Back to the Future (Part 5)

I have entitled my blog "Walking with God relieves stress." Note, I did not say that walking with God guarantees that you will be problem free. Stress is mainly a problem brought on with the idea of "not having control" of life's circumstances. Stress is greatly removed from the life of a Christian who daily realizes that their life is not their own, but rather gives total control to Jesus Christ to pilot their life as long as they are given breath to live. With Christ in the driver's seat, why should I fear or get stressed out with life's surprises? This mindset can be illustrated with two of the seven churches found in Revelation chapters 2 & 3, Smyrna and Philadelphia. These two are the only churches found in John's seven letters that only hear a good report from Jesus. There is nothing negative to be said about these two churches. These churches were not perfect, but rather they were walking with Christ so closely, that they were doing everything that God has called the New Testament church to do in a lost and hostile world.

Yet take a closer look at both churches and their environment of ministry. Both congregations are experiencing great persecution and even death. It is said of Smyrna that these believers are suffering, some are in prison, and some will even be killed for the faith (2:10). In Philadelphia, the believers here are poor, weak, and under great pressure from Jewish persecution (3:8-9). Walking close to Christ will in fact bring more opposition your way and my way. But there is no amount of persecution and suffering that can over shadow the love and faithfulness of the churches one, true, and only foundation - Jesus Christ. As I heard from the lips of one persecuted Christian church leader from Somalia, "You may kill me once, but you will never touch me again, for I belong to Jesus Christ." This should give us great incentive to continue faithfully in the work that God as called us to. Until next time, continue walking closely with Christ.

Back to the Future (Part 4)

Do you like awards, trophies, medals, certificates of appreciation, or gifts? I have never met anyone who would say no to that question. In fact, it seems that deep in the human spirit, there rest an overwhelming desire to be recognized and even honored. In fact, humans beings in general are always striving for their "fifteen minutes of fame." Shows like "Fear Factor", "Survivor", and yes even "Toddlers and Tiaras". Usually, when someone takes their own life, it is not after they won a million dollars on a game show, or sign a contract with a record deal after a you-tube video went viral, or even after staring on a reality TV show. Suicide rates are highest among those who are lonely, bullied, and even those who are overlooked for a moment of honor.

When we look at Scripture we see that Christians should not seek honor and recognition for the attention alone (Matthew 23), but that does not mean we have nothing to work for in this life.
Jesus and Paul speak often of awards that will be given to God's children at the end of this age. This promise is clearly seen in Revelations 2 & 3 at the end of each letter to the church, Jesus concludes by reminding His persecuted children of the awards that will be theirs when they overcome this life through their faithfulness to Jesus Christ. Here are the awards: access to the tree of life (2:7), crown of life (2:10), manna and a new name (2:17), authority over the nations (2:26), permanent name (3:5), permanent residence in New Jerusalem (3:12), to reign with Jesus (3:21). Jesus Himself has personally promised to honor and award those in heaven who are faithful to the very end of their life here on earth. And if you look closely at each award, they all speak to the same priceless honor - "Eternal salvation and life with Jesus in a new heaven and new earth." When you think about the greatness of this award, then our outlook on this life as Christians should take on more purpose and less stress. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Back to the Future (Part 3)

It is often that we hear the following statement said of many people we know, "So and so over came ___________." (a particular obstacle in one's life) We can fill in the blank with a variety of situations: alcohol addiction, cancer, depression, loss of job, debt... It is a wonderful feeling to be able to celebrate with those who were facing such great, negative odds in life, only to come out of the other side as victors, as overcomers. The same idea can be clearly seen in the pages of Scripture, in Revelation chapters 2 & 3. In each letter that John is commanded to write to the seven different churches is Asia Minor, Jesus uses these words when speaking to each church, "He who overcomes." (2:7,11,17,26:3:5,12,21)

First, to better understand those who overcome, we must define the overcomers in the eyes of God. 1 John 5:4 gives us that definition, "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." Simply, those who overcome the world are those who know and acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Second, what is the hardship that a Christian must overcome? The quick answer would be sin and death that all men are bound to in this life. Yet the seven letters were sent to churches, distinct body of believers who overcame the persecution of their faith in Christ. They overcame the assault of false teachers and doctrine upon their congregations. They overcame the desires of the fresh with the spiritual desires of the Spirit of God. It is the true believer that will overcome the spiritual attack of one's faith and growth in this life. The overcomers are those who stand firm in the spiritual battle against the wicked assault of the enemy. The overcomers are those who stand under the blood of the Lamb in the face of mounting opposition. Are you an overcomer? An overcomer will not have an easy life on earth, but it will be less stressful as you stand with Christ. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Timeout!

It frustrates me when I am watching a game on TV, and by the time I get settled in, one of the coaches calls a time out, or even worse, the referees call a time out for a media break. Well, let me take a time out during our walk through the book of Revelations. I was reading a verse today that spoke to my heart that I decided to write about it in this weeks blog. Proverbs 28:26 states: "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered." The book of Proverbs is all about the benefits of walking in wisdom verses living as a fool. Let me define both key words in order to have a better understanding of what the writer is saying. A "fool" is one who lives their life as if there is no God (Ps. 14:1). In other words, a fool does not invite God into any decision he or she may make. They live as if they are the lone boss of their life. On the other side, "wisdom" has been described as "the voice of God." Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 28:26 simply warns the human race not to conduct their life outside of God's rulebook, the Bible. Only those who listen to God's voice, a voice that speaks through the pages of God's Holy Word, will find refuge and safety in this life. How many times have you heard this advice from the world or even from behind some pulpits? "Just listen to your heart." This verse in Proverbs commands us not to follow the desires of our heart. Our heart will only lead us astray, it will seek to remove God from His rightful place in our lives. Discipline your heart to hear the voice of God (1 Kings 19:13). Then discipline your life to obey His commands. When this verse becomes our life's goal and focus, then you will have a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Back to the Future (Part 2)

Someone has said that true living is in who you know. I have had the experience of doing many different things in life, but some of my "dreams" have not turned out as I would have thought. I have always felt that I was at a disadvantage to most because I truly do not have any "connections" in life. We hear all the time of people getting their dream job, or getting that promotion, or called to participate in a prestigious event simply because of the person that they were friends with. A friend who made one call, and that call guaranteed action. But during those times I find myself having a pity party about my life, and bemoaning the fact that I have little to no connections with anyone of any power and authority in this life, the Holy Spirit quickly asks me one question, "If you have no one of any authority in your life, then who is Christ to you?" When hearing that question/reprimand, I repent and find comfort that Christ Jesus is enough. He opens and closes any door that no one can close or open. (Rev. 3:9)

As Jesus commissions John to write the book of Revelation to the persecuted church, He does so by clearly expressing how powerful He truly is in this world. Not only does John take Jesus seriously, but the King behind this book ought to be listened to and obeyed without delay. He is clothed as a priest, full of maturity and wisdom. His eyes are all knowing and penetrate the very hearts of men. His feet are stable, pure, and cannot be moved. His voice speaks and the whole creation trembles. His hands hold the very pastor of each church. His tongue is the very Word of God that protects the church. He is so radiant that no one dare stand upright in His presence. (1:12-20) This is the God who has commission this book of hope, comfort, and warning to all men. If you personally know this God, Jesus Christ, then your life will be less stressful than those who choose to reject His Word. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Back to the Future (Part 1)

One of the most stressful questions we humans ask ourselves is, "What will my future be like?" Every civilization has tried to paint a picture of what human history will be like twenty, fifty, a hundred, or even a thousand years from now. The uncertainty of man's future has caused many ulcers to form in many stomachs. The afterlife is a subject every religion tries to answer. Most religions paint a more positive life than negative when describing man's future. Some try to ignore the future and just focus on the here and now. The Christian faith does not try to minimize the future, in fact the Bible clearly describes the future of humanity and is clear about man's final destination. The Book of Revelation has been embraced by many (and has been misunderstand and misapplied by just as many) as a book of hope, comfort, optimism, and even fear. The closer we look at this book it is clear that every man's destination will end in one of two locations: heaven or the lake of fire. Heaven is the very definition of peace and love, while Hell will be a real place whose environment is the opposite of peace and love.

In Revelation 1:1-8, we see two very important facts about humanities future: First, there is only one who is in our our past, present, and future, and He is Jesus Christ, the the subject line of human history. And the second fact is man's promise of deliverance from this sinful world. Many people read the book of Revelation, and focus on angels, wars, plagues, death, tribulation, and even heaven. But the main subject of this book is Jesus. The very first words in this book make this clear: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ..." Jesus is described as the true witness, the one who has risen from the dead, the ruler of all the earth, and the one who has died for man's sins (vs.5). It is Jesus who has not abandoned this world, but He is coming back to take back what is rightfully His, and to make all things perfect and right. His coming is as sure as His existence. It may seem that the world is too chaotic to be saved, but there is coming a day when "He is coming in the clouds and every eye will see Him..." (vs. 7) When you allow Christ to be in control of your future, then no matter what comes your way, you can rest knowing that you are in good hands; hands that guarantee a less stressful life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Who is God (Part 5)

The last description of God found in Isaiah 45 may be one the the characteristics of God that confound men the most. The God of the Bible describes Himself as a God who at times hides and at times seeks (45:15,19). Is God playing a game with man? Absolutely not! What He means by "hiding" is that God chooses to be silent at various points in history. He may chose to walk with Adam in the garden, but thousands of years pass before he speaks to Noah. He may choose to reveal Himself to Isaiah one year and then allow over 500 years to pass before we read of His birth in Bethlehem. There are deliberate times in which it may seem that God is removed or distant from creation, but the reality is that when He chooses not to speak to man, He is always watching.

Isaiah 55:6 tells us to "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon Him while He is near." Luke 19:10 tells us that Jesus came to seek and to save those who were lost." The God of Scripture is the only God who cares enough to find those who are lost (humanity). Other gods fend for themselves or struggle to meet their own needs, while Jehovah is all about rescuing those who are destined for hell, and bringing men into His presence. This God is one who not only has made Himself known through Scripture but one day will return to make Himself known to all the earth. He will gather those who walk by faith in the work of the cross to Himself; and those who walked according to the gods of their own mind will be cast away forever from His presence. The question is, "Have you been found by God?" If you have, then you will have a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Who is God (Part 4)

The word "save" is used to describe many different activities in this life. You may have heard statements like: "Mom saved me a piece of cake,""The pitcher saved the game,"or "It is important to save some money for a rainy day." But what does it mean to worship a God who saves? In Isaiah 45, four times God declares another important fact about His character. He claims to be a saving God (Savior). You see all the gods of the pagans. around Israel, were gods who thought more about themselves then they did humans. So most of the time they spent all their energy protecting their own hides rather than the people who worshipped them. In fact read Isaiah 46, in which God describes the scene in which humans have to save their home made gods from the invasion of their enemies. So the concept of "a saving God" is very unique to Christianity.

When God makes this statement of Himself, it is in the context that He is the only God (45:5-6). So any hope of deliverance rest solely on this God, Jehovah. When God saves, it is eternal, permanent (45:17). One of the last statements of declaration by God is this, "Look to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other." (22) Man must focus their attention and eyesight to this God before their can be salvation. This image is clearly a reference to both the brazen serpent that Moses lifted up in the wilderness, to bring healing to the rebellious people who were being bitten by snakes; and also a clear reference to the cross that Jesus (whose name means Savior) would suffer and die upon over 500 years later (John 3:14-15). When a man, woman, boy, or girl looks and believes by faith in the cross of Jesus Christ , then and only then can they be saved. And when you choose to follow and obey the only true Savior, Jesus Christ, then this is reason enough to have a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Who is God (Part 3)

Men throughout our civilization have killed each other over this basic statement, "I am right and you are not." Human nature is so bent toward selfish motivations, that it come natural for one man to subject the weaker man to his way of thinking. And in the process make the weaker feel even more inferior by not marching to the beat of his ego. (I guess this could be one definition of religion) Every nation is filled with stressed out people whose leaders govern from what they deem best for the people, not by what is truly best for the nation as a whole. And the end result is sinful leaders leading sinful people in a sinful direction. How depressing is this?

If we truly believe that the God revealed in the Bible is holy, just, and perfect, then it would do us service to listen to what He says about Himself, and then live our lives accordingly. We are looking in Isaiah 45 to see how the God of the Bible makes Himself unique from every god worshipped my man. This God claims to be God alone. He states that He alone is giver of life and death. And in verses 8,19,23-24, He clearly claims to be always right. He is the Righteous God. He is the standard for what truth and right really looks like. God sets the standards of what is right. If it is left up to man, then righteousness is whatever I want to do. But if I follow God's instruction, then I can never go wrong. Hosea 14:9 - "Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." What if men governed their lives and ruled their people according to God's righteousness? The result would be a prosperous nation, and a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Who is God (Part 2)

I have found in my short thirty-eight years of living, that most of my stress in life comes from the fact that as a human I want to live. Our bodies long for survival, and anything that obstructs that course causes us to fight. The will to live is powerful. And just as powerful is the reality that in a second my life can be over. If I as a human want to have a more peaceful mind set, I must realize that the God of the Bible wants me to submit to His authority and purpose for my life. The second description that God reveals of Himself to man (Isaiah 47) is, God is the giver of life and death. In verse 8, God tells us that He is the Creator of the whole earth. In verses 9-10, God scolds man for being so proud as to talk back to his Creator, God. In verse 18 He reaffirms His promise that all of His creation, including humans, have a divine purpose.

You see the God who makes Himself known in Scripture calls Himself the only Creator. And since He is the Creator of the universe, doesn't that fact alone give Him total control over every aspect of our lives. At any moment He could choose to take His air out of our lungs, or take back His blood from our heart...and we would die. He also can choose to give us 10 years, 30 years, 70 years, or 100 years to live. He makes the call for our life. He has that right. So when I recognized who He is, accept that He alone has the best for my life, choose not to question His will but to follow the guidelines set forth in His Word, then I will have less worry in my life. You see again, a life given completely over to God is a life at peace with the past, present, and future events that make up your life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Who is God? (Part 1)

One of the biggest stress relievers I have is knowing that I don't have to be anyone else but me. It really doesn't matter what someone else thinks I am or what I should be, as long as I am being true to God and using my gifts and talents that God has given me, then I'm OK with just being me. There is too much stress found in trying to be someone else. In the spiritual realm, I too have great peace knowing that I don't have to make up my own "god" or try to create the "perfect god" on my own. There are only two ways that humans can know anything about God, first, we can explore what men tells me about various gods (this is call religion), or second, we can listen to what God says about Himself (this is called wisdom). Psalms 115:8 tells us that when men create idols (gods), they are idols that look and act like sinful men. So the question we must ask ourselves is, "What does God say about Himself?"

In Isaiah 45, God tells the prophet Isaiah to give King Cyrus a description of the true and living God. The Persian Empire worshipped many gods, along with Israel at this time. The God revealed to us in the Bible, Jehovah, uses this chapter to describe Himself with some powerful language that we as humans should not ignore The first description found throughout this chapter is that God is God alone (45:5-6,14,18,21,22). Note how many times God says that there is only one God, and He is Him. On the very surface we as humans can do one of two things, either accept that God is telling us the truth, or consider Him a lunatic and liar. Humanity has been constantly coming up with their own versions of God, i.e. Allah, Buddha, The One, Baal. Yet Jehovah is quit different than all gods, and this chapter proves it. This God declares that He is the only God that lives, and will be the only God that all of humanity will stand before and worship (45:23). When I accept and submit to God's description of Himself, I have found that my life is more at peace with simply trusting in the only God who truly lives. Next week we will look at the implications of God describing Himself as Creator. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Having a Kingdom Attitude 22

As we look at the last verses of Matthew 7, I am reminded of all the recent natural disasters that have overwhelmed our nation in this last year. Tornadoes, fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, etc., all have been apart of our lives, and have reminded us how truly insignificant we as humans are in this vast universe. I have been through several major storms in my life, including tornadoes, and I can say that when one is facing those type of powerful storms, there is a sense of fear and stress that surrounds our minds and hearts during those events. The apostle Matthew gives us the last metaphor that Jesus uses to expose the truth and helps distinguish real Christians verses fake Christians. This metaphor is of two foundations, one being made out of rock (vs. 24-25), and the one made our of sand (26-27). Both foundations and homes built on those sites face a great storm, yet the end result is the house built on the rock stood firm, while the one built on the sand was destroyed.

A true believer will face all sort of storms and troubles in life. As John Hayes writes, "Give us fewer books with titles like The Power of Positive Thinking and more books with titles like Failing but Still Surviving. The true calm in the storm, the true relief from the stress of this life comes when we know on what foundation we are building our life and the lives of our family upon. Jesus makes a power statement when describing the unshakable foundation, he states that this firm foundation are "My Words." If you build your life on God's Word, the Bible, then you will stand forever (which includes heaven); but those who live their lives according to any other set of blueprints, will experience a great collapse during the storms of life, including death itself. Jesus' teaching is clear, there is only two choices one can make in life, and only one correct way to heaven. When you choose Jesus, the only way (John 14:6), then you will have a less stressed life. Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.