Category: faith

Sunday, in an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about touring Italy, someone from Florence was quoted as saying, “The trouble with you Americans is that you think the best way to get from point A to point B is a straight line. For Italians, the journey is the destination.” As an American Geometry teacher who has recently been lost in Italy, I’m ready to adopt the Italian mindset.

“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (Luke 9:51) But Jesus traveled in anything but a straight line. Find a map of his ministry, read the rest of Luke, and notice the winding road Jesus took to Jerusalem. He went through little towns and villages. He climbed mountains and crossed lakes. When his disciples learned that a certain village in Samaria would not welcome their Master because he was going to Jerusalem, two asked if they could “call down fire from heaven to destroy them.” James and John must have believed in a “straight-line, scorched-earth” approach, but Jesus rebuked them for such thinking and simply went to another village.

So what does “resolutely” mean? Another translation says “…he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.” Jesus knew his purpose on earth; he came to save all men. He came to be the sacrifice that would please a holy God. He came to accomplish the will of the Father… and that meant going to Jerusalem. But on his way, Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, and called the lost sheep of Israel to repentance. He taught about his Father, he hung out with the poor, and he ate in the homes of sinners. He told stories with hidden meanings, he proclaimed the Kingdom of God, and he helped his followers catch fish. At times, a bystander might have thought Jesus had forgotten about Jerusalem, but those closest to him knew differently. When Peter tried to tell Jesus to quit talking about the horrible things he was predicting would happen, Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of man.”

While you won’t find a straight line from Luke 9 to Calvary, you will find a resolute Savior. So how do I walk in his steps? I’ve got to have in mind the things of God and not the things of man! “To know Christ…” is our goal and we must steadfastly keep our eyes fixed on him. Jesus kept his focus by staying in constant communion with his Father and he had joy in the journey. So it will be for all who stay in constant communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

“God is the source of all joy and if we come into contact with Him, His infinite joy comes into our lives. Would you like to be a radiant Christian? You may be. Spend time in prayer. You cannot be a radiant Christian in any other way. Why is it that prayer in the Name of Christ makes one radiantly happy? It is because prayer makes God real. The gladdest thing upon earth is to have a real God! I would rather give up everything I have in the world, or anything I ever may have, than give up my faith in God. You cannot have vital faith in God if you give all your time to the world and to secular affairs, to reading the newspaper and to reading literature, no matter how good it is. Unless you take time for fellowship with God, you cannot have a real God. If you do take time for prayer you will have a real, living God, and if you have a living God you will have a radiant life.” (R.A. Torrey from “Springs in the Valley”)

“After he had dismissed the crowd, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.” Matt. 14:23

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” Mark 1:35

First, I’d like to give a little medical update. I’ve not shared health news lately because everything has stayed about the same. I’ve had seven rounds of chemo this school year and the unwanted protein count has stayed exactly the same (1.3) for the last three. About a month ago, I told the doctor Susan and I were going to Italy and Namibia in February and March, which would mean longer time periods between chemo treatments. When I gave blood last Friday, I truly expected the result to be rather dreary. I admit my frequent faithlessness, but even “if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself.” Isn’t that a cool verse? Yesterday a nurse called to share that my protein count had dropped to .5! I don’t think there’s going to be much of a medical explanation for this and I doubt a weeklong diet of Italian food will impress many researchers. So please give all praise to our kind Father in Heaven and please accept our thanks for your prayers. I feel there are many who often have a measure of faith far beyond mine. Oh to remember that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.

A documentary is to air Sunday night about the discovery of the bones of Jesus and Mary Magdalene in a common burial site in Jerusalem. Some think archeological evidence of the story set forth in the best-selling book, The Da Vinci Code, will be powerful proof that Jesus was just a man and that Christianity has been a great hoax. Similar lies started the week of the resurrection. It seems the devil will never tire of trying to deceive the world about the Hope of mankind.

Paul’s proclamation of salvation for all who put their faith in Christ hinged on the truth of the resurrection. “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead…” (I Cor 15:14-20)

Regarding the upcoming documentary about the tomb found in 1980, Lawrence Stager, the Dorot professor of archeology of Israel at Harvard said, “One of the problems is there are so many biblically illiterate people around the world that they don’t really know what is real judicious assessment and what is what some of us in the field call ‘fantastic archeology.’” The Word of God puts all arguments against the resurrection to rest and so does the Living Christ who abides in the hearts of God’s children.

This week I’ve talked to a fifty-year-old father, a seventy-year-old grandfather, and a seventeen-year-old girl. If I tried to convince them that a guy in Jerusalem has just proven that the resurrection was a concocted story, they would be unimpressed. The father would tell me of an amazing thing God did in his family this past week. He would share of the deep work of conviction in his heart and the glorious answer to prayer that only God could have accomplished. He would say, “Dana, don’t even give those worthless claims the time of day. The risen Christ is alive and at work in all who will humbly believe and obey. Look what He’s just done in my family!” The grandfather would share of God’s mighty work through a trial that lasted exactly four months. He would praise God with all his might and through tears of joy would say, “Dana, you listen to me. The story I have just told you about the risen Christ is an example of what He will do for any soul that comes to Him with empty hands and a trusting heart. The devil is trying to snuff out faith any way he can before Jesus returns, but we must do nothing with his lies but expose them!” With a gleam in her eyes the teenager would share of God’s faithfulness on a recent mission trip. Her team faced hardship and sorrow, but God overcame with tremendous victories. This sweet girl would respectfully say, “Mr. Davis, there’s no reason for me to even watch that documentary Sunday night. I know Jesus; He is not dead. He lives in my heart and He has just performed wonders that I can’t really describe. I wish everyone could know Jesus as their best friend. He is the only One who gives meaning to life.”

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

I’ve just started my fourth round of chemo this fall. I should get a ‘cancer level’ report by next week, so I’ll try to let you know the results. The bad number started at 3.3 and had dropped to 1.9 last month. It seems to be dropping a little slower than last year, and the cumulative affect of chemo is hitting me this week.

A few times since I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, someone has said, “You are indestructible until the time God has ordained you to leave this earth.” I understand this statement, but I sure don’t feel too indestructible these days. If I were a soldier in the war zone, I think I would want this belief to give me great courage. They say Confederate general Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson was a man of faith who exhibited amazing calm in battle because he believed his life was completely in the hands of his Maker. Unfortunately, he was mortally wounded by “friendly fire” at Chancellorsville in 1863. I’m not sure how such a wound impacted Jackson’s faith.

In the case of cancer, we seem to fight off the enemy, keep it at bay a while, live a full life, then prepare to fight again. God gets the credit for each day I live. I thank him for new weapons to use against this disease and for doctors and nurses who sincerely care for their patients. I am thankful for all the people who pray for me. I know God has the power to speak this cancer into nonexistence, but at this point I’ve just got to deal with it. I don’t mind saying I often feel destructible.

Now lest you think I’m writing a rather faithless, depressing message, remember that feelings and faith are not the same. People might argue that the way “Stonewall” Jackson died proved his faith was absurd. But who’s to say he was wrong? Some would say the constant recurrence of cancer proves God is not really in control but medicine is. But perhaps this is a part of a mysterious cross I am to bear on this earth. Arguing these matters does little good, because often our faith and feelings are so intertwined we don’t know which is which. If my faith is based on my own thoughts and conclusions, my changing feelings will keep me on an unending roller coaster ride. My faith is in an “Indestructible Life”, but it is not my own. As the writer of Hebrews was explaining the unique priesthood of Jesus, he called him “One who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.” (Hebrews 7:16) This One’s body was destroyed on a cruel cross, but God proved his life indestructible as He raised him on the third day.

Too many variables hit my feelings these days, but the One who is faithful and true has all power to give me what I need. Monday, our oldest daughter Kinsey wrote me a note that is helping me through the week: “Well Dad, I know you are not looking forward to this day too much. Last week we sang a song and I thought the lyrics would be encouraging during this week of chemo:
‘You are the Everlasting God, the Everlasting God.
You do not faint; You won’t grow weary
You’re the defender of the weak; You comfort those in need.
You lift us up on wings like eagles.’
Just remember God gives strength to the weary and increases your power. You’ll soar on wings like eagles! I know you probably don’t feel that way, but God will give you strength!”

The One who is indestructible is with us…

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

I’ve heard missionaries say, “Without your prayers, we could not make it.” Sometimes we hear such comments and think, “That was nice to say, but I know my part is really not very important.” But what if our part is critical? What if God told us that if we failed to pray, the lost would not be saved and the missionary would be ineffective? A friend, who has ministered all over the world, told of the drastic difference of reception to the same message given to two different groups on the same weekend. “The only difference I know was that in one place people were praying for the message to be clear and powerful and in the other place no one was praying.”

I’ve thanked you many times for praying for me. One of my former students told me today that he and his six-year-old son prayed for me this morning. I told him to thank his little boy, and I shared my belief that such prayers are a part of God’s will. I should never think, “How cute, a little boy is praying for me…”, as if this were a trivial matter. God answers the simple prayers of little boys and little girls! I write this not just to ask you to pray for me, but to encourage you to sincerely pray for all those you know who are in need. Do not neglect to pray for missionaries and for Christians in difficult places. Your honest petition to the Father may be what He desires to take place in order to bring about His good will. This sounds a bit mysterious because results of our requests are often unknown, but perhaps this is a part of living by faith.

Paul seemed to address such matters as he recounted parts of his dangerous journey to a group that prayed for him: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.” (II Cor 1:8-11)

So pray without ceasing! When the devil whispers, “You are so unimportant in God’s Kingdom”, shake his kingdom with prayers of faith. If answers seem tardy, remember the persistent widow, who would not quit taking her just petition to the uncaring judge who finally said, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!” Jesus follows this parable with some interesting questions: “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” May we be among those have faith on this earth…

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:5-6 “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

Lance Armstrong is on the cover of the latest issue of CURE magazine. Winner of seven consecutive Tour de France cycling events, Armstrong has been an able spokesman for survivors since completing aggressive treatment for testicular cancer in December of 1996. His book, IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE, has encouraged thousands to never give up when facing adversity. 55 million LIIVESTRONG plastic bracelets have been sold with proceeds going to fight cancer. “Wherever I go”, he said recently, “I talk about cancer – the one thing that is going to affect all of us.” I am thankful for Lance Armstrong’s efforts and for his desire to wipe out cancer, but as I prepare for another bout with this disease, I often think of the obvious dilemma that even a cure won’t solve.

I’ve always been one of the youngest members of the Atlanta support group for multiple myeloma. As different treatments are discussed and exciting advancements are proclaimed, I can’t help but look at the some of the elderly members of the group and think, “But even if the cure is found, you’re going to die pretty soon.” And then I look at myself and think, “And you’re not going to escape death, either.” Of course we’d all like a cure for cancer, but even such an accomplishment will only be short-lived. We don’t hear too many people going around saying, “Wherever I go, I talk about death – the one thing that is going to affect all of us.”

I love the Lance Armstrong comeback story, but Lance will face God one day…. so will you… so will I. What will be most important then? The vast majority of the people that have lived on earth have been dead longer than they were alive. So what’s important now? Jim Elliot’s famous quote is timeless: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim wrote these words as a college student in 1949. He died while taking the Gospel to Ecuador in 1956.

I want to live strong, but what does that mean for the child of God? He’s given me this day. What do I do with it? I am facing a trial. Do I face it with courage or do I shrink in fear? Through God’s grace, I’ve been saved. Do I thank Him and spread the good news or do I take it for granted and keep Jesus to myself? The devil is trying to steal and destroy. Do I resist him and fight in faith or do I wither and doubt? Jesus beckons me to pick up my cross daily and follow Him. Do I listen and obey or do I ignore His voice?

If anyone should live strong, the Christian should. But do we? As we face struggles, we shouldn’t live like the unsaved on earth. While things are going well, we shouldn’t live like the unsaved on earth. Whether we die or whether Jesus returns, our days are numbered. He has Kingdom purposes for us; so live strong.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Eph 6:10-13