Calm in the Storm

Calm in the Storm

Jesus’ first-century disciples endured a number of life-threatening storms at sea. In the first one that we have a record of, once Jesus calmed the “great tempest” that had suddenly arisen and threatened to send both them and their small boat to the bottom, they asked “Who can this be…?” (See: Matt. 8:23-27). It took them experiencing a second horrendous storm at sea and His instantly calming it in order for them to realize exactly who He was and worship Him appropriately (See: Matt. 14:22-33). A number of years later, yet another, even lengthier and more severe storm at sea arose, which God once again used as a teaching tool in order to prove His all-powerful ability to provide and protect (Acts 27).

storm boat

Jesus can bring calm to a live threatening storm.

And of course, lest we forget, let us also step back into the Old Testament and reconsider that monster of all storms; that cataclysmic weather event that was so epic it engulfed the entire world. That one incredible storm in which “all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights” (Gen. 7:11-12), covering all the earth (vss. 18-20). Have you ever thought about just how much Noah’s experience during those days, parallels ours today? Consider…

Noah was a man of faith (Hebs 11:7); a preacher of righteousness (2 Ptr. 2:5). He trusted God completely, as evidenced in his obedience (Gen. 6:22, 7:5). But because of the death and destruction that would soon be all around him, he, like us today, would also have to be “quarantined,” in close quarters, with only his immediate family present (Gen. 7:7, 13, 17-23). For them, this would be an ordeal which would last a little over a year (Compare: 7:11, 8:13-15). How on earth did they survive? What on earth did they do, all cramped up in that one boat for over a year, with nothing but their faith in God to guide them? They did that which we must do, as we are in a similar situation of “self-quarantine today; that which will see us through, just as it did them (Rom. 15:4).

Although the Scriptures do not give us a “daily diary” account of Noah and his family’s specific activities during their time of isolation in the ark, certainly any Biblical reading of Noah’s life will leave nothing but the impression that the same things he did to build and get into the ark, he did in his time while shut up in the ark. He surely continued to trust, obey, and serve the Lord (Gen. 6:22, 7:5), carrying out those daily tasks which the Lord set before him. Activities such as feeding his family’s faith, feeding the animals on board, and doing whatever else the Lord commanded, while he and his family waited the storm out.

What do we learn for us and our current Coronavirus storm from the lesson of Noah? As he had obeyed God and was therefore sealed safe and sound in the ark by God (Gen. 7:16b), so, too, are those of us who have obeyed the gospel by being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, sealed safe and sound in Christ by God as well (Acts 2:36-42, 47; Rom. 6:1-11; Eph. 1:13-14; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 1 Ptr. 3:18-21, 4:16-19). Let us, like Noah, therefore continue to maintain that same level of faithfulness that got us into Christ in the first place (Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:12). Let us, like him, continue to feed and encourage our families spiritually, while continuing to obey and carry out His other commands daily during this storm (Matt. 6:33; Phil. 2:12-16).

In light of all of these Biblical stormy seas examples and God’s all-powerful ability to calm and carry His people through them; and in view of the current Coronavirus storm of chaos which is raging all around us; I would like to share the following version of an illustration I heard many years ago… The boat was being tossed up and down and side to side as the wind-blown waves continued to strengthen. The captain, crew, and divers on board could see the storm-clouds and lightning strikes all around and closing in on them from the horizon. The scuba diver went over the side and into the depths anyway. Ten, twenty, thirty, and finally fifty feet down, near the bottom and at his destination, he noticed that the fish were being tossed side to side; the vegetation and sea bed were being thrust up and down by the storm… no he didn’t! Of course he didn’t. What he did notice was that life in the depths, went on quite unaffected; and in fact, completely oblivious to the storm wreaking havoc on the surface above.

Today, as those focused only on their momentary, surface, and vaporous earthly life continue to be rocked and blown about by the current storm of Coronavirus concerns that they are enduring, do something different. Put on your spiritual scuba gear (S.C.U.B.A. – “Savior Calling Us Back Again”), and plunge yourself deep into the heart of Jesus’ teaching. Leave the stormy surface of news reports behind, and dive deep, deep, deep down into the heart of the word of the living and all-powerful God. It is only there that you will find the kind of peace, comfort, beauty and stability, that can make the storm on the surface, seem pretty much like just a distant memory (Phil. 4:6-13). Allow Jesus to calm your storm today. Only by so doing, shall we come through this storm the same way as God’s people always have… as “more than conquerors” in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:28-39). Sail on! God bless!  …And… get your dove ready!

 

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A Lazy Man’s Burden

A Lazy Man’s Burden

Growing up, some of us were taught about the “lazy man’s burden.”

For those who have never heard the phrase, the idea is quite simple: the lazy man, trying to avoid work, ends up making more work for himself. The classic example is the man who does not want to make multiple trips, and so staggers under an overbearing load, trying to carry everything all at once.

lazy man load

How do you handle the task before you?

Quite often, a little extra thought, and forethought, can make a job easier and quicker. While some things might seem like extra work, they are, in fact, the logical means of being efficient. Or, to put it another way, a lot of people end up doing a lot more work because they didn’t take the time to properly prepare for the job.

The Bible, in the writings of Solomon, speaks to this truth. “If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom helps one to succeed(Ecclesiastes 10:10; ESV).”

If you take the time to sharpen your ax, you end up doing less work. If you are lazy and don’t take care of your tools, you end up doing more work.

Closely related to this is the idea of gaining knowledge ahead of an endeavor so as to make a particular task quicker and easier. Again, from the same section of Scripture, Solomon writes, “The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city(Ecclesiastes 10:15; ESV).”

As many wives have told their husbands over the years, “you should have asked for directions.” Wandering around, lost, because you did not take the time to actually learn the route to where you are going only makes the trip more arduous.

These are ideas that are true of physical tasks, and physical journeys, but they are equally applicable to our spiritual labors, and our spiritual journey.

One might think of Saul of Tarsus, who was asked by our risen Lord, “Is it hard for you to kick against the goads (Acts 26:14)?” Jesus recognized that Saul had made choices which made his life harder. Saul had failed to ascertain the proper path that God wanted him to be on, and so ended up going the wrong way.

The Scriptures teach us, “there is a way that seem right to a man, but the end of that way is death  (Proverbs 14:12).” We are going to journey far in the wrong direction, making the wrong choices, if we don’t take the time to stop and ask God for directions in life.

We read elsewhere in the Bible of another man, Ezra. Of him, God says, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel(Ezra 7:10; NKJV).” In the words of Solomon, Ezra had taken the time to sharpen his iron. He had spent time studying God’s word, he had made a choice to do God’s word, and he was ready to teach others what God had said. Instead of wasting many years going the wrong way, only to find himself lost, Ezra was on the path God wanted him to be on.

In the first Psalm we read, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of the sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night(Psalm 1:1-2).” If you want to be going the right direction, God has given us that which we can study in order to properly prepare ourselves.

In a similar way, in Ecclesiastes we also read this pertinent advice: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them (Ecclesiastes 12:1; ESV).’” If one starts early, preparing to do what God wants them to do, avoided will be all the various burdens that come from a life spent in rebelling against God.

The lazy man suffers physically because he does not prepare himself properly for the jobs of life, or because he tries to take shortcuts. In a similar manner, when we are spiritually lazy, taking the path of least resistance, we are going to very frequently find we suffer from a similar burden.

But there is a solution. Jesus calls to us, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Matthew 11:29-30; ESV).”

Yes, there is work God wants us to be doing (cf. Ephesians 2:10), but the more we try to avoid that work, the harder the burdens we will be bearing. Let’sprepare ourselves to be pleasing to God and so do our best to avoid the burden that comes with being spiritually lazy.

 

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Design Demands a Designer

Design Demands a Designer

Dear friend, For months now you have referred to Christians as illogical. You condemn the belief in God because you say it’s irrational and unscientific to believe in something you cannot see. Yet, in making this proclamation you neglect to realize that the design and complexity that allow you to make such an argument. Without a brain to formulate thoughts and without muscles to pen those thoughts you would be unable to wage war against God.

Design Designer

There is an intelligent designer… He is God.

Have you ever stopped to honestly consider the complexity and design that must be present for you to reject God? Consider what all must be present just for you to be able to vocalize your atheistic beliefs. Think about the muscles that must be present to control your vocal chords. Then consider that nerves must innervate each one of those muscles in order to contract properly.

Also, making sounds by themselves is not enough. You must also be able to mentally arrange language together so that others can understand what you are saying. You must be able to use the alphabet to form words and comprehend the meaning of those words—all the while the rest of your bodily functions continue to work (i.e., respiration, circulation, digestion, etc.). You state that a belief in God is illogical but in forming words and using speech you overlook the design that God placed in the human body.

In his book, Eve Spoke: Human Language and Human Evolution, evolutionist Philip Lieberman admitted: “Speech is so essential to our concept of intelligence that its possession is virtually equated with being human. Animals who talk are human, because what sets us apart from other animals is the “gift” of speech” (1998). Your ability to argue and claim a belief in God is illogical is hinged around your ability to use language—which is not found in other animals. In The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Human Evolution, editors Jones, Martin, and Pilbeam conceded that “there are no non-human languages,” and then went on to observe that “language is an adaptation unique to humans, and yet the nature of its uniqueness and its biological basis are notoriously difficult to define” (P. 128, 1999, emp. added).

So where did language and the ability to speak come from? Why haven’t other creatures “evolved” this useful style of communication? In his book, The Symbolic Species: The Co-Evolution of Language and the Brain, Terrance Deacon noted:

“In this context, then, consider the case of human language. It is one of the most distinctive behavioral adaptations on the planet. Languages evolved in only one species, in only one way, without precedent, except in the most general sense. And the differences between languages and all other natural modes of communicating are vast” (p. 25, 1997).

Is it logical to believe that only one creature would “evolve” such a useful tool? What events transpired that have allowed humans to speak, while animals remain silent? Having dissected literally hundreds of human cadavers, I can speak boldly on the design of the larynx and vocal folds. I have witnessed first hand these small but efficient muscles that raise or lower the pitch in a person’s voice. This evidence cannot be denied or passed over. Design demands a Designer! The human body, the Universe, and all the complexities of the Earth point to an Intelligent Designer.

The statistical odds of man living in a place where the composition of the air, atmospheric pressure, gravity, heat, stability, etc. happening by chance are beyond measure. As NASA astronomer John O’Keefe explained: “We are, by astronomical standards, a pampered, cosseted, cherished group of creatures … . If the Universe had not been made with the most exacting precision we could never have come into existence. It is my view that these circumstances indicate the universe was created for man to live in” (1995, p. 200). Dr. O’Keefe realizes the impossibility of things happening as the result of some cosmological accident. But he is not alone.

Physicist Frank Tipler put it this way: “When I began my career as a cosmologist some twenty years ago, I was a convinced atheist. I never in my wildest dreams imagined that one day I would be writing a book purporting to show that the central claims of Judeo-Christian theology are in fact true, that these claims are straightforward deductions of the laws of physics as we now understand them. I have been forced into these conclusions by the inexorable logic of my own special branch of physics” (1994, Preface).

An honest evaluation reveals the evidence points towards a creation by an Intelligent Designer. Paul Davies admitted: “There is for me powerful evidence that there is something going on behind it all … . It seems as though somebody has fine-tuned nature’s numbers to make the Universe …. The impression of design is overwhelming” (1988, p. 203, emp. added). I hope you will think on these things. Until next time, I continue to pray for you.

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¿DONDÉ ESTABA DIOS CUANDO LLEGÓ EL DESASTRE?

¿DONDÉ ESTABA DIOS CUANDO LLEGÓ EL DESASTRE?

            La respuesta a esa pregunta es tan simple. Dios estaba en el mismo lugar de siempre, sentado en su trono siendo el soberano del universo. Hace algún tiempo algunos hermanos resultaron un tanto molestos al escuchar que los desastres naturalez pueden ayudarnos para bien. Recientemente (hace 4 años) el huracán Otto había terminado con la vida de ocho personas y practicamente había desaparecido la ciudad de Upala en Costa Rica. Todo un país se unío para ayudar a quienes lo habían perdido todo. Muchas personas buscaban ( la gran mayoria de veces) en lugares equivocados a Dios, el ser supremo del universo y por supuesto más de una docena de personas al saber que soy ministro cristiano aprovechaban para hacer la pregunta: ¿Dónde estába Dios cuando llegó el desastre?

DESASTRE

¿DONDÉ ESTABA DIOS CUANDO LLEGÓ EL DESASTRE?

            Los desastres son parte de nuestro mundo como el sol, la lluvia, las plantas (Auque necesitamos realmente abordar esto más adelante). Más allá de simple curiosidad, la pregunta envuelve la idea de querer culpar a Dios por todas las personas que sufren y mueren a causa de los desastres. Entonces se formula otra pregunta, dicho sea de paso bastante validad: ¿Si Dios es todopoderoso, porqué no hace algo para prevenir los desastres o al menos que la gente no muera a causa de ellos?. En una ocación un niño preguntó algo similiar a su papá. ¿Papá, porqué Dios no detiene las guerras donde muere tanta gente inocente?- El padre le respondió: Hijo mio, porque Dios no las inició.

            Está claro que muchos desastres naturalez son producidos a consecuencia de la misma contaminación del ser humano y de la falta de respeto a la naturaleza, todavia nos intriga; ¿Porqué Dios no hace algo, auque él no esté provocando el desastre?. Aquí es donde deseamos pasar el resto de nuestro tiempo para esta oportunidad.

            Hay por lo menos 3 falacias lógicas detrás de la idea en la pregunta, conocidas como:

1.     Falacia en el planteamiento de la pregunta.

2.     Confusión incesaria entre verdad y precisión. 

3.     Confusión de cosmovición.[1]

La pregunta está mal formula, puede que Dios esté haciendo algo y simplemente no se lo está informando al hombre. La número dos“…he aquí yo estoy con vosotros todos los días hasta el fin del mundo.” (Mt.28:20) (y los libraré de todos los desastres que ocurran siempre) aquí es donde se confunde una verdad con la presición. Las frases son tan ciertas pero no igualmente precisas, el Señor no establece el grado de presición pero si ratifica la verdad. Aún en medio del desastre, Dios está con sus hijos. Y por último la confusión de la cosmovisión es una falacia que consiste en pensar que la experiencia indiviual de alguien y la interpretación de la realidad son marcos adecuados para sacar conclusiones e interpretar textos Biblicos.

Por ejemplo. En Amós 4, el Señor usa cuatro elementos de la naturaleza para traer a su Pueblo Israel al arrepentimiento, observe: 1) Hambre (4:6), 2) Escases (4:7), 3) Pobreza (4:9), 4) Muerte (4:10). Permitanos aclarar que estas calamidades  no eran castigo, como afirmaban los amigos de Job al venirle todos esos males (Job 5:17), eso es confusión de la cosmovisión. En Amós Dios ofrece una oportunidad a Israel para arrepentirse antes de que viniera el verdadero castigo (el cautiverio). De hecho es muy probable que Amós alla escrito estas profecias despúes del terromoto.  Coinsido con las palabras del hermano Hommer Hailey quien escribe en su comentario al respecto: Si la toma de la ciudad fue a causa del terrmoto y este es el de 1:1, esto significa que Amós escribió estas profecias despúes del terrmoto e incluye este incidente en su libro. [2] Dios está siendo tan paciente que les está concediendo oportunidades o “cachetadas” para que despierten y se arrepientan antes de que venga el castigo. Babilonia llegó con todas sus fuerzas y ellos tristemente no escucharon a Dios. Estimado lector Dios trata de hacernos despertar tantas vces en nuestras vidas, para que nos volvamos a él antes de que la condenación final sea pronunciada sobre nosotros. El infierno es sin duda un lugar espantoso “donde el gusano de ellos no muere, y el fuego nunca se apaga.” (Mr.9:44). Cualquier desastre natural que pueda ocurrir en nuestros días simplemnete debe de “reubicar” nuestra mirada al cielo y entender que por esta tierra solo estamos de visita (1Pe.2:11). De acuerdo a las estadisticas 153000 personas mueren cada día en el mundo. Si Dios deja morir a una persona en un desastre natural es porque de todas formas esa persona tenía que morir, por el principio establecido en Hebreos 9:27. El asunto no es; ¿Dónde estaba Dios cuando llegó el desastre? El asunto real es que ya Dios hizo todo lo que estuvo a su alzance al mandar a su hijo para evitar que usted y yo pasemos por el verdadero desastre “Y esta es la voluntad del Padre, el que me envió: Que de todo lo que me diere, no pierda yo nada, sino que lo resucite en el día postrero.”  

El hermano Wayne Jakson escribe:

 Del mismo modo, las condiciones arruinadas del mundo de hoy, que son el resultado de la rebelión de nuestro antepasado contra Dios, son el precio que hemos recogido debido al pecado humano, porque la humanidad continúa el legado de la corrupción característica de nuestros ancestros antiguos (Génesis 6 : 5,11; cf. Romanos 8: 20-22; 2 Pedro 3: 5-7). (Wayne Jackson. “Why Do Natural Disasters Happen?” ChristianCourier.com. Access date: April 28, 2020).

Dios es bueno y no desea que nosotros suframos por toda una eternidad. ¿Dónde estaba Dios? Sentado en su trono, reinando. En el mismo lugar como cuando murió su hijo,  y fue; escupido, traicionado, burlado, desfigurado por amor suyo y mio. En vez de criticar a Dios, por los desastres naturales más bien el hombre necesita ser humillado acercarse a su creador y decir como la gran multitud de Apocalipsis 7:10 “…La salvación pertenece a nuestro Dios que está sentado en el trono y al cordero.” 

REFERENCIAS

 

Carson, D.A. “Falacias exegéticas, falacias lógicas” (Baker Academy, Barcelona España;

Editorial Clie, 2013) pg. 110.

Hailey, Homer. “A commentary on the minor prophets” (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Barker 

Book House, 1972) pg. 105. 

 

Jackson, Wayne. “Why Do Natural Disasters Happen?” ChristianCourier.com. Access 

date: April 28, 2020. https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/939-why-do-natural-

disasters-happen

[1] Carson, D.A. “Falacias exegéticas, falacias lógicas” (Editorial Clie; 2013)pg. 110.

[2] Hailey, Homer. “A commentary on the minor prophets” (Baker book house, 1972) pg.105         

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Spiritual Loneliness

Loneliness

Well, another separated, segregated, socially-distanced and ‘virtually realized’ Lord’s Day has now come and gone. Although many of us enjoyed the sacred privilege of spirit and truth worship on Sunday, we still continue to experience a certain level of sadness and spiritual loneliness due to the sustained lack of personal fellowship with our brothers and sisters that we are having to suffer through.

alone box

Feeling a bit of loneliness?

The Bible tells us that Jesus was made like us in all things, and tempted like us in all things, so that He could sympathize with and help us in all things (Heb. 2:17-18, 4:14-16). As this life-altering, self-quarantining, and social distancing chaos continues to drone on and seeks to drag us all down on a daily basis, we may be tempted to think, “Well, I don’t recall reading where Jesus ever went through anything like this. How can He possibly sympathize with what I’m going through right now?” May I suggest that He did, He does, and because He did and does so strongly, that He is still the only source of the real strength we need in order to get us all through this.

Life-altering:Neither the life-changing sacrifices that so many of us have been forced to make in this fight against the Coronavirus, or even all of them taken together world-wide, can begin to compare with the infinitely life-altering changes that Jesus chose to make, in order to come and win our battle against the far deadlier and more widespread virus of sin.Having been with God the Father and at home with Him in heaven since before time began, Jesus sacrificed the glories of heaven, for the sufferings of earth (Jn. 1:1-3; Phil. 2:5-8).

Self-quarantining:When Jesus left the glories of heaven and equality with God behind in order to come to earth and die for our sins, He voluntarily quarantined Himself in a lowly body of human flesh (Jn. 1:14); being made like His brethren in all things so that he could experience– and conquer – death for everyone (Hebs. 2:14-18). Thus, His became a situation that would not only temporarily cost Him the closeness of His nearest and dearest of earthly friends (Matt. 26:56b; Jn. 16:32), but also that of His heavenly Father (Matt. 27:46).

Social Distancing:There were a number of times during Jesus’ earthly life when He and/or His family had to suddenly distance themselves from others, and for a variety of different reasons (Matt. 2:13-15; Mk. 5:14-21; Jn. 11:1-15, 54, 13:36, 14:1-3,18:1-8).

The point of this, is simply this: Jesus knows; Jesus cares; and Jesus definitely understands. In days to come, whenever this starts to wear on you again and you are tempted to lose heart, just remember: “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:14-16).

God bless. God be thanked. To God be the glory; always and in all ways.

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