceptance, or our rejection, of those parameters.

So, let’s get to the bottom line. It is obvious that many embrace lifestyles and life habits that run contrary to God’s revealed will for His human family. We see this played out every day in the lives of children who grow up to reject the values instilled in them by their parents. A child may be taught that it is wrong to hit another child, but choose to do so anyway. As that child grows into his teenage years, he continues to reject those values, and becomes more volatile and violent. Eventually, in his young adult stage of life, motivated by the action of another, his violence comes full force as he takes the life of another in an act of rage.

This could be played out in a multitude of ways. A child is taught that pre-marital sex is wrong, but chooses to engage in sexual activity prior to marriage. He may be taught that adultery is wrong, but choose to engage in extra-marital affairs after being united in marriage. He may be taught that sorcery is wrong, but choose to visit fortune-tellers seeking information about his future. He may be taught that drunkenness is wrong, but grow up to become an alcoholic. And the list goes on.

God has revealed His plans for us in His Word, and it is our choice as to whether or not we accept His ways or reject them for our own. But please know this: His ways and thoughts lead to life and blessing and fulfillment; our ways lead to death and emptiness and futility.

I encourage you today: choose His way. You won’t be sorry you did, especially when you stand before Him at that future day of judgment and hear those words of welcome into the kingdom of God.

We all have them, right? Cares. Concerns. Anxieties. Difficulties. They come in all different types, all different sizes, all different magnitudes. Sometimes they are so seemingly insignificant that we give them little to no thought. Other times they are of such enormity we find ourselves obsessed with them. What are we to do with them? How are we, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, to handle the cares of this world?

The Bible offers the answer. One of the most quoted verses from the writing of the Apostle Peter is found in 1 Peter 5:7. Please read these words slowly, taking in the overwhelming comfort that God intends us to derive from this word of promise.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 5:7, NKJV

Bask in the wonder of those words. Read them again, mulling over each word. To really get the full weight of this statement we need to read the preceding verse, as it sheds much light on this powerful affirmation.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

1 Peter 56-7, NKJV:

The prerequisite for casting our care upon the Lord is to humble ourselves under God’s hand. A spirit of humility shows that we recognize our dependence upon Him. Oftentimes it seems that we feel as if we are self-sufficient in handling the cares of the world. We feel that we are well-equipped to deal with whatever cares come our way. That exudes a spirit of arrogance and self-reliance. It communicates the idea that we don’t need God’s assistance, but that we are able to handle whatever troubles, afflictions, anxieties and cares invade our arena of personal experience.

But we should be quick to recognize, and ready to admit our total dependence upon God. We stand in constant need of His grace, and are ill-equipped to handle life’s cares without it. We should learn to admit openly and honestly that we truly need Him every hour.

I love the way this verse is translated in the J.B.Phillips translation of the New Testament:

“So, humble yourselves under God’s strong hand, and in his own good time he will lift you up. You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.”

Wow! You can cast, throw, your anxieties on Him. The word translated cast is found only one other time in the New Testament. It is in Luke 19:35, where we are told the people cast their garments upon the colt Jesus rode. They were throwing these pieces of clothing, just as we are told to throw our cares upon the Lord. We are encouraged to cast our cares, our concerns, our anxieties, upon Jesus. Why? Because we are His personal concern. You are the personal concern of the Lord Himself. Say it yourself: “I am the personal concern of the Lord.” Say it again. And again. And again. “I am the personal concern of Jesus. He cares for me!”

So, what are you anxious about today? Whatever it is, you need to accept the invitation of the Lord and throw it on Jesus. And then, rest in the peace of knowing that He will take care of it. Paul says it this way in his letter to the Philippians:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

When we, with humility, cast the whole weight of our anxieties upon the Lord, then His peace takes residence in our hearts, minds, and spirits. We are able to rest in the realization that His care for us, personally, is all we need, and is more than sufficient to handle my anxieties. And please note the promise we are given in this beautiful passage: the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus! We are not promised that God will remove the cause of the anxiety, but that He will give peace in the midst of it. How unbelievably awesome is that!

I’ll close this week with a reminder of an incident in the life of Jesus. He and the disciples were in a boat, crossing the sea. Jesus had fallen asleep, and was resting peacefully in the boat. The disciples are fearful that they will perish in the storm, so they awaken Jesus, crying out, “Lord, don’t you care that we perish?” Try to picture this in your mind’s eye. There are at least four seasoned fishermen in that boat. Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishers by trade. I feel sure they had been caught in storms at sea before.

But obviously, this storm was different. This one was so furious that these seasoned fishermen thought they could not survive the storm’s intensity. So what do they do? They awaken the carpenter! They cry out to Jesus! Now, granted, that is exactly what they should have done, and what we should do when caught in the midst of the storms of life. But this story is quite humorous when you think about it.

And the point I would like to make is simply this: what would have been more powerful – to see Jesus calm the storm, or to witness Jesus sleeping peacefully through the storm. When we are caught in the middle of one of those ferocious storms of life, we should do as they did: cry out to Jesus. And then, let Him work. He may choose to remove us from the storm (or, the storm from us), or He may choose to grant us peace as we go through the storm. Whichever He chooses, it will prove to be best. Why? Because we are His personal concern.