2009

Oxford University Press just recently released their latest edition of the Junior Dictionary. And, as with many dictionaries, words are omitted as the English language evolves.   In the same respect, some words are added as they creep into our modern vernacular. 

Words that were added include: MP3, blog, and broadband.  Words that were eliminated include: empire, nun, and SIN. 

Good new folks…!  Sin no longer exists in 2009.  We could only wish that to be true.  Nevertheless, it is my heart’s cry that God work in mighty ways for 2009. 

I would like to share with you my prayer for 2009:

MY PRAYER FOR 2009 IS THAT GOD WOULD…

R enew and revive me in such a way that, by the end of 2009, I would know God more, love my wife better, train my children more, share my faith intensely, and lead this church more radically.

E nter every part of my life, mind, acts, schedule, business, study, preaching, calendar, homelife, motives, ministry and planning.

V ictoriously enable me to live consistently in the power of His Holy Spirit.

I nspire me, my wife, my children, my friends, and my flock to encourage more saints and reach more unsaved than last year.

V isit my church, and other local churches, in a way that would see revival breaking into spiritual awakening in Middle Georgia.

E clipse my will, my wants, my dreams, my hopes, my visions, my goals, my purposes, and my accomplishments with Your glory, Your goals, Your majesty, Your greatness, and Your purposes.

To God be the Glory in 2009!

From Execution to Evangelism

Over the course of the past few weeks, one story that keeps coming to my mind is the story of Stephen and his martyrdom.

 

Because of Stephen’s spiritual power and grace, he was put to death.  Up to that point in Acts 6, the church had grown and flourished in Jerusalem.  Up to that point, the church had not moved outside of Jerusalem.  The power of God was evident, and according to Acts 2, 4 and

5 the fellowship kept growing as lost people were saved. 

 

You’ll recall that God had called the church to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the world.  Up to that point in Acts 5, the church had not gone to Judea and Samaria – let alone the uttermost parts of the world.  What could God do to cause the Gospel to begin to spread out into the world?  What would cause these believers, intoxicated with spiritual joy and fellowship in a wonderful assembly of believers, to move outside of Jerusalem.

 

The first thing that happened was for some sweet little widows to complain about not being served as well as the other sweet little group of widows.  The last thing the church leaders want to do is to ignore the sweet little widows in the church, so the apostles had the people nominate a group of men.  The apostles then confirmed the men, and these men began administrating the offerings and meals for ministries – including waiting tables of the sweet little widows. 

 

Later in Acts 6 one of those appointed men rose to great spiritual power.  Stephen rose to such power, that the well entrenched, established religious leaders were jealous.  Those leaders became so jealous that they were arresting and executing this great young church leader by the end of Acts 7.  These religious leaders – led by one named Saul – drug Stephen into the street and brutally murdered him.

 

Can you say “church trial and temptation”?  How would a group of Christians feel when one of their bright young leaders was brutally murdered?  How would GABC feel if myself, or one of our bright young spiritual leaders, deacons, or teachers, were dragged into Elberta Rd. and beaten to death?  What would the funeral be like?  What if the authorities ignored our cry for law enforcement?  What would the next worship service be like…?  It would be nice if those Christians could even ponder the questions, except they HAD NO TIME TO PONDER!!  Paul increased and elevated the persecution of Christians to such a degree that believers were run out of town.

 

Children were snatched up at night by parents who had to run from their tormentors.  Men had to run without even being able to kiss their wives or see their children in order to hid for a time.

Families were run out of town with just the clothes on their backs.

Only the key church leaders stayed to hold down the fort, but many other Christians were forced to run with little to no notice.

 

Now…can anyone imagine something worse than this happening to us at GABC?  I daresay that we cannot.  In fact, I would suggest that GABC has never experienced trial that is anywhere close to this.  How horrible these persecutions were…and yet…by Acts 8 Samaria was beginning to see converts.  Believers from Jerusalem, running for their lives, preached as they went and Samaritans were saved.

 

By Acts 8:26 Philip, who is running for his life, encounters an Ethiopian Eunuch (Ethiopia is in North Africa).  Philip wins this Eunuch to Christ, and this politically connected leader takes Jesus back to North Africa. 

 

Here is the bottom line.  It was the horrible and terrible experience of Stephen’s execution, and the ensuing persecutions, that enabled the Gospel to be spread in a way that had never been seen…and may never be seen again. 

 

Can God take a church’s very difficult experiences, which upsets a lot of people, and see great things done in His Kingdom?

 

YOU BETTER BELIEVE HE CAN!  LET’S PRAY THAT WE KEEP IN STEP WITH GOD.

 

A Thanksgiving Parable

Once upon a time there was very wise and loving father who lived in a village far away.  He lived there with his children who he dearly loved.  Though the father was much more wealthy than any other person in town, He and His children lived a very simple life together.  Life was so simple for these children, because their greatest delight was simply spending time with their father.  Day after day the children talked with their father, learned from their father (they didn’t go to a public school, because they were taught by their father who was the smartest man in the village), played with their father, ate with their father and enjoyed the intimate company of their father and one another.  Their father loved them more than any other father loved any other children in the entire village.

            As the children grew older and more mature this loving father wanted to give them wonderful gifts.  He wanted these gifts to be enjoyable to them.  He also wanted these gifts to come from his own vast riches.  One by one the father gave his children gifts with which they could play, work, travel and learn.  They were each very pleased and very thankful for all of their wonderful gifts.  Each day these children would wake up and go talk to their father and tell him how thankful they were for their gifts.        

            After several years of receiving, enjoying and being so thankful for all the gifts the father gave them, these children began spending more time with the gifts than they did with their loving father.  In fact the father was very sad that his children spent more time enjoying their new gifts than they did enjoying him.  It seemed to him that the gifts he gave them out of his love for them, were now destroying their relationship with him. 

            Over time the children grew distant to their father.  Their gifts consumed them more and more.  To make things worse the children, who had always been so close and giving to one another, began fighting over their gifts. 

            When the father approached the children with the desire to have time together with them, they always had responsibilities related to these gifts.  One might say, “Father, I have maintenance to do on this gift, and do not really have time to come see You right now.”  Another would say, “Father, I would love to come be with you and the rest of our family, but I have to work overtime to pay for the taxes on the gifts.”  Still another would say, “Father, I know it would be good to come by to see you, but I work 6 days a week to pay for the accessories for the gift, and only have one day to relax and enjoy it.”  Some actually had appointments to show their gifts around to others.  Finally, there were those who so loved their gifts they just simply did not see the importance of visiting the Father.  In fact, they would say, “Father, when I am enjoying my gift I think of You, so it is not necessary for me to come to Your house to see you.”  Life…for these children…had become all about the gifts and not so much about their gracious Father.

            After many years, however, the children’s gifts began to break, tear up, get lost, wear out or become uninteresting.  As this happened all the children responded differently.  Some became angry at their father for giving them gifts that would tear up, and they would not speak to him anymore.  They totally isolated themselves from him.  Still others had completely forgotten who gave them the gifts in the first place, so they wandered about aimlessly looking for more gifts.  Another group of the children, who had not spoken to their father much, called him and asked him to send them more gifts.  And, there were even those children who were so infatuated with their gifts that, when they saw the gifts were tearing up or unfulfilling, they began to try to replace this emptiness with drugs, alcohol, or broken relationships.  Worst of all, some of the other children actually left their own families just to pursue more gifts that the Father never wanted them to have.  All of these children were very sad and never really regained the joy they once had with their father.

            However, there was one group of children who realized what they had done and ran back to their father to have a close relationship with him again.  This group of children asked their father to forgive them.  You see, they had learned a very important lesson:  “When a loving father’s good gifts to his children become a barrier to Him,  those gifts can no longer be truly enjoyed.  Neither can a person be truly thankful for them”      

            Matthew 6:24-25,33

            “No one can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.  Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?   But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

A Baby Doll Shall Lead Them.

 

 Statistics have shown in recent times that Islam is the fastest growing religion in America.  I know some who are Muslims, and I have only love and concern for them.  I want them to see that there is only one way to God and Allah is not that way.  I want every Muslim to see that Jesus Christ offers the only way to salvation and eternal life.

 

That being the case, it is crucial that the message of salvationa and Christ get into the marketplace of our culture.  Many Christians are so concerned that they might offend someone with their message that they fail to share it.  But, make no mistake about it, many in the Islamic faith are not timid about communicating the message of Islam whenever and wherever possible. 

 

Do you doubt that?  If so, read the following letter written by Reverend Tim Millwood, who is a former pastor and current Associational Missionary for the Rehoboth Baptist Association in Middle Georgia.  Also, check the link below it for proof.  I have personally checked out the claims in this letter and they are absolutely true.

 

 

 

Dear pastors and leaders,

        Please take a second and read this. I want you to know I often delete emails about suspicious or radical subjects, not because we are not to be vigilant, but because I don’t want to be an alarmist, and because blogs often contain inaccurate information. I heard about a new Fisher Price doll called “Little Mommy-Real Loving Baby” with a message in it’s voice. This has been verified in stores locally by Dr. Johnny Ellison and his wife, Elissa (of Green Acres BC). In between coos and ahs, this doll says plainly: “Islam is the light.” (Yes, they tested numerous dolls and they were all the same.)

    If there were such a doll with a Christian message and it were not sold in Christian Bookstores and clearly marked as containing such a message, imagine the outcry! Imagine a child 2-5 years old who hears this subliminal message over and over. I won’t try to tell you what to do about this. I’m going to pray about it before I do anything. But, I think Mattel/Fisher Price should hear from Christians, and as a minimum, I think parents and shoppers should be warned of this before the Christmas season! I would not pass this on if it were not from such a trustworthy source.

 

 

In Christ, Tim Millwood 

 

 

 

Here is a video of it if you want to see it.

 

http://www.metacafe.com/w/1869452/

 

Be vigilant my friends and keep the faith.

Have you gotten over election day?

On November 5, 2008 the front page of the USA Today newspaper read in small block letters:  “America Makes History.”  Then, in enormous block letters: “Obama Wins”.   The impact of the election the day before was enormous.

 

 

 

The local Macon Telegraph rehearsed a quote from president elect Obama’s acceptance speech that simply read, “Let us summon a new spirit” with a full color picture.

Two days have come and gone since the election.  Headlines still ring out loud with the scenes of a historic election:

In the Atlanta Journal-Constitution it declares:   “Obama shows tactical shift.”   In reference to his choice for White House Chief of Staff.

In the Wall Street Journal, one headline reads:  “In end, McCain played to the GOP.”  Speaking of McCain’s strategy in campaigning.

The World Magazine web site proclaims in large, bold letters:  “Republicans Regroup.”

This nation will never forget this election.  Eventually, however, things will come up in the news that will command the attention of the American people in such a way that the November 5, 2008 election will not be the front page.  There will be jobs to find, bills to pay, kids to raise, houses to clean, and work to be done.  Eventually, whether one is a supporter of Obama or not, most will get past this election and go on with life.  Election day will not ALWAYS command front and center.

Though this election did not necessarily turn out to my preference, I must say that I will joyfully go on with life and pray for the president.  I have already gotten over election day 2008.

However, there was another day, where my election was secured, and I have never gotten over it.  In 1Peter 1:1-3 Peter declares, “

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ^elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:

In eternity past, God Almighty set forth a great plan to call a people out to Himself. Those called out to Himself He would refer to as His elect.  The provision and preparation for this great act was accomplished before the foundation of the world. 

And, while God made all this possible for the elect before the beginning of time, “in the fullness of time” He sent forth His Son to make it practical in the world.  Jesus Christ stepped forward to make happen practically what God had already determined eternally.

Finally, on June 28, 1988 God Almighty — after drawing me to Himself for some time — applied His electing power to me personally.  I entered, that very day, into a relationship with Him based on repentance, and faith.  It was that day — one could say — that I personally entered in to the election God had worked out for me.  I am now part of the elect. 

While it may be a little theologically off base to say that I experienced an election day on June 28, 1988, I must say that I will never get over that day.  It is that day that God launched me into an eternal existence contained within Himself.

When some claim anger, fear, or grief over the outcome of elections, I say, “My election is sure, and no earthly election can change that.”  When some claim elation and unspeakable joy over the outcome of a presidential election, I say that I have had joy in my life because I was elected — not the president. 

You see, the bottom line is this.  In 1000 years, who was elected president of the USA will make little difference for the current times.  None of us will be here, and if Jesus has not returned, the world will be drastically different.  And, while the presidential election may make little difference then, the fact that I am part of the elect will make all the difference in the world.  And that, my friend, I will never get over.

“Readers are Leaders…”

“Readers are leaders…”

“Readers are leaders…”

This was one of my Aunt Linda’s favorite sayings.  Aunt Linda is my mom’s sister.  She just retired from school teaching in Knoxville, Tennessee.  My sister and I used to spend a few days each summer with her.  While we were there she would always find something fun and educational for us to do.  She was passionate about us learning…and having fun doing it.

One of our Christmas traditions was to gather at my grandmother’s house (my mom’s mom), eat, and exchange presents (oh yeah…we’d watch football too).  As everyone showed up, they would place their presents under the tree.  As the presents would pile up, we children would agonize over those with our names on them.  We would wonder what those presents were….except for one.

There would always be several flat, hard packages that were from Aunt Linda.  All the kids knew what they were.  They were packages with books in them for us to read.  Aunt Linda would buy us the best books, and she is a big part of the reason I am a voracious reader to this day.  I love my computer and all its electronic books.  But…truth be told…I love having all my books on my bookshelf.

I now have about 1300 volumes in my book collection (Aunt Linda…you.  God has been so gracious to allow me the opportuntiy and privilege to gather and read many, many books.  In a given year, I will read somewhere between 50-60 books.  With all those books, one might think that they all blur together.  Yet, there are a few that really stand out to me.  I mean, there are certain books that God has used in my life to spur me on toward Him, love Him, and serve Him.

No matter how many books I read, there are certain of them that will be forever in my mind, heart, and spiritual consciousness.  These particular books vary in type, category, and authors.  One thing that they all have in common is that they have helped me to know God and follow Him in a greater way. 

Recently, a dear brother in my church asked me to put together a book list from some of the books that have impacted me most.  This could be sort of a spiritual bibliography to encourage and help other believers.  Below is that bibliography.  I pray that the books listed below might be of help and encouragement to you the same way that they have been to me.   Please excuse the way the margins shifted and the dates moved around.  I haven’t completely figured out this blog yet.

To God be the Glory!

 

 

List of Books

Thanks go especially to Sharlene Bond for her help in putting all these books into a bibliographical form.

Bunyan, John                        The Pilgrim’s Progress          Baker Book House               1994

Chute,  Anthony                  A Piety above the Common Standard               Mercer Univ. Press             2004

Coleman, Robert E.              The Master Plan of Evangelism           Fleming H Revel                  1993

Comfort, Ray                         Hell’s Best Kept Secret         Whitaker House                  1989

Cymbala, Jim                         Break Through Prayer          Zondervan Publisher          2003

                                                Fresh Prayer         Zondervan Publisher           2001                      

                                                Fresh Faith            Zondervan Publisher           1999      

                                                Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire       Zondervan Publisher           1997

Foxe, John                             Foxe: Voices of the Martyrs               Bridge-Logos         2007

Fee, Gordon                          How to Read the Bible for all its Worth           Zondervan             1993

George, Bob                          Classic Christianity               Harvest House                      1984

Govan, I.R.                             Spirit of Revival    The Faith Mission 1978      

Harris, Alex & Brett             Do Hard Things     Multinomah Books               2008

Harris, Joshua                       I Kissed Dating Goodbye     Multinomah Books               1997      

                                                Stop Dating the Church       Multinomah Books               2004

Hession, Roy                         The Calvary Road Christian Literature Crusade                              1950

Hodgson,Homera                 In the Cross of Christ I Glory              Union Gospel Press             1925

Huegell, F.J.                           The Cross of Christ               Marshall, Morgan & Scott, Ltd           1935

Johnson, Phillip E.                Darwin on Trial     InterVarsity Press 1991

Kendall, R.T.                          Total Forgiveness Charisma House   2002

Kinnear, Angus                     Against the Tide   Tyndale House      1973

Lloyd-Jones, D.Martyn        Preaching & Preachers       Zondervan             1971

 

Lewis, C.S.                              Mere Christianity                 Macmillan                              1952

                                                The Weight of Glory                            Macmillan                              1965

MacArthur, John  Safe in the Arms of God      Nelson Books                        2003

                                                How to get the Most from God’s Word            Word Publishing  1997

                                                Expository Preaching                          Word Publishing  1992

                                                The Second Coming                             Crossway Books    1999

                                                The Book of Leadership      Nelson Books                        2004

                                                Ashamed of the Gospel      Crossway Books    1993

McDowell, Josh    More Than A Carpenter     Living Books          2005

Miller, Wendell    Forgiveness                           Clearbrook Publishers                        1994

Murray, Andrew  The Andrew Murray Collection         Barbour & Co                        1995

Nelson, Alan E.      Broken in the Right Place   Thomas Nelson     1994

Olford, Stephen   Anointed Expository Preaching         Broadman & Holman                           1998

                                                Not I, But Christ    Crossway Books    1995

Packer, J.I.                             Knowing God                        InterVarsity Press 1973

Ravenhill, Leonard               Why Revival Tarries             Bethany House     1987

Skinner,Betty Lee                                DAWS –Story of Dawson Trotman    Zondervan             1974

Strobel, Lee                          The Case for Christ              Zondervan             1998

Sutton, Jerry                         The Baptist Reformation     Broadman & Holman                           2000

Thomas, Gary                        Sacred Marriage  Zondervan             2000

Tozer, A.W.                           The Knowledge of the Holy                HarperSanFrancisco            1961

                                                The Pursuit of God               Christian Publications                          1993

 

 

 

I’m no Hershey Bar…

My precious bride and I just returned from a special anniversary trip to Hershey and Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  We visited Hershey — the sweetest place on earth, and we then spent a day in Gettysburg and toured the battlefield there.  Out of all the things I saw, and the chocolate I ate, the part I appreciate most is learning of some of the great personalities in our nation’s history.  From Hershey’s Chocolate Avenue to Seminary Ridge and Little Round Top battle points, we learned of men who arose in different circumstances to accomplish great things.

H.M. Hershey was born in 1857, had a completely dysfunctional home life (moved 10 times and saw his father leave his family when he was a young boy), lived in historic times (he was in 2nd grade, just an hour from Gettysburg, when the Battle of Gettysburg happened), started and failed in four businesses (all candy making businesses of some type), transformed the chocolate industry beginning in 1908 (he mass marketed chocolate and made it available for average people, like Henry Ford did the automobile), built a model town to enhance the lives of his employees, and began a school for orphans, underprivileged, and at risk youth that is still thriving today (http://www.mshersheyfoundation.org/). 

In Gettysburg, we were reminded of great names such as General John O. Buford (Union Calvary officer that was the first to meet a Confederate army at the Battle of Gettysburg), General Robert E. Lee (one of the great military leaders in ALL of our nation’s history, as well as a man of God), Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Colonel in the Union, at the time of Gettysburg, that held the left side of the army’s line and helped save a Union victory), or Abraham Lincoln (considered one of the great presidents in our nation’s history).

All of these men have in common that their identity is tied to the great feats that they accomplished, or the great things they have done for themselves and others.  In fact, all of this list involves me who are known because of their personal accomplishments and feats of intellectual, military, social, and business successes.  There is nothing wrong with our identity, as people know us, to be tied to our identity being tied to our personal accomplishments. 

In fact, the accomplishments of these men, before their great feats, brought little or no recognition of their identity.  Before these men were great, some of them were very normal, very unsuccesful, or very insecure in their position in history.  Yet, their personal achievements gave them new identities.   What great stories they have!  Yet, I have a greater story of identity.

In John 15 Jesus tells his disciples, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  Jesus is completely changing the identity of these followers of His. In addition, Jesus changes the identity of EVERY follower of his. 

What, you may ask, brings about this identity change?  Is the new identity tied to our accomplishments?  Is the new identity dependent on how good we act or how successful we are?  Quite the opposite.  Though identities like Hershey and Robert E. Lee are tied to their achievements, the identity I have in Christ is based up on HIS achievement.  In other words, even if I have done NOTHING significant in the world’s eyes, Christ gives me a new identity because of what He did for me on the cross.

This means that acceptance in Christ’s world is based on what Christ has done for me and not what I have done for Him.  He gives me a new identity and a new hope.  For those of us who may be fairly average in our accomplishments, that is awfully good news!

The Church of the Cappuccino Gospel

A church wants people to know by its advertising just what it is all about, so it puts a big picture of a man holding an electric guitar.  Is that the church of the electric vibes…?  What about the Gospel of Christ?

A church wants to advertise who it is and get people to come.  It wants to present its ministry and message to them via a mass mail out on a flyer.  The flyer reads, “Come visit us, dress casually, have a cappaccino and enjoy the service.”  I guess the message of that church would be the church of the cappuccino gospel.”  But, what about the lostness of humans and the need of forgiveness of sin?

A church, in its efforts to reach its neighbors, sends people out in groups of two or three.  Those people take information about the church and gospel tracts.  They knock on doors and talk to people about their need of a Savior.  Some, who open the doors, are open to the message and others are not.  “Boy,” some would say, “that method is antiquated. They really need to get more contemporary in their efforts.”

Gee…maybe that church could get more people to come if they would have a concert with electric guitars, cappuccinos, and a nice message of how to have a better family…?  Wouldn’t they…?

Churches, unfortunately, are allowing the bottom line to become the bottom line.  As long as many people are coming, regardless of how they are getting them to the building, the effort is considered a success.  The accurate, and Spirit filled preaching of the Gospel, and music that magnifies and exalts Christ, is secondary to gimmicks that get people in the doors.  “We’ll tell them about Jesus once they get in the doors” is what many say.  Oh really…?  Are you sure about that?

Do we really think this type of pragmatism by churches is a new effort?  Solomon said, “There is nothing new under the sun.”  Consider the excerpt from a sermon preached in 1884 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.  See if it rings a bell, and consider whether or not the church of the cappuccino gospel is really a new thing.

You [as preachers] have nothing else to employ as the means of good, except the salvation of Jesus, and there is nothing else worth telling.

I heard of a congregation the other day that was so very small that hardly any one came to listen to the preacher. Instead of blaming himself, and preaching better, the minister said he thought he was not doing much good by sermons and prayer-meetings, and therefore he would found a club, and if the fellows came in, and played draughts (American checkers), that might do them good. What a lot of that sort of thing is now being tried! We are going to convert souls on a new system,—are we? Are we also to have a substitute for bread?—and healthier drink than pure water? . . .

[T]o hope ever to bring sinners to holiness and heaven by any teaching but that which begins and ends in Jesus Christ is a sheer delusion. None other name is given among men whereby they can be saved. If you have to deal with highly learned and educated people, nothing is so good for them as preaching Jesus Christ; and if the people be ignorant and degraded, nothing is better for them than the preaching of Jesus.

A young man said to another the other day, “I am going down to preach at So-and-so, what sort of people are they there? What kind of doctrine will suit them?” Having heard of the question, I gave this advice,—”You preach Jesus Christ, and that will suit them, I am sure, if they are learned people it will suit them; if they are ignorant it will suit them—God blessing it.”

When the great Biblical critic, Bengel, was dying, he sent for a young theological student, to whom he said, “I am low in spirit; say something good to cheer me.” “My dear Sir,” said the student, “I am so insignificant a person, what can I say to a great man like yourself?” “But if you are a student of theology,” said Bengel, “you ought to have a good word to say to a dying man; pray say it without fear.” “Well, Sir,” said he, “What can I say to you, but that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin?” Bengel said, “Give me your hand, young man; that is the very word I wanted.”

A simple gospel text is the word which every man needs who is in fear of divine wrath, and he may be sitting next to you at this moment, or he is in the same house of business with you, and needs that you should tell him about Christ. Do that, and bless his soul. May you all understand the Scriptures in this way, and may God make you a great blessing to those around you.

$700,000,000,000 PEACE…?

$700,000,000,000  — $800,000,000,000

This is the amount (give or take a $100,000,000 or so) of the bail out of the financial and banking industries in America. Depending on how the administration responds to this crisis, the American people may see a major economic recession…or…even a depression.  On the other hand, if handled correctly, we could see things move smoothly and the economy begin to grow again.  Quite frankly, this appears to have the potential to be one of the worst economic crisis in American history.

But, just in case you were concerned, you should not fear.  You see, the entire fate of the economic future for America rests in the hands of many politicians who have helped us get here the first place.   

Feel better now…?

Should we not be concerned and in emotional turmoil over the potential crash?  Should we not stand by with fear and trembling?  Should our hands not be wringing to the point of wearing the skin off of them?  After all, could we be seeing the advent of another Great Depression?  Should our peace not be completely disturbed?

You want to know the truth?  I am just as much at peace as any other time of my life.  I am not sure what will happen with our economy, my money, or my finanical well-being.  But, my peace is not rooted or couched in AIG, mortgage companies, or the banks. 

Romans 5:1 reads, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” 

Here is the reality.  If a person has turned to Christ in repentance and faith, he or she has made peace with the God of the universe.  Formerly, I was at war with God.  I did not know I was at war with him.  I did not consciously hate or fight against God.  Yet, the Bible explains that, before my conversion and salvation I was God’s enemy (Romans 1:18; 5:10).  I was not simply out of sorts with God before my salvation.  I was clearly his enemy and heading to His enemy’s place of destruction.

Yet, when I recognized my need of repentance and turned to God for forgiveness of sin, He immediately “justified” me or made me right and righteous in His eyes.  This legal declaration of my righteousness was based upon the sacrificial payment of His Son Jesus Christ. This reconciliation brought me a permanent and eternal peace treaty with the Creator of all things. 

Now, because I have PEACE with God, I can experience the daily peace of God.  It is my reconciliation with this great God that allows me to trust in Him and not AIG, retirement accounts, Wall Street, my paycheck, or the financial industry.  So, should Christians pay close attention to the economic crisis?  Yes, we should, because it may open the doors for us to declare:  I AM AT PEACE.  NOT BECAUSE OF MY MONEY, OR A GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT, BUT BECAUSE OF MY SAVIOR!

The Certainty of Resurrection and Brushing My Teeth

“Did you brush your teeth?”

The certainty of me asking this of my children at night before bed is about as certain as anything that happens on a daily basis.  Yet, how certain is each day?

James 4:13-14 reads, “ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; ^whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Imagine that…?  The certainty that I will wake up tomorrow, brush my teeth, come to the office, or eat lunch with my precious bride is about equal to the steam coming out of my boiled spaghetti the other night.  If life is a vapor, then the certainty of me driving to the store tomorrow is as guaranteed as the steam in the sauna at Edge Fitness.

Seem a little discouraging to you?  In fact, this is not discouraging at all.  The reason is that, though life and tomorrow may not be sure, there is one thing that is — the certainty that I will see the resurrected, ascended Christ in all His glory one day.  Only those who have been born again through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ have this certainty.  And yet, for those who have been born again, the certainty of seeing Christ one day is more sure than the sun coming up tomorrow.

Spurgeon said, “We expect to see the glory of Christ and to share in it, as much as we expect to see tomorrow morning.  Actually, we may not live to see the sun tomorrow morning, but we will certainly see the King in His beauty in the land that is very far away.” (Finding Peace in Life’s Storms, 300)

It is more certain that I will see the risen, resurrected and ascended Christ than it is that I will see Wednesday.  There is no guarantee  for tomorrow, but there is a cold-stone, lead pipe lock that I see Jesus in His full glory. 

It is more certain that I see the risen Lord than for me to see the football games this Saturday or Sunday school on Sunday morning.  There are no guarantees for my future — except one.  That one is the certainty that I am going to stand in the fully presence of Almighty God one day.

The certainty of getting in bed tonight is less than the certainty of seeing Jesus bodily one day.  The chance that I will see my family tonight is a good chance…but it is less than the certain guarantee that I will see Jesus one day in His full glory.   

1Corinthians 15:50-57:

“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ^Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— ^in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ^ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ^ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵     “O Death, where is your sting?

     O Hades, where is your victory?”

^56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ^But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”