Yeshua

The Next Exit

Despite the fact I’ve been a follower of Jesus for decades, I continue to make monumental mistakes, dumb decisions, and chump choices.

I know the way, I know the truth, and I know the Author of Life. Yet I often stumble, and occasionally fall.

The question is, why? Especially after all these years.

The answer is because I’m often hesitant to stand on solid ground. Indeed, the Bible is replete with many admonitions to stand against temptations of many sorts. That includes the temptation to simply do things my way.

The ancient Old Testament book of Jeremiah exhorts us to stand, stating, This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

It’s interesting because, as every athlete knows, one’s stance is everything.

In the New Testament, Jesus provides us a description on how to stand, saying, “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”

Saint Paul elaborates on the concept of standing firm: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”

Later, Paul says it like this: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

The takeaway is straightforward. I need to stand, and stand firm. Such a stance empowers us to take the proper exit along life’s highway.

 

 

 

A Time to Mourn

With the recent loss of my wife’s father, I have been reflecting on the process of mourning; something we don’t always seem to do well in western culture.

Too often our expressions of deep loss are extremely abbreviated. Those closest to the departed are immediately thrust into a whirlwind of tasks: funeral arrangements, obituaries, death certificates, contacting financial institutions, filing taxes, wills and trusts. While these assignments are vital, they can also act as distractions that might prevent us from taking the time to properly mourn.

For those not involved in handling the details noted above, our various occupations are often not compatible with carving out essential bereavement time.  Getting a day off to attend a memorial, let alone taking a day off after hearing the news of a death, can be challenging.

Frequently there is a lack of compelling consolation and counsel which is often desperately needed following the death of a loved one. We don’t know who to turn to, who to talk to, who to shed tears with, so we tend to stuff our emotions, pressing on with the minutia of our lives.

And then there are our children who have no frame of reference to understand they will never see that special person again.

I recall witnessing an accident that took the life of my best friend when I was ten. Though I was an emotional wreck, my parents were ill-equipped to properly console me. I was back in school and football practice the next day. When one of our teammates was told he was taking our deceased friend’s place on the starting lineup, the poor little guy broke down crying. The team marched on that day because, I guess, it was thought that it was the best thing to do. It was decades before I was able to mourn Kenney’s untimely death and it brought long overdue healing to my life.

The Bible describes for us many important aspects of mourning, such as weeping, crying loudly, and setting aside days or even weeks to allow for healing. And even though the Christian has the assurance that when this earthly life has ended, eternal life has just begun, we are still entitled and encourgaed to express our raw emotions for the passing of another.

As King Solomon once said, God graciously allows us “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

Next time, let’s make the time to mourn.

Back to Basics: Finding Real Peace

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
Isaiah 9:6,7

More than any other book in the Old Testament, the book written by the Jewish prophet Isaiah focuses on the salvation that would come through the Messiah. The above passage reveals that Messiah will one day rule in justice and righteousness. The Messiah’s kingdom on earth (Isaiah chapters 65-66) is the goal toward which all of the book of Isaiah points. It is during the eventual reign of the Messiah, at His second coming, that God’s righteousness will be fully revealed to the world.

We all long for peace, yet the world in which we live has little of that to offer. Wars, rumors of wars, crime, hate, family division, anger, vices, addictions, let downs–it’s all contrary to a message of peace.

Isaiah chapter 53 vividly describes the Messiah suffering for sin. It is through His wounds that healing is achieved. It is through His suffering that our iniquities are taken away. This apparent contradiction is solved in the Person of Jesus Christ. In His first advent, Jesus was the suffering servant of Isaiah chapter 53.  In His second advent, Jesus will be the conquering and ruling King, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).

How can you  experience the peace that only Jesus can provide, right now?

With a simple prayer of faith, something like this: Lord, I believe Jesus is the way, truth, and life. I believe Jesus died for my sins and was raised from the dead. I surrender to your Lordship. Fill me with your Spirit and make me whole.

Back to Basics: What is Heaven Really Like?

If you ask 100 people, including pastors and theologians, what heaven is like you’ll get 100 different answers.

Actually, for every theologian in your query you’re bound to get 10 different explanations, so let’s take theologians out of the example. That still keeps us at about 100 different descriptions of heaven.

Last night I believe God gave me this wonderful vision of heaven:

Imagine you have lived your entire life land-locked. You’ve never seen a body of water bigger than a pond, or maybe a small lake. You’ve never seen a fish, let alone a whale, a dolphin, or an octopus. In fact, you never even seen photographs or video of these creatures, or the ocean in which they live. However, you’ve read a few stories about such environs, and you’ve heard 100 people give 100 different descriptions of what abides in that mysterious thing called “the ocean.”

Then one day you finally see the ocean with your own eyes. Your heart nearly stops at its immense splendor. You witness the great tail of a whale splashing the surface of the water and pod of dolphins dancing between the rolling waves. You’re taken to a bay with crystal clear water and wade into a tide pool. There, right next to your submerged feet, your jaw drops as you look at sea anemones, brilliant fish, and even octopus.

Some say, “Heaven will be a state of mind.”  While they are incorrect, I can understand their statement in that we humans can’t wrap our brains around, “what God has prepared for those who love Him,” (Psalm 31:19 and 1 Corinthians 2:9).

Help Wanted: Foreign Christians to Evangelize America

America was originally founded by those who came to this new land on the Mayflower and subsequent ships, to be a place where Christians could openly express their faith and, in turn, send missionaries to the ends of the earth to see people come into a personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe–the Messiah Jesus.

This nation made good on that intent for a long time. Certainly millions around the world can trace their hearing of the Word to Christians who came from the United States, not to mention the material aid in all forms that has plentifully flowed from the USA to the far reaches of the globe.

Now America is in a crisis. Christianity is in the crosshairs of the government and the left at large. Secularism has taken over. At the same time sin (and the occult) flourishes. Addictions, depression, racial division, gender rebellion and gender confusion, and vaccine conflicts are the norm.

Today, in a Zoom Bible study I’m a part of, a Christian brother from Nigeria said something that must be heard:
“America is in need of missionaries.” His comment received “amens” from other brothers in Eastern Europe and Kurkistan.

In other words, our Christian brothers and sisters in other nations believe missionaries from their lands need to come to evangelize the United State of America.

These are dark times indeed. Let’s pray for a harvest of souls in the USA and a revival of true faith worldwide.