He Didn’t Need to Do It

He Didn’t Need to Do It

I love God’s creation.  I am awestruck that our creative creating God formed so much variety in the plant and animal world!  And everything has its place in the balance of nature. 

But while I’m intrigued by its unique characteristics, I admit that snapping turtles don’t command a great deal of my appreciation.  Beige leathery skin camouflaged a dull green on top, and covered with a dull green shell.  A snake-like head with small, beady eyes and protruding nostrils, and a snake-like tail covered with armored ridges.  Long claws protrude from its thick, stumpy legs.

Not only are they ugly, but they can be nasty too.  And especially when they are out of the water, where they feel more vulnerable. 

Generally slow in movement, they can bite astonishingly quickly.  And their bites pack a powerful PSI (pounds per square inch)!  To put it in perspective, humans have a PSI of about 162, most dogs about 200-250, while an alligator snapping turtle can exert an astonishing 1,000 pounds per square inch with its bite!

That’s powerful enough to crush bones, sever fingers, and, as proven in an experiment, cut through a wooden broomstick!  Thankfully, they aren’t generally aggressive in water, where they usually hang out.

I recognize that snapping turtles have their place in God’s creation, but I admit that I wouldn’t go out of my way to see one and certainly not to assist one.

So imagine my surprise recently when I witnessed a young man ushering a snapper across busy McEwan Street here in Clare!

As the locals know, McEwan is essentially “main street” into and out of the city.  It consists of 2 lanes going in both directions, with a turn lane in the middle. (5 lanes altogether.)  Furthermore, the street can get frantically busy, and especially along “hamburger hill” … a stretch just off the freeway packed with restaurants.

Restaurant alley seems an unlikely place for a turtle to decide to cross the street.  Presumably it was a female searching for a suitable place to lay her eggs, and there doesn’t seem to be much habitat in that area for such a thing.  Nevertheless, that’s where she was methodically making her way across the 5 lanes of speeding vehicles.

It could very well have been a mortal mistake on her part.  Except for her benevolent guardian who walked beside her.

He wore no bright clothes; no fluorescent orange or yellow.  He was in drab, every-day clothes that really didn’t allow him to stand out much.  What DID stand out about him was that he was standing out in the middle of a busy street, waving his arms at oncoming traffic!

“What in the world is he doing?” I initially wondered.  Then I saw the turtle.

I don’t know how long that slow trek lasted, but I’m confident that young man stayed with the turtle for the duration.  He didn’t need to do that, but he did.

It occurred to me that this is what our Savior did and does for us.

We are every bit as ugly – spiritually – as that turtle.  Every bit as undeserving.  Every bit as foolish.  Every bit as undesirable.  Yet Jesus desired that we be with him now and forever.

So he stretched out his arms and died for us.  Our sins are atoned for; our salvation secured through him.  He didn’t need to do that, but he did.

And he still walks beside us through the dangers and difficulties of this life!

What a thought.  We are slowly ambulating through circumstances that beset us, imminent destruction surrounding us … and Jesus walks beside us, keeping us safe.  He doesn’t need to do that either, but he does.

“Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;  though lofty, he sees them from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble,  you preserve my life.  You stretch out your hand …; with your right hand you save me” (Psalm 138:6-7).

Thanks be to our God and Savior, who didn’t need to do what he did and does, but who did it and does it anyway! 

How awesome is our God!  How unimaginable his love!  And how comforting his presence.

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We Can’t Be Grateful Enough

We Can’t Be Grateful Enough

I wrote this three years ago for Memorial Day.  It was well-received, so I thought I’d share it again.  Grateful thanks to all our veterans … but especially to those who “gave all.”

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What does a soldier think about the night before a battle?

Maybe he (or she) is “fortunate” to be so exhausted from transitioning to the position of attack that they are predisposed toward sleep.  But even so, with conflict looming the mind must race.

Being a soldier, he is aware of the goal, and the importance of their mission.  The unit is trained to attain its objective, so a soldier must review in his mind their personal assignment and make every effort to be mentally prepared for it.  But undoubtedly, a warrior wonders, “Will we accomplish it?  If so, how high a toll will we pay?”   And he understands that if they don’t succeed, the toll will be even higher.

Yet I can’t help but believe that for most soldiers on the night before a battle, their thoughts are primarily circulating around deeply personal things.

How could one not reflect upon the loved ones back home?  A wife or girlfriend: “Will I ever smell her perfume, feel her touch or kiss her again?”  The children: “Will I ever see their smiles or hear their laughter?  Will I ever hug them close again?”  The parents, siblings, and dear relatives: “Will I ever engage in another conversation on the porch or in the living room with them or sit down to a holiday feast together?”  The close friends: “Will I enjoy their company one fine day?”

Even one’s dog probably shambles through the thoughts with tail wagging.  “Will I pet him post-battle or post-war?”

“Will I walk into my home once more?  Travel to my favorite vacation destination once more?  Spend a day on my favorite hobby?  Watch a ballgame?  Attend a concert?  Take a leisurely nap in a recliner?  Enjoy a hot shower or a cold chocolate shake?  Feel the sun warm my skin on a sunny beach, or huddle comfortably under the blankets in my bed on a rainy night?  Sit in church, sing some hymns and soak up a sermon?”

“Will I see the sunset tomorrow?  Will my buddies?  How many of us and who?  What does it feel like to die violently?  What happens to me if I’m wounded?  What does tomorrow hold for me?”

And how could one just hours from deadly conflict not reflect upon past mistakes and ruminate on future possibilities.  Regrets must be abundant; heartaches achingly painful; melancholy predominant; fear ever-present; prayers unceasing.

With the offensive beginning at o-dark-early, and the thoughts roiling, how does a soldier sleep at all?

But eventually the battle is joined, and warriors are thrust into the hell-on-earth that is warfare.  And just as they feared, many of them fall.

We can’t be grateful enough for their sacrifices … for leaving behind family and often country, for their hard training and dedication, for the sleepless nights before attacks are launched, and for dying so young so we can typically live to be so old.

Memorial Day encompasses so much more than an extra day off from work, sleeping in and sales at the stores, a baseball game, a barbecue on the deck or a camping trip.  It’s a day dedicated to men and women who literally gave it all so we could have it all.  We dare not forget them.

There was another warrior who didn’t sleep at all the night before battle.  There was no uncertainty for him; he knew that if he entered the conflict, he would suffer and die horribly.  He begged God the Father to find another solution, but there was no other solution.  So Jesus resolutely entered the fray.  And he did suffer horribly, and he did die. 

But in giving his life he gave life to us.  By his sacrifice we are saved.  Through his death (and resurrection!), he brought us victory over Satan, sin, death and hell.  The war was won by our Warrior Savior!

The Apostle Paul writes about Jesus’ battle assignment in Romans: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. … God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:6, 8-9).

Or as Jesus himself said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

This is certainly true of our Savior, who knew and loved us all.  It’s also true of many a soldier who gave their life … not just for their family and friends, but for strangers like you and me.

As for us, we can’t be grateful enough.

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An Invisible Reality – A Story

An Invisible Reality – A Story

It was a typical spring day – somewhat hazy with a threat of rain.  Bobby was making a quick run to the grocery store to pick up some dinner supplies.  He was 43 years old and married, with three children he adored … a son and two young daughters.   He was also active in his Christian church, both in attendance and service.

But Bobby’s “luck” that day was bad and his timing “poor.”  At an intersection a half-mile from his destination, a garbage truck’s brakes suddenly failed.  The frantic driver had little opportunity to react; he tried to activate the emergency brake while desperately honking his horn as the 20-ton truck blew through the stop sign and into the intersection.

Bobby saw it coming … but too late.  In that dreadful instant, he knew he was about to be broadsided by a massive amount of steel.  “Why, Lord?!” flashed through his mind before the brilliant explosion of lights that led to darkness.

How long he drifted in that state, he didn’t know.  But eventually his mind’s eyes came into focus upon a being of exquisite splendor. 

Man-like in appearance, he was tall, muscled, and … commanding, would perhaps be the appropriate adjective.  His hair was brown, wavy and hung loosely over his shoulders.  His eyes were a piercing brown and his clean face presented a handsome but rugged cast.  Two beige wings were folded tightly behind him … their tops framing his head.  He was dressed in comfortable, loose-fitting, white linens.  A golden glow emanated from his entire being.

“I am Jonrus,” he stated.  “I’ve been sent by the Exalted One to make visible to you what is usually invisible in the physical world.”  His piercing eyes stared at Bobby.  “Most who ask ‘why’ don’t get an immediate answer.  However, the Lord wants you to understand and to share.”

The angel continued to stare.  Bobby gulped.  What could he say?  And dare he even speak at all?  Finally, he stammered, “I’ll be honored to see whatever you reveal to me.”

“I will show you the simple view.  When you include all the other Christians, this becomes extremely complex and would be too difficult for you to glean anything from it.  So we’ll limit your observation to one person.  Her name is Sally.  She’s a real person in the real world.”

The angel stepped to Bobby’s side and swung around to face the same direction.  There before them was a middle-aged woman walking briskly.  Her surroundings were undefined, though they altered as she moved along.  Sally always remained in focus, but what was around her appeared blurry. 

Bobby was intrigued to see silver, cross-shaped lights gleaming from her chest and her head.

“This is the first view,” the angel said.  “You are about to witness a series of spiritual attacks on this godly woman.  They’ll be pictured as animals to better enable you to grasp their size and seriousness.”

Suddenly, a circle of light appeared near Sally.  There, illuminated for Bobby to clearly see, was a large gray rat.  It was skittering its way to the poor woman; the two were clearly on a collision course.  The views converged and Sally screamed in her shock at the sight of the rodent.  Shifty and quick, the rat dashed around her several times, and then dodged back and forth in front of her.  Sally recoiled in horror.  And suddenly the rat was gone.

The woman took a moment to recuperate, breathed deeply, and resumed her journey.  Little did she know that her path was about to intersect with a skunk.  It waddled into her view where it settled on its haunches before her and eyed her suspiciously for the longest time.  She didn’t move, other than to cover her mouth and nose with her hands.  The noxious creature stood on all fours, and haughtily spun around.  “No!” the woman cried out.  And suddenly the skunk disappeared.

No sooner was the skunk gone when a coyote skulked into her presence … his fur bristling and snarls pouring out of his toothy mouth.  As Sally backed away, the coyote took threatening steps toward her.  This dance continued for some time, the besieged woman backing away and the nasty creature boldly advancing, drawing closer and closer to her.  Then the inevitable happened; the coyote lunged forward … and he was gone.

Poor Sally was shaking.  Eventually she gathered herself and began walking (somewhat unsteadily) again.  Bobby gasped; he saw the hyena coming.  “Jonrus, no!”

“Watch,” the angel replied.

The hyena trotted toward Sally in the strange gait produced by its longer front legs.  Clearly, it had bad intentions for the Christian woman before him.  When the ugly brute burst into her bubble, Sally shrieked.  “Oh, Lord!  Please not this!”  Aggressively, the animal lunged at her again and again.  Sally was terrified … her eyes wide and her mouth screaming at every new approach.  Even so, she was astounded that she wasn’t feeling the hyena’s teeth.  And then the hyena was no more. 

Sally collapsed to the ground, sobbing.  “Lord, no more!  Please!  I don’t think I can take any more!” 

That’s when the grizzly stepped into view.  Huge and ferocious, it towered over the cowering woman.  Not content with that, the massive bear stood up on its back legs, rolling its head back and forth as it roared its defiance and challenge.  Sally curled into a fetal ball, anticipating the devastation about to ruin her life.  “Help me, dear Jesus!  Please help me!”  The bear dropped to all fours and brazenly approached the huddled woman.  This would be easy pickings.  He nudged her roughly with his snout, then opened his mouth to tear into her, saliva dribbling down.  And he vanished.

Bobby was crying along with Sally.  “That poor woman!” 

Jonrus answered, “She is just experiencing the spiritual attacks that every believer endures sooner or later.  Including you.”

He paused.  “Now I will show you the second view.  Look.”

The initial view of the walking Sally reappeared.  However, this time the view was expanded to include a wider area and to reveal what had previously been unseen.  Angels surrounded Sally!  And not just immediately around her, but ranks upon ranks as far as Bobby could see!

In astonishment, Bobby watched as the spiritual attacks approached Sally.  The lines of angels separated seamlessly around the animals … opening before them and closing immediately behind them!  The aggressors were constantly surrounded by countless sword and spear-bearing warriors.  Not only did the angels keep them in place, but they effectively pushed the attackers toward Sally. 

“Why?” Bobby demanded. 

“The why question again?  You should close your mouth and open your eyes and you will see and understand,” Jonrus stated, not unkindly.  “All will be made clear soon.”

As the attackers entered Sally’s presence, the angels continued to maintain their close presence to both the aggressors and the woman.  The attack continued unabated until the angels’ weapons flashed a brilliant gold.  Immediately the warriors acted.

The rat was dispatched with a lightening quick foot stomp.  The skunk was flipped into the air by a sword and swatted away by other swords down the line with amazing coordination until it was finally skewered.  The coyote was clubbed simultaneously by every spear handle within reach.  The hyena was pinned to the ground by multiple spear points. 

Bobby observed it all in awestruck wonder. 

Finally, it was time for the bear attack.  He watched as the grizzly was herded toward Sally.  It tried repeatedly to break away from the angels, lashing out repeatedly.  The angels deftly deflected his blows and remain unmoved from their positions.  The bear advanced until it was face-to-face with the distraught woman. 

Suddenly, with a brilliant explosion of light, Jesus appeared at Sally’s side.  Bobby gasped.  “He’s always present for the fiercest attacks,” Jonrus stated, with clear adulation in his voice. 

Jesus stood over Sally, smiling lovingly.  As the bear opened his mouth over the huddled woman, Jesus’ unsheathed a gleaming sword and decapitated it in a blindingly fast manner.  Jesus knelt down and kissed Sally gently on the forehead.  With another flash, he was gone.

The immensity of what he had seen settled over Bobby.  Both he and Jonrus were quiet for a moment.  Finally, Bobby said, “I’m sorry.  I know I’m not supposed to ask …“

“But why?” Jonrus finished for him.

“Yes!”

“It is time for the third view.” Again, everything was repeated.  Sally, the angels, the attackers … it was all visible.  But now Bobby noticed something that hadn’t been revealed before.

During each attack, varied-colored spheres drifted down from heaven … the size comparable to the size of the attacker.  Bobby recognized intuitively that these were God’s blessings.  Some settled in Sally’s head; some in her heart; some rested on her shoulders for future blessing.

And each one produced a greater, brighter cross-light wherever it landed.  

Jonrus spoke.  “These attacks rise from the very pit of hell.  Sometimes the Lord allows them to reach his children.  But only the ones that the Lord knows that person needs … and only because the Lord in his love is bringing spiritual blessings through them.  Sometimes believers come to recognize the blessings on earth; sometimes they don’t recognize them until they arrive at their heavenly home.”

The angel turned to face Bobby.  “This is why spiritual attacks occur – so the Lord can bring blessings that wouldn’t be realized otherwise.  And the Lord does not allow his people to ever face these attacks alone.”

Bobby was speechless; tears of wonder and joy poured down his cheeks. 

“One more thing,” the angel stated.  “You will be spared from great harm because of your accident.  Just some of the blessings the Lord is bringing through it is that the doctor who worked on you is astounded you weren’t more seriously injured, and is reconsidering his view of God.”

“Also, precautionary tests taken following the crash revealed a medical issue you need to know about.  It’s not serious now, but it would be later if not discovered.  And it wouldn’t have been discovered if not for the accident.”

“There are many other blessings being brought to you through this attack as well … not the least of which is that you were given a view of the invisible reality.  Treasure it.  Share it.  Celebrate it!”

Jonrus was gone, as was Bobby’s view of the unseen spiritual world.  His eyes opened to once again see the seen, but his view of it was never the same.

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2 Kings 6:10-17
So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places. This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me! Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”

“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”

“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

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Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)

Chris Tomlin

You hear me when I call
You are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light
Whom shall I fear

You crush the enemy
Underneath my feet
You are my sword and shield
Though troubles linger still
Whom shall I fear

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

My strength is in Your name
For You alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory

Whom shall I fear (whom shall I fear)
Whom shall I fear

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

And nothing formed against me shall stand
You hold the whole world in Your hands
I’m holding on to Your promises
You are faithful, You are faithful

I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side

Songwriters: Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, Scott Mctyeire Cash.

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As the Rain Falls

As the Rain Falls

As I type this week’s post, the sky is gray and sputtering light moisture. It’s a welcome sight, as we have been in a bit of a dry spell for a while now. This is unusual for this time of year in central Michigan. Normally, May is our wettest month of the year, with an average of 3 ½ inches of rain falling.

In fact, the warmer months in Michigan provide a bounty of rainfall. It’s not always raining by any means, but it rains frequently enough to keep the grass a brilliant green and the flowers and trees well-watered.

Those of you who are familiar with the state of Washington where we used to live know that the rainy season there is from mid-September until maybe mid-June. Dry days during those months are rare. However, during the summers hardly a drop of precipitation falls. Which means that unless one makes a point to water the lawn, the grass dies. As do the flowers in the beds.

So when the rains return, many western-Washington locals rejoice. The grass will turn green again!

Different places; different climates.

Regardless of where one might live or be, rain is a crucial element … though it’s often a blessing we tend to take for granted. But water is no insignificant thing! Without it, plants and animals die. Most locales are supported primarily by precipitation that falls from heaven, either as rain or snow, which waters the soil and accumulates in rivers, lakes and oceans.

The simplest illustration of this truth can be found by considering the amount of moisture that falls in various places, and how those lands look.

For example, Mawsynram, India and Tutunendo, Colombia are both near the equator and consequently receive some of the highest precipitation totals in the world – over 460 inches a year! (If you would like to see pictures of the foliage there, look the cities up. It is beyond lush!) Meanwhile, Egypt averages only three-hundredths (0.03) of an inch per year, and its landscape is much starker.

These are extreme examples. But the same holds true in our own country, albeit in less dramatic fashion. Yet the differences are dramatic enough. Hawaii is our top-rain receiver with approximately 64 inches annually; Nevada our lowest at only 9 ½ inches. Needless to say, the flora appearances in those two states are significantly different! (For a quick comparison of the amount of annual rain/snow in the states, check out the color-coded map from “CurrentResults.com” at the bottom of this article.)

The state of Washington where we used to live clearly demonstrates the impact of precipitation. With the Pacific Ocean on the west border, several mountain ranges bisecting the state, and serious elevation differences around the region, the amount of annual precip varies greatly, as does the vegetation in the various zones. On the coast below the Olympic Mountains resides a temperate rainforest which accumulates about 120 inches of rain per year. On the rolling plains east of the Cascade Mountains, the trees and plants are quite different because typically less than 10 inches falls.

It’s interesting to compare our former city and our current one. Tacoma gleans about 40 inches per year (mostly in the fall, winter and spring) and the plant life there appropriately reflects it. Everything is green there three-quarters of the year, but not over summer. Clare receives almost the same amount (in snow and rain), but mostly in the warmer months, making summer gloriously green.

It’s quite a simple concept actually. The more rain that waters the land, the more the land flourishes.

The Lord grabs this concept and turns it into a telling illustration through the prophet Isaiah. “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

It’s the same simple concept! The more the soil of our souls are watered by God’s Word, the more our souls flourish spiritually.

Through the Gospel, the Holy Spirit creates faith in our Savior (Titus 3:5-6), nourishes that faith (Ephesians 3:16), and fosters fruits of faith (Galatians 5:22-23). The more our hearts are watered by the Word, the more we blossom spiritually. Our hearts, minds and bodies are impacted. Our attitudes are altered; our thoughts are adjusted; our actions are improved; our lives are blessed with spiritual abundance.

That’s why God shares his Word. That’s what God desires to accomplish. That’s the purpose for which God sends it out. To water souls so they produce a rich harvest of faith and fruit! So soak up as much spiritual moisture as you can!

What a blessing when rain falls and waters the land. But the greater blessing is when God’s truth nourishes hearts, and lovely faith flowers burst forth!

As Moses exclaimed jubilantly shortly before he died: “Listen, you heavens, and I will speak; hear, you earth, the words of my mouth. Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (Deuteronomy 32:1-4).

Praise God for the rain! For the physical, but especially for the spiritual!

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Not Asking for Much

Not Asking for Much

“Lord, give me answers, and give them to me NOW!”

I know that’s not the way the expression goes.  But it seems to me that “answers” could definitely be substituted for “patience.”  We may actually be more insistent on getting answers than gaining patience.  In fact, we are typically extremely impatient when we don’t have the answers we seek.

I’m not referring to doctrinal or theological answers.  My observation is that most Christians active in their churches are comfortable with most of the tenets of their congregation and/or church body.  The Bible is quite straightforward and clear.  If one knows the Book, they also know the true God and the truths He shares. 

It’s generally not God’s essence and divine characteristics that trip up believers. Nor is it matters such as morality, conversion, redemption, forgiveness, providence and salvation that causes God’s devout people issues.  Even those areas where God’s Word doesn’t provide more specifics don’t usually cause us problems. Nor do we typically obsess about the distant future.

Rather, it’s the uncertainty of tomorrow! 

It’s all the immediate unanswered questions that plague our lives.  What will happen in this situation?  What will he or she or they do?  What should I do?  What should I say?  How will this huge unresolved unknown play out?  And when?  Where will things stand in a week?

“Lord, I’m not asking for much.  Just give me the answers.  And give them to me NOW!  Then I can finally find peace.”

No, friend!  The path to true peace is not found in answers to the immediate dilemmas.  It’s found in the faithfulness of our good and loving God!

This is precisely what Jesus told his disciples and what he tells us: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives [which cannot provide true peace!]. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Keep in mind that when Jesus spoke these words, it was the very day he would be taken away by the mob.  It was a highly emotional time when the disciples had multiple and significant unanswered questions.  The Lord had been preparing them for his suffering, death and departure, and the eleven had no idea how this could be or what this meant for them. 

So Jesus showed them the source of peace; “my peace I give you.”

Not that the apostles understood this truth at that moment or were able to apply it properly.  Nevertheless, Jesus gave them the key.  The Answer to the unanswered questions is … Jesus!  That is, trusting Jesus to take care of the uncertainties in their lives and their future. 

And Jesus is the Answer to our unanswered questions too!

Most Christians will verbally acknowledge this as truth.  However, saying something doesn’t automatically mean believing something.  There is often a disconnect between words and actions.  Especially in regard to trusting the Lord.  And especially when there is so much uncertainty in our lives!

Our approach to the unknown is typically similar to Thomas (whom we typically castigate for doubting that the Lord was risen!) … “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

But that’s not believing at all!  That’s merely documenting the visible and physical facts.  The Bible defines faith (trust!) in this way: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do NOT see” (Hebrews 11:1).

Having confidence and assurance that the Lord will work out the details of our tomorrows is extremely challenging for us who want tomorrow’s details today.  (Which we maintain would give us peace, but it wouldn’t because there will always be more uncertainties on the horizon!)

Again, peace will only be experienced regarding our life questions when we trust Jesus, the Answer, to provide them.  The more we trust Him, the more peace we have!  Regardless of the number or immensity of our unanswered questions.

It’s no accident that the Holy Spirit gives us this encouragement through Peter: “Cast all your anxiety on [the Lord] because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).  The illustration is striking!  The act of casting something causes it to leave our person.  And the heavy and burdensome item God urges us to cast upon him … the almighty, all-knowing and loving Lord … is our anxiety!  Because when we do, the burden is lost and peace is found.

Is this easy?  No.  Is it necessary?  Yes.  Is it beneficial to our frame of mind and our view of the future?  Absolutely!

The degree of difficulty in doing this, and the blessings in doing so, are attested to by the incredible volume of passages in the Scriptures which urge us to trust in the Lord.  So give your unanswered questions to God … and don’t take them back again!  He can (and will!) handle the uncertainties much better than us, because there are no uncertainties for him, and there is nothing beyond his capabilities to handle.

As the father of the demon-possessed boy said to Jesus when asking him to free his son, so say we: “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).  Because the more we trust our Savior, the more we will find ourselves freed as well.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).  “May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with all of you” (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

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

Psalm 37 – selected
3 Trust in the Lord …. 4 Take delight in the Lord,  and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the Lord;  trust in him and he will do this … 7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;

Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 Romans 8:28 & 32
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him … He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

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Desperately Searching

Desperately Searching

It’s really not all that extreme.  I only check 30 or 40 times a day. 

Because she knows I love to watch the birds, my kind wife bought me a brand new, deluxe-model bird feeder for our new yard.  (That’s it in the cover photo.)  I finally managed to get it hung in what seems to be an ideal spot – between our house and the lake, with a great view of it from most of the large windows on that side of the house.

At least it’s an ideal location for the occupants of our house.  Not sure yet about the birds.

Winged visitors so far have been scarce.  This is both surprising and concerning.  Prior experience tells me that within a half-day, birds are typically gorging themselves on their new-found food supply. 

And it’s not like there aren’t birds around this area!  Their varied songs are almost constantly filling the air; their darting flights frequently catching one’s attention.  In fact, with the more rural setting here, we live in a bird-rich environment.

Yet, my new feeder full of fresh birdseed hangs from its new shepherd’s pole – largely ignored.

Undoubtedly a large factor is that both our neighbors immediately to the west also have birdfeeders, and they seem to keep them stocked.  Those are the two that I know feed the fowl; likely in this quiet part of the Midwest, many others near us do as well.  The neighborhood birdies have been hitting those smorgasbords for some time now.  Why leave a good and reliable food source?

In Tacoma, we were the only feeders on the block.  We had no competition!

Nevertheless, by sheer volume of the local avian residents around us now, it would seem that there would still be a need for feed, and/or some would be eager for a new source of goodies.  That doesn’t seem to be the case.

I know, because I take a look-see about 30 or 40 times a day.

With the seeming lack of interest by the local winged population, I even researched best places to put feeders.  In the open to provide sunshine and good visibility for the birds?  Check.   Away from trees where squirrels can easily access and cats can easily prey?  Check.  Close enough to trees and shrubs so birds can take cover if needed?  Check. 

Or at least I think these points are all covered.  But perhaps it is a bit too exposed?  The experts tried to reassure me that sometimes it takes a while for the birds to find the feeder.  But it’s never taken this long before!

Of course, we have had a little action.

Not surprisingly, the first to notice the new feeder was a squirrel.  He sat on his back haunches and looked longingly for the longest time at the stockpile above.  Then I watched him try to shimmy up the metal pole.  He didn’t make it the first time and gave up.  But he must have returned for a second try and managed, because I caught him in the feeder later.  (At least, I assume it was the same perpetrator.)  Now there is a squirrel “baffle” on the pole.  (Yes, I know.  I should have installed one from the start!)

The first visitor of the winged variety that I witnessed was a blue-headed grackle.  Not what I was hoping for, but progress.  The second visitor was a goldfinch.  That was exciting!  Both have returned.  The grackle brought a friend.  I’ve also had a few mourning doves pecking below the feeder. 

But not a single sparrow, finch, chickadee, or any other usual denizens for the birdseed dole … the species who usually hit the feeders hard.  At least none that I’ve spotted in my repeated and increasingly desperate checks.

Then yesterday, the Lord convicted me.  The thought suddenly struck me – what if I searched the Scriptures as often and eagerly as I search for birds on my new feeder?

Yikes!  Thanks, Lord.  Sorry, Lord. 

And it’s been a particularly trying week.  While I’m in my Bible daily, yet I didn’t dig into my Bible any more than I usually do … even under duress.  I scoped out the feeder 30 or 40 times a day, but I didn’t cast my eyes into God’s Word even a few extra times than normal.  (Though I certainly prayed a lot more!)

I’m embarrassed by this.  (Not about the praying, but about not searching the Scriptures more.)  Feeding my soul is far more critical than any feeding birds … no matter the number or the type. 

Yes, watching the birds provides me with a simple joy.  Yet reading my Savior’s messages to me provides joy … and hope … and insights … and strength … and comfort … and confidence … and so much more!

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2).

Maybe seeing the birds peck up their meals isn’t your thing.  (And it’s not my only “thing;” I have many more!)  Nevertheless, I’m pretty confident you have other diversions that “demand” your attention and distract you from digging into God’s truths more regularly as well.

Spiritually and even logically, we probably recognize how easily we are sidetracked from the Word.  And we also probably recognize what we are missing out on when we do.  But still we neglect it!  Far too easily and often!

I can’t tell you what to do.  But I can tell you what I will do.  I’ll undoubtedly still search for birds at the feeder multiple times a day.  I’ll also search the Scriptures more every day!  Because what I see there is food for my soul.

“When your words came, I ate them;  they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name,  Lord God Almighty” (Jeremiah 15:16).  “How sweet are your words to my taste,  sweeter than honey to my mouth!”  (Psalm 119:103).

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Isaiah 55:10-12
As the rain and the snow  come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,  so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire  and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace …

2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

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No Way!

No Way!

What do all of the following have in common?

The 2020 pandemic, rioting in the Pacific Northwest and in Washington DC, the presidential election, and war in Ukraine.

Garbage removal, yard care, snow shoveling, obnoxious music blaring loudly from car speakers, semi-truck drivers, commercial airplane pilots, championship trophies and cell phones.

Fishing, hunting, hiking, vacationing, flying in a plane, treasure hunting, and driving a Mustang GT.

The cosmos, mountains, oceans, lakes, sunshine, rain and snow.

Wolverines, dogs, giraffes, rabbits, rats, eagles, crows and hummingbirds.

Falling, tearing muscles, homesickness, an escaped dog, stolen plums, priorities, goodbyes, moving, unpacking and settling.

Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Lent, Good Friday, and Easter.

Christian numerology, spiritual warfare, spiritual health, self-esteem, faith, trust, hope, peace, joy, providence, angels and heaven.

What could all these disparate items have in common?  There’s no way there could be a connection between so many different things!

Well … actually there are several.

The first connection is that over the past four years I have written about each of these at least once in this blog. 

Monday, April 22, marks the 4th anniversary of Heading to Heaven.  It seems incomprehensible that four full years have passed since I timidly and tentatively began this venture.  In complete honesty, there was no way that I ever would have imagined beginning such an endeavor!  It wasn’t even “on my radar.”  I only tackled it because the Lord laid it on my heart to do so during the many restrictions of COVID. 

And there’s absolutely no way that this blog continues to exist and prosper.  No way I’ve covered so many different topics.  Yet this is my 212th post – a new offering almost every Saturday over the past 48 months.  Almost 20 of the posts were original stories on spiritual matters.  (If interested in reading or re-reading them, you can find them in the sidebar of the site under the Archive category called “Allegories and Stories.”  In fact, all of the posts can be found there under various categories.)

The other connection … the much more important connection … that all the different topics mentioned at the top of this post share is this: our God is over them all and in control of them all.

This is no small thing!  Our loving Lord is fully aware of and actively involved in every detail of our personal lives – physically, materially and spiritually.  And not only our lives, but our family’s lives, our church’s ministry, and our city and world’s welfare!

“The Son [Jesus!] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him …” (Colossians 1:15-19)

There’s no way we can wrap our minds around this, but it’s true nonetheless.  And it demonstrates the magnificence of our God.  This fosters awe in us.  This is also the source of tremendous comfort.  The awesome, unimaginably supreme and magnificent God loves us, died and lives again for us, and is intimately involved in our day-to-day well-being.

No way!  Yes, way!

Thank you, dear Lord!

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It is my prayer every week that “Heading to Heaven” will bless someone somewhere at some time in some way.  As the byline states, my goal is that the words shared provide “encouragement now until we get where we’re going.” 

I pray this blog has blessed you at some point.  I know I have been blessed through my preparation and writing each week, and I have been encouraged by everyone who has read a post, and especially by those who have subscribed and those who have commented.  A sincere thank you to you all.

And thanks be to our gracious God.  Truly, all glory goes to Him for anything good that has come from this endeavor!  There’s no way this blog exists or encourages anyone without Him and his comforting truths. 

If you don’t already subscribe to the blog, please consider doing so.  Subscribing is free, and brings each new post directly to your email box.  Perhaps something I share will arrive at just the right time and encourage you?  Every new subscriber really is an encouragement to me.  If you are inclined to follow this blog, I would be honored.  The info on how to do so is immediately below.

Embarking on year 5?  No way!  But yes, here we go.  I invite you to share the journey with me.

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Psalm 89:1-2, 5-8
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?

Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

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 and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

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Home?

Home?

It was five of the strangest days I’ve ever experienced. 

I knew where I was technically (Tacoma, Washington), but was constantly confused about my location (Washington or Michigan?).  I knew the area extremely well, but found myself repeatedly feeling out of place.  It seemed like I was where I was supposed to be, but it also seemed like I didn’t belong.  I was at home with my surroundings, recognizing everything, but I wasn’t home at all.

If that all sounds confusing, I understand!  It was profoundly confusing and uncomfortable to me as I lived it.  

The week after Easter, my wife and I flew back to Washington state to tie up some loose ends, to spend time with our family members still living there, and to check in with a few friends.  It was a delightful few days … except for those out-of-place feelings I tried to describe earlier.  (Perhaps you’ve experienced a similar feeling after having your own place for a while, and then returning to your parents’ house to visit.)

I’m sure traveling thousands of miles in post-Easter exhaustion, (typical for a pastor following Holy Week), didn’t help the situation.  But I’m convinced I would have felt the same even if less tired.

We resided in Tacoma for 33 years – 30 of those years in the same house.  So, of course, I felt “at home” there.  Not much need for a GPS; I’d driven those streets countless times over the past three decades. 

But it wasn’t home.  Not anymore.  I’ve been negotiating the streets and roads in mid-Michigan for almost a year now.  So while I’m intimately familiar with the Tacoma streets, they weren’t my streets anymore.  They felt comfortable, and at the same time strange.

Of course, we drove by our former house.  I didn’t know how I’d feel about that.  It was certainly weird and disconcerting, but I found myself mentally and emotionally detached at the sight.  We cruised by our former church as well.  Same result. 

Both places hold wonderful memories; both will always be entrenched in my heart.  I dedicated over half my life to both, so both will always be a significant part of me.  But neither is my place anymore; they’re no longer where I belong.

Do I still love the people at my former congregation, care about them and pray for them?  Of course!  I always will!  But I’m not their shepherd anymore.  I have a new pasture to occupy and a new set of “sheep” to tend, and I love them just as dearly.  I know being with them is where I am supposed to be … for the time being. 

And while our new house in Michigan is our new home, and although I feel very at home in the congregations I am now serving and the area I now live … these are not my forever home. 

I’ve always realized this.  But temporarily leaving our new home for our old home and not feeling at home there at all, but rather being confused at where I was and where I should be, really drove this point home to me.

I don’t truly belong anywhere in this world.  Rather, my home is in heaven.

Yours is too!

Are we tempted to get caught up in our current situations and think of them as “home?”  All the time!  But our current residence is not our forever home.  The Lord has a different home … a better one … waiting for us!

The wise Christian recognizes this truth.  And the wise Christian who does, finds himself or herself more content and at peace … even while realizing they aren’t really settled into their real home yet.

The writer to the Hebrews describes this very thing in his chapter on faith.  In the midst of listing many of the men and women of faith and what they did in faith and endured through faith, he makes this aside:

“All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).

Home?  For me, it’s not Tacoma.  Nor is it Clare.  It’s not our previous house nor our current one.  It’s a home my loving Savior has prepared for me after supplying his all-sufficient sacrifice for me on earth and returning again to heaven in absolute victory. 

And I know when I get to that eternal salvation, I’ll finally feel fully at home.  And I’ll finally be where I belong.

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2 Corinthians 4:18
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Revelation 7:13-17
“These in white robes … are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.  The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat.  For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’  ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” 

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 and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

Prioritizing Priorities

Prioritizing Priorities

We’re just back from a wonderful post-Easter trip to Washington.  So this week I’m resharing a post from several years ago.  I pray it is thought-provoking and beneficial to you.  It’s certainly a great reminder to me!

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We all recognize that priorities are important, but few of us actually prioritize our lives.  At least, that’s the way it seems to me.  (And I count myself among the guilty!)

If asked what is truly important in our life, we could provide excellent answers: God, family, health, home, security, freedom, etc.  Yet often our day-to-day decisions don’t line up with the top items on our self-proclaimed priority list.

Why is this so?  We’re logical, practical people; why are those key items we deem critical so commonly neglected and even downright disregarded – overshadowed by so many lesser things?

There are many factors, of course.  But ultimately the root causes are brought on by the unholy trio of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature (flesh).  Satan enthralls our sinful natures with the wonders, pleasures, and responsibilities of the world, leading us effectively and easily away from pursuing the truly significant things.  Satan is the ultimate deceiver and distractor, and sadly we are easily dissuaded.

Consequently, we are constantly chasing after the “urgent” in our lives instead of devoting ourselves to the “important.”  Typically the “urgents” overwhelm us, receiving tremendous attention, while the “importants” quietly recede into the background.

Or to say it another way, we focus a tremendous amount of time and energy on “nick-nacks” rather than on true “treasures.”  And this leaves us frustrated and somewhat discombobulated.  We realize innately that our focus is misplaced and our emphasis off.

Thankfully, our Lord never mixes up his priorities.  And we are one of his top treasures!  The One who created the cosmos and orchestrates the world’s events – both great and small – made our salvation a top priority.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Furthermore, our loving Lord is with us every second of our lives.  He provides for us, protects us, guides us, and blesses us (Jer. 17.7).  How fortunate we are to be at the top of God’s priority list!

So how do we recognize the highest priorities in our lives?  And a more challenging question: how we do we live properly prioritized lives?

Here’s an exercise to evaluate our top priorities, and the order of those priorities.  It’s a variation of a process someone shared with me once.

Think of your priorities as personal treasures.  Now imagine yourself ruled by a king.  The king is powerful, and he is greedy.  He demands all your treasures … except for 10 items. 

What 10 treasures would you keep?  Take your time and think this out.  You must be specific, and you can only retain 10.  Recognize that treasures can also be spiritual or non-tangible.  Write your choices down.

Now imagine that this greedy king decides he wants more, so you have to give up another treasure.  Now you’ll be down to 9.  What will you give up?  Record your decision.

Repeat the process until you whittle your treasures down to one item.  (This process becomes increasingly agonizing as you go along!)  But after making your final decision, you are left with the top priority in your life!  The rest of the order of your treasures/priorities has also been established in descending order by the choices you made along the way. 

I trust that the Lord, his Word, and your faith rank highly on your list in some manner!  As Jesus himself reminded us, “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

If you don’t care for my suggested approach, do an online search for setting priorities.  You’ll find many other alternatives.  The key is that you identify what your top priorities are.

Well done!  Your priorities are established.  But now the real challenge begins.  How do you live your life properly reflecting your top priorities?  How do the treasures you identified receive the daily recognition they deserve?

Here are a few suggestions to maintain course:

1. Print your list of priorities and display it in prominent places where you will see it and be reminded of what is truly important to you.

2. Commit to necessary changes. Simply noting your priorities won’t automatically translate into keeping those priorities; deliberate adjustments are needed.

3. Organization and self-established structure will help safeguard your priorities. Ranked sub-categories under your main points will help clarify your focus even more.

4. Set a schedule and routine that incorporates and supports your top priorities. Set times for specific key tasks, and hold to them.

5. Routinely address the most important things (your “treasures”) first. If less important things don’t get done, they don’t get done.  But you will still have given due attention to what’s most important to you.

6. Share your priorities with others who will encourage you and will hold you accountable.

7. Recognize that priorities can change over time, so reevaluate occasionally.

Establishing priorities … and living according to them … really should be a priority for all of us.  Because our “treasures” need to be properly treasured!

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Here are some wise Biblical words from an exceptionally wise man named Solomon.  The point of sharing these words is not to demonstrate that everything in this world is meaningless, but that many of the things to which we devote our time and energy are actually not so important.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-14
I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. I applied my mind to study and to explore by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. What a heavy burden God has laid on mankind! I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 2:22-26
What do people get for all the toil and anxious striving with which they labor under the sun? All their days their work is grief and pain; even at night their minds do not rest. This too is meaningless. A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? To the person who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness …

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 and start typing.  I, and many others, would love to benefit from your insights!

To Subscribe – Go to the “Follow This Blog Via Email” column.  If you don’t immediately see that box, click on the “Comments” tag under the title, and scroll to the very bottom.  You should find it there.  OR simply comment you want to follow and I can add you!

The Dead Stay Dead, Don’t They?

The Dead Stay Dead, Don’t They?

Growing up in rural Michigan, I was accustomed to seeing roadkill.  In fact, through the years I accidentally contributed to it.  The overgrown ditches along the roads, and the farm fields interspersed with occasional woodlots, produced plenty of critters to meet untimely deaths along the highways.  The most common casualties: opossums, raccoons, squirrels, and the dreaded malodorous skunks. 

In urban Tacoma where we lived for three decades, roadkill was much less common.  Though there was much more traffic, there were far fewer potential victims. 

Now that we live in central Michigan, we are once again surrounded by fields and woods.  Actually, more woods than fields.  Which means that animal corpses litter the freeways that cut through the forested country.  Unfortunately, many of the dead are a larger version of mammal than what I would see as a youth – deer. 

Now obviously, the collision that killed them wasn’t beneficial to the deer.  But neither was it beneficial to the vehicles that hit them!

Around here, this is cause for healthy concern.  And rightfully so!  In just the 9 months we have lived here, at least six people from the two congregations I serve have hit deer.  Each time, it meant thousands of dollars of repairs.  At least once, the deer totaled the vehicle. 

I did a quick online search, and found that in 2022, almost 60,000 vehicle-deer crashes occurred across Michigan.  Obviously, some areas of the state (like where we live) are more conducive to such incidents.  Which is why I have actually been advised by members to pay extra for zero deductible collision insurance since it is almost a given that sooner or later my wife or I will have an unexpected and undesired run-in with a deer around here.

This is certainly a significant reason that deer hunting tags are so readily available and reasonable in this state.  The herd keeps growing, creating an epidemic of deer-vehicle collisions.  Hunting is one of the most effective curbs of the population.  (To put this in perspective, well over a quarter-million deer were harvested in Michigan this last season!)  And it barely seems to have made a dent in the numbers.

In the eleven miles of freeway I travel between my congregations, I am comfortable stating that there is an average of at least one dead deer per mile lying alongside the road.  Now they aren’t along every mile, but some miles have multiple corpses.

Which actually is what sparked the idea for this post.  As I was driving to the Good Friday service at the more northern church I serve, I was once again noting all the deer bodies strewn along the shoulders.  Some of those animals are more recent casualties.  However, I realized that I had seen some of those dead deer already last fall before the snow fell and covered everything.

Those animals were dead in 2023, and they’re still dead!

And so it is with all mortal creatures.  When the body dies, physical life comes to an end.  Eventually death always wins.  And when death wraps its tentacles around something for the final time, it doesn’t let go.

The animals that lose their lives along the highways never find them again.  The bodies so reverently and ceremoniously laid to rest in the cemeteries never wake up.  The dead stay dead.  There is no exception to this rule. 

Except one. 

Observing all those deceased deer on Good Friday, the day that Jesus died and his dead body was laid in a tomb, was striking.  Those deer, like all other creatures that die, remain dead.  Jesus also actually died, but death’s horrific grasp could not hold the Son of God!

When the third morning arrived, Jesus threw off the shackles of death, and emerged from a condition no other person can break, and from a tomb no other corpse could exit.  But then, he wasn’t a corpse anymore.  He was the living, almighty, immortal, and victorious Lord of all, and the Savior of sinners.

And he still is!

Easter is such a joyful morning because the Lord who took on our iniquity and paid for it – horribly but wonderfully – is alive again.  His task is done; full forgiveness is won; salvation for sinners is secured. 

And once – just this once! – the Dead did not stay dead.  The One who was dead is now alive!

But Easter is also joyous for another reason.  The fact that Jesus did not stay dead means that you and I and all believers in Him won’t stay dead either!  Amazing, yes.  But true nonetheless! 

When Jesus returns on the Last Day, death’s bond will finally be fully broken … for all the dead!

The earth will yield the countless bodies deposited in it through the millennia.  The bodies of believers will be joined with their souls and welcomed into God’s presence forever; the bodies and souls of those who rejected the Savior banished from him.

The principle that the dead stay dead holds true.  At least, for everyone besides Jesus.  And at least, for everyone until Jesus returns.  But thanks be to Him, the Living One established a new principle.  Because Jesus did not stay dead, you and I won’t stay dead either. 

Amazing!  Astounding!  Wonderful!  And absolutely true!

The One who was dead is now alive … forever and ever!  And because he lives, we live too.  Not only now, and not only spiritually, but spiritually AND physically forever and ever with Him who defeated death!

How comforting and encouraging to know our future is not death … but life!  And all because of Jesus, our living Lord. 

Happy Easter, everyone!

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

(Acts 2:22-24) – from Peter’s Pentecost sermon
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.  This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 

(1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 54-56)
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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