Show Your Faith - Get In!

There was a tightrope walker who did incredible feats. All over Paris he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights. Then he had succeeding acts; he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope blindfolded pushing a wheelbarrow. An American promoter read about this in the newspaper and wrote a letter to the tightrope walker, saying, “Tightrope, I don’t believe you can do it, but I am wiling to make you an offer. For a very substantial sum of money, besides all your transportation fees, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls.” Tightrope wrote back, “Sir, although I have never been to America nor seen the Falls, I’d love to come.” After a lot of promoting and setting things up, many people came to see the event. Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side of the Falls and walk to the American side. Drums roll, and he walked the rope which was suspended over the treacherous part of the Falls – blindfolded! The crowds went wild! Tightrope asked the promoter, “Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?” He replied, “Of course I do. I just saw you do it.” “No,” said Tightrope, “do you really believe I can do it?” A little frustrated Mr. Promoter replied, “Well of course I do, you just did it!” “No, no, no,” said Tightrope, “do you really believe I can do it?” “Yes,” said Mr. Promoter, “I believe you can do it.” “Good,” said Tightrope, “in that case, you won’t mind getting into the wheelbarrow.”

[Romans 5:6-8] “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Few things hold for us such beauty and warmth as the Biblical concept of reconciliation. To be reconciled means to be reunited. All who have experienced the loneliness and bitterness of estrangement can appreciate the joy of reconciliation. Sin is that which separated mankind from the Creator (Isaiah 59:1-2). Because we are sinners, we are incapable of providing for our own salvation. This is why Jesus came to earth and shed His life’s blood. His blood – the blood of the sinless Lamb of God – purchased our redemption and provided the means whereby we might once again be united with God. The blessing of reconciliation might be beyond our ability to fully comprehend, but it is possible for us to possess it by accepting Christ as our Savior and His Word as our blueprint for Christian living. Paul wrote, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). “Brought near” describes the practical effect of reconciliation through the blood of Jesus. Instead of being on the “outside” looking in, excluded as being “strangers” from the blessings of the gospel, we are full participants through faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:11-12). It is the precious blood of Jesus Christ which purchases our redemption and provides for us the reconciliation which we so desperately need and desire. May we ever be thankful that God has chosen “in Christ” to reconcile all men to Himself! Are you “in Christ” where all such blessings are found? (Ephesians 1:3; Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 3:26-27) Do you believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah – the Savior of sinners? Do you really believe that through Him your sins are forgiven? No, no, no, I mean do you really believe this to be so? Yes? Then get into God’s Word and start living like you believe it! Earnestly seek God (Hebrews 11:6).

You Can't Have It Your Way!

I pray you spend this week in thought of what our Lord and Savior has done for us all.

I received a phone call early one Sunday morning and a person asked, “How long will your service last, and do you serve the Lord’s Supper first or last?” It struck me that they were probably traveling, and a sinister thought crossed my mind, they were looking for their “crackers and grape juice” to go. Many are demanding today that we be quick and convenient. It seems that many religious leaders are taking the Burger King approach: “Have it your way!” But we are not a hamburger stand. We are the body of Christ. It is tempting to apply the fast food approach, but it would be deadly to the church. Like drive-thru wedding chapels, I have heard of some offering a drive-thru service where one can get the Lord’s Supper on their way to go fishing. Will we eventually have home delivery, “Hold the lettuce, hold the pickles?” Some in the church want to “hold the water” in salvation. “Hold the preaching – shorten the service!” “Hold the doctrine!” “Hold the singing!” You can’t “hold” anything God’s Word requires for proper worship. We hear some crying, “Change! Adapt! Conform or die!” We must not panic because we do not do the business that a hamburger stand does. We are not in the economic growth business. When it comes to growth we are in the business of saving souls by preaching and teaching the Good News, the gospel of Christ. We are to sow it as seed throughout the world, plant and water it with sound truth from God’s Word, the Bible, and God will make it grow (1 Corinthians 3:6-8).We are not in the people pleasing business – we are in the God pleasing business – whether people are pleased or not. Until we can convince the world that it is sick with sin, lost and dying, and that Jesus is the only hope, men will continue to criticize God’s system.

[Acts 20:28; Matthew 27:39-43] When Jesus was crucified there were some who mocked by challenging him to “come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!” Of course, Jesus had the power to accept their challenge. He could have called legions of angels to rescue him (Matthew 26:53-54). However, we should thank God and rejoice that Jesus did not accept the challenge of the people who wanted it their way. If Jesus had come down from the cross there would be no forgiveness of sins. Before Jesus went to the cross he said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26: 28). We could never be free from the guilt, shame, and damning consequences of sin if Jesus had come down from the cross. If Jesus had come down from the cross there would be no church. The blood Jesus shed on Calvary makes it possible for one to be saved from sin. Simply, the blood of Jesus shed on Calvary makes it possible for one to become a member of the New Testament church. According to the Scriptures, every sinner who receives forgiveness is added, by God, to the New Testament church (Acts 2:36-47). This would not be possible without Jesus’ death on the cross. If Jesus had come down from the cross there would be no reconciliation (Romans 5:9-11). To reconcile means “to bring back a former state of harmony.” Every person who has committed even one sin (Romans 3:23) needs to be brought back to a former state of harmony with God. Sin separates us from God (Isaiah 59:1-2). We cannot justify our earthly life to warrant eternal life (Luke 16:13-15). Even our Lord knew it was best to not have it his way, but that the will of his Father must be fulfilled (Luke 22:41-42).

Seeing With Our Souls

It appears the activities of Spring are in motion and it won’t be long before the roadside fields will be filled with wildflower eye-candy marking the end of winter in South Texas. I’ve already had to take a back-seat to the neighborhood squirrels as my little Bella has stepped up the patrol of her fenced-in domain. She lies in wait to give chase to any tree-rat that dares to invade her yard. Then the race is on to the safety of the fence – don’t know what will happen if she ever catches one. She sure gets tired - and naps more often.

In days gone by, there was a certain recluse who lived deep in the mountains of Colorado. When he died, distant relatives came from the big city to collect his valuables. Upon arriving, all they saw was a plain shack of a house with a dilapidated outhouse beside it. Inside the shack, beside the rock fireplace was a blackened cook pot and the old miner’s equipment. A cracked table with a three-legged chair stood guard by a tiny window, and a kerosene lamp served as a center-piece for the table. In a dark corner of the little room was a well-worn cot with a threadbare bed-roll on it. The relatives picked up a few of the old relics and started to leave. They were met outside the shack by an old friend of the recluse, on his mule, who asked, “Do you mind if I help myself to what’s left in my friend’s cabin?” They told him, “Go right ahead.” After all, they thought, what could possibly be inside that shack that was worth anything? They headed for their vehicle; the old friend got off his mule and entered the shack. Once inside he strode directly over to the table, reached under it, and lifted one of the floorboards. He then proceeded to remove a pile of bags containing all the gold his friend had collected in the past 53 years – enough to have built a palace. The old recluse died with only his friend knowing his true worth and wealth. As the friend looked out of the shack’s one little window, he saw the cloud of dust being raised by the vehicle as the relatives drove away. With a slight smile on his face he said out loud to himself, “They should have gotten to know him better.” I think he caught those city-slickers napping, don’t you?

[Ephesians 1:15-20] The apostle Paul prays a prayer that reminds us that God is rich, and that Christians can be rich too, if they are careful to know God. “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the gracious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart  may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms...” It’s good to pray that the sick will get well, that the bereaved will be comforted, that the wars in the world will soon end, that the economy will improve, that preachers of the Gospel will live and be useful to God for a long time, and that the elders will make wise decisions. But Paul’s prayer expresses concerns that reach way beyond the physical things that are the focus of many prayers heard in the modern church. His prayer is that Christians might know God better in order to understand more fully just how fabulous our spiritual riches in Jesus Christ really are. In effect, he prays that we might come to see with the eyes of the soul. Then, and only then, will we realize how immeasurable is our wealth and worth in Christ. Think on these things (Philippians 4:4-9)

Wake Up, O Sleeper!

There are many wonders in this world, but have you ever wondered ...Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin? ...Why women can’t put on mascara with their mouth closed? ...Why don’t you ever see the headline: “Psychic Wins Lottery”? ...Why “abbreviated” is such a long word? ...Why doctors call what they do “practice”? ...Why lemon juice is made with artificial flavor, while dishwashing liquid is made with real lemons? ...Why the person who invests all your money is called a “Broker”? ...Why there isn’t mouse flavored cat food? ...Who tastes dog food when it has a “new and improved” flavor? ...Why Noah didn’t swat those mosquitoes? ...Why sheep don’t shrink when it rains? ...Why they are called apartments when they are clearly stuck together? ...If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress? I really wonder about that one.

[Ecclesiastes 7:13-14] “Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.” Have you ever noticed how impossible it is to forecast the future? I’m sure lots of folks happily sank a lot of cash into Enron stock...right before it became worthless. Think of any sports draft. Michael Jordan was selected third overall in the 1984 NBA Draft. Sam Bowie was taken #2 that year. Sam never had a shoe named after him and I don’t think the folks at Gatorade ever cared whether or not he drank their product. A lot of NFL fans in Houston are angrily second-guessing the powers-that-be for drafting Mario Williams instead of Reggie Bush or Vince Young. The Beatles got turned down by MCA Records. MCA thought groups with guitars were on the way out. I’d say they missed that one. Where have you missed it? I’m glad that as Christians we are blessed with some clear information about the future. First of all, as Christians we are closer than we have ever been! The cosmic countdown marches on, and only the Father knows how close we are to our reward (Mark 13:31-33). Every step into another day is a step closer to the fullness of our salvation. Romans 13:11-12 says, “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because your salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” We are steadily moving toward a divine appointment. You may be building a house you’ll never live in. You may be making plans to take a trip you’ll never take because the Lord has other “travel plans” arranged for you. We are closer than we have ever been to our departure for what lies beyond the grave. In Christ, we can eagerly wait and anticipate the coming day when we will celebrate. Secondly, it is later than it has ever been. We have less time to accomplish our mission. Jesus said, as recorded in John 9:4-5, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” It was true for Jesus and it is true for us: the time to shine is right now while we are still in the world. Be faithful and courageous! We are closer than we have ever been. Let’s present to a lost world the plea of the crucified carpenter who wants to build something beautiful out of the broken lives of sinners. Knowing it is later than it has ever been, we can help turn the tide of tomorrow’s tears into the joy of sweet forgiveness and salvation. Today is the day!

Yes, There's Hope

Is there no other way out of our domestic dilemma except for retracting our lawful ownership of weapons and other properties? What will become of our freedom of speech after free thinking is declared hate speech against an evil society? (That’s already happening!) Will we all eventually be wearing a gray unadorned uniform 24 hours a day to become just like everyone else? The pursuit of happiness is fading quickly because the spirit of love (God) is being driven out of every aspect of life. Hatred is filling the gap!

The history of the destruction of mankind is repeating itself and it seems less and less people can see what’s happening. As individual men and women walked, lived, and breathed on this earth thousands of years ago, they were surrounded by wickedness in the heart and in deed. Violence, mayhem, corruption and filthiness filled the earth. God repented that he had made man, and his wrathful judgment was impending as recorded in Genesis 6:5-7. The world at that time however, was given ample warning. It heard the preaching of Noah, perhaps for 120 years. The doors of opportunity for repentance and salvation were wide open, if only... But they would not hear. They would not in humility turn to God. Obedience was not their chosen option. Spiritual preparation to meet God in Judgment was neglected. They were selfish and unbelieving. The promised rains did come and the door of opportunity was shut. No more time. No more preaching. No more patience on the part of God. Is it possible to imagine the regrets, the sorrow, and the anguish, the mental torment over wasted time, wasted opportunities, and wasted lives? Fathers and mothers watched their families perish. “If only I had...” It was too late. All perished. All perished, save eight righteous souls. There is another judgment coming. What will be of your soul, the souls of your family? God’s wrath or grace? Weeping and gnashing of teeth or rejoicing? Torment or paradise? Hell or heaven?

[Hebrews 10:19-31] A boy, about 8 years old, was asked by a neighborhood friend to attend an afternoon of swimming. He couldn’t swim but thought, “Just getting to tag along would be fun.” Within a few minutes of arriving at their destination, he was easily talked into getting in the water while holding on to the side of the pool. A few more minutes passed and he slipped into the water, gasping, fighting vigorously to return to his safe state. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t regain any type of traction or get his head above water. His peers were busy playing and didn’t notice his plight. He didn’t have any hope of getting out of his situation. Thank goodness he grabbed a limb of another child, who realized he was in trouble, and helped to get him back to the side of the pool. The boy, again, had hope. He went from being hopeless to having hope. We can go from being hopeless to being full of hope because of God’s promises. Regardless of the situation, challenges, or the news we receive, Christians have hope! As Christians, what is our hope? As Christians, we have a life of hope which is unshakeable in the face of obstacles in our path. When the waters crash into the ship, it will absorb the pressure and not drift. As the stormy waters of life push us in all directions, we too, will not drift so long as we are anchored in Christ…this is our hope. God is faithful, are we? Our obedience allows us to have eternal hope. Do you, by your obedience and commitment to your Christian walk, have the hope of Heaven? He is our only hope! If we are in Christ, we have the hope of eternal life with Him. Don’t let the door of opportunity close on you.