“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Philippians 1:6

As we continue to stroll along with the Apostle Paul through his letter to his friends in Philippi, we come to a most interesting and powerful statement in verse six (quoted above). In order for us to understand this statement in its fullness we must start by looking at the context of the passage. In the preceding verses Paul has thanked them for their participation with him in the proclamation of the Gospel. His fellow believers in Philippi had come to his aid, and his heart is filled with gratitude for their generosity.

However, the statement found in verse six has deep significance for every believer in Jesus Christ. We will give attention to three areas of great importance: the believer’s salvation; the believer’s sanctification; and the believer’s service.

First of all, think with me about the believer’s salvation. This is the foundational work God has begun in the life of the individual. The amazing work of salvation is based upon the foundation of the love of God, is secured upon the work of the Son of God, and is sealed by the work of the Holy Spirit. Why is salvation necessary? The Bible gives the answer: we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Our sin has separated us from God. Our awful plight is that since we are sinners, we cannot pay the penalty for our own sin, so we are dependent upon a sinless Person to pay our penalty in our place.

When the individual sinner realizes his hopeless lostness, and turns by faith to the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross, then the work of salvation is instantly completed in the life of that penitent sinner. As Paul says in his letter to the Colossians, the individual is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The individual believer is saved from eternal condemnation, and has an eternal home secured in heaven.

Second, let’s give our attention to the work of sanctification. Paul says that this is a work “begun” in the life of the individual. The work of salvation is complete at the moment the sinner confesses his sin and embraces by faith the propitiatory work of Christ on the cross. This then begins the process by which and through which the believer transforms more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. As we study Scripture, and yield ourselves to the teachings of that Word, the Holy Spirit works in us to show us things we need to discard, and things we need to add. We are to repent – turn away from – those actions, attitudes, and practices which are clearly denounced in Scripture, while adding those actions, attitudes, and practices that are taught as characteristics of a sincere believer in Christ. This process of sanctification continues from the moment of salvation to the moment of physical death.

And third, God will bring about in the life of the believer the desire to serve. It is clearly taught in the Bible that God gives gifts to each individual believer in Jesus Christ. There are six passages in the New Testament that give us lists of these gifts. Each believer has at least one gift, and that gift will enable the individual to serve the Lord in specific ways. We are to discover our giftedness, develop our gift, and put that gift into service to our Lord.

Paul says that he is confident of the fact that God will bring to completion the work He has begun in the life of the believer. So let’s review and evaluate. Think for a moment about the time of your salvation: that moment you repented of your sin and turned by faith to the saving work of Christ. At that moment your salvation was settled, sealed, and secured. Since that moment in time, and coming to the present, there should be a marked path of progressive sanctification. You should be able to see clearly how much you have developed in your likeness to Christ over time. And finally, you should be able to see the discovery, development, and deployment of your spiritual gift.

Now it is God who began this work, but since then we have become co-laborers with Christ. So let’s conclude this week’s installment by asking ourselves this question: does my life show a consistent path of growth? Do I see clearly in my life a consistent and continual progression toward maturity in my faith? If Jesus were to come today, would He be pleased with my state of sanctification? And, would He be able to commend me for my service?

Between now and our next study, give serious consideration to these questions. Take time to ponder each one, and make sure that we are on a consistent path of growth. And make a commitment to continue on that path until the Lord comes.

“I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

Philippians 1:3-5

In the first chapter of Paul’s letter to Philippi, reveals his heart of love for his friends in that city. Every time they come to his mind he thanks God for them, remembering with deep affection how they had partnered with him in the proclamation of the gospel. Paul had evangelized the city of Philippi during is second missionary journey. It would be helpful to take a few minutes to read Acts 16:11-40 for the background of Paul’s ministry there.

It is obvious from the reading of the first chapter of his letter to Philippi that the believers there held a very dear place in Paul’s heart. They had stood with Paul in his ministry, and also had contributed to Paul’s ministry financially.

Who comes to your mind as you read these words? Who are those individuals and families in your past who have made indelible impressions on you? Who are those who have been sources of encouragement and help during difficult times? Who are those who have rejoiced with you in times of rejoicing, and suffered with you in times of difficulty? Who are those who have laughed with you in times of celebration, and cried with you in times of loss? Who are those who have loved you enough to tell you the truth even when it was painful to hear, and those who extended mercy when it was the need of the hour?

As I have been thinking about this first installment in our walk with Paul as he corresponds with his friends in Philippi, my mind has been flooded with names of individuals who have impacted my life in tremendous ways. I actually started to list those names, but the list got much too long to even consider doing that. I also had the fear of leaving a name off the list, and I would sincerely hate to inadvertently miss someone. And, I assure you, as I have allowed that parade of individuals make their way through memories of the past, I have had a huge smile plastered across my face, thanking God for every remembrance of them.

There are those with whom I have worked in ministry: youth ministers, children’s ministers, associate pastors, worship leaders, etc. Then, there are multitudes of laypersons with whom I have been blessed to share in the joy of ministry. I cherish the memories of each of these individuals.

It is evident as we read through this very personal letter that Paul also had to deal with some problem areas of the church in Philippi. But, even those times of rebuke and reproof brought a sense of joy to Paul. Each experience was one through which God worked, and through which Paul could remember the presence and power of God working through him. What a powerful testimony to deep and abiding relationships Paul had made with believers in Philippi.

So, let’s move this discussion a little further. Are there those from your past that bring sadness and heartache when you remember them? Are there those whose remembrance causes pain, and brings bitterness and thoughts of revenge? It really amazes me to think that Paul could make this statement, especially in light of the harsh treatment he had received in Philippi.

It seems Paul had much in common with Joseph from the book of Genesis. After suffering terribly at the hands of his brothers, he did not seek revenge. As a matter of fact, at the end of the story, when his brothers feared that Joseph would finally get even, he simply reminded them that everything that had transpired had been part of God’s plan to save His people.

Paul could look back over his time in Philippi with rejoicing because everything that had happened there served God’s purposes. As we look back over our past, and our minds are flooded with those cherished memories of individuals who impacted and influenced us, let’s be sure to lift a prayer of praise to God for allowing us to cross paths with them.

I will close this first installment with the chorus of a song that truly sums up the sentiment conveyed by Paul in these opening words of his letter to Philippi:

Friends are friends forever if the Lord’s the Lord of them

And a friend will not say never ’cause the welcome will not end

Though it’s hard to let you go, in the Father’s hand we know

That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

“Friends” by Michael W. Smith

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.’ So God created man in his image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.”

Genesis 1:26-27 (Christian Standard Bible)

In my last blog, I wrote about the majesty of creation. It is indeed an incredible thing to consider the vastness of the universe, and to think that God created it all by simply speaking everything into existence through the power of His word.

However, when it came to the creation of humanity, He invested Himself in a very personal way. He actually formed man from the earth with His own hands. It was a powerful way of displaying His intimate relationship with the crown of His creation. As the verses quoted above state, He created man in His image, and He created them male and female. Period. End of sentence. End of the established, created order of the human race. Male and female.

There are those today who are calling for more distinctive terms relative to gender. The following excerpt is taken from the YoungScot website:

Our gender identity is how we feel in relation to being male or female – and there are different terms, descriptions and labels for different types of gender identities. We describe some of those terms.

Agender – Not having a gender or identifying with a gender. They may describe themselves as being gender neutral or genderless.

Bigender – A person who fluctuates between traditionally “male” or “female’ gender-based behaviors and identities.

Cisgender – A person whose gender identity and biological sex assigned at birth are the same. For example they were born biologically as a male, and express their gender as male.

Gender Expression – The external display of one’s gender, through a combination of how they dress, how they act and other factors, generally measured on scales of masculinity and femininity.

Gender Fluid – A mix of boy and girl. A person who is gender fluid may always feel like a mix of the two traditional genders, but may feel more man some days, and more woman other days.

Genderqueer – A gender identity label often used by people who do not identify with being a man or a woman, or as an umbrella term for many gender non-conforming or non-binary identities.

Intersex – A person born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside.

Gender Variant – Someone who either by nature or by choice does not conform to gender-based expectations or society.

Mx. – A title that is gender neutral. Pronounced ‘miks’, it is often the option of choice for folks who do not identify as cisgender.

Third Gender – A term for a person who does not identify with either man or woman, but identifies with another gender. This gender category is used by societies that recognize three or more genders, both contemporary and historic, and is also a conceptual term meaning different things to different people who use it.

Transgender – A person who lives as a member of a gender other that that expected based on sex assigned at birth.

Two-Spirit – An umbrella term traditionally used by Native American people to recognize individuals who possess qualities of both genders.

Ze/Hir – Alternate pronouns that are gender neutral. They replace “he” and “she” and “his” and “hers” respectively.

Please note carefully the opening words of this quote: “Our gender identity is how we feel in relation to being male or female” (emphasis added). Each of these defined terms is based on feeling, not on fact. The fact is simple: God created male and female. Feelings are subjective, emotional, subject to changing periodically based upon life’s circumstances and situations.

It is an observable, empirical fact that every person is easily identified as either male or female. Just take a peek in the diaper! It’s pretty easy to see a distinct difference: male, or female. “He” is a boy; “she” is a girl; “it” is a, a, a: well, what exactly is “it”? The gender “it” does not exist. However, to some, “it” is exactly what DOES exist. “It” is the only means of truly understanding the human experience.

To illustrate the absurdity of it all, please read carefully the following quote by Kyl Myers:

“If you want to get technical, my partner Brent and I had found out our child’s sex chromosomes in the early stages of my pregnancy, and we had seen their genitals during the anatomy scan. But we didn’t think that information told us anything about our kid’s gender. The only things we really knew about our baby is that they were human, breech and going to be named Zoomer. We weren’t going to assign a gender or disclose their reproductive anatomy to people who didn’t need to know, and we were going to use the gender-neutral personal pronouns they, them and their. We imagined it could be years before our child would tell us, in their own way, if they were a boy, a girl, nonbinary or if another gender identity fit them best. (emphasis added) Until then, we were committed to raising our child without the expectations or restrictions of the gender binary.”

They were going to allow their child to decide for “itself” what “it” was! This, in the estimation of this author, is the epitome of absurdity! A female is to be taught how to be feminine by her mother; a male is to be taught how to be masculine by his father. It is crucial for the emotional well-being of the child to grow to be comfortable with his/her masculinity/femininity. This is the clear teaching of Scripture. God created two genders: male and female. His decree and desire is that they multiply through the reproductive process which can only be carried out through relations between male and female. And then, it is the responsibility of caring parents to rear their children to embrace their God-given identity as male or female, and to enjoy the blessings God has ordained for each of the two genders.

It is the opinion of this writer that boys and girls will grow to be healthy men and women, appreciating their God-designed differences, if they are reared in a home where the role of father and mother are embraced and lived out as examples of true masculinity and femininity. We are not to allow our children to develop in a gender-neutral environment and then expect them to be able know what it means to be male or female. The alternative is, as Kyl Myers states in the quote above, “We imagined it could be years before our child would tell us, in their own way, if they were a boy, a girl, nonbinary or if another gender identity fit them best.” This. in my opinion, will lead to a life of confusion and bewilderment for the child, having no true, clear understanding of what the God-designed and God-ordained order of humanity really is. So, let’s help our children embrace their identity as male and female, and celebrate with them the fact that they are fearfully and wonderfully designed by the hand of God Himself. That is where they will find fulfillment in their TRUE identity.

Recently, as Teresa and I made our way back to Tennessee from a brief visit to South Carolina, we made our way through the Smoky Mountain National Park. The drive between Cherokee, NC, and Gatlinburg, TN through the heart of the park is stunning in natural beauty. We make this drive quite often, never tiring of the the seasonal changes.

This trip was a little different. It was already dark as we made our way toward the Newfound Gap overlook. We had been talking about being at the overlook in the dark of night so we might be able to enjoy the majesty of a starlit sky with no city lights to diminish the splendor – and we were not disappointed.

We stood in the quiet, still night, gazing up into the majestic beauty of the expanse before us. In one way it made me feel so small, so insignificant, peering into the endless sky rolling out before me. Just that which I could see with the physical eye was enough to put me into a state of utter astonishment. And then, to think about that which was invisible to the physical eye was far more than that which could be seen made me feel even smaller, and much more insignificant. How could one individual human being in such a vast universe have any true meaning at all? What is the meaning of one life in light of this vastness?

However, my mind quickly went to some amazing Biblical truths. First, the Bible teaches that man was created in the image of God. Think about that truth for a moment. You, I, we, are created in the image of God. The creator of all that we gazed upon in the darkness of that mountainside, created man in His image. No other part of His massive created work even begins to compare with that wonderful truth. That gives meaning and significance to my life, to your life.

Second, I was reminded by the still, small voice of God speaking to me through the beauty of His creation about the fact that, even though we were created in the image of God, we have done much to damage that image. Because of sin, the image of God was marred. Where man had enjoyed the sweetness of His presence and fellowship, sin had now severed that fellowship. The beautiful earth God had created was now cursed due to man’s rebellion. Sin brought about what appeared to be irreparable harm to the created order.

But then, God did the unthinkable. God the Father sent God the Son into the world to pay the penalty for our sin. Now please understand that this introduction of sin with the resulting curse of God upon the created order had not taken God by surprise. Before God created anything, He already knew His human creation would rebel, thus incurring the justified wrath of God. However, God preordained a plan by which sinful man could be reconciled to the perfect God of the universe. That plan called for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to provide a means of reconciliation between God and His fallen human family.

And this, above and beyond anything else, reminded me of how significant I am. No, not significant in and of myself, but significant because I am now a child of God, the creator who had brought the entirety of the created order into existence with nothing more that His spoken word. But when He created man, He created him to be the image bearer of God. And even after man sinned, God had already made plans for fallen man’s redemption.

Next time you have the opportunity to gaze into a star lit night, be reminded of the fact that in the vastness of His created order, you are the one He loved enough to pay the price of your sin penalty. He did that for you and me, and in return He asks that we let His light shine through us so others might see the majesty of His glory in us. He deserves it: let’s do it!

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

I remember singing this song as a young child at Springdell Baptist Church in Lancaster, South Carolina. I’m really not sure that I gave much attention to the words of the song, especially as a child. It was just a song sung in church. And, I must admit, that as I have grown into senior adulthood there have been many times I have joined with others in singing some of the great old hymns of the faith while my mind wandered, thinking of a million things while singing along.

But, if you would think with me for a few minutes, I would like to revisit that song, giving it a little more serious thought than perhaps we gave it as children. Do we really believe the lyrics? Can we honestly say that we believe Jesus REALLY loves children of all colors? And, for the sake of discussion, let’s replace the word ‘children’ with the word ‘people’. Jesus loves people: red, yellow, black and white people!

The verse of Scripture that is probably the most memorized and quoted verse in the entire Bible shows us the very heart of God:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:16

God so loved the WORLD. The world of humanity, which consists of all people groups, all ethnicities, all colors. God is the ultimate non-racist being! When He initially created humans (it all began with just two, Adam and Eve), He placed His stamp of approval on them by asserting, “It is very good.” This statement included more than the humans He had created; it actually included all of the created order. However, the word ‘very’ was only part of the decree after the creation of humans.

We could get sidetracked at this point by giving attention to the different people groups that populate this planet, trying to explain where they all originated, but that will have to be a discussion for another time. This blog is simply focusing on the fact that God created one human race that includes all the different people groups.

Therefore, in the eyes of God, we are one race. There is not a white race, a black race, a yellow race, a red race. There is only one: the human race. Therefore, if we say that one ‘race’ matters to the exclusion of other ‘races’, then we have become racist. If I say, “__________ lives matter,” inserting ‘black,’ ‘white’, ‘red’, or ‘yellow’ in the blank, then I have become a racist by placing one ‘race’ above others.

Please understand that I am not one who lives with his head in the sand, oblivious to the atrocities committed by one ethnic group over another throughout history. I am well aware of the horrific episodes of genocide generated by ‘racial hatred’ for the purpose of ethnic cleansing. There has always been a perverted and distorted view of humanity by those who believe one ethnic group is somehow better than another ethnic group. According to the World Atlas, the following is a list of the ten worst periods of genocide in history:

• The holocaust: 1939-45 Nazi Europe 5-17 million killed
• Holodomor: 1932-33 Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic 1.8-7.5 million killed
• Cambodian Genocide: 1975-79 Democratic Kampuchea 1.3-3 million killed
• Kazakh Genocide: 1931-33 Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic 1.3-1.75 million killed
• Armenian Genocide: 1915-22 Ottoman Empire 700,000-1.5 million killed
• Rwandan Genocide: 1994 Rwanda 500,000-1 million killed
• Zunghar Genocide: 1758-75 Qing Dynasty 480,000-600,000 killed
• Circassian Genocide: 1864-67 Circassia 400,00-1.5 million killed
• Genocide by the Ustashe: 1941-45 Independent State of Croatia 357,000-600,000 killed
• Bangladesh Genocide: 1971 Bangladesh 300,000-3 million killed

It is clear from this list, and the many other examples that could be added, that there have always been those of one ethnic group who have believed they were better than others. But that does not make it right!

As Christians, we must follow the example of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We must embrace the Biblical truth that man (all-inclusive) was created in the image of God. Color of skin should not be a factor in our view of one ethnicity over another. Yes, red, yellow, black and white are all precious in His sight. And those who would follow Him must view the human race as one. We should embrace our many commonalities, while respecting our many differences. If we are going to fill in the blank “_______ lives matter”, let’s do it right. “All lives matter.” Let’s respect one another, accept one another, love one another. Let’s listen to each other’s story. Let’s learn about our differences while celebrating our likenesses. Let’s see the different ‘colors’ of skin, while understanding that every different color is a part of the human family.

And, let’s let the light of God’s love shine through us, so that others might see a path through the darkness and have opportunity to embrace the light of God’s mercy and grace.

This week I have had the privilege of sharing God’s Word with the faith family at Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Marshville, NC. The photo above is my morning view as I sit on the front porch of our lodging for the week. What a blessing for me and Teresa to be here once again with Pastor Tim Moore and his wife, Libby.

A most blessed part of this week has been seeing some dear friends who were members of churches I have served in the past. Jimmy and Jean Flake, Chuck and Bobbie Payne, Travis and Kathy Evans, along with fellow pastor Johnnie Williams and his wife, Judy. Seeing these precious people from our past has caused me to think back over those forty years of ministry, and remember just how blessed I have been to serve churches in both Carolinas and Texas. Many, many individuals and families crowd my mind as I take a mental stroll through those years gone by.

Sadly, however, to my shame, I have lost contact with most of the members of those churches. With the exception of a very small number of individuals and families, I have little to no contact with the vast majority of those church members. As Teresa and I made our way from our home in Tennessee to be in Marshville, NC, this week, we began to think about some individuals who were so dear to us in those bygone years, and are still precious memories as we allow our minds to wander. But, they are just that: memories. Cherished memories, of course, but just memories none-the-less.

That grieves my heart. Let me share a few stories that will illustrate my point. Travis and Kathy Evans were members of Sutton Park Baptist Church in Monroe, NC. I only served as pastor of that particular church for about four years, but in that span of time Teresa and I grew extremely close to the Evans. Travis and I spent a good bit of time fishing together. We didn’t catch many fish, but what wonderful conversations we shared. Chuck and Bobbie Payne were members of two churches I had the privilege to serve: Crestview Baptist (seven years), and New Horizon Community Church (thirteen years). For twenty years I had the privilege of not only being their pastor, but of being friends. Jimmy and Jean Flake were (and still are) members of Deep Creek Baptist Church. Jimmy was always ready to go with me as we went fishing for men in the community.

There are countless others I could mention, and I only mention these because they have blessed me with their presence as I have preached at Mt. Olive this week. And it causes me to have deep regrets for not maintaining some sort of correspondence with people who have impacted my life in enormous ways.

Just a couple more examples as my mind continues to review the past. Donnie and Judy Gamble were (and are) great friends. Teresa and I had so many enjoyable times with this precious couple. Donnie and I served as pastors of churches in Monroe, NC, and we developed a most unique bond of friendship. Teresa and I spent quite a bit of time having such fun with Donnie and Judy. However, what I remember most about Donnie is that he was willing to confront me when he saw an area of my life that needed attention. I won’t go into detail here, but it was this great friend whom God used to save my marriage. Yes, dear and precious memories indeed.

Just one more couple I will mention out of the host of others I could choose to talk about. Mike and Marilyn Grenfell were friends of ours in Texas. When Teresa and I moved to Dallas for me to further my education, I met Mike as fellow students at Criswell College. Knowing that we were far from home, with no family or friends to spend time with, they invited us to celebrate Thanksgiving with them on our first holiday away from family. This started a friendship that has now spanned over thirty years. Teresa and I have so many memories of our time spent with the Grenfells. But again, my greatest memory of Mike is that he was a friend who would “get in my face” when I needed to hear a stern word. And he was also there for me when the dark clouds of life hovered above. For instance, when I learned that my grandfather had passed away, Mike drove me back to South Carolina to be with my family. And, yes, he drove all the way because I was too sick to drive myself.

I cherish the memories, and I am deeply ashamed that I did not do a better job of putting forth the effort to carry on with those friendships that I now hold so dear. If I started listing other friends from my past the list would be quite long. If you are reading this and you happen to be one of those that I have crossed paths with in the past, but we, for some reason, have lost contact, please know that any and all memories I have of you bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. And, as I bring this blog to a close, I am saying a prayer for you. I may not call you by name, but I pray for all those from my past who have touched my, encouraged me, stood by me in difficult and dark days, mentored me, and showed a million ways of being true friends. Thank you!

And, I’ll close by asking a favor of you: if you are one of those with whom Teresa and I have crossed paths in the past, it would make my heart sing if you would just say hello in response to this blog. Just seeing your name would once again flood my heart with sweet memories of the past. Thanks in advance for taking a moment to do that.

Does something seem a little off to you? Does it appear that there is an extreme form of hypocrisy evident in some of the decisions being made by politicians? Does it seem strange that some activities are curtailed while others are given free reign? Why is it that churches are singled out while protestors are allowed freedom to roam the streets of our cities without any form of restriction? Why is it that NFL players are being banned from attending worship services, but are free to go to other public places without any restriction?

I don’t mean to come across as a conspiracy theorist, but it seems to me that there is something extremely sinister going on behind the scenes. Something that is aimed at doing great harm to those who would faithfully worship God through the local church. What are Christians to do? How are we to respond? What action are we to take in light of these government restrictions being imposed on us?

Before I share my views on these extremely important questions, let me state as strongly as possible that I do believe the Covid-19 virus is real. My daughter and I have both tested positive for the virus, and have shown symptoms which would validate that test result. Thankfully, we are both over the virus at this time. I also know that many have suffered, and a large number have died, as a result of this disease. So what I am about to write is with that understanding in mind.

It seems to me that there are those who are striving diligently to use the virus as a means of forcing their personal agendas on the general public. A current example of this hypocrisy is the debate going on right now in congress concerning a stimulus package to give more assistance to struggling Americans. This debate seems to center around certain politicians attempt to force their desire to have mail-in ballots for the upcoming presidential election. Mail-in ballots, in my opinion, would create a logistical nightmare. The potential for voter fraud would be inestimable.

And please understand: Americans stand in line every day at department stores, restaurants, banks, businesses, etc. Crowds gather for protests and demonstrations. If we can safely stand in line in day-to-day situations, why would it be so difficult to stand in line to cast a ballot on election day?

So again, what are Christians to do in light of this shift in the political process? What are we to do in light of the changes being forced upon us? There is an incident recorded in Acts 5:17-32, that would set a precedent for Christians striving to follow the directives of Scripture. This is a lengthy passage, but for the sake of clarity I will quote it here:

“Then the high priest rose up. He and all who were with him, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. So they arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail during the night, brought them out, and said, ‘Go and stand in the temple, and tell the people all about this life.’ Hearing this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. When the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin – the full council of the Israelites – and sent orders to the jail to have them brought. But when the servants got there, they did not find them in the jail; so they returned and reported, ‘We found the jail securely locked, with guards standing in front of the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.’ As the captain of the temple police and the chief priests heard these things, they were baffled about them, wondering what would come of this. Someone came and reported to them, ‘Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple and teaching the people.’ Then the commander went with the servants and brought them in without force, because they were afraid the people might stone them. After they brought them in, they had them stand before the Sanhedrin, and the high priest asked, ‘Didn’t we strictly order you not to teach in this name? Look, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’ Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than people. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had murdered by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted this Man to His right hand as ruler and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

Acts 5:17-32

“We must obey God rather than people.” When we are told we can stand in line at Walmart, but can’t worship together while maintaining safe social distancing, then we must stand for God and against man. When NFL players are told they cannot attend church but can continue to frequent other places where people are gathered together, those who are Christian should obey God rather than man. When we are told we can stand in line at other venues, but cannot stand in line to cast a ballot, we must stand against this blatant hypocrisy. When we are told we can’t go to church due to social distancing restrictions, but throngs of people can protest and demonstrate in the streets, we must, again, stand against the hypocrisy.

Let’s not allow ourselves to be duped by the sinister undercurrent of social activism being forced upon us. Let us, who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ, obey God rather than man.

And please allow me to close with an extremely important word. I am not suggesting that Christians demonstrate with violence as we are seeing others do in the streets of major cities across our land. I am simply suggesting that we stand for what is right: that we don’t allow ourselves to be duped by those who would force us to back down from our Christian convictions. And, that as we stand, we stand first and foremost as representatives of Jesus Christ, as did the apostles in the passage quoted above. This would be a powerful witness of His love and grace in the midst of our present state of national turmoil.

I was just quarantined fourteen days due to testing positive for Covid-19. According to reports I have heard and read, my symptoms were extremely mild in comparison to most who have tested positive. Many have spent time in ICU units in hospitals, while many have lost their lives to the disease. We have been told to remain at a safe distance from others, to wear protective equipment when in close proximity to others, and stay away from others completely when possible.

Businesses were closed, church’s doors were locked, restaurant tables sat empty. Many were overwhelmed with fear, thinking that this must be the end, or at least the beginning of the end. Government mandated changes that have affected everyone to some degree. Many of those businesses that were forced to close will never recover due to financial loss due to the shut-down. Many churches are struggling due to the enforcement of guidelines limiting the number of people who could gather in one place.

Now, as if a world-wide pandemic was not enough, we are witnessing the incredible destruction being carried out in major cities across our country. We are seeing violence and devastation as what may have started as peaceful protests quickly turned to violence, rioting, physical attacks and property destruction.. The outcry is now calling for the defunding or even the demolition of police departments in cities across the land.

This has now exploded into the destruction of monuments and statues that have stood for decades. The outcry is against anything that ties our present to our past. We are hearing demands to change the names of certain brands, products, or entities that bear any resemblance to past historical events.

So, back to the question posed in the title of this blog: How, now, should we be living? To answer that question, we first of all need to be reminded that present local, national, and international events should not take anyone who believes the Bible’s teachings by surprise. Jesus spoke of how perilous life would become as we approached the time of His return. Paul gave specific details about what could be expected as we approach the end of this historical era.

And in the midst of it all, we are implored to remain faithful to the end. One of the clearest admonitions is found in the book of Revelation, where believers are told to be faithful until death. That statement could be understood in two ways: be faithful until you die; or, be faithful until your faith costs your life.

Jesus said that we are the salt and light in a world that desperately needs both. He also said that we are to be fishers of men. In the chaos and confusion of today’s world, we should be living our lives in such a way that would guide individuals from spiritual darkness to spiritual light; from degradation and decay to preserving and protecting; from drowning in a sea of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical chaos to breathing freely in the love and grace of God.

The world will try to choke the life out of us with fear, discouragement, stress, and despair. The Word of God will set us free to live life to the full – as Jesus Himself said, to live life abundantly. And, we are to do this until we die. So, let’s let our light shine before me so that they might see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.

In the midst of all the uncertainties of life, where do you turn for hope, comfort and assurance? Life has always been filled with uncertainty, but it seems this has become more of a reality in recent days. We could make the assertion that the only certainty in life is that nothing is certain.

Living in such a state of uncertainty can cause all kinds of problems – emotional, mental, physical and spiritual. For example, in our present Covid-19 crisis, many in self-imposed isolation are experiencing serious health issues which are caused by being isolated, but not caused directly by the virus. Just read statements on social media and you will quickly see the despair and discouragement so many are experiencing because of their isolation. Some have had no physical contact with another human being in weeks. For many, the only means of communication available is the use of social media, or telephone, or Skype, or some other form of ‘touchless’ means.

Might I suggest a possible solution to some of our fears and concerns? Admittedly, the following remarks and insights will only apply to those who have a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. But, for those of us who are sincere followers of Jesus, the following should bring a great deal of hope, comfort and assurance.

Let’s consider a conversation between Jesus and His disciples on the night of Jesus’ betrayal, the night that would cause the disciples to question everything they had believed about Jesus:

“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way to where I am going.”

John 14:1-4

This conversation took place only hours before Judas betrayed Jesus; just hours before Jesus was falsely accused, viciously attacked, and violently killed. It would usher in the most devastating experience of the disciples’ lives. They would be left reeling in the aftermath of Jesus’ death. They would desperately need to constantly remind themselves of these words of our Lord spoken in the midst of their despair.

What has rocked your world? What is it that has literally turned your world upside down? Try, for a moment, to put yourself in the garden with Jesus and His disciples as He made this statement. Try to envision yourself there, as Judas comes into the garden leading those who would arrest Jesus. Try to place yourself in the locked room with those disciples over the next days in the aftermath of Jesus’ death. Can you imagine the overwhelming crush of despair and hopelessness they must have been experiencing?

Now, bring your mind back to that event, that experience which has recently rocked your world. It may seem to you to be the absolute worst thing that could have happened. I am confident that is exactly how the disciples felt. Their Lord has been killed; their hopes have been destroyed; their lives have been ruined. How would they ever recover?

And you may be asking the same questions in the wake of your recent experience. How will you ever recover from the devastation of your recent hurt? I would suggest we remember the words of Jesus to His disciples on what would prove to be the worst day of their lives: “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me.”

Jesus promises comfort to anyone and everyone who will place their hope and trust in Him. Yes, life is filled with uncertainties, and many times when we experience one of those uncertainties we are left dazed, perplexed, wondering if we will ever be able to pull through. Remember, the disciples experienced the most devastating loss anyone could ever possibly imagine. And what was the ultimate result? After they experienced the power of Jesus’ resurrection, they turned the world upside down for the cause of their risen Lord.

So, don’t let your heart be troubled. Let the presence of the living Lord give you comfort, hope, and assurance in the midst of your present state of loss, and let the promise of the Lord give you confidence that the best is yet to come. Look above and beyond the present state of uncertainty, and look by faith to the One who sovereignly guides everything to that day when Jesus will come and call us to Himself in that beautiful place He has personally prepared for His disciples.