Dana's Christian Journey

musings of a thankful cancer survivor

Author: Dana

  • questions

    —

    Dana

    Each spring a friend who teaches at a private school in Atlanta invites a Hindu, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew, and a Christian to speak to his World Religion class. Several times I have been invited as the final guest, always introduced as a born-again Christian. I look forward to speaking to quite a diverse group of intelligent kids from all types of religious backgrounds. The teacher asks that I take about twenty minutes to share anything I would like about my faith and then let the students ask questions the remaining half of the period. The questions are often penetrating: “If you Christians claim to follow Jesus, who gave up everything and taught sacrificial love, how do you justify living in gated communities in the suburbs far away from the poor and hurting of the world?”

    Sometimes I feel I must apologize on behalf of ‘us Christians.’ Today’s generation of teenagers has a way of cutting straight to the heart of the matter and it does no good to try to make excuse for not living out the Life of our Savior. So many judge Jesus by what they see in His followers. How we all need to see and hear Him! When we do hear Him, we must decide what to do with His radical words… and we dare not apologize for His message. When the inevitable question comes at the end of class, I always share what our King said. “So do you believe Christians are the only ones going to Heaven and the rest of us are going to Hell?” “Jesus answered, ‘I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” I pray for courage to look straight into the eyes of these kids and share that a God of love provides one way to escape the wrath that will come because of sin.

    As I watch the different religions of the world discuss the devastation in southeast Asia, I anticipate a familiar question to be asked this spring: “If your God is a God of love, how could He let thousands of people die in a storm?” In a strange way I feel I have an advantage discussing suffering, having been diagnosed with a terminal disease, but no quick answer satisfies. If we could grasp the suffering God endured as He gave His own Son to be brutally tortured and killed, we might understand the horror of sin. Oh that the One who suffered more than any of us can imagine would draw all men to Himself. His blood washes away sin and gives victory over death. One who receives Life from Him can face any storm. “‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” What greater news can there be?

    “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” I Corinthians 15:54-58

  • comfort

    —

    Dana

    Anil Nag, a friend who lives in India, called several days after the tsunami struck the southern part of that nation. “Three of our brethren were killed and thirty-four are still missing”, he shared. “Please pray for us… and pray I will know how to comfort the Christians here.”

    What should this heartbroken pastor say to our brothers and sisters whose world has just been turned upside down? Amongst the multitude of voices, can we discern Jesus’ words of grace and truth?

    “You, My children, are prepared for this. All My sheep who died in the storm are safe with Me now. I know the deep sorrow in your hearts, but you need not grieve as the world grieves. You will be reunited one day. The false gods of your land only offer false hope. I am the only solid ground. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life and no storm can separate you from Me. Take courage! In this world you will have trouble, but I have overcome the world! You have a message to share with those that have no hope. Some will listen; some will not. Some will hate God for what has happened, but My Father is withholding the end so more can be saved. Unless the lost repent, they all shall perish. My Kingdom is not of this world. This earth is not going to last forever! Lift up your eyes to Me. Trust God when all seems hopeless. I am with you.”

    “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

    “Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.” II Peter 3:1-14

  • ready

    —

    Dana

    Who is ready to receive the Lord Jesus? Mary received the Son in a unique way and her example speaks to us today.

    “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Only the humble can make such a statement. The world despises humility, but Jesus modeled such an attitude. Those who would receive Him today must be humble.

    “He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” (Matt 18:3-4) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place…” (Phil 2:5-11)

    The humble one has a heart ready to believe. “Blessed is she who has believed what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!” Full of the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth praised Mary for what pleases God. The Father is pleased when we believe!

    “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Rom 3:21-22)

    Mary shows us a simple path: be humble, believe, and be blessed. May God bless you this Christmas season!

    “And Mary said, ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me – holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.’” Luke 1:46-55

  • leap

    —

    Dana

    When the unborn baby heard of the coming of Messiah, he jumped for joy! “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!’”

    Just as a ‘young’ John the Baptist was excited two thousand years ago, a nine-month-old John celebrates now! As our friends Pete and Mary led worship Sunday, John stood and danced and tapped his foot. A smiling mother watched her growing son, and I’ll bet an all-seeing Father laughed with delight.

    He created us to worship… to sing… to dance… and to present our gifts to the Savior. No matter how young or old or how rich or poor, Jesus came to bring joy to the world. How wonderful the news!

    But He also came to bring a sword. Conflict is inevitable when Light penetrates darkness. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”

    And those who love Him most may have hearts pierced with sorrow as true goodness is scorned and rejected. Simeon prophesied to Mary, “This child is destined to cause the rising and falling of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Why would we crucify the only good man that ever lived? But history’s most horrible injustice brings the best news of all! “My sin – O the bliss of this glorious thought – my sin, not in part but the whole, is nailed to the Cross and I bear it no more! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, oh my soul!”

    Leap for joy and dance to the music! God is with us! Immanuel!

    “At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds he holds nothing back. God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” Job 37:1-5

  • Ye Su

    —

    Dana

    “Wo yi jing ding gao gen sui Ye Su…” This phrase, repeated three times, was sung to a familiar tune Susan and I quickly recognized. “I have decided to follow Jesus… no turning back, no turning back.”

    It was a special honor to sing this song with young Chinese Christians who may risk more than we can imagine as they say ‘yes’ to the Lord. Dangers vary in the different provinces of China, but all must consider Jesus’ instruction to count the cost.

    One young lady we met in QingDao radiated the joy of the Lord as she has decided to follow Him. When asked what would happen if her employer found that she was a Christian, she explained there was already a difference between certain workers. “A person doing my job gets paid four times what I do if he is a member of the Communist Party. If it were known that I was a Christian, I am confident I would lose my job.” Is this young lady foolish to take such risks with her livelihood?

    “My cross I’ll carry til I see Jesus… no turning back, no turning back.” On June 17, 2004, in Guizhou Province, a young lady and her mother-in-law were arrested for handing out Bibles and Christian literature. When the mother-in-law was released on June 23, she was horrified to hear that her daughter-in-law had died at the hands of her captors. A husband and four-year-old son have lost a wife and mother. Were these Christians foolish to share the Gospel in their land?

    David Aikman, former Beijing Bureau Chief for Time magazine, described a visit to an underground seminary in his book, JESUS IN BEIJING. In a class he attended, the students sang a song with great enthusiasm: “China, China, rise up to share the Gospel because God loves you.” Recognizing an American among them, the students added a second verse: “America, America, rise up to share the Gospel because God loves you.”

    Is the cost of discipleship greater in one nation than in another? The cost of Heaven was the same… the precious blood of the Lamb. The enemy of God is the same… though his strategies may vary. The King is the same… though some have difficulty understanding the concept of supreme authority. Is it not reasonable to conclude that God expects the same of all who want to follow the Son… everything?

    “The cross before me, the world behind me… no turning back, I’ll follow Him.” Focus totally on the cross, and see what the world says… no matter where you live. When we walk toward the cross, we turn our back on this world. Paul wrote, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” The world says avoid anything that causes pain or discomfort. Jesus says, “Pick up your cross and follow Me.”

    “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 and follow me cannot be my disciple… (Jesus then tells of a tower builder and a king who had to count the cost)… In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26-33

Random Post

Categories

Archives