Sacrificing Good for Perfect

 I’ve preached a lot of sermons about the danger of being, as Jesus used to call it, “lukewarm.”  And I believe it is most definitely true, that many churches today have succumbed to apostasy and false teaching.  C.S. Lewis used to say that a new Christian is a sheep among wolves.  The new believer needs to be careful regarding what they adopt as doctrine, and also read the Bible for themselves to make sure that they aren’t getting some watered down version of the Gospel, based on current fads or political correctness.  But I want to tackle a slightly different topic today.  After almost twenty-five years of active Christianity, I have noticed that there are still some who may fall victim to the notion that we can save ourselves, if only we repent ardently enough.  In other words, striving for perfection in our day-to-day lives becomes for some people, a thing to be proud and self-righteous about.   

While repentance is definitely part of God’s salvific plan, the follower of Christ must remember that it isn’t within our ability to abstain from sin perfectly all of the time.  Romans 3:23 tells us that in fact, “All have fallen short of the glory of God.”  We have sinned in the past, and will sin again in the future.  Paul addresses this flawed notion of possible perfect behavior in the book of Galatians.  The entire epistle was written to deconstruct the idea that human beings can obey God’s law perfectly all of the time.  He reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, and even that not of our own doing (Ephesians 2:8-9).  So it appears then, that we need not be perfect in our faith walk or in our repentance, because only God is perfect.

Now please don’t misunderstand me.  We must repent of our sins and ask forgiveness of course, and probably on a daily basis (if we are being honest).  But the aspiring modern-day disciple must not spend too much time worrying about his or her frailty or lack of perfection.  Sanctification is a lifelong journey.  You will have seasons of victory, and seasons of failure.  The late Charles Spurgeon said this in one of his most famous messages: “We never get perfect faith so as to be entirely free of doubting; and we never get repentance which is free from some hardness of heart.”  Don’t believe me?  Think carefully over the last week.  How many times did you think, say, or do something that may not have reflected a perfect and Holy God?  Humbling isn’t it?

I suppose my point is that we must pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus.  But when we slip up and make a mistake, do not assume that we are beyond help or in a hopeless situation.  Trust in Christ, get back on your feet again as soon as possible, and ask for His forgiveness.  And then most importantly, continue on your own personal faith journey.  As a mature Christian, we are able to deal with our own weaknesses.  As the apostle Paul says, God’s power is often made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:10).  I don’t know about you, but that is a big relief for me.    

.

A Beacon Church

My mother used to love lighthouses.  Growing up, I remember seeing several pictures of lighthouses on our walls at home.  I never questioned it as a little boy, it was just something all of us kids accepted.  Now that I am older, I often wonder what part about them she liked so much.  Was it the serene ocean coastline that appealed to her?  Was it just the fact that there are so many photos and paintings of lighthouses out there in general?  

Most of us know the purpose behind these magnificent buildings.  They exist to help guide ships into safe harbor during inclement weather or the dark.  They help pilots navigate to safety; they are literally a beacon for ships in the night.  I do wonder if my mother was a beacon herself, or if she was searching for guidance.  Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Pastor R. Loren Sandford from New Song Church used to talk about something called a 'lighthouse church.'  In his opinion, these churches represent a healthy connection between God and His people, and they are a rare thing in this day and age.  There are four points that compose these churches.  First, a lighthouse or beacon church is presence-based.  In other words, the church convenes each Sunday for the purpose of glorifying and worshipping God - not just to listen to the pastor talk or for mere entertainment value.  If your church has an awesome sound system and large screen TV's, that is great.  But remember, all of this isn't a requirement to give thanks to a Holy God.  The parishioners should be more interested in Him than the presentation.  

Second, a lighthouse church has freedom to move.  This means that if the Holy Spirit shows up during service, we need not necessarily stick to the bulletin.  Real Christianity is sometimes messy, as opposed to polished or refined.  The leaders in one of these churches can get out of their own way, and let God do His thing.  They espouse purpose over preference whenever possible. 

Third, these churches tend to have a culture of honor.  This means that all people are welcome, regardless of background.  This doesn't mean that a church must affirm all viewpoints - Biblical sin must still be recognized as such.  But I think it does mean that a lighthouse church understands all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  And as such, they welcome the opportunity to share God's Word with anyone He sends their way.  

Finally, a lighthouse church promotes a healing atmosphere.  On any given Sunday morning, you won't hear a message designed to incite hate or divisiveness.  Instead, you will hear about God's saving grace through faith, and Jesus' offer of salvation.  Jesus healed people both physically and spiritually; churches must understand how to create a loving environment like this each week.  

John 8:12 is one of my favorite pieces of Scripture.  It says, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"   We need modern day beacons to shine bright in the darkness.  Strive to create a lighthouse church atmosphere in your own congregation.  Look around each Sunday: does your house of worship have all four of these things in place?  If not, is it at least a work in progress?  Be the beacon in the dark of night for other people.  Live a lighthouse type of life whenever possible.

. 

Opening Our Spiritual Eyes

Most of us have heard the phrase looking at the world through rose colored glasses.  Most of the time, it simply means that we have chosen to view something in a positive light.  And in fact, I think we very often do choose to view the world in which we live with certain preconceived ideas.  I believe all of us look at life through the lens of a particular worldview.  I believe further, that it is impossible not to interpret the events that unfold around us without passing them through some sort of intellectual filter.  It helps us understand things, and allows us to categorize other peoples' opinions and biases.  

If we are talking here about viewing things through a particular type of lens, then to begin with, I can list off several non-Biblical systems of thought.  For example, the atheist says that there is no God at all, so don't bother looking.  The relativist says that all truth is relative, and depends only on what you personally decide is right or wrong as an individual.  A universalist might stop you in the hall and remind you that basically everything shakes out to similar attributes in the end.  Finally, Scientism tells us that we can only ever know the physical world around us, and nothing else really matters. 

If you notice, all of these worldviews seem to share one thing in common: they don't leave space for any higher, greater truth claims.  They look only so far as their particular belief system allows, and no further.  Any appeal to a higher moral or ethical power is limited by whatever a worldview happens to espouse. In other words, there is a glass ceiling in terms of how much truth you can access, in relation to the aforementioned beliefs.   

I will contrast this to the orthodox Christian Biblical view in a moment, but first I want to point to a piece of Scripture from Acts 9:18.  It says, "Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again.  He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength."  This passage describes the apostle Paul's famous conversion on the road to Damascus.  In a flash of light and loud audible voice, Saul becomes Paul, and he meets the real God for the first time.  His spiritual eyes were opened. 

Author and philosopher C.S. Lewis has been quoted as saying, "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."  God is our primary source of goodness in this world.  If we aren't looking at things by His light, then we are missing something.  All we see are shadows.  We need His help to see things clearly, to understand the parables and stories of the Bible, and to help spread the Gospel message.  Without it, we can easily slip back into one of the secular categories I mentioned earlier.  

By the way, once the scales come off, we are free.  There is no going back.  We are free to love without reservation, to shed guilt associated with sin, and to recognize the need for repentance in order to come closer to a Holy life.  This all takes some work of course, but it is work with an end goal of hope (getting closer to a loving God).  Whereas other worldviews are often limited by a finite end goal, the Christian view allows its proponents to test other opinions and views by stacking them up against what God says in the Bible.  At that point, we can weigh an idea based on whether or not it yields good fruit and produces spiritual growth, or whether it espouses false prophecy and conflict.  

As a final note, I wanted to add that some readers may accuse me of being a victim of my own religious bias and Christian worldview, in the same way that I have faulted secular belief systems.  But understand this difference ... in a solid Christian church, a new believer has the freedom to question faith and look around a bit.  Can adherents of the other views I mentioned do that?  For example, if the atheist starts talking about the possibility of the supernatural, I suspect intense criticism would follow. Likewise, if a naturalist tries to question macro-evolution or the Darwinian view on human origins, they are "out of the club" so to speak.  By contrast, a confident and loving Christian church can provide a safe platform by which a new convert can 'kick the tires' and test ideas.  This is how iron sharpens iron.  So the sooner we shed those scales, the sooner God can open our spiritual eyes. 

. 

Leaving a Godly Legacy

Unfortunately, I have been to a lot of funerals in my time.  During these special ceremonies, attendees are presented with old stories and memories about the deceased.  Almost always, there is a table or tackboard set up at the funeral home or church showing photographs from the person’s life; not to mention an obituary printed in the newspaper.  All designed of course, to celebrate and remember someone’s life here on Earth.  In fact, I think most people care quite a bit how they will be remembered.  It’s almost inherent within us to desire that others remember us.  

And so it begs the question: what kind of legacy are you going to leave behind after you are gone?  How do you want your family and community to remember you?  Perhaps some don’t give much thought to this.  Afterall, who has time to think about eternity when you have bills to pay and a full-time job.  But still, this thought occasionally haunts me.  Personally, I would love my writing and my books to survive me in some way.  The thought of my adult children reading something I wrote thirty years from now is strangely comforting. 

For many, I suspect that their perception of legacy is to leave behind a financial inheritance for family or children.  This is certainly a good thing, but I think we can dig a little deeper.  If we go one step further, I think it’s relevant to ask “how do we start building a legacy right here and now?”  How do we construct a way of thinking, a methodology, or even a value system that we can leave behind for others to take with them out into the world and make a difference?  These are all good things, but still very temporary and fleeting in many respects.  After a couple of generations, unless you become really famous, most of us will be lost to antiquity.  But know this – nothing about you is lost to God.  There was a time before you were created when you didn’t exist, but there will never be a time since then, when you will cease to exist.  We all go on spiritually. 

Psalm 78:4 says, “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”  The author here is talking about making certain that ancient people continued to share what God had done for them during their lives.  I believe that this is our job today as well.  This is how we build a truly lasting legacy - this is how we make a difference.  If you are able to leave your family some financial wealth, that is great.  If you have raised children that grow up to be responsible and well-adjusted adults, even better.  But do people know what God has done for you in your life?  Have you communicated the various ways that Jesus saved you?

I remember one funeral in particular that I officiated years ago.  I knew this lady quite well through the church.  People stretched out for hundreds of yards in either direction during her graveside service.  I had never seen so many friends and family come together in this way – they practically enveloped the entire cemetery that day.  But the one thing I’ll always remember about her, was that she demonstrated kindness and grace to everyone she met, and she talked about Jesus.  She talked about Jesus a lot.  Her Earthly legacy was a large and loving family.  But her spiritual crown was given to her in Heaven.  This was her real home anyway.  It is our true home also.  Make sure you are building a legacy that points upward to Heaven, and to a God that lives forever.  

.  

The Danger of Spiritual Complacency

In a couple of short months, school will resume across the country for children of all ages.  And this of course, means back to school shopping.  Hence the reason I found myself in a car with my family several years ago, speeding down the Interstate on our way to one of the local outlet malls.  It was time to look for both clothing and school supplies.  My wife and I had planned to spend a little bit too much money, as well as toting two tired kids around from store to store.  All of that is very normal considering the circumstances.  What we hadn't counted on, however, was to be part of a large traffic jam that same day. 

Two semi-trucks ended up in an accident about two miles ahead of our exit in route to the shopping mall.  One was in the ditch, and the other was split in half!  I'm not sure what caused it, but you can imagine the chaos that ensued thereafter.  Fortunately, I don't remember any fatalities being reported that day.  We were stuck at a complete standstill for almost three hours.  Unable to move in any direction. 

It reminded me of how some people conduct themselves on the faith journey that God has assigned to them.  I suspect a good many people become stranded along the way, falling prey to distraction or even some garden variety idol worship.  I believe that Scripture supports the idea that we should stay active and moving when it comes to our faith.  Not that we can't have lulls or respites here and there, but for the most part, I think that an active faith requires forward momentum.  

We should stay in motion while we pursue the things of God; we need to make sure our "vehicles" are in drive and not neutral.  Worse yet, some have shifted their car into park ... they are at a dead standstill, completely giving up on spiritual growth.  Just as the fleet of SUV's and minivans were stuck that day on the Interstate, so are those who cannot seem to generate an intentional and vibrant faith.  There are two Scriptures that I want to quote today to help illustrate this spiritual standstill.  Proverbs 8:35 says, "For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord."  And then 2 Timothy 4:7 says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."  

Although these two passages were written years apart by two different authors, they convey basically the same sentiment.  They talk about the importance of movement and motion in order to engage with God.  Proverbs 8 mentions actively seeking after the Lord, and 2 Timothy talks about finishing a race.  Keep seeking, and keep running the race.  At any point in time, we have the ability and the calling to shift our vehicles from neutral into drive.  We need not settle for being stuck in traffic and becoming spiritually stagnant.  

Partner with God so as to realize the plans He has for your life; not to mention the lives of those around you.  Once you start to let Him in, it can create a ripple effect not unlike throwing a pebble into a pond.  If people see the Jesus inside of you, then they might be encouraged to shift their own cars into drive as well.  Life is so much more than just going through the motions until we get to our next exit.  If you see the ripple from across the pond, then take the time to go and see what all the fuss is about. 

Let's face it - a life without God is often an empty pursuit.  Much of the time we can end up at a standstill, wondering just how much of what we have accomplished in the secular world might be in vain.  Consider instead, moving in conjunction with the Holy Spirit on a faith walk prepared especially for you by a loving God, who desires nothing more than to spend time together.  Get up, get moving, and get to church.  Become one of those cars speeding by from the other lane on the Interstate.  

.

  

Jesus Loves Me, This I Know

I do a fair amount of teaching at a local college.  This actually goes hand in hand with my role as a pulpit supply preacher; the two occupations make use of the same public speaking component.  As a teacher, I attended an Adult Literacy conference a few years ago, and one of the guest speakers was a young woman named Lilian Okech.  She was an immigrant from the Sudan who created a successful cleaning business here in the United States.  Through hard work and determination, Lilian battled the typical discrimination that immigrants often face in our country and formed a viable business in spite of those roadblocks.  

She spoke eloquently and with passion about how our education system has the opportunity to make or break aspiring students.  At one point, she told a story of how one of her teachers told her she was "smart and beautiful."  Lilian said that this phrase stuck in her mind from the time she was young, and helped guide her through the rest of her life.  May we all hope for teachers like this.  So at this point I want to take a break from everything going on in the world today, and let the reader know that God thinks you are beautiful also.  The book of Genesis says that you and I are created in God's image, and that we are to have dominion over the Earth and everything in it.  This is no small feat by the way.  In fact, the Lord views us as His children, and loves us with an incredible passion.

John 15:12-13 says, "My command is this: love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."  We remember here that Jesus was foreshadowing his own death and crucifixion on the cross - the ultimate loving sacrifice given freely to humankind.  God sacrifices for His people until it hurts (both literally and figuratively).  As I have said before, we are beautiful in His eyes.  1 Peter 3:3-4 states further, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  God's spirit inside of us is of innumerable value, and Peter compares it here with unfading beauty.  Have I mentioned lately that God loves us?

All of these wonderful Scriptures do not, however, mean that God also loves our sin.  We may be created in His image, but when we do things we ought not to, it isn't beautiful in God's eyes at all.  Remember the Bible states that our bodies are like temples, designed to project and reflect His light.  Contrast this with people engaging in behaviors such as spiritual pride or blasphemy for example, and we have a whole new problem.

So how do we bridge that gap between God’s love and our sin?  The answer is simple, but not easy.  God's restitution plan for us is to believe in Jesus, and repent of our sin.  If we accept Christ's death on the cross and believe that God raised him from the dead, we will be participating in the great atonement.  This isn't easy because in order to come to Christ, we must first accept our own shortcomings and ask for forgiveness.  And I don't mean the backhanded, excuse-laden false apology either ... I'm talking about asking for real forgiveness.

We are beautiful in God's eyes in the sense that Jesus saves us and redeems us.  When God looks at the born-again believer, He sees the reflection of Christ's light in them.  But understand this also, God loves those for whom salvation has not yet occurred as well.  All life originates from the Creator, and as such, all life is precious and beautiful.  

So please don't stop here.  Go that extra step and seek out a relationship with the one that created you.  Don't forgo the potential you have to walk closely with the carpenter from Nazareth.  It's a different kind of fulfillment; better than what the regular world offers.  It is - dare I say - beautiful.  There is an old hymn that many will find familiar called ‘Jesus Loves Me.’  The lyrics were adapted from a poem written in 1860.  One of the stanzas says, “Jesus loves me this I know, because the Bible tells me so.”  It was true then, and it is true now.  Never stop seeking out the God who loves you and sacrificed Himself on your behalf.  

.

Our Pride, God's Humility

It's fashionable today to advertise how important we are.  Peruse anyone's social media account or Instagram, and you may find hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures glorifying their accomplishments.  For some, it's a matter of pride.  Showing the world photos of their vacations, new house, or new car is akin to the kings of the Old Testament constructing palaces full of opulence and grandeur.  All of it designed to do one thing: show the world that we are important, and that we matter.  

I have always appreciated the story of Naaman in the Bible.  He was a soldier who served the king of Aram.  Naaman was considered an accomplished warrior, leader, and right-hand man to the king.  But Scripture tells us he also had leprosy.  Finally after years of suffering from this affliction, he heard about this mysterious God of Israel who sometimes healed people.  2 Kings 5:2-3 recounts it like this, "Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife.  She said to her mistress, 'If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria!  He would cure him of his leprosy."

From there, the story goes on to tell us that Naaman eventually visits the king of Israel, in an attempt to be healed of his disease.  But the king denies him, and redirects Naaman to the prophet Elisha.  This famous prophet commands him to then bathe in the Jordan river seven times, at which point he would be healed.  Naaman complains at first that the cure is 'too simple!'  He can't believe that it's free, and that there is no ceremony attached to it.  After all, he is a renown warrior, and surely worthy of some type of public celebration, right?  Apparently not.  Eventually Naaman relents and visits the river to follow Elisha's instructions.  He is healed that same day.  Later, this famous warrior ends up repenting and accepting God.  The good news of the Gospel made its mark on him.  

There are many lessons we can take from this account, but I want to point your attention to something in particular.  Notice that God brings awareness of the miraculous healings happening in Israel to Naaman's attention via a lowly servant girl.  He was then given instructions on how to proceed by the servant Elisha (instead of the king).  In his excellent book 'What is Wrong with the World', author Timothy Keller says that God shows Naaman that the way to healing is through servants and common folk; not kings or politicians.  In essence, God works through regular people in order to produce miraculous things.  

Surely we know this is true.  Just take a quick look at how God reached people throughout the Bible.  Moses was not well spoken or rich, yet he led a nation out of slavery with God's help.  David was a mere shepherd boy, but God made him a king.  And of course, Jesus himself chose several poor fisherman and a tax collector to help spread a message that would change the world.  Time and time again, we are reminded of this strange lesson: man glorifies himself with wealth and power, but God spreads the Gospel message through the humble and obedient.  He uses regular, ordinary people to do extraordinary things.  

Now this is a difficult lesson for us today.  We are often surrounded by lavish creature comforts, especially here in America.  For example, we don't even have to go to a theatre anymore to watch a movie and be entertained, we can simply stream it at home on our television.  But understand this timeless Biblical truth - the pursuit of significance without God always leads to empty riches and lonely fortune.  If we really want God to use us, then it appears we must be willing to stay humble and submit to His authority.  May we always choose God over pride, and be willing to empty ourselves so that He may fill us with something redemptive and new.  Something that the regular world cannot give us through status or position.  

 

.

The Gospel Effect

The Gospel message about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is just as important now as it was two-thousand years ago.  During this time of uncertainty in the world, I have learned a couple of things.  First, people need each other.  No matter how technologically advanced we get, we still have a deep desire to be in relation with others.  I have also noticed that trials and difficult times really do build character, and can also be redeemed by God for our spiritual growth.  Keeping both of these things in mind, the idea of the 'Gospel Effect' (the notion of the work that Jesus does in our hearts and minds) has become paramount.  

I want to talk about a particular story relating to transformed hearts.  It is often known as the Parable of the Leaven.  This teaching from Jesus occurs both in the book of Matthew and the book of Luke.  It is very short, but as you can probably guess, also very profound.  Matthew 13:33 says, "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough."  From this little story, I believe we can take away two more points in particular.  First, much like leaven (or yeast), the kingdom of heaven can take some time to develop and mature.  We ought not apply today's fast paced, technology driven lifestyle to the Gospel Effect.  Not always anyhow.  When the Spirit of God begins a work in us, it often starts slowly and might be barely noticeable to the individual. 

Second, I believe we can take from this teaching, that the kingdom of heaven starts from the 'inside' and works its way outward.  Like leaven that permeates through the entire package of dough, Jesus begins working inside of a person's heart and mind.  The changes are often not obvious from other people's perspective, until the overflow of God's love begins to come out of that individual through the words they speak and the things they do.  Leaven may start small, but the end result is irrefutable.  We are sometimes impatient with God, aren't we?  Instead of waiting for the dough to rise, we might decide that a trip to the fast food restaurant is a better idea.  We drive past the window, hand our money to the employee, and off we go with a bag full of junk food.  Quick, easy, and also not very good for us.  We should wait on the leaven instead. 

By contrast, if we wait on God and allow the leaven time to work through the dough, the end result is impressive (and much better for us than fast food).  It goes without saying then, that God probably has to wait on us a good portion of the time also.  The Bible says He is infinitely patient with Israel, and with us also.  And if we stop to think about things for just a millisecond, we can see how true this is.  How many times have you and I failed to meet God's holy law?  More than a few times I would think.  If you disagree, stop reading this immediately and turn to the ten commandments in the Old Testament.  Go down the list with each one, and apply it to your own life.  Humbling, isn't it?

Little doubt that God is the very embodiment of patience and love.  I often see this truth wherever I look.  My advice is this: allow God's Holy Spirit to make little in-roads into your life.  Give this Gospel Effect time to take hold, and work in you from the inside out.  Who cares if other people around you notice this change immediately or not.  Your sanctification walk is between you and the Creator.  Revel in that intimate time together with God; Jesus died on the cross so that you could have it.  Don't waste it.  Sooner or later, those around you will notice the end result.   

 

  .

My Prayer for You

My prayer for you son,

Is that you walk, don’t run.
Stop and take life in,
Savor its joy and its disappointment;
Learn from them both.

My prayer for you son,
Is not just to win, but have fun.
Work hard, but also wander through life’s

fields, see how they grow and cultivate 

and rejuvenate.

 
My prayer for you son,
Is to know that God has won.
He is in the world, in your head, and in 

your heart. Jesus matters, and loves you

forever.

 
But most of all, my prayer for you,
Is to love, and trust, and enjoy life too.
Where Heaven starts, your soul will flourish.
This is the world I want you to know,
Not just to survive, but also to grow.

 

 .

The Sacred Classroom

I have been a teacher ever since I can remember.  From my earliest days, I was helping the other kids in elementary school write essays and complete their assignments.  Later, when I became an adult and entered the workforce, I found myself being assigned duties associated with instruction and training.  Eventually I got the title of “trainer” to go along with it.  I now work as a GED instructor full-time at a local college.  I have always held to the notion that if nothing else, the classroom is a sacred space.  This is where the magic happens.  Students learn to grasp concepts, and the teachers learn to meet people where they are at.  Teaching can be both a challenge and a joy as well, depending on what type of group you are working with. 

I have often marveled at how much our lives are like a classroom when it comes to developing spiritual character.  God will often bring us into circumstances where we are required to learn something important.  And I suspect also, that we are forced to repeat these lessons until we finally master them.  C.S. Lewis once wrote that God will not keep giving us simple math questions forever.  At some point, He will move us on to Algebra.  And so it is with the sacred classroom of life.  Try as we might, it’s no good complaining when we must endure challenges and setbacks, because these are the advanced Algebra problems that we are given sometimes. 

Proverbs 4:7 tells us, “The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom.  Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”  And cost us it surely does.  None of us make it through this life unscathed.  We will all experience grief, sadness, and pain … but also joy, happiness, and even bouts of peace.  Trust me when I say, God is riding in the seat right next to us during this roller coaster ride.  The famous verse from Romans 5:3-4 says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  Although it’s easy to forget the hope part while you are in the middle of the storm.    

When it comes to education, most people must overcome some type of hurdle in order to cross the finish line and get the diploma.  My own GED students often show up with dramatic deficiencies in both math and writing.  There is something about dropping out of high school in the tenth grade that produces this symptom.  Nevertheless, they show up, and we teach them.  Typically, they are writing essays and passing math tests after just a few months!  But it comes at a cost.  They are continually being introduced to new concepts and clearing hurdles that they never imagined possible.  So will you and I, if we listen and learn what God is trying to show us in our own sacred classroom. 

I wish it were all as easy as mastering a geometry problem or crafting a well written paragraph.  But no, I’m afraid in this life, God usually brings us face to face with our own sin and inadequacies.  And while looking at this difficult reflection of our incomplete selves through His mirror, the only glimmer of hope we have is Christ Jesus.  His classroom is the church, his textbook the Bible, and his teaching assistant is the Holy Spirit.  Rest assured, God will take you through the same lesson over and over again if you need it.  It may look a bit different each time, but until you conquer your pride, ambition, lust, or greed – He will steer you through the textbook in order to get to the finish line.  In His eyes, we are always worth the trouble. 

A teacher should never give up on a student, as long as the student is willing to learn and put in the effort.  If they aren’t willing, however, then they are doomed to keep taking the same test over and over again.  This will go on until they finally begin to study and prepare.  Are you and I studying in the same way?  Or are we taking tests with our eyes closed, and just hoping to pass accidentally?  Hope is a great thing, but it isn’t a solid strategy for achievement.  Listen to the great Teacher, study His Word, and then apply what you have learned in your life.  I suspect that the final exam will go better that way.  Your hope will then be well placed and rewarded. 

.  

Those Who Have Ears to Hear

I can't tell you how many times I have finished preaching a sermon on Sunday morning, only to find out that several people walked away with an entirely different meaning than what I had intended.  It doesn't happen every time, but often enough that I have begun to take notice.  It isn't that they heard something entirely opposite mind you; it's just that for them, a different emphasis came across.  I preach the same sermon, but other people interpret the message differently.  I believe this to be both profound and supernatural at the same time, and I will attempt to explain why. 

All of this begs the question: how do we hear God's Word?  Or to put it another way ... how do we interpret what God is trying to tell us?  When attempting to answer Biblical questions, it never hurts to use the Bible to interpret itself.  I am not talking about circular reasoning here (i.e.: I believe it because the Bible said it), but rather I'm talking about using key concepts in Scripture as a reference guide.  The Word itself tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed and fit for teaching and reproof.  So, let's use what Scripture says in one place to understand what God is talking about in another place.

Matthew 11 relates a conversation that Jesus had regarding John the Baptist.  He is attempting to convince some of John's followers that he is the legitimate Messiah that God was going to send to the people.  Jesus then makes this odd statement in Matthew 11:15, "Whoever has ears, let them hear."  At first glance this may come across as a very strange thing to say, but many scholars agree that this simple statement is a directive for God's people to 'listen up.'  It is an imperative that directs those for whom a truth might apply, to make sure they don't miss it.  It's a wakeup call to those who were lucky enough to be listening to one of Jesus' parables two-thousand years ago.  It's also a command for us to listen closely today.

You see, we can decide what truth we let into our hearts, and what we will choose to disregard.  We can harden our hearts like Pharoah, or we can choose to accept what God is trying to impart to us like Moses.  We keep our radio receiver set to "high," or we can keep it set to the lowest volume level possible.  No doubt the Lord works on us during sermons and exegesis.  His Word searches our hearts and souls, isolates an issue, diagnoses it, and finally works to begin the sanctification process.  I can't remember how many times just the right sermon happened to come on the radio when I am driving somewhere and flipping past the different radio stations. 

It takes a certain type of determination to really understand what the Bible has to say about humanity and our role in God's kingdom.  It also takes study to make sure that we are properly comprehending what He has intended for us to hear.  In fact, I believe many are led astray today by false preachers and false prophets because they suffer from Biblical illiteracy.  If we don't know what God actually said in the first place, then we can be easily led away from true revelation.

Continue to work on your spiritual listening skills.  Our relationship with God isn't unlike our Earthly relationships in that regard.  If we never take the time to call our friends and catch up, then we remain in the dark as to what they are doing.  Likewise, if we want to develop ears that can hear, we must dial up our Lord and Savior from time to time and have a chat.  

Scripture and preaching reveal truth handed down through the ages from the lips of God's prophets and disciples, but it is up to us to listen properly.  We are the ones who must make up our minds to actively engage with God's Word in ways that go beyond regular hearing.  We must focus on the truth with spiritual eyes and ears.

John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."  This statement is taken from a very personal conversation that Jesus had with God the Father, asking Him to keep and protect his followers.  God's Word is in fact the same thing as truth spoken plainly.  Be part of a church that partners with God to practicing listening with ears that can hear.  Listen to as many sermons as you can, test them against what the Scriptures actually say, and then bask in the revelation that God has given you.  

.