know God

Posted on January 28, 2005 by Dana

Dayalan Sanders, a native of Sri Lanka, made it a habit of rising at 4:00 in the morning to go to the beach to pray. He, his wife, and two other helpers take care of 28 children, most of whom have been orphaned by the civil war on that island. Early the morning of December 26th, the sea was calm and the weather was fair, but for some reason Dayalan had difficulty praying. As he tried to think through the things he wanted to teach in church that Sunday morning, there seemed to be an oppression that he could not explain. He went back to his bedroom, laid down, and fell asleep.

A short time later, Dayalan’s wife woke him in a panic. “Look outside! Something is wrong!” The sea was in an uproar. Husband and wife and their young daughter ran outside yelling for everyone to run to the boathouse. Incredibly all 28 orphans arrived at the boathouse within seconds. Usually the motor was stored in a different location, but on this morning the motor was on the boat ready to go. Thirty-three people hopped aboard the little craft built for ten or twelve adults. As they rode out into the lagoon, a huge wave was coming toward them. Faith welled up in Dayalan Sanders and he raised his hands and shouted, “Based on the Scripture that says, ‘When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him’, in the Name of Jesus, I command you to stop!” The wave subsided. The boat stayed afloat. All 33 people lived through the storm that destroyed their compound and ripped their village to shreds.

The CNN reporter didn’t know what to do with this man who claimed he commanded the waves by the same power that allowed Jesus to calm the waves when He was in a storm. Dayalan Sanders does not claim to be special. He has been a voice of comfort to the many Hindus in his village whose lives have been overturned. He has cried tears of sorrow as he has lost friends and neighbors. But he has a message to share… as do 28 orphans.

Listening to this man tell his story (find the Jan 10 and 11 broadcasts at www.focusonthefamily.org), one cannot help but realize an obvious truth: This brother had prepared for the storm long before it came. In the heat of the moment, there is no time for preparation. This man did not sit at his desk after his wife’s warning and think, “Now what would be an appropriate Scripture for this pending doom?” The Word was within him. Though he was just a man, he knew God. Whether he lived or died, he knew God. Though the storm of the century was threatening to destroy everything in its path, he knew God. The oil was burning… a wise virgin had heeded the Master’s instruction… a simple servant trusted an all-powerful God. He can’t answer all the questions that have been asked. He does not think he is better than anyone else. But He knows God.

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. Later the others also came, ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said, ‘Open the door for us!’ But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13

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kindness

Posted on January 21, 2005 by Dana

Each year The Voice of the Martyrs puts out a map of the world showing the places where Christians are severely persecuted. It is interesting that most of the countries in south Asia impacted by the earthquake and tsunami are nations where scores of Christians have been mistreated and killed over the past several years.

Does the God who brought His wrath on the nations of old who harmed His people still rise up in anger? Does God still judge nations? While numerous dire prophecies were spoken to nations that mistreated Israel, we know that God’s people received the most warnings and the most discipline. A loving Father disciplines those He loves. In sharing about the wrath that would come against all godlessness and wickedness, Paul quickly makes Roman Christians examine themselves: “You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So, when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (see Romans 1 and 2)

How easily the attitude of Jonah can creep in! “When God saw what they (the people of Nineveh) did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. But Jonah was greatly displeased and became angry. He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord, is this not what I said when I was still at home? That is why I was so quick to flee Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, O Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’”

World Vision, Compassion International, Gospel for Asia, Open Doors, Campus Crusade for Christ, Samaritan’s Purse, and Youth With a Mission are just a few of the many organizations rushing to the devastated countries in the name of Jesus. A cup of clean water, clothes for the naked, food for the hungry, care for the sick, comfort for the grieving, and love for the lost… this is the kindness of God.

The last time our friend from India, Pastor Nag, visited Atlanta, he asked that we join him and his fellow workers in praying that two million people in his state would come to know Jesus in 2005. He called this week, mourning the fact that 15 of his brothers and sisters are still missing from the storm, but excited that people who have never known the love of Christ may have a chance to see Him. He believes two million souls can be saved.

I confess I don’t always get as excited as I should about such prayers. Surely it is because I think too much about the temporal rather than the eternal. “Lord, help me to look beyond the external and see souls. Lord, help me to think like You do. Lord, let your kindness and love lead the lost to repentance. Empower your servants to take care of the hurting and let Jesus be known. And don’t let me have the wrong attitude of Jonah.”

“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God…” Romans 11:22

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questions

Posted on January 14, 2005 by 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

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comfort

Posted on January 7, 2005 by 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

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ready

Posted on December 16, 2004 by 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

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