“As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

Philippians 1:27

Years ago, when Teresa and I were both serving on staff at First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, the church conducted a seminar entitled “Making Your Mark”. We were challenged to live our lives in such a way that we would leave an indelible mark behind once we pass from this physical existence. The challenge was simple, yet powerful: live life as a sincere believer in Jesus Christ, totally committed to glorifying Him through absolute abandonment to His will. As I read the verse quoted above, I am reminded of that challenge.

I suppose everyone would want to live a life that counts for something. There are many worthwhile goals from which one could choose. Someone might choose to invest their life in the field of medical research, with the desire to find a cure for cancer. Someone else might choose the life of an educator, with the desire to instill in young minds qualities and virtues which would help them grow into mature adults who can give back to society. Still others might set their life goal on attaining monetary wealth with the desire to use that wealth for the benefit of others through charitable giving.

These are just a few examples of making one’s mark, and living one’s life in such a way as to influence others for good. But, each of these, as worthwhile as they are, fall short of the challenge offered by Paul in our focal verse: “As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.” Think with me about the challenge offered here.

First of all, let’s focus on the words “as citizens of heaven.” This is an extremely interesting statement. I can say that I am a citizen of the city of Pigeon Forge. I can also say I am a citizen of the state of Tennessee. Still yet, I am a citizen of the United States of America. As a citizen of this city, state, and nation, I am obligated to live according to the laws of each. I should live my life as a good citizen, living up to the standards of good citizenship as established by each entity. I should strive to be a good representative of each.

However, as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, I have a far greater obligation and responsibility: to live as a good citizen of heaven. As a citizen of heaven, I am to understand that I am a representative, first and foremost, of that reality. And how do I live as a good representative of that citizenship? By living a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I stated earlier: I should live in total commitment, and with absolute abandonment, to the will of God.

I don’t think it has ever been easy to live life in total commitment to His will as revealed in His Word. There are so many teachings in the Bible which are in total contradiction to the beliefs and practices of our modern American cultural scene. For example, the Bible speaks clearly on the subject of the sanctity of human life, and yet our modern culture has embraced, to a large degree, a culture of death. Abortion on demand has become a common practice in our land, even up to the moment of birth. Euthanasia is becoming more widely accepted as a sympathetic means of ending a loved one’s suffering. Alternative lifestyles are the modern day norm, even to the point that individuals are given the liberty to identify as a male or female regardless of their biological reality. Human sexuality is determined by God, the Bible making it clear by the simple declaration that God created male and female, with a clear distinction between the two.

Still further, the world would have us believe there are many roads that lead to heaven. We would be taught to believe that all religions of the world are of equal validity, and it doesn’t matter which religion, or which “god” you choose to believe in, as long as you believe with sincerity. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of exclusivity. Jesus Himself proclaimed that He is “the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through [Him].”

As citizens of heaven, we are to live our lives worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to stand for truth in the face of falsehood. We are to stand for truth, even in the face of opposition. We are to stand for truth, even in the face of adversity. We are to stand for truth, and, as Paul says in Ephesians 6, having done all, to stand. It may at times seem as if we are on the losing side, but as citizens of heaven, we are always on the side of victory. We may suffer at the hands of non-citizens of heaven for being citizens of heaven, but let’s remember: we are on the winning side. There will come the day of absolute vindication when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ. It will be there that we will receive the reward of living a life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Until then, let’s continue to keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. In the end, we will not be disappointed with the choice to live our lives for Him.

“For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Philippians 1:21

What a tremendously thought-provoking and soul-searching statement uttered by the Apostle Paul! Both parts of this verse are explosive with deep meaning, and mind-boggling conviction. As I read these words my mind goes into so many different directions, pondering the depths of this statement. Let’s try to break it down by looking at the three different components presented in these words.

First, Paul makes this a very personal statement: “for me”. This is an assertion of personal testimony, desire and commitment. Paul is affirming the fact that what he is about to say is his own statement of faith; his personal stance of loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We all have specific commitments and desires in life. There are desires for family relations, career advancement, educational goals, financial security, and so many others that could be added to the list. What would follow the “for me” in your life right now? What word of personal testimony and desire would follow those two simple words? What is it that drives you to face another day with confidence and commitment? What is the goal you strive for? Think seriously for a moment, and then fill in the blank: “for me, ________________________”.

Second, Paul left no room for doubt or debate in his statement. He states assertively and adamantly, “For me, to live is Christ.” That is an extremely interesting statement, to be sure. What do you think he meant by writing those words? “To live is Christ.” Think with me for a moment about Paul’s situation as he penned these words. He was a prisoner, having been arrested for preaching the Gospel. He was in a state of uncertainty, not knowing if he would be executed, or set free. He was literally facing the possibility of continued life by being liberated, or death, by being executed. His life was literally in the balance. It is in the midst of those difficult circumstances that he made this statement: “For me, to live is Christ.”

He was living for Christ while incarcerated, and he would continue to live for Christ if he was set free. And please note that this was a real struggle for Paul. He goes on to say:

“Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ – which is far better – but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”

Philippians 1:22-24

Paul’s strong desire was to be with Christ. He was not afraid of death, knowing that his physical death would result in his being in the presence of his Lord. But he realized that his death would result in the cessation of his ministry. Now, we know that his ministry would continue through the influence he has had through his preaching and missionary work, but he would no longer be here physically to continue. His writings would continue to be a source of ministry, but his physical labor would end. He knew that to continue his ministry by being released from prison would result in more fruitful work for him.

But the struggle was intense, as we see in the next part of verse 21: “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Wow! Have you ever had such a thought as that? “To die is gain.” Once again, I would ask that you take a moment and fill in the blank: To die is ____________________________.” Pause for a moment and think seriously before filling in the blank. Warren Wiersbe, in “The Bible Exposition Commentary,” makes the following observations:

“For to me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind.”
“For to me to live is fame and to die is to be forgotten.”
“For to me to live is power and to die is to lose it all.”

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 70). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

These are just a few examples of how one might fill in the blank. Yours might be something far different, but to you it is just as powerful. To die is ________________________________.

When we turn our thoughts to the subject of death, we might think of it as that greatest of all enemies: the one that is lurking in the shadows waiting to pounce at the least expected moment, robbing us of those unfulfilled dreams, those unrealized goals, those unsettled issues, that we thought we had plenty of time to complete.

Death is no respecter of persons. If the Lord tarries His coming, we will all face our own personal appointment with death. And we should learn to face it with the encouraging words of Scripture: to die is gain. We gain the glory of God’s presence. We gain the beauty of Christ’s presence. We gain the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence. We gain the magnificence of heaven. We gain the reunion with loved ones who have gone the way of death before us. We gain the eternal home Jesus has lovingly prepared for us. We gain the new earth which has been made over in the likeness of Eden. We gain the end of sorrow, sickness, death, separation, corruption, sin, evil, temptation. Yes, our physical death is such an eternal gain. And, a great reminder from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans: the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory set before us! Yes! Yes! Yes! To die is gain!

But let’s not forget: to live is Christ. Our goal in this life is to live for Christ. We are to be witnesses to Him and for Him in all we do. Our world is becoming more and more anti-Christ, so it is all the more important for us to live for Him.

And, let’s also remember: no matter what we face in this life will fade into insignificance when we stand in the presence of the eternal God who loves us, and has prepared a place of such beauty and majesty that we will never again remember the sufferings of this life. So, let’s repeat after Paul: “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

“My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Philippians 1:20

As we continue to walk along with Paul as he corresponds with his friends in Philippi, we now come to an extremely interesting and thought-provoking verse. Paul states clearly that his desire is to honor Christ in everything – in life and in death. What an absolutely staggering statement.

Let’s begin by asking ourselves a serious question: have I ever been ashamed of my relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? Has there ever been a time in my Christian life when I was given the opportunity to share a word of testimony, or give a presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or be a source of ministry or encouragement to someone in need, but allowed that opportunity to pass by because of being ashamed of my Lord? Perhaps I was in the presence of non-believers, people who were antagonistic to the claims of Christ, and I allowed their presence to intimidate me because I was ashamed to let them know I was a Christian. Perhaps I gave in to peer pressure, wanting to be accepted by the crowd, so I kept my relationship with Christ a well-hidden secret.

Paul’s desire was a lofty one, indeed. He states that it was his eager expectation and hope that his Savior would be honored through his life and his death. The following excerpt was copied from “The Bible Exposition Commentary”. “

I read about a devoted believer who was arrested for his faith and condemned to be burned at the stake. The night before the execution, he wondered if he would have enough grace to become a human torch; so he tested his courage by putting his finger into the flame of the candle. Of course, it burned him and he pulled his hand back in pain. He was certain that he would never be able to face martyrdom without failing. But the next day, God gave him the grace he needed, and he had a joyful and triumphant witness before his enemies.

Warren Wiersbe

Extreme circumstances; extreme measures; extreme faith; extreme witness. Life offers us many opportunities to bring glory to our Lord. Most of them will not put us into positions of danger. Rather, most will come through the daily occurrences of life. On the job; in the classroom; in the neighborhood; in the home. Everyday life is the arena in which most opportunities to glorify Christ will come.

However, there are those in other parts of the world who experience extreme dangers daily simply because they strive to represent Christ in a very anti-Christian environment. Their lives are in danger constantly simply because they bear witness to Jesus Christ.

And, let’s face it, with the ever-changing spiritual climate of the United States, the day may very well come when we, too, face increasing displays of antagonism against those who identify themselves as Christians. Are we settled enough in our relationship with the Lord that we are willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? Are we willing to witness for Him in life and in death?

Our ultimate purpose in life is to bring glory to Jesus. Let’s reevaluate our commitment, and renew our desire to be the best witness possible. He died for us; let’s live for Him. Therefore, as Jesus said:

“Let your light shine before others so that they might see your good words and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us.”

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

I have often heard it said that God will never place upon us more than we can bear. I have a difficult time aligning that teaching with the words of Paul quoted above. Listen again to these very sobering words: “that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.” It sounds to me that Paul was burdened down with more, much more, than he could handle on his own.

There are some who can surely relate to these words of the apostle. My wife, Teresa, recently suffered a medical emergency that, at the point of crisis, caused us to despair. Early on Sunday morning, September 27, I was awakened by Teresa as she suffered a massive grand mal seizure. She shook violently for several minutes. Our daughter immediately called 911 while I tried without success to help Teresa. The police arrived in a matter or minutes, but before they were on the scene Teresa quit convulsing and was deathly still. So still, in fact, that I was afraid she was dead. I could not feel a pulse, nor could I detect breathing. I lifted her arm and it fell to the bed, seemingly lifelessly.

When the police officers arrived, they quickly began checking for a pulse and for respiration. One officer finally detected a faint pulse about the time the paramedics arrived. They quickly assessed the situation, transferred Teresa to the stretcher, and moved her to the emergency vehicle.

Needless to say, at this time I was at a point of despair. Watching the love of my life convulse so viciously, and then go completely still caused me to think the worse. I’m not sure why we do that, but so often our minds go to the worse case scenario rather than to one of hope. It was at this time that I experienced personally and powerfully the amazing grace of God. I have oftentimes shared with individuals going through times of extreme adversity that God, in HIs grace, extends to us what I refer to as spiritual anesthesia. God’s grace protects us from feeling the full brunt of the trauma. I had shared that with so many, but now I have experienced it first-hand. There was a wave of peace that engulfed me. I realized that God was in full control, and that His will is always best, regardless of how it might appear to us.

That experience on September 27 was the beginning of a month long journey of hospital stays and a plethora of tests. After two nights in the hospital as a result of the seizure, Teresa was then hospitalized a second time for five days due to heart issues that occurred the next week. After brain scans, MRI’s, X-rays, endoscopy, EKG’s, EEG’s, it was finally determined that the seizure and the heart issues were all caused by an electrolyte deficiency. Teresa continues to recover from the trauma of these health issues, for which we are grateful to our Father in heaven.

But why? Why did God allow Teresa to go through this ordeal? Is there any word from God as to His intent in allowing His children to suffer? Well, actually there is. And, it is found in this same opening chapter of 2 Corinthians. Read carefully the following quote:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

God allows us to go through certain experiences, and then wants us to minister to those who are suffering the same type of difficulty. Who better can minister to a person fighting a battle with cancer than someone who has already walked that path? Who can better minister to someone who has a wayward child, who is fighting depression, who is experiencing family or financial troubles, who is going through one of any number of other difficulties, than one who has already been through that same problem? And let’s always remember: God works in all things for the good of those who love Him. It may appear to be anything but good, but God works in it to bring about good. So, as Paul admonishes his readers, let’s give thanks in all things and for all things, because this is the will of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

And, we should remember also that we are God’s personal possession. He has sovereign control over all that happens, and will bring circumstances into our personal experiences that fit into His divine will. Our goal is to bring glory to God in everything by allowing His grace to be on display through us.

Let me close with a word of thanks for all the text messages, phone calls, and especially the prayers during this time in our lives. We are eternally grateful for the many expressions of love shown to us.

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

Philippians 1:6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Philippians 1:3-5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

That a lifetimes not too long to live as friends.

“Friends” by Michael W. Smith

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

Genesis 1:26-27 (Christian Standard Bible)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jesus loves the little children

All the children of the world

Red and yellow, black and white

They are precious in His sight

Jesus loves the little children of the world.

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

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

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

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

John 3:16

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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