Life has certainly changed in the past few weeks, wouldn’t you agree? I live in a tourist town in the beautiful mountains of east Tennessee. At this time of year, the town of Pigeon Forge, along with neighboring Gatlinburg and Sevierville, is filled with tourists who have come for a visit. There are many things in this area which draw huge crowds, especially between March and December.

We have shows to entertain, amusement parks to thrill, outlet malls to lure us in, attractions galore to spend our time, and, of course the biggest draw of all, the Smoky Mountains to dazzle our eyes, minds, and spirits. At this time of year the roads are usually at a stand-still due to stop-and-go traffic.

But not this year. This year the shows are closed, the amusement parks lie eerily quiet and empty, the outlet malls are void of human traffic, the attractions are shut down, and even the scenic mountain roads are without sight-seers. Yes, life has changed radically, and we are now hearing the talking heads on TV harping on and on about the “new norm”.

Exactly what does that mean? What is the “new norm”? Right now, it consists of social distancing, “stay-at-home” restrictions, essential personnel only enforcement in the work place, daily instructions on how to remain safe and virus-free as we go about our daily routines. It means unemployment for millions as non-essential jobs are cut and workers are laid off. It means doctor’s visits are restricted to emergency status only, and only emergency surgeries are being performed. And these examples are only a small part of the “new norm”.

My wife and I have been voluntarily isolated for the past two weeks. We only go out in public when it is absolutely necessary. The only places we have been where we were in close proximity to others are the grocery store and the pharmacy. When we have gone to these places, we have tried to maintain a safe distance from others. When we see our neighbors out and about, we speak, but from a distance. We will even carry on a lengthy conversation with them, but still, at a safe distance.

So, how do we cope with this new norm? What can we do to maintain our sanity in a world that is vastly different than anything we have ever experienced? I would like to use the remainder of this blog to offer a few suggestions.

First, I would suggest that we use this time to grow deeper in our fellowship with God. Too often, in our hectic paced lives, we allow certain things to be forced out of our daily routine. Far too often, the first thing to go is our quiet time with God. There are many reasons we might allow this to happen. Other things are viewed as more important. As a matter of fact, we have other commitments that are thought to be of much more importance than my personal, private time of devotion and fellowship with God. And, after all, no one is looking over my shoulder, keeping tabs on my quiet times of prayer, Bible study, and devotion. But please understand: nothing is more important than our daily time of personal worship. Use this down time to reinvest in your personal spiritual development by spending quality time every day in His presence.

Second, I would suggest we use this time of isolation to get reacquainted with our family. Let’s face it, in our fast-paced society we spend very little time – real, quality time – with our family. We’re too busy with all the demands of life, and when we finally come home, we’re too tired to enjoy time with the family. Too often we allow life to distract us from what is really important. So, this time of self-imposed isolation could actually provide a fresh, new start for many. Play games together, put puzzles together, take walks together, read books together, cook out together. If there are children in the home, let them participate in coming up with daily plans of action.

Third, get out of the house, together. Go for a walk as a family. Go to a secluded picnic area where you can fly a kite, throw a football, take a hike, or simply enjoy being outside, together. Start a new family tradition. Go to a near-by lake or pond, and wet a hook together. Start a hobby that everyone can enjoy. Play together and plan together. Use this time to get better acquainted with one another.

Fourth, I would suggest that parents get to know their children better. Have a family discussion several times a week. Let this time be guided by a specific topic. As a family, sit down and compile a list of topics to be discussed. Don’t let one family member dictate all topics: rather, take turns coming up with suggested topics. Write the topics down as they are suggested, and then discuss them in that order. This ensures that everyone’s topic(s) are seen as equally important and valid.

Fifth, have a movie night. Again, let each family member have a voice in the movie selection. You might want to once again compile a list, allowing each family member to suggest movies to be watched. Then, once again, view them in the order they were suggested. After watching the movie, have a family discussion about the movie. What was your favorite part? Are there any life lessons to be learned? How might we apply those lessons to our lives? What can we do in the next week to implement those lessons?

These are just a few very simple suggestions to help us cope with this “new norm”. You probably have many more ideas that could be added to what I have shared. That’s great! My suggestions are just the beginning of what could be an exciting new journey for each of us. Let’s not allow our present cultural crisis to cause us to become bitter, but rather, better. Enjoy life. Get reacquainted with loved ones. Begin new traditions. Make tons of new memories.

And finally, remember: life is precious. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t put off the things that we can do right now to be the best we can be in the worst of times. God bless you and yours as we walk this new norm together.

Before I get into the heart of this blog, let me preface my remarks by stating clearly I know that some will probably take offense at my topic. I assure you, I am not trying to be morbid, focusing on a sensitive topic that may seem a little over the top. My purpose, stated at the outset, is based on a conversation my wife and I had as we continue to see the proliferation of this pandemic which has rocked the world. We had a heart-to-heart discussion on something I feel we all need to get real about: our impending death.

I realize that some will tune me out and read no further. But I sincerely ask that you hear me out, and hold your judgments until the end of this blog. I assure you my intent is that we simply think seriously about some matters of grave (no pun intended) concern. I am going to approach this topic from three different perspectives: the eternal, the temporal, and the daily.

First, let’s get real about the eternal. Man was created to live forever. The life we live now is temporary. The Bible makes it clear that death is a reality for each of us. Read carefully the following words:

“It is appointed unto all men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

Hebrews 9:27

Please allow those sobering words to sink in for a few moments. The gravity of this statement cannot be overemphasized. We will all, each and every one of us, die. Physical death is an absolute reality that none can escape. And the verse further states that after death – yes, there is something after this life – we will be judged. The eternal realm is real, and we will all dwell forever in that realm.

This life offers each individual the opportunity to choose where they will live after they suffer physical death. The Bible makes it clear that there are but two possibilities: heaven, or hell. Even though the world offers many different roads which lead into heaven, the Bible offers only one: Jesus Christ. Once again, the words of Jesus Himself teach clearly this phenomenal truth:

” I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

John 14:6

As we face this world-wide pandemic, it would be wise for each of us to make sure we have acted upon this truth. Let’s get real, the vast majority of us will survive Covid-19, but 100% of us will die. Our physical existence will not last forever in this present reality. We will pass through the valley of death. It will be then that we will face judgment. For the believer in Jesus Christ, it will be at the Judgement Seat of Christ, where we will be judged according to our works for the Lord since the time of our salvation. For the unbeliever, it will be at the Great White Throne Judgment of God, where they will be judged for their rejection of Jesus Christ. The former will then celebrate the Wedding Supper of the Lamb, while the latter will be cast into the lake of fire, where they will remain in torment eternally.

Please take a moment and make sure that your name is inscribed in the Lamb’s book of life. Make sure that you are saved by the blood of the Lamb. Once you have that issue settled, then come what may in this life, you know by faith that whatever we suffer in this present life is not worthy to be compared with the glory set before us in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Second, let’s get real about the temporal. This life is temporary. Some will live relatively healthy lives, and die peacefully in their sleep at a ripe old age. Others will not fare quite so well. Some will have chronic diseases which cause suffering at different levels of intensity. Still others will contract illnesses that will cause intense suffering until it ultimately takes their life. It matters not which category we personally fall into, the fact remains that this life is temporary. James puts it rather bluntly in his epistle:

“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.”

James 4:14

Have you ever watched the vapor rising from a boiling pot of water? Have you noticed how quickly it vanishes as it rises into the air above the pot? Here one moment; gone the next. According to James, that is analogous of our lives. We are here but for a brief blip on the time-line of life. It doesn’t matter if we live to be 20, 30, 60, 90, or even 100. The fact remains that in comparison to eternity it is just a blip, a blink of the eye, a vapor, here one moment and gone the next.

What are we to do as we live out this brief blip of time? For the believer, the answer is extremely simple. Jesus spoke of this on many occasions, using many word pictures to illustrate the point. Just a few will suffice to reveal Jesus’ mandate for each of His followers:

“You are the salt of the earth…. You are the light of the world.”

Matthew 5:13, 14

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

Matthew 5:16

Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

These words show clearly where our focus should be, even while we live in this temporal body made of clay. We are to be focused on the eternal realm, while enjoying this temporary blip in time. We are to live this life for the glory of God, being salt and light in a world filled with decay and darkness.

Jesus’ mandate is then expounded upon by the Apostle Paul. Read carefully his words found in his letter to the Ephesians:

“Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to live worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3

We should live our lives in humility, gentleness, patience and love. We are to be shining examples of Jesus’ grace, compassion and mercy in the face of anything and everything this life throws our way.

Finally, let’s get real about the daily. Hear the words of the psalmist, which hopefully will provide the impetus necessary to maintain a proper outlook as we go about our daily lives:

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

Please understand the emphasis on the word “this”. The psalmist was obviously speaking of the specific day during which he made the statement. The truth is that “this” day would point to every day. I can say today, “this day,” and then say tomorrow, “this day,” and the next, and the next, ad infinitum. Every day is “this day”. And what am I to do this day? Rejoice and be glad! It matters not what this day may hold – it is a day to rejoice and be glad. And tomorrow? The same. And every day, the same.

Our lives as believers are to bring glory to God, every day that we live and breathe. During these days of witnessing the world literally shut down due to the fear of the corona virus, we are to maintain a life focused on what is real, lasting, and eternal. The night will pass; the sun will shine again on a new day; each day will present challenges of its own; and through it all, God is on His throne and cannot be moved.

So, let’s get real. Let’s make up our minds to live each day in light of the fact that each day we live only adds up to a temporal existence which will one day end for each of us, but will then usher us into the eternal realm. For those who are born again believers, bought with the precious blood of the Lamb, that will be the eternal blessing of God’s presence. For those who have chosen to reject God’s gracious offer of salvation, that will be eternal suffering in the lake of fire, forever separated from God’s goodness and grace.

I hope and pray that your response can be the same as the Apostle Paul. I leave you this week with his words:

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

Philippians 1:21

Fear: a present day reality like none other anyone living at this time has ever seen. I realize there have been historical times and events that have caused a state of fear, even verging on panic, to grip the minds and hearts of man, but none in the lifetime of most living today. As the world faces this pandemic, perhaps it would be a good time to remind ourselves of a few important truths.

First, it would be a good time to remember this life is not all there is. Eternity looms before each of us. Our decisions here and now will determine our eternal future. Actually, one decision will determine each individual’s eternal destiny. We would do well to be reminded of the words of Jesus Christ:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 14:6

The statement is simple, yet profound. There are many religions in the world, all teaching some process by which man might attain heaven. All others are based on the teachings of some religious leader who lived, died, and was buried. The Bible teaches that Jesus, too, lived, died and was buried. The one major difference is that those other religious leaders are still in their graves: bodies decaying, corroding, corrupting. Jesus, however, rose from the dead after three days and nights in the grave. His resurrection establishes His authority to make the statement quoted above. No other religious leader has/had the authority to save anyone, because they could not even save themselves. So, let’s remember that we have a living Savior: Jesus Christ. Putting our trust in Him minimizes our fear of anything and everything we might encounter as we go through life.

Second, let’s give our attention to another comforting promise of Jesus:

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

John 14:1-3

It is vital that we remember the context in which Jesus made this statement. He is only hours away from His betrayal, arrest, trials, false accusations, beating, and crucifixion. If anyone ever had the right to have a troubled heart, it would have been Jesus as He faced His impending suffering and death. Instead, He endeavors to prepare His disciples for the coming hours, days, weeks, months and years. How could they carry on after His death? Their hopes were in Him, and their belief that He would establish an earthly kingdom of which they would all have prominent roles. They did not yet understand Jesus’ teachings of the kingdom of God. It would not be until after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection that they would understand the spiritual implications of His promise.

The lesson we must learn from this episode in Jesus’ life is that in light of His own impending suffering and death, He spoke a message of hope. Hope that would be a reality for His disciples then, and to His disciples now.

Third, we need to consider the gravity of another statement Jesus made:

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33

Again, the context is the night before Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion. He was preparing His followers for the reality of suffering in this life. Our hope – our one and only hope – is found in His words: I have conquered the world. Do you see the contrast in His words? To the onlooking world, it did not appear as if Jesus had conquered the world, but was rather conquered by the world. Jesus was exhibiting His own belief that His impending suffering and death would settle the victory for those who would believe, even in the midst of personal times of suffering.

Suffering is part of the human experience. Very few live life free from any form of suffering. I realize that Jesus was speaking primarily of the suffering His followers would experience at the hands of an unbelieving world. However, it goes far beyond that to encompass any and all forms of suffering, which would, of course, include world-wide pandemics. Based on this, we should maintain a level of faith in the sovereign God of the universe, realizing that the Coronavirus did not catch God off-guard.

Fifth, and finally, let’s direct our attention to one final statement from Jesus:

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer affliction for ten days. Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

Revelation 2:10

Let’s listen carefully to these most powerful words from our Lord. We will suffer. The suffering at times will be intense, even to the point that we feel we cannot survive. But let’s learn a couple of important truths from these words. First, Jesus does not lessen the reality of suffering, but rather tells us to expect it. However, we are to also understand that the suffering is limited. We learn that from the reference to ten days – a limited period of time. Second, Jesus admonishes to remain faithful, even to the point of death. We are not to allow circumstances, no matter how gloom, to cause us to lose faith. We are to look above the trial, through the eyes of faith, and see that God is on His throne, and cannot be moved. He is steadfast and true. And finally, Jesus will give us the crown of life. No matter what we suffer in this life, even to the point of our physical death, we are safe in the arms of our Lord.

In conclusion let me say that I am in no way encouraging anyone to live recklessly. We are given common sense to care for ourselves. But, we are called us to be light in the midst of darkness. The world needs to see people of faith living life courageously, shining the light of His love and grace into that penetrating darkness. But always remember: darkness cannot overcome the light. So, let’s shine on for His glory, and remember:

“[because] everyone who has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.”

1 John 5:4

“But God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgment.”

2 Timothy 1:7

I suppose it would be safe to say that we all have fears. All my life I have dealt with the fear of heights. I remember as a young child, I would not slide down a sliding board because my fear kept me from climbing the ladder. It was a paralyzing fear, a debilitating fear, that would not allow me to participate in so many activities.

A few years ago Teresa and I were in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We were looking for some sight-seeing spots in the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and were told of Seven Falls, a majestic waterfall which cascaded down a mountainside twisting and turning through seven twists and turns. A staircase had been built which would take one from the bottom of the falls all the way to the top. Upon beginning the trek up that staircase, I did fine for a while, but when we were about half way to the top, I completely froze. I suppose it was because I glanced down, and realized how high we had climbed.

Paralyzed! Stricken with fear. Unable to move. Gripping the handrail so tightly it probably still has my fingerprints engraved in the metal. Thankfully, Teresa, with love and patience, was finally able to talk me into going back down. I have no idea how long it took me to walk back down that staircase. I was shaking with fear, almost to the point of total helplessness. Carefully, cautiously, slowly, painstakingly, I was able to make it down.

I know what fear is, and how it can affect us if we give ourselves over to its paralyzing power. And, we are all prone to experience episodes of fear. There is one graphic example of the power of fear in Scripture that illustrates just how quickly and easily we can become tangled in the tentacles of fear. In Matthew’s Gospel, we have the story of Jesus walking on the water. As He approached the boat in which the disciples were, we have the following conversation between Peter and Jesus:

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” He [Jesus] said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Matthew 14:28-30

A very familiar story, to be sure. Before I speak about Peter’s fear, let’s make sure we take a moment to note a couple of extremely important elements in the story. First, Peter is the only one who got out of the boat! His faith enabled him to overcome the fear of stepping off the solid footing of the boat, onto the surface of the stormy sea. He actually walked on the water. Second, after allowing himself to be overcome with fear as he gazed around at the crashing waves, he walked back to the boat with Jesus. The other disciples were obviously stricken by their fear of trying to walk on the surface of the water. So, let’s be sure to give Peter credit for his act of faith.

But, between his act of walking out toward Jesus, and then his act of walking back to the boat with Jesus, is that small matter of his epic failure. The text tells us that he took his eyes off Jesus and began gazing at the stormy sea. He immediately began to sink, allowing his fear to momentarily rob him of his faith. Jesus, acting immediately at Peter’s cry for help, reached out, took Peter by the hand, and said what had to be a spiritual gut-punch to Peter:

“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:31

Please note that Jesus did not reprimand Peter for no faith, but for his little faith. His faith had enabled him to get out of the boat, but was not enough to enable him to go the distance. Many, perhaps most of us can relate to that. We have, by faith, gotten out of the boat – whatever that boat might have been – and have walked by our faith for a while. But then, storms of different shapes and sizes and intensities took our eyes off Jesus, and we began to sink into the miry pit of little faith. We found the circumstances to be intimidating, daunting, and seemingly insurmountable. Instead of keeping our eyes on Jesus, we allowed those circumstances to rob us of our faith.

I would like to simply encourage each of us to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the author and finisher of our faith. Life is filled with eventualities that will quickly rob us of our faith, put us into a state of panic and fear, and lock us into a self-imposed prison of despair.

I’ll close this week with a quote from Vance Havner: “It’s hard to be optimistic when you have a misty optic.” When our eyes of faith have become clouded with the cares of this world – whether it be a personal problem or a world-wide pandemic – we become overwhelmed with eyes of fear. That fear will paralyze us if we allow it to take control. We can be optimistic, remembering that God is sovereignly on the throne, and all things are working according to His plan. For the believer in Jesus Christ, the cares of this world are not worthy of being compared to the glory set before us. In the temporariness of the trials and troubles of this life, let’s remember: the best is yet to come! Even so, come Lord Jesus!

I concluded my previous blog with the following questions: Was God fair to impose the condition on Adam and Eve? Was God fair in driving them from the garden, and forcing them to live by their own physical labor? Was it fair for Cain to kill his brother, presumably because he was jealous that God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s? And finally, was it fair for God to impose on the entire human race the penalty for an act of disobedience committed by His first human family?

I then asked for input and/or insights from my readers, to which I received the following:

“Fair” is that which is equitable. An “if . . . then” statement sets the parameters of an exchange.

The most lopsided exchange ever was when God exchanged the life of His son for mine.

“Fair” is death for disobedience.

Maston Jackson

Was it fair for God to impose the condition on Adam and Eve? Since He is the Creator of all things, yes, it is totally fair. It was His prerogative to be creative to begin with, so therefore it’s His prerogative to set the tone, the standard, the rule.

Adam and Eve had ONE rule placed upon them to obey, and they failed; forfeiting their rights to live in God’s paradise, and to live in unbroken fellowship with Him. To be faithful to His character, God has to carry out His promise. God gave the meaning and set the standard for what fair is and should be.

Donnie W. Helms

I also received messages from others relating their appreciation for writing the blog, and their anticipation in reading part two. So, let’s move on. I would like to focus this week’s installment on passages of Scripture from which we might glean a deeper understanding, as well as a greater appreciation, for Biblical instruction on this controversial subject.

We must begin at the beginning if we are to grasp the Biblical teaching concerning fairness. The Bible begins with the simple, yet profound assertion: “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” That verse gives us everything we need to know to reach an understanding of fairness. To be overly simplistic, this verse teaches clearly that everything there is belongs to God. And the simple conclusion we can draw from that is, since we belong to God, He can do with us whatever He chooses. That verse establishes the fact the God created us, He owns us, and He can choose to do with His creation whatever He deems to be right. In other words, fairness is to be understood in light of God’s ownership. Let me now try to illustrate this by looking at a few Biblical characters which will give us a glimpse at what true fairness looks like.

First, think with me about the story of the universal flood that destroyed the entire human race except for Noah, his three sons, and their wives. Was it fair for God to destroy all of humanity? Some would argue that this event gives a picture of a capricious, angry, manipulating God. He created mankind, gave them the freedom to choose to obey or disobey, and then wantonly destroyed them when they used that freedom to go their way rather than God’s way. Was that fair?

Second, let’s consider the story of Moses (I will only use a very small ‘slice’ of his life due to time and space limitations). At the age of eighty, God spoke powerfully to Moses, instructing him to go to Egypt, stand before Pharaoh, and demand the liberation of the people of Israel. Moses then presented God with his excuses for not wanting to complete this task, culminating his reasoning with the following feeble attempt to walk away from God’s calling: “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent – either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant – because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.” Listen very carefully to God’s response to Moses: “Who placed a mouth on humans? Who makes a person mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?”

No one knows for sure what Moses’ speech impediment was, but it is clear that to him, it was an insurmountable problem which he felt would preclude him from accomplishing the task at hand. God’s response is profound: He says that He is the One who makes a person to be deaf, or blind. We are His, and He alone has the prerogative to establish limitations on individual humans. Again, is that fair?

A third Old Testament case study would be Joseph, the son of Jacob (Israel). His life was one challenge after another. Let’s focus our thoughts on that chapter from his life when he was sold by his brothers to a band of traders. This started a series of events that led to his promotion, to his demotion, to his arrest, to his release, to his becoming the second in command of all Egypt. Was it fair for his brothers to have treated him with such anger and animosity? From the human perspective we might think it was completely unfair. But from Joseph’s perspective, he saw it all as being brought about by the providence of God. In other words, it was all brought about by his brothers act of jealousy and envy, but it was orchestrated by the invisible hand of God. And again the question: Was that fair?

Time and space limitations will only allow two more examples from the New Testament. Consideration will be given to the Apostle Paul, and then to Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul was a man, after his conversion, who was totally committed to evangelizing the world. It is obvious from a mere cursory reading of Paul’s letters, as well as the account of his ministry found in the book of Acts, that he was a man consumed with the desire to make Christ known. It would seem reasonable to think that such a man would be protected by the providential hand of God, and yet, we see Paul suffer horrifically throughout his life of ministry. For his own recounting of some of his sufferings, please read Second Corinthians 11:24-29. His sufferings were extreme, much worse than anything most of us will ever experience.

Paul then gives us a bit of insight into how he viewed his suffering. In Second Corinthians 12:7-9 he informs his readers that he experienced something he referred to as a ‘thorn in the flesh.’ He then states that he prayed to God for deliverance from this ailment, to which God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Paul’s response? “Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul understood that every situation and circumstance in life is an arena in which we have the opportunity to glorify God, our creator and sovereign Lord.

Finally, consider our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. God the Father set a plan in motion from before the foundation of the world that ordained Jesus to be slain for the sins of humanity. Jesus came into the world as one of us according to this preordained plan of His Father. His life ministry was filled with acts of rejection, humiliation, and ultimately crucifixion. Was it fair of the Father to ordain His Son to suffer such actions? From our perspective perhaps not, but from God’s eternal perspective it was the plan through which He provided salvation for fallen humanity.

There is a thread running clearly through each of the examples cited above: the thread of God’s sovereignty over His creation. Everything that happens is set by the standard of God. He can do whatever He chooses with His creation. He could have chosen to destroy His human creation after the rebellion in the garden, but knowing what man would do before ever creating him, He preordained a plan by which fallen man could be reconciled to God.

Every act of God throughout human history has been to make His plan known to the human family. Whatever happens to us as individuals should not be compared with what happens to anyone else, trying to determine if an experience is fair or unfair. Rather, we should look at the immensity of God’s love and grace, and realize that everything in life is designed in such a way as to reveal that love to us.

Fairness should be weighed as we look to God as the standard of what is truly fair. To think that He has gone to such lengths to demonstrate His love for us – even to the preordained plan of setting His own Son aside to be the sacrificial Lamb who would take away the sin of the world – should be the standard to which we look. And then, in the spirit of the Apostle Paul, let’s consider whatever comes our way as an opportunity to show and share God’s love with our world. To Him be the glory, both now and forever.

You’ve heard it, right? As a matter of fact, you’ve probably said it, perhaps multiple times. Something happens that doesn’t go exactly the way you had hoped, or planned, or dreamed, and the thought immediately comes to mind: That’s not fair!

It begins at an early age. You ask permission to do something, to go somewhere, to purchase the newest gimmick, to get in on the latest fad, to go to the once-in-a-lifetime event, to attend the greatest party ever, or any of a gazillion other must-have, must-do things. And in response to your request, you hear your parent say, “If….. then.” If you finish your homework,” or “if you complete all your chores,” or “if you clean your room every day,” or…… You get the picture. To which you immediately responded, “That’s not fair!” Oh, really? Why do we think that we are the standard setters for what is fair and unfair? As a matter of fact, what exactly does it mean to say that something isn’t fair? What, exactly, is fairness?

To see how diverse the word ‘fair’ is, simply look it up in the dictionary. It would take a lot of space to copy and paste the multi-faceted definition of this much often over-used word. It goes far beyond the scope of this blog to deal with the varied nuances of this word.

What I do want to focus on is this matter of fairness when we feel that in some way we have been wronged, treated in an unfair manner. And again, I would pose the question, who sets the standard for what is fair and unfair?

* “That teacher is so unfair! I deserved a better grade than this!”

* “My parents are so unfair! All my friends are going to the party – why can’t I?”

* “My employer is so unfair! I deserved that promotion more than Ted. They only gave it to him because he is such a manipulator.”

* “This diagnosis is so unfair! Why did God allow me to contract this disease? I’ve tried my best to live for His glory. Why does He allow so many wicked people to enjoy a carefree life, while He has robbed me of the future?”

* “It’s so unfair for that my son has made the choices he has made! We did our best to rear him with the best opportunities, and he has just wasted it all!”

Every one of those statements establishes one truth: we define the word “fair” according to our personal situations and preferences. Fairness is often defined by circumstances of life. Something happens, and we immediately conclude that it is either fair or unfair by our personal standard. We may be the recipient of the awful diagnosis, and immediately think that it is so unfair. However, we might hear of someone else receiving the same diagnosis and think that they have received exactly what they deserved. So, it was unfair for me to receive that word, but it was totally fair for them to receive the same thing. I would ask the question: Is that fair? Is it fair for us to think something is fair for one and unfair for another? That, to me, is the perfect picture of being unfair!

I would suggest that this idea of fairness, and more importantly how we define fairness, is based completely on our worldview. How do you view the world? Through which set of lens do you see things, understand things, define things? There are many different sets of lens that can be used: the lens of humanism, secularism, atheism, agnosticism, pantheism, panentheism, deism, theism. Our personal understanding of fairness will be based on our worldview.

We could spend much time and space discussing each of these, but that is not the purpose of this blog. Rather, I will focus my thoughts on the theistic worldview, and, even more specifically, the theistic worldview based upon the teachings of the Bible.

I will look more in my next blog about specific teachings from Scripture pertaining to this subject, but I do need to at least introduce the matter here. The Bible teaches clearly that God is the creator of all things, and that all things were pronounced to be ‘good’ by Him at the conclusion of six consecutive days of creation. This pronouncement of ‘good’ is to be understood in light of the fact that it was made before the corruption of sin entered the picture. God created man and woman, placed them into a perfect environment, blessed them immensely, and then instructed them to fill the earth.

God did, however, introduce a condition to the couple’s ability to remain in the perfect paradise, and to enjoy continual fellowship with God. That condition was broken by Adam and Eve, and thus ensued a state of brokenness between man and God.

The taint of sin affected everything. Adam and Eve were banned from the paradise they had enjoyed, and their intimacy with God was severed. Whereas they had enjoyed the provisions of God, they would now have to work for those provisions. The ground, which had previously yielded its fruit voluntarily, would now have to be tilled, and weeded, and watered, and nurtured. The labor would now be by the sweat of the brow.

Soon it became obvious just how awful the introduction of sin would affect mankind. Adam and Eve’s first two children, Cain and Abel, would graphically display the terrible consequences of sin, as Cain would murder his brother.

Now, you may be wondering how all this fits into a discussion on fairness. Let me conclude this week’s discussion by posing a couple of questions for you to ponder before next week’s blog. Was God fair to impose the condition on Adam and Eve? Was God fair in driving them from the garden, and forcing them to live by their own physical labor? Was it fair for Cain to kill his brother, presumably because he was jealous that God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s? And finally, was it fair for God to impose on the entire human race the penalty for an act of disobedience committed by His first human family?

Please look for my next blog, “That Isn’t Fair,” part two, next week. In the meantime, please join the discussion. If you have insights you would to share I would love to hear from you. I will gladly include your insights in my next blog. Let’s learn from one another, as we strive to come to a better understanding of true ‘fairness.’

What are your goals in life? What do you hope to accomplish? Attain? Accumulate? Where would you like to be five years from today? Ten years? Twenty? How do you see your future self? How do you plan to get from your present self to your future self? What will you have to do to see that future self becomes reality?

As children, we probably didn’t give much thought to the future. Each new day was a day of adventure, games, friends, fun: but it was just another day. We enjoyed each day individually, without any concern for tomorrow, or next week, or next month. Life was just a succession of days, not necessarily connected in any meaningful way.

But, as we grew older, our minds began to turn a little more to what lies ahead. Still not a matter of focus, or any serious thought, but we did begin to look beyond today. As we moved into higher grades of public education, we began to realize the importance of planning ahead. Still not necessarily looking ahead, but simply planning ahead. We started having project assignments that were due on a certain date, so we planned ahead, developing a strategy to meet the deadline.

However, at some point in time, each of us began to do more than plan ahead: we actually began to look ahead. What will I do after graduating high school? College? Graduate school? Post grad? Or, do I even want to further my education beyond high school? If so, which college will I attend? We begin to research colleges and universities that will best serve us in reaching our goals. Career goals. Family goals. Financial goals. Retirement goals. Living life for the moment becomes a little less important, and planning for the future becomes crucial.

So, right now, at this stage of your life journey, what are your goals for the future? Over the years, I have done pre-marital counseling for many prospective couples planning their marriage. I have always felt that one of the most important aspects of this type of counseling is to get the couple to look beyond the infatuation of the moment. I have given an assignment that forces them to look to the future, far beyond the “we’ll live by our love for one another” feelings of sentimentality. I ask them to write down their goals, both individual as well as relationship goals, for their future. I ask for specifics: educational goals, career goals, family planning goals, financial goals, etc. at one year, five years, ten years, and twenty years.

It has become glaringly obvious that many, if not most, of the couples I have counseled have given little to no thought about matters pertaining to their future. Too many believe that their love for one another will be all they need to have a successful marriage.

I have truly been amazed at some of the responses I have received from their answering questions pertaining to their future. Many have no plans, no goals, having given no thought to these concerns. One of the most unbelievable episodes I have experienced in counseling was when I asked the question, “How many children do you hope to have?” They both answered at the exact same moment, but their answers were far from being exactly the same. She said, “Two,” and he said, “Five.” They turned immediately to face each other, and she said, “You have got to be kidding!” This was followed immediately with a heated argument in my presence, which ultimately resulted in further counseling sessions being cancelled, and the wedding being postponed.

That is a rather extreme example of how desperately we need to have well-defined goals for our lives as individuals, and as partners in relationships of all kinds.

So, the question is, how do we go about setting goals? Is there some sort of program that is a one-size-fits-all method of goal setting? It would certainly be nice if there was such a thing, but, as I’m sure you are already aware, there is not.

But, I can show you one way NOT to go about setting goals and making plans for your future. It is an overlooked passage in the Epistle of James. This passage contains words of wisdom that will guard us against the heartbreak and headache of misguided goals if we will but practice its simple teaching. James says:

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.

James 4:13-16

To some, goal setting and decision making are based upon the mentality of those who operate by such a philosophy. They are looking for the next big investment, the next guaranteed financial activity, the next get-rich-quick scheme. It’s what we might refer to as the “fly by the seat of your pants” method of goal setting.

In this same epistle, James gives us another important word of instruction:

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God – who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly – and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.

James 1:5-8

These two passages from James’ pen give us important elements of effective goal-making. First, don’t make goals based on presumption. He warns us against making decisions based on presuming we know what the future holds. We’re going here; we’re doing that; we’re staying for this duration of time; we’re going to make a profit; we’re going to return. There are so many unknown variables in those statements. Now please understand, I don’t think James is telling us not to make plans. He is simply warning us about making plans based on presumption.

That leads us to the second important element of goal-making in this passage: Seek wisdom from God. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but He holds tomorrow in the palm of His hand. He is unchangeable, immovable, unwavering, all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful. His wisdom is what we need to give us guidance and direction as we look toward the future. Make sure that He is the foundation upon which we stand as we strive to set goals and make plans, realizing that, at any time, life can change or even end without a moment’s notice.

Allow me to conclude this blog with another quote from Scripture, this time from the Lord Jesus Himself:

Then He told them a parable: “A rich man’s land was very productive. He thought to himself, ‘What should I do, since I don’t have anywhere to store my crops? I will do this,’ he said. ‘I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones and store all my grain and my goods there. Then I’ll say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”‘

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is demanded of you. And the things you have prepared – whose will they be?

That’s how it is with the one who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

Luke 12:16-21

And that’s how it is with us. Goal setting is to be built upon the wisdom of God. Anything else is sheer presumption. His wisdom is the sure foundation upon which we should live day to day, and by which we should look to the future.

Life is filled with times of decision. We might call these times the crossroads of life. We are driving along, enjoying the scenery, basking in the beauty of the changing countryside, when all of a sudden we come upon an unexpected crossroad. The decision must be made: which direction will we go to continue our journey? We can continue straight through the intersection, or turn to the left or the right. Each of these would take us to our desired destination, but each would go through different terrains, different views, different levels of comfort and danger. We must make a decision before we can move forward on our journey.

One direction would take us on the quickest route, however, it would be a rather boring drive with little scenery to enjoy. It would be pretty much a straight shot from where we sit at the crossroad and our point of destination. We would get there quickly, but see nothing on the way.

A different direction would be a little more scenic, taking us through several changes of terrain, and providing us with some rather breathtaking views. However, it would still be a smooth, comfortable ride, and would get us to the end of our drive with little chance of mishap or trouble.

And finally, we could choose to take the longest, most difficult trek. It would provide us with the most beauty, the grandest vistas, the most spectacular views with many different geographical shifts. But, it would be by far the most dangerous of the three choices. There are many twists and turns along this route. There are also some points of danger along the way, with the road leading through several passages which have been the site of many wrecks as vehicles have veered off the narrow passages into the deep ravines below.

And now, we find ourselves at this crossroad, and we must choose. Which way will we go? Of course, there are many factors which must be considered as we ponder the choices. Are we looking for a life of relative ease, with little chance of difficulties and distractions along the way? Or are we a little more adventurous, wanting some excitement along life’s journey, but with little chance of danger lurking around the next corner? Or, are we the hyper-adventurous type, looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead, not really knowing what we might encounter along the way?

And then, to add a little more confusion to the matter of making a choice, if you are like me and want to super-analyze every facet of each choice before reaching a final decision, then you ask yourself the question: “Of the three choices, is one the RIGHT choice, or would either of the three be right if I chose it?” Wow! That will make your head hurt, for sure!

If it is true that either of the three would be right, then how do we reach a decision? Again, there are so many factors which would be involved in making a final choice. For instance, personal preference would be a factor. Do I enjoy adventure, or am I more of a comfort-zone fanatic? Also, how will my decision affect others: spouse, children, grandchildren, etc.? Another consideration would be to give thought to the desired result of my decision: will one path give a better chance of fulfilling the desired outcome?

And then, if either of the three choices would be right, does that mean none of the three would be wrong? I admit that all of this sounds rather confusing, but in reality, this is life. We all face crossroads throughout our lives: we face times of decision with several choices before us. We must choose one over against all the other options available, and then we have to live with the decision made.

Thinking back over my life, now 68 years in the making, I can see clearly how big decisions made at many crossroads of my life have brought me to where I am today. I made many choices based upon my own personal preferences. I would weigh out the options, and after much consideration I would choose the path to take.

However, there were other times when the choice was made for me. Allow me to use an experience from the life of the Apostle Paul to illustrate my point. In Acts 16 we read the following account:

“They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. Passing by Mysia they went down to Troas.”

It is clear from these words that Paul and his companions had decided to speak in Asia, but were forbidden to do so through the communication of the Holy Spirit. This was then followed by an attempt by Paul to go to Bithynia, but was not allowed to go there, once again by direct communication of the Holy Spirit.

It would be wonderful if we knew exactly how the Holy Spirit communicated this information with them. However, if we did know, we would probably expect God to communicate with us in exactly the same manner. And, the point seems to be simply that there are times when personal preferences are trumped by a direct mandate from God. On those occasions we are to understand that there is only one correct choice, and that is the one to follow.

But on other occasions, when there are more than one option available to us, and they all seem to be of equal value and importance, and the Holy Spirit does not give explicit instruction to go one way as opposed to the other, then we are free to choose for ourselves. But even then, we are to do so only after much prayer and seeking the mind and heart of God.

I will conclude by repeating the obvious: life is filled with crossroads. Some will be of great magnitude and consequence, whereas others will be of far less significance. But each decision should be made only after giving serious consideration to each option, and seeking the will of God before making a final decision.

And one final word: once the decision is made, don’t spend needless time second guessing the decision. Live with it. Use it to God’s glory. Invest wisely in the use of your time and your decisions. As we are encouraged from the pen of Paul: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it all to the glory of God.”

In my previous blog I wrote about deceivers – specifically how Satan disguises himself in order to deceive individuals by causing them to question God’s Word. I would like to follow up on that topic by writing about a very real problem in many churches: tares among the wheat.

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.”

Matthew 13:24-26

In my opinion, a very big and ever-present problem in many churches is that there are tares among the wheat. What I mean by this is simply that often there are individuals in churches who are tools of the devil, always bringing about dissention and divisiveness in the local church. Sadly, this problem is all too real, and all too destructive. Perhaps a Biblical example will clarify the subject to which I speak.

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.”

3 John 9, 10

The Apostle John is exposing an individual in the church to which he writes this brief letter. Diotrephes is apparently a trouble-maker. There are a couple of things that John says about him that is rather alarming. First, this man “loves to have the preeminence.” He loves to be the center of attention. He seeks to control the church through means of manipulation, even to the point of striving to demean John. He is obviously taking measures to suppress John’s leadership as an apostle of Jesus Christ, as John points out that he had written a letter which Diotrephes had apparently either destroyed or kept hidden from the other members of the church. Second, John points out that he “refuses to receive the brethren… putting them out of the church.” This man decided who could come in, and those who would be left out, or even put out.

Clearly this man is one who wants to be in charge, to make all decisions, to decide who may and who may not be part of this local body of believers. The spirit of Diotrephes is alive and well in many churches today. They want to control everything. They want the final decision in all concerns. They refuse to follow the pastoral leadership of those called to serve in that position. They demand the final say.

Far too many of us have already thought of a Diotrephes we have met. Perhaps we have been in a local church with one. Perhaps we have witnessed the hurt, divisiveness and dissention a Diotrephes can cause. Perhaps we have suffered spiritual wounds from the assault of such a person.

Sometimes, I believe, these are unsaved individuals who have become part of a local body and are simply tools in the hands of Satan. They are lost, and they are acting out their lostness.

However, sadly, sometimes these individuals are truly saved, but they are living unspiritual lives. They operate in the human spirit rather than relying on the Holy Spirit. Their motives are self-centered rather than Christ-centered. Their desire is to be on the throne of the church, rather than allowing Christ to be on the throne.

Diotrephes was certainly that type of person. He sought the preeminence. There is only One who is preeminent in the church: Jesus Christ. By Diotrephes seeking the preeminence it is obvious that he wanted to overrule everyone, including Jesus Himself.

From my personal observations through the years of my Christian life, I have witnessed this first hand, and have heard countless stories of this happening in other places. The spirit of Diotrephes is alive and well. There are many tares among the wheat. They may appear to be the real thing, but after a while their true colors come shining through. It is pretty easy to spot them: they are the ones who are always striving to be the decision maker. They want the last word in everything.

Their actions and attitudes are clearly centered on themselves. They truly want to be the ruler of the church, and they will do anything to get their way, even if it means leaving a path of destruction in their wake.

It is a sad day in the local church when an individual, or a group of individuals, decide that they know what is best for the church. They have secret meetings behind closed doors. They scheme and devise plans to have their way. They may get on the telephone and call others who are sympathetic to their cause. And the, they drop the hammer. And most of the time they clothe their words and plans in what appears to be super spiritual phraseology. Perhaps they have prayed, perhaps not, but even if they have prayed, it was with the decision already made. The prayers were simply a means of telling others that they had truly sought God’s guidance, but in reality they were only seeking God’s permission to do what they have already decided to do.

Our actions should be centered on one thing only – glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent One, and He should always be the center of attention. All decisions should be taken to Him in seasons of prayer, and only made when He has directed our path.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. And let’s make a commitment to do all that we do for His glory, and His alone.

In my reading through the Bible, I once again find myself marveling in the story found in the book of Exodus. I have now read through the Bible 43 times, and each time I am amazed when I come to this particular book (not that I’m not amazed at the reading of each book, but this one in particular). There are many things that make this book amazing to me, but for the sake of time and space I will focus on only one: deceit.

We find the subject of deceit very early in the pages of Exodus. Moses, as you will recall, had been commissioned by God to stand face to face with Pharaoh, demanding that he set the people of Israel free. This would prove to be an extremely costly for Pharaoh to do, since the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, serving the taskmasters in hard, demanding physical labor.

Moses goes to Pharaoh with God’s demand, but Pharaoh refuses to heed the command and hardens his heart against God and God’s messenger. This precipitates a series of ten miraculous plagues God brings against Pharaoh, which were displays of God’s omnipotence to both the Egyptians and the Israelites.

However, the interesting thing about the story is that the Egyptian magicians were able to duplicate the miracles God performed through Moses. When Moses and Aaron stood before Pharaoh initially, Aaron’s rod became a snake, and amazingly, the magicians of Egypt brought about the same result. Then, the series of ten plagues began. The first and second of those plagues – water turned into blood, and frogs throughout all of Egypt – were duplicated through the magicians of Egypt.

The point I want to emphasize is simply this: there is a deceiver who has been at work since the beginning of time, working tenaciously to blind the eyes of those who are seeking truth. We see it in Exodus, and all through the Bible. Satan, the devil, the archenemy of God and all things of God, is continuously and consistently at work, utilizing the weapon of deceit to keep people from the truth.

It all began in the Garden of Eden, where Eve was deceived by the subtle serpent (Satan in disguise). He (the serpent) persuaded Eve that the Word of God was not true, and offered her a very alluring alternative. That’s the way he works. He presents us with alluring temptations that are disguised as something worth pursuing. And, once the bait is taken, we are truly hooked.

Paul says it this way”

“Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

2 Corinthians 11:14-15

Deceit is one of the most powerful weapons in Satan’s arsenal. He is always at work deceiving multitudes into believing a lie. He presents alternatives to the truth of God’s Word. He calls into question the absolute truths presented in Scripture, leading those who will follow into paths of deceit, destruction and death.

Just as we see in Exodus, and Genesis, and so many other instances in Scripture, multitudes have been duped by his extreme forms of deceit. There are so many examples of this in our contemporary American culture. Things that were once seen as sinful acts of rebellion against God are now viewed as the cultural norm.

As I shared last week, there is a huge difference between the world’s view of right and wrong, and the Bible’s view. Culture accepts certain practices as perfectly right, while the Bible says that those things are an abomination in the eyes of God. We hear of the big ones all the time: adultery, murder, rape, homosexuality, abortion, child abuse, spousal abuse, etc. Those acts that are viewed as less evil are sometimes overlooked altogether: lying, stealing, gossip, child neglect, spousal neglect, etc.

The deceiver begins to place questions in the minds and hearts of those who are susceptible to his guile. Once he has convinced some individuals that an action is not so bad, then a movement begins to change the culture to embrace the new “norm”. Society at first revolts against the introduction of a new cultural practice, but over time it is embraced by the majority. Once this happens, what was once right becomes wrong, and what was wrong becomes right.

It is obvious that the deceiver is working with all his might to wreak havoc in American culture. If there is no standard of right and wrong, then nothing can be right and nothing can be wrong. We then find ourselves in the cultural plight described in the book of Judges: everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Please understand that there is a very real enemy who is out to do as much damage to the human family as possible. One of his major weapons is that of deceit. The only was we can protect ourselves against his deceit is to know the truth, and then to stand with boldness on that truth. May that be true of each of us as we strive to represent the truth of God’s Word to the world.