Current Events - Lift Up My Eyes

Settled and Firm in Christ

Our nation has become a very contentious society. If we don’t agree with a person’s point of view, that person often will simply shut them out. I once had a Facebook friend who posted on his timeline that if any of his “friends” voted for a particular statewide candidate then they could delete him right then. Even though I had not voted for that person, I deleted him as a friend, as I saw no benefit to attempt a relationship with such a closed-minded person.

During an election year, the atmosphere can be very unsettling, as all candidates strive to convince voters to cast their vote for them. Promises are made. Each side thinks their candidate is the one to lead us. Once the vote has been counted, we hope to put our differences aside and work for the betterment of our nation. This unofficial “down time” after an election can allow us to settle down to a more normal routine with no campaign rhetoric. In any election, some are bitter, others overjoyed. I like the statement someone made that said that a bird’s left wing and right wing are both part of the same bird. The same holds for our country. This article is about how we, as Christians should move forward after the election frenzy. Our faith extends beyond party loyalties. In the aftermath of an election our faith needs to take on two characteristics. We need to be Settled and we need to Stand Firm. These characteristics should be seen in our faith, in our love, and in our hope. Those who do not share our political views should not be vilified, denigrated, or dismissed.

Settled. What does it mean to be settled? Although the Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives several shades of meaning to this word, I think two of them are particularly relevant. The first is “to make quiet or orderly.” The second definition is “to close,” to bring the matter to a conclusion. We have differing worldviews and no conclusive solution is likely to be found for all issues. But we can strive to be civil to each other and live in an orderly fashion without hostility. We can respect the views of others without resorting to personal attacks. We must come together. As Jesus stated in Luke 11:17 (CEV) “A kingdom where people fight each other will end up in ruin. And a family that fights will break up.” Is that what we want?

Stand Firm. Merriam-Webster defines this idiom as refusing to change a decision or position, but that doesn’t cover it from a Biblical perspective. It sounds stubborn. As Christians we should take our faith seriously and refuse to compromise but we can be open to new revelations in Scripture. In our faith, as in our lives, we should be flexible and open to new views. I Corinthians 15:58 tells us “Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.” While holding to what we believe, Paul is telling us to excel in the work of the Lord. I would take that a step further. As Christians, there is no secular, everything we do should be for the Lord. Our jobs, our recreation, everything we do is the work of the Lord and should be done to the best of our abilities.

Our Faith. Our faith is in Jesus Christ, and Him alone. While we may look to and admire politicians, business persons, relatives, and even ministers we must never forget where our faith ultimately resides. In Genesis 12 God made a covenant with Abram that He would make him into a great nation through which all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (v. 3) “Abram believed the Lord and the Lord was pleased with him and accepted him.” (CEV Genesis 15:6). Abraham was not perfect but he placed His faith in God. Abraham’s people, the Israelites, often struggled, but returned to God. This promise from God that all the families of the earth would be blessed through the Israelites is one of the remaining 500 or so prophecies in the Bible that have yet to be fulfilled.

Our faith is the foundation of who we are. The old hymn expresses it well “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent word!” Regardless of the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we need not despair. God is in control. Adam Clayton Powell was a minister turned politician. Although he strayed from his faith and ran into some legal difficulties, he made a profound statement. “Keep the faith because God’s realities always exceed man’s fondest dreams. Keep faith in God… He’ll make a way out of no way. He’ll open doors that no one can open and shut doors that no one can shut.” God can make a way. God will make a way. On His timetable, not ours. Keep the faith.

Our Love. The Sermon on the Mount is generally regarded as one of the most famous speeches ever. This sermon contains many ethical demands. Taken as a whole, this sermon tells us much of what Jesus regarded as necessary for us to function as Christians. In Matthew 5:43-48 Jesus talked about love, casting a broad net as to whom we should love. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

We are to pray for our enemies. Our enemies, according to the Bible, are the world, the flesh, and Satan. 2 John 2:15-17 tells us not to love the world. If we don’t follow this, the love of God is not in us. But we are told to pray for the world.

I once taught at a college that had a student-led group called “Love in Action.” While there is nothing unique about this name, it tells us about how our love works in the world. It is a love of action. We recently had a couple of hurricanes blow through my community and a friend of mine posted this on Facebook “We intentionally aren’t going anywhere, so that we can be a part of our community and the clean up efforts as this storm takes place. If you are in the Lakeland area and find yourself in need of help, please reach out.” That is love in action.

Our Hope should be in Jesus Christ alone. While humans on this earth may do some good things, people often fail. It has long been a goal of mine to end well. I have seen countless individuals who were looked up to, put on a pedestal, and fell. Some indiscretion in their lifehas brought them down. I won’t name any names but all of us can think of those who fell from man’s idolization. Man will fail. If we place our hope in a mankind we will ultimately be disappointed. I am reminded of the old hymn by William Bradbury

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, our Hope. We may fail Him, but He will not fail us. He does not promise to remove all difficulties but He will see us through them. Fix our eyes and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14 KJV).

When we are discouraged, when we face rejection, when inexplicable events occur, where do you turn? Place your hope in Christ. Make it a priority to keep yourfocus on Him. He is our solid Rock. Men and women, including those calling themselves Christians, may fail. Christ never fails. Settle on Christ.

Photo Credit to Gerd Altmann and John Hall on Pixabay.

All scripture is the New American Standard Bible unless otherwise indicated.

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What is Your Idol?

Current Events

I was thinking about the topic of idols and started wondering what our idols are today. I found numerous articles listing our “top idols.” The number and content varied and it occurred to me that it would be impossible to list every potential idol. Such an article would be boring and likely offend everyone when they came to their pet idol, or if their hot-button idol was not mentioned.

The First Two Commandments. Let’s start at the beginning (my mind just went to the Do-Re-Mi song from the Sound of Music), a very good place to start. There are two of the Ten Commandments that are particularly relative to this discussion. Since these are the first two commandments, they are obviously the most important. In Exodus 20:3-6 we read (NET) “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below. You shall not bow down to them or serve them,for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children to the third and fourth generations of those who reject me, and showing covenant faithfulness to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” The widely-circulated “Hillbilly Ten Commandments” expresses these more succinctly. One, “Just one God.” Two, “Put nothin before God.” Plain, simple, and understandable.

The first commandment is short and sweet. “No other gods.” The second commandment details the concept of a “carved” or graven image. But God didn’t stop there. He detailed the consequences of not following this commandment. God is expressing how much he hates idolatry. If we don’t deal with idolatry in our generation, we will pass it down to our children and to their children. He is a jealous God and will not tolerate other gods. Although it is not explicitly stated, God obviously knows His creation. He knows that if one generation does not worship Him, neither will future generations.

One other passage from the New Testament is also relevant here. As a part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:33) Jesus told His listeners “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” God will take care of us under the condition that we seek Him first. I see this passage as an affirmation of these two commandments.

The Golden Calf. It can be very easy for us to read about idols in the Bible and come away feeling good about ourselves. Probably the most memorable example of idolatry in the Bible is the story of the golden calf. To recap, Moses was on the mountain with God, ironically receiving the Ten Commandments. But the people became restless since he was taking so long. They went to Aaron, petitioning him to “Make us an image of a god who will lead us and protect us. Moses brought us out of Egypt, but nobody knows what has happened to him.” (Deuteronomy 9:1 CEV). Were they concerned about Moses? Apparently not, they didn’t even send out a search party. Were they fickle? Looks like it. “God may have brought us out of Egypt, but what has he done for us lately?” They wanted a God they could see, touch, feel, and control. Aaron collected gold from the people and (by his account to Moses) he threw the gold into a fire and out came the golden calf.

God’s reaction to this showed how seriously God takes idolatry. He first told Moses that He was angry enough to destroy them and start over with Moses’ descendants becoming a great nation. It is related that Moses appealed to God on their behalf for mercy, which God granted. But there were consequences. Moses gathered the men of Levi and sent them through the camp, killing about 3,000 men. Moses went back up the mountain and begged forgiveness for the people. God wiped out the names of those who sinned and pledged punishment on them. Punishment in the form of a terrible disease.

What is an Idol? We don’t have a golden calf, but we do have other idols. Today, we think we are more sophisticated but only the form of our idols has changed. An idol is anything that is more important to us than God. Think about that – An idol is anything that is more important to us than God. Among other things, that means that good things can become idols if we allow them to be. To me, this is somewhat of a scary realization. If I place my wife and children before God, they have become idols. If I work hard to provide for myself and my family, work and money can become idols. If I take my dream vacation because “I deserve it,” that can be an idol. If I swear undying allegiance to my favorite sports team, it has become an idol. If I declare my church or pastor to be perfect, that makes them idols. There is nothing wrong with these things. The problem is in our focus. Are any of these more important than our relationship to God?

I have somewhat of an odd quirk in that I try to refrain from saying I love something that is inanimate. I can (and should) love my family, my friends, or my pets. But to say I love a good steak, I love my new car, I love to take cruises, is elevating these toward idolatry. There can be nothing wrong having or doing these things but they can’t love us back. They take from us. And that is where idolatry rears its ugly head.

Idols take, God gives. God is called a jealous God many times in the Bible. Normally we think of jealousy as a negative trait. The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want.” As a human emotion, it is a negative trait. In our society we often call it “keeping up with the Joneses.” When applied to God, the word takes on a different connotation. God is omniscient – He knows everything. An example would be a child interacting with a parent. The parent tells the child to stay in the yard. As children will often do, the child strays out of the yard and is almost hit by a passing car. The parent was not being mean, restricting the child to the yard. The parent knew the danger and what was best for the child.

God’s omniscience means He knows what is best for us and that we find our greatest fulfillment in worshiping and following Him. Anything else will be settling for less than the best. Idols cannot give back. They may passively receive our love and adoration but have no power to save. Idols are an addiction. God is relational, loving, and giving – everything an idol is not. Hebrews 4:15-16 (CEV) tells us “Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.”

Idols of Today. Although I said that this was not to be a list of idols, I think it appropriate to mention some broad categories of idolatry to help us focus on where we stand.

First is our identity. We may have abandoned who we are in Christ and placed our identity in other things. We meet someone and the first thing we usually tell them is our job or profession. Or our favorite sports team, activity, or whatever. Our identity, though, is in Christ. Meet someone new? Why not begin the conversation with our relationship to God?

Second, I would list material things. Money is not bad, but used wrongly, it can cause much damage. How we use things determines if it is an idol.

A third idol can be our physical appearance. Don’t get me wrong. It is important to be healthy and to keep our bodies in good physical condition. I’ve spent the last 50 years focusing on physical fitness. But when we obsess about our appearance it can become idolatrous.

Fourth is entertainment. We crave to be entertained. Growing up, we didn’t have a television when I was young. Once we got a TV, we were able to view two stations clearly and a third was kind of fuzzy. Today we have hundreds of channels. We take vacations, we go to concerts, we watch our sports teams. We pay thousands of dollars to see that one great game or concert. Just this week I saw that tickets for a Taylor Swift concert were going for over $10.000.

Fifth is our sexual identity. Sex is good and is a gift from God, but we often misuse it. The sexual aspect of our lives can become sacred to us and an idol.

There are hundreds of products that promise us a life of comfort, our sixth idol. The latest and greatest promise to make our lives better and simpler. Sometimes these don’t deliver on the promises and complicate our lives. Jesus did not say “Follow me and I will give you a life of comfort.” Instead He told his disciples “While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.” (John 16:33 CEV). We live a life of calling, not of comfort.

If you look at these six idols, you may note something. All of these take from us. God gives to us. Idolatry is greed. When we turn to idols we are turning away from God. When we turn to God, we are turning away from idols. In Acts 3:19 Paul writes “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” In today’s language, “repent” carries the connotation of “making a 180,” changing our direction so we are headed back to God.

Note that in returning to God three things happen. First, our sins are wiped away as if they never happened. God forgets our sins when they are forgiven. Jeremiah 31:34 “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” I can’t explain how that happens but I rejoice that it does. Second, this cleansing of sins ushers in a time of refreshing. Third, this refreshing comes from us being in God’s presence.

Shedding the idols from our lives is a never-ending task. We must constantly focus on God and His kingdom. In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul wrote “I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” We press on through the spiritual disciplines of prayer, worship, and Bible study. If we don’t practice these disciplines, we will fail. They give us the tools to achieve the ultimate prize – God’s call to us.

It sounds like a monumental task. Once we defeat one idol, another may rear its ugly head. As long as we remain on earth, we will be fighting this battle. But we don’t fight it alone. “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:21-21. God’s power working within us is the key to our success.

All scripture is NASB, unless otherwise stated.

Photo credits to enlightened images, Joenoitas, Davidyonathan, Arnie Grage, and mquadastalib

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Has the American Church Lost its First Love?

Current Events, devotional

by Clarence L. Haynes Jr.

The following article was written by a guest blogger, Clarence L. Haynes, Jr. Clarence is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. His most recent book is The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has just released his first Bible study course called Bible Study Basics. To learn more about his ministry please visit www.clarencehaynes.com.

This article discusses a topic that has been on my mind recently. I felt that Clarence expressed the concern very well. He graciously agreed to let me republish it on this website.

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Over the past several years, I’ve found myself reflecting deeply on the state of the body of Christ in America, or what I’ll refer to as the American church. While my thoughts may not apply to every believer, there’s a pressing question that I believe we must honestly consider: Has the church in America lost its first love?

As I study the Scriptures, particularly the message to the church in Ephesus in the book of Revelation, I can’t help but draw some unsettling comparisons. Could it be that the American church, like Ephesus, has become so focused on standing for truth and fighting against evil that it has forgotten the heart of its faith?

When you line up the characteristics, the similarities are striking — and perhaps even sobering.

Jesus’ Message to the Church in Ephesus “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:1-3).

When Jesus first addresses this church, he points out some noble characteristics. The people in the church of Ephesus were hard workers who embodied the spirit of perseverance. They didn’t crumble at the first sign of trouble, but they stood firm, refusing to give up. They had no tolerance for wickedness and they did not waiver in their commitment to the truth, carefully discerning and exposing those who were false. Their dedication to Jesus was unshakable, even when enduring hardships and attacks on their faith.

Through it all, they never grew weary; instead, they continued to stand strong for the name of Jesus, no matter what challenges came their way. This sounds like a church that knew what they believed and was ready to fight for what they believed in.

Ephesus Reminds Me of the American Church When I think of the church in Ephesus, it strikes me just how much it reflects the pulse of many in the American church today. There are pastors and believers alike who are quick to declare they are standing firm against evil, boldly shining a light on the deeds of darkness. They’re resolute in their stance against anything that doesn’t align with Biblical truth, particularly related to lifestyles that fall short of God’s standard.

With a pervasive sense that the church is under siege, many are ready to fight back with all they’ve got. It’s a rallying cry that resonates with those who see themselves in the midst of a spiritual battle, determined to stand their ground and defend their faith against a rising tide of opposition. Whether you share this sentiment or know others who do, it’s a perspective that exists in many segments of the church today.

That’s Not the End of the Story If Jesus had stopped there, we would probably uphold the church in Ephesus as a model to follow, but Jesus had more to say. I believe what he says to Ephesus applies to the church in America as well.

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Revelation 2:4).

In the New Living Translation (NLT) this verse says you don’t love me or each other the way you did at first. Can somebody please say ouch because those are piercing words, and those words speak volumes about what matters most to Jesus. However, the words he utters next probably represent the biggest gut punch.

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Revelation 2:5).

This tells me that correct theology is not enough. While it is crucial for believers to have the right doctrine, it is not enough because Ephesus had correct theology. Many of those who are standing against some of the wickedness in our society today also have correct doctrine, but shining light for Christ requires more than that.

It can be so easy to get caught up in fighting the good fight that we ultimately forget what we are fighting for and, more importantly, what our mission is as believers in Jesus Christ. We are Christ’s ambassadors who have been given the ministry of reconciliation. This means our job is to make the appeal and reconcile people to Jesus. One critical component in that responsibility is how we love God, each other, and those around us. Consider the words of Jesus.

“’Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40).

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

As you look at these verses, Jesus highlights the most important aspect of your Christian journey: Your relationship with him and your relationship with others. Even if you have all the right doctrines and all the right truth, if you don’t love Jesus and love each other, it cancels them out. If you stand for truth and righteousness without love, it gains you nothing. I believe this mindset has crept into the American church. Listen to God’s word on this.

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NLT).

For those preachers, teachers, and believers who are upholding the truth of God’s word, is it possible that the message is being lost because we love being in the fight for truth more than we love the one who is the truth? When loving Jesus first and completely becomes the top desire of your heart, it will affect the way you love others, because you will see people the way Jesus does. This is what we are called to do, and it feels like this is missing from many segments of the church.

How We Treat People Matters Can you win people to Christ without loving them in the process? I don’t know if that is possible. Here is what I know. We have a responsibility to uphold the truth and stand for righteousness in our society. That’s what it means to be salt and light. However, how we live and how we deliver that truth matters just as much. In Romans, Paul tells us it is God’s kindness that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4). That was true when Paul wrote it, and that is true today. Take a moment and ponder these three questions:

What impact would we have in our culture if we stood for truth and showed love and compassion to those who may disagree with us?

What would happen if we loved Jesus so much that we considered people’s eternal condition over their temporary social status, economic status, or any other demographic?

What would happen if we just loved and cared about people the way Jesus did?

When Jesus was addressing the church in Ephesus, I believe this is what he meant. How I love you and how you love me matters. The way you love those who are outside the body of Christ, that matters too. Ultimately, however, the only way this type of love is going to flow through your heart is by loving Jesus first.

Here Is the Challenge I believe we who are followers of Jesus need to get back to loving Jesus first and then living out what it means to love others. I will not profess that this is easy to do because it is not. But if we are going to have the influence in the world that Jesus desires us to have, then as challenging as it may be, this is absolutely necessary. When we neglect loving Jesus and loving others, even if we get other things right, the words of Jesus ring true. Look at the height you have fallen.

As Jesus told the church in Ephesus, I believe it is time for the church in America to repent and get back on mission. Fight for truth, but love Jesus and love people while you do it because the harvest field is still ripe. People are still searching for answers and looking for truth, and we are the ones who have the truth.

Finally, to remind you of what this love should look like in our actions, I leave you again with the words of Scripture.

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 12:4-8a).

Photo credit: Unsplash/Kelly Sikkema

Originally Published September 03, 2024

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The Retired Christian

Current Events, devotional

Usually, when writing a blog, I select the final title after the article is finished. Probably my main reason for doing this is that writing an article is somewhat organic. From beginning to end, I never know in what direction an article will go. I find that this approach opens unexpected doors. Sometimes it even provides me a window I may need to jump out of. In this case, I feel very certain about how this is going to go. I am not being close minded, I had this topic in mind before I wrote a previous blog that deals with the Christian in the Workplace. I discovered I needed to discuss the concept of the Christian worker before I could cover The Retired Christian.

Is Retirement Biblical? Retirement is not exactly a Biblical concept. There is only one mention of retirement in the Bible. In Numbers 8:23-26 we read (NLT) “The Lord also instructed Moses, ‘This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service.’” The Levites were members of the tribe of Levi. They were appointed to assist the priests in the temple or tabernacle. After age 50, we see they transitioned to a lesser position but still serving God and the nation of Israel.

Our society has traditionally used age 65 as a retirement age. Some professions, such as teaching and first responders often are given full retirement much earlier. Others work into their 70’s or later, doing the same tasks. This sort of extended retirement is not common in history. In the 1800’s Germany was setting up a retirement system similar to Social Security in the United States today. They were debating at what age an individual should begin to receive benefits. Someone suggested age 65, adding that nobody lived that long. So with an eye to financial stability for the government, 65 became the retirement age. That is the age adopted for the United States’ Social Security system, but has been raised to 67 in subsequent years.

The average life expectancy in the United States for women is 81.98 years and for men 77.05 years. Other nations experience greater longevity. This has created a period of extended retirement for many individuals, an opportunity not experienced by previous generations. Many seniors remain healthy and active into their 80’s and 90’s. It is God who determines our years. Proverbs 16:9 tells us to make our plans carefully “ The mind of a person plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” An old Yiddish proverb states it a little more bluntly “We plan, God laughs.” We can, and should make plans. But we need to be flexible in those plans, as God may have another direction for us. I can’t tell you the number of times I have made plans, only to receive a course redirection from God. If we are still alive, God has something in store for us. Some writers have described God’s retirement as our graduation to heaven. But even that is not “retirement.” We will be working alongside God and the saints when we reach heaven. What are we to do in the gap between our retirement from full-time employment until God takes us home? It is most definitely not sitting on the porch rocking our lives away.

New Opportunities. Retirement gives us new opportunities with increased freedom to explore new horizons, new adventures, to undertake activities we had only dreamed of. Retirement does not need to be a frenzy of activity, traveling across the globe. Maybe you’re not cut out for that. Maybe you can’t afford unlimited vacations. But there is much we can do where we live – where God planted us. I had an uncle who was born in a small town in Eastern North Carolina. He was a farmer until he was unable to work. As far as I know, he never traveled more than 50 miles from where he was born. I’m not relating this story so we could feel sorry for him. Quite the contrary. He was probably my favorite uncle. He taught me to fish, he had me working in the tobacco fields. He had a great sense of humor. Frank was a man of God and God planted him in a very small geographical area. But that did not deter him. As long as he was healthy, he enjoyed life.

I once knew of a gentleman who was very active in his community, working with youth, with various civic groups, and was active in his church including singing in the choir. When he took early retirement and was in good health, he stopped everything. He no longer involved himself in youth, civic groups. He even stopped attending church. That is not God’s plan for retirement.

Others seem to take a different attitude toward retirement. Even into his mid-nineties, Warren Buffett is active and still serves as Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. I have a friend who retired somewhat early in life. He was well-set financially, so having sufficient income in retirement was not an issue for him. I spoke with him some time after his retirement and commented that I noted he had re-entered the workforce. His comment was that he “failed retirement.”

A Need to Remain Active. I am a person who needs to be doing something. Several years ago, while still fully employed, I had a detached retina and had to spend several weeks doing nothing. My doctor told me I could go up and down one flight of stairs daily and I could make a simple lunch such as a sandwich. That was it. Our friends were asking my wife, Gloria, “How can John be doing nothing? He is always active.” I guess my best answer was that God helped me through it. Looking back, I see that it did serve a purpose. I became keenly aware that full retirement was not going to be for me.

As I approached the time when I felt it to be time to retire from teaching, I had two trains of thought. I knew that I wanted to continue to be an active CPA, maintaining my business for a few more years. But I was also making plans to start a new business, focused on helping churches and clergy with their tax issues. I organized the business, wrote a book, and attempted to kick-start a new venture. Unfortunately, other events intervened and that experiment never took flight. I continued the CPA business for a few years, then felt that it was time. Several personal issues intervened in the ensuing years and I spent time adjusting to those and planning my new future.

I have always enjoyed writing but no longer had a desire to write technical accounting articles after I quit teaching. I was invited to contribute to a blog that a friend maintained so I did that on a semi-regular basis, writing faith-based articles. As I became more adjusted to my new environments, I felt a need to take writing to the next level, so with the prayers and encouragement of Heather, we started “Life Up My Eyes.” It is not a job in the sense that I get paid, but I know I am doing what the Lord wants me to do at this time. I hope I am doing some good for the Kingdom. How long will that last? I have no ideas or plans for what is next, but I know the Lord will once again guide me when it is time.

Four Principles of Retirement. Retirement is a recognition that, as we age, we do need to cut back on some activities. But God leaves us here on earth as He has something else for us to accomplish. There are four principles about retirement for a Christian that I feel are important to keep in mind as we contemplate the next steps in our lives.

First, God’s Retirement is Death. I don’t mean this in a macabre manner but it is simply a statement that as long as God has a purpose for us, we will remain on earth. Paul, in II Timothy 4:7-8, put it well “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Our retirement is eternity with God in His glorious Heaven. And there will be work for us in Heaven.

There are a couple of issues that this raises. The first of these deals with God’s timing. Why do some people cling to life when it becomes apparent that they will probably not recover. I can only speculate, but my view is that only God knows when a person has accomplished their mission on earth. Even though my father was unable to speak in his final years and spent several months in the hospital, his Christian spirit ministered to those with whom he came in contact.

The second issue deals with those who are not professing Christians. I feel that God can, and does, work through those who do not follow Him. When they have fulfilled God’s purpose (other than accepting salvation), He grants their retirement. We are again faced with the fact that only God knows when that time comes.

Second, Know when to retire. This one is a little harder than the first. If we are not attuned to God’s working in our lives, we may retire early or hang on too long. All of us have seen both. Once again, this may not be our decision. Our lifestyle could be a factor in our longevity. King Saul had forsaken God, and God saw fit to remove him from the throne. He and his three sons met an untimely death in battle. In Acts 5, Ananias and Sapphira sold a plot of land and brought the proceeds to the Apostles. Peter, full of God’s anointing, knew that they did not bring all the proceeds to the Apostles, despite their insistence. They were both struck dead on the spot for attempting to deceive God. I don’t know if we will see these people in Heaven, but their usefulness on earth had ended.

I also know of many Saints of the Kingdom who have lived a full life for God well into their 90’s. I have a long-time family friend who is a “retired” minister. In his 90’s he is still working as a supply pastor and doing other Kingdom work. I also like his sense of optimism as he remarried in his late 80’s after losing his first wife. If we walk with the Lord, we will know when it is time. If we misstep, He will bring us back on the right path.

Third, Vacations, holidays, and recreation are ok within limits. God designed us to take a weekly sabbath rest. This has been seen to be a valuable form of rest from normal work habits once a week. We all need a weekly sabbath. Certain professions, such as college professors, may receive a semester or year off from normal teaching duties to pursue other interests. It was during one such period that my plans for retirement began to take shape.

As older, retired adults our bodies slow down. We need more rest in order to remain healthy. We have the freedom to take extended times for vacations and the like. There is nothing wrong with a Christian taking such periods of rest and relaxation. We should do this judicially, not over-indulging in endless vacations, but working these “sabbatical” periods into God’s overall plan for our retirement years.

Fourth, Serving God. There are many ways to serve God in our retirement years. Retirement can be a time of exploring new adventures. My father had a servant’s heart. For a time during his retirement, he volunteered at his church to download and organize materials that were available from his church’s denomination via satellite so the church as a whole could take advantage of these resources. It was something he enjoyed and it made him feel useful. There is a need for people such as retirees to contribute to their church and community.

I readily admit that retirement options for most of us is a first-world problem. God has richly blessed us in the United States. We need to plan for retirement and use our blessings for God, helping those we are called to help. Have you thought about what your retirement is going to look like?

Roger Barrier wrote of a man in his 90’s who regularly worked in his garden. One day while he was chopping weeds, a child started watching him. He watched for a while, then timidly asked the man “What would you do if you only had one hour to live?” The man stopped, leaned on his hoe and said “I’d just keep on chopping weeds.” This was his task and he resolved to continue it until God called him home. What will God find you doing as He calls you home?

All scripture is from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

Photo credit for Scrabble tiles to Bret Jordan from Pexels

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Discipleship Today

Current Events, devotional

In a recent blog (https://liftupmyeyes.com/what-is-discipleship/) we discussed what discipleship is and what God expects of us as believers and disciples. However, a cursory glance at the Christian landscape today reveals a number of so-called paths to discipleship. Make no doubt about it, discipleship is hard, it takes persistence and consistency. There are no “Five Easy Steps to Discipleship.” In this article, I am proposing some reasons for the lack of true disciples in our churches. I almost stated in the previous sentence “the decline of true disciples in our churches today,” but I am not certain that this is a new phenomenon. Likely the church has always had difficulty training true disciples who attempt to fulfill Jesus’ admonition in Luke 9:23 “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

It is obvious that church membership, attendance, and discipleship are on the decline. David Thompson, writing in The Atlantic, observes that 25 percent of the American population identifies as agnostic, atheist, or unaffiliated. In the last 25 years, 40 million Americans stopped going to church. He states that this is the “largest concentrated change in church attendance in American history.” He lists several reasons for this decline. There is obviously some overlap among these reasons.

Politics, as evangelical Christians have embraced the Republican Party, Christians of liberal political persuasions have nowhere to go and have left the church.
Divorce, particularly men who tend to drop out.
Our decline in face-to-face socializing. We rationalize, “Why go to church when I can watch services on television?” This spills over to other social events in our lives.
Disengagement as we withdraw and reduce the level of our volunteerism, our dissatisfaction with our community and social life. We are lonely.
Fewer shared spaces where connections are made. We find it easier to sit at home rather than go out and “do things” with other people. We don’t sit around over a cup of coffee and solve the worlds problems as we once did.
Community has been replaced by technology. We stare at our iPhone screens, in deference to interacting with others.

Religious rituals are the opposite of these factors. I am not talking just about singing, preaching, praying – the things we do in Sunday morning worship but the broader landscape of church activity. Small groups gathering just for socializing, groups banding together to help meet needs of those outside the church, having “work days” to help our community, groups meeting for Bible study. Thompson states that these rituals “put us in our body.” Religious ritual is embodied, synchronous, deep, and collective.” We have lost much of this today.

Bill Leonard, in writing for Baptist News Global stated that Thompson’s article is a “plea for the survival of faith communities that offer safe harbor amid the turmoil of isolation, loneliness and enduring social and political conflict. For Christian faith communities, that kind of safety is grounded in the teachings of Jesus, although determining the meaning and application of those teachings is the source of considerable debate, even conflict, inside American Christianity. The Bible is our guide, but it sometimes does not give us definitive answers to our social, political, and other questions that arise in daily life.”

Ryan Burge, discussing “casual dechurching” has taken note of reasons people leave the church. His observations are that these reasons are often boring, logistical reasons that escape the headlines. The number one reason people dechurched was because they moved. Rather than find a new church, they determined it wasn’t worth the time and effort. Other reasons include marriage, having kids, change in jobs or schedules. Just plain nuts-and-bolts reasons.

This statement by Burge is quite an indictment of the church today. It tells me that today’s church is irrelevant, has lost its religious significance and has become not much different than a social club. I was once part of a church (name changed to protect the innocent) that met this definition. Many attended this church to be seen and to be identified as a Christian man or woman. I referred to it as the First Congregational Church Country Club.

The church is declining because it is not meeting the Gospel needs of the population. Many today may identify their faith as “spiritual but not religious.” I realize their intent is to avoid being labeled religious due to the shortcomings of many religious leaders. I do not identify as spiritual. Someone reminded me that Satan is a spiritual being, so I needed to be more specific. I am a Child of God, my allegiance is to a spiritual being we know as Yahweh, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit.

A leading cause of the woes of the church today is the church itself. Well-publicized scandals of sex, money, and other misdeeds have eroded our confidence in our church pastors and leaders. Burge states “All these stories continue to come out about religious people doing dumb things, doing immoral things, and that fits this larger narrative that’s going on in American culture right now, especially amongst young people. Cynicism is at all-time highs. Only about 9,999 in 10,000 pastors are doing their job as best they can. But the one in 10,000 who does something terrible gets transferred to all pastors.” All of us are fallen beings, no one is perfect. In a listing of characteristics of successful leadership, the number one characteristic is often “authenticity.” Many of our church leaders today lack this characteristic.

Rick Renner, writing for CBN, stated that it may eventually seem that there are three churches. One, those holding fast to the truth and facing opposition for doing so. But we must be careful to hold to the TRUTH and not tradition. Second, Renner cites a church in the middle, seeking accomodation or compromise, much like the church in Pergamum in Revelation 2:12-17. They have not renounced Christ, but they have adopted false teachings. Third, he cites a lukewarm Laodicena-like Church that has watered down the Gospel message (Revelation 3:14-22).

Leonard speaks of a conversation he had with the last three sisters at Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH. He asked the sisters “How do you feel about the disappearance of your order?” One of the sisters replied “We regret it deeply, but we know the Spirit will reveal itself again, somewhere, somehow. They may not call themselves Shakers, but they will live a kingdom life.”

And that is the good news. Despite widespread rejection or misapplication of the Christian faith, the church will survive. We do not need to worry excessively about the future of the church. The church is the Body of Christ. Christ is eternal, the church will be with us until called home. As believers, we are to remain a part of the Body, doing all we can for as long as we can.

All scripture unless otherwise is from the New American Standard Bible.

Photo Credit @doidam10 via Canva

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How Will I Know?

Current Events, devotional

In recent blogs, we have explored the topic of discipleship, attempting to define discipleship (https://liftupmyeyes.com/what-is-discipleship/) and taking a view of discipleship in our churches today (add link). In this article we are attempting to focus on the individual, rather than discipleship as a whole. Maybe you’ve done what you think is the right way to approach discipleship, but you have a nagging feeling that you’re not yet where you should be. In John 15, Jesus was speaking to the disciples in the upper room. This is a part of his farewell discourse and was specifically addressed to the twelve, but is seen as a logical extension to the future church.

John 15:1-6 reads “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the

vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Jesus’ use of the vine analogy is one that the Israelites could easily relate to. In ancient Israel, vines were everywhere. There was also a golden vine as a decoration of the front of the temple. This vine represented the idea that Israel was God’s vine. But Jesus is saying that He is the true vine and we should be rooted in Him, not Israel or even the church.

We previously established that Jesus set out three requirements for discipleship. Deny self. Take up your cross. Follow Him. When we meet these three requirements, we find that we are remaining, or abiding, in Him. This passage has three components for our purposes today – cut, prune, bear fruit.

Cut. Anyone who has ever done any gardening knows that a dead branch is of no use. The branch is removed for the good of the entire plant. But the cut branch is no longer a part of the vine, or plant. It is cast out and thrown into the fire (or in today’s world it’s left on the curb as yard waste). Just as we would be cast out if we are not following God. As the branch must remain with the vine, we must remain in Christ, or we can do nothing.

Prune. At first, pruning may seem counterintuitive, no different than cutting off a branch. Jenna Jonaitis, writing for Angi, lists eight reasons for pruning trees and bushes.

It promotes growth.
It encourages fruit production.
It can be used to treat disease.
It helps prevent safety hazards.
It can help shape the plant.
It removes unwanted growth.
It can save money.
It can protect trees from storms.

Think of these eight benefits and apply them to your Christian life. When we are pruned these good things can happen. I think the spiritual benefits of pruning are self-evident, except maybe for number seven. It may be a stretch, but pruning may help us spend less on those things that could be harmful to our Christian walk and allow us to give where needs exist.

Bear Fruit. I would not go so far as to say that the reason for our salvation is so that we can witness to others that they might be saved. That reminds me of a pyramid scheme, where the primary purpose is to sign up as many new people as you can, so that you will benefit more greatly. There is no question that we all have sinned and without our salvation we will not spend eternity in Heaven. If we really believe this, we should be compelled to lead a Godly life that others may see or hear our example. Pink Floyd performed the song “It’s What We Do.” Although I am not a Pink Floyd fan, this song represents their dedication to their craft. The broader message of the song is about following one’s passion relentlessly. And maybe, what we do here will continue beyond our days on earth. “It’s What We Do” should be about our Christian walk.

Having been a part of the church all my life, I used to have problems with the fruit bearing part. Without going too deep, an apple tree will bear apples. Apples are the only thing it can produce. If it doesn’t produce apples, we cut it down. I don’t want to be cut down but I am an introvert. As such you’re not going to find me on a street corner preaching God’s word or handing out tracts. That’s not me. My efforts in this regard might even be counter-productive. So what is encompassed in bearing fruit?

An article on Bible.org lists five types of fruit that a Christian can bear:

Fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22-23 we find the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Note that “fruit” is singular. The nine qualities listed in this passage are parts that come together to form a whole. We are like a plant, producing one type of fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is one very attractive and beneficial fruit. This reflects our character.

Right Conduct. Our conduct is determined by our character. I once knew someone who could be described as a “con man.” He was a very engaging person often willing to help out. This was his exterior persona. Because I recognized him for what he was, I realized he lacked character. We can put on a false veneer, but ultimately our character is reflected in our conduct. Colossians 4:5-6 guides us “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”

Witness. Those who come to Christ through our witness are fruit. Keep in mind that our witness is more than what we say, it’s also what we do. I am reminded of the old saying from Ralph Waldo Emerson “What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.” Our actions carry more weight than our words. Be careful what we do.

Praise and Thanksgiving. When we find something new that we like, it seems like we can’t stop talking about it. I had a friend once who commented “There’s nothing more obnoxious than a new convert to anything.” While that may be overstated, we often get excited about things in our lives. As Christians, praise and thanksgiving are fruit that we can lift up to God as an offering. And we should be excited about it, but not overbearing.

Give Money. If you read through the letters of Paul, one thing you will note is that he was not shy about asking people to give. In I Corinthians 16:1-2 he indicated that he bore this message to more than one church “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do as well. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save as he may prosper so that no collections need to be made when I come.” Someone may say that God will provide. Yes, He does. But he provides through the actions of Christians on earth. When God blesses us abundantly, we should be abundant in our “fruit” gifts.

As a seeker, someone might say, “That all sounds well and good, but what happens when I remain in Christ?” This is human nature coming out. The seeker does not know all about Christ, he or she is just learning, so their tendency would be to ask “What’s in it for me? Why should I follow Christ?”

Jesus laid out four things that happen when we remain in Him. John 15:7-11 “If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Ask. We are told that if we ask, whatever we wish will be done for us. This is not a blank check. Jesus’ statement here is preceded by the condition that we remain in Him. If we are so attuned to God’s will, our asking will be in line with that will.

Glorify. It is an awesome thought that we can glorify God. We glorify Him through our praise and worship. But we also Glorify God with our fruit. I can envision God’s smiling in approval as our fruit is lifted up.

Prove. When we remain in Him, we are proving our discipleship. An old saying is “the proof is in the pudding.” In this case the proof of our discipleship is our fruit.

Keep His Commandments. We remain in Him when we keep His commandments. If we violate man’s law, there will be penalties to be paid. For example, if I fail to pay my income taxes, I may get caught. When that happens, I don’t just pay my taxes. I pay a penalty. When we don’t remain in Christ, the penalty is separation from Him.

Someone might say ‘This is hard. I’m only human. I’m not perfect.” That is exactly right. But God sent His son to erase our sin. God sent the Holy Spirit to help us here on earth. The disciples were perplexed when Jesus spoke of entering the kingdom of God. However, in Matthew 19:26, Jesus allayed their fears “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Unless otherwise stated all scripture is from the New American Standard Bible

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What is Discipleship?

Current Events, devotional

In many churches and Christian circles today, discipleship is a popular topic. In my opinion, much of what passes for discipleship falls woefully short of what Jesus and scripture had to say about discipleship. I did a Google search to see what others said about this term and found a number of articles and lists that attempt to define discipleship. “Six (eight, ten, the number varies) characteristics of discipleship.” Not being satisfied, I looked at what Jesus said. In Luke 9:23 Jesus laid out three requirements to be His disciple: “And He was saying to them all, ‘If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’”

My first observation was that Jesus was NOT talking to the twelve, He was addressing all of His followers. He had just finished the feeding of the five thousand. It is reasonable to assume that “them all” included more than just the twelve. He laid out three requirements for a disciple. The lists I previously alluded to probably contain these three, but elaborate on them as supplemental material. I like to keep things simple, so we will elaborate on the three components Jesus mentioned:

- - - - Deny self
        
        Take up YOUR cross
        
        Follow Him

Deny Self I see these three as a progression toward discipleship. In denying self, Jesus is telling us that, if we are to be His disciple, we must love Him more than we love our family. In Luke 14:26 we read “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” God is a god of love, how can He speak hate? My first observation is that God’s hatred could be more a matter of priorities rather than a despising of another individual or object. Think of a continuum. At one end is God. Everything else is less than the love we have for God. So we are not being told to hate, or despise others. We are being told that God should be number one, by far, in everything. Second place is not even close. Thus we place God as the most important thing in our lives and deny ourselves whatever not according to His plan.

Luke 26 goes on to say in verses 28-30 “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘this person began to build, and was not able to finish!’”

We must be careful that, in denying ourselves, we do not ignore ourselves. We may take the attitude that any desire we have is sinful, we ignore the fact that God provides good things for us here on earth.

Discipleship carries a cost and we are being told to determine if we are willing to pay the cost. When I see this scripture, I am often reminded of the “Eyesore on I-4.” If you’ve traveled on that highway in the Altamonte Springs area, you’ve probably noticed it. The building has been under construction since 2001 and remains incomplete. It is known as the Majesty Building and was designed to house the not-for-profit Christian TV station WACX and was funded with contributions from viewers. For any number of reasons, it remains incomplete. But comparing the Majesty Building to Christ’s statement is a glaring example of what He was referring to. The cost of the building was not fully considered. In making the commitment to follow Jesus, we need to count the cost. Is there anything in our lives that hinders us from putting Christ first in everything?

Take Up Your Cross This command of Jesus is often misunderstood. We often use it in reference to a burdensome task. If, for example, you have a loved one who needs you to be their caretaker, that task may be referred to as the cross you have to bear. In this regard all of humanity, a follower of Jesus or not, will experience difficulties in this life. That is not what Jesus was referring to.

Also, taking up our cross is not a symbol for us figuratively bearing Christ’s cross. He bore His cross. Here, he is telling us to take up OUR cross.

What is the cross? Although we may use a cross as a Christian symbol, the actual cross is an instrument of death. When Jesus tells us to take up our cross daily he was telling us that we need to die to self each and every day. We are sinful, fallen human beings. We will stumble. By dying to self daily, we help maintain our discipleship. In Luke 9:24 Jesus elaborates on taking up the cross by saying “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, this is the one who will save it.”

Follow Me Jesus is calling us to discipleship. The definition of disciple varies depending on one’s perspective. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a disciple as “one of the twelve in the inner circle of Christ’s followers.” This is entirely too narrow, as Jesus calls us all to discipleship. A second definition from the same source defines ‘disciple’ generically as “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.” We can be disciples of someone other than Christ. We might think of ourselves as a disciple of a strong, charismatic leader. But this can be a misplaced allegiance. Jim Jones had disciples who followed him, and drank the Kool Aid, killing over 900 souls.

Following Jesus means that we do what He bids us to do. Jesus does not have a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all discipleship. Jesus has a task for us and there will be consequences when we follow Him. Whatever He calls us to do we should do our best. A Christian not working hard is a poor example. Colossians 3:17 tells us “Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Do it well, as you are doing it in the name of Jesus. Be thankful for the task God has given you.

I would add that a task or assignment from God is not necessarily for life. As we go through this life, the tasks that God has for us may change. There are seasons in our human lives, there are also seasons in our Christian life.

Never forget that discipleship is a task we don’t face alone. When Jesus ascended, he promised His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be with them. In Acts 1:8 Jesus tells us “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.. There may be difficulties but ultimately we can’t lose.

Cross picture by Freepix. All scripture is from the NASB unless othewise stated.

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Is Death Untimely?

Current Events, devotional

When someone dies, particularly a young person, we often hear the statement that the person met an untimely death. Psalm 116:15 reads “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.” God rejoices when His people have reached the point that they have fulfilled His mission for them on earth. In talking about untimely death, we must take at least two perspectives – the earthly, or human view and the eternal or Godly view.

The Earthly Perspective

From an earthly perspective an untimely death is one that is unexpected or before it was expected to happen. It may be sudden. When this occurs, friends and family do not have the opportunity to prepare for the loved one’s death, therefore it can be a shock, perhaps with regrets that we can no longer interact with that person. A hole has been created in our lives. We do not understand why that person died. We may think of the unfulfilled potential of a life that is no longer.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with us feeling that way. Anytime unexpected bad news happens, we may feel shock, grief, sadness, emptiness, loss of direction among other feelings. We may need an extended period of healing from the loss. Sensitive and significant support may be helpful to the bereaved. There is no “formula” on how to help the individual. Support should be tailored to the needs of the individual. Telling them to “Just get over it” will not be productive. Each of us reacts differently to losses in our lives.

A person that was a part of our lives is no longer with us. That creates a hole in our lives that must be dealt with. God created us for community. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34. When we love, when we let someone be a part of our lives, we make ourselves vulnerable. When that person is gone, a void is created. The loss, the grief, will still be there but these feelings ease over time. We should be able to accept the loss and move forward. Our community can help us as we move forward.

The Eternal Perspective

Richard Rice wrote “God has given all of us life. And that life has been redeemed by the life of Jesus Christ! Our lives belong to God. He loves us with a fervent love, and is infinitely concerned with our earthly welfare and eternal destiny! God, then, being in control, will allow only that which is BEST according to His wisdom and eternal plan! If He allows tragedy, such as untimely death, to occur, we can trust in God that it will serve a good and rightful purpose in His plan.” We certainly can’t know His plan, and we can’t always understand why God moves as He does. There are several reasons why God allows death that we might view as untimely.

God allows us to die when our purpose on earth has been fulfilled. Fulfilling one’s purpose has nothing to do with age. One person may have fulfilled God’s purpose for his/her life at a young age. Others may be in their seventies and still searching for God’s purpose. I think that if we are still around, God still has something for us to do. Jesus died at age 33, which we might say was untimely, but he accomplished His purpose. John 19:30 records Jesus’ last words “It is finished.” His purpose was accomplished.

Richard Rice also states “When one is willing to forego his life in whatever way God chooses, or for whatever purpose it serves in His Work, he has passed his greatest earthly test. There is none greater!” Jesus said in Matthew 16:25: “Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

Our life is more than how long we live. Some can accomplish much in just a few years, others may live into their nineties, still with purpose. Our time on earth is fleeting, regardless of the number of years we live here. The essence of our life is how we live it for God. Paul, In Philippians 1:21-22 said “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.” Paul lived for Christ and had a perspective of heavenly life. Knowing what awaits us in eternity, what is more desirable? Life on this broken planet or eternity with God?

As a child I once thought it would be wonderful to live until I reached age 100. I might make it there, I might not. But that is no longer my goal. I strive to live each day He gives me for Him. We are all just passing through. Does it really matter how long we are here?

Please bear in mind that I believe eternity begins when we receive Christ. But when we pass from this life into the next, an eternity awaits us that is greater than anything our human minds can conceive.

Why did Christ die? To state the obvious, Christ died for our sins, He died to give us eternal life. He did not die to give us a long life on earth. Why would we want a long life when we know what lies before us? I like the translation of Psalm 90:12 in the New Living Translation “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Be aware of our limited time on earth, use it productively.

In Summary

On earth, we have a limited perspective, a finite time. The earthly existence is all we have ever known. But, if we follow Christ, we have a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 reads “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” That future consists of eternity with the Triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”Revelation 21:4.

Karma

Current Events, devotional

Perhaps it is that I am more sensitive to the topic than in the past, but recently I have noticed numerous references to the word “Karma.” I’ve seen it in books, on Facebook, in conversation – it seems the word is everywhere. We have Credit Karma, Karma Automotive, Karma Coupons. So what is Karma, and what place does it have in the life of a Christian.

One definition of karma is “the force generated by a person’s actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person’s next existence.” Let’s break this down.

“The force generated by a person’s actions.” This is saying that our actions can determine our lives. While this is true to an extent, it fails to account for God’s guidance in our lives. It engenders an attitude of “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” This means that it is ME who determines what my future will bring by the way I see life and prepare myself to face its realities. This allows for no recognition of God in our lives.

Held in Hinduism and Buddhism. These are not religions that recognize the one true God. By borrowing from these religions, we dilute the effectiveness of our Christian walk, maybe to the point that we are no longer Christian at all. +

To perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person’s next existence. Transmigration is the movement of a soul from one body to another after death. Our next existence implies the concept of reincarnation. Both of these are diametrically opposed to the Christian belief of resurrection. As Christians we do not believe we will forever come back to earth in human or other forms, but escape earth for an eternal existence in Heaven.
Realize that karma is not a moral law, it is a law of cause and effect. Morality is established and maintained by God. It is unchangeable, unlike what one may encounter in karma. Even dabbling in karma can be dangerous as it teaches doctrines that are opposed to Christianity. When we bring non-Christian concepts into our lives, our Christian witness is damaged. I am reminded of lyrics from the old hymn “ On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

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If My People…

Current Events, devotional

In times of crisis, Christians are fond of quoting II Chronicles 7:14 which reads (NIV): if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. This is a conditional statement, otherwise known as an “if…then” statement. God is saying IF we do certain things, THEN God will act. Unfortunately, we don’t always pay attention to the entire passage. We pray and expect God to act.

We first need to see who this promise is addressed to. It is to God’s people – those who are called by His name. I readily acknowledge that God was speaking to the Israelite nation, but today, who are God’s people? Who are called by His name? I submit this applies to Christians today. Christians are God’s people, bearing the name of Christ.

What does God ask of us to do in this passage? There are four things God specifies here.

First, we are to humble ourselves. We tend not to be humble. At times, we tend to be an arrogant, proud people. Arrogant is defined as “having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt or disrespect for others.” Most of us can be characterized as arrogant on occasion. We tend to think we are better than others. I spent most of my adult working career in higher education. You don’t have to look hard to find an arrogant professor. By virtue of their doctoral degree, many academics tend to feel and act superior to other “lesser” beings. Of course, this does not apply just to professors, any one can be arrogant or proud. We need to be more like a lady I observed yesterday. We were in a line at Starbucks and the lady in front of us did not speak English as her native language. She did not understand what the barista was telling her. This humble lady didn’t berate the other lady for her lack of understanding, but stepped up to help her complete her transaction. Later she explained to the lady that they would call her name when her beverage was ready and she needed to go up to the counter to get it. That is humility.

Second, God asks that we pray. Any prayer can be an effective prayer, but there is more here than asking God to heal our land, removing whatever judgment we feel is upon us.

Third, as a part of that prayer, we are to seek God’s face. The Amplified Bible states that we should crave, require God’s face. As human beings we look forward to spending time with our loved ones. When I see my wife, it can make my day. We should seek God’s face relentlessly – it must be something we pursue, never wanting to feel like we are away from His presence. When we live in a constant awareness of the presence of God, we will be more humble, we will seek to be a part of the solution.

Fourth, a part of this prayer should be confession of our sins, asking God’s forgiveness. Turn from our wicked ways. Before you get proud and say “I may not be perfect, but I am certainly not wicked” let’s examine that word. It derives from the old English wicca, which refers to a witch. In today’s language the word carriers a number of meanings but the one most applicable here is “evil or morally wrong.” We must resist sin in our lives.

God then tells us that if we do these things, He will hear us and will heal our land. One difference in the Israelite nation and the United States is that Israel’s God was Yahweh. When the nation strayed, God was calling them back to Him. The United States is not really a Christian nation. It was founded to give us religious freedom. Even though Christianity may be the predominant religion in the United States, we, as a nation, cannot be called God’s people. As Christians in this nation, it behooves us to act like Christians and pray for the welfare of our land. But we need to give God a reason to heal this land.

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