So - You Don't Believe We're On The Eve Of Destruction?

"Make your ambition to a lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, so you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need" - 1 Thessalonians 4:11

"So far as it depends upon you, be at peace with all men." - Romans 12:18

Every day I see so much strife in people's lives - people living in the power of their flesh and in their struggle for self-preservation.  They live in constant fear, and rather than loving God and loving others, their love for themselves dominates them and everything they do or aspire to do.  If people don't meet their expectations or don't dance to their tune, they are considered to be the enemy.  They seek consolation and relief from their fears and insecurities by accommodating their flesh and what it desires.  Turning to things that promise peace and consolation, but, in the end, only bring pain and destruction.

Our culture seems to be imploding.  Consuming itself.  Looking for answers to the problems that dominate us but unwilling to acknowledge the true source of those problems.  We criticize aberrant - wrong - hurtful behavior and encourage it at the same time.  We condemn men for making sexual advances to women and exploit women in the media and add sexual connotation even in television commercials about everyday products.  We wonder why there is a problem with violence in our country and the majority of the most popular television shows and movies are dominated with stark violence and death.  As I watch this going on I feel helpless to change it.  But that is because the source of the problem spiritual ... and most often misdiagnosed as a natural - relational problem. And being a spiritual problem, it can only be solved with a spiritual solution.  My wanting my children's behavior, for example, to be different will not make it so!  Only God can do that - He is in the "business" of changing hearts.  And their hearts can be changed, but only if they will submit to His call and yield their lives in faith to the Lord.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:18

The solution is so simple, but the truth is, the majority of the world will reject the Truth. 

“They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator .. " - Romans 1:25

I am not making this up.  God has revealed the Truth to us through the Word of God, by His Spirit and through His Son and His sacrifice.  The world, our culture, rejects the idea that the problem has spiritual roots and a spiritual solution.  

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”  - 1 Corinthians 2:14

What a dilemma.  What to do? The answer is simple.  Don’t expect the world to get better … it is running pell-mell into darkness … headed for destruction …

There was a song written in the mid-60’s, a protest song, but I think it was prophetic.  It was written by PF Sloan, during the Vietnam war, and sung by Barry McGuire who later became a Christian. It speaks to the calamity that rages in this world but stops short of a solution.  Barry McGuire found the solution … you know the answer. My encouragement to you …. Be a light in this dark world … if people seem to be looking for answers ... point them to Jesus ... most will ignore you ... but that is between them and God.  Your obligation is to tell the world.  The Spirit will do the rest.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

Letting Your Circumstances Compromise Your Faith

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." - Mattew 12:34-35

As Christians the foundation of our spiritual understanding is the Word of God - inerrant in the original manuscripts and the infallible Truth. By the Word of God we understand how to live rightly by faith and love rightly by the power of God. So why is the "one" Body of Christ subdivided by so many variants or denominations? Estimations show there are more than 200 Christian denominations in the U.S. and a staggering 45,000 globally, that's according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity. Groups of people divided by interpretation of the Word or differences in practice. Fortunately for most they can find agreement in Peter's answer to the question that Jesus asked the disciples. "Who do you say that I am?"

"Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock [the declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." - Matthew 16:16-18

A temptation that we all face is to abandon what we say is true and right when our circumstances change, either by our own doing or because of the actions of another person. We are unwilling to live with the consequences that are affecting us and seek relief. I knew a pastor in a particular denomination who had not always been part of that denomination. When I asked the "why" question he told me that he had divorced his first wife because of her infidelity. His denomination - through which he had earned a doctorate in theology - would not permit him to continue to be a pastor since he divorced. So, he found a denomination that would allow him to be a pastor. He was a good man and loved God. But his circumstances changed and correspondingly what he embraced as truth changed with them. The same truth that he had declared to be what he believed, embraced and promoted in ministry. We often embrace a "truth" so long as it does negatively affect us or what we do. 

So, to my point. Like that pastor, the temptation to accommodate circumstances and compromise truth is something that we face every day. It may be a big or small thing, but when we are conflicted, it tempts us to ask the question, "Did God really say?". What we believe to be truth, as Christians, is being challenged by what our culture has declared to be true and secular laws have been established that support those cultural norms. Some of which are in opposition to the Word of God. 

As an example, there is a difference between who we are genetically, created by God, and how we subsequently choose to live our lives. God says that He is not a respecter of persons. God loves mankind and sent Jesus to restore mankind to Himself. The Bible makes plain that there is no distinction between races or genders before God. But man has chosen to redefine gender to match life choices and what man declares as truth. What man cannot do is change the essence of gender - genetics, chromosomes - but I suspect he would if he could so he might continue on his quest to be like God. 

So be on your guard Christian - Satan is crouching at the door - roaming about looking for the weak one in the herd. Know what you believe and why you believe it. 

"take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:13-18

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

When You Don't Get What You Want

"A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." - Proverbs 16:9

Have you ever been upset because you did not get your way? I am thinking about raising children.  They want to do something and for whatever reason - hopefully a good one - you step in and make a decision that is counter to what they had planned.  What is at the root of the response by your child? It's respect for and submission to authority, or lack of it. Not always getting your way is a lesson that we all must learn to succeed in life. Children do not have the experience to properly make many decisions and so as parents, we help them. Although they may not consider it to be helpful at the time. Emotions and logic are very often at odds with each other. In the Christian context so are emotions and faith. 

"For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." - 1 John 2:16

The "flesh" is all about emotions. If the flesh relied on logic, then nearly all of the problems caused by yielding to what the flesh wants would be avoided. Wouldn't that be nice? But that is not reality, is it? Emotions will cloud our spiritual vision and mute the voice of the Spirit. We will yield to our plans and devices to our emotions, what we want, resisting the Lord's direction. Why?

"All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:6

Getting what you want when you want it is the nature of fallen man. It started in the Garden. God has an eternal plan - man thinks he knows better. Choosing our own way has not gone well and that will not change. What is lacking is respect and submission to God's authority. Apart from spiritual conversion that will never happen. That is why God sent His Son. 

God will not tell you whether to tie your shoestrings in a single or double knot, but He has revealed His will and makes it plain through His Spirit the way we should go. It all gets down to a submitted heart and willingness to walk by faith and not by sight, or emotions.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

The Problems With Going To Church.

"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." -  Hebrews 10:24-26

There are two problems - first is going for the wrong reason and second is not going for the wrong reason.  

The first problem.  I have had recent conversations, one on social media and the other in person. They both were alarming to me and reminded me of a spiritual truth.  In the first case, the person was talking to me about their spiritual angst and the feeling that they needed to draw closer to God.  When I asked to tell me about their conversion, when they became a Christian, they shared all of the churches they have attended and the many things they did while they were attending.  Good things.  

The second.  The guy was clearly on the edge of things.  He had been in prison, on drugs, divorced, homeless.  But with all of that, I sensed he had a good heart .. seeking God.  He attended church, but in the course of our conversation it was clear that he knew little about the Faith. He told me that a priest had prayed for him and told him that he “was good to go”.  He did not have to worry about his salvation.  I told him that salvation is personal, between the person and God.  No one can do it for another person.

Perhaps you know people like this.  People with good hearts.  People who do good things or, at least, want to do good things.  When Jesus met Nicodemus that night, Jesus told him ...

“you must be born again”   “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.”  (John 3:3-9)  

Nicodemus didn’t understand.  He thought he was doing all of the right things.  But something was not right.  Just like for the two people that I talked with.  

“Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

The Jews thought they had it all figured out, but Jesus turned that upside down.  Gentiles - i.e., non-Jews - watch Christians and mimic what they do, but they don’t have the Spirit in them.  They have not been born again.  I know I tried that! They have a form of godliness but lack the spiritual power to understand the Truth and live the life.  They lack the capacity to understand spiritual truth without the Spirit of God sealed in their hearts.  I suspect there are thousands of people like that who attend church every Sunday. Maybe even in leadership roles.  Teaching information but are spiritual blind guides.  Struggling in their battle with sin.  Wondering why life is not different than it is.  

So, what to do when you discern the person you are talking to thinks they are saved by their works and are actually lost and bound for hell.  Point them to Jesus and the truth.  Speak the truth in love.  Even that burly guy that I was talking to yesterday has a fragile heart.  God has given you an opportunity to fulfill your purpose which is to proclaim the Gospel.  Not with a punch in the nose, but with a gentle touch.  Trusting that the Spirit of God is at work in their lives.  You do your part and let God do His.  And remember your part is not the saving, it is the telling and the loving. God does the rest.  For their good and for His glory.  

The second problem. I just read an article about church attendance that might explain why the Church is not having greater effect on the culture. The title of the article ""As few as 5 percent of Americans attend church weekly" The study was pre-COVID. This is an excerpt. 

“what you do is what you believe, no matter what you say.” If just 5 — or 6, or 7 — percent of Americans feel committed enough to darken the doors of their churches for even an hour a week, then we no longer need to worry about becoming a post-religion culture. We’re there. Secularization has won." - Lexington Herald-Leader, Pastor Paul Prather. 

See you at church!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

The Unintended Consequences Of Our Sins

"All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, everyone, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:6

Sometimes the Lord lays words on my heart that are a little too close to home.  Today is one of those days.  In the song “Even If” by Mercy Me, a verse goes “night after night, reminding the broken it'll be alright. But right now, oh right now I just can't” It’s one thing to tell someone else to have faith – to walk by that faith – to abandon the old nature and embrace the new.  The teller must also be the doer.  Everything that I write, first applies to me and then to others. 

So, the Lord lays a truth on my heart and, when it hits close to home – I question, in my mind, whether I should, can, or want to address it with you – you being anywhere from 80 to 130 readers.  But ….  I know I must – especially on these occasions. So let’s get to it!

You might be familiar with the idea of generational sin.  Not the idea that the following generations would be punished for their father’s sins, but that the consequences of those sins would reverberate through the generations.  The Bible says that we are each responsible for our own sins. As a parent, you don’t want to think that what you do or don’t do might impact your children in a negative way.  That your sins are not self-contained. The reality is …. our sins are not hidden from God and their consequences are not restricted to the one who commits them.

It’s one thing to be forgiven for my sins – it’s entirely a different thing to be relieved of the consequences of those sins.  The Bible does not promise that.  Sin forgiveness – yes – consequence avoidance – no!  The truth is that you will most likely be required to live with the consequences and so might those whom your sins affected.

Realizing the far-reaching effects of my sin brings on guilt feelings and nobody likes that.  It is hard for us to accept that choices – actions – sins – could have a negative consequence in the lives of those we love.  Before I continue, let me make it clear, I believe that each of us are responsible for our own sins – that each of us is born with our own sin nature.  We don’t need anyone to teach us to sin. – it comes naturally.  But – we don’t live in a glass bubble.  The consequences of what we do, both good and bad, ripple out from our lives.  If you toss a pebble into a pond – notice that the ripples are bigger the closer they are to where the pebble stuck the water.  Same goes for the effects of sin and those who are closest to you.

Martie and I lived on a lake for a time.  If I was fishing and a boat passed by  - the wake from that boat caused waves and they rocked my boat.  On weekends – there were so many boats on the water and so much wake produced that the water became choppy making it impossible to fish.  That is what it is like when an entire culture is given over to sin – that is what it is like in our culture today.  So many ripples – so many waves – so much turbulence – so many consequences felt through the generations.  

So ….. back to the point – which is not to make you feel guilty – but to give you insight into just how far reaching our personal sin can be.  How significant it is that we have a Savior who is our Hope – and how our trying to avoid the consequences of our sins is hopeless.  

We all have regrets.  We all wish that some things about our lives and our relationships were different.  Our lives are proof that the world without Jesus is broken.  Accepting the truth that you cannot sin in isolation should help you want to draw closer to the Lord – perhaps see the world differently.  Maybe have the same compassion for people that the Lord has.  What I have written may not convince you.  Maybe it will remind you that sin is a big deal and has consequences – unintended consequences.  It may not convict you – but perhaps it will make you think – remember – and repent. It did for me! 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone 

The Not So Bad Sins

From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. —John 6:66

“When God, by His Spirit through His Word, gives you a clear vision of His will, you must “walk in the light” of that vision (1 John 1:7). Don’t look at someone else and say, “Well, if he can have those views and prosper, why can’t I?” You have to “walk in the light” of the vision that has been given to you. Don’t compare yourself with others or judge them— that is between God and them. “for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). If we don’t see and understand this, it is because we are ignoring the underlying principles of our Lord’s teaching. But if a New Testament standard is revealed to us by the light of God, and we don’t try to measure up, or even feel inclined to do so, then we begin to backslide. It means your conscience does not respond to the truth.  … the unveiling of a truth. That moment marks you as one who either continues on with even more devotion as a disciple of Jesus Christ, or as one who turns to go back as a deserter.” - My Utmost For His Highest

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”  -  James 2:10

There spiritual danger with the sin of not so bad. Have you ever heard someone say ... well that is not “so” bad, it’s only ….. you can fill in the blank.  What comes to my mind are movies ... the excuse that there is only one time there is profanity … there is only brief nudity.  Why do we say that? Because we want to justify our actions.  When we do, we are actually debating with the Spirit.  Trying to convince Him that we are not engaging in sin.  Unfortunately, that practice and acceptance has become so common in the American Christian culture that accepting sinful acts as entertainment in the television and movies we watch is commonplace.  Families struggle with the effects of premarital sex … drugs ... alcohol … yet they pay money to watch it played out on the screen or television and justify it by calling it entertainment.  They argue that it’s just a movie.  Think about this.  Companies spend billions of dollars on advertising every year.  The reason is that they want to influence your thinking and choices.  Do you really believe that they would spend all that money if it didn’t work?  Our culture “advertises” its values in the same way.  Behavior that you personally detest, you submit to in your mind by being a willing voyeur. And worse, you allow your children to do the same.

When you compare the natural life with the Word of God, the differences are glaring.  It’s just that we refuse to think about it.  And if we do, even though the Spirit in us says “No”, our flesh says “yes”, and our mind says, “It’s not so bad!”  There are many other examples, other than the visual media.  All of it is temptation.  

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” - 1 John 2:15- 17

Some of the most popular television shows are about crime and crime fighters.  Good overcoming evil.  That is not so bad, is it?  But with those story lines we must accommodate sex, violence, profanity, illicit relationships …. Many things that are contrary to who we are as Christians and things we would, hopefully, not participate in…. Well ... I think I will let you debate with the Holy Spirit whether that applies to you.  The bottom line ... we need to apply the same rigor in what we do and watch as we do in our judging what other people do and don’t do. 

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” - Matthew 7:3-5

It's a lot easier to see these issues in other peoples' lives.  But are you guilty of compromise?  Have you taught your children to do the same? Those who have ears let them hear ... those who have eyes, let them see.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Do You Really Love God For Nothing?

"Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So, Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” - Job 1:8-11

If you were asked the question "Why do you say that you love God?", what would your answer be? Put another way, what is your love and trust of God dependent upon? Is it the work of the Cross and the eternal life that it assures us that  ....

"if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9

or it is the idea that God will meet all of your physical, emotional and financial needs on this side of heaven? That is what Satan suggested to God. In the absence of want and sorrow, Job had time for God. Of course, Job would love God then. But should Job experience want and sorrow, well that will be another story.  What was Job's response?

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” - Job 1:21

Our salvation and expressed love for God is not a guarantee that our life on earth will be easy. Living on this planet is a faith challenge. Every day we are challenged to trust in the flesh - in what the world has to offer - pursue the good life. The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 was confident that he was doing right until Jesus told to sell everything, give it to the poor. The young man couldn't or wouldn't do it. His trust was in the comforts that life offered and not God.

Loving God for nothing means that you love God in spite of the circumstances of your life not because of them. When trouble comes your way, and it will, your attitude toward God does not change.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

If we have trouble trusting God - loving God - it is because our hearts are not submitted, devoted to God. Singing a song in church - listening to a sermon on Sunday is not enough. 

"For You [Father God] do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise." - Psalm 51:16-17

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone