Category: faith

“Have It Your Way.” “Your World – Delivered.” We’ve gone from hamburgers to the whole world… just the way we want it. This is what the commercials tell us anyway. Of course there’s nothing wrong with ordering a hamburger with a pickle and no onions, and there’s nothing wrong with a cell phone, but I sometimes wonder if the enemy uses various ‘propaganda machines’ to his advantage as warring nations often do. Propaganda’s intent is to throw the opponent off track with a mix of truth and lies.

Recently, Lady Volunteer Coach Pat Summit at the University of Tennessee, was interviewed after her record-setting thousandth win. “What is the biggest change you’ve seen in players over your career?” Of all the things a basketball coach might say, she answered something like this: “Today our kids are in their own worlds. When we’re on the road, I don’t see the card playing and interaction I used to see because every player is listening to her own i-pod or working on her own computer or texting someone on her own phone.” Coach Summit was not issuing a criticism (her teams are still quite good); she was simply stating what she has observed.

Our culture may be different from other cultures in history, but Satan’s strategies are the same. If he makes ‘me’ the center of thinking, he claims victory. “You are most important.” “Please yourself first.” “Look out for number one.” “Do as thou wilt” was the promoted philosophy of nineteenth century Satanist, Aleister Crowley, who was admired by many of the ‘rock and roll heroes’ of my generation. The Christian must recognize this anthem of the world opposes the message of the Cross.

Jesus’ teaching goes the opposite direction: “Take no thought for your life.” “Seek God’s Kingdom first.” “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” The Master asks the most logical question: “How do you profit if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul?” The Holy Spirit helps us see properly as we humbly seek righteousness. “Your Father in Heaven knows what you need before you even ask, so don’t worry like those around you.” “Instead of being consumed with your own interests, look out for the interests of others.” “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” “Love one another deeply from the heart.”

No one needs to tell us this world is unstable. The hamburger I order may not always taste good. My new phone can’t solve my problems. The network of hundreds of people that follow me around don’t have the answers. But God will not fail those who trust him. The only message that brings hope is the word of truth that points to the One who has the whole world in his hands. “Turn from anything that is wrong.” “Look to the One who died for you!” “Put your full faith in Jesus!” “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves…” II Timothy 3:1-2

We want the mindset that Paul demonstrated when he wrote, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Rom 1:16-17) Paul stood boldly against the spirit of self righteousness (which still exists) that states, “I am justified by my good works.” Many hated (and still do) the Good News that states that all hope, salvation, and true life is dependent on what God accomplished through his Son, Jesus. Our part is to put full faith and trust in the One who died while we were yet sinners. Abraham was credited with righteousness… and so are those who receive the gospel. “The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him (Abraham) alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead…. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand… You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (see Rom 4, 5) This preaching got Paul into a lot of trouble… but he was not ashamed of God’s message.

But there’s another angle to this word ‘ashamed’ that gives a different twist. We don’t want God to be ashamed of us! “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” (Heb 11:13-16)

So do I ‘admit’ (in a way that impacts my living) that this world is not my home? Do I long for another country? Am I one of those God can point toward and say, “I’m not ashamed to be his God”?

Not surprisingly, Jesus brought both these thoughts into the same teaching… which begins with an important question:

“What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:25-26

I overheard some of the conversation of two college girls that went with us to Brazil. They were discussing a Portuguese phrase they had seen on several cars in Natal: “Deus e fiel” – which means “God is faithful.” These young ladies were recounting the many ways God had proven faithful in their own lives. How it must please our Father in Heaven to hear young people declare His faithfulness. I think it pleases Him when people of any age acknowledge this part of God’s character. “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is a powerful hymn of the Church.

God can’t help but be faithful – that is who He is. Paul told Timothy, “Here is a trustworthy saying: ‘If we died with Him, we will also live with Him; If we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will disown us; If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.’”

Wouldn’t you like to be defined by your faithfulness to Christ and His Body? The challenge for me is the challenge the coach often gives his players: “Don’t quit! Endure! Finish strong!” And the opponent whispers: “Let up! Give up! It’s OK to quit!” It is easy to predict the disaster an athlete invites with a ‘shrinking’ attitude, but what about the disciple?

The apostles seemed to know they had to go the distance: “Not that I have obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Jesus not only saved us, He took hold of us – for a purpose. His instructions are simple and each believer must listen to His voice and ask for wisdom and grace to complete the race he’s been given to run. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it.”

“Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

Immaculee Ilibagiza, the Rwandan woman who forgave those who slaughtered her family, Corrie ten Boom, the Dutch Holocaust survivor who forgave the Nazis that killed her loved ones, and Elisabeth Elliot, the American missionary who forgave the Auca tribesmen who murdered her husband and four others in Ecuador, are not the only Christians called to radical obedience. Each of these ladies would say God’s grace empowered them to say ‘yes’ to the One who also forgave his enemies. “Christ in us, the hope of glory”… allows us to do what seems impossible. Our part is to say, “Yes, Lord,” yet often in the less-spectacular, day-to-day opportunities, we resist our Teacher. To forgive, serve, and love our neighbor, our fellow worker, or our spouse does not sound too hard, yet…

The problem with following Jesus is that he wants to consume every area of life: family, friends, enemies, finances, entertainment, work, home, mind, heart, body… You can’t truly be a disciple and limit God to a couple of hours of church per week. “King,” “Lord,” and “Master” are titles that give Christ all authority and his words bring us to places of decision. “Unless you deny yourself…” “Unless you pick up your cross daily…” “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood…” “Unless you let me wash you…” “Unless you change and become like little children…” Fill in the blanks to find the cost of discipleship and notice that Jesus never apologizes for his requirements.

The amazing truth is that obedience results in the victorious, abundant life Jesus promises. The disturbing truth is that when we refuse to obey, we not only quench his life in us, we hinder the work of God in others. Had Immaculee, and scores like her, not forgiven their enemies, the whole nation of Rwanda would be different today… different in a very disastrous way. If Corrie ten Boom had not forgiven her captors, God would not have been able to use this “tramp for the Lord” so powerfully to travel the world proclaiming “there is no place so dark that God’s light cannot shine.” Had not Elisabeth Elliot forgiven and returned with her young daughter, Valerie, to the very savages that killed her husband, the world may never have heard the wise words Jim truly believed: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

God used these yielding believers to bring souls into his Kingdom.

Unless we say ‘yes’ when Jesus directs, we cannot fully know his mysterious ways or his marvelous power. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” May we yield totally as he builds!

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain.” Psalm 127:1

Luke 9:23; John 6:53; John 13:8; Matthew 18:3

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2

These words follow the great chapter about the Old Testament heroes. The Lord perfects our faith… and we’ve got to remember he knows what he’s doing. “Leave your country and go to the land I will show you.” “You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.” “Take your son, Isaac, whom you love, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering.” I wonder if Abraham asked, “Lord, is this journey supposed to be so difficult?” But God was perfecting a man’s faith… and looking ahead to bless all mankind. He was not setting up hoops for an old guy to jump through. God is not simply in search of good performance. His thoughts go far beyond ours. God’s motives are rooted in love and purpose. “Will a man believe me even when circumstances look impossible? Will a man trust me completely? Will a man even surrender my gift to him, his most precious possession – a beloved son? Will a man venture to be my friend?” When I compare myself to Abraham, I think of the prayer of a man Jesus encountered: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Here’s a more mysterious truth: the Lord is the Author of our faith. In the original language, this word translated, “Author”, appears four times in the New Testament. Jesus is the Author of life… without him we would not be here. He is the Author of salvation… without him we would be lost. He is the Author who gives repentance and forgiveness… without him sin consumes us. And he is the Author of our faith… without him we can’t even start the race.

Does this not put the emphasis where it belongs? Who can boast about his faith? Jesus is the Author and Perfecter! Who can boast about his love? “We love because he first loved us.” Who can boast about his finish? “…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”

At this time of the year, I always like to invite people to join the good work of some of our missionary friends. John and Suzanne Hunter run a Christian school in a poverty stricken section of Windhoek, Namibia. I’ve been there five times and can attest that God’s love is poured out in an incredible way. Saturday, November 1, at 5:00 we will host an ‘Empty Bowl’ meal to support the Hunters and Community Hope School. Come visit with the Hunters, enjoy a simple meal, and bless vulnerable African children. John is a ‘master potter’ and will give an ’empty bowl’ to those who want to donate to this ministry. The event will be held at the Family-Student Center at Greater Atlanta Christian School. If you can come, please send me an email by October 29.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10