CALM AND REASSURANCE

I was three years old, as I recall.  I lived with my parents and brother in an apartment in Jackson, Michigan.  We didn’t own a car at that time and I remember that when I had a terrible ear ache my mom called a taxi.  The memory is kind of hazy but I recall feeling miserable and leaning my head against my mom’s arm as the driver took us to the hospital.  At the hospital the doctor wanted to look in my ear because what had happened is that my mom had been cleaning my ear with a Q tip at home and I had suddenly turned and the Q tip had jammed quite far into the ear causing bleeding.  Well, the doctor wanted to look and I was going to have none of it.  I resisted with all the effort I could muster and even with reinforcements of the staff I managed to hold them off for a time.  They finally conquered by rolling me tightly into a sheet.  At that point I resorted to hysterical cries as they grasped and pressed my head to hold it in place.  There were little murmured conversations going on around me and terrifying clicks and other unidentifiable sounds.  I felt the probe going into my ear and I held my eyes shut as tight as possible.   “Julie,” I heard the doctor say.  He said it almost as a melody.  “Ju-lie,  guess what I see?  I see a bunny.”  That was all it took, and my fear went away, because of one man who knew how to talk to a child.  

Even as adults we experience times when we’re fearful because of the unknown or uncertainty of a situation.  We fear a bad outcome perhaps or we’re afraid because we’ve taken on a new responsibility.  We might be facing something we never expected and we’re wondering how to get through it.  It’s always good to have someone we can talk to, but of course the best thing to do is to go to God in prayer.  There are many reassuring words we can hear from people, but they can’t put that calmness within our spirit.  That has to come from the Lord.  There truly is nothing to equal the healing, calming touch that God provides.  And so as a child I needed someone to tell me in a way I could understand that there was nothing to fear, but when I became an adult “I put away childish things” and my understanding became clear because of Christ. 

                                                                                                                                                                   

THE CALL TO UNDERSTANDING

What happens when that day comes that there is absolutely no difference between the way the world thinks and those of the church think?  I've thought about this lately a great deal because I see it happening.  I suppose one could rightly state that it is in its way fulfillment of prophecy; therefore I can reason that a sense of calm should prevail because God has the situation in hand - and I believe with all my heart that He does, but each time I look at this situation I experience a heaviness within me that is hard to shake off. 

There is a time spoken of in the Bible - a time when people will not "endure sound doctrine," but will want to hear continuous pleasantries.  What seems now to have happened is that many people choose to attend churches where they can count on hearing a gospel message laced with all good news and designed to motivationally build on their sense of self-importance.  Consequently, having resisted the Holy Spirit they have come to the point that they cannot bear to hear a true message of repentance for this world.  They don't want to hear about sin and judgment.  That does not fit with the world they are in which they've become so reluctant to let go of. 

I know this is a difficult subject.  It leaves me with a sense of great unhappiness, but at the same time I feel the comfort and love of God's Spirit and therefore there is joy also, because I know the strength of God's love.  He would not have made a way of salvation for us if that were not true.  Let's listen to God's word, study it, drink it in and pray for understanding.  Jesus said that we should pay attention and learn from His words.  He wants us to make a difference in this world - to be the "salt" that gives flavor to a world of people who struggle to find their way.

IS GOD FAIR?

The question comes up at times in life for many people: "Is God fair?" or it may be phrased in many other ways, but representing the same line of thought.  "Why?"  I think we all at some point in life react in that way.  Spoken or unspoken, the question may linger there in the back of our mind.  "Why, God?"

It can be hard to accept the idea of free will in this world as it applies to our spiritual state of being.  It seems that people love the concept of free will until it comes to the question of where that leaves us in our standing before God.  "What is hell?" people often wonder.  "How is it possible that God would allow anyone to go to hell?"  "What about God's love for mankind?"

The question of God's love for us actually does lead us to the answers we need.  God, through Christ, has offered salvation to "all who will come," with no exception whatsoever.  If we want Him, He wants us - anyone - all - and with no condemnation.  Therefore, if we choose in life to go another way, God will allow us to do so.  For some it means that they have rejected God altogether, and as hard as it is for me or any Christian to accept what the outcome of that decision may be, it has been a choice.  The invitation is extended to us and we can take it or reject it.  God allows us to choose.

And so, is God fair or is He not?  If you love someone how far would you personally go in order to save them from destruction?  Would you give your life?  He did.  Prior to the time Jesus gave His life for us on the cross the way to God was an almost impossible road for anyone.  God wanted to make a way - for all of us.  I don't see how, having done that for us, it could be considered by any stretch of the imagination that God is unfair.  His love is simply beyond our comprehension because it enfolds the entire world.  If you find yourself faced with that question at any point remember this: that just, fair and righteous is the Lord our God.

FINDING LIFE

During an evening church service recently the pastor asked for testimonies among the congregation and various people spoke in turn, giving thanks to God for many things in life.  One young man who spoke made a statement regarding his search in life for answers.  He said he had considered the Easter message of Jesus' resurrection and in particular the words of the angel to Mary at the empty tomb:  "Why do you seek the living among the dead?"  The angel was of course referring to the fact that Jesus had risen and the angel spoke these words, reminding Mary that this had been foretold by Jesus himself.  Why look here?  Jesus lives, as He said He would.  In testimony the man spoke to the congregation and he said he found himself struck by the thought of looking for life among the dead.  "Why do I do this in life?" he asked.  "Why do I find myself at times looking for answers where there are none to be found?  I know that the answers I need are in God's word."

Why indeed - as believers in Christ we realize that God's word is truth and life, here and in the eternal.  And we have to realize that because of the fact that we are in a sense walled in by a worldly point of view there is a potential for problems if we don't regularly go to God's word and go to God in prayer.  We need that as much as we need food and fluids to keep us physically alive.  Our spirit needs or requires that strong connection to God and without that we begin to suffer in many ways sometimes without realizing we're suffering. 

There is a space inside of us which is a part of God's design and perhaps that truly is where our own spirit resides, and that is the place where we receive the inflow of God's spirit.  The Holy Spirit is our teacher and counselor and scripture tells us, also the interpreter of our prayers.  And of course, we see things of the world differently because of God's Spirit.  God's Spirit will draw us in a different direction than that of the world.  We belong to God and His love sustains us.  Jesus explained that so clearly saying that all who come to Him will neither hunger or thirst.  He was making the point: here is life - here are the answers.  "I am the resurrection and the life.."  "I am the bread of life.."  And so, let's remember to search for our answers where they can be found because God is truth, love, all understanding, and life.

TO ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SAINTS IN CHRIST, HAPPY EASTER.

"HE IS RISEN INDEED!"

A NEW SEASON

We're having something resembling an early spring and in my yard I have trees blooming and flowers coming up and I am just amazed because I've never before seen weather such as this in March.  I thank God to see the colors again, but also I have to wonder what it all means, and I do think it means something.  Or at least, it reminds me of something: The world situation is changing and with each passing day we are that much closer to a day when Jesus will return.  What will the state of the world be in that coming day when Jesus returns?  Will we be ready?  Opening scripture the other day I came to a place in the Book of Revelation which described a new world to come - one of peace and safety - and I took joy in reading the words "And there shall be no more curse."  Think of that - and imagine what that will mean. 

In thinking it over it seems the world will one day be as God originally intended for it to be.  A knowledge of God will abound and all evil will be cast away.  It's hard at this point to imagine a world like that, but the Bible tells us, we shall see it.  That day is coming.  

At this point, we see a lot of changes in the world and we also see much to feel great worry over.  There are those who suffer greatly in this world, and we all know that is true.  There is so much unfairness and injustice.  Some people have chosen death over life - they really have.  At this point millions could potentially leave this world in this terrible lost state they exist in and while I have a sense of peace that in life or in death I am with Christ, any happiness I might feel for myself is diminished because of the condition of so many others.  But God can change things.  We know that God's love and compassion is great.  And so, as we look at the changing situation of the world and our existence let's remember to pray that the time has come for the great outpouring of God's Spirit to bring light and life into this darkening world.  "Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your Holy Spirit who speaks to us of truth in our lives we need to look at and our inborn need for your love and that our way to you is through Christ.  Amen."

HAVING THE WORLD

It's been said that we should seek to find our happiness in this world, and it's not that I completely disagree with that statement, but I think many people come to that same idea but from a much different direction than I would choose.  God desires that we have happiness.  I believe that.  What He doesn't want for us is this phoney, false sense of security we gain from the world.  And yet, if that is what we go after in life, God will not stand in our way. 

I know a woman changed by God's point of view.  The understanding came to her suddenly and with total clarity.  God showed her so clearly where her life was going, and it was done without words, but it came to her as an understanding within her spirit which God brought to her.  In that moment, she understood her need for Christ.  God waits patiently.  He gives us time and if we pay attention, His Spirit is speaking to us of God's tender love and compassion so deep He would go to any length to have us with Him.  That's clear because we can understand the solid truth of that based on what Jesus did for us that terrible day on the cross.

I believe God wants to give us time in life to respond to the invitation.  I think the world gets greatly in the way of the kind of understanding we need to have.  The amount of distraction is a little mind-boggling at this point.  But listen, stop and pay attention - tune out the world for a time and begin to ask God to show you and He will hear you.  He will respond.  There are any number of promises recorded in scripture regarding God's desire to see us whole, and the only possible way to that "fullness of understanding" is through God's Spirit.  That's the promise Jesus gave and will always remain true to.  "I will send the helper..."  And so, seek to find your happiness - absolutely - and find it you will, through Christ.