Finding Glory In Family Heritage

"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." - 1 Peter 1:17-21

About 40 or 50 years ago, my dad began a search to document the Elgin line in the United States.  He coordinated with Elgin families scattered all over the country in an effort to track our family line to its beginnings on this continent and beyond.  His initial work was hand written and eventually transcribed with a manual typewriter.  After his death - the documents found their way to me, his first born son.  Last month, at the prompting of my oldest living sister, I dusted them off - scanned them into my computer - converted the scan to text and then reformatted the document in MS Word.  Ah - technology!

I know, today, there is great interest in genealogy in this country - and big money in it I suspect.  Personally, I found my genealogy interesting but not captivating. But if I have aroused your curiosity - The Elgins arrived from Scotland in the commonwealth of Virginia in the 1670's or slightly earlier, what is now Loundes County, VA.  The Elgins as a family were established in Scotland in the 1100's. Eventually the family found it's way across the US to settle in most of the States. I represent the 10th generation of Elgins. So there it is in a nutshell. 

People are anxious to discover who preceded them in their blood line. As if they can find some significance in those facts.  Feel good about who they are - significance by association if you will. We want to "cherry pick" what is known about our ancestors.  Emphasize the good - successful - notable ones and gloss over not so good ones.  The thing is -  as Christians, we should not be so enamored with our "natural blood relatives".  As Christians - we have a new ethnicity - a new blood line. Children of the Promise. Now that is something to get excited about!

"But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”  That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” -  Romans 9:6-9

It's natural for us to be drawn to the flesh - it is what our old nature craves. Our significance in this world might be the color of our skin - the geographic regions where we were born and raised - our denomination - perhaps the university we attended.  Or it could be our specific family line - our DNA. We so easily are drawn to what we can see -  but that is not what is the most important Christian! To put it in perspective this is what Jesus said about natural blood relatives.

"Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 'If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.'" - Luke 14:25-27

We must love God more with - all our hearts - minds - souls - and strength. We should hate our very lives - meaning that who we are naturally cannot have precedence over who we are in Christ. Our love for other people and our devotion, or lack of devotion, to things of this world will flow out of that. 

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

Grace That Is Greater Than All Our Sin

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

I was reminded of something from my past the other day. Not sure what sparked the thought - maybe thinking that I was happy that I am no longer in Egypt. But it was a specific thought. It was in a time before I was born again - a couple of years before. My friend and I used to go my apartment for lunch and together would drink a six pack of Old Milwaukee. Then we would go back to classes at the university we attended.  We thought nothing of it. But the truth was both of us were Vietnam vets - and were using alcohol to deal with whatever it was that was troubling us.  We had another friend who was a professed Christian - holier than thou as we saw him.  We were convinced that he could not be as perfect as he "pretended" to be. He held a high opinion of the two of us and wanted to be "one of us". So one day, we decided to prove that he was not any different than we were.  We got him drunk - even though he was not a drinker.  People often do extreme things to be accepted. He drank so much that he passed out. There was our proof - in our minds - that he was not any better than we were, and yet, he was still not one of us. That is not one of the prouder moments in my life.

Of course I was oblivious to the truth of what a Christian was. I didn't understand that it was his faith - the presence of the Spirit of God, that was making us uncomfortable when we were around him. We were trying to remove the source of our discomfort by sabotaging his testimony. It was not until I yielded my heart to Jesus did I understand my friend. Then I became like him and not the other way around. As I said, it was not until a few days ago that I remembered that low point in my life. Then I remembered Paul's words, And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

Neither my friends today nor my children have any idea about what I was like before I met Jesus on the road. But I do. I am reminded of a quote from John Newton (author of Amazing Grace and reformed slave ship captain)

"I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am"

Can I get a Thank You Jesus!

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

Happy I Am Not In Egypt Anymore

"O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.... There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." - Romans 7:24-25, 8:1-2

I wrote about living without regrets the other day and a good friend commented that he was happy that he is not in Egypt anymore. Mike and Patty Hampton have been friends and a source of spiritual encouragement since 1976. We met them when I was going through the Army Lieutenant's Armor School  fresh out of college. Martie and I were "baby" Christians. Mike and Patty, along with two other Christian couples "bottle fed" us while I was learning what a tank was. as a point of interest - Eventually, all four couples found our way into full time ministry - Martie and I were the last ones to yield to the Call. 

Mike's comments reminded me of the significance of where I am today and where I was before I left "Egypt". Egypt being a euphemism for my life before I placed my faith in Jesus.  Mike's comment reminded me that I need to have an "Attitude of Gratitude", every day, and not just take my new life for granted. So easy to do.  I am reminded that I am Free! No longer in bondage. 

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." - Ephesians 2:4-13

Doesn't that make you glad that you are not in Egypt anymore?  Don't lose your awareness of the fact that are are no longer bound and are free by the Grace of God.

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

Frog in the Pot

"Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" - Genesis 3:4-5

I am certain you have heard the story of the Frog in the Pot. If not I will share it now. If you bring a pot of water to a boil and toss a frog in the pot it will hop right back out. But, if you put a frog in a pot of water at room temperature and the slowly turn the heat up until the water is boiling, the frog will stay in the pot until it is cooked - time for frog's legs! You get the idea. 

My point - that is the same way that someone or something can change people's thinking and doing.  You don't hit them with the full lie all at once. But start with a mere suggestion. How do you eat an elephant? Yep - one bite at a time. I have watched the culture in the United States drift farther and farther away from what was once called moral. That is not to say that we, as Christians, have not been guilt of hating both the sin and the sinner - and feeling justified. That to our shame.

Let me use foul language as an example. There was a time when it could not be used in movies and would never be used by men in the company of women and children. Then an exception was made in the movies where "light" swear words could be used. But not on television. Then over time - more and more words were added to the list of acceptability. And television was opened up. Now today - words that would never have been imagined to be in movies and television and not in the printed media are uncensored. "How did we get there?"  asked the frog.

"For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." - Romans 5:7-9

So day be day - like water wearing away at a stone in the river - change happens. And then one day - you ask - how did we get to this place where what is clearly contrary to God's expressed will for mankind has been perverted - up ended. A Haitian saying - Ti Pa Ti Pa - little step by little step - that's how.

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!" - Isaiah 5:20-21

Let me close with this scripture and then I want you to meditate on it in light of where our country and culture  is today. Just so you know that I am not making it up. The trouble we face today is not new - it has been with us since the fall in the Garden.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." - Romans 1: 18-32

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

Erasing The Consequence Of Sin

"If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence" - Job 31:33-34

I shared the idea that the other day that God forgives us of our sins by faith in Jesus, the eternal consequence of our sin, but does not promise to protect us from the temporary - natural consequences of our sins. The consequences of sin - saved or unsaved - are shame - loss of some sort whether it be relationships, financial, reputation, or perhaps incarceration or even death in extreme cases - at minimum inconvenience.

So what to do. How to escape the consequence. The world's solution - Adam's solution - King David's solution - is to hide the sin. Or even try to cover it up with another sin. You can deny you did it. The idea is that everyone in prison is innocent. Even in the face of incontrovertible (I love that word!) evidence. That is not to say that some are not falsely accused - guilty until proven innocent by the court of public opinion. 

God sees the heart of man - people must rely on what they see for themselves,  posts on social media and sensationalism espoused by the news media. Or our culture can redefine what sin is and everyone can close their eyes to the truth and pretend the the "emperor really does have clothes on". For someone not from my generation please Google - The Emperor's New Clothes - a folktale by Hans Christian Andersen to understand the reference.

That is what abortion is. Really. It is an effort to cover up sin with another sin - one that has been declared by our culture to not be sin. (I know there are times when it might be necessary - but those are a small percentage of the reasons for abortion.) Birth control is avoidance of the consequence of sex. Abortion is the extreme method of birth control. My point is that we must see things for what they are and not what our culture want us to see and believe to be true. 

Consensus does not necessarily make something right or true. It depends what the consensus is based upon. Most of the world believes that there is no need for a Savior. They can agree with one another all the way to the gates of hell.  A rose is still a rose - you can call it what you like - paint it any color you  like. It does not change its nature. Christian, our understanding of what is right and what is wrong is the Word of God and the revelation of the Spirit of God - consistent with the Word of God. 

To quote my step-dad and spiritual father when faced with a question, "let's look at the Word and see what God has to say about it."

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

Living Our New Life Without Regrets

“In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it." - Luke 17:31-33

Do you remember Lot's wife? She escaped with Lot but looked back at Sodom with, what I think was regret. Driving from Texas to Alabama yesterday, Martie and I got into a conversation about "what ifs" What if we had made other choices - what if we decided to hold on to those things that had captured our hearts and said "no" to God when He called us to go? What if? What would our life be like today? What would our children's lives and their children's lives would be like? Oh that thinking puts you on a slippery slope.

The question we had to go back to was and is - "Do we believe that God called us to this life and to embrace the sacrifices that this life has required?" It was a resounding "yes" from both of us. And yet -there is that voice that whispers - "Was it?" Or did we choose poorly? We were tempted to yearn for our own version of Sodom - that which we were called from by God and that which we left in obedience to His call - to perhaps wish that we had not left at all.

The Christian life is costly in terms of what the world thinks is right and good. Jesus said

"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." - Luke 14:26

What earthly sacrifices has God required of you? Resist the temptation to look back with regret. Instead - rejoice that you were found worthy of such a great calling - an opportunity to be light and a witness to spiritual truth for the glory of God and the good of others. What has God asked you to hate that you once loved? Friends, habits, livelihood? What?

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

Getting and Giving

 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." - John 15:13

Any idea about what that looks like in daily living? Laying your life down for the benefit of others with no expectation of receiving any personal benefit or expressed appreciation by those helped from your sacrifice? Well that is what a sacrifice that Jesus was referring to is, isn't it. Denying yourself for someone else's benefit with no benefit for you. As a spiritual act, rejecting personal glory and giving all the glory to God.  

"I [Paul] beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." - Romans 12:1-2

What does that look like? Say you have two weeks' vacation - you work hard for your money - you need - no you deserve some "me time". Then you are told about an opportunity to help people who are down and out - struggling because of some reason.  Your church is going to take two weeks to go and "be Jesus" to them.  All you have to do is give up your only time off. Scratch the vacation in Florida - taking the kids to Disney World - visiting family that you haven't seen for years. 

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me'" - Matthew 16:24

You want to be like Jesus? Or do you just want to be around Jesus?  There is a difference.  Self-denial is part and parcel to living the Christian life. 

"Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face" - Matthew 6:16-17

Fasting is denying yourself of food -  Jesus has called us to deny ourselves in many other ways for the good of others and the Glory of God. But be careful that you are not like the hypocrites.  Don't seek the praise of men for the things that you do out of obedience to God. Many people will want to praise you and not God for the things you do.  Something I tell people is that "the only thing I can take credit for is saying 'yes" to God - He has prepared me - empowered me - and resourced me to do what He has called me to do.  Listen - it can sound like false humility - and it can be - be careful that the praise of men does not become the reason why you do what you do in the name of Jesus. The pride of life is just around the corner - waiting to steal your joy. 

"So now, brethren, I [Paul] commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” - Acts 20:32-35

Oh and I might add that the fact that your sacrifice is not appreciated by others - matters not - you did it out of obedience to God and His glory - and if you didn't - repent.

Get it? Got it? Good!

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