Are You Content?

 

On the sixth day of creation, God made all the dryland creatures and man. In the first hour, among other animals, God created the cow. God said, “You must go to the field with the farmer all day long, suffer under the hot sun, have calves, and give milk to support the farmer. I will give you a lifespan of sixty years.” The cow said, “That’s kind of a tough life you want me to have for sixty years. Let me have twenty years and I’ll give back forty.” God agreed. In the second hour God created dog. He said, “Sit by the door of your house all day and bark at anyone who comes in or walks by. I will give you a lifespan of twenty years.” The dog said, “That’s too long to be barking. How about you give me ten years and I’ll give you back ten.” God agreed. In the third hour God created the monkey and God said, “Entertain people. Do monkey tricks, make them laugh, and I will give you a twenty-year lifespan.” The monkey said, “How boring to do monkey tricks for twenty years. The dog gave you back ten years and that’s what I would like to do also.” God agreed. In the fourth hour God created man. God said, “Eat, sleep, play, enjoy. Do nothing. Just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and I’ll give you twenty years.” And the man said, “What! Only twenty years? Tell you what, I’ll take my twenty and the forty the cow gave back, and the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back. That makes eighty, okay?” God said, “You’ve got a deal!” So, that’s why for the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play, enjoy and do nothing. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren, and for the next ten years we sit at the front door barking at everybody that visits us or just passes by.

[Philippians 4:11-13] Two little teardrops were floating down the river of life. One asked the other, “Who are you?” “I’m a teardrop from a girl who loved a man and lost him. Who are you?” The first replied, “I’m a teardrop from the girl who got him.”

Life is like that. We cry over the things we cannot have, but we might cry twice as much if we receive them. A man won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania Lottery in 1988. One would think that such a windfall would have brought him all kinds of rewards, but it did not. From the day he won his world began to collapse. He was sued. Was arrested for assault. His brother was arrested for plotting to kill him. His wife left him. His winnings were lost in court battles with his ex-wife and the State of Pennsylvania. He would have been better off not winning at all. And this is not at all an unusual lottery winning result.

It is indeed possible to weep as much or more after receiving as having never received at all. Unless we are talking about what Jesus offers. Paul wrote: “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” This text bears out the value of contentment. Paul says that no matter what his circumstances, he is content. Whether he wins an earthly prize or not, he is content. How did he gain such contentment? It is through Jesus. He said, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” I wish we could all learn this. It is not what we gain, materially, in life that provides inner peace, joy and self-worth. It is what happens on the inside. It is about the choices we make. It is about how much we are letting Jesus influence our lives. Jesus offers us eternal life through His death, burial, and resurrection – His blood sacrifice to God for the sins of the world, because He loves us. There is no compromise - heaven or hell for eternity - all in or nothing - it’s up to you.

Father Figure

 

A four-year-old boy decided to run away from home because his father wouldn’t let him get something he wanted. As his father was sitting on the couch watching the news on tv, he came down the hallway, suitcase in hand. His father asked him where he was going, and he responded, “I’m running away!” His dad told him to be careful and that he loved him. The boy slowly made his way to the back door and ventured out into the cold, wearing only a pair of blue jeans and a tee shirt (no socks or shoes). Carefully, his father quietly watched him, even though he knew the boy wouldn’t go far. The youngster took a step off the back porch and into the snow, but quickly got back on the porch. He stood there for several minutes, undoubtedly thinking of what he was going to do next. By this time, he was already shivering but still too upset to go back inside and admit his mistake. His father desperately wanted to go out and get him, but he knew that the only way he was going to learn that he can’t always get what he wants was by allowing him a few minutes to come to his senses. The boy finally did! He re-entered the house and made his way to his room. After allowing him time to think about what he did, his father went into his room and covered him up with a warm blanket. He told his son that he loved him and was glad he decided to stay. Then his dad asked him why he changed his mind about running away from home. The boy answered, “I got cold feet!”

[Luke 15:11-24] As the man conversed with a friend about the incident of his son “running away,” he said, “I must admit, my heart was broken, and my stomach turned as I watched my son exit through the back door. I thought about the parable of the Prodigal Son and how his father must have felt. I’m thankful that my son got “cold feet” and came back before venturing out into the “far country.” I pray that he’ll always have “cold feet” when it comes to doing those things, he will later regret.” God loves his children and wants what’s best for them, but He’s not going to force them into unwilling servitude. I also pray that all of us get “cold feet” before wandering off into a cold, stained world.

Why is there so much violence, crime, anger, hatred, discrimination, disrespect, etc. in our world today? What’s wrong with America? I believe the answer can be summed up in two words: FATHER FIGURE. The absence of the father figure in the home is reaping havoc on our society. And when I say, “Father Figure,” I am referencing both a biological father as well as the Heavenly Father. The Divine Plan for the home includes both – husband/father and God (cf. Genesis 2:18ff; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 5:23ff, 6:4; Psalm 127:1ff). A husband/father can be present, but at the same time be absent, when it comes to his God-given responsibilities. This can have the same negative impact on the family as does abandonment altogether. In a home where God is absent (not in the sense that God has left, but in the sense that the family has chosen to leave Him out) results in reckless living (Luke 15:13). In homes where God and His Word are not communicated and cherished, over time, will result in the demise of that society where those family’s dwell. “Where there is no revelation (prophetic vision), the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law” (Proverbs 29:18 NKJV). I think that we could all agree that a good portion of our society has “cast off restraint.” Simply put, when our nation corrects its “father figure” failures, it will be great again!

Where have all our “father figures” gone that used to represent us in government? I’ll tell you. They have abandoned the wisdom of the Lord God upon which this country was established and the families of these United States. The prodigal House needs to repent!

Who Shall Separate Us?

 

A few years ago, a tragedy occurred in a small rural community. A little four-year-old boy was visiting his uncle. While the family was taking group pictures in the house, the little boy sneaked out the back door and went to a cage made of cyclone fencing where his uncle kept a 400-pound Bengal tiger. The tiger had been declawed and was reported to be very gentle, but that afternoon had been filled with thunder and lightning, which may have agitated the big cat. At any rate, when the little boy stuck his arm through the fencing, the tiger bit it off above the elbow. Fortunately, surgeons at Hermann Hospital were able to reattach the arm in a nine-hour operation and hope that he will eventually regain much of his ability to use that limb.

[1 Peter 5:8] "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Certainly, this was a terrible tragedy for the little boy and his family, but it is also a reminder to us of a Biblical teaching we seem to take lightly sometimes. If I knew a Bengal tiger or an African lion were roaming loose in our neighborhood, I would probably not go out to walk my dog at sunrise, nor would I do as casually some of the other things I generally do without much thought.

There are many religious leaders and religious bodies who question or actually deny the existence of the devil. On the other hand, the idea of a real spirit-being known as the devil is not only popular these days but is worshipped as a god in many communities across America and around the world. The Bible assures us he is real and is just as dangerous to our spiritual lives as that Bengal tiger or Peter's roaring lion. He can catch us off guard in a moment when everything seems to be going smoothly in our life, and before we know it, he has mauled us beyond repair. It only takes an unguarded moment. He can do his damage to our spirits and then leave us to suffer the consequences for a very long time. It may be anything from a young couple becoming sexually involved to an outburst of temper to a lie told that destroys trust. Anything the devil can do to undermine your Christian character and destroy your influence for good, you can be assured he will do it. One of his best tricks is to lull us into thinking that he – or the activity he is tempting us with – is harmless so that we'll think nothing of sticking our arms into his mouth. But, again, be rest assured that his goal is still to hurt us just as much as he can in this life in an attempt to separate us from God so that we will spend eternity sharing the devil's torment and regret in the eternal hell. As long as we keep our hands in the hand of Jesus, we have nothing to fear.

A third century man wrote to a friend: “It’s a bad world, an incredibly bad world but I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy that is a thousand times better than any pleasure of sinful life. They are despised and persecuted but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people are Christians, and I am one of them.”

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For our sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:35-39).

Will You Accept The Cost?

 

Just when one tries to convince themselves – “They’ll never let that happen” – another story surfaces that makes the blood run cold. Headline: “North Korea 'throws toddler in jail for life' after his parents are caught with a Bible” reported by Antony Thrower News Reporter, Michael Havis, 26 May 2023. A toddler is said to have been sentenced to life in a North Korean prison camp after his parents were discovered with a Bible in their home. The shocking tale was revealed by the US State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report. It claimed the two-year-old and his entire family were locked up for their religious beliefs. The prison camp sentence has nothing to do with the fact that the toddler’s parents had a Bible in the house but centers around the fact that Korean officials found evidence of baby food on the pages leading them to believe the parents were teaching their child about God from the Bible. The parents will face “re-education” and spend the rest of their life in prison. In communist North Korea, Christians can be executed, or face anything from 15 years to life in a prison camp, imposed on up to three generations of the immediate family of the person found guilty. As many as 70,000 Christians have been imprisoned for their faith under the Kim Jong-un regime, out of a possible population of 400,000. The new publication said several North Korean Christians hid their faith from their children. It cited the finding of one NGO, Open Doors USA (ODUSA), which said: “A Christian is never safe. Children are encouraged to tell their teachers about any sign of faith in their parents’ home.” Officially, North Korea guarantees its people religious freedom in its constitution and the regime highlights the churches it has built in Pyongyang as proof. But the publication said these churches operated only as “showpieces for foreigners”. What one does not see are children or young working-age people attending worship – only men 65+ and women 40+ years old.

When 156,000 American, British, and Canadian soldiers landed at Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history. More than 4,000 Allied soldiers died during that World War II battle. What a high price, and an enormous sacrifice! Most people agree that although the cost was high, the decision American General Dwight D. Eisenhower made to launch the invasion was a noble one, and the goal of defeating the Nazi regime was worth the sacrifice. (All for naught in today’s world.)

[Matthew 10:32-39] Jesus admonishes us to “count the cost” of being His disciple (Luke 14:25-33). In fact, He said, “those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Luke 14:33). How much are you willing to lose for the Lord? Will You Give Up Family? Jesus certainly loved His mother. Submitting to His parents (Luke 2:51), and later telling John to take care of her after His death (John 19:25-27) are clear evidence of this fact. However, He also placed obedience to the Father’s word above family (Luke 8:20-21). Jesus loved God more. Is that too high of a price to pay? Will You Give Up Self? Jesus was God in the flesh (John 1:1,14), but He lowered Himself and took on the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:5-8). He deemed the goal of salvation to be worthy of His sacrifice. His disciples put this example in action themselves (Luke 9:23; 18:28; Philippians 3:3-11) by denying self. Is that too much for us to pay? Will You Give Up the World? Jesus said He was not of this world (John 8:23), and neither is His kingdom (John 18:36). The cross meant suffering the shame and scorn of the world. The world will treat you this way, as well (John 15:18). If we chose the Lord, we must reject the world (James 4:4). Will you accept the cost?