Christian Life

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DEPRESSION

(1 Kings 19:4&5) …He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.  “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.  “Take my life, I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

Did you ever have an amazingly successful day, and find yourself fighting depression the very next day?  I have, and it reminds me of what happened to Elijah.   He and God had demonstrated to the divided nation of Israel the truth that God is the only God.  He had shown King Ahab and all who had assembled on Mt. Carmel that Baal was not a god.  Then he eliminated the 450 false prophets of Baal.  As a climax, Elijah Prayed to God, and God brought rain to end a three year drought.  Elijah was at the top of his prophetic life, and he was filled with hope that the Northern Kingdom would return to worshiping the true God.

Then the enemy stepped in.  The enemy was manifested in the person of Queen Jezebel who was outraged that he had killed all her prophets of Baal.  She sent Elijah a message saying she was going to kill him before the sun set.  In fear he ran, and wound up under the broom bush very depressed.

The beauty in this story is what God did for his depressed prophet.  He sent an angel with bread and water to care for him.  He sent the angel a second time to provide nourishment, and then send him on a journey.  For forty days and forty nights Elijah traveled until he arrived at Mt. Horeb. He found a cave and sequestered himself.   God continued to provide him with food and water, and when the time was right, God began to speak to Elijah.

First God asked Elijah what he was doing there.  Elijah responded with an inventory of what was going wrong with the Israelites and concluded with, “they are now trying to kill me”.  God didn’t respond to his complaints directly.  What he did was to say, “Go back the way you came, and go to the desert of Damascus.  When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.  Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.”  (See 1 Kings 19:15&16) Finally, God added, “Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”  (See verse 18)

God’s response to Elijah’s depressed state was to give him a new set of directions, a plan for retirement, and reassurance that all Israelites were not lost.  God redirected Elijah with a new purpose taking his thoughts off of his perceived dilemma.  

What I derived from this story is that God deals with his children separately and individually. So if you’re at the point of thinking all is lost, stop and seek God for help.  Let God help you to find your bearings.  His method for Elijah was effective for ending his depression.  God can help you because he knows you much better that you know yourself.  When I’m depressed, God tends to change my perspective by showing me another way of see the situation. 

I have learned that when I’m down, trusting God is the way out.  Which leads me to believe that trusting God is the best way out for all of us.

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FOOLISNESS OR RELATIONSHIP

(1 Corinthians 1:18) For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There are those who think that Christianity is a myth, and that those who follow the teachings of Jesus are week people who need a crutch in life.  They do not see the wonders of God in his creation.  The people who see life this way have no hope of eternal life, for they are perishing.

As a Christian, I have a relationship with God.  Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins, and he opened the way to connect me with the God who created me.  I am promised eternal life with him.  I talk to him, and he talks to me.  He guides my life, and he is always with me.

Many people are walking down the wide road to destruction, not knowing that a relationship with their creator is waiting for them.  All they need to do is divert to the narrow road that leads to eternal life.  On the narrow road, they will find relationship with their creator and a renewal that begins in this life.

We who have found the Lord carry a great secret that can easily be revealed.  Having the opportunity to present this secret is the ultimate experience.  The truth is that it is no longer a secret.  The message of the cross is opened to everyone.  Even though they may consider us the foolish ones, when a person is willing to seek and find out if it’s foolishness, a soul finds eternal life.

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HOPE

(Ephesians 1:18) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.

Where I live the summers are very hot.  Often we have weeks where the temperature is more than a hundred degrees every day, and it barely cools off over night.  Occasionally we get a break when the day time highs are in the upper-nineties, and the overnight temperatures descend into the low sixties.  However, the heat returns, and we suffer through the hundred plus days until summer comes to an end.

Hope supports us through the summer months.  We know that cooler weather is coming.  It cooled down last year, so in hope we trust that the pattern will continue.  Meanwhile, we do our best to patiently wait for the heat to end.    

Isn’t life in Christ just like that?  We live in a world full of sin, and we personally deal with the sin within us.  Sometimes we have days full of love and peace.  Other times the battle is on, and we struggle through the hard times.  Yet we have great hope that the struggle will someday end, and we’ll be in the presence of the Lord forever.

Hope is the best way to navigate life.  Hope fills us with joy and gives us the strength to be patient in times of affliction.   Prayer keeps us in touch with our eternal Father so we can live our days anticipating our eternal future.  Our hope is in him who has promised us an eternal life basking in his love.  When we arrive at our final destination, hope will no longer be necessary. It will have fulfilled its purpose.  Till then, hope will be there to encourage us along life’s path.

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THE PRICE OF PEACE

(John 14:27) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(Philippians 4:6&7) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Peace comes with a price.  The first thing we will need to give up is pride.  The pride of self-reliance does not produce peace.  It produces stress. When difficulties come, there is no one to help, and we realize we are on our own.  Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).  To find peace, we must give up our pride and admit we need Jesus.

Secondly, we must forgive.  Holding on to our right to be offended means we are the ones suffering.  Unforgiveness feeds on its self and weighs us down.  Letting go and forgiving sets us free and allows us be at peace.

Jesus holds the key to peace, and his word tells us how to find it.  Here are a few example

Do not worry; trust God for everything you need and in every situation.

            Forgive as you have been forgiven.

            Do not judge each other, but love one another.

            Love your enemies, and pray for them.

            Don’t concern yourself with treasures on earth.

            You should humble yourself and Pray.

The peace Jesus gives us does not rely on our circumstances.  His peace is founded in our reliance on him, no matter what our circumstances might be.  I guess we can conclude that when we have totally given ourselves to him, we’ll be able to continually experience the peace he gives us. 

I’m still working on completely giving myself to Jesus, but I am often able to find his peace.  How are you doing?

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WHY DID GOD CREATE THE WORLD?

(Genesis 1:1) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

(John 3:16) 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.

These are two very familiar scripture that most of us know by heart.  We know that God created the world, and we know that he went to great lengths to redeem us from our rebellion against him.  So I am using these two scriptures because I find them instrumental in answering the question that’s been on my mind. Here’s the question: “For what purpose was God moved to create the heavens and the earth?”  No one can know the mind of God, but in this case, throughout the scriptures, he has clearly let us know why he created.

After the six days of creation, the rest of the Bible is about God’s interactions with mankind.  And since the first sin in chapter three of Genesis, God began the process of bringing about the redemption of mankind. He has provided the means for us to return to relationship with him. And for those who have received his redemption, we have returned to a relationship with our God. Throughout eternity, we will be his children, and he will be our Father.  I think we have the answer to our question.  God wanted a family!

Even here in our fallen world, we understand what it means to have a family. It is something we inherently desire.  If we have a family, we are blessed; if we don’t have one, we long for one.  Granted family is a mixed bag here in our fallen world.  Some of us are blessed to have a family with good relationships, but many are not.  Yet we all wish that we could have a perfect family. 

Unfortunately, we will have to wait for the perfect family.  If we are willing to accept his offer, God has promised us a place in his eternal family.  Being a part of the family that God has been patiently waiting for is awesome, and it will never end.

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WE REFLECT THE LIGHT THAT JESUS BROUGHT TO ALL MANKIND

(John 1:4&5) In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

(John 15:5) I am the vine you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

It dawned on me as I was contemplating these words from the book of John that God has placed for us, from the very beginning, an example of how the power of Jesus flows through us.  The sun, which provides us with light, is a ball of nuclear energy of amazing power and endurance.  The moon has no power of its own, but it reflects the light of the sun.  We only see the moon’s light when it is in position to reflect sun light.

Jesus is the all-powerful source of life, and he shines the light of life for all mankind.  We his disciples reflect his light, so that many will be able to know his light. Just like the moon, we don’t have the power of the light, but we can reflect that light.  Without him we are powerless; with him we can reflect the power of life.

The enemy would love for us to get caught up in imagining we have our own power.  It’s a trap of pridefulness, and we know that pride comes before a fall.  Trying to shine the light of life without maintaining our connection to Jesus, the source of power, will indeed results in a powerless display of pride and be useless in God’s kingdom.  That’s why Jesus said, “apart from me you can do nothing.”

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EASTER, CELEBRATING WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US

(Philippians 2:6-11)  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used for his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

From the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, till the time when Jesus died and rose again, God’s plan of redemption was unfolding.  The plan, as far as I can understand it, was to bring about a population of living beings, created in his image, which would be recipients of his love and live forever in his presence.  These living beings are identified as the ones who have chosen to receive the redeeming actions of Jesus on the cross, and they have entered into the resurrected life he gained for them when he rose from the dead.  We are celebrating the climax of God’s plan this Easter weekend.

  On Good Friday, we bend our knees and mournfully weep as we acknowledge the suffering and death that Jesus experienced for us.  Who can comprehend what Jesus, God the Son, suffered when he took on the sins of the whole world?  What we can comprehend is our own sins for which he died.  In humble gratitude, we take time to remember what he went through for us.  He has given us freedom from our sins.  He died that we might live.

Then comes Easter Sunday, joy springs forth, and we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  Death has been defeated, and eternal life is given to those who will put their trust in God and receive his offer of eternal life.  No other event on earth bears the weight of this day of celebration. 

As we celebrate God’s plan, we invite those around us to join in; for God’s plan is offered to all who will receive what he has prepared. 

There is a final act in his plan, but he’s waiting for you who have yet to come to him.  Don’t put it off.  The time is now.  Open your heart and seek him.  He promises that if you seek him with all your heart, you will find him.

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THE BEST WAY TO START THE DAY

(Psalm 143:8) Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

This verse showed up on my Bible app last week as the verse of the day.  It is from the middle of a psalm in which David is crying out to the Lord for help because his enemies are closing in.  Reading through this Psalm, I found special meaning in verse 8.  

When I wake up in the morning, my mind goes to what should I do today.  On a good day, I remember to seek the lord with prayer and thanksgiving; I mainly start with the Lord’s Prayer.  Some days, I wake up sooner than I want, and my mind is full of the pressing matters at hand.  I think through how I will approach the day, and onward I go to take care of things.  After I get into my plan, and things aren’t going so well, I remember that I need the Lord’s help every day.

Imagine that the first thought when you wake up is of God’s unfailing love for you.  The first words you speak are to God – “I have put my trust in you.”  Your relationship is now confirmed, and you are ready to utter your first request – “Show me the way I should go this day, for to you I entrust my life.” 

I believe, contained in this one verse, David has shared with us the best way to start the day.  Connecting with our God and seeking his help will surely give us our best day.

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GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS WORD

(Matthew 6:31-33) “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Back in the year 1976, give or take a year, I was listening to the sermon my pastor was giving on these words from Jesus.  As I listened, this thought came to me, “I think Jesus really means this.”  In the spring of 1980, as I was driving on interstate 40 heading for California, the Lord spoke to me with these words, “Now is your chance to find out.”  I knew immediately what he meant.  He was pointing out that I could now find out if indeed he meant the words of this passage.

When I arrived in California, I began to pursue my new life looking for the freedom, relationships, and purpose I so desired.  I forgot about God and set out on my own to fulfill my life.  I failed miserably.  In despair, I sat down on a rock and said to God, “I’ve made a mess of this; I can’t leave this rock without you.”  That was all he was waiting for.  In an instance, I felt his presence, and from that moment on, my life changed.

You may be waiting for me to say since then I’ve had a perfect life.  Well not exactly, but it has been great!  God set me free in ways that I never knew before.  Within a few months, God sent me the lady that has shared this life with me for 43 years.  I’m still fascinated with her.  She is more than I could have ever imagined.  Together, we have a loving family, and a good relationship with each of our adult children, and with their children.  We all walk with the Lord. So our faithful God has blessed our family to the third and fourth generation (well, we’re still waiting for the fourth, but with complete confidence).  God lead me to fulfill the purposes he’d planed for me.  He has given me a rich, full life.

Putting our trust in God has proven to be the right choice.  We have never gone hungry, thirsty, or been without sufficient clothing.  Far beyond that, we have lived in homes and driven vehicles that were nicer than our income would dictate.  We have traveled the country, had many adventures, and enjoyed fun beyond our apparent means.  God has sustained us through tragedy and loss and shown us his love continually. 

I invite you to reread the above scripture verses, and then join me in the realization that God really means what is recorded in his Word.  I have found this to be true, and I share this truth with you in great confidence and without reservation.

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THE UNSEARCHABLE MIND OF GOD

(Romans 11:33-36) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out!  Who has known the mind of the Lord?  Or who has been his counselor?  Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?  For from him and through him and for him are all things.  To him be the glory forever! Amen.

As we read this statement made by the Apostle Paul, we are given the opportunity to stand in awe of the God we serve, and to recognize how far he surpasses our understanding.  Paul gives us a clear perception of our God. 

When I address God in prayer, I sometimes think I’m being too familiar.  I know God wants to be personal with his children, yet I’m talking to the creator of the universe.  This passage helps me to gain a better perspective and be in a more reverent place as I speak to God.

When people say things like, “why did God let this happen to me?”  I have only one answer, “I don’t know”.  Who can explain all that God does, or what God allows?  The scriptures lead us to know that he has an overall plan to bring about an eternal kingdom for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.  How the individual events of our lives are part of this is unknown to us. Only God knows.  His ways are not our ways. 

What God is doing far exceeds our ability to understand.  We surrender our way of thinking to his infinite wisdom and knowledge.  In some ways this is comforting.  Who would want to serve a god who didn’t know more than they themselves?  Our comfort rests in our faith – faith that trusts in his love for us.    To him be the glory forever!