Not Misplaced by God (Part 4)

Do your friends and family know you better by a nickname than your real name?  A nickname usually is never chosen by a person, but rather by a friend or family member who witnessed you doing something funny, strange, unusual, or memorable.  Whether you like it or not, a nickname has a strange way of holding on to one's identity throughout life.  It was no different for Daniel.  In chapter one, we find Daniel being carried away to a pagan land, removed from his country and people, taken to an unwanted location, living in unfamiliar environments, and working in an unlikely mission.  To make matters worse, now the king wants to change his identity.  Daniel and his three friends are given pagan names (1:6-7), as a way of erasing their past life and giving them a new start.  Will Daniel (God is my Judge) choose to continue to trust in his God, who seems missing, or will he embrace his new identity as Belteshazzar (may Bel protect), and embrace a new god?  

Life is not fair!  There will be times in the life of a Christian in which the world will try to brand you with a new identity.  The world wants you and I to be like them, to join in their foolishness, to give caution to the wind, and to live according to our own rules.  Each new name given by king Nebuchadnezzar was an attempt to rob their allegiance to the true God and replace it with the false god of materialism, sex, and prosperity.  If the world is not successful in getting a child of God to act, talk, and think like them, then they will begin to label God's children with all sort of false titles and descriptions (like holy Joe, bigoted, narrow-minded, goody two shoes, ect...) that are used to break their spirits and belittle one's faith.  Through all the name calling, you can rest assure that God knows His children by name, and no matter the labels the world places on us, God has not misplaced His children.  And we have a promise in Revelation 2:17, that those who overcome this world will be given a new name from our Heavenly Father.  When we realize that God is pleased when we wear His name with distinction in this world, then we will be less stressed in this world.  Until next time, keep walking close with Christ. 

Not Misplaced By God (Part 3)

If you were to ask most Christians what place of service God would most likely choose for His children, you might get a variety of answers that center around the theme of "Ministries of the church".  Many Christians think that they are not a "higher tier Christian" if they are not a pastor, evangelist, missionary, or even Sunday school teacher.  This idea could not be further from the truth.  Yes, it is correct to say that God has called all of His children to be missionaries, but as one man put it, "I am a missionary cleverly disguised as a plumber."

We see this truth lived out in the life of Daniel.  Daniel is not a prophet, walking the streets, preaching the judgment of God (like Jeremiah).  Daniel is not a prophet leading people through a dry wilderness (like Moses).  Daniel is not a missionary explaining the gospel to pagans (like Paul).  God has called Daniel to be a prophet, cleverly disguised as a politician.  What!  God would call someone to work in politics?   Yes, God needs His children available to work in every part of this world, to be a light for the gospel in a dark environment. 

Daniel realized that he was not misplaced by God, even though given the most unimaginable mission for a  Jew.  A devout Jewish male did not want to be serving in the palace of the "anti-Christ", but rather in the Kingdom of the Messiah.  But Daniel accepted the events and mission he was given, but did so without compromising his faith and trust in the sovereign God. (1:4-5).  You see no matter where you are working in this earthy realm, Christians must hold to two truths: First, God has given you that job, and He wants you to witness for Him wherever that job may be.  Second, your secular position never gives you the right to compromise God's Word with your actions.  No matter the job you have, work every day for God's glory, knowing He has placed you on mission for Him.  If you remember this every day, then your work will be not as stressful and unsatisfying.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.

Not Misplaced By God (Part 2)

A week ago, I took my family to a baseball game, specifically to watch the firework show at the end of the game.  The game had everything you could image, including a grand-slam, but it also had a lot of sun.  Three out of the four hours we spent staring at the sun, making our experience a little warm to say the least.  Throughout the game I kept hearing my five year old daughter make the following statement, "It's too hot.  This was not a good day to come to the game."  What my daughter was saying was not that she did not like the game, but rather the location of our seats and the blazing sun made the game less enjoyable.  The prophet Daniel could have made the same observation as he was being dragged from his homeland of Judea, to the foreign city of Babylon (Daniel 1).  Of all places that God would chose to send His children, why Babylon?  This city was the most modern city of it's time, but it was also a pagan, idolatress, immoral, and very wicked city.  Before Las Vegas, Babylon's motto was "What happens in Babylon stays in Babylon!" 

So Daniel had to decide quickly whether God had control of every event taking place in his life.  If he was going to survive spiritually in such a wicked environment as Babylon, he must hold tightly to the truth that Jehovah God is sovereign, and no matter how dire the location, this God would never misplaced any of His children.  This truth even applies when we find ourselves in places and locations where we don't want to be.  Have you been there?  (hospital, funeral home, unemployment line, new school or city, or even alone on the streets)  As a Christian, you will never survive the worry and stress that comes from ending up in unwanted locations until you begin to realize that the key to a victorious mindset begins when I trust God conpletely with my life, my future, and with those unwanted locations.  Just like Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther, Moses, and may other servants, God always uses those unlikely places to help us grow and depend on Him, as well us He plants us in unwanted locations to be His light to those living in darkness.  Well, until next time, keep walking close with Christ.   

Not Misplaced by God

Have you ever misplaced something that was a great worth and value to you?  Of course we all have!  How stressful and how anxious be become as the deadline draws near and we have yet to find our wallet, purse, keys, concert tickets, or even our child.  It is no different with humanity.  As billions of people roam throughout this earth, most live with a constant feeling of being lost, misplaced, or not even cared for on this giant rock we call earth.  Even for Christians, there will be times in our lives in which we feel misplaced on this earth by God.  It was no different for Daniel, a young teenager ripped from his home land of Judea, forced to live as a slave, and dropped into an alien environment in Babylon.  Here was a young man who loved God, and now is all alone in a hostile and pagan environment, forced to surround himself by the very things that he was taught to be sin.  Yet, it is in this situation that Daniel learns about living each day with conviction that God is completely sovereign.

In Daniel 1:1-7, Daniel showed his confidence in God's sovereignty by living his life on the truth that God had not misplaced him; God knew exactly where he was - even during the uncontrollable circumstances in his life (1:1-2).  Daniel did not have a vote or a choice whether king Nebuchadnezzar would attack and destroy his city of Jerusalem.  He had no control whether or not to go as a captive to Babylon.  But even as this young man's world crumbled around him, he could see the hand of God when he wrote, "The LORD gave Jehoiakim to Nebuchadnezzar" (1:2).  Daniel learned an important lesson about life, even though he was not able to control the outward circumstances of life, he could always trust in the God who controls everything.  And if you and I live with such a mindset, our life will be less stressful when our world is turned inside out.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.    

Back to the Future (Part 23)

In the last chapter of Revelation were hear three voices encourage and instruct the readers of this precious book: an angel, the Lamb, and finally the apostle John.  John, the recipient of this letter, pens the epilogue in the form of three points of encouragement and warning.  First, there is always a blessing upon those who are redeemed (14-15).  This is a reoccurring theme in the whole Bible, which goes contrary to the world's teaching.  Those who flee sin and have a hatred toward those actions that displease God, will aways be approved by God; while those who practice sin will never be able to inherit heaven.  Second, John gives us the prayer of the Holy Spirit and the Church.  This one word prayer is always on the lips of the Holy Spirit, and should be on the lips of each blood-bought Christian - "COME!"  This prayer has two purposes: first, to invite the lost to the Living Water.  Second, it is a prayer that invites God's Kingdom to come even now. 

The final word of instruction from John includes a curse that must be understood in light of Deut. 29:19-20.  When a covenant was entered into by two parties, the consequences for not keeping the document and agreement were usually listed at the end of the document.  God has placed a curse upon all those who have disguised themselves as wolves in sheep's clothing in the church.  Any false teacher who adds or takes away from this book and from God's Word will find themselves under God's curse of eternal judgment and separated from His eternal presence.  This warning is directed to anyone who thinks they are bigger than God and choose to deliberately tamper with Scripture and teach false doctrine.  No true believer would ever deliberately tamper with Scripture.  We may mistakenly teach or interpret God's Word, but to knowingly change what God has said into a lie is worthy of God's death penalty.  Never forget, at the beginning of this book we are given a wonderful blessing each time we read and obey it (1:3).  If we daily remember who is in control of our lives and who has the whole world in His hands, then our lives will be less stressful.  Until next time, keep walking close with Christ Jesus.    

Back to the Future (Part 22)

We have been looking at the last chapter of the Bible, written by the apostle John, to Christians around the world.  The final words are words of encouragement to those who are going through great persecution for being a follower of Christ.  Many who read this book are discouraged, hurting, and looking for any sign of hope for the return of Christ.  So it should not surprise us that the last chapter is filled with words of encouragement, from three different sources, to Christian readers living in various stressful times.  The first words came from the lips of an angel in the form of three commands:  Believe in God's true word!  Worship God alone!  Continue living holy lives was you wait for Christ's return! 

The second person to speak and encourage the Christian reader come from the lips of the Lamb, Christ Jesus.  Notice what Jesus has to say to the believer as they live expecting and waiting for God's kingdom to be completed on this earth as it is in heaven.  First, Jesus states that He will always bless the obedient (22:7).  Those who "heed" are those who obey, protect, and guard God's Word in their lives.  If we choose to obey all of God's written word, then there is a continual blessing on those believers.  Second, Jesus emphasises that He is coming quickly (22:7,12-13,20).  The word "quickly" does not mean in a few minutes, but rather implies that the clock has been started, and it cannot be stopped by man or event.  Jesus Christ is coming soon and everything is on course for that event.  Third, Jesus encourages the reader to always remember that He is the author of the book (22:16).  Human nature has a demonic tendency to put the Bible on the same level of any other religious book or secular book written by men.  The Bible has it's origins from the very lips of God, and it is a miracle that He used sinful men, led under the power of the Holy Spirit, to pen the words that He spoke.  If we believe that He wrote this book, then everything in it's pages is complete and true, just like God's own character.  And we have this assurance that if we completely believe and obey Jesus' final instruction to us, then you and I will live out a victorious Christian life and will have less stress as we wait for His return.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.       

Back to the Future (Part 21)

When we come to the final chapter in the book of Revelation, we hear three distinct voices giving the Apostle John, as well as it's readers, final instruction about our activities, as we wait for Christ's return.  John does not hear instructions to pursue, wealth, health, prosperity, and happiness.  The final instruction for all believers is to pursue holiness as we wait for the return of our Lord and Savior.  If we live our lives as the world preaches, to pursue the advancement of self interest, I can guarantee a life filled with unwanted stress and misery.  But if we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and pursue after a life of obedience and holiness in accordance to God's Holy Word, then and only then will we begin to understand our true purpose of life and be less worried about tomorrow as we seek to live each day for God's glory. 

In Revelation 22:6,8-9,10-11, we hear the voice of God's angel giving John three important directives.  First, Believe in This Book for it is True (6).  I read a teenager's comments the other day that stated since the world is changing and becoming more understanding, the Bible needs to be updated to 21st century times.  How foolish to say that you believe in a perfect God and yet in the next breathe state that the Bible has errors and needs to be modernized.  God's Word is unique in that it stands the test of time for any civilization.  The Word speaks to every human need without compromise: the problem of sin and humanities need for a Savior.  Second, John is instructed to Worship God Alone (8-9).  That command needs no explanation other than the fact as you continue reading, Jesus Christ is that God worthy of worship.  Third, the angel instructions John to Continue Living Holy Lives (10-11).   Those who are bent toward sin will continue to sin without repentance, yet the true believer will hate sin and seek to live a life as Christ lived, holy and righteous before God.  If you and I hear and live out these three commands, not only is God pleased with us, but you will have a less stressful time understanding God's purpose for you life.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.