Dana's Christian Journey

What are the purposes of God? What does He desire? What does He intend? What does He want to bring about?

Scripture reveals answers to these questions. God created all things with purpose and his intent for man is clear: To know him and to be in fellowship with him. Of course Satan is always working against the purposes of God, but he will not be victorious in the end. God chose a certain people, the children of Abraham, to reveal his character and his ways to all nations. He chose spokesmen in different generations to proclaim truth and give direction. He sent his Son to fulfill the major goal of bringing all men back into relationship with him. And He desires those who know him today to be light in this dark world through the Holy Spirit God has given us.

Do you see God’s purpose in your life? Do you sense what He has done and what He is doing and what He intends to do? We sometimes get a little confused with these questions, but if we shy away from focusing on ‘purpose,’ we risk missing what life is all about.

Sometimes it helps to simply reflect on the things we know to be true: God wants me to know his infinite love. God wants me to love my wife as Jesus loves us. God wants me to be a great father as He is a great Father. God wants me to be a good neighbor and a good friend. He desires that I live in Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit. God has purposed that I have a wife and children and friends and neighbors and I must never take such gifts for granted. I was reminded of this recently as I reunited with a good friend in Israel.

Several years ago, I met a little Jewish boy on a plane from Paris to Atlanta. In the Atlanta airport, I met seven-year-old Roy’s dad, Steve. Steve expressed genuine gratitude for my kindness to his son and we have been friends ever since. In 2006, he and his wife drove two hours to take Susan and me out to dinner in Jerusalem. In 2010, Steve invited us to attend Roy’s Bar Mitzvah on the mountain of Masada by the Dead Sea. The event was canceled due to a volcanic eruption interfering with flights in much of the world, but providentially God allowed the Bar Mitzvah to take place and we celebrated a huge moment in a young man’s life.

This past spring Steve sent a note asking when I was returning to Israel. A few of us had just begun discussing a possible summer trip so I sent a hopeful reply. It was not easy for Steve to make arrangements, but he took off early from work and met us for a meal in Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. After driving all day through northern Israel, Nate, Karlyn, and I arrived in Caesarea at 5:00 and parked our rental car in one of three large parking lots on the premises before exploring the ruins. Steve arrived with his six-year-old son, Sagi, at 7:00.

After eating a wonderful meal, Steve volunteered to walk to our car and show us on the map how to drive back to Nazareth. When we got to the car, he exclaimed, “I can’t believe it! We are parked side by side!”

Such a happening may not seem a huge thing and most would say it was just a coincidence, but considering the history of our friendship, Steve and I probably both agree that God purposed that we park next to each other. Thankfully my friend insisted on driving fifteen minutes out of his way to lead us to the correct highway. As we pulled off the road and bid each other farewell, I marveled again at God’s goodness. I pray He fulfills his purposes in all our lives.

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:10-12

“In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” Ephesians 1:7-10

Summer is almost over! School is ready to begin! Susan and I have had a wonderful couple of months and we praise God for his faithfulness and love. I hope to share some encouragement this year as we keep our eyes on Jesus.

Our youngest daughter Karlyn, Nate Cost, and I got to visit Israel recently where we served at a youth camp for Palestinian teenagers. We spent a couple of days in Nazareth at the beginning of the trip. Of course Nazareth is where Jesus grew up and as we walked the streets of the old city, we wondered if we kicked some of the same rocks Jesus did. Unspectacular setting, common life, regular people… this was God’s choice for the majority of his Son’s life. Don’t complain of routine schedules, unexciting days, or people who aren’t famous, wealthy, or wise — the King of Kings grew up in Nazareth.

On our last day in town we visited a place called Nazareth Village, where local people dressed and worked as they did in Jesus’ time. We saw a vineyard, a wine press, an olive garden, a synagogue, a weaving loom, and a threshing floor. The threshing floor is where the harvested wheat is taken. There, a farmer led a donkey around in circles while dragging a heavy pallet of wood that crushed the wheat. This is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. After enough ‘threshing’, a worker scoops up the golden grain with a pitchfork-type tool called a winnowing fork. The wheat falls through the gaps of the fork while the slightest breeze blows away the chaff. ‘Winnowing’ is the process of using a current of air to separate the desirable from the undesirable.

“I baptize you with water,” John the Baptist said, “but one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into the barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Luke 3:16-17)

Watching the chaff blow in the Nazareth wind as the farmer used his winnowing fork enforced an important lesson for our day. It does not matter where we live… small town or big city, educated society or blue collar neighborhood, wealthy nation or third world country… we want to be wheat, not chaff. The chaff is weightless, worthless, and of no substance. It goes where the wind takes it. Some may think it is the ‘prettier’ part of the wheat, but it is of no use. The seeds of wheat, on the other hand, are solid, weighty, and of great benefit. The wheat brings nourishment to others. The wheat is substantial… full of purpose and worth.

John said the Messiah would be about the business of separating the wheat from the chaff. The chaff represents those who never find the meaning of life. The chaff may look good, but there is no value. The wind blows it wherever it pleases. The chaff spends its time on the insignificant… chasing mindless pursuits. The chaff has no substance and therefore brings no true benefit to others.  Do not be fooled by the exterior… God knows what is truly of worth. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that an awesome statue representing the kingdoms of the world of which he was the head of gold would not stand before the true Kingdom. “While you were watching, a rock was cut out but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:34-35)

The Rock is Jesus… and He calls us wheat. Let’s live significant lives.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” Psalm 1