2022 Archives

  In a rather serious context, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, said, “To be, or not to be, that is the question.”  His words were uttered as Hamlet considered the value of life, and pondered whether life, with all of its troubles, might be less desirable than death.  His was a very earthy view of human existence, with the value of life determined by the balance of things pleasant, against things unpleasant.  Sadly, with these same surmisings, many have taken their lives when the unpleasantries stole away their will to live.

  The Apostle Paul describes his own ponderings, quite similar to those of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, but with a totally different perspective.  He said, …I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. (Philippians 1:23–24)”  The circumstances of life were rather dismal when Paul wrote these words, he had been wrongfully imprisoned for doing good. 

  While many view life as their own, and the worth of life according to the abundance of pleasure, Paul viewed his life as belonging to the Lord who gave it.   He encouraged his readers, “…ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1Corinthians 6:20)”  To those who know God personally, He grants peace, and power, and purpose.  His is a cause worth living for, and when He bids us come home, it is also worth dying for.  God’s children can confidently say with the aged Apostle, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21)”

  Perhaps you would be interested in gaining this new perspective, to own a cause worth living, or dying for, to see nothing but brightness over the horizon when you face your eternal future.  Such a life and outlook are available to you through Jesus Christ.  He, the very Son of God, purchased your forgiveness on the cross of Calvary, so that you might be restored to God.  By faith in His ability to save you, you can know God personally right now.  “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)”

  A friend’s wife has fallen into promiscuity and drunkenness.  In one drunken binge she actually pushed her five year old down some stairs causing a mild concussion.  What would you advise?  To some readers, the resolve seems obvious, “Start the divorce proceedings and throw her out on the streets.”

  One evening, while in your office catching up on some paper work, a robber breaks into your business thinking no one is there.  You are armed; what should you do?  Many would suggest, “Shoot first and ask questions later!”  

  But these thoughts only exacerbate the problem.  In a diversity of opinions, the question has become, “How does one determine the right thing to do?”  Over the course of decades, humanity has fallen prey to an age old philosophy that was once unashamedly tagged Situation Ethics.  Now it has many names: Ethical Relativism, Contextualism, Relational Ethics, and, more recently, it is simply Relativism.  This doctrine of demons has caused many to depart from the once widely accepted Moral Absolutes of the Bible.

  Those who promote Relativism would boast of the system’s flexibility and adherence to the guiding principle of love. “The loving thing to do, is always the right thing to do.”  But those who embrace this doctrine of subjectivity and relativity, don’t understand what true love is.  Love began with God’s love for His creation, and the proper expression of man’s love begins with his love for God (Matthew 22:37-40).  Clearly, one’s love for God is evidenced by unwavering obedience to His commands (John 14:15, 21, 23).

  Love for our fellow man is also defined in the Laws of God.  The last six of the Ten Commandments are the foundational principles upon which human love is based (Exodus 20:12-17).  Doing the “most loving thing,” is inseparably linked to obedience to the Word of God.  “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (1John 5:2).” If you are serious about making the right choices in hard situations, you’ll have to understand Moral Absolutes—found only in the Word of God.

  Someone once asked me, “What do you see as the greatest hindrance to the cause of Christ in America today?” “What keeps people from finding and embracing Eternal Truth?”  Perhaps the most obvious hindrance to finding Truth in America is Materialism (never satisfied that one has enough stuff).  Americans tend to define success, not as having all that they need, but as being able to obtain all that they want.

  Scriptures confirm that our attitude toward the “stuff” of this world has a direct bearing on our desire for, and comprehension of, eternal Truth.  God tells us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15).  And why must it be either/or?  Because, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (the things money will buy). (Matthew 6:24)”  To strive for the best in both realms is a sure way to find satisfaction in neither.

  If you would know Truth, and the God of Truth, you would do well to hold the things of this world very loosely.  After all, “…a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15)  God has made it easy for us to adjust our priorities, by issuing this wonderful promise, “...seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33).”

 Dear friends, I’m not suggesting that we dispose of all of our earthly belongings and take a vow of poverty, but without a doubt, the most satisfying life is the one you were created to live—a life that includes God, and the things of God.  The “stuff” of earth pales in significance when one starts to accumulate the treasures of heaven, “…where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:20).”  

  Don’t allow the things of this world to deny you the joys of knowing the God of Truth, and His trove of eternal treasures.  Let go, and live!

  My eldest son recently celebrated his fourteenth wedding anniversary; seems like only yesterday.  As you might imagine, I was there with my finger on the shutter button of my camera.  I probably annoyed the photographer by snapping my shots as he arranged the bridal party in their various poses that would capture the moments to be long remembered, and viewed at least once a week until their 60th anniversary. …ha!

It was not until I got home and uploaded the digital pictures to my computer that I realized that many, if not most, of my shots looked like I had taken them from the back of a moving truck.  There they were, the objects of my love and admiration, but blurry and out of focus.

  As I clicked through the pictures of the wedding, I was reminded that I, who call myself a Christian, and sincerely love the Lord Jesus, had not consistently kept Him in focus in my own mind and heart.  Too often I had allowed other things to blur the image of Christ for me.  He had become a mere backdrop for the celebration of life that He has so freely given me.  I knew that Jesus, who died for my sins, was buried and rose from the dead for my justification, certainly deserved my first allegiance, but I was so distracted, so busy, so tired, so…    Alright then, no excuses!

Resolved:  Going forward, Christ will be my focus!  I will continually offer Him my thanksgiving! (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  I will give Him the fruit of my lips in praise! (Hebrews 13:15)  I will give Him my body as a living sacrifice for His service! (Romans 12:1)  …my time, my talent, my tithe.  I am determined that He will be in focus, that He will have preeminence in my thoughts and ambitions.  “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)”

  As for the wedding pictures, I had to buy them from the real photographer.  He did a great job; everything was in perfect focus, as it ought to be.

  In my late teen years, my friend and I decided to take our smaller siblings and a neighbor boy to the County Fair to see some of the local competition, livestock, etc.  As I remember, it was an enjoyable afternoon—that is, until we started home.  We were riding in my friend’s old Nova II; he was driving.  The conversation was light and happy, and the kids were having a blast.

  I turned around to acknowledge what someone in the back seat had said, and in the distance I saw a car gaining on us at what seemed like double our own speed.  I had time to mention it to my friend who was driving and he immediately spotted the car in his rear view mirror.  We both became alarmed almost instantly as the car was on a collision course, and already too close to safely change lanes.

  At the last fraction of a second the driver of the speeding car jerked the wheel to the left, crossed the left lane, and hit the guardrail on the other side.  His car veered off of the rail and headed toward us again.  The speeding car hit us about the middle of the driver’s side and all four tires lost traction so that we hit the curbing on the right side of the highway and started to roll over.  As the car was almost vertical on two wheels, it seemed to be mysteriously held in that position as it slid down an embankment and hit a chainlink fence before falling back on all four wheels.

  The driver of the other car had been drinking and tried to get away but was unable because of damage done to his car when he bounced off of the guardrail.  The neighbor boy who was with us received a broken arm, but everyone else in the car was without a scratch.

  Some would say we were lucky, be we all agreed that we were blessed.   You see, we believed, “… all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Roman 8:28)”  “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1)”  I still believe!