Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • legacy 2

    —

    Dana

    Once again, here’s the chorus of Nicole Nordeman’s song, “Legacy”:
    I want to leave a legacy.
    How will they remember me?
    Did I choose to love?
    Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
    I want to leave an offering.
    A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
    And leave that kind of legacy.

    If Jesus had been asked to name a person who left a great legacy, I think he would have answered quickly: “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.” Jesus then gave insight into prophesy learned Jews often pondered. “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”

    The interesting thing is that John didn’t see himself so clearly. He readily confessed, “I am not the Christ.” So the curious asked, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” and John replied, “I am not.” John wasn’t lying; he just didn’t know.

    The greatest legacies in God’s eyes are left by those who don’t know everything. John knew he was a voice calling in the desert, “Make straight the way of the Lord.” Isaiah’s words had special meaning for John, but he could only preach the things God showed him. As he baptized with water, he talked about One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. John was simply faithful. When the Messiah was revealed, he was overjoyed. The legacy of John was that he was consumed with another. Nicole Nordeman would say he pointed to Jesus “enough to make a mark on things.”

    But though he was faithful, things didn’t turn out the way John expected. His ministry brought criticism. Some concluded, “He has a demon.” Others simply discounted his message of repentance. Then a wicked king threw him in jail… and a wicked queen asked for his head. In the cloud of lonely suffering, doubts invaded the mind of the prophet. “Did I miss it? Is he really the One? Was I somehow deceived?” One whose legacy depends on Christ stands on a solid Rock but often feels like he’s on an uncertain journey. When everyone deserted Jesus after his difficult teaching in John 6, the apostles were a little stunned. “You don’t want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked. “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know you are the Holy One of God.” Peter gave this wonderful reply, but John the Baptist asked a different question. “Go ask Jesus, ‘Are you the One who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’” Jesus told his friends to go report the powerful things he was doing: the blind received sight, the lame could walk, the lepers were healed, the dead were raised, and the good news was preached to the poor. Then Jesus added an intriguing sentence: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

    John’s response to Jesus’ message is not recorded in Scripture, but I’ll bet he was encouraged. “OK… It’s not about my plan; it’s about God’s. I’ll trust him to the end.”

    “John’s disciples came to him and said, ‘Teacher, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you said was the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going over there instead of coming to us.’ John replied, ‘God in heaven appoints each person’s work. You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him – that is all. The bride will go where the bridegroom is. A bridegroom’s friend rejoices with him. I am the bridegroom’s friend and I am filled with joy at his success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. I am of the earth, and my understanding is limited to the things of the earth, but he has come from heaven. He tells what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! Those who believe him discover that God is true. For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God’s Spirit is upon him without limit. The Father loves his Son, and he has given him authority over everything. And all who believe in God’s Son have eternal life. Those who don’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.” John 3:27-36 (New Living Translation)

  • legacy

    —

    Dana

    This is the chorus of Nicole Nordeman’s song, “Legacy”:
    I want to leave a legacy.
    How will they remember me?
    Did I choose to love?
    Did I point to You enough to make a mark on things?
    I want to leave an offering.
    A child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
    And leave that kind of legacy.

    I guess everyone eventually asks the question: Did my life make a difference? Non-believers think about legacies too, but the Christian is concerned with the Heavenly Father’s judgment. He does not examine with ‘worldly wisdom,’ and his evaluations are perfect. “His (the believer’s) work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” (I Cor 3:13-15) The raging fires in California look tame compared to God’s holy fire.

    Most don’t even try to understand such a passage, for the world disregards God and considers only the temporal. The believer knows the eternal is most important so he must ask, “What will God’s fire consume?” This can be a frightening thought and the faint of heart might decide not even to make an attempt. “God is such a perfect judge; I’m just going to bury my talent to make sure I don’t lose it.” Jesus’ parable warns against such a poor strategy as the Master pronounced a dreadful sentence on such a one: “Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

    So what’s your strategy? You know these writings are usually writings to myself. It’s like God asks me to write down what he wants me to live out. Here’s my side of the conversation: “Lord, I don’t want the world’s type of legacy… I want to think like you do. When your fire falls on much that I’ve done in my life, I know it will burn like grass. I’m not going to pretend; forgive me of my sins, my pride, my presumption, and my unbelief. I know I must build on what you’ve done. I know I’ve sinned and fallen short of your glory, but I will hold to the rest of the sentence… that I have been justified freely by your grace through the redemption that came by Jesus. Thank you. So, Lord, you have proclaimed me righteous through your Son, let me live up to what I’ve attained. I know I must build on Jesus Christ. Everything else is going to burn, isn’t it? Only those things solidly built on him, through him, and in him will last. So, Lord, give me wisdom. Give me eyes to see; give me ears to hear. Lord, I offer myself to you. Let me be diligent to use everything you’ve given me for your glory. Lord, fill me with your Spirit that I may not be fooled or distracted by the evil one. Lord, let me build wisely with a heart set on eternity. Let me not be lazy. Let me not be foolish. Let me not be selfish. I depend on you, Lord, Christ in me, the hope of glory. Unless you build the house, I labor in vain. May your Kingdom come and may your will be done in me and in my family and in this earth as it is in Heaven. Amen.”

    “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Cor 3:10-11

  • count

    —

    Dana

    “You are being invited to be a part of the team going to Namibia this spring. Before tickets are purchased, I want to share some important things about the trip. My intent will not be to discourage, but I must be very honest about ‘counting the cost.’” I recently wrote these words to a group of high school students who signed up for a mission trip to Africa.

    Coaches give similar communication before a season. “If you’re going to be a part of this team you need to know the commitment required. You’ll have to practice three hours every day we don’t have games. You’ll have to do everything I demand as a coach. There will be times you won’t like me too much because I’m going to push you beyond the point you think you can go. I want you to be on this team, but you must count the cost.”

    It is not a ‘loveless’ Jesus who gives ‘hard’ words about following him. An ‘honest’ Jesus tells every potential disciple to count the cost. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me… I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters – yes, even his own life – he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross cannot follow me.”

    So why do people sign up for a grueling trip to the other side of the world? Many have heard stories from kids that have gone before. Most will decide the hardships are worth it. Some will say, “This is not about me… it is about serving others and being an instrument of God’s love.” Or why does an athlete decide to join the team? Most realize that anything worth doing is going to involve sacrifice. Many dream of a championship at the end of a season. Some love a coach so much they would do anything to be a part.

    The reasons for following Jesus go a little deeper. First, Jesus reminds us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you.” He is King… and we’ve been bought with a price. But perhaps some of the thoughts above apply. Most of us are inspired by some who have gone before. A ‘cloud of witnesses’ testifies that any hardship or sacrifice is worth it. We all surely realize this life is not just about ‘me.’ The hope of a final victory is more than a dream for the believer… it is a promise from God. And we all should love our Savior so much we would do anything to be called his disciple. Let the Master’s words sink deep…

    “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” Matt 16:25-27

    “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” Matt 19:29-30

    “You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Jn 15:14-15

  • squander

    —

    Dana

    “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” II Peter 1:3-4 (continued below)

    The lady with a rich foreign accent bent down and whispered something in my ear at the plush restaurant overlooking Fenway Park, “Mr. Davis, your bill has been taken care of. The house is yours.” I told my family ‘the house was ours’ and we ordered accordingly! There are at least three ways I could have squandered this golden opportunity:

    1. I could have refused to believe the kind waitress. I could have said to my family, “That crazy lady said ‘the house was ours,’ but don’t believe it. It is too good to be true. You know nothing like this has ever happened to us before, so why should it happen now? You may only order a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with chips. You may get lemon with your water if you’d like.” Wouldn’t my family have loved me for making such a proclamation?
    2. I could have failed to recognize what ‘the house is yours’ meant. Before eating we were invited down to the field where the Red Sox were taking batting practice. We were not the only fans there, but it was a great chance to say ‘hello’ to a player or to get an autograph. Taylor and Kinsey, baseballs in hand, were standing close to two men when a tall player walked out of the dugout. “Mikey!” one of the men shouted and the player came over and hugged them. Some kids scampered over to get Mikey’s autograph and he graciously signed as he visited with his friends. Kinsey was standing so close she could have reached out and patted Mikey on the back. She looked over to Taylor and asked, “Should I get this guy’s autograph?” Taylor whispered, “No, I don’t know anyone named Mikey on Boston’s team.” In the first inning of the game (viewed from our seats behind home plate 🙂 ), a runner got on base allowing the clean-up hitter to come to bat. “Oh no!” I heard Taylor moan. I asked, “What’s wrong?” Taylor pointed his finger and said, “That’s Mikey!” As a golden voice announced third baseman Mike Lowell was coming to the plate, Kinsey asked, “Taylor why didn’t you tell me to get his autograph? He’s one of their best players!” “I didn’t recognize him!” Taylor replied. Mikey hit a homerun that night to help the Red Sox win the game.
    3. I could have taken the family to eat at McDonald’s right before going to Fenway Park and we could have been so stuffed with Big Macs and fries that we weren’t even hungry. What a shame that would have been.

    I’m glad I didn’t ruin this part of our trip, but I wonder sometimes if I make worse mistakes when God whispers, “The house is yours.” The apostle wrote, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness…” and I think, “But God doesn’t really mean ‘everything.’” And in my refusal to believe what the Holy Spirit says is true, I settle for ineffective living and little witness to the power and goodness of God.

    Or perhaps I don’t recognize that God’s great promises are for me. “I am with you always… to the very end of the age.” “But Christ was just saying that to his disciples two thousand years ago,” I argue. Perhaps Jesus would answer, “But you are closer to the end of the age than they were! Don’t you recognize I am talking to you? When you receive my precious promises for yourself you are able to participate in my divine nature and escape the corruption of the world. Don’t you remember that multitudes rejected God because they failed to recognize me? Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear and the willingness to obey.”

    Or perhaps deep down I believe what God says is true and perhaps I even recognize his promises are for me, but when the invitation comes to participate in the divine nature and add to my faith all the essentials God offers, I say, “No thanks, I’m full.” And when the Father asks (though he already knows the answer), “Why are you full?” I must admit that with the brief time I’ve been given on this earth I have chosen to pursue lesser things. “Why don’t you sit in my presence and learn of me?” Jesus asks. “Well Lord, you know I’m a big Red Sox fan now and, you see, the playoffs have just started and I’m sure hoping they make it to the World Series, so maybe I’ll get back with you at the end of the month.” Of course when baseball season ends another activity will fill me up so I won’t be hungry for the things that count. Could I actually exchange true riches for a bowl of porridge? This is one of the devil’s key strategies in our land if you’ve not noticed. He doesn’t mind too much if Christians take their few minutes of worship every week as long as it is just ‘token time.’ If hearts are set on things other than God the enemy knows his kingdom is safe (for the moment). But how he lashes out when a believer says, “These fleeting pleasures of the world are not what it is all about! I’m not going to fill up on junk when a feast is being offered! Lord, forgive me. I am hungry for you! Fill me with your Spirit and use me as your instrument.” Though the devil despises such wisdom, the Master says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

    “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is near-sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.” II Peter 1:5-9

  • VIP

    —

    Dana

    “Mrs. Davis, you and your family will be VIPs for the entire weekend!” The kind lady on the phone shared this news after a nurse encouraged me to fill out an application from The Jack & Jill Cancer Foundation, a foundation that encourages families struggling with this disease. After seeing the hardship his two children endured as their mother died of breast cancer, Jon Albert honored his wife, Jill, by setting up a foundation to serve families going through similar struggles. “Since we are based in Atlanta, we usually bring families here,” the representative shared, “but since you live in Atlanta, we thought we’d send you elsewhere. Do you like baseball?” After Susan shared that we did she was told about a professional team that has partnered with their foundation. This team has had a pretty good season (they currently have the best record in baseball); they play in a place called Fenway Park.

    This evening all five of us get to fly to Boston for a special weekend. (I told Susan it was good to be a VIP before I RIP. She didn’t think that was very funny…) Seriously, this is an incredible blessing. We are to explore the city Saturday morning and go meet the players and tour the park in the afternoon before watching the Red Sox play Saturday night. Not wanting to be like the nine ungrateful lepers, I’ll be sure to thank the team, the foundation, the hotel, and the chauffeurs that will drive us around. We would never dream of such extravagant treatment. Just being together as a family for the weekend will be the best part for me. I think that is what Mr. Alpert had in mind.

    The Father has even better dreams for his children. He knows what each of us will face on this earth. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He also said, “I am going to my Father’s house to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” This promise of a coming reunion is one of the things that gives us great hope, but I think there is another powerful truth the Father wants us to embrace. If you are a child of God, you are a VIP. Such a statement almost sounds too vain to write, but it is not my idea. If I go around calling myself a ‘very important person,’ I’ll be a nuisance, but if God calls me a VIP it is a different matter. Such a proclamation from above goes far beyond the sentiments we as parents have for our own children. In addition to saying, “You are loved, you are valuable, and you are constantly on my mind,” God says, “You are chosen, you are royal, and you are destined to reign.”

    We say, “Who… me? I thought I was to be humble, lowly, and meek.” But believing what God says does not make one arrogant; it makes one wise. He says, “My children are ‘very important people’ with ‘very important responsibilities.’”

    “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires that war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” I Peter 2:9-12

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