Moving The Comma

 

Alexander III was Tsar of Russia from 1881-1894. His rule was marked by repression, and in particular the persecution of Jews. His wife, Maria Fedorovna, provided a stark contrast, being known for her generosity to those in need. On one occasion her husband had signed an order condemning a prisoner to life in exile. It simply read, “Pardon impossible, to be sent to Siberia.” Maria changed the prisoner’s life by moving the comma in her husband’s order. She altered it to read, “Pardon, impossible to be sent to Siberia.”

 In the fable of the ant and the grasshopper, the ant is portrayed as wise because it prepares for winter while the grasshopper lacks the sense to acknowledge its approach and thus suffers and dies. God seemingly infused the ant with the instinct to cooperate and work for the common good of the colony. In His Word, God tells the lazy person to observe the ant and be wise (Proverbs 6:6). Some species of ant cut leaves upon which they float across streams of water. Others form a chain of bodies to span open spaces, while some wage war and make forced laborers out of the prisoners they capture. All ant colonies have a Queen, but ants seem to know their role in the colony without Generals.

[Philippians 2:1-8] There is no way that Christians, much less anyone else, could truly comprehend what Jesus did in leaving heaven to become a human. But we might gain some small insight to what that involved by using ourselves and the ant as an illustration. Who do you know that would be willing to become an ant in order to communicate with the colony knowing that the ants would either kill or force into slavery any outsider? Jesus knew beforehand that he would be disbelieved, mocked, demonized and crucified for the totally unselfish act of trying to save and bring sinful mankind back to the Father. For a human to become an ant, one would have to give up family, friends, music, art, and so many other joys of life. Jesus gave up the marvels of heaven, the close love and fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The huge gap in our illustration is that we didn’t create nor love the ant. Jesus both created and loves human beings. He wants us to appreciate and return that kind of love to God and our fellow humans.

 [Matthew 7:13-14] Jesus taught us that each person is traveling one of two roads: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”. Because of our sin, we are traveling down the road to destruction - to Hell. Our situation was hopeless until; through Christ, “the comma in our sentence was moved.” Because of His great love for us, God sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, so that we might have forgiveness and receive the gift of eternal life (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 6:23). God has promised to save those who will place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse those who steadfastly walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7). “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2). In Christ, God’s grace has moved the comma that condemns us from, “Pardon impossible, send to hell” to “Pardon, impossible to send to hell” Thank-you Father! Thank-you Jesus! Amen.

Where Does Your Diligence Lay?

 

“Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation’s deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that’s what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of the desert plants. The vulture lives on what was; they live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life; they fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.” (Reader’s Digest, May 1990)

Do you believe it is true that we find what we are looking for? Is this a Biblical principle? News outlets generally focus on the negative. People watch and listen intently. There are often “gaper” delays on busy highways caused by people slowing and “rubber necking” the scene of an accident. The Bible says that gossip and slander “taste delicious” to many (Proverbs 18:8). Humans do seem to have an affinity for the negative. Negative things are like candy: they taste good, but they aren’t very good for you. The Bible teaches Christians are not to brood, not to worry, not to consume ourselves with negative things, and certainly not to rejoice in the misfortunes of others. But in all instances, we are to give ourselves to the blessing of prayer (Philippians 4:6). The result will be increased peace (Philippians 4:7). Likewise, positive things are nutrition for our spirit. We are to fix our heart upon things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy – things that are positive (Philippians 4:8). So, if you’re a buzzard, it’s probably because you choose to be.

[Matthew 6:19-34] “So (King) Saul died in his unfaithfulness which he committed against the Lord, because he did not keep the Word of the Lord, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. But he did no inquire of the Lord; therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse” (1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Saul lost his physical life and physical kingdom because of his unfaithfulness. Not knowing how God judged Saul, he may well have also lost his spiritual life and spiritual kingdom for the same reasons. Is there an application for us? I think, yes. God rewards His people for their faithfulness. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that we must have faith to please God and that he rewards those “who diligently seek Him.” Saul had not been diligent  concerning Godly things. We must seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) to stay in the kingdom, today and after death. We must keep God’s Word until the day we die. We cannot treat the Bible as a book of suggestions for good living, but God’s commands for salvation from sin and reconciliation to Him. Saul received commands to annihilate the Amalekites. He was to kill men, women, children, young, old, and animals – basically anything moving. Yet, he kept back the choice animals and their king. Saul did only the parts of God’s commands that he agreed with. That’s not keeping God’s Word. We see it more every day that mankind keeps what they want of the Bible and ignores the rest. Disobedience of God’s Word (sin) is how we alienate ourselves from God. We cannot keep our “kingdom” or our “One Nation Under God” that way (Romans 1:17 - 2:11). It’s our choice. God doesn’t change (Hebrews 13:8). Saul went to a medium for advice and lost his life and kingdom because he was seeking wisdom from mankind instead of God. God will hold us responsible for supplanting human wisdom for His. And because this country and the world are following men instead of God – God may very well give up on mankind. Where is your diligent mind and heart this day?

Be Strong In The Lord

 

Why will a man throw way the wife of his youth and the children she bore him for a “one night stand?” Adults use profanity in public and in front of their children. Society is plagued with constant news reports of murder, abuse, rape and theft. Even in our small communities, gossip is hot on social media. In America, we behave badly! One reason we behave badly is because we live for ourselves and we live for the moment. When God is taken out of life’s equation, so is any motivation to live for eternity. Paul alluded to this way of life when he wrote, “…If the dead do not rise, ‘Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die!’” (1 Corinthians 15:32). He goes on to describe those who live for the here and now as “evil company” (v33). When a person denies the existence of God, a future resurrection and eternal life, they have only themselves and the moment for which to live. That perspective lends itself to gross immorality; and fellowshipping with that kind of people “corrupts good habits” (v33). Paul admonishes Christians to “awake to righteousness, and do not sin” (v34). The inspired apostle indicated a direct correlation: deny the resurrection and live only for the present = sinful life; or, believe in the resurrection of Jesus and that we will be resurrected one day = living a righteous life. Atheists would have the world believe that as a general rule they are just as concerned about morality and doing good toward their fellow man as any Christian. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The debauchery and crime of our society is directly linked to our secularization. If we believe there is no God; if we believe we are the product of a series of accidents and no more important than animals; and if we have no hope of an afterlife where we will be rewarded, or punished accordingly, then we have nothing to live for but ourselves. And being surrounded by people who think and behave so ungodly can have a profoundly negative influence on otherwise good people. Know this – there is a last day on the horizon. Jesus is coming. We will all face judgement. We will spend eternity in heaven or hell. Reward yourself in life, or live for the reward.

[1 Corinthians 15:58] If you said to me, “Strength is an essential attribute of Christians – Christians are supposed to be strong,” I would agree with you. The strongest people I know are Christians. What does it mean to be strong? Is the Christian’s perspective of strong to be that of the world? “I’m supposed to be strong at all times,” which translated means, “I’m supposed to get through this on my own strength. I will not rely on anyone else. I can do this on my own. I’m not supposed to ask God for help, not even in the smaller things.” Relying on one’s own strength will quickly prove how weak they really are. Thinking that that definition of strength can make one a strong Christian and an obedient child of God, all the while not needing the strength from anyone else, will not strengthen one’s faith. We are supposed to be strong as Christians but the source of that strength does not reside within us. We borrow strength, might, and the ability to protect ourselves. We receive these things from God. Ephesians 6:10-18 plainly reveals strength as an attribute of the Christian, and God as the source of that strength. “…be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (v10). You are strong when you wear His spiritual armor; the belt of Truth, the breastplate of Righteousness, the shoes of the Gospel of Peace, the shield of Faith, the helmet of Salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And the kicker is this: PRAY! (v18). In our situation of life today all I seem to hear is, “I can’t do anything about it.” When we are spiritually strong – God will go into battle for us.

The Sense Of A Goose?

 

I thought it kind of early in the year and was surprised to see the Purple Martins reclaiming their house evicting the wintering sparrows. As the first day of spring fast approaches bird migration is in full flight. Still the most fascinating is the flight of the goose and their familiar “V” formation. It’s been learned that as each bird flaps its large wings, the movement of air creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds an estimated 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone. People who share a common direction and sense of community can get to where they are going quicker and easier when they are traveling on the thrust of one another. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power generated by the other birds. If we had as much sense as a goose we would join in formation with those who are headed where we want to go. When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates into the formation and another goose takes its place at the point where the wind resistance is the greatest. It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership with people, as with geese, interdependent with one another. The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. We need to make sure our honking from behind is encouraging – not something less helpful. Finally, if a goose gets sick, or injured, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow their fellow member to the ground to help and provide protection. They stay with this member of the flock until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own, joining another formation or catching up with their own flock. If we have as much sense as a goose, we also would stand by another in perilous times.

[Romans 12] The Holy Spirit has seen to it that we have a clear understanding of how the church is to function in unity. Paul penned the word “body” more than thirty times to illustrate the functioning church. In his letters to different congregations, he uses a Greek word translated “one another” 40 times. There are at least 12 actions that Christians are to practice included in the concept of “one another” in order to build up the body of Christ. “…so we, though many, are on body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:5). “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12: 10). “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:16). I encourage each of us to think about our “one another” treatment of our fellow man, and our brothers and sisters in Christ. An individual Christian cannot function efficiently by their self. We are indeed as the church, “members of one another”. No member should say, “I don’t need you.” (“Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).) We all need each other. No member of Christ’s body should feel more important than another member. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free – and have all been made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:13). We should all work hard at creating unity in the body of Christ. “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). Do we have the sense of a Goose, that no matter we are being socially injured, we remain united in our goal to be faithful to God’s Word and the hope of everlasting life with Him?