Enlightened, Empowered, Lost

Enlightened, Empowered, Lost

Dear friend, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you smile. Oh, I see you “smiling” in social media posts, but there is a distinct difference in your smile today, versus 2-3 years ago. You’ve lost that spark that used to light up your entire face. There is a bitterness and hardness in your posts that makes me sad. It seems that you have gone off to college and have been “enlightened” by professors who want you to have a more open mind, and in the process, you have turned your back on almost everything you were taught when you were younger. And that “enlightenment” has brought with it a dark cloud that hovers over you.

enlightened girl

Enlightened by the world, but not God?

You now champion the pro-choice movement. You protest at Black Lives Matter rallies. You demand gender equality in everything. Your posts center around things like being empowered, toxic masculinity, and white privilege. You have surrounded yourself with likeminded liberal friends and have stopped talking to the Christians you grew up with. And, sadly, your relationship with God has grown cold. It’s painfully obvious to anyone who has known you for a few years.

I realize that according to your college courses I am a big part of the “problem.” I am a conservative white male, which according to some of your professors ranks me just slightly above being a terrorist. And I also realize that you are likely not to pay much attention to what I say because I am a white male.

However, I would beg you for just a few minutes to focus on a single word: soul. Do your newfound political alliances enrich the soul God gave you? Do your friends honestly care about where your soul will spend eternity? Do your professors that are filling your head with all of this new liberal information even believe you have a soul? If you died tonight, where would your soul spend eternity? When is the last time you thought about your own soul?

Deep down in the recesses of your mind you know the evidence is there that Jesus walked the earth. You know the tomb was empty. You probably even miss some of the songs you grew up singing. Please reconsider the path you have started down.

You probably suspect I am going to make this plea about “us” versus “them.” That’s not my goal. I am a sinner, just like your new friends… and so my goal is not to have you pick sides—my goal is to rekindle your love with the only person who has walked this earth who was not a sinner—Jesus Christ. It’s not about whether I agree politically with your new ideology. It’s not about taking “sides.” It’s about whether we can be united in Christ, and redeemed by His blood.

Yes, I will freely admit to you that the church has not gotten everything right. I will admit there are hypocrites in the church (just like there are in all groups). Hypocrites (and everyone else) need the blood of Jesus! I will even admit that I grew up in an educational system that emphasized the accomplishments of white men. But none of that changes the very real fact that you and I need Jesus. He (and He alone) is the source of true peace, joy, and salvation.

I beg you to take some time over the next few days and think about your soul. Think about your inner peace and where your allegiance is. Consider how much true joy and happiness you have in your life. And then ask yourself, am I on His side—because at the end of the day that is the only side that matters. I hope you will think on these things.

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LA MUERTE EN LA VENTANA

LA MUERTE EN LA VENTANA

Recientemente observé en los pasillos de Walmart un libro; el titulado “La mujer en la ventana”. No tengo ni la más mínima idea de que trata el libro, sin embargo inmediatamente me hizo pensar en el profeta Jeremías y su pluma cuando dijo: “Porque la muerte ha subido por nuestras ventanas, ha entrado en nuestros palacios, para exterminar a los niños de las calles, a los jóvenes de las plazas.” (Jr.9:21).

Ventana mujer

LA MUERTE EN LA VENTANA

Jeremías era un hombre verdaderamente excepcional. Nadie más podía ser tan fuerte en carácter y tan amoroso al mismo tiempo para predicar tan claro y vivido a la gente de su tiempo más que él. Sin embargo, no importa lo que Jeremías podía hacer con Dios, sino lo que Dios podía hacer con Jeremías. Ninguna educación elevada, salud o Riqueza podía salvar al pueblo de Israel del merecido castigo de Dios. De hecho esas tres cosas son de lo más valorado y apreciado para el mundo en nuestros días. Dios no depende de dignatarios, presidente de una nación, productividad financiera, ejército o influencia política. Él se deleita en la Justicia, la gentileza, el amor de personas que conocen al Señor y obedecen en alguna nación. Dios había prometido prosperidad y bendición para la gente del pacto antiguo que le obedeciera.

Dios advierte a su pueblo y los llama a lamentarse porque pronto tendrían que estar presentes en un funeral en este caso su propio sepelio. La muerte estaba en la ventana y ningún poder político ni una compañía de profetas falsos podría detenerla. La muerte es ejemplificada aquí como un ladrón que sube por la ventana (ver diseño de casas en tiempos antiguos) lista para robar de esas vidas tan apreciadas. Los Judíos se jactaban de su pacto y la circuncisión pero era solo en la carne puesto que no habían alcanzado la circuncisión que es del corazón (4:4; Deut. 10:16; Hech.7:51; Rom. 2:25-29). La gente de hoy en día que depende del gobierno, familia, amigos y demás en vez de poner al Dios de la Gloria y sus estatutos se encuentran en la misma condición que aquellos en los tiempos de Jeremías. Todos cuantos están bajo la idea que la religiosidad, la Iglesia de mis padres o la tradición oral son suficientes para la salvación pueden quedar muy avergonzados. Incluso quienes hemos sido convertidos al Dios de la Biblia y añadidos a su Iglesia necesitamos entender que eso no nos exime de pecado y que Dios no está en deuda con nosotros. Nos alarmarnos y dolemos al escuchar la muerte de muchos de nuestros amigos cercanos o familiares. Realmente es de humanos dolerse, pero al mismo tiempo el cristiano no debe olvidar el terror de la muerte segunda, que es la separación eterna de Dios. (Ap.20:14). De este versículo en Jeremías aprendemos que la muerte física está en la ventana y como ladrón vendrá sin poderla evitar, (Heb.9:27) pero también uno se da cuenta inmediatamente que el corazón no arrepentido de Israel les traería la desgracia física cuando serían llevados cautivos hasta Babilonia en exilio.

En Salmos 137 tenemos en récord las palabras de Jeremías por parte de los Judíos que ya estaban en el exilio. El lloro, los recuerdos de todas las veces que fueron exhortados y advertidos por parte de Dios eran expresados en lágrimas y melancolía. En Jeremías 9 podemos observar el pasado, presente y futuro de la nación de Israel pero también el nuestro. La Muerte para quienes han obedecido la verdad es tan solo una vieja amiga que nos ha seguido de lejos pero ahora nos llevará al hogar eterno.

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You Don’t Care About Me!

“You Don’t Care about Me!”

Recently I received a phone call from someone asking for benevolence. After she explained her situation, I offered to take her information so that our deacon of benevolence could get in touch. Most people are satisfied with allowing us an opportunity to get back in touch with them. However, on this phone call, the person said, “You don’t care about me!” and hung up. Have you ever heard someone say this before? It is a very hurtful thing to say and indicates deep resentment and anger. This statement is almost always false because someone cared enough to listen initially, which indicates that there is at least some level of care being displayed. Why, then, would someone make such a statement?

care lady

You don’t care about me!

Self-pity is largely to blame for such a comment. The person making this statement desires another to feel sorry for them at the same level that they feel sorry for themselves. If the other person does not express that depth of sorry, then he/she must not care for them at all. This is really a passive-aggressive technique of manipulating others to get them to do what one wants. When someone makes such an outrageous claim, a good person will feel guilty for not being more sympathetic and seek to act better. Hence, it’s all about control. “You didn’t behave like I wanted you to behave,” the passive-aggressive person is saying; “Therefore, I will make you feel guilty, so you will do what I want you to do!” This is ungodly and sinful behavior that seeks self above others. Paul wrote, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (Philippians 2:3).

 

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Looking at the Cross

Looking at the Cross

The way Christians look at the cross of Jesus is vastly different from the way the ungodly look at it. Paul sums it all up in these words, “It pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For the Jews request a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (1 Cor. 1:21-23). This is so far removed from the way saints see the cross.

Cross sunset

What do you see?

Pagans look at the cross. Every god of every pagan was powerful—more powerful than any man. The very concept of deity being killed by mortals was beyond comprehension. As the early church brought the message of the cross to the entire world, it was foolishness.

Jews look at the cross. They were expecting the coming of the Messiah. Those who understood could see that God had promised to someday send a prophet, priest and king to live among them. With their view of the Messiah, the cross became a stumbling block. One does not have to submit to a king who is so helpless or listen to a mortal who claims to be a prophet. Jesus may have said, “You have heard that it was said, but I say to you…,” but who cares what Jesus said, for he is just a man claiming to be someone great. One cannot put their trust in a priest like Jesus to save them. What was said at the cross sums it up: “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God” (Luke 23:35).

Christians look at the cross. Read the rest of the words of Paul to the Corinthians. “We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” It is truly amazing how differently a pagan, a Jew and a Christian would hear the same sermon. What is the right view? Look at the cross through the eyes of God.

Built within God’s eternal plan is a weekly communion with Jesus at His table. As you remember Him every week, make sure you truly see who He is. Remember His body and His blood. As you remember Him every week, look at yourself—let a man examine himself. As you remember Him every week, see the future—proclaim His death until He comes.

God has no other message for mankind. The Jews asked for a sign and the only sign given was the cross. The Greeks sought wisdom, but the only wisdom God had for them was Christ crucified. We must never forget the cross and what happened there. A failure to look at the cross, to remember what happened for us, will result in us being “barren and unfruitful and blind” (2 Pet. 1:8-9). See the cross like God sees it!

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Distracted, Deceived Souls

Distracted, Deceived Souls

The good brother who had last week’s closing prayer here where I preach absolutely nailed it when he alluded to the fact that there is something far worse, far more dangerous, and far more deadly than the Coronavirus going on out there… and that is those poor lost souls who are dying daily, and facing their eternity, without ever being in a right relationship with the Lord God almighty. AMEN!  However, I’m sure that most people you might come in contact with – and sadly, this includes a good number of Christians as well – will probably in some form or fashion, express their own personal expending of far more time, talk, energy, and interest consumed with Coronavirus-related matters, rather than with making sure that they and everyone else around them is ready to meet God – no matter when and what they may inevitably die of. How does this happen? Especially with Christians? And especially in light of the far greater, far more deadly, and far more long-lasting and devastating results of the latter?

distracted souls

There are those out there whose problems are bigger than a virus.

First off, we must remember that Satan is not only the master of deception, but that he is also the master of distraction. Before he could deceive Eve, he first had to distract her. This he did by getting her focus and attention off of all of the other trees of the garden which God had so richly blessed she and Adam with (Gen. 3:1-5). Once the distraction was successful, the deception was inevitable.

This truth is likely why God warned Isaiah not to be distracted and caught up in what the people of his day feared and were caught up in: “For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ‘Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, Him you shall honor as holy. Let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary…’” (Isa. 8:11-14a ESV). Remember: “Once distraction is successful, deception is inevitable.”

The same holds true today. I believe this is one reason why Jesus and His divinely-inspired first-century writers repeatedly addressed just exactly how deadly allowing Satan to thus distract us truly is. Jesus, in the parable of the sower, explained how “He who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world… choke the word” (Matt 13:22).

The Apostle Paul commanded: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2); and, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). As he wrote to Timothy, and by extension, to every “good soldier of Jesus Christ … no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Tim. 2:3-4). Writing to His beloved Philippian brethren, he said: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:8-9).

The thing that you and I must understand is that in our world there is always going to be a “crisis” of some sort going on. Whether it is viral, financial, political, psychological, or some other, there is always going to be a “crisis of the day” – something that the unbelieving world around us is always going to be distracted by, consumed with, and/or far too worried about, to ever take the time to seriously focus on God, His word, and their eternity… and the news media is going to make absolutely sure that they dissect and dramatize every divinely-distracting detail and morsel of it. After all, without a crisis to report, their criteria for existence ceases to exist.

Consider: Do you perhaps recall the pre-Coronavirus crisis that had everybody so up in arms only about eight short months ago? Church shootings. Before that, it was something else… and something else before that… just as there will also be some other “crisis” to “worry” about and be consumed with eight months from now… and eight months after that… and etc., on into the future. It just simply never ends. And Satan makes sure it doesn’t. Because “Once distraction is successful, deception, as well as death and destruction, are all, also inevitable.”

The eternally-deadly danger for all of us as Christians, comes the moment we ever forget that; should we ever begin to incrementally get so caught up in and sidetracked by whatever the current “crisis of the day” is, that we start to continually forget or neglect that which is most important; should we, like Martha, become so distracted with other things, that we forget the only thing, that should ever really matter – loving, listening to, and being comforted and encouraged by our beloved Lord and Savior’s word (Lk. 10:38-42).

Brethren; do your Lord, yourself, and those you love around you a huge and heavenly favor: Do not allow the “always-a-crisis” events of the current day’s news, to continually consume, distract, and/or draw you away from the incredibly encouraging and uplifting good news of the word of God. Here’s an experiment to try: Turn off the bad news of man for just one, short week, and turn to the pages of the good news of God during that same time period instead. The world and its news won’t change all that much during that time, but you and your peace of mind surely will (Jn. 16:33; Phil 4:8-9). God bless!

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