Why Should I Let You In?

John’s lesson on The Lord’s Supper this past Sunday reminded me of something that happened between my friend Eric and me years ago.  I remember asking him, “If you stood at the gates of Heaven and God asked you, “Why should I let you into my heaven?  What would you say?”  I must have sounded like a jerk because I remember asking him these questions repeatedly.  Finally he answered with his animated manner and Ghana accent, “I’d look around and when I see Jesus, I’d point to Him and say, Ask Him!  He will tell You!”

Eric’s answer opened my eyes to see that our connection to God revolved around Jesus.  Now when I read scripture, Jesus is the lens that I view Scripture and it helps me see scripture more clearly.  One area that has become plain to me is the connection between Jesus’ parables about salvation and Himself.

In the parable of the 10 virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), I used to think the main idea was about the virgins, the oil, or about being ready.  What used to go unnoticed was the Lord’s statement, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”  I still don’t understand everything about this parable.  But what has become abundantly clear to me is the fate of the virgins that were late was dependent on what came out of Jesus’ mouth.

This same troubling statement has made the parable that Jesus told in Matthew 7:21-23. It’s the one that our LORD says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father…”  When I try to define what the will of God is, my answer doesn’t sound too different than what the people in the parable were using to justify themselves.  Then I hear Jesus’ disturbing statement, “I never knew you.”  This is the same indictment given to the goats in Matthew 25:31-46.

For years what Jesus said was disturbing, but what Eric told me was liberating.  Eric pointed to the relationship he had with Jesus.  Isn’t this the assurance that Scripture is pointing to:

For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.

—John 6:40

Isn’t this what Paul said,

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.  –I Timothy 1:12

I have come to the conclusion that if Jesus doesn’t speak for me, I don’t have a prayer.

Omega Glory

I thought about a “Star Trek” episode this morning in my quiet time.  In the episode that I’m thinking about, Captain Kirk and his crew were captured by a primitive civilization.  As best as I can remember, these captors revered and worshipped an ancient document.  The document was kept in a special place and could only be seen and read by a Chief.

Against the disapproval and resistance of the people, Kirk took the document and told them that they had slurred the words they were reading so badly that the words they were speaking had no meaning.  Kirk then started to read the document, “We the people…”  It was the words to Constitution of the United States!

As I reflected on this episode, I was reminded of Jesus’ words to the woman at the well, “You Samaritans worship what you do not know…true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth…” (John 4:21-24)

As much as I love the Bible, once again, I am reminded that Scripture is not God.  Scripture contains God’s words; Scripture reveals God; Scripture points and introduces me to God, but Scripture is not God and should not be worshipped.  This is why I love the hymnist’s words, “Beyond the sacred page, I seek Thee, Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!”   As I hear these words, I hear Jesus say, “…they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks” (John 4:23)

Boy Jesus

 There are a few apocryphal stories about Jesus as a child.  However, in the Bible there is very little said about Jesus’ childhood.  Yet as little as there is, much is revealed.  In Luke 2:41-49, when Jesus was 12, we are told that Jesus went “AWOL”.  After a day had passed, Mary and Joseph realized that Jesus was missing.  They searched for Him for three days before they found Him in the temple courts.  Much can be said about these nine verses; however, there are three things that attract my attention in the next three verses.

 The first one is in verse 52, where Luke writes, “And Jesus grew…in favor with God and man.”  How does one gain the appreciation, admiration, and esteem from others?  One way is through coercion and manipulation.  However, this will not win the approval of God.  There must have been something in Jesus’ nature or character that won the regard, respect, and honor of others and with God.

In verse 51, after Mary and Joseph found Jesus, Luke writes, “He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.”  This is an amazing statement.  The Son of God, the One who spoke the universe into existence, the One who sits at the right hand of the Father was obedient to His creation!  Luke’s astonishing statement is a prelude to another much more mysterious statement, “He learned obedience from what He suffered…”  (Hebrews 5:8).  Even as a youth, Jesus teaches me that there are seasons in my life when I have to submit myself to the authorities in my life.  Whether at school, on the job, or at home there are times when I will have to “suffer.”

Finally, in verse 50, after Jesus told Mary and Joseph, “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house?” Luke said, “They did not understand what He was saying to them.”  Jesus was not only an unusual child, but He was an enigma as an adult.  Jesus was problematic to the Pharisees.  Jesus puzzled His disciples.  And Jesus often confuses me.  There are a lot of things about God, Scripture, and life that are confusing and problematic.  There are a lot of things that I don’t know and will probably never understand; yet, there is one thing that is very clear to me and that is the Bible’s message of, “Trust and follow Jesus.”  The question that I continually ask myself is, “Am I willing to take that risk?”

The Good Seed

The heading in my Bible of Luke 8:1-15 is entitled, “The Parable of the Sower.”  Yet, as I read this scripture this morning, I am focused on verse 11 as I hear Jesus saying, “The seed is the word of God.”

This seed is simply amazing.  Wherever it lands, it grows.  It comes up in rocky ground; it grows amongst the thorns; it yields a crop in good soil.  I imagine that it would have even come up along the path if it wasn’t trampled on or if it wasn’t eaten up by the birds.  It reminds me of what Isaiah said about God’s word, “My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

This morning I am challenged because I see all these different soil types in my life.  I hear the word of God, but sometimes it is drowned out by the noise of life.  Other times I am so happy and eager to hear God speak, but I am so easily distracted by the allurement of life.  There are still other times when I welcome what God says, but the issues of life smother the word that I received.  The most disturbing part is when Jesus says, “Good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart…” (Luke 8:15).

It is both disturbing and convicting because I have a small spot in my heart that is fertile, but even that didn’t come naturally.  There was and is a lot of ground work that needs to be done to produce a “harvest of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

If I had to do all the work by myself, I may as well give up.  The good news is that I have all the help I need.  Jesus said that God would send us a helper (John 14:16); Jesus invites us to be yoked with Him (Matthew 11:29); and scripture reminds us that it is God who ultimately gives the growth (I Corinthians 3:6-7).

 If I cultivate my heart, allow God’s seed to germinate, I am assured that God will complete the work that He started (Philippians 1:8).  I can rejoice and be grateful in this thought even though nothing seems to be happening in my life.

Jesus Is Love

My Rendition of I Corinthians 13

If I speak in the tongues on men and angels, but have not Jesus, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not Jesus, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but have not Jesus, I gain nothing. 

Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind.  Jesus does not envy, He does not boast, He is not proud.  Jesus does not dishonor others, He is not self-seeking, He is not easily angered, He keeps no record of wrongs.   Jesus does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Jesus always protects,   always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Jesus never fails.  But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.  When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.  When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 

John says:

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known.  But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.  – I John 3:2:

 

Retirement

I’ve been thinking a lot about retirement lately—not because it’s a goal that I’m about to reach, but because the people that are around me think that it’s a huge landmark in my life.  For me, I’d keep on working if I had the strength and energy to do my job, but my body is sending me messages telling me that I can’t do it anymore.  In addition, I’ve also been reflecting on why I am not as excited about retiring as people think that I should be.  This morning I’ve come to realize why I don’t feel the way others think I should be feeling.

One of the driving principles of my life is “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” (Colossians 3:23).  When Paul says, “Whatever you do…” I hear his voice echo in my roles as a husband, father, son, neighbor, friend, as well as an employee.  As Paul speaks to me in every facet of my life, I also hear Jesus say, “If you love Me, keep My commands” (John 14:15).

Do I live perfectly?  Absolutely not!  In fact, I have far more failures than I have successes.  Do I do things begrudgingly?  More often than I’d like to admit.  Do I pour my whole heart in everything I’m doing?  Not on your life.  Do I acknowledge the Lord in every area of my life?  This is where I struggle the most.  When I recognize Him, there is often a conflict of wills; there is a battle for control.  It’s like a war between two kingdoms.

I guess this is why the idea of retirement is not a big deal to me.  Retirement is like being in another place and putting on another hat or stepping into a different role with the question, “Are you God’s man?” leading the way.  This is the question that I hear Paul answering when he says, “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward…” (Ephesians 6:7-8)

I do not usually have immediate gratification in serving God, but I think that Scripture is continually asking the question, “Are you satisfied with your life?”  Perhaps this is the question Jesus was answering when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10) and why Paul concludes that this is the reason why we “long for His appearing” (II Timothy 4:8).

Fortune Telling

Covid-19 has shocked the world and brought it to a standstill.  We are now recovering and we are limping along, staggering, or trying to push forward.  During this time of transition, we are all wondering what this world will look like when this pandemic passes and some of us want to know what the future has in store for us. 

If you are consumed by wanting to know how everything is going to turn out and what your life is going to look like, let me plead and compel you to, “Stop!  You don’t want to know—it’s not helpful!”  Why do I say this, you ask?  I’m glad you asked.

Remember what happened after Joseph died in Egypt (Exodus 1)?  A new king came into power and enslaved the Israelites.  Imagine yourself being an Israelite in those days and knew what God told Abraham, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there” (Genesis 15:13).  How would you feel if you knew that this was your future?  How much hope would you have if you knew that this is the cards you were going to be dealt?  How would you encourage your children and your grandchildren not to lose heart if you knew that this would be their future as well?  What we want to know about our future is too short sighted and this knowledge will lead us into dark places. 

“Then what am I supposed to do,” you ask.  Again, I’m glad you asked.  Our brother Peter helps us recalibrate and refocus.  When he Peter tells his readers that life as they knew it was coming to an end, he asks them, “what kind of people ought you to be?”  He then proceeds to answer them: “You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God…” (II Peter 3:10-11).

Scripture does not have to tell us that life is capricious or fleeting because we experience this daily.  What scripture does is remind us not to be surprised, despondent, or depressed when hardship and suffering intrudes into our lives.  But not only that, scripture repeatedly reminds us that “God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14)  I think this is all we need to know about our future.

What we really need to know and hold on to today is, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)  If we do this, we will be overflow with peace and joy because we will know the One who holds our future.

 

Alone With God

 I’ve had both of my knees replaced this past year.  After each operation, I’ve been getting up between 1 and 3 every morning.  This has been my normal for the past 9 months and I have been extremely blessed.  You probably have heard the expression, “ungodly hour.”   Well, I have found that God is present and very active during this time.  When most people are getting up in the morning, I’ve spent almost a whole day with God.  By the time that the sun rises, God has revealed Himself to me in the details of life; I am able to recognize His voice in the rhetoric, chatter, and gossip in the masses; I am able to see His hands as He conducts the cosmos; and I am able to hear that gentle whisper amidst the chaos and confusion in my heart and mind.

Some people may think that I am bragging, but I would not be the least bit surprised if this is almost everyone’s experience.  No, not waking up in the wee hours of the morning, but standing in the Presence of God.

Peter tells his audience, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).  I love this verse.  (Actually, I love a lot of verses, but this is the one that is closest to me this morning). 

When Peter says, “His divine power,” Peter is telling us that God is the source.  God is not a resource, but He is the cause or origin of everything.  James tells us that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…” (James 1:17) who is not stingy (James 1:5).  This is also what Peter says, “His divine power has given us everything we need…”

God doesn’t cater to our moaning, groaning, and whining; however, God does provide for us all the resources and essentials we need to live out the life God desires for us “through the knowledge of Him who called us…”

God wants us to be intimate with Him through Jesus.  God’s not satisfied with us having facts and information about Him.  God wants to share His life with us.  He wants us to do life with Him.

God continues to call us.  Can you hear His voice amidst the busyness, distractions, and the drama of life?  Shhh…Listen.  “Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened…”

Common Ground

Earlier, I shared some of the differences between Robin and I.  Some of you might have come to the conclusion that the differences between Robin and I are numerous, and you are correct.  The differences between Robin and I far exceed our similarities.  However, Robin and I do have some things in common.  Here are some things that we agree upon:

 

1.      ‘I’ am not the boss.  Robin and I continually remind ourselves that ‘I’ am not the one in charge.  We have yielded to the Biblical idea of submitting to each other.  We agree that the Biblical picture of our relationship is that individually we are of one body and our greatest concern should be for the health and welfare of the whole body, not just one part of the body.

 

2. Jesus is the boss. Submitting to each other and preferring each other is not good enough to hold us together.  There has to be a standard as to what wholesomeness looks like.  A body that is separated from its head is not a pretty picture no matter how well it’s dressed up.

 

3. Confession is the breath that we exhale. If we are not the boss then we do not set the rules.  The idea that we could be wrong should not overthrow the idea that Jesus is always right.  If we do not willingly acknowledge our weakness today, we are assured that one day we will be forced to bow down and confess the sovereignty of Jesus. 

 

4. Forgiveness is the blood that runs through our veins.  If forgiveness does not flow through us, then we are zombies—we are dead in our sins.  Eternal life does not begin after you physically die, but when we receive a blood transfusion.

 

Again, this is not an exhaustive list, but this is a list of some of the things that we agree on.  There’s one more thing that I want to add to this list of things we agree on.  Robin and I agree that our differences puts a strain on our relationship and the fact that Robin was born on Pearl Harbor Day (December 7^th) is significant in our conclusion.

 

Let me remind you that the differences between Robin and I far exceeds the similarities between us.  Here’s the question of the day: “Do you think that the things that Robin and I have in common are strong enough to hold us together?”

Polar Opposites

 

Robin and I are polar opposites.  Robin’s birthday is in December and my birthday is in January.  She was born in Maine and I was born in Hawaii.  The culture that I came from reads and writes in columns and from right to left.  Robin’s culture taught her to read and write in horizontal rows form left to right.  Robin is an extrovert.  I am an introvert.  Robin is spontaneous.   I have to think things through.  I like watching sports.  Robin likes watching “Say yes to the dress.”  I could say more, but I think I’ve said enough to give you the impression that Robin and I are different—very different.  On second thought, let me give you one more detail.  That is, Robin and I have recently celebrated our 40^th anniversary.

 

Having said all of the above, I’d like to ask you a few questions.  First, with the information that I gave you concerning Robin and myself, is this enough proof for the idea that opposites attract?  Second, do you think our personality types are what holds us together?

 

While you’re reflecting on these questions, let me ask you a few other questions.  What happens when you put a Democrat (or Liberal) and a Republican (a Conservative) in the same room to discuss politics?  How does it work out when a Christian discusses religion with a Muslim?  What do you think the outcome would be of an encounter between polar opposites involving gender, theology, race, and class?

 

I don’t know what your answers are because you’re over there and I’m over here, but if you’re like me, I think your answers would reflect more on the side of conflict than unity.  Here’s my bottom line question.  In any situation, what are the ingredients of unity?

Thanksgiving

When Paul tells the Thessalonians to “Give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thessalonians 5:18), do we think he meant for us to be thankful in every situation?  Do we believe that it’s even possible to be grateful in all settings of life?  I know that it’s not in my nature to have a sense of gratitude when things do not go my way, but Paul’s not finished with his thought; he goes on to say, “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

As I reflected on this passage of Scripture, I remembered a scene from Jesus’ life.  In John 11, we are told of a sorrowful situation—the death of Jesus’ friend, Lazarus.

In the story Jesus was surrounded by grief, complaints, anger, misunderstanding, confusion, accusations and unbelief.  Remember what Jesus said in the midst of this turmoil as He stood before Lazarus’ gravesite?  Jesus said out loud, “Father, I thank You…”

Jesus was not thanking God for the pain and suffering that everyone was experiencing, but Jesus offered thanks because, “…You have heard Me.”

What Jesus shows us is that even in our deepest, darkest hour, God is close and He hears us.  Jesus is not finished yet.  Jesus goes on, “I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Just as Jesus repeats His message throughout this story, I am grateful that Scripture repeats itself in hopes that we too will hear the One who says, “I am the resurrection and the life.  The One who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die” then asks the question, “Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Our answer to Jesus’ question will give us the answers to the questions of thanksgiving.

Missions & Evangelism

I heard of a church who had a sign above their exit door which read, “You are now entering the mission field.”  I always thought that was good, but I’ve come to realize that mission work begins closer to home.

 God’s first mission is me.  I need to be evangelized. I need renewal and revival.  I need Good News in my life.  I need to enter into my “prayer closet” because I need to be reminded of the Presence of God in my life.

 Like Elijah in his depression (I Kings 19), I need realignment, recalibration, and readjustment to be converted, reconciled, and conformed to the Person and work of God.  Once I am in harmony with God, then I can “Go!” and be a missionary to my fellow workers, my family, and the Household of God.

 I don’t have to feel ready, sure or good about myself, but I do have to know what He says.  Once I am anchored in Him, I can leave my prayer closest and be a missionary in my home, at my job, and at the place where I worship.

 Everyone needs to be evangelized.  Everyone needs relief, comfort, and hope.  Everyone needs to hear that God loves them and that He is bigger than life (John 16:33) and greater than our hearts (I John 3:20).  Isn’t that Good News that we can share?

 

Languages of the World

We just finished our discussion on “Christian Speech” on Wednesday nights.  Dennis led our discussion and talked about how important our words are and equally as important, if not more, is our ability to listen.  In other words, the way we communicate is important and Christians are the means to bring God’s message to the world.

 Another idea that we could have discussed more is the Christian’s skill to learn and discern the languages of the world.  For example, I looked up “Yankee” on the internet because of my encounters with them and was curious as to how it was defined.  On one of the web site, this is what I found:

 To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast

 I know this is far fetched, but to someone, I might be considered to be a “Yankee.”  Why is this important?  If I am having a serious and important conversation with an individual, I don’t want this perception to sidetrack me from addressing a bigger concern.

 When I first moved to Connecticut, and encountered a few Yankees and came to the conclusion that Yankees were rude, crude, arrogant, and loud.  In the culture that I was brought up in, this behavior was totally unacceptable.  How did I learn to understand and discern the language of a Yankee?  I married one.

 

He Exists

 

Whenever I read Hebrews 11:6, I find the words, “…anyone who comes to Him (referring to God) must believe that He exists…” very strange and interesting.  I mean, why would someone do something that they don’t believe in?    Yet, the more I think about this question, the more I realize that we do many things without thinking about it.  Some of the things we do without thinking are habits, traditions, and sometimes we do things because we feel like we have no other choice.  I think that the Hebrew writer is urging his audience to search their hearts and ask deeper questions like, “Is God real?” and “How real is God in my everyday life?”

I think that most people can say that they believe in God and all Christians can declare that they can trust God for their eternity; however, how many of us can say that we can trust God with our day to day lives?

James says, “You believe that there is one God.  Good!” but he doesn’t stop there as he goes on to say, “Even the devils believe that—and shudder.”  In the context of what James is saying and what I hear the writer of Hebrews is getting at is that faith or belief produces an action or a response.

The writer of Hebrews says puts it this way, “...without faith it is impossible to please God…” and those who believe, “…earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

My friend John often urges us to “draw near to God.”  It’s not comfortable to get close to God or to follow Jesus.  In fact, it is down right scary at times because we are not sure if God really has our backs.  We cannot see Him.  We cannot hear Him.  We cannot touch Him.  Yet He promises that He is with us—always (Hebrews 13:5); He is preparing a place for us (John 14:2); and He is at work in us and that He will bring us to a good conclusion (Philippians 1:6, Romans 8:28-29).

Faith in the Bible comes down to this question, “Am I going to put my confidence in the tangible reality of this life or in the testimony of, “He rewards those who diligently seek Him?”

Ministry of Reconciliation

One of the things that my friend Tom has taught us is to “Think God’s thoughts after Him.”  When I think about what he said, the Scripture that immediately comes to mind is Isaiah 55:8-9, where Isaiah writes:

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

What I hear Tom, Isaiah, and God saying is that we need to have a new world view.  The viewpoint we have, even as the people of God, is often too narrow and too small.  For example, Paul says to, “Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (II Corinthians 10:5).   Paul says it another way in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

One of the things that we need to review and rethink is in the area of prayer.  I suspect that when we pray, many of us have the world’s attitude of, “Look at what’s happening!  See the appalling and horrifying things that are going on!”  Let me put a disclaimer here.  I am not saying that we should not cry out to the LORD if we are going through something that is heartbreaking, terrifying, or dreadful.  What I am saying is that when we pray, it is not to inform God of what’s going on in our world because God already knows.

Remember when God told Moses (Exodus 3), that He had heard the cries of the Israelites?  God did not suddenly become aware of Israelites situation.  God had heard their cries centuries before (Genesis 15:13-14).  In other words, we are seeing today what God saw in the past.

This is why Mordecai’s words to Esther are sobering: “Do no think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.  For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:13-14)

As serious as these words were to Esther, Paul’s words should be as solemn: “God, was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (II Corinthians 5:19-20).

The call to be God’s representative on earth is both grim and terrifying because we know the potential consequences.  However, that is an earthly perspective. When we read the previous 4 chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul gives us the heavenly view.  Paul tells us that we are God’s treasure and glory and sums it up in II Corinthians 4:16-18.  Read it for yourselves.  It begins with “Therefore we do not lose heart…”

Why Seek the Living Among the Dead

I cherish the story that Phil told us about his mother.  After Phil’s father passed away, Phil’s mother was asked if she wanted to go to her husband’s gravesite.  She answered with a “No.”  She was asked again followed by, “Are you sure?”  Phil’s mother answered, “If he were there, I’d be there everyday.  But he’s not there.”

I love this story.  It reminds me of when the women came to the tomb where Jesus was buried only to find it empty and two men asking them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)  I hear this question frequently as I read the pages of Scripture.

For instance, remember when Jesus talked about the things we value?  Jesus tells us not to place a lot of stock—a lot of time, resources, and energy on the things that are temporal, but pursue the things that are eternal (Matthew 6:19-34).  The Proverbs warn us, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12).

I don’t think that Jesus or Scripture is saying that we shouldn’t concern ourselves with the things of the world, but rather esteem the things of God as the highest priority.

 This reminds me of a eulogy that someone gave.   The speaker said, “I don’t know anyone who was on their death bed lamenting that they had spent more time at the office.”

I think Jesus is telling us that when we strive for the things of God, everything will work out in our favor. (Matthew 6:33).

Experiencing God

For the most part, I think that most people are uncomfortable, if not afraid about the subject of experiencing God.  I know that when someone tells me, “God spoke to me” I feel myself tense up and want to walk away from this person.

However, James tells me, “[I] should be quick to listen, slow to speak…” (James 1:19) and Paul warns, “Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all…” (I Thessalonians 5:20-21).  Other Biblical writers give us the same message, but they also show us that God is involved personally not only in the lives of His people, but in the world around us.

David invites us to “Taste and see that the LORD is good…” (Psalms 34:8).  I cannot think of a better word than “experience” to replace the word, “taste.”  In the New Testament, Peter tells believer to “crave spiritual milk…now that you have tasted that the LORD is good.” (I Peter 2:2-3).

Remember when Paul wrote, “…we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death” (II Corinthians 1:8-9)?  Remember how he started off his letter?  Paul writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  the  Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles…our comfort abounds through Christ” (II Corinthians 1:3-5).  I hear Paul saying that like despair, we can experience the comfort of God in abundance.

When Jesus (Matthew 5:11-12) and James (James 1:2) tells us to rejoice in our trials, have you ever thought to yourselves, “Yeah, right…” Yet, Peter affirms that in trials, we can be “filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (I Peter 1:8).

I have a hard time wrapping my mind around this joy, however Luke helps me by showing me what it looks like.  In Acts 5:40-41, after the apostles were beaten and threatened, the scriptures tell us that the apostles went away “rejoicing.”  Then in Acts 16, after Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison, we are told that at midnight, they were found to be “praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts 16:25).  I am quite confident they weren’t singing, “Nobody knows the trouble we’ve seen…” because all the other prisoners were listening to them.

But that’s not all.  Scripture says that we can experience a peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7), a love that is beyond knowledge (Ephesians 3:19), and a life that is abundant and overflowing (John 4:4, 10:10).

The Bible tells and shows us even more about experiencing God, but there are three things that I’ve concluded.  First, experiencing God is supernatural—it’s outside the realm of what we can personally acquire or achieve.  It has to be given to us by God Himself.

Secondly, scripture was given to reveal God.  Ultimately, Jesus came to make God known and to invite us into a relationship with Him.  Listen to the invitation from the One whom the Father sent:

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Finally, I hear scripture making a distinction between knowing God and experiencing God.  Experiencing God should not be our goal.  Experiencing God is the fruit or the consequence of knowing God. In Philippians 3:4-11, isn’t Paul saying that he wants to understand all of his experiences—his joys and sorrows; his triumphs and defeats in the context of knowing God?  I hear Paul saying if it’s not about God or knowing Him, its value can be found in the sewer.

I could be wrong.  I am often accused of having SLD—selective listening disorder.   What do you think?

I Am the Way

Since I’ve had my knees operated on, Lois and I often go for walks together to help each other recuperate from our respective surgeries.  Lois had her knee operated on a year ago while I had mine done three months ago.  A few days ago as we walked, we talked about where we were in our respective recovery.  We talked about our expectations, our progress, our disappointments, and we came to the conclusion that we just weren’t sure how everything was going to work out.

The more I think about this conversation, the more I realize that this is what we all face—the uncertainties of life with an opportunity to seek God.  The God of the Bible invites people to journey with Him through life.  In the Old Testament, God appears to Abraham and tells him to leave his family and familiar surroundings to a place, “I will show you” (Genesis 12:1).

In the New Testament Jesus appeared to some men and invited them to “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 4:19) and later, He extended the invitation to all, “Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23).  In other words, Jesus is saying, if you want to do life with Me, “I am the way” (John 14:6). 

Looking at how Jesus’ earthly life played out, following Jesus is not entirely attractive or appealing; however, His promises of, “Surely, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20) and “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6) is.

I could write my own narrative but I have a feeling that I will not follow my script and the epilogue will end in a shocker.  However, if I do life with Jesus, I have a strong suspicion that life will be filled with drama, but will end better than I expect (see Philippians 2, II  Timothy 2:11-12).