Living Each Day with Your Bags Packed

This world is the only one we can see. That leads many people to believe that it is the only world there is. Of course, that is like saying that microbes don't exist simply because I can't see them. We can't see microbes unless we have a way of detecting them. The next world can only be perceived through the Spirit. He is our "detector." Still, it is easy to forget that this world is not our home. It is easy to make plans like we will be here forever.

What if today were your last day? What if you die today? I know it sounds overly melodramatic but it is possible that this will be your last day. How many people in the World Trade Center towers went to work thinking that September 11, 2001 would be their last day? How many people who are killed in traffic accidents or die of heart attacks today think that this is their last day? Virtually none, I suspect. Even now people who will be gone soon are planning for Christmas, birthdays and retirements that they will never see.

There is nothing wrong with making these plans. You have to. You simply can't live your life without making plans. They are necessary for any business you are in. They are necessary for the church. We, too, are making plans for Christmas, Easter, Vacation Bible School, Camps and other things that will happen in the future.

The real problem comes when we aren't prepared to go onto the next world. We have unsaid things which we needed to say but always thought there was a tomorrow to say them in. We have failed in our commitments.

I remember a relatively young man who died suddenly. His family grieved his passing. His wife was devastated. Then, his mistress showed up at the funeral. I bet the deceased man never saw that coming! His wife and children had a totally different view of him after that. Maybe he could have repented and asked for forgiveness if he knew his shelf life was short. He, like most people, thought they had plenty of time to do whatever they wanted and still make things right later.

How many people walk out of a church service knowing that they should give their lives to Christ? They say they'll do so at a more convenient time. Then, one day they are gone and they never again have this chance.

How many people have angry words with someone which they are never able to correct because one of them passes away before forgiveness can be requested or granted? It leaves both of them without peace.

There have been times that I have refused to take people with me to the Holy Land because they could not truly experience it. They waited until they were sure they had enough money but were so infirm that I knew the trip would be too hard on them. They would not be able to get out of the bus to see the things they were traveling to see. They simply could not walk well enough to enjoy the trip. They waited too long.

I have to live my life like this day is my last. I must make sure that I am one who confesses my sins before my Lord daily. I must spend time with Him daily. I must love Him with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. I must treat people with all the love within me daily. I must make sure that I am ready even when I have no expectation that I will be going today.

It is like anticipating a trip that you know that could come with a moment's notice. Your bags are packed but in the closet so that you simply grab them and go.

Luke 12:16-21 (NIV) ¹⁶ And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'

¹⁸ "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'

²⁰ "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' ²¹ "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."

Seeing God in the Rear-View Mirror

I suppose that all of us have had a crisis in our lives. Trouble is something that Jesus promised. Our faith does not inoculate us from these troubles. We get them just as those who have no faith. Maybe we get them more since they strengthen our faith.

Most of us wonder where God is during these troubles. We look for Him to rescue us and when that rescue doesn't come quickly we ask for why. Often there is silence. We can't see Him nor do we see Him work. It appears that He is doing nothing.

After the crisis passes we have a different story. We see what God was doing while we were in our trouble. We see what He was doing for us, with us and how He was bringing us out of that trouble. We  can't seem to see Him through the front windshield but we see Him clearly in the rear-view mirror.

Wasn't that the way it must have been for Joseph in the Old Testament? Surely, he failed to see God as things went from bad to worse.

Do you think Joseph saw God working when his brothers threw him in a pit?

Do you think Joseph saw God working when they sold him?

Do you think Joseph saw God working when as he worked as a slave?

Do you think Joseph saw God working when he was accused of a crime he didn't commit?

Do you think Joseph saw God working when he was thrown in prison?

Do you think Joseph saw God working when he was forgotten in prison?

Yet, when things were all done Joseph saw that God was indeed working during each of these terrible events in his life. When his brothers were afraid that he would exact revenge from them for what they had done Joseph said:


Genesis 50:20 (ESV) 
20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 

Now, I suppose most of us have seen the hand of God working after the crisis has passed. In fact, I know that I have seen His handiwork all over my crisis after the crisis has passed. I didn't see this during the crisis. So, I'm asking:

Why don't we believe He is working when we can't see Him working when we know He is working for we have seen His work after the storm? In other words, doesn't God's character, which never deviates, prove that He is working even when we can't see Him working?

So, if you are in the middle of a crisis praise God for He is working for your good right now! I know, you may not be able to see it now but you will . . . in the rear-view mirror.

Does Christianity Support a Welfare State?

I just read the parable of the Good Samaritan. The people who were considered to be righteous by society ignored a man who had been beaten and robbed. The Samaritan who was considered unrighteous in the strict Jewish society acted with kindness by taking care of the man. Jesus commanded those who heard this story to do likewise. Why would anyone believe that this supports a welfare state.

People think that the man who was beaten and robbed deserved and was entitled to the kind treatment that the Samaritan gave him. They believe that all of society must do this or we are evil. But I ask this: How virtuous is a person if he is forced to be benevolent? What righteousness does he have if he is forced into his acts? I say that he has none for he is merely looking after his own personal interests.


2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 (ESV) 
10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 

The Bible teaches personal responsibility in daily living. It does not preclude helping someone who is hungry but disdains idleness. The person should take responsibility for their own lives. Yes, there are times when people go through tough times. We must be those "good Samaritans" who help them. That is something that comes from our love for the Lord and our love for others. It is our responsibility but cannot be forced upon us by governments and have any meaning in our faith.


John 3:16 (ESV) 
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

The Bible teaches us personal responsibility in salvation. The "whoever" is the person who trusts in Christ for salvation. It cannot be forced upon him. It is something that is freely done or there is no true "trusting." I know that salvation is a gift but each person must decide to receive that gift. He cannot make an appeal to the Lord later saying that he did so much better than what the Lord has required in receiving Him. In other words, no amount of work will take the place of trusting in Christ.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV) 
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. The work that follows our faith comes from that faith. 

We do not work for our salvation but we surely work out our salvation. We take responsibility by allowing the Lord who has come to live within us to work within us. Many believers quench, grieve and resist the Spirit when He seeks to work within them. All of us have a responsibility to let Him work.




2 Corinthians 5:10 (ESV) 
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 

The Bible teaches us personal responsibility in the judgement. All of us will stand before Christ in judgement. Yes, those who are believers are given entrance to heaven but that entrance comes with a judgement in what we have done with our salvation. Have we squandered it or have we been faithful with it? I believe the Parable of the Talents will be very vivid as we are all judged. Each owe is judged for what he has done. Some have been given more than others to invest in the Kingdom.

God, Himself, does not force us into faith or obedience. He does not force us into love for love can never be forced. It can be wooed. It can be caressed but it cannot be forced.

The Bible tells the individual that he owes love to his fellow man but it does not tell the ones being loved that it is owed to them. Each of us must see love as a gift that someone has given us. Yes, they may be compelled by their faith. They may have to work at it. That is their responsibility but it is not something we are entitled to.

So, no, the Bible does not support a welfare state. It supports a loving people meeting the needs of others by taking true responsibility. Yes, that means I give to those who are less fortunate but never because I am compelled to do so nor do I believe that I can be forced to do and claim any virtue.

The welfare state wants to entitle those who have less without any merit. It wants to require that these "less fortunate" receive.

This week someone stole one of the rims and tires off of our Minister of Music's old pickup truck in broad daylight. They left it on blocks. Maybe the person who stole the wheel really needed it. Maybe he couldn't get to work without another wheel on his truck. So, why is it different if the government takes that wheel from our Minister of Music (through taxes) and gives it to that man who claims to have a need? Why do we call one act theft and the other a lawful act of government?

Maybe the person who stole the wheel reasoned that he was entitled to it.

It Takes Faith to Understand Faith

1 Corinthians 1:18-20 (NIV) 
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 

I just returned from trying to visit someone in a jail. There was a time when I could visit someone because I was his pastor. The person at the desk said that the jail administration had decided that a pastoral visit was the same as any other visit. It meant that I couldn't come in unless I had an appointment and I was on the person's visitation list. This person had not bothered to put me on the list. I had never needed to be on it to see him before.

I do not claim to be more spiritual than any other person that visits. However, a pastoral visit has one purpose. It must seek to redeem the person in jail. I can't say that of any other person's purpose who visits. Others may or may not have this purpose.

I wondered if the jail administration thought that pastoral visits do no good. Why make it harder for pastors to visit if you believe that pastors can help the inmates from returning to jail? Of course, if you believe it makes no difference then the logical decision is to make their visits the same as everyone else's.

If that is the case, then we don't need any spiritual help for those in jail. Heck, we don't need it for the people in church either. If there is nothing other than the person himself who can pull himself out of the awful state he is in, then we should merely state that and tell each person that he will simply have to live with his own guilt forever.

The reason people can't understand faith is that they have no faith in which to understand it. They cannot understand the change that comes into a Holy Spirit filled individual because they have never been filled with the Holy Spirit. They cannot understand belief in the power of God because they have never known the power of God.

It would be like explaining colors to someone who has never seen. How do you tell them of blue sky, green grass, yellow flowers and red blood? What is their reference point to understand? All of our explanations have no point to stand upon while they are launched.

And when I ask someone to believe for their salvation, I am asking them to do something that they have never done before. Think about it: I am asking them to trust in Someone who died nearly 2000 years ago. I am asking them to pledge their allegiance to Him. I am asking them to believe that He is still alive and will come to live within them. That takes faith which they do not yet have.

But they do believe because the Holy Spirit comes to convict and tell them what they could never have known otherwise. They no longer see it as foolishness because they have had their eyes opened. They see and are somewhat surprised by their sight. It is the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to them.

Sometimes I preach to people who do not have a clue what I am saying. I speak of God's deliverance and they always equate it to circumstances. It seems very intellectual to think of an orderly universe which is its own master. Thus, it must follow the rules without interference. They chalk up hearings and God's miraculous provisions as random acts which will happen to someone eventually. They may even point out times when these things did happen naturally. Saying that they were acts of God seems foolish to them.

I walk in a different world from them and know that my responsibility is to bring them to faith. So, I continue to tell them stories of faith, read Bible promises of faith and pray in faith that God will open their eyes.

And when He does, they suddenly understand faith because they have it for themselves.

The Continuing Mystery of the Gospel

Mark 4:26-29 (NIV)
26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." 

I wonder what Jesus' disciples really thought of the above parable. Mark is the only one who records it. i wonder if the others fully understood it. I don't know that I fully understand but through experience I can certainly relate to it.

I have shared the gospel with thousands of people throughout the years. I have shared it in many different countries. I have been told that no one would respond to an offering of the gospel and watched people give their hearts to Christ. I have preached must better sermons and had no one come to know Christ. While I do believe in preparation and study, I have determined that there is something I can't understand which makes the gospel grow in people that I can't force.

This is my own experience. I heard the gospel many times before I actually "heard" the gospel. I don't really know why it passed by me so many times before. One day I knew it required my full commitment when I had only seen it as a practice of religion before. One day I gave my life to Christ. I really don't know what was different. No one was around. It certainly had nothing to do with great preaching, apologetics or even a desperate attempt to find release from some tragedy. My life was meaningless but practically stress free. I could have been like everyone else but I trusted in Christ instead of everyone else, what they were doing or what I thought would be fun.

I simply told Jesus that I needed Him. There was no prescribed sinners' prayer. There was no one to lead me in prayer or what I should read. I didn't know the sinners' prayer. I didn't know what I should read. I just did what I did.

So, since I don't know how (the motivating force) I came to Christ, I really can't say I know how others do either. I know that people hear the gospel at different times. Some allow the Spirit to work and others do not notice the Spirit. Some become convicted and others are bored by the presentation. Some must do something right away and others have no compulsion to do anything ever.

I do know that fruit is the evidence of the growth of the word in me. I do know there is a day of gathering the fruit. I do know that I will be among those gathered.

The new birth of a Christian is fascinating. I marvel each time I see someone "come to know" Christ. A life is changed forever for eternity.

And, no, there is no complete standard answer as to why. Some people come to know Christ, some reject Him and some act as if they have never heard a thing that was said.

It remains a mystery to me.

Maybe They Haven't Found the Treasure Yet

Matthew 13:44-46 (NIV) ⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. ⁴⁵ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

It is strange how what God uses to speak to you. I was reading a fiction novel speaking of warfare. The main character, a commander, noticed that his troops were deserting their posts at the sight of the enemy. He realizes that they were running because they did not want to give their lives for nothing. He surmises that they don't have anything to fight for.

I wondered: "Could this be the reason that so many Christians are reluctant to serve, give less than they do to restaurant waiters and have spotty attendance records? Could it be that they don't know why they should give sacrifice their time and money?"

I believe the answer is "yes!"

These two short parables by Jesus assumes what we have failed to address. They assume that the people are looking for the kingdom of heaven. It is a treasure hidden in a field. It is a pearl that is not like any other pearl. It is revealed in the search.

Have we made the kingdom of heaven simply something that is served to you. In other words, have we told our children and others that they can ask Jesus into their hearts without any searching on their own? Has it been revealed to them or is it just as hidden because we have said it is before them so much that they have acquiests to our statements? It is like the joke which is laughed because others are laughing rather than with the understanding of the joke? Are they really getting it?

These parables assume that the finder realizes the value of the kingdom of heaven. This is the only reason that a person would "sell out" to the Lord. This is the reason they would seek to sacrifice. They must see the value.

Have we failed to explain that to people when they come to know Christ? Have we told them that they can become Christians by saying a prayer which requires no commitment? Do we water down the word "believe" to mean no more than a belief in church? Do we tell the people that failure to be true to the Lord has no consequences?

These parables assume that the finder will dismiss all reservations in order to attain the kingdom of heaven. He will give everything he has and even his own life if necessary. Nothing else means anything if the kingdom of heaven is missing.

Have we told people that the kingdom is free so loudly that they believe that it must not cause any changes? Have we discounted the kingdom to a "good" effort rather than a total, everything I am and have commitment?

Maybe people are uncommitted because we haven't presented the true kingdom to them at all. Maybe what they are getting is a replica which has been copied so many times that it doesn't closely resemble the kingdom of heaven Jesus talked about.

Now, I honestly believe people would really like to see the kingdom of Heaven. I believe they are tired of fakes and fakers. But . . .

maybe they haven't found the treasure yet.

Too Busy for the Lord

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) ³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" ⁴¹ "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

It happens all the time. There is a special fellowship after church and a number of women skip worship to make sure that the food is ready when the service ends. Everyone of them knows this story about Mary and Martha. They all feel justified in skipping church. I wonder what Jesus would say.

I had a friend once say, "We know that spiritual people are busy so we suppose that if we can get you busy, you'll be spirtual." He said it in jest but it rang so true. Church has become a place where people could spend amazing amounts of energy without sitting at the feet of Jesus. In fact, they could work very hard without knowing Him at all!

Yet, most church members do not truly understand what this story says in Luke. Doing more things does not mean that the right things are being done. Being concerned about things that don't matter is no reason for others to join you. Churches which merely do more things so that people will get involved do not understand what the only important thing is.

Service should not take the place of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Being concerned with too many things will lead you to forget your relationship with Christ. Someday your service will fade. You will be too old to serve like you once did. But your relationship with Christ will not be taken away from you.

This reminds me of the men who work so hard for their families to have everything that they want that they never see their families. They miss the important events in the lives of their children. These events can never be restored. It is good for a man to provide for his family but he cannot equate things with a relationship. He cannot equate working for his family's wants with a relationship with his family. Thus, his family has everything that they want except him.

Yet, I know that my Lord wants me more than He wants my service. He wants me to know Him even more than He wants my ministry to succeed. I am more important to Him that my ministry. Shouldn't He be more important to me than my ministry?

You can be so busy for the Lord that you don't know Him. You can talk more about Him than to Him.

Some people think that they are too busy doing ministry that they can never take any time to really spend time talking and listening to the Lord. I believe they are too busy.