The Retired Christian

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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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The Christian in the Workplace

We sometimes think of work as a burden, something we would choose to avoid. However, work for most of us is required if we are to provide the necessities of life for ourselves, family, and others. There is a misconception that, before the fall, Adam and Eve were not designed for work. That is not true. God created Adam and gave him the job of caring for creation. It would not be a stretch to say Adam was CEO of the earth. Then God saw that Adam should not be alone and created Eve to help him. They had dominion over the earth but things changed once they partook of the Tree of Life. They lost the dominion. God banned them from the Garden so they could no longer gain access to the Tree of Life. After they were banished, the nature of their work changed. But not for eternity. God did not cancel the Garden of Eden plan, He did not abandon Adam and Eve or us. He set in motion a plan for the redemption of the world. God designed us for work from the start of creation and it continues today.

Why Should We Work? Our primary motivation for work, at least in the beginning, is to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. In I Timothy 5:8, Paul said “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” That is some pretty strong language. It clearly tells us that work should be a part of our faith. 

It should not stop there. We should discover other reasons for our work. Someone once said “Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” This is a very appealing statement holding a grain of truth, but not entirely accurate. In one of my careers, I was a CPA who prepared tax returns. I found this work exhilarating, and was sometimes thought to be weird (otherwise known as a tax nerd). It provided income but it takes someone with a calling to engage in this work. It is a stressful job. Most people despise working on their tax returns. I found that I got a great deal of satisfaction, helping people with their taxes.  This is not something people can do optimally on their own. To save people thousands of dollars from their tax liability was a very satisfying feeling. I had one client tell me that they valued my work as “You are a Christian and you don’t like to pay taxes.”  Another told me I couldn’t retire because he didn’t know what he would do without me.

How Should We Work? When I could help people I felt fulfilled. However, It was not all a bed of roses. Clients could sometimes be difficult, dishonest, or truculent. Others would tell me a certain tax law didn’t make sense. In that case I would have to agree with them, but my response would be that it was the law, and there was no legal way around it. And of course, I was often dealing with those who were told by a friend of a friend of a friend that my approach was wrong. Dealing with these situations was not pleasant, but I knew that to maintain my integrity and relationship with God, I needed to stand firm.

We are made in the image and likeness of God. We are uniquely like Him. Nothing else in His creation comes close to what we are. Guess what? God was a worker. I Corinthians 3:9 reads “For we are God’s fellow workers.” We work with God. God is not asking anything of us that He does not do. He works, so should we.

I recently saw an article that expressed the view that Only the mediocre are always at their best. Admired Leadership wrote that average-performing workers accept mediocrity and, therefore, can easily meet the standard they set for themselves. Often this is a preference that allows them to get by and focus on more pleasurable pursuits. They do tend to have a good work-life balance and don’t often get placed into crisis situations at work. They come to work, do their tasks, and go home. No anxiety, no work-related expenses, or bother about improving themselves.

While this may sound attractive, it flies in the face of God’s expectations of our work. Colossians 3:23-24 reads “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Notice four things in this scripture.

First, regardless of who our “boss” is at work, the truth is we are working for the Lord. We may sometimes have to work under a “less-than-ideal” human boss. We will not always be working under that person, but we will always be working for the Lord.

Second, the Lord deserves our best in everything. He gave us His best, His Son. He gives us the greatest gift of eternal life. What should we give Him in return?

Third, our reward is from the Lord. Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our reward is permanent, and cannot be removed. As a child, I had a sense about permanence. I would read or hear language to the effect that “This is a temporary offer.” My six-year old mind told me that everything is temporary. Later, I learned that only God is permanent.

In the late 19th century C. T. Studd was a renowned cricket player on the English Ashes team which toured the world. This provided him fame and fortune. Yet, he gave it up to serve God in China. He wrote a poem that expressed his life and included these lines “Only one life,’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Fourth, we serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Joshua 24:15 tells us to get off the fence “choose for yourselves today whom you will serve.” This is not to say that we should not accumulate wealth. We just need to keep it in its proper place.

R. G. LeTourneau was a very successful businessman, inventor, and industrialist. He dedicated his life to the Lord and was richly blessed, financially. The drive and determination that led him in the workplace compelled him in evangelism and discipleship. Not only did he work for the Lord, he gave generously. It is said that, as his wealth grew, so did his giving to his Lord. He started giving a tithe of 10 percent but eventually reversed that and was giving 90 percent to God and keeping only 10 percent for himself. His priorities were spot-on. He once stated “We need to give careful thought to our ways, asking ourselves if we’d do better to give more to the Lord and ask him to maximize what we keep. That’s so much better than trying to hang on to more, only to watch it leak out of our pockets.”

These tenets apply to any Christian. It can be doubly hard if we are self-employed or not working for pay. In these cases, we are, in a real sense, our own taskmaster. We may choose to make ourselves accountable to someone to help keep us on track. Whether we are an employee, self-employed, or a volunteer, the same standard of excellence applies.

How Does Our Work Impact the Kingdom? Deuteronomy 8:6 tells us “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” When we are at work (and at all times) we are to walk in His ways. People will see our faithful example.

I once had a co-worker comment on how I never seemed to get ruffled at work but was always calm and steady. My first thought was that she didn’t see my inner workings. But in truth, she was correct. Putting God first in my work allowed me to remain calm (most of the time).

Working for the Lord is not a license to spend your time at work evangelizing, but doing your assigned tasks. An hour’s work for an hour’s pay. We are to give our employer our best efforts on his behalf. My mother was very fond of saying “What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” They see our faith in our daily activities.  This is our mission in the workplace.

In carrying this out on a daily basis, we should seek to exhibit Godly behaviors. We should follow his law in our work. There is no sacred versus secular. Everything is sacred. As such, the goals we set for ourselves and those under our supervision should promote worthy causes. I read a work of fiction in which a team of covert operators was given a difficult assignment. As they pursued this assignment, something did not seem right about what they were doing. They eventually discovered that the “assignment” was the work of two men with a vengeful agenda. Changes were made to assure the operators were pursuing a worthy cause. If your work is not worthy, God may have another place for you. I know several friends and former students who were faced with an ethical dilemma at work. Yet, they maintained their integrity. And moved on to a better job.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines hero, in part, as “a person admired for achievements and noble qualities or one who shows great courage.” Heroes often don’t seek the adulation they receive.Heroes come sometimes when we least expect it. Ray Foster was a custodian in the church I attended as a teen. He was devoted to his job and to the Lord. He felt a keen responsibility to have the church building ready for worship each week. Sixty years later, I still remember him. He was a hero. We should find the heroes in our own lives and imitate them. 

In the Bible, Paul presented Timothy as an example of selflessness (Philippians 2:19-24). In this respect, we never “arrive.” We are always learning so we should keep alert for examples to follow.

Your source of work does not matter. You can be an employee, self-employed, volunteer or whatever. Christian should always be serving the same Master. Will we hear Him say to us “Well done, my good and faithful servant”? (Matthew 25:23 NLT)

 

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

Work photo credit to Thinglass

 

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What Happens When We Trust God?

In a recent article we explored the topic of Placing Trust in God, examining why we should fully trust Him and actions we can take to trust Him more fully. This article takes us a step further, looking at what can happen when placing trust in our God. At the risk of trivializing it, trusting God could be likened to getting an American Express Platinum card. When you read the promotional material you see a plethora of benefits to subscribing to such a prestigious card. But then you look at the annual fee, currently $695. Maybe the Platinum card is for you, maybe not. 

Once Heather and I attended a presentation for the Hilton Grand Vacation Club. We were enticed by three nights in Daytona Beach and a significant number of  Hilton Honors points in exchange for a small fee plus an hour of our time. We attended, and were regaled with the thrill of travel and benefits from joining. Virtually a place to stay in any city or town. They even offered us a “special low price.” It sounded great. I think I had gotten Heather a little worried as she thought I was going to buy in. But we quickly realized that it was not for us. We don’t know how long we will remain healthy enough to take advantage of it. We also factored into the equation that cruising is our favorite way to vacation. Bottom line, it wasn’t that great a deal for us.  So we declined all of these wonderful benefits despite the “good deal” we were being offered.

I would note that there are differences in both of these “deals” when compared to trusting God. The Hilton Grand Vacations Club is a negotiable deal. The have several levels of membership and negotiable costs. The charge card terms are non-negotiable – just like trusting God. We must accept Him on His terms, His way. But we can take assurance that His way is best.

Trusting God, like American Express or Hilton offers, carries a number of benefits. But there is one big, big difference. The benefits of trusting God come without a dollar sign. Everything God has promised He will do. I am reminded of a song by Steven Curtis Chapman “My Redeemer is Faithful and True” that expresses this sentiment.

As I look back on this road I’ve traveled

I see so many times He carried me through

And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life

My Redeemer is faithful and true

My heart rejoices when I read the promise

There is a place I am preparing for you

I know someday I’ll see my Lord face to face

Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true

And in every situation He has proved His love for me

When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me

My Redeemer is faithful and true

Everything He has said He will do

And every morning His mercies are new

My Redeemer is faithful and true

My Redeemer is faithful and true

Psalm 91 has been called “Security of One Who Trusts in the Lord.” The benefits of trusting God don’t have an annual fee, they are readily available to anyone who commits to fully trusting Him, and they never expire.

He shelters us. We are in His safe place in His shadow. He is right there with us. (vv. 1-2). Only in this case, God is defending us in a strong and safe place from the evil that surrounds us. But even better, we don’t have to find His shelter, He comes to us (vv. 3-4), rescuing us from the trap of evil and the deadly sickness of eternity in hell. He safely covers us with his wings and a strong wall protects us.

In times of war, we often read about individuals (often government officials) taking refuge in an embassy in an attempt to stay safe. Sometimes that works, sometimes not. But God’s refuge doesn’t fail.  Psalm 46 tells us He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. No matter how bad things seem, He will always be there.

He Protects us from trouble and fear. Nighttime is a difficult time for many people. (vv. 5-10) But we are told we do not need to be afraid of trouble at night nor the sickness that walks in darkness. There is a term for fear of the dark. This is known as nyctophobia and may cause someone to exhibit symptoms such as breathing difficulty, chest tightness, trembling, an intense need to escape, detachment, and a feeling of powerlessness. And it really doesn’t need to be at night. We can be personally in a period of darkness and fear anytime of the day or night. Shelby Brown has stated that it is less likely that you are actually afraid of the dark, but that you fear the unseen and unknown. Trusting God can help alleviate these fears. 

That is not all. During the day we are protected from the piercing arrows and the trouble that destroys. Though thousands fall around us, it will not come near us. We are onlookers seeing how the sinful are punished. Because we have made the Lord our safe place, the Most High place nothing will hurt us, no trouble comes near us.

In the Old Testament, high places were often places for sacrifice and worship of other Gods. When the Temple was built, that became a High Place for the worship of the one true God. But the Temple as a High Place pales in comparison to God’s High Place, one that is entirely safe.

His messengers watch over us. He will tell His angels to watch out and care for us. (vv.11-13) We will not even trip over a stone (that sounds great!). Under our feet will be the lion and the snake but they will not harm us – we will trample them.

There is a misconception about angels. When we humans die and go to Heaven, we will not be angels. Angels are a distinct type of created being. Angels serve the purpose of being God’s messengers. We serve a higher purpose, we will be like Christ, higher than the angels. Daniel received a vision from God that caused him to mourn for three weeks. During this time he prayed and fasted. Suddenly He looked up and saw an angel, a messenger from God. The angel assured him that God had heard his petitions. He told Daniel that he was delayed by the minions of Satan and the Archangel Michael came to help Daniel’s messenger. The angelic messenger then explained Daniel’s vision to him.

God will deliver us.  He says that because we have set our love on Him, he will deliver us. (vv.14-16)

We know His name and have exalted Him.

We know his mercy, love and kindness.

We trust and rely on Him and He will never forsake us.

When we call upon Him, He will answer.

He will be with us.

He will deliver us.

And He will honor us.

Imagine that! God has said He will honor those who trust Him. We will be satisfied in Him and will see His salvation. I Corinthians 3:16 tells us “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? God dwells in His temple and we are His temple. How marvelous!

Please don’t read this and think trusting God will keep us from troubles. We will have trouble, sickness, and hardships. But we can know that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We don’t see God’s perspective on everything. There is much we don’t understand. But this one thing we know -everything works out when God is in it. 

In our day-to-day existence in this troubled, sinful world. It can be hard to remain focused on what we need to do to trust in God fully. Remember the words of this Psalm. Remember what we need to do to fully trust Him. It isn’t easy. We will drift away. But, with God’s help we will always be able to be pulled back into his protection. What is keeping you from trusting Him more?

 

All scripture is NASB unless otherwise stated.

 

 

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Placing Trust in God

The phrase “In God We Trust” has been the official motto of the United States since 1956. However, this inscription can be found on the country’s money beginning around 1862 where it arose during the Civil War. Interestingly, the motto was also frequently seen on banners and the like in the Confederacy. The phrase derived originally from an obscure stanza in our National Anthem which reads “”And this be our motto-“In God is our trust.” President Theodore Roosevelt was vehemently opposed to placing the motto on our currency but was fine with the inscription showing up on government buildings. There was some basis in his reasoning. He felt that putting it on our currency and coins could lead to a degrading of the motto and even invited levity and ridicule. Roosevelt was somewhat vindicated with this stand as frequently one would hear it said “In God we trust, all others pay cash,” and other such epithets. Nonetheless, it has remained. Efforts to remove it have failed. Challenges based on the First Amendment have not succeeded as the motto does not create an accommodation for a single religion since the motto could be used by any religion. Also, the courts have stated that “ a repetitious invocation of a religious entity in ceremonial matters strips the phrase of its original religious connotation.”

As Christians, we are often told to “Trust God.” But what does trusting God look like? What do I do to be able to trust Him more? It’s one thing to say we want to trust God, but it is something else to make it happen. How?

There is no shortage of statements made by Christian leaders about trust. Buzz Williams said “Trust is the tie that binds any and all relationships with God, our spouses, our friends, and our community. The more trust we have, the more influence we have.” Really? Isn’t trust more than influence?

Rick Warren – “The more you believe and trust God, the more limitless your possibilities become for your family, your career – for your life!” The key here is trust. Even the demons believe.

Joel Osteen – “When you’re really believing, when you’re in peace, you’re showing God by your actions that you trust Him.”  Again, believing isn’t enough. 

Brett Harris – “It’s amazing what we can do if we will trust God enough to step out of our comfort zones!” God gives us comfort when we trust.

All of these sound good, they may motivate us to want to trust God more, but none address the “How” of trusting God.

I readily admit I don’t have a definitive answer to trusting God, but there are some specific things we can do to move us closer to Him. A Google search will give you a three-step, five-step, seven step, ten step plan to accomplish this. So I’m going to outline some steps that I think have enabled me to trust Him more fully. It’s not a comprehensive list, it’s probably not the best list, but it’s something I have found helpful. Before I go any further, I want to address one thing that it is not. We cannot just sit back and wait for God to move. Isaiah 40:31 reads “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

The first line tells us to wait upon the Lord, then it goes on to describe what happens. Waiting on the Lord is not sitting in our recliner, waiting for God to act. Waiting on the Lord is an active waiting, continuing what we have been doing for Him. When we are doing His work, we are drawing closer to trusting God more.

 Brittany Yesudasan writes that trusting in Him means believing what He says about Himself, about the world and about you is true. Secondly, she states that “trusting God is more than a feeling; it’s a choice to have faith in what He says.” Our feelings and circumstances may not be reliable and we can easily deceive ourselves. Third, trusting God is living a life of belief in and obedience to God even when it’s difficult. Our feelings and circumstances should not be ignored, but are two factors in trusting God.

I have identified seven behaviors that we can undertake to increase our trust in God.

First, Our trust in God is rooted in our faith and knowledge of God. This means we should talk to Him regularly in prayer and learn about Him through reading His message to us. As we make this a habit we become more confident in Him and His character. As we learn about Him through His word, we can use our knowledge of Scripture as a checkpoint. In our prayers we should not hesitate to cry out to God. We should confess our unbelief. In Mark 9, a father was asking Jesus to heal his son. He cried out “I do believe; help my unbelief!” 

In John 8:31-21 Jesus said “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Other translations use the word abide but the concept of remaining in Him seems to be a term we can more relate to. To remain in someone or something means that it is a part of us.

Second, Our trust in God is obedience and, yes, dependence on Him. Don’t depend on yourself. And when we trust Him and need Him, we cry out to Him. In I Samuel 7:9 we are told that “Samuel cried out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.” God does not change. When we cry out to Him, He hears us even today. 

But we must obey Him. In Acts 5, Peter and the Apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin and ordered them to stop teaching in Jesus’ name. Under threat of death they responded. “We must obey God rather than men.” In today’s world, there are many who deny Christ, many who would attempt to discredit our faith. We must stand firm, obeying His word, or He will deny us. In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ If we deny Him on Earth, He will deny us at Heaven’s gate.

Third, Our trust in God is believing in spite of our feelings. We may feel Him leading us in a certain way that seems the opposite of what we think we can do. Faith is a steadfast trust in His truth, feelings are fleeting emotions not grounded in faith. Think about your favorite sports team. They play a lousy game and lose. We are disgusted with them and vow never to watch them again. Yet, your emotions fade and you are once again avidly watching them, only to disavow them then in their next unfortunate showing. Our faith in God is steadfast as He never fails us.

Fourth, This should go without saying, but in today’s world we need to be aware that evil is very present. We should never accommodate evil. That first, seemingly harmless, step may be our first step to destruction. Our trust in Him should have us running from evil. Psalm 37:27-29 reads “Turn from evil and do good, So that you will dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice and does not abandon His godly ones.” Other translations show urgency, implying us to “flee from evil.” 

Fifth, God sent us the Holy Spirit to be our comforter, our advocate. Listen to the Spirit and build your trust. In John 14:16-17, Jesus told us “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever; the Helper is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him; but you know Him because He remains with you and will be in you.” This helper, the comforter is the Holy Spirit. Two things to note here. The Spirit can only be received if we are in Christ. If you are of the world, you cannot receive the helper. Next, we see the word “remain” in relation to our relationship with Him. The Spirit is always with us when we remain in Him.

Sixth, Our trust in God is bolstered when we remember things grateful for which we are grateful. Times when God led us in the right direction. Henry Blackaby called these times “spiritual markers.” Remember your spiritual markers. Write them in your journal to help you recall them. In Joshua 4:8 we read “So the sons of Israel did exactly as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, just as the Lord spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel; and they carried them over with them to the encampment and put them down there.” This was to help the people remember God bringing them into the promised land. Maybe they never returned to this spot, but they remembered the celebration of God’s faithfulness.

Finally, When we place our trust fully in God, we can find rest in Him. God established the sabbath as a weekly day of rest. In today’s world, we often find ourselves running to and fro, non-stop. This is not God’s design. He intends for us a time of rest. Matthew Sleeth was an emergency room doctor who was worn out from constant work. At the time he was not a Christian. Yet, he felt led to take a weekly “sabbath” one day a week to do nothing. He learned that he was refreshed and accomplished as much or more in six days as he had previously done in seven. He later discovered God’s plan for taking a sabbath day of rest, and became a Christian. Take a day off. Take a nap. Give rest to your body, mind, and soul. This is so important to God that He established it as one of the Ten Commandments. And it is also the longest of the Commandments. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your resident who stays with you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”  (Exodus 20:9-11).

It takes time to build trust. But we know that God can be fully trusted all the time. Why not take the next step and trust Him?

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Grace and Power

Our introduction to Stephen in the Bible occurs in Acts 6, when the disciples chose seven to serve the widows in the daily distribution of food. Stephen is the only one of the seven who became prominent. We are told “Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8). This led to some unwanted attention and some men were induced to spread falsehoods about Stephen, who was arrested and brought before the high priest. He made no attempt to defend himself but launched a message with three points. None of this was an answer to the high priest’s question regarding the charges against him, “Are these things so?” Stephen’s first point was that the activity of God extends beyond the geographical borders of Israel. Second, he said that worship is acceptable to God extends beyond the walls of the Jerusalem temple. Third, he condemned the Jewish people for rejecting Jesus as Messiah. 

In discussing the third point, Stephen did not mince any words, calling his accusers “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, and you have now become betrayers and murderers of Him; you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” (7:51-53). For those comments, Stephen became the first Christian martyr, as he was stoned to death.

Looking at Stephen’s accusations that they were “Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears.” What was Stephen saying here?

Stiff-necked. The term stiff-necked was familiar to the Jewish people as it was used in referring to an ox who was difficult or hard to control. Many times throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites were referred to as a stiff-necked people. They were seen as stubborn, unmanageable, and not to be led. Of course, God frequently referred to them as stiff-necked, even to the point of saying “I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.” (Exodus 33:3) 

Circumcision. Obviously, the high priest and the Council were familiar with this term, as a ritual undergone by Jewish males to set them apart. To be circumcised was a sign of honor, a means of identification. When circumcised. you became a part of “The Club.” When God established the covenant with Abraham, the patriarch was told “This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, including a slave who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. A slave who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall certainly be circumcised; so My covenant shall be in your flesh as an everlasting covenant. But as for an uncircumcised male, one who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.” (Genesis 17:10-14). Note that the passage states that every man carries with him the sign of the covenant. If not circumcised, the man is cut off from his people.

Today, males are circumcised as a medical procedure to protect against penile cancer. God obviously knew this so He protected the men with a medical truth, while making it a spiritual matter as well.

True Circumcision. Paul, however, took another view of circumcision, relegating the historical reason for circumcision to the position of false circumcision.  In Philippians 3:2-3 he wrote “Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and take pride in Christ Jesus, and put no confidence in the flesh.” 

Christians are the true circumcision as our hearts have been transformed in a symbolic circumcision. False circumcision is a physical sign of belonging to the Israelite nation. True circumcision is a transformed heart that hears and responds to the convicting and guiding work of the Holy Spirit. Putting our faith in God. Additionally, the true circumcision is inclusive, available to all.

Stephen, Saul, and Us. Getting back to Stephen, his defense before the Council obviously occurred prior to Paul writing the book of Philippians and any of his other letters. Recalling that Stephen accused the Council of being “uncircumcised in heart and ears, and resisting the Holy Spirit.” Here Stephen was referring to the true circumcision. 

There is another aspect to this, and this is my speculation only. We read that Stephen was driven out of the city and was being stoned to death. Act 7:58 tells us that the witnesses laid aside their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Deuteronomy 10:16 reads “So circumcise your heart, and do not stiffen your neck any longer.”   Could Paul (Saul) have recalled this concept of the true circumcision during Stephen’s stoning?

Lessons from Stephen. Even though Stephen’s time as a Christian leader was not lengthy, he left us with some valuable lessons. First, he shows us that we are to obey the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Although there were thousands who had accepted the good news of the gospel, many others refused to do so. As a prime example of the Holy Spirit’s conviction, Stephen spoke the words given him by the Spirit when he was before the Council.

Second, Stephen emphasized God’s faithfulness. God kept every promise made to the Israelite nation. Even today, God continues to forgive our sins and give us the precious, priceless gift of eternal life to all who call upon Him. He never fails. He  keeps every promise.

Third, It is important to know scripture. Stephen, obviously, was not speaking from his notes but his heart. He was familiar with the word of God. Being prompted by the Holy Spirit, his accusers could offer no substantive arguments to the words he spoke. When we know God’s word, we can quote it to others and ascertain when scripture is being misused.

Being stiff-necked is not a physical issue. God can transform stubborn, unmanageable, unleadable people into Kingdom workers. God can grant us the true circumcision. These things can only happen when we are willing. When we submit, God will change us.

 

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

Photo credit for the stones picture goes to Alexandra_Koch.

 

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Faith, Hope, Love

In I Corinthians 12, Paul is instructing the church in Corinth regarding spiritual gifts. He concludes the chapter by writing (31) “But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way.” He continues in Chapter 13, elaborating on the gifts with the additional caveat that without love, the gifts are useless. Starting in verse 8, he affirms that “love never fails,” then proceeds to outline that the spiritual gifts are temporal, they will be done away with, their purposes fulfilled. 

Spiritual Gifts will Pass Away. Paul likens spiritual gifts to partial knowledge. They are similar to looking in a mirror in a dark room, you can see an image but it’s not very clear. He emphasizes this point with another observation that there is a time for acting and thinking like a child. But when we become adults, we move on to adult activities. The partial (spiritual gifts) will pass away. This reminds me of the verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1, where the Teacher expounds that “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven.”

Faith, Hope, and Love Remain. This, then, begs the question “If spiritual gifts are “the partial” what is left? What will be “fully known?” Paul answers with the concluding statement (v. 13) “But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Elliott’s Commentary reads “Gifts such as the Corinthian Church rejoiced in shall pass away when the perfect succeeds the imperfect; the graces of faith, hope, love shall remain in the next life, exalted and purified.” It is of note that Paul used the singular “remain” and not “remains.” This is no mere slip of the pen, This is intentional grammar. Faith, Hope, and love are seen as a unity. 

A common belief today is that everyone will go to Heaven. This is not the case. Simply being a good person will not get you into Heaven. Faith, Hope, and Love; and Heaven remain for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who have not accepted Him will not be in Heaven. God does not send us to hell, which we all deserve. He gives us a choice to avoid that fate. When we make him our Lord and Savior, there will be a change in our lives.

Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as “the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen.” Certainty in this instance can be read to mean assurance or title deed. Title deed represents absolute ownership as it is a document constituting evidence of a right, especially to ownership of property. Although we haven’t seen it, our faith will be rewarded, that we know because the things we have hoped for in Christ are divinely guaranteed. When did God ever go back on His word? Faith accepts as fact what our physical senses cannot experience.

Hope, in a Biblical sense, is not the hope we have on earth. Earthly hope is a feeling of expectation, a desire or wish for a certain thing to happen. As a sports fan, I hope that my team will win. If I am traveling, I hope for good weather. Earthly hope is what I wish  to happen. 

Biblical Hope is an expectation with certainty that God will do what He has said. Hope in the Biblical sense is capitalized. It is a step further than the dictionary definition. Our Hope is in God, based on the fact of who God is and nothing else. It’s more than us uttering a prayer for good weather. Someone else may be praying for rain to help his crops grow. God has not said that all our prayers will be answered as we desire. James 4:3 reads “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God has promised us eternal life with Him in Heaven. Clarence L. Haynes, Jr. has written “You cannot have Hope unless it is tied together with faith. In essence, you have Hope because you have faith and you have faith because you have Hope. However, you don’t just have faith in faith or hope in hope, there is no real value in that. What matters most is the object of your faith and hope – that makes all the difference.” That faith and Hope is centered in God.

At this point, it would be easy to think that faith and Hope will cease once our faith is made sight and our Hope in God has come. But that’s not the case. Our faith will only increase because our trust in Him will grow greater. Our Hope has been realized for all eternity as a continual communication of God to our spirits. We don’t remain the same in Heaven, we will see progress for all eternity. Where there is Hope there is progress. We will still learn in Heaven.

Love Which brings us to Love. Faith, Hope, and Love is not a progression from one to the other. As we observed earlier, Paul treated these three graces as a unity. We don’t move from faith, to Hope, and then to Love. Each builds on the other. I tread softly here but I think it could be said that Love is the greatest of equals. God is Love. When our faith is made sight, when our Hope has been realized, our Love abounds as we are in the eternal presence of our God and Savior. Love is an essential part of who God is. After all, in I John 4:7-8 we read “Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

We are commanded to love.

Love is from God.

Whoever loves knows God.

If we don’t love, we don’t know God.

God is Love.

If we believe those five statements we carry the Love of God with us here on earth and for eternity in Heaven. There are no qualifications placed on who we love. The poor, the rich, those of other races, those who don’t think like we do, those who are overbearing and obnoxious, those who deny Christ, Democrats and Republicans, sinners should all be objects of our love. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:20) tells us to “teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.” That includes love. Go out in love.

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What’s Your Passion?

Passion is a very versatile word. Although the etymology is complex, it derives from the Latin word, pati, to suffer. It was originally used to describe the sufferings of Christ in the hours between the Last Supper and the Crucifixion. For Christians, that definition still applies. The time from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday is known as Passion Week. However, over the years, the word has taken on additional, non-religious meanings. Passion can mean a strong, almost overpowering feeling or conviction. We often see this in a person’s political or religious convictions. It could be an outbreak of anger. We have all heard about crimes of passion. Passion could also be strong affection for another – love. Coupled with that definition, passion can mean sexual desire. Finally, passion can be a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept. It could be said that a person is passionate about the Tampa Bay Rays, exercise, or abortion. 

I once had a friend whose favorite statement was that there is nothing more obnoxious than a new convert to anything. While this may be an overstatement, people often do get passionate about their newest activity. Part of this is that when we are passionate about something, we want to help others have that same passion.

Christians and Passion. As Christians we need to be passionate about the right things. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy pleasurable things as much as anyone but we must keep things in the right perspective. I once knew an individual who desired a boat. Eventually, he was able to purchase one, and he and his family spent some enjoyable weekends on the lake. But after a while, he realized that the boat had become a passion that hampered his relationship with God. While spending weekends on the boat, he was missing out on worship and times with fellow Christians in his church. He realized he needed to sell the boat and did.

John Bunyan was a pastor who gave much thought to pleasures. He came to the realization that “desires are hunting things.”  In other words, when we seek pleasure we are on a treasure hunt of sorts to find a pleasure that will fill a void in our lives. Desires and pleasures are not all good or all bad. They may be pure or they may be evil. Bunyan once said that our “Love for God is more seen in desires than in any Christian act.” or, as my Mother would say “What you do speaks so loud I can’t hear what you say.” If you want to know what someone values, don’t listen to what they say, look at what they do.

When I became a runner, you could say that I became passionate about it. I read about running, I began to run in races, I sought out other runners to join me, I went to seminars on running. I had a hunger to do whatever I could do to make myself a better runner. I maintained a log of my runs. I even completed two marathons. I proudly wore my t-shirts that I got at my races. When I missed a few days running, I missed being out on the roads. You could say I was addicted.

Spiritual Discipline. We should carry that same passion that I had for running into our spiritual lives. We should do all we can to make ourselves better Christians. How is this done? We can make an intentional effort to practice spiritual disciplines. In our society we often use the word practice to describe our profession. I had a CPA practice. A medical doctor is said to practice medicine, an attorney practices law. In these cases, it is not a matter of practice making perfect, but a constant focus on learning more about your given profession and becoming the best CPA, doctor, or attorney that you can become. Likewise, practicing the spiritual disciplines can make us better Christians. My list of spiritual disciplines is likely different from others that you have seen but I would list six such disciplines or practices.

Know the Bible. Read it. Study it. Memorize it. Sing it. Pray it. Ponder it. The Bible is a book that must be used. You can’t put it under your pillow and expect the message to flow into you while sleeping. Many who have gone before us have written commentaries or other publications that can help us understand the Bible more fully. Beware that, just because it is written, it may not be valid. Anyone can write something. It is our responsibility to evaluate the writings of others to determine if it is consistent with what we know about the Bible. As we study more, we become more aware of any inconsistencies in the writings of others. All of these activities can help the words of the Bible be within us. 

Someone may say that Jesus said to listen to your heart. But Luke 12:34. Jesus said “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” And in Matthew 15:19, He spoke “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, acts of adultery, other immoral sexual acts, thefts, false testimonies, and slanderous statements.” If we know the Bible, we will know that Jesus didn’t say to listen to our hearts.

Generosity. The Bible has a lot to say about us being generous, more than we can cover in detail in this article. Malachi 3:10 reads “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.” When we start talking about tithing, we tend to get legalistic. Is the tithe ten percent? Of my net or my gross? Do I have to give my tithe to my church?  All of this misses the point. We are to give bountifully, cheerfully, not reluctantly. 2 Corinthians 9:7 tells us “God loves a cheerful giver.” And in verse 11, we read “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.” Although it begins there, our giving does not stop at the church. We are to give generously to those in need. All that we have is from God. We should use that to help others. The parable of the faithful steward in Luke 12:42-48 makes this abundantly clear. Give because you love God. And don’t worry about any tax deduction.

Fellowship. When the COVID epidemic hit, churches were not open for worship. We received much of our spiritual nourishment via online worship services. Unfortunately, too many found this to be convenient and made online worship the norm for them. This is unfortunate, as we are missing out on fellowship. Hebrews 10:24-25 tells us “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” By meeting together, we help others move closer to God as we also move in that direction.

Fasting. Unfortunately, this is a spiritual discipline that is often overlooked. But it should be part of our spiritual “arsenal.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast,  do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Two things stand out in these verses. One, Jesus said “when you fast,” not “if you fast.” He presumed we would fast. Second, our fasting is nothing to brag about. Fasting is between me and God. 

Fasting can include refraining from things other than food. This is especially helpful for anyone having a health condition that prohibits them from fasting. We know that Daniel (10:3) fasted from certain foods and wine for three weeks. We are also told (depending on the translation) that he did not anoint his head, shave, bathe, or comb his hair during those three weeks.

Obviously, we can give up something other than food during a fast. The key here is that we choose something meaningful, something that is a part of our regular life and that we enjoy. I could say that I am going to conduct a shellfish fast. That is meaningless, as I have a potentially fatal allergy to shellfish and never eat it. I would not be giving up anything in this case. When we fast, we can use that time to shape our experience and connection with God.

Prayer and Silence. We must never forget that prayer is a two-sided activity. We talk to God and He answers us. A prayer can be short. “Lord, Joe is going through a rough time right now. Meet his needs.” God already knows about Joe. You are one among many who are bringing concerns about Joe to God. I don’t understand how God works in prayer, but I know we are commanded to pray. Continued prayer for a specific request helps us recall the need, and maybe we will be the catalyst to meet that need. Earnest prayer brings a conviction that we are to be God’s instrument. 

The other side of prayer is waiting to hear God speak to us. When the Lord appeared to Elijah in 1 Kings 19, He was not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire. But God was in a gentle whisper. That’s how God came to Elijah. Elijah kept listening and God spoke. He came to Moses in a fire – the burning bush. Don’t presume how God will speak to you or answer your prayers. 

I am reminded of the story of a man who was caught in a flood. He made it to the roof of his house and prayed for God to rescue him. Some people came by in a boat and offered to save him. He declined. A helicopter came, and once again, he declined. When the man drowned, he faced God in Heaven. He asked God why his prayer wasn’t answered. God replied “I sent you a boat and a helicopter.” 

If you don’t keep an open mind you may miss his message for you. Earnestly seek Him. Wait for Him. His timing is not our timing. Matthew 7:7 tells us “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Spiritual Markers. These are not often thought of as spiritual disciplines, but I include them here because they can be a valuable tool in our spiritual journey, as they remind us of where we have been and how God brought us to where we are. Henry Blackaby identifies spiritual markers as “a time of decision when you clearly know that God guided you.” Kathy Howard defines them as “a tangible, physical object we deliberately choose to represent God’s significant presence and activity in our life. This “God event” could be a spiritual encounter, a clear call to service, a specific time of divine direction or intervention, a miraculous act, or more. This object will serve as a permanent reminder of what God has done in our lives or a time that He taught us something new about who He is or how He works.

I recall after my first wife, Gloria, died, I was going through her belongings. Some days I didn’t get much done, as I came across something that stirred memories and I found myself walking down memory lane. That’s how spiritual markers work. 

Spiritual markers can also help us to celebrate. I have a friend whose family seemingly celebrates all the time. I would call them great “celebrators.” I asked her about their celebratory events. She commented that family is special and celebrating their events shows how much the family cares for them, even in the time spent preparing for the celebration. But most of all, she focuses on the love, joy, kindness, and praise they give each other and to our Lord. Not only do they lift up family and loved ones, they are witnesses for Christ in their celebrations. 

Celebrating events in our lives can keep us grounded, can remind us of why we chose the path we chose. Several years ago, I was at a crossroads in my life. I needed to make several life-changing decisions. My church had a month-long period of fasting. I chose to fast on Tuesdays. During this time, I prayed about three major issues in my life. Before long, events came together and I got clarity on the direction I should go. That, for me, was a spiritual marker. 

As we have seen, there are many things about which we can be passionate.. Is there anything in your life about which you are more passionate than your relationship with God?

 

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible.

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God’s Creation: Decently and In Order

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During the recent solar eclipse that was visible where I live, I marveled at the fact that the exact time, to the day and minute, that the eclipse could be predicted. This was an amazing event. I was at the doctor at the time, but got an excited phone call from Heather “I can see the eclipse. It is amazing.” I even learned via a Google search that there will be a total solar eclipse on September 23, 2090 at 12:29 pm in Lakeland, Florida, and will have a duration of seven minutes. I don’t think I’ll be around for that one. For me, the most ”Aha!” God moment was when I first gazed at the Grand Canyon. I could only wonder how someone could see something like that and deny God’s existence. That wonder turned to amazement as the words of an old hymn came to mind:

 

I stand amazed in the presence

  Of Jesus the Nazarene,

And wonder how He could love me,

  A sinner condemned, unclean.

  How marvelous! How wonderful!

  And my song shall ever be:

How marvelous! How wonderful!

    Is my Savior’s love for me! 

Aha Moments. There are other things that are equally marvelous in God’s creation. I polled my Facebook friends for things that make them go “WOW!” and shouts “God!” One person marveled at cicadas. Their life cycle starts with mating. The female then lays eggs in holes made in tree branches and shrubs. The eggs will hatch after six to 10 weeks and the cicada nymphs will burrow themselves into the ground, attaching to the tree’s roots.  They will remain underground for a “dormant period” of two to 17 years, depending on the species. Then they emerge in adult form only to die in a very short time. 

One person marveled at the way God had guided him in his life. Looking back, he saw a life of order with incredible things unfolding. Others mentioned things we think of as commonplace, but tend to overlook the miracle involved – a beating heart, the birth of a child. That the oceans know where to stop. 

Someone mentioned the dogwood tree. This tree symbolizes Easter as it is said that Jesus’ cross was made of dogwood. At that time the dogwood grew tall and straight. Legend has it that Jesus cursed the tree so it would never again grow straight. Legend also tells us that Jesus blessed the tree with the ability to produce beautiful flowers that would bloom in time for Easter. True or not, we can view a dogwood tree and remember His sacrifice. And it is a beautiful tree.`

Another mentioned the platypus. This mammal is unique, combining the features of ducks, beavers, and otters. Science tells us that it is well-adapted for their semi-aquatic lifestyle. Right here I would give science a “Duh.” While that statement is true, everything in God’s creation is well-adapted for its lifestyle. A scientist responded to my Facebook request, giving me scientific reasons for the “why” of all this, but still behind it is a God of order and not of chaos. Besides, I think the platypus shows us that God has a sense of humor.

Chaos and Order. Chaos is an interesting word. Merriam-Webster defines it as “a state of utter confusion.” But it goes on to another definition that gives me pause. It reads that chaos is  “the inherent unpredictability in the behavior of a complex natural system (such as the atmosphere, boiling water, or the beating heart).” I would take exception to the “inherent unpredictability” part. It may seem unpredictable to us, but we don’t know what God has in store. This definition would likely classify the flood in Genesis as inherent unpredictably, but it didn’t take God by surprise.

In mythology, at least seven cultures have a god of chaos. There is a widespread belief that “out of chaos comes order.” In other words, it seems that chaos is the natural state of the human race. So a god of chaos was invented to explain that things are a mess (created by said gods). This was necessary so that the human race can then turn to the other gods or to themselves to bring about order.

Jonathan Petersen writes that, in creating earth, God brought perfect order out of what was “without form and void.” When man sinned, chaos was brought into the cosmos. As a result, chaos is often associated with sin and darkness. Two scripture passages lead us to the fact that chaos is not a trait associated with God. I Corinthians 14:33 reads “for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” The Amplified Bible sheds some additional light on this verse, reading “for God is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order.” And a few verses later Paul pens “But all things must be done properly [decently] and in an orderly way (v. 40).” Our God is a God of order.

Creation is Explicitly Orderly. Jennifer Hereen writes “All of God’s creation is orchestrated explicitly. Nothing about the universe, the earth, or the human body is haphazard. There are patterns and laws of nature. There are intricate plans built into the wonder of science. God is a God of order. Of systems. Of science. He designed everything on Earth so that human beings can live in a way that they wouldn’t be able to on any other planet. God is Lord over it all. He designed it all for our benefit because He loves His children.” Since order is a characteristic of God, it is incumbent on us to live our lives in an orderly manner. We are to strive to be like God as we read in Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

In I Corinthians 14, as we have already cited, Paul is referring to our worship being decent and in order. This applies when we assemble to worship in song, Bible study, prayer and other forms of corporate worship. Paul does not describe how we are to worship only that it be done decently and in order. This does not rule out any genuine worship of our God. Just that it is to be decent (honoring God) and in order (proceeding in an orderly manner, not disorganized chaos). Worship goes beyond what we do corporately, beyond the four walls of our church. Real worship is living our lives in a manner that honors God. We live orderly lives within His ways.

God is Love. One might pause and ask “Why did God go to so much trouble to create an orderly universe?” I use the word “trouble” here as there are no words that easily describe the creation. When God creates, he simply speaks it into existence. We are told in Genesis 1:1 that “the earth was a formless and desolate emptiness.” God didn’t just happen on this emptiness. He created it, but when He did, He left it as a formless, desolate emptiness until it was time to create the earth and all it contains. At the ordained time, He spoke the formless earth into a new creation. We don’t know the when but we know the why. God created the earth and all it contained in order to display His glory. 

Don’t think for even a minute of our God as an egotistical ruler demanding worship and allegiance from his followers. He created earth for our delight. Think of the things that bring you joy – your spouse, your children, your extended family, friends, pets.  Or think of nature – a tapestry of color in the Fall mountains, the thrill of seeing the mighty waves of the oceans, the grandeur of an eagle flying through the air, the majesty of a lion ruling his dominion, the vast array of types of marine life. Or your hobbies – sports, reading, collecting things, skiing down a mountain slope, eating a five-star meal. All of this is made possible through God’s orderly creation. Order brings certainty.

Look and See. All of this should make us stop and worship God for his creation. God made all this because He loves us and wants us to enjoy Him. We reflect His glory back to Him. Psalm 19:1 makes this absolutely clear. “The heavens tell of the glory of God; And their expanse declares the work of His hands.” All we need to do to see God and His glory is to look for Him. Yuri Gagarin was a Russian cosmonaut, who reportedly said “I went up to space, but I didn’t encounter God.” That is false. Gagarin, in fact, was a devout Christian. The statement was made by Nikita Khrushchev. In a meeting before the Central Committee, he said “Here is Gagarin, who flew up to space, and yet, even he didn’t see God anywhere.” At a later point in his life Gagarin stated “An astronaut cannot be suspended in space and not have God in his mind and his heart.” We don’t have to go into outer space to see God, we just need to look for Him, wherever we are. 

The creation account in Genesis tells us that we, as human beings, were created in the image of God. An image is a visual representation of the original or a reproduction or imitation of the form of a person. Every one of us bears God’s image. God is everywhere in His creation in addition to his actual presence. Note the difference. We reflect God. God is in nature but nature is not God.  God, not human beings, not nature is to be worshiped. All of His creation should point us to Him. Isaiah 6:3 has the angels proclaiming “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies. The whole earth is full of His glory.”

As you go about your daily tasks, I would have you consider two things: 1. Does your life reflect order? 2. Does your life reflect the image of God?

 

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

I would like to thank Joan Creasman, Brendan Doran, Mel Rhodus, Kelly Miller, Richard Beamer, Harold Walsh, Mike Westall, and Nick Egoroff for sharing their “Aha” moments.

Photo credit  Grand Canyon S2dunguyn on Pixabay

 

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Hold on for 41

The number “40” is an interesting number. It is the only number in the English language whose letters appear in alphabetical order. Minus 40 degrees is the same in the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales. When the bubonic plague hit Europe in the Middle Ages, ships were held in the harbor for 40 days before passengers were allowed off the ship. The Italian word for 40 is “quaranta,” from which we get quarantine.

The Monopoly board has 40 spaces, making chances of winning the lottery equal to going to jail, 2.5% each time around the board. Forty is the maximum size of a Major League Baseball roster. WD-40 is so named as it was the 40th attempt to develop the product (WD actually stands for “water displacement”). A human pregnancy is actually pegged at 40 weeks. The story of Ali Baba and the Arabian Nights has 40 thieves. A good night’s sleep is said to be 40 winks. And, as we all know, the traditional workweek in the United  States is 40 hours. Maybe worst of all, someone has chronicled 40 changes to our bodies as we reach age forty. Getting old is definitely not for sissies.

But this isn’t about a bunch of trivia regarding the number 40. This number seems to be Biblical shorthand for a long time. There are several instances in the Bible where 40 comes into play. It may be any measurement of time, but 40 days is the most prevalent. Let’s examine a few of these cases from the Bible.

Noah. Genesis 6 begins the Biblical account of Noah and the flood. Man had become wicked and God vowed to wipe them from the face of the earth. But Noah was righteous before God, so God saved him and his family. God determined to flood the whole earth, wiping out life. He instructed Noah to build an ark, giving him detailed instructions. Noah obeyed. Rain on earth was unheard of prior to this time, as Genesis 2:5-6 indicates that no rain had fallen on the earth. Verse 6 tells us that “a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.” Noah was certainly the subject of much ridicule, building a huge ark nowhere near a body of water. Yet he persevered. It has been estimated it took Noah between 20 and 40 years to build this massive ship. God had not told Noah the answer to the burning question “Why?” Noah had no idea what God was planning. Eventually, God told him to fill the ship and seven days later, the rains would commence. Only then do we know that Noah learned there would be 40 days and nights of rain. So maybe Noah’s 40-day trial of rain was in addition to 40 years of building.

Moses. As a member of the royal family in Egypt, Moses lived a life of privilege. He could easily have forgotten or ignored his Hebrew roots. Yet we are told in Exodus 2 that Moses went out among the Hebrews and saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. We are told Moses “looked this way and that, and when he saw that there was no one around, he struck and killed the Egyptian, and hid his body in the sand” (Exodus 2:12). The next day Moses saw two Hebrews fighting and tried to break it up. One of them said to him “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian? (Exodus 2:14). Moses knew he had been found out, word spread, and Pharoah pledged to kill Moses, but Moses escaped to Midian. 

Moses made a life and lived in Midian in exile for 40 years. I suppose Moses was living a contented life. One day he was pasturing the flock of his father-in-law and noticed something different. He saw a bush, burning, but not consumed. He is recorded as saying “I must turn aside and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burning up!” (Exodus 3:3) As he approached, God called Moses from the bush. God told Moses He had an assignment for him. He told Moses that He (God) was going to free the Hebrews from their affliction in Egypt. Moses may have said or thought “Hey, that’s great, God. They’ve been oppressed for years.” Then God dropped the other shoe “I’m going to use you to do this. So head to Egypt, I’ll be with you all the way. Obviously, Moses’ 40 years in Midian was preparation for this monumental task as he knew the land well.

Israel. Imagine you’re a Hebrew slave who has just escaped Egypt and have seen what God did to set them free. “All right! We’re headed to the Promised Land. A land of milk and honey. Our troubles are over.” Not so fast. They became disgruntled. They became tired of traveling, tired of manna, tired of not having a place to call home. If you’ve ever taken a road trip with kids, the most common words you’ll probably hear are “I’m hungry” and “Are we there yet?” That was the Hebrews. About half-way through the journey Moses sent 12 scouts to check out the Promised Land. After 40 days, two scouts brought back favorable reports. The other ten were “Debbie Downers.” “We’ve come all this way just to fall into the hands of another oppressor” was their sentiment. They were not ready to stop and settle down, so God sent them on to wander 40 years. They needed preparation time.

David and Goliath. The Philistines were on the march. According to I Samuel 17, they had gathered at Socoh in Judah. Saul and the Israeli army were on a nearby mountain. Between them lay the Valley of Elah. The Israelites drew into a battle formation.

Then Goliath stepped forward from among the Philistine army. The Bible description of his height is six cubits and a span. Let’s put that into something we can relate to. Goliath was about 9 ½ feet tall. If he lived today, he would be the GOAT of the NBA. Likewise, his armor was massive with a  protective coat weighing as much at 156 pounds. His spear was 26 feet long and his helmet was 17 pounds. He challenged the Israelites to a one-on-one battle, winner take all. This went on for (you guessed it) 40 days. 

David was tending his father’s flock and was not initially involved in this scenario. Jesse sent David to the Israeli camp with food for his brothers. When David got there, Goliath came out and the Israelites fled. About age 17, David was somewhat naively aghast, saying “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26). A teenager often thinks he is invincible, even back then. When David volunteered to take on Goliath, and was discouraged and ridiculed, he basically replied “I’ve been preparing for this all my life. I have rescued sheep from lions and bears, this uncircumcised Philistine is no different.” After refusing to wear the King’s armor (“I haven’t trained with with this armor, it will hinder me.”) he picked five stones, got his sling, put a stone in it, and plopped Goliath in the forehead. Dead on the ground. Imagine the shock that overtook The Philistines. Their champion was dead. They fled and Israel was once again saved. Someone once quipped that David had five stones because maybe Goliath had four brothers. He knew he could hit Goliath in only one try.

Jonah. As we are dealing with the number 40, we can ignore the lead up to Jonah’s story. The relevant portion for us today is found in Jonah 3 where Jonah walked through Nineveh, proclaiming God’s message given to him. “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The Ninevites listened as the king issued a proclamation that everyone should call on God and give up their evil ways. The 40-day deadline was avoided.

Samson. The Israelites had been under the domination of the Philistines for 40 years and God sent a strong man, Samson, to rescue them. Samson was far from perfect in his ways, but serves as a reminder that God can use anyone, maybe even if they are unwilling or unaware. 

Elijah. I like Elijah. I can identify with him. He had just had an astounding victory. In a confrontation with 450 prophets of Baal, he single-handedly showed the power of God and bested the prophets, killing them all (I Kings 19). Then he heard that Jezebel had sworn to have Elijah killed. So Elijah high-tailed it out of town, sat under a tree and had a massive pity-party. God came to him, fed him, gave him drink and sent him on a journey to Horeb. A 40-day journey to get his mind right.

Jesus. There are at least two instances in Jesus’ earthly life that involve 40 days. In the first instance Jesus was beginning his ministry. After Jesus was baptized, Luke 4 tells us that “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness” (v. 1). It is worth noting that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit. Jesus did not go into the wilderness unprepared. He was Spirit-led. He fasted. Prayer is often associated with fasting, so it is likely that Jesus prayed during this time. He spent 40 days in the wilderness. 

At the end of this time, Matthew records (Chapter 4) that He became hungry and the devil came to Him. But the human Jesus was ready. Knowing Jesus was hungry, he appealed to that hunger and told Jesus to prove himself by turning the stones into bread. Jesus replied “Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” Strike one.

Not to be deterred, Satan took Jesus up, showing Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan offered them to Him, saying  “I will give You all this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I want.  Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” (Luke 4:6-7). Note that Satan was correct. He is the ruler of Earth . Once again, Jesus quoted scripture to him. Deuteronomy 6:13, telling Satan  “You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.” Strike two.

Still hoping, Satan once again tried to trip Jesus by quoting scripture. Taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple he told Jesus to throw himself down. Quoting Psalm 91:11 (“For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.”) He was appealing to God’s protection of Jesus. “Why not throw yourself down. Your God will protect you.” Jesus retorted with scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16) “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Strike three and you’re out! Satan, then as now, did not give up but left to lick his wounds and plan his next attack.

Jesus spent 40 agonizing days fasting and praying. When that period was done, Jesus returned to Galilee “in the power of the Spirit” to begin his ministry. Day 41 was upon Him. And He had prepared himself.

There are three lessons for us here. One, Jesus was led by the Spirit. If we deviate from that we will fail. Two, Jesus knew the Scripture and used it against Satan. Three, Satan knows the Scripture but he misused it. Knowing scripture helps us when someone misquotes or applies it erroneously. For example I could tell you (Matthew 27:5) that Judas went out and hung himself. Then I could follow up and tell you (Luke 10:37 NIV) “Go and do likewise.”  

The other 40-day event in Jesus’ life occurred after His resurrection. Only this time, Jesus was not preparing himself, he was demonstrating to His followers that he was, indeed, alive. He was also preparing them to carry on His ministry, assuring them that the Holy Spirit would be given them. So, in a sense, this was  40 days of preparation for his disciples. During these 40 days he revealed himself, reminding His followers that he told them he would rise after three days. Just before His ascension, we were given the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There are four things we need to remember. First, Jesus’ statement is that when He ascends and the Holy Spirit comes, we will receive His authority. Second, we are to go make disciples and teach them. Third, those disciples will be baptized by water and the Spirit. Fourth, He is always with us.

Day 41. In all of these 40-day  (year) periods, we see that those involved are undergoing a time of testing and preparation. It is a difficult time and we must endure. Enduring the 40 days (years) of preparation we have finished this course. We are ready for what God has for us. Victory is secured, we have graduated. This brings to mind the word “commencement,” often used to refer to the graduation ceremonies. Commencement, in addition to reference to a graduation ceremony, also refers to the beginning or start of something. Let God mold you, prepare you, and don’t give up. He has great things for you if you will only claim them. We are ready for God’s next challenge for us. We are ready to commence. In 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul wrote “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.”

We endure, we undergo trials and testing. At the end of the course, at the end of our “40” our reward is bestowed on us by our Lord. Claim your “41” for all eternity. 

 

Unless otherwise indicated all scripture is from the New American Standard Bible.

Photo credit to Adrian Vieriu from Pexels

 

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Wear Your Faith

Last Christmas, my step-daughter and her husband gave me an assortment of “Bible Socks.” If you haven’t seen these advertised, they are high-quality socks with a graphic design and a Bible verse or other scriptural encouragement. As someone who likes “unconventional” clothing, I really enjoy these socks. And I could feel good about wearing them as they convey a positive message. 

Then it dawned on me that they didn’t convey much of a message. If I posted a scripture passage on a roadside bulletin board, that would be a message that thousands would see. Since I normally wear dress boots when I wear these socks, not many people would actually see them unless I sat down and crossed my legs or if I wore shorts with these socks (and that isn’t happening – I am not that unconventional).

So I put on my thinking cap and pondered. Since I am retired, I ponder a lot now. My wife, Heather, says I am a deep thinker but I call it pondering. Two thoughts emerged. First, I realized that some people might see the socks and the socks might have a positive effect. I realize this is nothing on the scale of a Billy Graham Evangelistic Crusade nor a sold out concert by a Christian performer, but it could impact someone.

The second thing that occurred to me was that maybe I wasn’t wearing the socks just as a positive witness to others. The socks can, and do, serve as an encouragement to me. When I sit down and cross my legs, I see a scripture, maybe “Trust in the Lord” that reminds me that I can place my trust in Him when life seems too difficult for me. Or “I can do all things” when I encounter difficulties.

Ephesians 6:15 comes to mind. “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace (NIV).” Wearing these socks helps me to “put on the whole armor of God” as described in the broader passage here. In MacLaren’s Expositions, the author suggests two things about this passage. First, five of the six items mentioned are defensive. Only the sword is an offensive weapon. With this in mind he suggests that the passage might better be referred to as preparedness rather than preparation. We aren’t just to prepare, we are to be always ready to defend ourselves against attacks from the evil one. 

I Peter 3:15-16 reads “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, but with gentleness and respect; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame (NASB).” We should be ready! Ready when people speak derisively about our faith, or when they make a sincere inquiry about that faith. In speaking with gentleness and respect, we are upholding the faith and putting those who attack us to shame. And we can do it with a clear conscience – no regrets.

Please don’t think I have it all perfected. I am a sinner, just like every one of you. My socks help me have the attitude mentioned in this passage. Socks, of course, are not the only thing we can use. Jewelry carrying a faith message can be helpful. If a man wears a tie, he can wear one with a gospel message. Christian T-shirts are frequently worn as a witness. A visitor to my home once commented on the religious items evident in my home. If you come to my home, you will have no doubt about where I stand with God.

At one time, I carried a small cross in my pocket to remind me of these things. One day I was in an automobile accident, in which I was fortunate not to sustain any injuries. When I got home that day, I noticed that I had two crosses in my pocket. My thought was that God was protecting me doubly that day. I’m not saying that the cross kept me from injury, but the cross brought to my awareness that He protects me.

There is nothing magical about these religious icons, but they can remind us of who we are and whose we are. An icon can be described as a famous person or thing that is used to represent a 

 

set of beliefs or a way of life. These socks, or other objects, can be used to represent our faith. How do you show your faith daily?

 

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