Most people are interested in the future. We wonder what tomorrow will bring. We want to know about possible careers, retirement, what the stock market will do and how to plan for things to come. We anticipate the next season of whatever show we have been following after one of those season ending cliff hangers. Most followers of Jesus, are curious as to when He will return. We delve into studies on Revelation, Daniel and Ezekiel hoping to find the key to the day of His return. Some add up Biblical numbers and others try to figure out the number of generations that need to pass before He can return. I have been told that as soon as the Gospel is preached unto the whole world, Jesus will return. With radio and the internet this could happen at any moment. Or not. There is only one way to know for sure if a prophecy is true. That is after it has come to pass. I am not saying we cannot trust God's predictive Word, we can be confident that these things will come to pass. We just seldom can know when until after it is over. Perhaps we have missed the main point of the prophetic words given.
The Hebrew language has no real word for the future. Even where translators have used the English word "future" it is more of an interpretation than a translation. Jeremiah 31:17, "There is hope in your future, says the LORD, that your children shall come back to their own border." The Hebrew word, shuwb, means to return or turn back. There is hope in their return or coming back. This will happen later so there is a future thought that goes with it. However, it is more about things that follow these events than a specific predictive future. The Hebrew idea of the future is what comes after me. What is behind me that I cannot see. In 1 Samuel 24:21 Jonathan asks David to not cut off his, Jonathan's, descendants after him or those coming behind him. His future generations. If we are honest, our view of the fulfilled prophecies of Messiah in the Gospel accounts were seen less as predictive in the actual prophets' writings. At the time of Isaiah the prediction of a maiden or virgin conceiving and bearing a son was about David's continued line. The Isaiah 7 passage becomes or is understood as predictive when it is applied to the advent of God's Son. The angel applies this to Joseph's situation and he now understands that the passage is predictive. The same is true for John 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." During this time in Exodus no one thought, "Oh, this must be about Messiah's crucifixion." We understand it to be after the fact, after Jesus makes it clear.
We should believe and trust that God's predictions are true. Daniel believed that the statue revealed to Nebuchadnezzar was about a series of coming kingdoms. We know it is true because they have come to pass. Except for the toes and you can find lots of diverse opinions on that kingdom. However, the truth is that we will not really know for sure what it is until after it has been fulfilled. We know this ten toed kingdom is coming, we just cannot really know when or what until it is over. That does not keep us from spending an inordinate amount of time making conjectures as to what Daniel meant and when this will occur. If we cannot really know the future, meaning the actual time of events, then what is the purpose of our prophetic books? What is the purpose of knowing there are things behind us, or after us if they are in the shadows until they actually happen?
Perhaps the illustration of the row boat will help. I have heard and read this from a variety of sources so I do not know who to credit; however it helps me understand God's revelation of things to come. If you have ever rowed a rowboat you know that your back is toward where you are going. You get an occasional glance to keep on course, but your clearest view is what has already come to pass. Each stroke takes you further into the future and reveals what the future was as you see it become reality. God has directed us to row. To continue moving into the future knowing He has it all under control. Each stroke verifies that the Lord will see us through. Each stroke builds our confidence in the One directing our path, even if we cannot see it. Each time we read a Scripture that has clearly come to pass our faith is strengthened concerning the things yet to come. Our responsibility is to keep on rowing. Not to know the precise times and plans of God.
Acts 1:6-7, "Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority." The followers of Jesus Messiah today are not much different than they were back there outside Jerusalem. We still ask the question, "Is now the time You will establish your kingdom? Is now the time of Your return?" The answer is still the same, "It is not for you to know." However, Acts one does not stop there. Verse 8 gives this instruction, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” We may not be privy to the time of His return but we do know what we are to be doing now. We are to be His witnesses in what we say, what we do, how we live, where ever we go.
Fulfilled prophecy gives us confidence to keep on rowing. God is with us. His promises are true. However, His timing is His alone. Yet, our mission is clear. We are called to make Him known and to make disciples by teaching them all that He has commanded and revealed to us. The future will come no matter what we do or how much time we spend in conjecture trying to guess what we have been told is not ours to know. Or we can be busy doing what we know He has called us to do. Keep rowing and invite as many others as we can to get in the boat.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Integration by Divine Design
How much effort do you put into compartmentalizing your life? We who live in America are surrounded by a culture that encourages us to separate our lives into nice little boxes. This is especially true of those who are male. We already have compartmentalized brains before we are born. Yes, as God knit you together in your mother's womb you were blasted with testosterone which effectively broke down connections in your brain. This is very useful when faced with sudden decisions. We are designed to jump to the emergency box there in the caverns of our minds and leave the other boxes closed so we can focus on the demand at hand. Women, on the other hand, have a vastly greater number of brain connections, thus they are far more integrated in their thoughts. That is why you can start a conversation about the funny noise the car makes, flow to Aunt Ellen, then to what happened at the store and end with an event that happened at the office seamlessly. You find "obvious" connections while your male friend stands staring glassy eyed and at a loss as to how you ended up where you are. Don't blame him. Be patient. He was brain damaged before birth. However, even with the advantage of God's design, females are still prone to be victims of culture. A measure of compartmentalization is almost inevitable.
Why does this matter? It matters because the Word of God is written from a more eastern perspective. The Hebrew culture is far more integrated than our western, American culture. For much of life this appears to have minimal effect. It seems most find little concern or are unaware of the cultural differences. However, one of the reasons we suffer culturally as a nation is the lack of integration in our lives. It offers us the opportunity to have lives that fall into segregated categories. Life can be, in a broad sense, broken down into the sacred and the secular. Many have their religious life and beliefs held in one compartment and their secular lives in another. One of my strongest political memories was hearing a presidential candidate explain that he was, "a Christian and a good Baptist, but he would never let his religious beliefs interfere with how he governed." Most believers, those following Messiah Jesus, would find this a less than positive approach to faith and life. However, many politicians find their way to official places of power through the elective process. It seems that many compartmentalized "Christians", those who set aside their Biblical principles, can support one who will not let Christian or Biblical values interfere with how they govern.
In a more insidious attack, the enemy of our souls finds ways to deceive us or allow us to deceive ourselves. We watch things, listen to things, share things that are damaging to our spirits while placing them in the "entertainment" box or the "being informed box". Gossip is not gossip, it is the "prayer need" box. I am not suggesting that we become cloistered in a monastery to avoid contamination from the world; however, we may become callous to the impact such exposure has on our lives. We have the employee box, parent box, spouse box, church box, entertainment box, income box, and a plethora of other boxes. "I gave my ten percent, I helped with the clean up day, I went to his little league game, I bought her flowers, my boxes are checked off. I completed my responsibilities so I am off to the "fishing box" or "cycling box" or "classic car box". We never intend to separate God out of parts of our lives; however, western culture actually encourages us to do so. God designed us to be integrated people. We are to present all of our lives as living sacrifices.
I have been reminded of this over the past few weeks. First I should explain. I thrive on physical activity. I go to the gym four times a week. I cut, split and stack six cords of wood every year for my wood stove. I actually like shoveling snow, working in my yard and renovating a house the Lord gave us. Plywood, Sheetrock, two by sixes, moving walls, replacing floors, enhances my appreciation for life and keeps me in balance. All this has been taken away. Back in February, about ten weeks ago, I gave myself a hernia shoveling heavy wet snow off of the walkway at our church. Enter Workman's Compensation claim. I will finally see a surgeon this coming week to then schedule my needed surgery. The actual surgery could wait until May, followed by whatever recovery time is needed. In the meantime I cannot lift over ten pounds. I also have continuing discomfort that builds as the days and weeks go by. I have noticed that my left leg is now not happy, neither is my lower back. The rest of my abdominal area is likewise joining into the discomfort arena. I did not ask these other body parts to join into empathetic discomfort with the original injury. What has happened is the rest of my physical being is trying to compensate for the wounded part. It has also had an effect on my sleep which has left me less that mentally alert from time to time. This has led to a bit of insensitivity to those around me. This in turn has had an effect on my spirit and an occasional irritation and frustration with the limitations God has allowed in my life.
I did not ask for the rest of my body to join in the hernia event. They just did. I never had a moment when I thought, "If I walk with more pressure on my left leg my right side will have a little less discomfort." I never told my lower back to be more tense to lend support to my abdominal muscles. They just do. That is due to the reality that God designed my body to be integrated. Every part works together and compensates for the one that is not up to par, And this does not just relate to my physical parts. My mental, emotional, and spiritual life is also affected. It happens automatically without thought simply because God designed me that way. Our lives are to be like that. All the parts working together as an integrated whole. There are no boxes. You are an employee, parent, spouse, neighbor, whatever else you are, all the time. Every aspect of life touches every other aspect of life. What you believe should permeate all that makes up life. No need to ask if you are in the "God box" for you are always in the God box. The parent box is with you at work. You pass up the promotion because it will damage your relationship with your child or your spouse or your church family. The spouse box is with you when you plan dinner out and flowers instead of the new tackle box, or did we just slide into the fishing box? Or maybe you skip dinner and the tackle box is for your daughter as you take her fishing for the first time. So does that make this the child box or dad box or money box? No boxes, just you. It is honestly a challenge to see how all the parts of your life should overlap and blend into every other part. However, that is how God put us together. Don't let culture rob you of God's design. Throw out the boxes and see how the Creator of life wants to saturate every area of your life and bring it all into an integrated and enjoyable whole.
Why does this matter? It matters because the Word of God is written from a more eastern perspective. The Hebrew culture is far more integrated than our western, American culture. For much of life this appears to have minimal effect. It seems most find little concern or are unaware of the cultural differences. However, one of the reasons we suffer culturally as a nation is the lack of integration in our lives. It offers us the opportunity to have lives that fall into segregated categories. Life can be, in a broad sense, broken down into the sacred and the secular. Many have their religious life and beliefs held in one compartment and their secular lives in another. One of my strongest political memories was hearing a presidential candidate explain that he was, "a Christian and a good Baptist, but he would never let his religious beliefs interfere with how he governed." Most believers, those following Messiah Jesus, would find this a less than positive approach to faith and life. However, many politicians find their way to official places of power through the elective process. It seems that many compartmentalized "Christians", those who set aside their Biblical principles, can support one who will not let Christian or Biblical values interfere with how they govern.
In a more insidious attack, the enemy of our souls finds ways to deceive us or allow us to deceive ourselves. We watch things, listen to things, share things that are damaging to our spirits while placing them in the "entertainment" box or the "being informed box". Gossip is not gossip, it is the "prayer need" box. I am not suggesting that we become cloistered in a monastery to avoid contamination from the world; however, we may become callous to the impact such exposure has on our lives. We have the employee box, parent box, spouse box, church box, entertainment box, income box, and a plethora of other boxes. "I gave my ten percent, I helped with the clean up day, I went to his little league game, I bought her flowers, my boxes are checked off. I completed my responsibilities so I am off to the "fishing box" or "cycling box" or "classic car box". We never intend to separate God out of parts of our lives; however, western culture actually encourages us to do so. God designed us to be integrated people. We are to present all of our lives as living sacrifices.
I have been reminded of this over the past few weeks. First I should explain. I thrive on physical activity. I go to the gym four times a week. I cut, split and stack six cords of wood every year for my wood stove. I actually like shoveling snow, working in my yard and renovating a house the Lord gave us. Plywood, Sheetrock, two by sixes, moving walls, replacing floors, enhances my appreciation for life and keeps me in balance. All this has been taken away. Back in February, about ten weeks ago, I gave myself a hernia shoveling heavy wet snow off of the walkway at our church. Enter Workman's Compensation claim. I will finally see a surgeon this coming week to then schedule my needed surgery. The actual surgery could wait until May, followed by whatever recovery time is needed. In the meantime I cannot lift over ten pounds. I also have continuing discomfort that builds as the days and weeks go by. I have noticed that my left leg is now not happy, neither is my lower back. The rest of my abdominal area is likewise joining into the discomfort arena. I did not ask these other body parts to join into empathetic discomfort with the original injury. What has happened is the rest of my physical being is trying to compensate for the wounded part. It has also had an effect on my sleep which has left me less that mentally alert from time to time. This has led to a bit of insensitivity to those around me. This in turn has had an effect on my spirit and an occasional irritation and frustration with the limitations God has allowed in my life.
I did not ask for the rest of my body to join in the hernia event. They just did. I never had a moment when I thought, "If I walk with more pressure on my left leg my right side will have a little less discomfort." I never told my lower back to be more tense to lend support to my abdominal muscles. They just do. That is due to the reality that God designed my body to be integrated. Every part works together and compensates for the one that is not up to par, And this does not just relate to my physical parts. My mental, emotional, and spiritual life is also affected. It happens automatically without thought simply because God designed me that way. Our lives are to be like that. All the parts working together as an integrated whole. There are no boxes. You are an employee, parent, spouse, neighbor, whatever else you are, all the time. Every aspect of life touches every other aspect of life. What you believe should permeate all that makes up life. No need to ask if you are in the "God box" for you are always in the God box. The parent box is with you at work. You pass up the promotion because it will damage your relationship with your child or your spouse or your church family. The spouse box is with you when you plan dinner out and flowers instead of the new tackle box, or did we just slide into the fishing box? Or maybe you skip dinner and the tackle box is for your daughter as you take her fishing for the first time. So does that make this the child box or dad box or money box? No boxes, just you. It is honestly a challenge to see how all the parts of your life should overlap and blend into every other part. However, that is how God put us together. Don't let culture rob you of God's design. Throw out the boxes and see how the Creator of life wants to saturate every area of your life and bring it all into an integrated and enjoyable whole.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Want to Live Abundantly?
Who wouldn't want to live abundantly? Our lives are often immersed in the mundane and routine. I fear we seldom answer the question, "How are you today?" with "Living abundantly!". Yet that is a promise given by our Lord and Messiah, Jesus. John 10:10 records our Lord's words, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I
have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." We are promised a more abundant life. So why doesn't it feel all that abundant at times? Life often feels stressful, confusing, dull, even disappointing. Where is this abundance Jesus offered? Maybe I am misunderstanding the word. The Greek word is, perissos,and it means, exceeding some number or measure or need, over and above, more than is necessary, exceeding abundantly, supremely, superior, extraordinary, surpassing, uncommon, more remarkable, more excellent. I would say that is pretty much anything I could have imagined as abundant. Perhaps our problem is with the words, "may have", in verse 10. Perhaps there is some sort of catch in realizing this abundant, extraordinary, uncommon, more excellent life Jesus speaks of.
The Greek word translated, "may or might", is echÅ. It is a present subjunctive verb. It means "have" however, the subjunctive mood tells us this is something available yet must be applied or have certain conditions met. The promised abundant life does not just happen. There are qualifications to be met. The Lord has made abundant life available; however, it is our responsibility to see it become a reality in our lives. Not to be harsh, but, if you feel you are missing out on the abundant life you have no one to blame but yourself. This leaves us with the question, "How do I acquire or apply this abundance to my life?" It may be more simple than you might think. Perhaps, it might be well to consider the things that rob us of this promised abundance.
Stressful situations can be very draining. An angry boss or disconnected management making unreasonable demands. The loss of a job, a loved one, or disruption in our homes may keep this abundant life out of reach. Maybe you or someone close to you is diagnosed with cancer or some other horrific disease. Almost anything that comes into our lives that is out of our control can leave us feeling vulnerable, distraught, angry, abandoned or any number of other damaging emotions. We may be the innocent party even the victim of so many things that accompany life. They are very real and often very painful. How can we overcome such assaults and know the life Jesus promised? The enemy truly does want to rob you of peace and hope. He wants to kill your drive for purity, your reputation, your dreams and a dozen other things you hold dear. He wants to destroy you so you feel useless, worthless or even feeling you have no reason to live. None can escape his oppressive attack on our lives and spirits. However, he does not have to win.
I offer a verse, a passage, and a plan to escape all of this and know that promised life of abundance. First, never forget 1 John 4:4, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." As God's children we hold the reality of His promises. The enemy is not as strong as our Heavenly Father. We are to be victors, not victims. This also means we have the ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22 & 23. When we consider all of the attacks leveled at us they all have one thing in common. They draw our focus to ourselves. We lose sight of much of what surrounds us. The issues are real and need to be dealt with; however, they do not need to control or overwhelm us. He is greater, remember? The tool I offer is I Corinthians 13. Often called the "love chapter". The chapter contains a fairly comprehensive list of actions that emulate God's love. They are all within our capabilities should we choose to act upon them. We can choose to be patient, kind, to not envy, not brag, or be arrogant. You do not have to be rude, or selfish or angry. Do not dwell on the evil and lies that permeate this world, rather rejoice in God's truth. If we are honest we do not have to react, we can put up with most anything, live out that confident hope and endure. Be gentle, faithful, humble and self-controlled. Quite a list but it is one we can choose to do.
When you wake up tomorrow, no matter what your circumstances, you can choose to live out love and the fruit of the Spirit this day. If you can't remember the lists, put them on a card next to your bed and read it before you get up. Agree with God to live that way today. Be kind to the associate who sells you your coffee. Choose to be patent with other drivers. Say something friendly and encouraging to a co-worker. Excuse the arrogance of your manager and instead, pray for them. You do have the power to be selfless and self controlled as you give someone else that parking space. You can smile and be kind and pleasant to the other shopper in the check out line. If you begin to actively live out a Biblical 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love, abundance will flow into your life. No one can make you angry or irritated, or impatient, or bitter. You both choose that response and in reality give the irritant power over you to destroy your mood and day. Why would we want to give others power over us when we have the option of living out the power of the Spirit in us?
Easy? No. But how much do you want to experience the abundant life? Life's circumstances cannot keep you from being kind, gentle, patient, encouraging, and selfless. Such behavior does bring joy, and God's overshadowing grace. Why not give it a try? What have you got to lose? You might end up defeating the ones out to rob, kill, and destroy your attitude and day. Instead you just might replace it with the Lord's promised abundance. A much better alternative.
The Greek word translated, "may or might", is echÅ. It is a present subjunctive verb. It means "have" however, the subjunctive mood tells us this is something available yet must be applied or have certain conditions met. The promised abundant life does not just happen. There are qualifications to be met. The Lord has made abundant life available; however, it is our responsibility to see it become a reality in our lives. Not to be harsh, but, if you feel you are missing out on the abundant life you have no one to blame but yourself. This leaves us with the question, "How do I acquire or apply this abundance to my life?" It may be more simple than you might think. Perhaps, it might be well to consider the things that rob us of this promised abundance.
Stressful situations can be very draining. An angry boss or disconnected management making unreasonable demands. The loss of a job, a loved one, or disruption in our homes may keep this abundant life out of reach. Maybe you or someone close to you is diagnosed with cancer or some other horrific disease. Almost anything that comes into our lives that is out of our control can leave us feeling vulnerable, distraught, angry, abandoned or any number of other damaging emotions. We may be the innocent party even the victim of so many things that accompany life. They are very real and often very painful. How can we overcome such assaults and know the life Jesus promised? The enemy truly does want to rob you of peace and hope. He wants to kill your drive for purity, your reputation, your dreams and a dozen other things you hold dear. He wants to destroy you so you feel useless, worthless or even feeling you have no reason to live. None can escape his oppressive attack on our lives and spirits. However, he does not have to win.
I offer a verse, a passage, and a plan to escape all of this and know that promised life of abundance. First, never forget 1 John 4:4, "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." As God's children we hold the reality of His promises. The enemy is not as strong as our Heavenly Father. We are to be victors, not victims. This also means we have the ability to produce the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22 & 23. When we consider all of the attacks leveled at us they all have one thing in common. They draw our focus to ourselves. We lose sight of much of what surrounds us. The issues are real and need to be dealt with; however, they do not need to control or overwhelm us. He is greater, remember? The tool I offer is I Corinthians 13. Often called the "love chapter". The chapter contains a fairly comprehensive list of actions that emulate God's love. They are all within our capabilities should we choose to act upon them. We can choose to be patient, kind, to not envy, not brag, or be arrogant. You do not have to be rude, or selfish or angry. Do not dwell on the evil and lies that permeate this world, rather rejoice in God's truth. If we are honest we do not have to react, we can put up with most anything, live out that confident hope and endure. Be gentle, faithful, humble and self-controlled. Quite a list but it is one we can choose to do.
When you wake up tomorrow, no matter what your circumstances, you can choose to live out love and the fruit of the Spirit this day. If you can't remember the lists, put them on a card next to your bed and read it before you get up. Agree with God to live that way today. Be kind to the associate who sells you your coffee. Choose to be patent with other drivers. Say something friendly and encouraging to a co-worker. Excuse the arrogance of your manager and instead, pray for them. You do have the power to be selfless and self controlled as you give someone else that parking space. You can smile and be kind and pleasant to the other shopper in the check out line. If you begin to actively live out a Biblical 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love, abundance will flow into your life. No one can make you angry or irritated, or impatient, or bitter. You both choose that response and in reality give the irritant power over you to destroy your mood and day. Why would we want to give others power over us when we have the option of living out the power of the Spirit in us?
Easy? No. But how much do you want to experience the abundant life? Life's circumstances cannot keep you from being kind, gentle, patient, encouraging, and selfless. Such behavior does bring joy, and God's overshadowing grace. Why not give it a try? What have you got to lose? You might end up defeating the ones out to rob, kill, and destroy your attitude and day. Instead you just might replace it with the Lord's promised abundance. A much better alternative.
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