Life is short

For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes. (James 4:14)

It is amazing how life goes so fast and yet I still think I will live forever. It is amazing how much faith I have in hospitals, doctors and medicine which can only prolong the inevitable. Although I do not know when, my time will come. I am not writing this because I fear death, for I have a hope that surpasses understanding, for in the same way Christ was raised from the dead so will I (1 Corinthians 15:42). Although I know this truth it sadly has not permeated all areas of my life. It is too easy to become consumed in the current of this world and think that this is it. Too often I hold too tightly to things that do not matter. If there is ever a time to remember what a worthy investment is, it is now. The past few weeks have reminded me of the riskiness of building my life on the shaky foundation of anything other than the Trinitarian God. Sadly this financial meltdown has revealed how many have built their lives upon a shaky foundation, seeking after the American dream only to realize it is a dream. A missionary friend shared with me a few years back what one of the villagers said to him, one day in regards to America, "they do not need God, because they have money." Sadly money has blinded many in this country from knowing the infinite value of God. In short, life is short, may I not spend all the days that the Lord has graciously given me building on a godless foundation.

As stated by Tozer,

"When the Lord divided Canaan among the tribes of Israel, Levi received no share of the land. God said to him simply, `I am thy part and thine inheritance,' and by those words made him richer than all his brethren, richer than all the kings and rajas who have ever lived in the world. And there is a spiritual principle here, a principle still valid for every priest of the Most High God."

Knowing Christ is what makes us rich not having a certain amount in our 401k.

When did we stop caring about the inward man?

I don't hate politicians, I respect those who seek to change the world. However my heart has becomes increasingly concerned as I look at the Church where politics has become so integrated with Christianity. As Christians we will argue more passionately and aggressively for who should be the next president or which law(s) should be passed or not passed than we will for the Good News. Why have we neglected the Gospel? Do we really think that people can be changed by a law? Did prohibition stop drinking? Prohibition only made it harder to drink, it did nothing about the heart of man. We must stop being fooled that the law can save. If we truly desire to see this country change it will only be through the working of the Holy Spirit as hardened sinners become open to the grace and love of Jesus Christ on the cross. If Jesus could have saved this world through the law he would have become a King (not to neglect the fact that he is King!), however he fulfilled the law by giving his life, as a substitution for ours, on the cross. We must stop thinking that the law can save and start sharing the Good News so that others might truly find peace and hope. Is that not the beauty of Christianity?

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Cor. 4:7)

Why have we neglected the power of God who placed so great of treasure in pots of clay, and have instead placed our faith in this countries political system to restore holiness?

Why?

Why are people's hearts so hardened towards God? What did God do to make some people ignore him and others hate Him? Why is God's name used more as a curse word than as a term of endearment? Why do people seek fulfillment in every way imaginable except seeking after the Lord? Why? My heart is burdened by many who have sadly chosen to go their own way. When these questions get distilled the main reason one chooses not to believe there is a God is because they do not want to hand over the keys to their life. People do not want to be held accountable by anyone but themselves. I can't sleep tonight as my mind keeps running again and again over these thoughts. Sadly, the greatest answer to many of these questions is modern day Christians. The greatest testimony against Christianity is not its beliefs but the lives of those who claim the title. I am burdened because I realize I am a sinner and a selfish person, yet realize that a world is watching. I am torn as I want to be a light to a watching world that Jesus is alive, yet still seek and desire what the world desires. My only hope is that God can use a forgiven sinner. One blessing of seminary is you have a lot of knowledge to answer a lot of questions, but theology alone doesn't do very much good at convincing others (especially in a post-modern society where logic doesn't matter nearly as much). I live in a culture and see so many that desperately long for "true love" yet will not under any circumstance turn to a God who is love. Looking from this side of God's grace it is clear that many are blinded to the Good News. I must pray, live and share the foolishness of the Good News so that those whose hearts are blind might see.

Brought to Tears

In America we move at the speed of light, or as a missionary friend stated when he returned to America, "Americans are moving at mach 5 with their hair on fire." I can't help but think of the classic movie: Spaceballs, when they move way past lightspeed passing ridiculous speed and enter ludicrous speed. There is nothing wrong with moving fast, staying busy, or accomplishing tasks. The problem, as today I have been so humbled to remember, is that if anything takes our focus off the creator than we are misaligned. I just picked up a book that starts by talking about the absolutely great God that we so often ignore. It describes the absolutely amazing handiwork of the Creator in the heavens and on this planet. I was brought to tears. God is so much bigger than I can imagine, sadly I do not live daily in light of this fact. Too often I live my life in the fast line. It is my life, my agenda, my will. I honestly can't remember the last time I have slowed down and just stared at the stars in the heavens, worshipping My God. It is amazing that life can be so simple (Jesus summed up the purpose of life as loving God and loving others) yet it is so easy to forget this commandment. I wish I was better than the Israelites who quickly forgot about the God who parted the Red Sea and lead them out of captivity, but I am not. Praise God for His grace! I am forever indebted.

A Baby Understanding Of Perseverance

One of the many joys of Seminary is that you are continually challenged and reminded to put into practice that which you already know. Lately I have been challenged in my baby understanding of perseverance. It is one of those concepts that is so easy to understand yet so difficult to put into practice. After many years of following Christ one would expect life to get easier or more routine. Yet this is simply not the case. Life usually gets harder and as my heart continues to be molded by the Father I am more aware of my selfishness, and the great responsibility I have been given as one entrusted with the Good News. Here is the difficulty in persevering. Life seems like you are always trying to avoid hurling fireballs. If you think for a second you can live life without running towards the Alpha and Omega then you will surely become a target for the hurling fireballs of selfishness which leave you paralyzed and open to the fire that so quickly consumes your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Growing old has been one of those things that has plagued me with fear. I have seen numerous people (even those who have claimed to know the Creator of the Universe) grow cold in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. However, there are those that amaze me. I have been blessed to see the perseverance of those who have faithfully sought after the Lord forsaking their own selfish desires for years. I have been encouraged and surrounded by godly men such as Dr. Pentecost who continues to this day to faithfully serve the Lord, even at the age of 93! I am thankful for God's promise to carry onto completion that which he started, yet also reminded that I have a responsibility to be diligent and faithful. May I not become lackadaisical.

Learning Compassion

As the Lord continues to teach me I am reminded of His compassion. So often I think I have compassion, yet I have none or very little. A biblical picture of compassion involves action. So often I might feel bad or even guilty for the homeless, the sick, the orphans, the widows, or the lost in this world. But rarely do I act on this. I pray that I might learn to have a greater compassion, not lacking action. For I am forever indebted to a God who did not just feel guilty or sad for my helpless condition, but in compassion gave His life so that my condition might be changed. It is encouraging to read and see how Jesus Christ demonstrated compassion throughout His life on earth rather than just feeling compassion. May I do likewise!

A Divine encounter

God is good!

I am so thankful for being the clay pot in the hands of an infinite God. As I struggle with doubt and what is truth, God is forever faithful. As I wonder about the ups and downs that mark my spiritual journey I am reminded of the need that I have for a savior. I am reminded that I am desperately in need of someone to pay my debt for the crimes that I have committed and the ones I will commit (even though I wish I would never screw up again). I am humbled at the thought of Christ, God's own son, coming to this earth and taking my place on the cross so that an infinitely Holy and Just God could be satisfied in the only payment acceptable for my sin. It is a payment that I should pay, but cannot, however it has been paid by my Lord who should not, but did. What Grace!

It is this very concept that marks the Gospel. This is the Good News. It is so simple yet so profound. Everyone has sinned and fallen way short of the standard set by God (Romans 3:23). The punishment for failing to meet God's standard is death (Romans 6:23). Thankfully, God is not only a God of justice but of love. And as a beautiful demonstration of God's love: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Words cannot do justice to knowing and believing this truth. Nothing else is worthy of my trust, but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If I ever doubt anything it had better not be this. This post is a response to an encounter I had with a Mormon friend. A friend who was very passionate, kind and knowledgeable, yet I believe a little confused. The conversation seemed so ridiculous that we could each look at a verse and see two completely different things. However, He challenged me greatly to re-look at my faith and beliefs. Afterwords, I could not help but come back to the Gospel. It is here that I think Mormonism has done a disservice. By adding to the Gospel they have lowered the significance of God's sacrifice. My friend in a round about way stated that Satan being at work in this world has tried to thwart the purposes of God, which is the reason Mormon's doubt the Bible and only trust it if it agrees with their other 3 standard works (Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price). Yet I cannot help but wonder if Satan really is at work would he not want to get back at God by adding confusion and lowering the significance of Christ's death? What better way to get back at God then to destroy the significance and work of His Son. Not surprisingly this is where every other religion differs from Christianity. For Christianity alone believes that it is only through Christ's death and resurrection that we are saved, where as every other religion bases salvation on works or some system with hoops to jump through to obtain salvation. The gospel hinges on Christ's death and resurrection, anything that lowers that in significance moves us closer to not needing his sacrifice and therefore moves us towards thinking that we are not in great need of a savior.

This is where Mormonism is ludicrous. They believe sin to be a good thing or at least not that terrible of a thing!1 For if Adam and Eve did not sin, Christ would have never died. They teach that they did not really sin, but that it was more of a blessing. This goes blatantly against the meaning of sin which simply means to "miss the mark". If this sin was a blessing it would seem to me like Adam and Eve "hit the mark". To lower the weight of sin, lowers the penalty of sin. To which one must ask why must Christ die? If sin is really not that bad why would God need to come and die on the cross? Surely, God full of infinite wisdom could have found an easier way to restore our relationship with him! This is why Mormonism is heretical. It strikes at the reason for Christ coming to this earth and distorts the Good News, that Christ died for us. Maybe this is why Paul is so adamant in Galatians 1.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9).

This post turned into a post way longer than I thought it would. Overall, I was reminded that when I doubt I must come back to the death and resurrection of Christ. If there is something in life worth dying for this is it. Like "Doubting Thomas", there are those times when it seems foolish to believe, but we are reminded of the scars in Jesus' nail-pierced hands. To which one can only respond, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26)

God Bless,