Lot’s wife

Posted on April 24, 2003 by Dana

Why does Jesus tell us to remember Lot’s wife? (Luke 17:32) Do you think God simply gave a rule of “don’t look back” or did He know that such looking would reflect what was really in a heart?

Perhaps Lot’s wife could not take her mind off the comforts and pleasures she was leaving behind. “My comfortable home! My lovely garden! My beautiful neighborhood! My old friends! Can’t I just look back one time?” God’s answer was ‘no’ and He tells us the same. “Get your heart off your stuff. Get your mind off your pleasures. Focus only on Me and love Me with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”

We pity those lands where it is difficult to be a Christian. Some of those believers live in constant danger. Some have difficulty feeding their families because their “faith” prevents them from good jobs. In our land, it often seems easy to be a Christian. So who longs most for the Lord? Some may possess so much on this earth that it is difficult to imagine how Heaven could offer more. Others see this world offering nothing, so they watch and pray and long for the Day. No matter where we live, Jesus wants our Hope to be Himself. “Be prepared. When I call, drop everything you’re doing, leave all behind, and don’t look back. Remember Lot’s wife!”

Let this warning convict us! If I’m not consumed with Him, I should find out why. Is there something on this earth that is more precious? If I don’t love Him with all my heart, God forbid I pretend… instead let me confess! “Lord, you know my heart. Expose it now… before the Day of Reckoning. Forgive me for putting other things ahead of You. Turn my eyes to Jesus! Give me passion for Him! I need your mercy and grace. Lord, don’t let me be Lot’s wife!”

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation…” II Corinthians 7:10

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too late

Posted on April 17, 2003 by Dana

I wish I could describe the horrible feeling of being stuck behind closed doors. All I could do was wave to my family as the train pulled out of the station. It was a pitiful sight.

Over spring break we got to visit a missionary in Vienna, Austria. While there, I wanted to take my family to meet the church in Brno, Czech Republic that I visited last year. Since it was just a two hour train ride from Vienna to Brno, I thought it would be a simple trip.

As we approached our destination, we started gathering our belongings and I realized my hat was missing. After getting my family and the luggage off the train, I hopped back on board. Sure enough, my hat was in the dining car where we had eaten a snack. As I picked it up and waved to the attendant, I heard two little beeps that sent a chill down my spine. Surely not! When I reached the doors… they were closed! I tried to pull them apart, but they wouldn’t budge. I was ten seconds too late!

On the long ride to Ceska’ Trebova (a Czech town I’ll bet few of you have visited), I felt God taught me an important lesson. The time is coming when “too late” will be infinitely more horrible. Perhaps I got a fraction of the feeling the five foolish virgins had when the door was shut and they were too late. (see Matt 25) In such times there will be weeping, gnashing of teeth, and some bitter questions. “How could I have wasted all the opportunities I had to follow God? Why did I never give my life to Jesus? How could I have chased everything in my life except the one thing that mattered?”

How many families are going to be split for eternity on the Day of Judgment? We laugh about my misadventure in the Czech Republic, but there will be no laughter when the Master says, “I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.” “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Someone asked him, “Lord are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth…” Luke 13:23-28

“But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. On that day no one on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. Remember Lot’s wife!” Luke 17:29-32

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go

Posted on April 2, 2003 by Dana

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Why did Jesus leave this message with His disciples before ascending to the right hand of His Father? Even after Jesus gave His life and was raised from the dead, He knew there was a further mission. Sin was defeated at the cross, but salvation only comes to those who hear and believe Jesus is Savior and Lord.

Jesus gives a great commission to His followers so the lost will not remain lost. In these words, Jesus demonstrates the same love that moved His Father to send His only begotten Son to this world.

“Go, Son. There are so many misconceptions about Me. Go show the world who I really am. Show the world how much I love. Bring the lost home.” Are we not given the same charge?

“You know Me and love Me; go tell others. There are many misconceptions about Me. Go show the world who I really am. Show everyone how much I love. Bring the lost to Me.”

Chemo makes the mind quite cloudy, so I didn’t write too much a couple of years ago. But occasionally I had a clear thought. Below is a writing from one of those rare times. I’ll be away next week. May we all be ambassadors for Christ wherever we go!

WALKING ACROSS EGYPT

Daddy, why am I an only Son?

We’ve just not created the rest of the family, Jesus. Do you want brothers and sisters?

Yes, Father. That would be awesome! Do You want more children?

I do, Jesus, but I want to tell you there will be a great cost to have them.

I’ll help, Daddy! I want Heaven to be full of your children – my brothers and sisters!

Daddy, are You still resting?

Yes, Son. It’s the 7th day. What are you thinking about?

Daddy, I want You to know that these last six days have been the most incredible I’ve ever seen.

We had fun, didn’t we?

Do you remember us talking one time about a bigger family? Are Adam and Eve a part of that family?

That’s the start, Jesus. I want to remind You again, though, that this desire for many children has much pain and struggle involved.

But You still want many children, don’t You?

Yes.

And I still want brothers and sisters. So I’m excited!

Son, what would You be willing to do to bring this family into existence?

Do You remember that hot, sun-baked spot we created on Earth? The country with much sun, much desert, and miles of wilderness?

Do You mean Egypt?

Yes, Egypt. Daddy, I would walk across Egypt to bring You more sons and daughters.

Son, You are really something!

Oh, Daddy!!! They have messed up. How could they have been so stupid? Oh no! They can’t live with us now. What about our family?

You’re right, Son. Adam and Eve have messed up. But there is still a way for the family to come about. I’m afraid the cost is almost unthinkable, though.

Oh but Daddy, I told you I would walk across Egypt to bring you a family. Tell me what I must do!

You must go there.

Where?

To Egypt. To the Earth. You must live as a man. This is the only way to bring Me sons and daughters.

How will they become your children – given their present state?

I will make it quite simple, really. They must admit they need us. They must love us. And they must believe with all their heart that You are my Son.

That doesn’t sound too hard. Surely they will admit they are in need – just look at them now! And how can they not just love You with all their heart – especially when I remind them who You really are and how much You love them. And surely they’ll just know I am Your Son.

Jesus, I am sending You, my only begotten Son at great risk. I am sending You to make the people we have created a part of our family. I am Your Father and I love You with an everlasting love.

Daddy, I’m here! It sure is hot down here in Egypt – but we’re going to have a family soon!

Daddy, these people have a hard time admitting they are in need! What’s the deal?

It is sin, Jesus. That’s the deal.

We need to get rid of this sin, then.

Keep walking, Son. I am proud of you.

Daddy, a bunch of people down here say they know and love You, but they don’t know You at all. And they sure don’t love You. What’s worse, they are keeping others from seeing who You really are!

It’s sin, Jesus.

We’ve got to get rid of this sin, Father.

Keep walking across Egypt, Son. You’re doing great.

Daddy, how am I going to get people to believe I am your Son? You’ve let me break about every natural law we set in place and they still don’t believe. I don’t understand.

Signs and wonders won’t do it, Son. Jesus, there’s only one way people will really know You are my Son. The cost is great.

I’m ready to finish the walk, Dad. You’ve prepared Me. Please let Me finish. I know Your Love is the only power great enough to overcome these obstacles. Let Your Love flow through Me, Father. Bring sons and daughters into Our Kingdom!

Son, My tears will flow like rivers these next days. I love you with an everlasting love. Finish Your walk.

Daddy? Daddy? I don’t know if I can do it! Daddy, where are You? Is there another way, Father? Oh God! Oh God! Help Me, Daddy!

I can’t carry it any further! It’s too heavy! I’m falling!

Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’” For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?

I’m thirsty!!!

My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?

IT IS FINISHED!!!

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rebuke

Posted on March 26, 2003 by Dana

Though I wanted to be a good son, if I’m honest, I have to admit I didn’t always do what my father wanted. A father who cares about his children disciplines them, and rebukes are often a part of the discipline. “You didn’t do what I asked.” “You disappointed me.” “I trusted you, and you have broken this trust.” Perhaps we can remember the stern look from a parent. Perhaps we can still feel the sting of correction. Age and wisdom makes us thankful for these rebukes, for such words were signs of love.

Though we want to be pleasing children of God, if we’re honest, we have to admit we don’t always live as we should. The caring Father in Heaven also disciplines His children, and rebukes are a part of that discipline. As God walked the earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, He often rebuked those He loved. “Quit arguing about who is greatest. If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.” “Unless you people see miracles you will never believe.” “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” “Peter, put away your sword.” The wise are thankful for rebukes, for such words are signs of love.

I used to tell players, “If a coach gets onto you hard; if he singles you out and yells and carries on… be thankful. He cares! A coach isn’t going to expend such energy on someone he doesn’t think can be better.” Such speeches didn’t make players enjoy being scolded, but I think I told the truth.

If we listen to Jesus today, I imagine we will hear the most common rebuke He gave his disciples. It is the same one He gave the bold disciple who walked on the water. Peter must have had the greatest faith that day, for he got out of the boat and answered the call to do the impossible. But we don’t hear Jesus praise him. Instead, we hear a perfect Coach challenge His player, “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?” Jesus often gave such rebukes. “Believe!” “O unbelieving generation! How long shall I be with you?” “How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me?”

So as the bombs fall and the nations rage, what do the children of God do? If we take our eyes off of Jesus, we’ll sink just like Peter did. Some may sink in fear, as uncertainty rules the day. Others may sink in pride, thinking their nation is all-powerful. But Jesus says, “Keep your eyes on Me… and believe!”

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:8-14

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the eyes of a child

Posted on March 19, 2003 by Dana

As much as I enjoy being a father, I remember I am also still a child. My dad turns seventy today. As I wish him happy birthday, I think of how often I have had my eyes on him. More than he knows, I still keep my eyes on him. Perhaps that’s the way it should be. I think that’s what gives God pleasure as a Father… seeing our eyes on Him. We obey Him because we love Him… and we love Him because He first loved us.

I found something I wrote a little over two years ago. I was quite weak then, but I was still a father. May God help us keep our eyes where they need to be.

Karlyn, our seven-year-old first grader, performed this morning for the younger children at her school. In my car, from a distance, I watched my little girl as she stood in the midst of fifty other first graders with jump ropes in hand. Karlyn spotted me and waved before her routine began. As the music started, Karlyn eagerly waited for her time to run out with five other classmates and jump rope for the audience. How I smiled as she did things with a jump rope that I can’t do these days. But it was more than performance that brought such emotion to my heart. When she finished, I was the one she turned to find. She didn’t seem to care what her friends thought or even what her teacher thought. She just wanted to know what her dad thought. I was too far away for her to see the tears streaming down my face, but I made sure she saw me clapping my hands above my head. Little Karlyn smiled, waved, and happily ran off to join her classmates. Though I knew her day was just beginning, there was a part of me that couldn’t wait for her to get home that afternoon so I could tell her how proud I was that she was my little girl.

I don’t know that it is to be any more complex for the children of God. We’ve all been given something to do. Whether it is a giant task or something simple, let’s just do the best we can. Make it a habit to look to the Father in Heaven. Smile and wave and watch the Father clap His hands for His children. And if we look very carefully we just might see the glisten of a tear in His eyes, for there is a part of Him that can’t wait to embrace the children that He loves.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Colossians 3:23-24

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