“It’s hard to be optimistic when you have a misty optic.”

Vance Havner

Despair – what an awful place to be: what an awful, emotional crisis to experience. Despair is the complete loss or absence of hope. Countless is the number of individuals who have succumbed to the overwhelming power of despair. They have found themselves lost in a state of emotional, mental, physical and spiritual darkness from which they cannot extricate themselves. It seems that despair feeds on despair, and hopelessness breeds more hopelessness.

A state of total despair causes one to think that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. They are consumed with thoughts of total and complete futility as they peer into that dark abyss. So it was with Mary as she visited the tomb in which Jesus had been buried. She arrived in a state of absolute despair. Let’s allow the Biblical narrative to speak for itself:

“But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’ ‘Because they’ve taken away my Lord,’ she told them, ‘and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.'”

John 20:11-13

What a graphic portrait of despair. Mary had arrived at the tomb early on Sunday morning. Why was she there? What had driven her to visit the place at which Jesus was buried? Was she there because she believed Jesus’ promise that He would arise from the grave? Was she there hoping to see Jesus, alive and well? Or was it just that she felt compelled to be there, to be near Jesus, to once again allow herself time to sorrow and grieve the death of the One in whom she had placed all hope.

But now, that hope was replaced with hopelessness. Her eyes are swollen from the intensity of her tears. Her heart is broken. Her spirit is broken. Her emotions are running wild. Her mind cannot answer any of the questions that keep running through her thought processes. She must have been overwhelmed with a sense of total and complete loss.

Through forty years of pastoral ministry I have witnessed many go through these same emotions. I have been in the waiting room when the doctor came with the news that their loved one had passed from this life. I have been by the bedside of one passing away, while loved ones gathered around the bed to say their final goodbyes. I have been at the church, where words of comfort and hope were shared with family members who, for at least a while, felt anything but comforted or hopeful. I have officiated funerals of individuals from eight months to eighty plus years. I have heard the wails; I have seen the tears; I have observed the anguish.

Despair. Hopelessness. Emotional overload. Spiritual battle. Can’t see beyond the darkness. Can’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. Mary was there. Many others have stood at the same place. Different time. Different location. Different set of circumstances. But still, the same. It is at the point of despair – hopelessness.

So, is there any hope when we find ourselves in a battle with despair? Thankfully, the answer is a resounding yes. Let’s read a little further into the Biblical narrative:

“Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus. ‘Woman,’ Jesus said to her, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, ‘Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary.’

In Mary’s despair, even when she turned and saw Jesus, she still did not realize it was Him. Perhaps it was from the swollen eyes resulting from her intense crying. Or, perhaps it was simply because she did not expect to see Jesus standing there, alive. Perhaps she, along with all the others, missed the message Jesus had relayed on several occasions: He would arise on the third day.

Regardless of the reason for Mary not recognizing Jesus, the message is loud and clear, is it not? Despair and hopelessness can put us into such a state that we cannot even recognize Jesus, even though He is right there beside us. He has, after all, promised that He will never leave or forsake us. But, in those moments of deep despair, we can find ourselves in such a state that we cannot feel His presence.

But then, Jesus simply calls her name: “Mary.” Was it in the way He spoke her name? He had already conversed with her, and she had not recognized Him. Perhaps it was the personal touch of hearing her name spoken. And perhaps that is what we so desperately need when we find ourselves in the pit of despair.

The quote by Vance Havner at the beginning of this blog sums it up: “It’s hard to be optimistic when you have a misty optic.” Sometimes the circumstances and situations of life can cause our vision to be misty, out of focus. We know the promises of Jesus, but at the moment we can’t see those promises. Job is a good example to remember. In the midst of his horrific ordeal, he makes the assertion:

“If I go to the east, He is not there, and if I go to the west, I cannot perceive Him. When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him; when He turns south, I cannot find Him.”

Job 23:8-9

And so it is with us. We look everywhere, but to no avail. And yet, He is there, by our side. He holds true to His promise that He will never leave or forsake us. So, in the midst of the trouble, in the center of the storm, listen for that still, small voice that whispers your name. “Mary.” “Steve.” “Your name.” He is there. He does care. He gives hope. He IS hope. Turn to Him. You will find that He has been there all along.

First off this week, I would like to share my deepest apology to everyone who has been faithful and consistent readers of my blogs in the past. If you look back to my last blog you will see that it was written almost three months ago. I could cite several reasons for the long time between then and now – some of which seem to be pretty justifiable to me, but none of which are real reasons; only excuses! So, please forgive my transgression of procrastination, and let’s pick up where we left off.

In my last blog, I discussed the power of the crowd, and talked about how easy it is to get caught up in the frenzy of the moment just because it seems that everyone else is doing it. In this blog, we will give consideration to what might seem to be the opposite end of the spectrum: the power of fear. Instead of being moved by the excitement of the moment and rushing head-long into the center of the action, we might decide to cower away from the excitement, to escape the frenzy, to hide in the shadows.

Peter is our case study for this blog. His story is quite familiar to us, but let’s remind ourselves of the events leading up to his act of denying the Lord.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Tonight all of you will run away because of Me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.’ Peter told Him, ‘Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!’ ‘I assure you,’ Jesus said to him, ‘tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!’

Matthew 26:31-34

Peter, along with the other disciples, must have been utterly shocked by the words of Jesus. They have been with Him for over three years. They have been in some extremely trying situations over that span of time. I’m sure they had experienced the sensation of fear on many occasions as they witnessed the religious leaders strive to stop Jesus from continuing His controversial ministry. But they had stuck it out; they had refused to turn back; they had passed the test.

But now, this night was different. They heard Jesus’ words. They are about to witness Jesus’ struggle in the garden as He pours out His prayer to the Father. The tension that hung in the air was like nothing they had ever experienced. And now, they hear Jesus tell them forthrightly that they will all run away. Each of them would abandon the Lord in His hour of greatest need.

So, how does Peter respond to these revelatory words of the Lord? Let’s listen in once again as he is given opportunity to make his statement of total commitment to the Lord:

“Even if I have to die with You,’ Peter told Him, ‘I will never deny You!’ And all the disciples said the same thing.”

Matthew 26:35

What a bold statement: “Even if I have to die with You!” And, before we come down too hard on Peter let’s remember that he was the one who drew the sword to come to Jesus’ defense in the garden. He did stand true to his word. And yet, after Jesus is arrested, Peter does exactly what Jesus had told him: he denied the Lord three times.

I have titled this blog “The Power of Fear”. I’m quite sure there were other emotions involved in Peter’s action. I’m sure his mind was reeling as he tried to assess the situation. But I’m almost positive as I read these words that his actions were in large part caused by a sense of fear.

There are few other observations we need to make before we judge Peter too harshly. We are informed that he was not the only one to make a rash declaration of total commitment to the Lord. Reread the latter part of v.35 once again: “And all the disciples said the same thing.” Each of the disciples asserted that they would never deny the Lord, even if it costs them their lives. And yet each of them did the same thing: they abandoned Jesus, forsaking Him to face His ordeal alone.

It’s relatively easy for me to sit in my comfortable recliner, over two thousand years removed from the incident recorded by Matthew, and cast my judgment against these men who didn’t have what it takes to stand the test. That is, until I remember the many times I have done the same thing. I am going to risk being completely transparent, realizing that it might cause some of you to think far less of me than you have in the past. The following incident is etched indelibly in my mind. Even though it happened many years ago, I will forever be haunted by this memory.

We were on a mission trip to Rio Verde, Mexico. The purpose of the trip was to help build a mission center in the community to be a center for the evangelism of the area. I was standing at an opening in the wall where a window would eventually be installed, when I was touched on the shoulder by someone standing outside the wall. I was startled by the touch, and then I was astounded by the size of the man who had touched me. I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say he stood at least 6’8″, and perhaps as much as 6’10”. No only did he stand literally head and shoulders above me, but his frame filled the window opening. To say that he was huge doesn’t tell the tale.

He immediately began to curse and swear, demanding that I tell him what the ______________ ____________ ___________ ____________ we were doing there. He was obviously at least partially intoxicated, as he smelled of alcohol. His fists were clenched tightly by his side as he continued to spew his profanities.

To say I was stricken with a spirit of fear would be a massive understatement. I was completely paralyzed by fear. I could not speak for several moments. I may have even stuttered and stammered as I tried to say something, but words would not come.

I did finally compose myself enough to tell the man that we were there from the US, and we were assisting the local church in building the mission center. He responded with another round of expletives that made clear his complete disapproval of the church, and anything they might try to offer the community.

This would have been a great time to share with this individual the love and grace of Jesus Christ. It was an open door of opportunity for sharing the gospel. But I allowed fear to control, rather than allowing grace to embolden me to share with this man what he so desperately needed to hear.

I have prayed countless times since this incident that God would send someone else to tell the man what I failed to share. I pray that I will one day see him in heaven. I realize that my failure does not shorten the arm of God, or weaken the strength of God in bringing someone else into this man’s life who will be bold enough to share. But for me – well, I failed miserably.

So yes, fear is powerful. It will cause us to fail, even though we have been boisterous in our verbal commitment.

But let’s skip ahead to the end of the story. Yes, Peter failed. Yes, he was overwhelmed with grief as he experienced conviction over his failure. And yes, he must have felt that Jesus would reject him completely. And yet, Jesus did not do as Peter might have expected. Rather, Jesus sent a very personal word to Peter.

After the resurrection, Jesus told some women to go and tell the disciples, and Peter, to meet Him at a certain location. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus singled Peter out? He was a disciple, but Jesus still gave specific instructions to tell Peter to come.

And please, take that message to heart. Those of you who are like me, who can remember specific occasions in which we failed the Lord. His message is specific, and personal. We are invited to come to Him in a spirit of repentance and confession, and allow His amazing grace of forgiveness to wash over us yet again.

And, like Peter, we can come back! Do you need to come back today? Don’t delay – accept the Lord’s invitation and return to the sweet fellowship of His grace.

“What is truth?”

John 18:38

There seems to be an inherent power, a drawing power, that can be observed in following the crowd. What is it about the crowd that causes us to change courses? What is it about the crowd that would compel us to completely switch from a previously held conviction to something diametrically opposite? How is it that we are so easily swayed from what was once a dogmatic belief to a teaching that is radically different from the belief once held?

I realize there are many answers to those probing questions, but I would like to suggest one: the power of the crowd. We might think of it as the power of the majority; the power of being swayed by the view of the many rather than holding true to the truth embraced by the minority.

As we approach the celebration of Easter, I would like to look at a few individuals in the Biblical narrative that will help us determine where we fit in with the crowd. There are those in the story of the events of Passion Week that are sometimes overlooked, or at least passed over with little attention, because of the focus on Jesus Himself. And, granted, He certainly deserves all the attention. But how does what happened to Him affect the other individuals in the story?

In this blog, we will focus on one of those individuals: Pilate. By looking at him, we will see clearly the power of the crowd. We will see how this man – a man of authority, a man of power, a man who, by his own assertion, held Jesus’ life in his hands – was swayed by the power of the crowd. And, we will learn how we, too, might be easily swayed to go in a different direction – the way of the crowd.

The story is familiar – so familiar, in fact, that we pass over it with little to no thought at all. Jesus has been betrayed by Judas Iscariot. He has been taken before Annas, who in turn had Jesus taken before Caiaphas, the high priest. He then faced the Sanhedrin, which had been illegally gathered in the darkness of night. They then sent Him to stand before Pontius Pilate, who then sent Jesus to Herod, who finally sent Him back to Pilate.

As Jesus stands before Pilate for the second time, Pilate asks the probing question posted above: “What is truth?” As the dialogue goes back and forth between Pilate and Jesus, and then between Pilate and the crowd, it is obvious that he wants nothing to do with Jesus’ death. He pleads with the crowd to release Jesus, stating that he finds no grounds for the death penalty.

It is here that the power of the crowd becomes glaringly evident. He has said to Jesus, “Don’t You know that I have the authority to release You, and the authority to crucify You?” Power! Authority! Jesus’ life was in his hands! But not really. Jesus said to Pilate, “You have no authority over Me at all.” In other words, Jesus was asserting that everything was going as planned. Pilate only thought he wielded authority, but there was One who had orchestrated this entire event.

However, Pilate really did think that he was in control. He really thought the authority was his to make the ultimate decision which would result in Jesus being set free, or being crucified. So, what was the determining factor, at least from a human perspective. We know that from the divine perspective there was a plan being carried out that had been decreed from eternity past. But in the arena of human history, in the crisis of the moment, who was in control. Well, Pilate. At least in his mind.

But in reality he wasn’t. No, he gave control over to the crowd when he turned Jesus over to be crucified. The power of the many took precedence over the truth. Remember that question Pilate posed? “What is truth?” But before Jesus could give answer, Pilate turned and walked away. He knew the truth. He knew Jesus had done nothing deserving of death. He knew Jesus deserved to walk out a free man. But he could not make himself stand for truth in the face of the crowd.

We might think it was something we would never do! We might think, “I would never turn my back on Jesus. I would never turn my back on truth. I will always stand for what it right.” But will I? We live in a time of spiritual darkness. We live in the midst of an evil which is taking over, a darkness that is putting a shadow over the truth. We are seeing long-held, traditional, Biblical values being tossed to the side for the sake of progression. We are witnessing an antagonism against Biblical truth for the sake of inclusion. We are living in a time in which it could very well become illegal to preach the truth of God’s Word.

The power of the crowd is closing in quickly. Where will we stand when it comes down to being true to God’s Word, or allowing that Word to be overturned because of the powerful influence of the many. Pilate teaches us an invaluable lesson: we may know the truth, and still be persuaded by the crowd to forsake the truth for the demand for tolerance. Let’s learn from Pilate’s decision, and not make the same mistake.

When we read through the Bible, we come across many passages that are extremely difficult for us to understand. Even more, we find it almost impossible to find an application from a passage written hundreds, even thousands of years ago, to our present, contemporary context. This is especially true when we read through the books of the Old Testament.

A graphic example of this (one of many we could cite) can be found in the book of Leviticus. I have known quite a few persons who set out at the first of a new year with the commitment to read through the Bible during the course of the coming year. They begin their journey with a spirit of excitement, and that spirit continues for a while, until they reach Leviticus. Then, all of a sudden, the excitement wanes, and the commitment falters. We get bogged down with all those laws God gave Moses to share with the people of Israel. For example, we don’t get far into Leviticus before we are faced with specific, detailed instructions on how to offer sacrifices.

Many get to this point and think to themselves, “Wait, what?” What exactly does this have to do with me? How can I possibly find any application of this to my life, to my current situation? We might even think there are better, more productive ways to spend my time than reading a book that has nothing to do with me today.

Might I dare share with you one extremely important aspect of the Bible – even the book of Leviticus – that perhaps would encourage us to read it? And not just once, but over and over again. Here it is: the Bible has a very personal application to you as an individual. You read that correctly: there are personal applications for us to glean from every book of the Bible.

Let’s think about those sacrifices detailed in Leviticus as an example. We are told about different types of sacrificial offerings: the grain offering, the fellowship offering, the burnt offering, the sin offering. As we read the detailed instructions for each of these offerings, we might think to ourselves that these were barbaric practices performed by a savage people. But not so. These were sacrifices prescribed by God Himself for very specific purposes.

And one of those purposes was to reveal the personal nature of God’s relationship with individuals. Read carefully the following excerpts from Leviticus:

“He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.”

“He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting.”

“He must bring the bull to the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the Lord.”

Leviticus 1:4; 3:2; 4:4

You might want to reread those verses, giving special attention to the extremely personal manner in which these offerings were to be given. The individual must lay his hands on the animal, then watch as that animal is sacrificed on his behalf, in his place. There may have been others watching, but the sacrifice would have not affect them. It was a very personal matter between the one offering the sacrifice, and the sacrifice itself.

So again, you may be wondering what this has to do with you, personally. It’s really quite simple, and yet extremely profound. We are to understand first and foremost that each and every one of those sacrificial offerings in Leviticus – those that were offered by individuals for personal needs and those offered by priests on behalf of the nation – pointed to the ultimate sacrificial offering detailed in the New Testament: the death of Jesus Christ.

Just as the person presenting his sacrificial offering would personally identify with his sacrificial animal by laying his hands on the animal, so it is with the believer in Jesus Christ: it must be a matter of personal commitment. There were multitudes standing around the cross as Jesus was crucified, but Jesus’ death had no effect on them unless they acknowledged that He was dying for them, personally. Like the individual laying his hands on the sacrificial animal would know that the animal’s life was given in his place, so it is with the one who personally acknowledges the fact that Jesus’ death was in his place, given for him. He then accepts the forgiveness of sin as Jesus’ blood was shed to pay the penalty for that sin, and that he now has a personal relationship with God through this sacrifice of Jesus.

The huge distinction between the sacrifices of the Old Testament and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is that those OT sacrifices had to be repeated over and over, each time the individual sinned. Those animal sacrifices could not actually pay the penalty, they could only serve as a reminder of the grave need for forgiveness. They provided atonement for sin. The word ‘atonement’ literally means to cover, to put out of sight. This is seen graphically in the Day of Atonement, the one day of the year in which the high priest would go inside the Holy of Holies and present a sin offering for the entire nation. The sins of the people would be covered over, but it had to be repeated each year because the sin had not actually been dealt with.

That is the distinction: blood sacrifices of the Old Testament atoned for sin, whereas Jesus’ sacrificial death propitiated the just wrath of God against sin. This is the reason His death was once for all, never needing to be repeated time after time, year after year.

Those animal sacrifices presented in graphic ways the devastating power of sin, and the destructive results of sin. Jesus’ death was the ultimate sacrifice that not only covered our sin, but actually met the just decree of God that sin would result in death: physical, spiritual and eternal. Jesus paid it all by His death on the cross.

And now, each of us must realize that it is a personal matter between the individual and God. For a moment, use your imagination to place yourself on Golgotha as Jesus makes His way to the place of His death. You have a choice. You might choose to stand there and identify with the multitude, as they shouted their ridicule and mockery. You might choose to see Jesus as a victim of their hostility and hatred, or as an innocent man who has been misunderstood and now being put to death for crimes He did not commit. If so, then the death of Jesus Christ will have not affect in you the desire for salvation, but it will decree your eternal damnation as one who rejected Jesus’ offer of salvation.

But, if you look at these events through the eyes of faith, believing that Jesus truly died in your place, suffering the full force of God’s just wrath against sin, then you understand how personal that decision is to you. Others may be around you who do not see what you see; who do not feel what you feel; who do not decide what you decide. You decide to, by faith, lay your hands on the head of Jesus, realizing that He is truly dying in your place.

It is a very personal matter. Next time you are reading through Leviticus, and in your mind’s eye, the eye of faith, you see that man lay his hand on the head of the animal about to be sacrificed, take a moment, close your eyes, and in a spirit of utter joy and thanksgiving praise Jesus for being your sacrifice!

The phrase, “Thus saith the Lord”, appears 415 times in the King James Version of the Bible. This phrase adds a sense of authority to the word of God, realizing that we are reading the very words dictated by God to His human authors. However, we need to remember that every word in the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It may not be a direct quote from the mouth of God to His human author, but it is the inspired Word of God. The Bible, in its entirety, from the first word of Genesis to the last word of Revelation, is the Word of God.

For those who identify themselves as sincere believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, and who claim to be His disciples, this is such an important concept. Every word of the Bible is relevant to every generation because it is the eternal Word of God. It is unchanging, unalterable, inerrant, and carries with it the very authority of the One (GOD) who inspired it. Therefore, the message is one of grave importance for each disciple of the Lord.

Now, let’s think for a few minutes about the implications for our present cultural climate. Does the Word of God change with the shifting tides of cultural relativism? Is right and wrong determined by the acceptance of the majority? Do the rules change when the accepted practices of a society change from those long-held practices of the past? If so, do we become arbiters of what is right and wrong, true and false? And, if every individual becomes his or her own source of right/wrong, true/false, would that not mean that there can really be no such thing? Right/wrong, true/false become meaningless terms because neither can exist.

Let’s think of a few examples for clarity. First, the Bible denounces lying. This practice is forbidden in the list we refer to as the ten commandments: You shall not bear false witness. It is then repeated multiple times throughout the Bible. It is such a grievous sin that the Bible states affirmatively that there will be no liars in heaven, but that they will have their place in the lake of fire. But it seems that lying is an accepted practice if the situation dictates the use of deceit.

A second example we might consider is that of adultery. The Bible condemns the practice of extra-marital affairs. It clearly instructs that the sexual relationship is to be between one man and one woman within the confines of marriage. Yet, today, all sorts of sexual relationships are glorified in TV and movies, and these are duplicated in real life. The commitment of sexual purity before marriage and within marriage seem to be relics of an antiquated past.

Still another example might be that of biological identification. We are taught clearly and explicitly in the Bible that God created the human race. In the book of Genesis we are told that God created man in His own image, and distinguished the sexes as male and female. Today, we are witnessing an unprecedented move toward the eradication of all biological distinctions. Terms like man, woman, boy, girl, son, daughter, etc. are begin replaced by genderless designations. Pronouns such as him, her, he, she, are being eradicated and replaced by gender neutral terms that bear no sexual connotation.

We could continue these examples ad infinitum, ad nauseum, but for the sake of time and space I will trust that these three examples will suffice to make my point. And, I trust that they will cause us to think seriously about the question posed in the title of this blog: “Did God really say?” And, if He did really say it, did He really mean it? And, perhaps most importantly for us today, does He still mean today what He said then?

The beliefs and practices of the orthodox Christian faith are under attack like never before. I cited three examples, but so many others could be added. If you are a professing believer in Jesus Christ, do you know what the Bible teaches about these important doctrinal issues? Could you give a sound explanation as to the Bible’s instruction? Do you stand on the solid foundation of Biblical authority?

This may very well be the most important time in all of Christian history for Christians to know the truth, to stand for the truth, and to be unwavering in our commitment to the truth.

I’m going to close this blog with a very probing set of questions. You may find these offensive, and if so I sincerely apologize for offending you, but not for asking these crucially important questions.

1. Are you involved in a Bible-believing church, in which you are being discipled by mature, Biblically knowledgeable preachers/teachers?
2. Does your church leadership strive to be faithful to the clear teachings of Scripture, and stand against the liberal trends of our culture’s attempts to change the teachings of the Bible to fit their beliefs/practices?
3. Does your life display a consistent, progressive growth toward Spiritual maturity?
4. Is your personal goal to live your life in accord with the clear teachings of Scripture, realizing that in order to be a “friend” of Jesus you must obey His commands?
5. Is your desire to do all that you do for the glory of God, and are you striving to be consistent in your understanding of how to make that a reality?

We are witnessing anti-Christian, anti-God sentiment in this nation like never before. It is the responsibility of every individual believer in Jesus Christ to be true disciples, sincere followers of our Lord. It may prove to be costly, as Jesus warned that His followers would experience hardship of enormous magnitude toward the end of the present historical period. I am not suggesting that His coming is going to happen soon, but I am, along with so many others, looking at the clear teachings of Jesus about the cultural, societal, religious, climate of the days leading up to His coming for His bride, the church.

And I am reminded that He told us to be ready at every moment, because He could come at any moment. So, let the church arise! Let the individual believer arise! Let’s let our voices be heard. Let’s be what we are called to be: disciples, whose goal is to be conformed to the image of our Lord, Jesus Christ. And, to assist others to be disciples as we travel this road together.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Matthew 6:33

A few years ago, there was a movement among professing Christians that focused on the letters WWJD – what would Jesus do? It became rather common to see individuals wearing something with those letters prominently displayed. The premise was simple: before doing anything, pause and ask yourself that question: what would Jesus do?

Over the past few weeks we have witnessed unprecedented actions among citizens of the United States. We have seen our nation polarized like never before. This polarization has taken us down a path as a nation that has caused not only a sharp line of delineation between Republicans and Democrats, but also an underlying hatred for one another’s political point of view. There is anger and animosity at levels never seen before, and it grows more intense by the day.

Personally, I have very strong political convictions, and I have shared those convictions through my blogs over the past few years. Some have agreed, while others have disagreed. I have not written these blogs with the desire to cause divisiveness, but rather to simply shed light on issues of grave concern that face the American people.

But there is one thread that has run consistently through those blogs: our nation’s need for God. He is our only hope. Those who thought Barack Obama was the nation’s savior have now seen that his eight years in the White House laid the foundation for the civil unrest we see today. Then, those who truly believed Donald Trump would somehow turn this nation around are now in a state of unbelief that we are seemingly on the verge of an all-out civil war between the political factions that are so unbelievably polarized against one another.

Some are calling for more civil unrest – for protestors to continue causing havoc in our streets. Others are calling for civility among the parties – for politicians to sit down together and work with one another in solving our nation’s deep-rooted problems.

I am calling for something far greater, with a much more powerful ability to bring about the change we so desperately need in our nation: repentance. We need to turn back to God, to seek His face, to turn from our wickedness, to repent of our sin. We need to fall on our faces before Holy God with the sincere desire to surrender all to Him.

The verse quoted at the beginning of this blog is to be understood first and foremost in its context. This is a very personal word from Jesus to His disciples, encouraging us to seek the kingdom of God for our personal needs: food, clothing, etc. But the implications are much more far-reaching than that. The implication of this statement of Jesus is that His followers should trust Him, follow Him, obey Him, in all areas of life. This is the Christian way. This should be the Christian’s desire that undergirds all that we do.

Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians – they are all alike in this: they cannot do what we have come to expect them to do. They are completely unable to change the current of cultural practice. They can influence through propaganda, but they do not have the ability to bring about the change that is necessary to bring about an end to the divisiveness we are witnessing in our nation. Only God can do that.

But please understand something of grave importance. Even for those who sincerely seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, Jesus gave a sobering, somber word of warning. Read carefully and prayerfully the following words of Jesus:

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.”

Matthew 10:34

These are powerful and profound words, indeed. Jesus clearly states that belief in Him, and commitment to His teachings, will cause a spirit of unrest, a lack of peace, between those who embrace Him and those who reject Him. To make this even more personal, Jesus says:

“Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Luke 12:53

From my personal perspective, what we see happening in this nation is directly due to the rift, not between Republican and Democrat, but rather between followers of Jesus and those who reject Him. There is a crevice of enormous proportions between those who strive to follow the God-centered teachings of Scripture, and those who follow a man-centered philosophy of life. Many, if not most, of the problems caused by our current cultural, societal practices, are the direct result of the schism between those who strive to follow the teachings of the Bible, and those who follow the teachings of human-originated principles which are steeped in humanism, secularism, and atheism, to name but a few.

In conclusion, let me go back to where I started this blog. Our only hope is to seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Specifically, the God of the Bible. The God who created us. The God who set His affection on us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The God whose plan is being worked out through the events of human history. The God who will bring His plan to its predetermined conclusion at a time appointed by God.

For now, it is imperative that Christians unite around God: seek His kingdom. It is imperative that we, in a spirit of repentance, turn back to Him as our only source of hope and help in this time of desperation. He invites us to come to Him, cast our cares upon Him, and trust Him.

“She named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” referring to the capture of the ark of God and to the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.”

1 Samuel 4:21

Sometimes names bear a great sense of meaning. Parents will name their child(ren) after someone whose name they want to honor and pass on. I am named after my father, and thus carry on that family name. Others may be named after some well-known celebrity or other type of personality whose name they want to in some way memorialize.

In the Bible, it was a common thing for parents to name their child with the hopes of that child living up to the lofty name given at birth. For example:

“What is the importance of name in the Bible? A biblical name could record some aspects of a person’s birth. Biblical names sometimes expressed the parents’ reaction to the birth of their child. Biblical names were sometimes used to secure the solidarity of family ties. Biblical names could be used to communicate God’s message. Biblical names were also used to establish an affiliation with God.”

Reference: get.bible/blog/post/names-in-the-bible-have-meaning

One such name of significance is found in the passage quoted above: Ichabod. The story, as recorded in 1 Samuel, tells of an incident in the history of Israel in which they had turned their backs on God, and, as a result, experienced the judgment of God at the hands of the Philistines. The Israelites were defeated by the Philistines in battle, and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. When news of this horrific event reached Eli, the priest, he immediately fell over, broke his neck, and died. His two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, had died in the battle. News of these events reached the wife of Phinehas as she gave birth to a son. She, too, died upon hearing the news that her husband and father-in-law were dead and the Ark had been taken by the Philistines. As she was dying, she assigned the name Ichabod to her son, signifying that the glory of God had departed from Israel.

I, along with most Americans, have been awaiting the results from the senate race in Georgia. As I write this blog, those results are in, and both seats have gone to the Democratic party. Thus, as it stands at the moment, we have a Democratic President-elect and Vice President-elect, and a house and senate which have a Democratic majority.

As I heard the results of yesterday’s election in Georgia, the words of our focal passage immediately came to mind: the glory has departed. Now, I certainly realize that there are many who would disagree with my personal perspective on these political issues, but let me explain why I feel the way I do. My feelings can be summed up succinctly in the following news item copied from CP Politics on line:

“During a short invocation to mark the swearing-in of the 117th Congress, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., finished his prayer that was filled with scriptural and Christian-themed phrases by invoking other gods and concluding with the phrase “amen and awoman” instead of the traditional term “Amen.”

“We ask it in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and ‘god’ known by many names by many different faiths. Amen and awoman,” Cleaver, the former mayor of Kansas City, offered. 

If you’ll remember, it was at the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC, that a vote was taken to take the name of God out of the Democratic Parties platform. Let that sink in for a moment: a major political party in a nation that was founded on the principles of the Christian faith actually votes to remove God! And now, in a prayer opening the 117th Congress, the prayer is offered in the name of the monotheistic God, Brahma, and ‘god’ known by many names by many different faiths.

ICHABOD! The glory has departed. God is a jealous God, and will not share His glory with any other so-called god. When a nation that has identified with Him, then decides to walk away from Him by embracing the teachings of other religions, He will allow that nation to suffer the consequences of its own actions and decisions.

Let me conclude this blog with a reference to the following quote from Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It was at this convention that the Constitution of the United States was passed, at the urging of Franklin. Read the following slowly, carefully, with thoughtful deliberation:

On the final day, as the last delegates were signing the document, Franklin pointed toward the sun on the back of the Convention president’s chair. Observing that painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art a rising sun from a setting sun, he went on to say: “I have often … in the course of the session … looked at that sun behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting sun.”

I wonder if his sentiment would be the same if he were present today, witnessing the direction of our elected officials as they turn their backs on our rich Judeo-Christian foundation, while embracing “the monotheistic God, Brahma, and ‘god’ known by many names by many different faiths. Amen and awoman.”

I can’t help but believe, with a great sense of sadness, that the sun is now setting over America. God, please, in Your grace, remember mercy. Turn our hearts back to You, as You are our only hope.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring – what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'”

James 4:13-15

I would venture to guess that most of us are thrilled to see 2020 disappearing in the rearview mirror. The last day of 2020 is a welcome sight, as we hope that with the changing of the calendar will come a changing of the tide of events. For many, this past year has been one of the most painful we have ever experienced. Multitudes have suffered the ravages of Covid-19. Countless individuals have tested positive for the virus, with symptoms ranging from the most mild to the most severe. Some have gotten through the virus with little to no suffering, while others have spent days and even weeks in hospitals fighting for their lives. And there are those who lost the fight, succumbing to the death tentacles of the disease.

We have witnessed our economy crumble from the most vibrant and successful to the most devastated. Jobs have been lost, businesses have closed their doors – some temporarily while others have been forced to close for good. Life as we had known no longer exists, with no semblance of being able to return to normal, whatever that might prove to be as the future unfolds.

The vast majority of us would love to see a miraculous change for the better take place magically at the midnight hour as 2020 morphs into 2021. We would all love to go to bed on December 31, 2020, and awaken on January 1, 2021 to witness a fresh new start with everything having been restored to its pre-pandemic state. We would love to see an eradication of the virus, with everyone healed of the disease. We would love to see a reopening of our economy, with jobs restored, and businesses given a fresh start. We would love to be able to have a massive bon-fire, with all the face masks and coverings burned as a testimony to the end of the virus. We would love to see social distancing as a thing of the past, enabling us once again to enjoy the embrace of loved ones whom we have not been able to ‘touch’ for the past months.

Yes, we would all love to see the troubles and trials of 2020 be swallowed up in a promising 2021, filled with days of health and prosperity. We may even be making plans to that end, with the hopes of somehow seeing a total reversal of fortunes. But the fact of the matter is, we can’t know. Life is filled with uncertainties. We would all do well to pay close attention to the words penned by James as quoted above: “You do not know what tomorrow will bring – what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes. Instead, you should say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ God is the only One who knows what the future holds.

Think about it: no one would have ever guessed that 2020 would be such a trying season for the entire world. But it did not catch God off-guard and unaware. As things began to unfold, and answers were sought as to where the virus originated, and how to best contain it, and how to manage the effects of it, it became increasingly clear that this was something that was unprecedented in all of human history.

And, it became clear that we were in desperate need of a divine intervention of God. It was obvious that we needed desperately to trust His will, to seek His favor, and to trust His purposes and plans to unfold as He sees fit.

If there is anything we should learn from this past year, it is that we are totally, absolutely, dependent upon the amazing grace of our Father in heaven. The new year may prove to be much better than the previous, or it may prove to be much worse. We should place our faith in God, trust that He always knows and does what is best, and strive to give Him thanks in all things and for all things, realizing that the best is yet to come for those who love Him and look forward to living with Him forever.

Let’s commit our 2021 to Him, and entrust the coming days to His glory. Happy New Year.

The Christmas story – how beautiful, how glorious, how touching, how majestic! When we look at the pictures on the front of Christmas cards, it is all so wonderful. Mary and Joseph, in that pristine, immaculate manger, with everything sterilized and sanitized, holding the newborn Jesus in their arms. And, as we are told in the beautiful song, “All is Well”, everything is right with the world. As the first verse of that song tells us:

All is well
All is well
Angels and men rejoice
For tonight darkness fell
Into the dawn of love’s light
Sing A-le
Sing Alleluia

The stars are shining, the moon is bright, the sky is cloudless, the animals are subdued and quiet in the presence of Jesus. Darkness has fallen into the dawn of love’s light. All is well with the world.

But, wait just a second. Is it really? Is all really well with the world? Was it really quiet, and sterile, and sanitary? Were the animals really quiet and subdued? Was everything right with the world? Actually, no, it wasn’t. The reality is that Mary and Joseph are now branded for life with the reputation of Mary having given birth to an illegitimate child. It was openly known that Joseph was not the father. And, they were not in a clean, sterile environment when Jesus was born. Rather, they were in a filthy animal shelter. The stench of animal waste would have been overwhelming to the young parents.

And after giving birth to her Son, Mary and Joseph are put through test after test, keeping Jesus safe from the attempts of King Herod to destroy Him. Mary is actually given the message by Simeon (when she and Joseph took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord):

“Indeed, this child is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed— and a sword will pierce your own soul—that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Christian Standard Bible. (2020). (Lk 2:34–35).

Can you imagine what Mary must have felt when she heard the words, “a sword will pierce your own soul”? She must have been bewildered, as she tried to make sense of this strange message. Perhaps she thought to herself that, no, all is not well with the world. And if she did have that thought, she would have been right.

Let’s try to bring this closer to home. As we think back over the past year, we might be among the throngs of people who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Maybe you, personally, have contracted the disease. Perhaps someone you know and love has actually died from the virus. Perhaps you have suffered financially due to your place of work or business has been forced to shut down in the midst of the restrictions enforced by our government. Perhaps you have suffered the personal pain and anguish of not being able to see loved ones due to the restrictions on gatherings. Perhaps you know someone who lives alone, and has not been able to have any contact with loved ones and friends.

Or, beyond the impact of the virus, maybe you have been impacted in some way by all the violence which has been witnessed in major cities across the nation. Perhaps you owned one of the many businesses that were vandalized and looted at the hands of criminals. Or, perhaps you have heard the “C” word from your doctor, who then laid out a bleak outlook for the coming battle with the disease.

In the midst of all the chaos, confusion, and uncertainty, are you still able to say, “It is well”? As believers in Jesus Christ, knowing the real reason for the season of Christmas, we should always be able to state affirmatively and assertively, “It is well!” Regardless of the circumstances of life that are seemingly insurmountable, we should say “It is well.”

Allow me to close with a story found in the Old Testament book of Second Kings. In the fourth chapter of that book we are told about a Shunammite woman. Elisha the prophet had prophesied that she would give birth to a son, and in time this prophecy came true. However, there came a day when the boy died, and the Shunammite woman asked her husband for permission to go visit the prophet. Her husband asked if all was well, and she replied that, yes, indeed, all was well.

He sent her off to see Elisha, and when he saw her approaching he sent his servant to meet her and ask if all was well. She informed him that her husband was well, that she was well, and that her son was well. Really! All is well? Her son is stone cold dead, and she replies to Elisha’s servant that all is well.

Thinking back over the year 2020, in the midst of all the personal trials and troubles, could we, did we, give testimony that all was well? We should have been able to do that, but did we? Or, did we bemoan our personal sufferings and losses? Did we gripe and complain that our business was shut down while others were left to go on as usual? Did we complain that we experienced the ravages of the virus while others were left unscathed?

Or, did we give glory to God in the mist of it all? Mary and Joseph did. The Shunammite woman did. Daniel in the den of lions did. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did. The Apostle Paul did. Jesus did. And by God’s grace, we can, too. It all comes down to our personal perspective on life. If we believe that all things do work together for good to those who love God (Rom. 8:28), and if we truly believe that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory set before us in eternity (Rom. 8:18), then it enables us to state with assurance, “It is well”.

This Christmas season there are those in your circle of influence who need to hear this truth: in Christ, all is well. If God, by His amazing grace, allows you to suffer, then in the midst of the suffering state with confidence that all is well. Let the testimony of your life bear the truth that in Christ we can rest with absolute certainty that all is well here and now, and all will be well, regardless of the outcome of our present state of circumstances.

Once again, from me and Teresa, we wish for you and your family a most wonderful, meaningful and blessed Christmas.

“Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11

I have been reading with keen interest some posts on social media concerning the celebration of Christmas. Statements such as: “it just doesn’t seem like Christmas this year”; “Christmas will not be the same this year because of this stupid virus”; “not being able to get together with family and friends is going to make for a miserable Christmas”; and other such sentiments as these. Reading such comments has made me once again stop and think about the real reason for the season.

Let me begin by stating the obvious: I am like just about everyone else when it comes to enjoying get togethers with family and friends. I enjoy the times of fellowship around a festive table garnished with the foods of the season. I love seeing family members that we don’t get to see except during these special times of the year. I cherish those moments of fellowship, feasting, and fun just as much as the next person.

But I also realize that, as enjoyable as these experiences are, they are not the reason for the season, and my experience of joy should not be dependent upon them. Let’s be reminded of the angelic message delivered to the shepherds on the most momentous night in all of human history: the night of Jesus’ birth. As those shepherds were doing what they had done for a thousand previous nights, their evening was interrupted by the appearance of an angel who had been sent to deliver an amazing message: “Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you.” That, as simplistic as it sounds, was the announcement that would change the world. As a matter of fact, human history is marked by that most miraculous night.

Think about the world into which Jesus came. It was a time of political unrest; a time of religious confusion; a time of spiritual darkness; a time of personal searching. Yes, a world much like ours today. A time in which people were looking for something which would give meaning to what seemed to be a miserable, meaningless existence.

It was into that political, religious, spiritual chaos that Jesus came. His arrival was totally insignificant in the eyes of the world. Born in a manger; laid in an animal trough; wrapped in strips of cloth; brought into the world by a poor carpenter and a young, teenage girl. If the world had taken note and paid any attention at all it would have been the attention of pity, not of praise.

Is that the way you feel this Christmas season? Are you miserable because of the current Covid crisis? Are you bemoaning the fact that you will not be able to get together with family and friends? Are you complaining about the fact that the “new norm” is nothing short of the worst “abnormal” you could ever imagine?

If it is, would you please try something for a few minutes? Would you try, as best you can, to put yourself in the shoes of Mary and Joseph? Would you imagine the discomfort they experienced on that most important of nights? Would you picture yourself separated from everyone you loved, in a place of absolute unfamiliarity? Would you imagine being refused a comfortable place to give birth to your Son?

And then, would you for a moment be reminded of that message: “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all people.” Don’t allow fear to rob you or the true meaning of Christmas. Don’t allow the demands of social distancing from friends and family cause you to be distanced from the Savior who was born that night so long ago. Don’t allow the social climate to rob you of the spiritual reality of Christmas.

Jesus, the Son of God, the Savior of the world, came into this world to make it possible for you to have a relationship with His Father. How did He do that? By being born in that obscure manger, living a sinless life, dying a substitutionary death, paying the penalty for our sin so that we might be reconciled to our Father in heaven. Nothing, in all of life, should be able to rob us of the true joy of the good news of Christmas.

Yes, we can have a merry Christmas, and help others do the same, by remembering the true reason for the season. So, from the Stewart family to your family: MERRY CHRISTMAS!