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Your Life Plan – A Story

Your Life Plan – A Story

Ethan was struggling mightily.  There was no other way to describe the situation; things seemed bleak at best.  His mind was emotionally distraught; his heart spiritually tumultuous.  His days were spent in a mental fog; his nights in unrest.

Over and over he cried out to the Lord, decrying the circumstances; demanding answers; begging God for help.  He poured over the Scriptures, searching for solutions.  Yet his struggle continued.  He was immersed in one of life’s dark valleys, at a loss on how to ascend to the sunshine of the heights yet pleading for God to lift him there.

Tossing and turning one night in another fitful and largely futile attempt to reach the state of slumber, his sheer exhaustion finally dragged him into a deep sleep.  That’s when the Lord Jesus made his appearance.

It was more than the wild randomness and fluffy illogicity of a dream.  Even in his state of deep slumber, Ethan realized that somehow it was real – all real.  Jesus was real, and everything that transpired with Jesus was real.

They stood over an ornate table, he and Jesus, looking down at what appeared to be a sort of topographical map with the geographic details laid out in contoured formations.  (Kind of like one might see in some national parks, the features and elevations of the park graphically displayed.)  Ethan intuitively recognized already at a glance that this was no normal map.  The landscape elicited the comfort of familiarity and, simultaneously, the discomfort of a different view of the familiar.

Ethan’s mind struggled to grasp what he was seeing.  Then he saw the gold script inset into the top of the topographic table: Your Life Plan.  He gasped as it all became clear.  He was gazing down at a map of his life!

With wide eyes and gaping mouth, he raised his view to Jesus.  The Lord was watching him intently, his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes twinkling and a small smile settled on his bearded face.  “Look closer, Ethan,” Jesus suggested quietly.

So Ethan did.

There below him was blazed a golden line that wiggled its way across the table.  Sometimes the line continued straight and true; but usually it zig-zagged either to the right or to the left of the general direction of the path.

Ethan traced the path back to its beginning.  He noticed the line originated at an X and initially was gray.  He looked up to Jesus questioningly.  “That was when you were conceived” Jesus told him.  Tracing the line further, he noticed another X, this time in gold.  “That was when God’s grace brought you to faith and when I began journeying with you.”  Ethan was stunned.

Then he noticed that the gold line became brighter and more pronounced further along the way.  “As I grew older, smarter and stronger?” he asked.

“No, Ethan.  As you grew stronger in your faith through time in my Word,” Jesus answered.  “Physical strength, mental capacity and earthly accomplishments are unimportant on this map.”  Ethan nodded, the extreme importance of feeding one’s faith starkly revealed.  Jesus continued.  “Sadly, for some their line becomes gold at one point but eventually returns to gray.  For others, their line remains gray their entire lives.”

Jesus moved beside Ethan and wrapped his arm around his shoulder. “But that is not what I brought you here to see.  Look closer still.”

Ethan traced his lifeline with his finger.  The path not only zig-zagged back and forth, but it undulated up and down, climbing up rises and descending back down again – sometimes journeying at length in the heights; sometimes tarrying in the valleys.  “What do you make of the many variations, Ethan?”

Ethan hesitated uncomfortably.  Finally, he whispered in shame, “It seems I’ve often wandered off your path.”

“Yes, well, you do have a sinful nature,” the Lord replied.  “But look even closer at some of those side trips.  Especially some of the longer ones.  What do you see?”

Ethan leaned closer to the golden trail, focusing especially on some of the more extreme horizontal wanderings.  “My gold line was growing dimmer.”  He gasped and drew himself nearer still.  “But there’s golden barricades at the end of those lines!”  He looked back to the Lord.  “Does that mean what I think it does?”

Jesus smiled warmly.  “Yes, Ethan.  Your faith was growing weaker as you wandered your own way, but I blocked you from wandering farther from my path.”  The Lord gestured over the table.  “Now project your path if you had continued down some of those long detours.”

Ethan found some of the longer ones and traced their ultimate destination.  He shuddered.  “They end in destruction!  Spiritual starvation!  Steep cliffs to fall over!  Deep waters to drown in!  Spiritual death!  O, Lord, you preserved me!”

“Yes, Ethan.  Sometimes I pushed you; sometimes I pulled you.  Sometimes I knocked you over.  Sometimes I whispered in your ear through various methods.  Whatever it took to redirect you spiritually.  I love you and want you to be with me forever.”

Jesus eyes shimmered, the tears threatening to escape.  “Sadly, some refuse to listen even to me.  They insist on climbing over my barricades.  It never ends well for them.  But again, that is not my reason for bringing you here.”

The Lord looked intently at Ethan.  “I know you are extremely discouraged right now, so I will give you a special insight.  Put your finger again at the beginning of your life path and trace it slowly.”

Ethan tentatively lowered his index finger to the first X and slid it forward.  The realizations began bombarding him – blessings upon blessings upon blessings all along the path, in both the “good times” and the bad, in the pain and the pleasure.  Some he had recognized at the time; most had been unnoticed and unnoted.  New lessons learned and new insights gained. Experiences that had made him “richer” in a multitude of ways.  And astoundingly, some of the greatest blessings of all had come through the most difficult times in his life!

The magnitude of God’s unending faithfulness and goodness overwhelmed Ethan.  He was speechless.

Once again Jesus pointed to the map.  “Find the last X, Ethan”

He did.  It was easy enough to locate near the end of the line.  “Is this my death, Lord?

“No, Ethan, that is not displayed on this map for you to see.  Look closely at that final X.”

The X was in a deep, dark valley.  And the realization struck Ethan; this was where he was right now in his life!  It was one of the deepest depressions on the entire map.  He couldn’t speak.  Once again he looked back at Jesus.

Again the words came.  “Look closer, Ethan.”

Ethan dropped his eyes to the final X.  He noticed two things: his gold faith-line was brighter here than anywhere else on the map, and he noticed that beyond the X the path began to climb again.

It happened so suddenly he couldn’t have hoped to quell it; Ethan began to sob uncontrollably.  Jesus moved even closer and wrapped both his arms around him, embracing him tightly.  “Yes, Ethan, you are stronger spiritually now than you have ever been.  Which is why I have led you to this place.  You needed to rely on me and my promises more.  This valley has helped you do that.”  Jesus paused, then continued.  “And yes, Ethan, I will lead you back out of it in due time.”

Jesus words came quietly and lovingly.  “I have guided you your entire life, Ethan, and I will guide you home to me one day.  Trust me, Ethan.  Trust me.  I’m handling your life plan.”  And Jesus kissed his forehead.

Ethan’s eyes jolted open.  He was back in his bed.  (Still in his bed?)  His pillow was drenched, but his heart was light.  Loving Jesus was guiding him all the way!  There was no reason to despair.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God Is Our Guide

Psalm 23:1-4
1  The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3  he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 37:23-25
23  The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; 24  though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. 25  I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken …

Psalm 48:14
For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.

Isaiah 30:20-21
20  Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction … 21  Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

God Blesses Us Through Adversity

Psalm 119:71
It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.

Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.

We Don’t Understand Now; One Day We Will

Isaiah 55:8-9
8  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  9  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

1 Corinthians 13:12
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

We Can Trust Our Loving God Who Has Wonderful Plans for Us

Proverbs 3:5-6
5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6  in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:35, 37-39
35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … 37  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Avoid the Noise

Avoid the Noise

The door into my home office happens to be only about 25 feet from the living room television.  That may seem a fair distance away but is actually closer than you might think.  This, by the way, is the same television that is often being watched by someone.  And the same television where my sons play their friends or brothers in online Xbox competitions.  Perhaps you can imagine how boisterous that becomes at times.

Yes, I can shut the office door, and I sometimes did.  But even that didn’t block out all the distracting noise erupting from and in front of the tv.  Plus, there isn’t a heater vent in my office, so the room can grow rather chilly at times if the door is closed.  Another approach I’ve tried has been playing music off my iPod on my iPod player.  This helped, but also failed to fully resolve the dilemma. (Unless I cranked up the volume … which only compounded the problem.)

But finally I found a solution!  I ordered a pair of Bluetooth noise-cancelling headphones from Amazon, and – eureka! – problem solved!  I slip those babies on, and I hear nothing except the music of my choice floating softly into my ears.  (I also don’t hear when my wife tries to ask me something, but that’s another situation and story.)

I realize that some can function just fine with background noise, but most of us find it distracting.  Or at least somewhat distracting. Yet, aren’t our lives pinballing with distracting “noise?”

Our families, our relationships, our property, our jobs, our many responsibilities, our personal wellbeing and our hobbies all ratchet up the noise levels in our lives.  As do our bills, difficulties, challenges, frustrations and anxieties.  COVID has spawned a plethora of additional distractions.  Through it all, our heads and hearts “are on swivels” as our attention is constantly diverted, trying to take everything in.

Friends, this is how it often is for us, but this is not how it should be.  This is not God’s recipe for contentment.

So how do we put on our spiritual noise-cancelling headphones and cut out the distracting noise all around us?  As always, God’s Word provides insight.  The one-word summary is … focus; the two-part approach is … focus on God’s Word, and focus on God.

Want to mute out the distractions of your life?  Step one is dial in the sweet music of God’s Word.  The Lord encourages us to “pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.  Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body” (Proverbs 4:20-22).  “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds” (Deuteronomy 11:18).

Step two is to lock our attention onto our God.  That’s kind of obvious, isn’t it?  But it’s easier said than done.  Yet that is Scripture’s encouragement to us; that’s the second part of the Lord’s noise cancelling solution.  

“Fix your thoughts on Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1).  “… Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3). 

And here’s some more noise cancelling words: “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: who created all these?  ‘To whom will you compare me?  Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One.  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:25-26, 28-29, 31).

As long as we sinful people live in this sinful world, we will be inundated with potential distractions.  But thanks be to God, he provides us with a wholesome and helpful solution to the racket of the world.  The more we focus on the Lord and his Word, the less distracted and dismayed we will be.

This was illustrated to us in dramatic fashion by our Savior himself on a visit with his dear friends, Mary and Martha:  (Luke 10:38-42)

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.”

“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!’”

 ‘“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”’

Too often we are Marthas; Jesus encourages us to be Marys.  Block out the distractions and concentrate on what is truly important.  We will be the better for it!

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Putting Loss in Perspective

Putting Loss in Perspective

Most people are frustrated by loss.  To clarify, what I mean is that most of us really dislike losing something of value.

For example, if you are like me, you have often tucked something that you knew was important into a “safe place,” only to discover that it was such a safe place you couldn’t find it again when you needed it!  Frustrating, right?

Recently a number of people from our congregation attended a Tacoma Rainiers game (the Seattle Mariners Triple-A baseball team) at lovely Cheney Stadium.  We do this every summer on a Friday fireworks evening, and have a lovely time.  We grill up some food at a tailgate gathering, eat and chat, watch the game and enjoy the fireworks display afterwards.

I was “The Griller” this year.  (Brats, cheddar-filled smoked sausages, and hotdogs, generally grilled to perfection!  Or at least I thought so.)  Realizing I would need to slice open packages of meat, I slipped my favorite jackknife into my pocket beforehand. 

Later that evening, my knife was no longer there.  Either I missed my pocket after using it, or I dropped it when we were instructed to hold the metal objects from our pockets above our heads while going through security.  Either way, my (former) pocket-knife is now either lying somewhere on the Cheney Stadium parking lot or is resting on someone else’s dresser after they found it there.

Losing a nice little knife would always be somewhat upsetting.  But this one was special to me.  I found it while metal-detecting.  Finding pocketknives with a detector is actually quite common, but finding one this nice is rare.  Usually they show the effects of being buried in the ground – frequently so rusted they can’t even be opened.  But this knife was almost brand new – handsome in appearance, easily opened and sharp.  I really liked that knife, and I used it often.

Frustrating!

Yet, as I reflect on the situation, I have to acknowledge that someone else was frustrated before me when he originally lost that blade.  (In fact, as a metal detectorist, the reality is that I specialize in locating items that other frustrated people have lost.)  Now that lovely little knife that was lost once was lost (and perhaps found?) a second time.

Upon even more reflection, this loss is a minor one.  Actually, a very minor one.  There are much more impactful losses that people endure in life; losses of valuable, precious, unique things that sometimes can’t be replaced.

Losing one’s job, their life’s savings, their house, or a family heirloom would qualify.  As would the loss of reputation, a relationship, or a dear pet.  Even more significant examples might be the loss of a loved one, or the loss of one’s health or life.

When these kinds of losses occur, the emotion experienced isn’t frustration; it’s devastation!

Yet as devastating as these losses would be, there is another loss even more devastating.  And sadly it’s a loss that is rarely considered by many … including even Christians.

What is this frequently disregarded yet most devastating loss of all?  It’s the loss of one’s soul.  More specifically, it’s the loss of faith in the Savior in one’s soul. 

Why is this so devastating?  Because when one loses faith in Jesus, they lose God’s forgiveness and they lose salvation.  There are no other losses that can come close to comparing!

The Apostle Paul understood this.  He certainly understood that this is a world of losses.  Living in this world means living with losses.  But it’s a matter of perspective.  What is truly valuable?  What is really precious?  The treasures of the world are actually trash, spiritually speaking, and those things most people regard as worthless (God’s Word, Jesus, souls and faith) are actually priceless. 

Paul summarizes this truth with these words: “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:7-9).

Paul himself lost essentially everything, including his very life, due to his devotion to Jesus.  Yet he considered himself the richest of men.  And indeed he was!  As are we who also own the treasure of faith in Jesus our Savior!

I lost a knife I found.  I hope someone else finds the knife I lost, and that it serves them as well as it served me.  But thanks be to God that I haven’t lost my faith, my soul, my Savior or my salvation, because those would truly be losses worth grieving.

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The Most Underutilized Spiritual Weapons: Weapon # 3

The Most Underutilized Spiritual Weapons: Weapon # 3

Our gracious Lord has given us incredible spiritual weapons to use in our spiritual battles.  Unfortunately, these weapons are typically underutilized.

In the past few posts, I indicated that, in my opinion, the most neglected spiritual weapon is God’s Word, and the second most neglected one is formal worship.  Today we explore the third weapon that is often left in the spiritual war cabinet.  I maintain that this weapon is prayer.

And perhaps you would argue that you use this weapon all the time!  Before meals.  After meals.  Before going to bed at night.  And even now and then during the day when something crosses your mind. 

To which I reply, “Good for you!”  But you and I could pray a whole lot more frequently than that! 

In fact, the Lord urges us to “pray continually” (1 Thes. 5:17).  He expects us to keep a running conversation with him.  We thank him.  We praise him.  We share our concerns with him.  We express our frustrations with him.  We ask him to help us.  We entreat him to bring good fortune to others.  We beg him to bless our congregation and church body, and to expand the Kingdom of God in general.  There is no end to the matters you and I can take to the Lord in prayer, so we keep our spiritual Bluetooth connection with the Lord open.

Jesus himself was quite specific regarding prayer:  He said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). 

Jesus’ message was, “Do this and watch your God act!”  Yet we so often don’t. 

Sad to say, the Lord is often our last resort in difficulties.  First, we see what we can do, or whom we know, or what we can buy, or whom we can hire, or what we can arrange, to handle our challenges.  And when all else fails, we finally go to God.  This isn’t always our approach, of course, but it is often enough.

In the same way, as we coast through those times of life rife with blessings, we are often too busy enjoying the good times to talk to God, even to thank him.

Our sinful nature doesn’t want anything to do with conversing with God.  Nor does Satan.  And the world keeps us duly distracted, inhibiting our spiritual conversations as well.  There is a reason for this; the spiritual enemies of God well recognize the power of prayer.

And what an astounding spiritual weapon prayer is!  The Lord has given us direct and continual access to his almighty, all-knowing, and ever-blessing self, and he has promised to answer our every single prayer in love!

We are in continual warfare in the spiritual realm.  Why would we keep the powerful spiritual weapon of prayer locked away?  Rather, it is an incredible and effective weapon, one that should be present and utilized constantly.  Because through prayer we tap into the always victorious God, and this brings spiritual victories to us.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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The Most Underutilized Spiritual Weapons: Weapon # 2

The Most Underutilized Spiritual Weapons: Weapon # 2

Last week I shared what I thought to be the most underutilized spiritual weapon of all – God’s Word.  This week I’ll share my opinion on the second most underutilized weapon.  Admittedly, it could be argued whether weapon two (worship) or weapon three (prayer) is the more crucial or more underutilized.

I’m open to that debate.  However, I will contend that both worship and prayer are crucial spiritual weapons, and both are clearly underutilized. 

I chose worship as the second most neglected weapon … well, because I think it is!  While it’s likely that even the more complacent Christians will still lift up a prayer or two now and then, it is less likely that they will physically bring themselves to a worship service.

To clarify, I understand that worship can happen in many different ways.  Reading the Bible is worship; praying is worship; obeying God is worship; sharing the Gospel with others is worship; living our lives for God is worship too.  Worship, defined broadly, happens in many different manners.  However, for the context of this discussion on spiritual weapons, I am defining worship narrowly, as in gathering together with other believers in God’s house to hear God’s Word.

And based on that definition, perhaps you recognize why worship is such an important spiritual weapon.  If God’s Word is the single most important spiritual weapon, then hearing God’s Word in worship naturally becomes a significant spiritual weapon as well.  Sprinkle in the Sacraments at worship, and the impact increases even more!

Of course, the Lord emphasizes this in the Ten Commandments when he commands, “Remember the Sabbath Day.” In other words, make time for the worship of the Lord in your busy lives!  He also provides us with the well-known passage in Hebrews to underscore the importance of formal worship:

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:22-25).

In short, God reminds us that in worship around God’s Word, we are drawn closer to God, our faith is assured, our hearts are cleansed, and our hope is upheld.  Furthermore, (and this is significant!), we encourage one another.  We are an encouragement to others who are present, even as their presence is an encouragement to us.  Hearing God’s Word and being together, in turn, fosters love and activity for God and one another. 

And why is this so important?  Because “the Day” is approaching.  Either Jesus will return to earth to put an end to this current world on the Last Day, or Jesus will bring us to our personal last day, calling us out of this world.  Whichever scenario we find ourselves in, we want to be ready!

Worship in God’s house with God’s people around God’s Word helps us grow and be prepared for those significant events.  Which is why formal worship is such an important spiritual weapon, and why the evil three (the devil, the world and our sinful natures) strive so adamantly to keep us away from church.

All of which underscores the vital importance of our attending worship.  My encouragement to each and every one of us is to stop underutilizing this incredibly important spiritual weapon!  God’s given it to us to bless us and bring spiritual victories to us.  The more we utilize the weapon of worship, the better we will fare in the spiritual realm.

And when it comes to spiritual battles, we definitely want to win, through Christ our Savior!

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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The Most Underutilized Spiritual Weapons: Weapon # 1

The Most Underutilized Spiritual Weapons: Weapon # 1

When serving as a pastor for over thirty years and working daily with spiritual matters, one can’t help but notice some things.  One of the most obvious observations when dealing with the spiritual realm is that there IS a spiritual realm!  Now most would reply to this statement, “Well, obviously!”  But most, I contend, (even perhaps most Christians), live for the physical realm and give little thought or notice to the spiritual one.

One of these weeks I’ll dedicate a whole post to spiritual warfare in general.  But for this week and the next two after, I thought I would concentrate on some specifics.  Namely, the three most underutilized spiritual weapons by believers, at least from my perspective.

I suspect that if polled, this first neglected weapon would probably be recognized by the majority of Christians.  And they would almost certainly acknowledge that it is the most significant spiritual weapon of all.  Yet, many of them would probably have to admit that they are guilty of the neglect themselves!

What is this most important, and most underutilized spiritual weapon of all?  It is the sword of God’s Word. 

The Lord tells us in the Bible book of Hebrews, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

The reason God’s Word is “alive and active,” and “penetrates … soul and spirit” is because it is “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16).  In other words, the Scriptures are given directly by God.  Consequently, they are the very words of God (1 Thes. 2:13), and they are absolute and complete truth (John 17:17).  In addition, God’s words are also powerful, creating and strengthening faith (Romans 10:17), and bringing salvation (Romans 1:16) because they show us our Savior (John 20:31).

Which is why the Lord urges us to faithfully spend time in his Word, as individuals and as families!  (Deut. 11:18-19)

With all these powerful factors wrapped up in the Word of God, and the incredible importance of it, as well as God’s insistence we read and hear it, why is God’s Word so easily and often neglected by people who know better?

The answer takes us back into the spiritual realm.  It is because the enemies of the Lord in the spiritual realm recognize the spiritual impact of the sword of the Word and work furiously to ensure that it is underutilized! 

Who are those enemies?  The devil and demons, this world with its trappings, and our own sinful natures.  None of them have any inclination toward God’s living truth; all of them actively oppose it.

Our flesh is always with us and stands opposed to anything of God.  The world is always around us and impacting us with its anti-God perspectives, priorities and attitudes.  The devil and demons are unseen and largely disregarded, (which is a huge advantage to them), and are aggressively though often subtly – yet frequently effectively – fighting against the saving Gospel.

The result?  The most crucial spiritual weapon of God often becomes the most underutilized one.

My encouragement to you (and to me!) is … recognize these truths about the Truth, and ensure that the number one most important weapon of God is weaponized in our lives and the lives of those around you.  Because when God’s Word is properly utilized, incredible spiritual blessings are unleashed!

That’s why God gave us the powerful weapon of his Word, to enable us to win battles in the spiritual realm.  Those battles are constantly raging, whether we recognize them or not.  Therefore we need all of God’s spiritual weapons!  And especially the most effective one!

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How’s Your Health?

How’s Your Health?

The last few years have been quite the medical adventure for my wife and me.  (Mostly me initially, but she’s contributed her fair share lately.)  And both of us have ramped up the excitement even more in the last month! 

But none of that was what sparked the concept for this post.  This idea popped into my head while sitting patiently (alright, impatiently) in the waiting room for my annual physical checkup recently.

Of course, we know what awaits us on our annual doctor visit.  We are about to undergo the usual poking and prodding, checking and examining, questioning and updating.  Much of it is innocuous; some is annoying; but all I suppose is necessary.

As I fidgeted in my waiting room seat, I wondered what would be examined in a routine spiritual checkup, if there was such a thing.  It’s an intriguing question.  Here is the list that came to my mind:

SE Level – SE stands for “Scripture Exposure.”  How frequently are we hearing or reading God’s Word, and for how long?  The SE Level is the most significant indicator of, and contributor to, good spiritual health.

Senses Functions – Our five senses play significant roles in our spiritual well-being.  We hear God’s Word spoken, read and sung; we read (see!), speak and sing God’s truths; and we smell, feel and taste the wafer and wine in the Lord’s Supper.  The more active our senses are in the spiritual realm, the more impact the Holy Spirit has, and the more spiritual healthy we probably are.

Heart Health – This is easily monitored physically, but not so easily spiritually.  But a mental assessment can shed some insight.  What fills our heart?  What do we love above all?  What are we living for?  Where is our primary focus and drives us?  What excites our heart?  The answers to those questions can shed some light on our heart’s spiritual health.

Mental Acuity – This aspect of our spiritual checkup evaluates how much of God’s truths we know.  Not necessarily Bible history, (though this is extremely beneficial also), but rather the simple doctrinal teachings of God’s Word.  Such as, what is our most significant problem? (Sin!)  Is full atonement made?  (Yes!)  How?  (Through Jesus suffering, death and resurrection!)  Why would God do this?  (Because of his immense love for us and his astounding grace!)  How does forgiveness and salvation become ours?  (Through faith in our Savior!)

Temperature – Are we spiritually hot, lukewarm or cold? To state it a different way, are we “on fire” for God, fairly ambivalent, or caught in a “could care less” place?  The hotter our spiritual temp, the healthier we are.

Blood Pressure – We recognize our many and deep-seated sins, and they weigh heavily upon us.  Are we relying upon our own sacrifices to make atonement for them, or on the holy sacrifice of Jesus, and the blood he shed?  The weight of guilt is extremely unhealthy, spiritually speaking, but Jesus’ blood alleviates that pressure, (thanks be to God!).

PT – No, no physical therapy, but “Prayer Time.”  How much time do we spend each day in conversation with our God?  The more PT, the more likely our relationship with the Lord is strong

Activity Level – As in, how much spiritual exercise are we doing?  Are we active in worship?  Are we active in service in our church?  Do we carry out spiritual ministry in our personal lives?  Are we messengers of the Lord in our interactions with others?  Spiritual activity is often indicative of spiritual health.

TF Reading – Spiritually healthy people exhibit high TF (“Trust Factor”) readings.  That is, they trust the Lord and his promises no matter what is happening.  Though their physical eyes may see problems with no answers, their spiritual eyes envision the wonderful solutions their God is providing and/or the incredible blessings He is bringing through difficulties.  This significantly reduces stress and boosts emotional well-being.

The reality is that not a single person reading this list is as spiritually healthy as they could be or desire to be.  Don’t be discouraged!  Rather, go to the Great Physician named Jesus, and find help and healing in his care.  This is what he says to us:

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Mark 2:17).  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  “The LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, … to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:1-3, selected).

So, do you have any suggestions for items that you feel should be included in our spiritual checkup?  Please share them in the comments box below!

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Take Care of Your Soul

Take Care of Your Soul

This post is dedicated to the St. Paul student confirmands of 2021.  For that matter, to all those who have publicly confessed their faith at our congregation through the years, whether students or adults. 

But no, that’s not sufficient either.  This post is dedicated to all Christians everywhere.  May it encourage each one of us to take wonderful care of our souls.

It all happened so suddenly.  One moment Mike and Tom were discussing the fish they expected to catch that day at the lake; the next an SUV was slamming into their truck at an extremely high rate of speed. 

An explosion of white!  Instantaneous and intense pain!  Darkness!  Then the hurt disappeared as their spirits floated out of their bodies.  They hovered for a brief moment and gazed down at the destroyed vehicle they had just exited, before they were pulled inexorably heavenward, increasing in velocity until they were rocketing at an unimaginable speed.

At first it appeared to be a distant star.  But the gleaming grew rapidly brighter and bigger until a massive city came into view, beaming and breathtakingly beautiful.  Their transit slowed as they approached the glorious kingdom, where they swooped gracefully through a massive gate of pearl and glided high along a wide street of gold. 

The buildings of the city appeared to be formed from various gems, each structure a different stone of a different color, so that the view consisted of a thousand different hues.  Arrayed in precision were numerous golden streets, all converging on the magnificent mountain in the center of the city from where a beaming brilliance emanated, even brighter than the city.  Perched on the peak of the mountain stood a triple throne too stunning to describe.  And perched on the interconnected thrones sat the three persons of the Triune God, ablaze in glory, rays of iridescent color rippling around them like a billion brilliant laser lights.  Surrounding them were ranks upon ranks of angels in splendorous armor.

Mike and Tom’s spirits slid to a halt on the golden landing below the thrones.  They dared not look up.  They wished to clench their eyes shut, but spirits are ever-seeing.  If they were still in their bodies, they would have been trembling violently.

A thunderous voice shook the entire mountain.  “Greetings, Mike and Tom.  This is your allotted time.  Your life on earth is over; your life in eternity is just beginning.”

Of course, the men had recognized this already.  But to hear it stated in such a way was beyond disconcerting.

Shocking as it may seem, neither had any thought of what they had left behind.  There was no concerns over their plans and projects on earth; no lingering on what they had still hoped to do; no deep regrets over leaving spouses and children behind.  Not because they didn’t dearly love their families, but because eternity hung in the balance, and that was all-encompassing. 

The Lord’s voice thundered again.  “So how will we find your souls?  Are they living … or not?”

The magnitude of the moment registered on them.  This was it.  Nothing else … nothing else … mattered but this. There was no going back.  No second chances.  No more opportunities to reprioritize.  No different decisions to be made.  No changing of circumstances.  No altering their final destinations. 

What would the Lord find in their souls?

Mike and Tom watched in stunned amazement as two ornate silver boxes took shape on the platform – one resting before each of them.  Inscribed on the side facing them were golden crosses.  A multitude of holes covered the rounded covers.  The lovely boxes seemed both delicate and sturdy at the same time, and they glowed.  They were like nothing the men had ever seen.  What were these?

The all-knowing Lord answered.  “Those are your souls.  You don’t see them or feel them on earth, but you always carry them with you.”  The men’s attention was now riveted on the containers.  “We are about to open them,” stated the Lord.  “What will we find there?”

The ramifications of this revelation shook the men.  Fearful uncertainty engulfed them.  What would the Lord find there?

Mike and Tom had been best friends all their life.  They had both been born into Christian families and had been raised in the same Christian church.  They had sat through the same Sunday School lessons, Catechism classes, and worship services.  They were confirmed in their faith on the same day in front of the entire congregation.  Their parents and pastor had been so proud and thankful.

But then came high school and college, and then jobs and homes and families and responsibilities.  So much to do; so many distractions.  While Mike and Tom continued to stay close, they fell into very different spiritual life-styles. 

Tom continued to treasure God and God’s Word.  He relished his time in worship; he eagerly attended Bible studies; he faithfully read the Scriptures and shared devotions with his family; he discussed God’s truths with Christian friends; he delighted in listening to Christian music.  The Gospel of his Savior held a preeminent place in his life.  In short, Tom poured copious amounts of “Living Water” on his soul, and provided generous amounts of Son-shine to his soul.

Mike, on the other hand, wrapped himself up in the world.  He immersed himself in work and play, in hobbies and highlights.  Gradually he drifted away from the church, eventually even opting to skip services on the Christmas and Easter holidays.  Though he owned a number of Bibles, he never opened them.  God rarely crossed his mind anymore.  In light of living life, God’s Word seemed wholly unimportant to him.   Of course, Tom tried to encourage Mike spiritually.  Mike always replied that he would get back into it someday when he had more time.

Now Tom and Mike’s spirits were prostrate before the Lord.  Now their souls would be opened, and what was encased inside displayed before the Triune God.

“It is time to see,” rumbled the voice, the vibrations rolling through the mountain and reverberating through the city.  Suddenly the nail-pierced feet of Jesus stood before them.  They were still for a moment, then they stepped to the box before Mike.  The Lord leaned over and placed his hand lightly on the box.  The lid popped open.

Mike’s view was riveted on the scene.  Jesus was staring into the box.  Then Mike realized there were tears falling from the Lord’s face, dropping silently into his soul.  Jesus lifted his gaze to Mike, and said sorrowfully, “There used to be life here, but there is none now.  I’m sorry, but this soul cannot stay here.”  Mike’s spirit convulsed in horror. 

Jesus wiped the tears from his face, and then moved in front of Tom’s box.  He stooped down and touched it.  As the cover swung open, a blooming bouquet of flowers of every hue and shape burst forth, and a delightful aroma wafted free.

A great smile filled Jesus’ face.  He beamed at Tom.  “There is abundant life here.  It is thriving!  This soul belongs in this place.”  Jesus stepped forward, lifted Tom’s spirit from the platform and embraced him warmly.

Overwhelming exuberance swept through Tom.  He was in Jesus’ arms!  He was welcome here in heaven!  His time in the Lord’s presence was just beginning, but it would last forever.

An agonizing cry arose.  “No-oo-oo-oo!  Please, no!” … but it faded quickly as Mike’s spirit was swept away.  At the same time, a heartfelt “Yes!” was heard as the Savior hugged Tom and wiped his tears of joy away.

One important aside: The Bible makes it clear that a believer can actually turn away from God and lose their faith.  (See 2 Peter 2:17-22, Hebrews 6:4-6, and Hebrews 10:26-27).  This should be a sobering realization to every Christian, and a situation that no believer ever wants to experience.

As for the story above, I hesitantly took some liberties with describing the initial appearance before the Lord following death.  I do not think that this is how it actually transpires.  However, I pictured the scenario in this manner for dramatic effect … to make a point in a way that is hopefully effective.  I pray it encourages all of us to pay careful heed to our souls our entire lives.

As Jesus himself pointed out, “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”  (Matthew 16:26)

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Floating Down the River of Life … with No Paddles!

Floating Down the River of Life … with No Paddles!

Do you remember Mark Twain’s story of Huckleberry Finn?  In the book, Tom Sawyer’s friend, Huck Finn, sets out with his friend, Jim, on a raft down the Mississippi River. 

Now to me as a boy who loved outdoor adventure, that was exciting stuff!  Riding down a huge river on a raft.  Fishing off the side. Observing the other travelers on the water. Experiencing all kinds of adventures along the way with nothing to worry about but the moment.  That would be fine living!

Well, to create a metaphor from Twain’s story, every one of us happens to be floating on a raft in the middle of a huge river.  In fact, everyone who lives in the world is rafting down that same waterway.  The river’s name is the “River of Life.” 

And not a single one of us has oars! 

But everyone does have a helmsman; that is, someone who is steering their raft.  There are only two options for helmsmen; either a person’s personal raft is being directed by Jesus … or by Satan.

Sadly, the majority of rafts on the river are under Satan’s guidance.  Satan is steering, and his goal is to maintain control of all of those rafts until river’s end.  He skillfully maneuvers those skiffs into currents on the River of Life that benefit his cause and better enable him to continue to control the inhabitant of that raft.

What are those nasty currents?

The first is the current of disregard.  Rafts on this current carry their riders down the river in a state of inadvertent, and sometimes deliberate, oblivion of God’s Word and therefore of God himself.  Where there is disregard for God’s Word and God, there the evil helmsman’s control is easily maintained.

Another nasty side-stream Helmsman Satan delights to drift on is the current of disobedience.  This is an attractive one for floaters because every human-being has a sinful nature, and so is naturally inclined to disobey God’s laws.  And the more Satan can keep peoples’ rafts on the current of disobedience, the longer he can keep distance between them and God, the simpler it is to keep them distracted by the allure of sin, and the easier it is to bring about complete despair of God’s love and forgiveness.

Yet another preferred current by the devil is the current of difficulties.  This current flows naturally from the current of disobedience because whenever someone is floating outside of the streams God suggests for people’s own good, then difficulties are sure to follow.  But difficulties don’t only arise from disobedience; they are part and parcel of life in a sinful and broken world. 

Regardless of how it got there, when someone’s raft is flowing down the River of Life in the current of difficulties, Satan can better create spiritual complications.  He can cause distraction from the things of God as people become absorbed in solving their problems.  He can foster discouragement, sometimes even to the point of despair.  He can ramp up stress, which then leads to even more difficulties.

Then there’s the worst current of all, the current of death.  It’s the current on the River of Life that Satan loves the best.  For many on this river, the current of death is a horrifying thing.  They view death as the end of life.  And the end of pleasure, possessions, prestige, and all that they know.  Consequently, death is something to live in terror of, to avoid at all costs, and to refuse to face.  Yet they all know deep down that death is inevitable.  Helmsman Satan can bring about a whole lot of issues while scooting down the current of death.

Of course, all of these unpleasant currents are intertwined to a great degree.  Which suits Satan well.

Truth be told, every single raft is under the devil’s control at one time.  Ours was too!  But then somewhere along the way God intervened.  The Gospel of our Savior drifted across the waters, wafted into our ears or eyes, and seeped into our hearts.  The Holy Spirit lit the light of faith within us.  At that instant, Satan was thrown over-board and a new helmsman named Jesus took over our raft. 

Jesus steers us onto different currents; currents named faith, awe and honor, obedience, opportunities, blessings and life.

Yes, we still find ourselves in bad currents sometimes.  Unfortunately, our sinful natures still ride along on our rafts.  We won’t be rid of our inborn sin until we arrive in heaven.  Consequently, we still reach over the side of our rafts and doggy-paddle ourselves into currents where Jesus doesn’t want us to go sometimes – dangerous and destructive currents such as disobedience.  Jesus doesn’t steer us there; we pull ourselves there.

But then the Gospel rings out again over the waters, and Jesus, our helmsman, reminds of his love and his death.  He reminds us of the forgiveness he secured for us.  And when we remember all that Jesus endured for us and accomplished for us, he steers us once again onto a more pleasant slipstream.  Our faith is revived and our eagerness to obey him is renewed.

Of course, the current of difficulties is unavoidable as we float down the River of Life.  We encounter sandbars, fallen trees, and dangerous rapids in the river.  Our rafts get rocked by hardships and assaulted by waves.  As we see the obstacles around our little raft on the River of Life, we are constantly tempted to despair of our safety.

But here’s the key!  When we find our raft on the rapids, heading toward rocks in the River of Life, we must not focus on the rapids and the rocks!  Rather, we turn our eyes to our helmsman, to the one who is steering your raft.  We lift our eyes to Jesus; we look to our Heavenly Helmsman.

Helmsman Jesus has a perfect record.  His rafts have never been swamped.  His boats on the River of Life have never been capsized.  He always leads his people through the rapids to the still and quiet waters.  Our rafts are in good hands

Yes, the currents of the River of Life will eventually carry us to physical death.  But because of Jesus, the River of Life which is carrying our bodies day-by-day closer to death is also carrying our souls day-by-day closer to eternal life in heaven.

Wow!  Now that’s something to celebrate!

Sadly, unbelievers live terrified of death because Satan is their helmsman.  But our helmsman is Jesus, so we recognize that physical death is just the beginning of eternal life.  We recognize that death is not the ultimate defeat, but the ultimate victory.  Because when we die, we die with Jesus as our helmsman, and he will lead us Home.

Which reminds me of another metaphor, a biblical one.  The picture is different, but the message is the same.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23).

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May the Source Be with You

May the Source Be with You

I happen to be one of the few adult citizens of the United States who has never watched a Star Wars movie.  Yes, I realize this is nearly unthinkable to many.  Some would even say inexcusable.  But the storyline never held much appeal to me.  My children, on the other hand, are all huge fans.  Even my wife has seen most or all of the movies.

Star Wars, of course, is the creation of George Lucas.  The first movie was released in 1977, and it became an instant hit and worldwide phenomenon.  Many more films have followed, as well as multiple Star Wars’ offshoots, including even theme park attractions.  Star Wars has generated billions upon billions of dollars.

Part of the premise of the stories revolves around a mystical power referred to as “the Force.”  The Force was described in one of the movies as “an energy field created by all living things [that] binds the galaxy together,” and it can be used for good or evil. Those few individuals who find themselves with strong abilities in the Force are able to do remarkable things.  Some of these folks utilize the Force for good; others for evil.  Both sides vie for the ultimate control, which sets the stage for a number of Force-filled battles.

In the movies, the phrase “may the Force be with you” is invoked as a blessing to protect or guide another.  Consequently, May Fourth (“May the Force” – get it?) has come to be known as Star Wars day.  And in case you didn’t notice earlier this week, there were Star Wars’ references everywhere on that day!

Of course, the theology and the science behind the concept of the Force leaves much to be desired.  So as Star Wars references abounded on “Star Wars Day,” I wondered if there might be a better, more theologically accurate, motto.  And it came to me immediately: “May the Source be with you!”

What do I mean by that?  Simply this: the Source of every good thing is the God of the Bible, and when that Source is with us, we have everything we need – rich blessings and sufficient solutions.

James summarizes this truth beautifully.  “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights …” (James 1:17).  In other words, the Source (the Lord!) provides for our every need. 

Consider what “the Source” tells us in his ultimate source of truth, the Bible:

Afraid?  “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).

Anxious?  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).

Bereaved?  “Jesus said…, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die’” (John 11:25-26)

Bound in the chains of addiction?  “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Depressed?  “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Discouraged?  “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Psalm 42:5).

Feeling Unloved?  “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Guilt-ridden?  “In [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Lonely?  … God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Needing Guidance?  “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).

Tempted?  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Threatened?  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. … The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Psalm 46:1&11).

Troubled?  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles …” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Weary?  ‘“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30).

All of which underscores the accuracy of our motto, “May the Source be with you!”  But an even better, more accurate motto would be, “The Source IS with you!”  In the Lord, the Source of every blessing, our every need for now and forever truly is provided.

How to Interact on This Blog

To Comment – Please share your thoughts!  (Commenting is the fun part!)  To do so, click on the “Comments” tag under the title.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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