I’m getting older (please note I said older, not old!). Everyday that passes is a day of thanksgiving to God for another day of life: another day to enjoy the plethora of blessings I consistently receive from the hand of a very generous, gracious Father in heaven.

As I get older, my thoughts about the important things in life have drastically changed. As I write this blog, I am sitting in the living room of my son and his family in Texas. I am watching my two grandsons, Luke and Levi, and enjoying immensely this brief bit of time we have to share with them.

And, I’m thinking. Or, should I say, rethinking. Rethinking priorities. Rethinking those things that have been so important to me in the past, and reevaluating them in light of the present. As I do this, I have become convinced that things that at one time were so very important to me are no longer the least bit significant. As a matter of fact, I have pretty much reduced my priorities to two very important things: faith and family. This may sound a bit self-centered, but allow me to explain.

First of all, let’s think about faith. As time passes on, I am realizing more and more how important faith is to me. Faith in something much larger, much greater, than me. In my 66 years of life, I have observed so many things, some of which would have shattered my faith had I focused on those events rather than on the One who is in control of those events.

Faith allows us to see the unseen. To hear the un-hearable. To embrace truth that is so fantastic, so incredibly absurd, it could never be believed except through faith. It is faith that enables us to believe stories such as: the Biblical account of creation; the stories of the miraculous intervention of God on behalf of His people, Israel; the story of the miraculous conception of Jesus Christ in the womb of Mary; the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus; the gift of salvation offered through Jesus; and so many others.

It is also faith that enables us to face the difficulties, hardships, and heartaches of life. As the Apostle John stated:

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

I John 5:4-5

As we travel through the arena of this physical life, there are times in which we feel that we cannot possibly keep going, but by faith we embrace the present with the belief that a greater day is coming. It will be an everlasting day, lived in the very presence of the One who loved us and died for us. Faith is indeed a crucial component of a life well-lived.

The second priority of life is family. These brief, fleeting days that Teresa and I are enjoying with Josh and his family will be cherished forever. Moments that we are able to spend with them, or with Bryan and his family, or with Charity, are moments that will linger in our minds and hearts.

As I think back over the early years of my marriage, especially the early years of my two son’s lives, I have so many regrets. I made so very many mistakes in rearing them. It would be so wonderful if we could somehow use some kind of magical eraser and completely remove those moments in which we made such horrible mistakes in child-rearing. But this is where faith and family come together so intricately and intimately. We pray that our children will not be scarred by the mistakes of the parents. We entrust them to the care and keeping of that same heavenly Father whom we have entrusted our lives.

As we all know, children don’t come with a how-to manual. Bryan and Joshua were not cut from the same cloth. If you would have had the opportunity to meet them in their youth, you probably would not have guessed they were brothers. So different in so many ways. As I watch Luke and Levi, I make that same observation. Distinctly different. But children of the same parents. Loved dearly by those parents.

This is the same as it is in the family of faith. God’s children are not all cut from the same cloth. Different races. Different ethnicities. Different cultural backgrounds. Different tastes. Different preferences. Different languages. And yet, we are all linked together by an invisible strand that is inseparable. That strand is, you guessed it, faith! Faith is what enables us to become children of God, and that same faith enables to embrace other children of God as brothers and sisters with whom we will spend eternity.

And when you think about it, everything else (at least from my present day perspective) pales in insignificance when compared with these.

Take advantage of every precious moment you have to share with family, both your blood family and your faith family. In the end, you will not regret this time well-spent.

I know, I know, it’s just another day. Nothing magical about January 1. But still, we place so much emphasis on this day, don’t we? We look at this day of the year as something very special, very….. different, from all the other days in the year. Oh, yes, we have other significant days marked clearly on our digitized day-planners, but this day seems to stands out from all the others. Why is that? Let’s give it some thought as we are on the verge of the ending of another year.

Many will make New Year’s Resolutions. These resolutions are as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They range from the silly to the serious, from the insignificant to the incredible, from the laughable to the life-altering. Why do we do this? What makes the beginning of a new year the focal point of such mental gymnastics? Allow me to make a few observations.

As we come to the beginning of a new year, for many it is a time of reflection. We look back over the previous year, thinking about the highs and lows, the good times and bad, the happy days and sad. It is sometimes a period of melancholy, as we contemplate the previous year. Those times of happiness bring a smile to our face, and a sense of joy to our spirit. And then, as we reminisce about the sad times, even though months have now passed, tears fill our eyes and sorrow clouds our minds.

However, it is not just a time of reflection; it’s also a time of evaluation. As we ponder the past, we begin to make a mental assessment of how things went, of what went wrong in the bad times, and of what was right in the good times. We evaluate our job performance, our relationships, our involvements in community or church activities, our influence on others, our profits and/or losses, and a plethora of other things. As we do this, we are striving to learn from the past, with the hopes of making the next year better than the year just ended.

And then, after a time of reflection and evaluation, we begin to make plans for the coming year. We learn from the past, or at least we should. We assess the mistakes we made, and strive to not repeat them. As a matter of fact, we not only try our best not to make the same mistakes, but to actually learn from them lessons that will help us do better in the future. We also make an assessment of the good times, the profitable times, and we make a determination that we will try to improve on these areas, making them better and more profitable.

The beginning of a new year is indeed a great time for reflection and evaluation. But let’s not get bogged down in the past. As the Apostle Paul said in his correspondence with his friends in Philippi, we need to forget the things of the past and press forward. And what exactly are we to press forward toward? Paul gives us the answer:

Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

As we move into 2019, let us make the determined effort to focus on Jesus Christ. Our goal as followers of Christ is to truly follow Him: His teachings, His example, His worship, His work. Let’s make it our focus to strive to be a light shining out in the darkness and decadence of our fallen world. Let’s make an all-out effort to be the salt of the earth, striving to be the preservative of righteousness amidst the putrefying forces of evil. Jesus could not have made it any clearer when He said:

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

As we look to the new year, we can pretty well be assured that there will be good times and bad times; happy times and sad times; times of gain and times of loss; times of relative ease and times of extreme struggle. I am convinced that the way to handle it all, and to keep everything in proper balance, is to keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ, and strive to do all that we do for His glory. With that focus, we can rest assured that God’s blessings will abide on us regardless of whatever life throws our way.

My prayer for each of us is that God would bring everything into each day of 2019 that would serve His purposes of glorifying His Son. Remember, we are pressing toward an ultimate goal that takes us far past the experiences of this life into the glorious eternity He has prepared for us.

Be It Therefore Resolved That: I will do everything within my power to allow God to use me to serve His purpose in my life in 2019. I will seek ways to glorify Him in every circumstance, situation and eventuality that enters into my personal experiences.

What could possibly be better than that?

Christmas morning! What a glorious reminder of that indescribable event. What a majestic thought! The God of the universe became God in the flesh. The Creator of all became part of His creation. The One who spoke all things into existence now makes His way into the existence of humanity. God became man and dwelt among us. Unspeakable. Unthinkable. Unimaginable. Marvelous. Miraculous. Mysterious. God in the flesh.

As I ponder the wonder of Christmas, two questions come to mind: How? and Why? How did it happen, and why was it necessary? Think with me for a few minutes as we delve into those two questions.

First, let’s think about the question, “How?” In the Biblical records found in Matthew and Luke, we are given information that calls for radical faith. Listen once again to the words penned by Matthew:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.”

How? I remember vividly sitting in a classroom, hearing the professor of New Testament state dogmatically and unequivocally, “There is no possibility of a virgin giving birth to a child. It simply did not, could not, happen!” And yet the Biblical record is clear: Jesus was born to the virgin, Mary.

Matthew’s account leaves much to be desired. We (or at least, I) would love to have more details. But alas, this is all Matthew was inspired to record of this miraculous event. Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit. That is all we can say in response to the question, “How?” Theologians and Bible scholars have spent much time and effort trying to explain the inexplainable. Volumes have been written in the attempt to answer the question, “How?” But to stick to the Bible’s account, we must admit it gives very little information beyond the assertion.

But let’s turn our attention to the other question: “Why?” And again, we will turn our attention to the Gospel of Matthew for his brief analysis:

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

“He will save His people from their sins.” Once more, “He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew, again, gives no details. We want more. We read those words and hunger for so much more. But in reality, what more do we need? In that one statement, in that one brief verse of Scripture, we have the answer to the “Why” question.

To deal with the “Why,” we must go back for a moment to the “How”. They are intrinsically tied together. We have already been reminded of Matthew’s simple assessment of the conception of Jesus in the womb of Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit. But the “how” cannot be understood without giving consideration to the “why”.

Jesus conception without the usual physical joining of a man and a woman was a necessity due to the fact that Jesus had to have been born without a sin nature, which would have been His had He been conceived through the natural process. Let me try to explain as briefly as possible.

Paul leads us to understand that through one man, Adam, sin entered the world, was passed down to all in his lineage, and thus we are all born sinners. We do not become sinners when we sin, we sin because we are born sinners. Had Jesus been conceived by the natural process of procreation, He would have been a sinner at birth, and His death could have only paid the penalty for His own sin.

In order for His death to save His people from their sins, He could have no sin of His own for which to die. Therefore, by virtue of the fact that He was conceived in this miraculous way, inheriting no sin nature from Adam, the federal head of all humanity, Jesus could pay the penalty for the sins of others. Therefore, the “how” and “why” of the virgin conception are inextricably linked together. We cannot have one without the other, and without both, we would be lost in our sins, doomed and damned to eternity separated from God.

I will end this blog with a simple word of reminder and encouragement. Jesus Christ came into this world, the very world He Himself created (see John 1) to save sinners. He came to save His own people from their sins. Christmas is a reminder of this amazing truth. But for some who might read this blog, Christmas might be just another day off work, another day to relax, enjoy some family time, exchange a few gifts, and then be quickly forgotten.

But those who know the true meaning of this day should be reminded of the fact that Jesus Christ, eternal Son of God, became Son of man so that He might save sinners from eternal separation from God. The “how” and the “why” were just for you! Make sure you take time to remember, and then to share, why Christmas is so important to you.

We’re all familiar with that extremely well-known and popular poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” right? Sure we are! We’ve heard it over and over through the years. It’s all about getting ready for the coming of Santa Claus. All the preparations are made, and the children are comfortably snug and warm in their beds. They have heard the encouragement from mom and dad to go to sleep quickly so the jolly man in the red suit can make his entrance. Even as I write those words, I am reminded of my childhood Christmases: the excitement, the anticipation, the joy.

After marrying the love of my life, Teresa, and starting our family, we made every effort to share the joys of our childhood experiences with our children. I wanted them to experience the same excitement and anticipation that I had enjoyed. I wanted them to awaken on Christmas morning with the same gleam in their eyes and the smile on their faces that displayed the sheer joy of realizing the fulfillment of their Christmas wishes.

And now, as I ponder these memories, as I rehearse in my mind the recollections of Christmases past, I ask myself an extremely important question: Did I make as much effort to prepare my children for the coming of Jesus as I did the coming of Santa? Did I share the message of Jesus’ coming with the same zeal, excitement and anticipation?

Through the years of my life since becoming a follower of Jesus Christ, I have sincerely tried to surrender my life to His Lordship. I have tried to live my life according to His teachings. I have failed time and again to live up to His admonitions to live holy lives, but it has been my desire to do so.

Having said that, let me return to the subject of this blog. I have been asked many times through the years how I balanced the celebration of Christmas which is focused on Santa Claus, with the true celebration of Christmas, which is all about Jesus Christ. Is it possible to maintain a balance which allows our children to enjoy the excitement of the coming of Santa while sharing with them the true meaning and message of Christmas? I think it is.

When our children were young, we wanted them to enjoy the excitement of Christmas, while teaching them its true meaning. We allowed them to sit on Santa’s lap, telling him of the things they desire to have under the tree on Christmas morning. And we did all we could to build the excitement and anticipation of the big day. But we also shared with them that the gifts they received were gifts of love, expressions of the love of God. We tried to share with them the reality of Christmas, being the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Our focus was on the birth of Jesus, not the coming of Santa. We shared with them the story of St. Nicholas (there are too many different legends to share in this blog), who gave gifts to the needy as an expression of God’s love. And we always made the effort to place emphasis on the birth of the Son of God and Savior of men.

Did we do this perfectly? Certainly not! Could we have done it better? Absolutely! Would we do things differently if we had the chance to do so? Without doubt! But we did try to maintain that balance. And now, looking back from my present day perspective, I think we must have done a decent job. Our children have all grown to accept the fact that Jesus Christ is the real focus of Christmas. The celebration of sharing gifts, sitting on Santa’s lap, anticipating Christmas morning, were all kept in balance with the focus on the ultimate gift of all, Jesus Christ.

I have said all of this to simply remind us to keep Jesus the very center of all our Christmas celebrations and festivities. Don’t allow the glitter and glamour and the gifts to keep us from focusing on THE GIFT, Jesus Christ. And let’s strive to anticipate His coming as much as we anticipate the coming of the jolly man in the red suit.

And now, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night (yes, I had to say it!)

Life is filled with choices. Each and every day we make choices of all kinds. Some are rather innocuous, and the ramifications of these choices have very little bearing on anything of any substance. Then, there are others that can prove to be life-altering. Some choices leave devastation in their wake, as individuals continue to suffer consequences of those choices for years to come.

I have become convinced through my lifetime that there are things we can do to safeguard ourselves against making those destructive choices. I would like to share just one of those safeguards with you in this week’s blog. I am sure it is going to sound overly simplistic to most of you when you read it, but I would just ask that you read to the end before making a final judgment on this suggestion.

I would like to offer the following as a helpful safeguard: have your mind made up before being faced with the choice. I told you – overly simplistic. Perhaps even so simplistic that some of you will turn me off before hearing me out. I would ask again that you simply read on before making an assessment.

Let me offer a Biblical example of my premise to set the stage. In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we are told of an occasion in which King Nebuchadnezzar issued a decree to have a huge statue constructed. Once the construction was completed, he then issued an edict demanding that everyone bow down to this image.

It is at this point in the narrative that we are introduced to three young Hebrew boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They are among the throngs of people who have gathered at the giant statue, and they are told, along with everyone else, that at the sound of musical instruments they are to bow down to the image. Failure to do so would result in death.

The people were gathered, the decree was issued, the music sounded, and the people bowed. Everyone, except these three Hebrew boys. 

The king became infuriated when he was informed of their insubordination. However, being the benevolent king that he was, he decided to give them a second opportunity to bow down to the image. He warned them that if they refused again they would be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.

This is the point in the story that we find the statement upon which I build my premise. When given this second chance, these three young Hebrews make what is truly a startling assertion. A Stewart paraphrase of their assertion would be something like this: “We don’t need to consult with one another about this choice. Our minds are already made up. Do what you want with us, but we will not bow down to your image!” ( see Daniel 3 for the full story) Brave words from three young boys as they stand in the presence of the king.

We all know the rest of the story, so let me get back to my premise. It is obvious that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had their minds made up prior to the heat of the moment (pun intended!). At some point prior to this demanding situation, they had already made a commitment to a choice, regardless of the personal harm it would cause. And please make note of the fact that the story in Daniel informs us that there was a fourth figure in the flames with them! God never leaves us alone in the midst of those fiery decisions we face.

So, in closing, let’s make a few observations. Before facing the choice, have your mind settled as to how you will respond. Before finding yourself in the position of having to choose whether you will engage in pre-marital sex, an extra-marital affair, or some other sexual behavior that is denounced in Scripture, know how you will respond and stick to it. Before going along with your friends in some unlawful activity, just to be a part of the crowd, have your mind made up as to how you will respond, and be firm in your decision. Before spreading that juicy morsel of gossip that you know will assassinate the character of the person(s) involved, have your mind made up that gossip is forbidden in Scripture. Before stealing, cheating on that test, giving false information on your tax return, or a gazillion other possible pitfalls, think it through, make up your mind, and stick to it.

I’m not suggesting this is easy. I can’t imagine how those three young boys felt as they pondered the impending torture they were about to experience, but they made up their minds, and they stuck to it regardless of the outcome. I would suggest that to do it the way they did will prove to be so much more beneficial to you as you get beyond the choice, look back, and realize that you made the right choice, and you are better for it.

So, is your mind made up? Remember, you have God with you, strengthening you, supplying you with the grace to make the right choice.

Are you like me? Do you find yourself sometimes reading the Bible, when you come across the record of one of God’s fantastic miracles, and think to yourself, “How absurd is that?” And you then ponder the record, thinking that it is just too ridiculous to be true, that there is just no way that could ever have happened?

I am not trying to plant doubt in anyone’s mind by broaching this subject. Rather, I am simply confessing that there are times in which the Bible’s record seems to be rather unbelievable, at least to me.

Think with me about a few examples. The parting of the Red Sea would be a good place to begin. According to the Biblical record, there would have been at least a couple million Israelites who would have made that crossing. Can you imagine the enormity of that event? How long would it have taken that many people to cross the sea, while the waters were banked up on either side? The record of the event would lead us to believe that it took all night for the passage. This means that the pillar of fire that stood between the Israelites and the Egyptian army would have been in place for that duration. And think about the fact that the water then came crashing down on the army, destroying them after the safe passage of the Israelites. Fantastic!

Again, think with me about the story of the manna falling from heaven every day for almost forty years. Every day, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, enough of the miraculous manna fell from heaven to feed at least two million Israelites. And to protect the sanctity of the Sabbath Day, enough fell on Friday so they did not have to work on the Sabbath. Fantastic!

For the sake of time I will mention only one more miracle. Let’s give our attention to the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. After three days and nights in the tomb, Jesus arose from the dead, and then made at least eleven post-resurrection appearances to literally hundreds of individuals. This after convincing proof that He was truly dead. Fantastic!

Left to the frailty of human reasoning, we would all reach the conclusion that these records of the miraculous are simply too absurd to be believed. After all, there is no natural explanation to the supernatural works of God.

And that’s the dilemma. Left to the inclinations, imaginations, and reasonings of the human mind, we are left with the concluding thought that these things simply cannot happen. There has to be an explanation for everything, and if something happens that seemingly has no explanation it is simply because the explanation has not yet been discovered.

This brings us to a place of crisis. Henry Blackaby, in “Experiencing God,” uses the term “crisis of belief.” Will we embrace, by faith, the record of the Bible, or will we give ourselves over to the frailty of the human reasoning? Will we side with the infidels and unbelievers, accepting the theory that miracles cannot happen, and thus reject the Bible? Or will we accept, by faith, the record found in the Bible, that God does indeed perform miracles?

There are so many words of encouragement in the Bible which would lead us to understand that faith is not an easy concept to understand and embrace. It all begins when we sense something, Someone, speaking to our heart, spirit and mind, concerning our deep and desperate need of salvation. This is the ultimate crisis of belief. Will we continue to hold on to humanistic, materialistic reasoning, which tells us this life is all there is? Should we live for the moment, believing that when we close our eyes in death we cease to exist? 

Or, should we, by faith, accept the Bible’s teachings concerning this life, and the life which will be experienced beyond physical death? What seems to be sheer nonsense when viewed through eyes of humanistic reasoning, becomes the most sensible truth when viewed through eyes of faith. 

Faith does not come easily, nor does it remain unquestioned once one has believed, by faith, the clear teachings of Scripture. As the writer of Hebrews says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” The substance of things hoped for. Faith is not focused on the here and now, on the “things” of this life. It does not take faith to believe in something we have in our possession, something we can see, touch, and in some sensory way experience. Rather, faith is focused on what cannot be seen or sensed in any physical way. 

The writer of Hebrews goes on to say something that will help us in our understanding of faith: “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” By faith we understand!

There are so many things which cannot be tested and proved by relying on empirical evidence. There are puzzles and enigmas which are so completely beyond our reasoning capabilities. This is when the absurdity of faith is needed. It is faith that enables us to see what cannot be seen with the human eye. It is faith that ushers into the very presence of the living God as we embrace the truths of Scripture, taking God at His word.

To the unbelieving world it is absurd nonsense. To the individual whose eyes have been opened by the grace of God, the absurdity becomes clear. Does it mean that from the moment of belief we will never experience doubts again? Certainly not. But faith enables us to believe what we cannot explain. 

The next time you are reading the Bible, and you hear that whisper that tells you how absolutely absurd it all sounds, just whisper back. No, don’t whisper, shout, “I believe what I don’t understand. God, I truly believe. Please, help my unbelief.” He will. And you will see somewhere down the road that the crisis of belief actually strengthened your walk with God.

Through my 66 years of life, I have had the privilege of meeting persons, all of whom are special in their own way. Special, yes, but so very different. I am truly amazed at how vastly different we all are from one another.

My wife and I were watching some television program recently, and I made the observation that it is astounding how we all share the same basic facial features, and yet, we are all so unique. There are those occasions in which we cross paths with someone who looks so similar to someone we know, but upon closer observation we see differences that set them apart. Even ‘identical twins’ have their distinctions. We are all very different.

But we are different in other ways as well. This week, I would like to focus my thoughts on one way that we are all so very different: Outlook. How do you look at the “stuff” of life? Do you think of yourself as an optimist? A pessimist? A realist? Or would you say that your outlook changes from day to day, and from experience to experience? I have met a few individuals who seem to change from optimist to pessimist instantly! But, for the sake of time and clarity, let’s focus our attention on the general outlook that characterizes our lives.

First, let’s focus our attention on the pessimist. Give some thought to the definition of pessimism: 

1. the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions, problems, etc.: His pessimism about the future of our country depresses me.
2. the doctrine that the existing world is the worst of all possible worlds, or that all things naturally tend to evil.
3. the belief that the evil and pain in the world are not compensated for by goodness and happiness.

Wow! That is pretty depressing, huh? When I read that definition I am reminded of a statement Vance Havner made in a sermon: “It is hard to be optimistic when you have a misty optic.” When your belief is that the existing world is the worst of all possible worlds, then your outlook will be tainted with discouragement and despair. You will see no light at the end of the tunnel. You will, as Christian and his companion, Hopeful, found themselves, in the dungeon of despair below the castle of discouragement. 

Now, let’s think for a moment about optimism. Consider the following definition:

1. a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome.
2. the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.
3. the belief that goodness pervades reality.

The optimist will view life and world events from a much more positive perspective. And again, think about the second definition: the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world. The pessimist, seeing nothing but negative, tends toward darkness of spirit and brooding over the potential of disaster, while the optimist sees light at the end of the tunnel, which leads to the belief that all things will somehow work out in a positive and even beneficial way in the end.

Finally, let’s give attention to the definition of realism:

1. interest in or concern for the actual or real, as distinguished from the abstract, speculative, etc.
2. the tendency to view or represent things as they really are.

The realist will see things for what they really are. They don’t perceive negative results or positive ends, they simply see the reality of what is before them.

For both the optimist and the pessimist, a certain amount of speculation is necessary. The optimist will speculate that all things are going to somehow end with positive and beneficial results, while the pessimist will only perceive negative and detrimental results. The realist will simply see things for what they are, and not necessarily perceive either positive or negative ramifications.

I must bring this to a close, and I will attempt to do that by focusing on how the believer in Jesus Christ should view personal and world events. There should be a healthy mixture of realism and optimism. Let me explain. Jesus told His followers that they would have trouble in this life. The Apostle Paul taught that as time goes on, there would be an acceleration of trouble and turmoil on the world scene. Jesus and Paul did not share these things with the intent of causing us to be pessimists, but rather to see all these things as part of a much larger picture. And, to see things as they really are: part of God’s design and plan.

Jesus and Paul also taught that we should view world events, as well as personal experiences, from the end back to the present. In other words, we should always have the end in sight. Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. And no matter how dark the tunnel might become, and how turbulent the travel through the tunnel might be, the believer in Jesus should always rest assured of the fact that there is light, and know that the light is Jesus Himself. 

Are there moments of discouragement in the lives of believers? Most certainly! But those moments should not define our lives, nor should they determine our future. Rather, the end should define the present. We should live every moment with the end in view. If we can accomplish this, then we will not be pessimistic, but we will be realists with an optimistic outlook. Let’s all strive for this perspective, and may it allow us to look to the future with hope and anticipation.

We are now going through the seasons with tremendous acceleration. Please note that I’m not speaking here of the seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall, but rather the seasons of the macabre (Halloween), remembrance (Thanksgiving), and the majestic (Christmas). These “seasons” are indeed distinct, but at the same time they are linked together with deep significance if we would but pause and consider them as one.

Halloween can represent for us the dark spiritual battle which rages around us each and every moment. There are forces of evil, demonic powers, that always seeking someone to deceive, devour, and destroy. The Apostle Paul informs his readers that we are in a battle with spiritual forces that are set for the purpose of utter destruction. Paul states that we are not in a battle with flesh and blood, but with powerful beings who are bent on wreaking havoc in the lives of unsuspecting, unprepared individuals.

During this season, we see individuals who transform themselves into other personas. They wear masks and costumes which hide their true identity. They pretend to be something, or someone, other than who they really are. This reminds me of a rather sobering statement the Apostle Paul makes in his correspondence with the Corinthians: “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” Satan is out to destroy. His emissaries, the demonic angels who rebelled with him when he was cast  out of heaven, make up that vast horde of spiritual forces who transform themselves in what appears to be ministers of righteousness, but who are, in reality, opposed to every vestige of righteousness.

And thus, we are warned. This moves us to the next season: Thanksgiving. As we are warned about the antics of our enemy, we are motivated to give thanks to our true Father of Light, who sheds His spiritual light into the spiritual darkness of the enemy. It is this light that shows us the way out of the darkness, which leads to destruction and death, into the light that leads to wholeness and life.

But the question arises, “What exactly is this light?” And the Bible gives us the answer in clear, unmistakable terms. Jesus said of Himself, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” There is one, and only one, way to escape the destructive forces of darkness. Left to ourselves, we are totally hopeless and helpless. But thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, and the light of His life, we are given the means to escape the forces of our enemy. We should be moved with constant and consistent gratitude because of the gift of Light which brings the gift of Life.

And this leads us to our third season: Christmas. Into a world filled with spiritual darkness and decadence Jesus Christ made His entrance. Through the most humble of beginnings He is born to a young virgin named Mary. He carries this stigma of illegitimacy  for the entirety of His earthly life. He is God among men, but treated as the lowliest man of all. He is maligned, mistreated, abused, cast out, and ultimately crucified. All according to the eternal plan of His Father. And all carried out with the commitment of obedience to fulfill His Father’s will, and bring salvation to men, women, boys and girls who were deceived by the darkness of the evil one.

The Apostle John, in the opening verses of his gospel, makes this statement: “In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men.” Jesus is the light who gives life. 

So, there you have it. Darkness, deceit, and death represented by the season of Halloween; remembrance with gratitude represented by the season of Thanksgiving; and, Life and Light invading and dispelling death and darkness represented by the season of Christmas. 

Have you been transferred out of the darkness of the world into the light and life Jesus offers?  If not, why not now? This very moment, acknowledge your desperate need for God’s gracious offer of salvation. Accept His offer of the life and light of His Son, Jesus Christ. And finally, thank Him for His most wonderful gift. Then, you will be able to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas for the very first time.

Here we are again. Another Thanksgiving Day is upon us. Another time of reflection and review. Another reminder of the fact that we should be people of gratitude for the multitudes of blessings we have experienced in our lives.

I realize that some would read that statement and think, “Wow, is he naïve? Does he live in the same world in which I live? Has he been living in some dream world in which everything is always nice and beautiful and clean and pristine? If he only knew…..”

Well, you’re right, I don’t know. For many of you who read my blogs regularly, I know you by name only. As a matter of fact, there are quite a number who read these weekly messages that I have never met, and will probably never meet. I am totally oblivious to what is happening your lives. 

This past year may have been a devastating year for you. You may have been bombarded by setback after setback, troubles beyond measure, problems which are continuing to wreak havoc in your life day after day. You may awaken each day to the lingering difficulties which have beset you, and these may be exacerbated by more difficulties added to the pile with unceasing regularity. And you might be reading these words thinking, “Really! He’s going to suggest that I be thankful. For what? Give me one good reason that I should be thankful for anything? Life has been nothing but one long series of painful, hurtful, heart-wrenching episodes, and there is no end in sight. Please, give me one reason to be thankful.”

I would like to suggest a couple of reasons. Let me begin my response by sharing a couple of verses from the writings of the Apostle Paul. First, from his letter to the Ephesians, he says, “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then, in his correspondence with the Thessalonians he says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

I don’t mean to be overly simplistic concerning these two statements, as I realize that there is far too much conveyed here to cover in a brief blog. But let me draw your attention to two prepositional phrases which are extremely important for our proper understanding of this matter of thanksgiving. “In everything give thanks”; and “Give thanks for all things.” 

IN and FOR. And please note: In EVERYTHING, and for ALL THINGS. I have heard many well-meaning Bible expositors try to explain these two statements with less intensity than I feel Paul meant to convey. Does God really intend that we be thankful for every experience of life, no matter how painful it is? Are we to give thanks in the midst of those awful ordeals that catch us off-guard and unprepared? I believe the answer is a resounding YES!

Again, I don’t mean to sound simplistic, but I believe it all comes down to a matter of perspective. I am reminded of a statement found in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The first question addressed in the catechism is this: “What is the chief end of man?” Please listen carefully to the response: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” Please, read that again, very slowly. Once again. 

Let’s focus our attention now on the first part of the response: “The chief end of man is to glorify God.” My ultimate purpose in life should be to glorify God, and in doing so it will bring a sense of enjoyment to my life. Thus, if we want to learn to be thankful in all things and for all things, we need to first and foremost learn that we are created in His image, and redeemed so that we might glorify Him always. This will result in unbelievable joy in the life of the sincere believer.

This, in turn, will enable us to truly and sincerely give thanks in all things and for all things, because we begin to understand that this is our purpose. Now, let’s get a little deeper. We experience the painful experiences of life due to the fact that we live in a broken, sin-infested world. We suffer due to this spiritual state. But as believers, we see beyond the pain and suffering of the here-and-now, and we look by faith into the hereafter. We glimpse, by faith, the glory of the eternal state, and we begin to see how insignificant the sufferings of this present life are when compared to that which we look forward to in the eternal realm. As a matter of fact, Paul stated in his letter to the Romans that the sufferings of this present life are not even worthy to be compared to the glory set before us in Christ Jesus.

Think about this for a moment as we bring this blog to a close. Have you stopped lately to focus your thoughts on the amazing love and grace of God that was displayed through the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ? Could I encourage you to think about the grueling, agonizing brutality of these events? Then, might I suggest that you take all of your sufferings, the totality of your painful life experiences, and place them beside His. Is there any comparison? I would suggest not. We will never suffer as He suffered. And yet, His life was one of understanding that He would find the greatest joy in His obedience to His Father’s will for His life, which included all the agony and suffering. And He now enjoys the eternal blessings of that obedience.

This Thanksgiving, let’s not dwell on our experiences, but rather let’s focus on how we might be able to glorify Him in the midst of those experiences, and enjoy the blessings of His presence as we give thanks in all things, and for all things.

My prayer is that this will be the most memorable Thanksgiving Day ever for you and yours. 

Those of you who read my blogs regularly know that last week Teresa and I were on vacation for a few days enjoying one of our very favorite places: amusement parks! I am not going to rehash that story, as I shared most of it in my previous blog.

However, I do want to revisit a topic I broached in last week’s blog simply because it is a source of sorrow for me. I mentioned last week that so many people with whom we spoke were obviously amazed at the news that we had been married 45 years. It seemed to strike a nerve with quite a few individuals. 

It gave me pause, and caused me to ask the question, “Why is a long-term marriage seen as a bit of an oddity?” We all know the statistics of marriages ending in divorce. Approximately half of all marriages end in separation and divorce. Then, those who remarry stand an even greater chance of divorcing again. It seems to be a vicious cycle into which many go, and find no way of escape. 

Teresa and I have been doing pre-marital counseling, marriage counseling, and marriage retreats for quite a number of years. We have witnessed many marriages strengthened, but we have also known those that did not survive. I remember one couple in particular who had attended several of our marriage retreats over the span of a few years. We had come to expect them to go each year. Then, one year, when we announced the date and location for our next retreat, I noticed that this couple did not sign up. I questioned them about their not signing up, thinking that it was a simple oversight on their part. I was shocked, however, when I heard their response. They informed me that they would not be attending any more of the retreats because, in their words, “They don’t work.”

I was shocked! I stood there in stunned silence for a few moments, and then finally asked, “Have you done the follow-up work you were encouraged to do?” Then, I was even more shocked. “No,” they replied. “We just thought going on the retreat would help our marriage.” 

Well, needless to say, this sort of put me into a state of mental numbness. No, I thought, they won’t work unless you work at it. I will admit that it is good for couples to get away for a weekend. To have a break from the daily routine. But a marriage retreat is meant to give us tools to use to make our marriages better. It’s not a magical time in which every problem you have, or will experience in the future, will mysteriously disappear. But it is a time in which we learn practices and principles which will enhance our marriage relationships. 

This brings me back now to my original intent in writing this blog. Why is a long-term marriage such an oddity? Or, for that matter, why is a long-term commitment to anything such an oddity? I don’t want to oversimplify an extremely serious matter, but I feel that one reason is we live in a throw away society. Think about it. It used to be that things were repaired, but now they are replaced. We just simply throw out the old and purchase the new. It doesn’t even have to be broken. We just get tired of it and want a new one – whatever the “one” happens to be. And, in the case of this blog, it happens to be relationships. 

God ordained the marriage relationship to be productive and pleasurable. We are to make a commitment that lasts until we are parted by death. But now, it lasts until we are parted by desire, or the lack of it. We are parted for the most insignificant things. 

Now I must interject at this point that marriage is extremely hard work. But, it seems that this is the very reason so many throw in the towel. They don’t want to work at it. If it becomes difficult, throw it out and get a new one. Why go through the hassle of working at this one when I can just get into a new one. 

Long-term relationships should not be an oddity, especially among those who profess to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and are striving to live by His teachings. I am convinced that long-term relationships would be more of the norm rather than the oddity if we would but commit ourselves first and foremost to Him, and then to our mate. 

Let’s all please strive to make every effort to work out difficulties and work through hardships, all the while trusting God to give us the grace to make it through. His blessings are bountiful and more than sufficient.