Evangelism

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My Neighbor

I work part time as a driving instructor.  I am well versed on the rules of the road.  I know exactly how other drivers are supposed to drive.  In light of the general way people drive; this is a dilemma for someone trying to not be judgmental.  Driving has become the proving grounds of my sinful nature.  In-other-words while driving, I prove myself a sinner.  I frequently blurt out expletives like jerk and idiot.

Monday I was driving to my house after a driving lesson.  As all Americans seem to be, I was in a hurry.  I came to an intersection where I was turning right.  I stopped correctly behind the crosswalk before moving forward to make my right turn on red.  However, the gentleman in the left turn lane stopped all the way across the crosswalk, blocking my view of the cross traffic.  I was grateful that he slowed me down and made me wait for the light; not really.  After my usual pronouncement of his lack of intelligence and moral character, I was struck by the thought, he’s my neighbor.  I found myself changing from annoyance to compassion.  I thank the Holy Spirit for the thought.

The rest of the journey home was occupied by thinking about “my neighbor”.  Jesus made some clear statements about our neighbors such as: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:19).  Yep, I was falling painfully short of loving my neighbor.  That afternoon, I started reading through the scriptures about my neighbor.  In Luke 10: 29-37 Jesus responds to the question, “And who is my neighbor?” with the parable of the Good Samaritan.  The Samaritans were hated by the Jewish people of Jesus’ time.  By using the Samaritan as the good guy of the story, Jesus nailed the prejudice of the time.  Today, perhaps the story would be of the Good Muslim or in the Middle East, the Good Christian.

My conclusion, after my study, is that everybody I come into contact with is my neighbor.  All the man in the left turn lane needed from me was patience and compassion.  Everyone I meet needs at least that.  A smile and an encouraging word would be nice, but they certainly don’t need my judgement.  Every day I obviously fall short of perfection, but I have the Holy Spirit to reminding me of the words Jesus spoke.  With his help I plan to be a better neighbor.  If we should run into each other someday, just know I’d be delighted to be treated like your neighbor.  I’ll try to respond with the same recognition.  God bless you neighbors.

Author’s note:

This has been a challenging week of trying to love my neighbor.  I have been reminded of how desperately I need the salvation Jesus bought for me on the cross.  Lord thank you for your mercy and grace, Amen.

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Mortality

It is a fact that we are all going to die.  The mortality rate among humans is 100%.  People around me are dying.  Recently, a friend of mine who was 15 years younger died from brain cancer.  We’ve lost two women in our church in the last year.  I know others who are currently fighting cancer trying to stay alive.  The death of others always brings us closer to the reality of our own mortality.  The loss of a loved one is deeply painful, almost unbearable.  So, for a Christian what is a good perspective?

Our pastor, Eric Nelson*, Spoke on resurrection last Sunday.  He brought up two points that I believe help us to deal with our mortality.  First, he reminded us that the Apostle Paul referred to death as falling asleep (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15), and who is afraid to fall asleep?  The second point was that the life we are going to is far better that the life we leave.  For one thing, it is eternal.  Once we pass from this life, death will never again be an issue.

In our eternal life we will be living in heaven.  In heaven we will live a sinless existence.  Try to imagine what living without sin would be like.  I find it really hard to contemplate.  What would it be like living with no sin? The earth and all of creation is tainted by sin.  Imagine what the new earth will be like when sin is gone.

For me, when facing mortality, my greatest fear is what if my wife should go before me.  How would I be able to survive such a loss?  We are true soul mates, partners for the last 34 years.  But, notice that the concern is for me.  She will have gained.  She will be with Jesus.  Her time in a sinful world will be over.  She’ll have arrived in eternity.  She will be home, her work will be done.

So, in looking at mortality, I find there is much to rejoice about.  The future is only going to get better for those who belong to him.  Christians live by faith not by sight.  All we know now is this world, but through faith, we believe that God has prepared us an eternal place.  The greatest truth in our mortality is that we will be with him forever.

(If you don’t know him, he’s just a prayer away.)

*Eric Nelson is pastor of Delta Life Four Square Church in Madera, California.  Hear his sermons at deltalifechurch.com

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The Heart

In the Bible the word heart obviously refer to something other than the muscle that pumps blood throughout our bodies.  So, what is the Bible referring to?  It’s not our soul because we are told to love the Lord with all our heart and soul; therefore, the two are separate. As I have searched through the scriptures, it seems that the heart embodies the deep inner self where emotions, moral values, and our decision making process resides.  In essence, the heart is where we live.

I’ve been concerned about what is in my heart.  Jesus said that what comes out of a man’s heart can make him unclean.  I find that what comes out of my heart is a mixed bag.  There is in my heart the potential of both good and evil.  So, what can I do about this?

Paul prayed for the Ephesians: “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith….” (Ephesians 3:16-17).  I need to be strengthened in my inner being.  I need God’s power to overcome the evil things in my heart, so the things that “come out” of me will be good things.

In Psalm 51 David asks God to create in him a pure heart. (Psalm 51:10)     I join with David in this prayer.  My deep inner being, my heart, needs the presence and the power of God if it is to be good.  God alone is good.  Goodness comes from me when I am full of God.

“Create in me a pure heart most generous and merciful God”.  “Draw me closer to you that I may reflect your goodness.” Amen!

On a Quest
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On a Quest

A young man stumbled down the path to the village square.  He stopped to rest at the well and then collapsed.  The villagers gathered to see the stranger, but were hesitant to approach for he appeared to be sickly.  His body was dirty and emaciated.  Mrs. Murphy, who was never hindered by indecision, strode through the crowd right up to the boy.  After ascertaining that he was alive, she instructed several of the men to carry him to her cottage.  There they laid him on a cot in her den while Mrs. Murphy went to the kitchen to warm the lad some broth.

The boy regained consciousness enough to drink the warm fluid, and throughout the night Mrs. Murphy stirred him with more broth, and then let him return to sleep.  By morning the young stranger had recovered somewhat.

“What’s your name?” asked the town constable who had arrived early to look into the matter.

“William Morgan,” the boy replied.

“Well, William Morgan, what brings you to our village?”

“I’m on a quest to find my parents,” the lad said with unquestionable sincerity.  “I awoke one morning, and they were gone.  I searched everywhere, but I could not find them.  Finally, I set off to search for them, but I have yet to find them.”

Just then the constable’s assistant interrupted, “A dispatch came in some months ago from Broaden Flats.”  “It said that a Mr. and Mrs. Morgan were looking for their lost son.”  “He disappeared one morning while they were out walking.”

“Broaden Flats is where I’m from!” cried William.

When on a quest searching for God, just remember that he’s right there.  He hasn’t gone anywhere.  He’s waiting for you.

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Reflection on Psalm 139

In Psalm 139, David expresses his understanding of the intimate way that God knows him. God knows his thoughts, his location, his habits, and what he is going to say before he says it.  Nothing about David is hidden from God.  He cares for David and guards over him.  I believe David’s insight about his relationship with God reveals truth for us all.  Hebrews 4: 13 reminds us that, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight”.  Therefore, God knows our thoughts, our location, our habits, and what we are going to say before we say it.  As you think about this, how do you respond?

David’s response to these thoughts is precious. “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain”.  I believe David was overwhelmed by the idea that the creator of the universe paid that much attention to the details of his life.   I am also stunned, if you will, that the creator of the universe pays that much attention to me.  He also pays that much attention to you.

As I contemplated the knowledge that God knows me this intimately, I sought a proper response.  I finally decided that I should seek to know more about him.  I remembered that Jesus said, “Seek and you will find.”   With Jesus’ words to insure success, I am seeking to know more about God.  We often sing in our worship songs, “I want to know you more”.   Well, here I go.

David, at the end of a life of seeking God, told his son Solomon:

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with whole hearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.  If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

The advice of David, the man after God’s own heart, is to serve and seek the true God with the assurance that he will be found.  I’d like to know him more.  Won’t you joint me in this quest?

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Who Is This Jesus?

One of my favorite passages of scripture is Colossians 1: 15-17.  In this passage Paul gives us an insight into who Jesus really is.  He writes:

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation.  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The last statement, “in him all things hold together,” always intrigues me.  When considering atoms, the invisible building blocks of the whole universe, the question has always been what holds an atom together?  Perhaps the answer is Jesus.  And, of course, I have had to ask myself, what would happen if he let go?  Well, the reality is that Jesus holds all things together, whatever that actually means, and this points to the ultimate power of our savior.  The one who humbled himself and came to earth in human form is the all-powerful Creator God.

Sharing about this scripture shines light on how ridiculous were the struggles I shared about in last week’s post.  Jesus is God in the fullest sense.  He has been given complete authority over all things.  He is the supreme ruler over all of creation.  What he did for us shows his amazing character, and warrants him eternal praise and thanksgiving.

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Beginning 2015

As we begin a new year, I’d like to say a few things about this blog.  God’s World and Us points first of all to the fact that we live in a world that God created.  It’s his.  Secondly, we are his.  He created us, acknowledged or not, to live in his created world.  By stating these facts, and providing the subsequent posts to this blog, I hope to help us gain perspective.  “Us” includes you and me.  If you have ever taught, you know that teaching causes the teacher to learn more than earlier studies ever provided.  Therefore, as I prepare and write for this blog, I will be gaining perspective as I share with you.

On a day some thirty-two years ago, when I was involved in a church start-up ministry, I received a word from God that has shaped my ministry since then.  My main part in the new church was as the worship leader, but I also took part in the teaching ministry.  I had spent that day with our pastor helping him to move his household to a new place.  On the way back to the church, I remembered that it was my turn to teach the bible study.  The bible study was just two hours away, and I was not sure what I was going to teach that evening.  We stopped at a store, and I remained in the truck to pray.  I was seeking the Lord for inspiration, so I prayed, “Lord what should I teach?”

He responded, “Teach them who I am.”

I replied, “How can I do that when I don’t know who you are?”

God’s response in that prayer, “Teach them who I am” has turned out to be a lifelong calling.  As God, through his love and mercy, has revealed himself to me, I have tried to be faithful in sharing what he has shown me.  This blog is also a forum for that calling.

My hope for us in 2015 is that we will grow ever closer to knowing Him, our great and loving Father.  May this blog be a help to us along the way.

2015 Albert Vredenburg

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Celebrating Christmas

With the advent of Christmas we celebrate the greatest event that ever happened on the earth:  God entering time and taking on human flesh.  He spent time as one of us.  He walked beside us, and with his eventual death and resurrection, brought new and eternal life for all who would receive him.  This is worthy of celebration.  No other event on earth has stirred the hearts of men to such joyous celebration.  People all-over the earth celebrate this wondrous occasion.

Our joining in celebration helps us focus on something bigger than our individual lives; something more real than the temporal.  Celebration sets a mood of happiness and oneness.  I remember singing in a community choir.  Yes, the usual human difficulties were present during rehearsals, but when the performance came we were a unit of celebration.  Our hearts were lifted.  We experienced a oneness of joy and delight.

God wants us to enter into the celebration.  The angels celebrated that first night when Jesus was born, and we have ever since celebrated with them.  Let us continue the celebration of Jesus’ birth and the wonder of God’s plan for our salvation begun that glorious night.

                   A promise has been fulfilled

                   A reclamation for all the earth

                   A virgin has brought forth child

                   A most miraculous birth

                   A prophesy from ancient times

                   A hope that’s now achieved

                   A salvation realized

                   A redemption for Adam’s seed.

God bless you, and have a Merry Christmas!

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With Great Expectation

I woke up this morning feeling better than I ever remember feeling.  My heart felt light, and I was in love with the world.  My wife seemed to be having the same kind of morning.  We had a pleasant breakfast together then left for work.  Walking out to my car several of my neighbors greeted me with a friendly good morning, and for the first time, I felt a genuine love for them as I returned their greeting.  I got in my car and headed out on my normal route to work.  I noticed that the normal intensity from my driving companions was missing.  People were not cutting each other off, but they were yielding to others and giving way in a very uncustomary manner.  All the tension and animosity of the usual experienced was gone.  I turned on the radio to hear the morning news.  Every report was of kind and generous acts occurring around the world.

Then I really woke up.  I realized I was dreaming.  To my dismay the scourge of sin was still among us.  Hatred, selfishness and mistrust were still guiding our actions.  How I longed for the world of my dream.  At that moment I realized, it is coming.  The reign of sin will end.  We will live in God’s presence where sin cannot exist.  God will usher in a new heaven and a new earth, and we won’t even remember the time of sin’s domination.  Hallelujah!  Let us patiently wait with great expectation.  (see Isaiah 65:17-25 and Revelation 21 & 22)

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The Elect

Many brilliant minds over the ages have developed doctrines about the elect and predestination.  The elect are those who will during the course of time accept Jesus as their savior.  Predestination refers to the idea that God already knows who the elect are. My endeavoring to add to or distract from the many works on this subject would be arrogant presumption.  But, I would like to throw in a few thoughts on the subject anyway.  You decide.  I know I’m treading on dangerous ground.

The apostles Paul and Peter both wrote about God’s foreknowledge of the ones who would become his children.  In Romans 8:29 Paul writes,

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

In 1 Peter 1:1 Peter writes,

            Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood.

In the past, when I read these passages, I would get lost in all the doctrinal issues they have spurred.  Now they just make me feel wanted.  God wants me.  He pursued me and patiently waited for me.  Perhaps you have inkling that you’re being perused by God.  I can, without reservation, recommend that you surrender to him.  Entrust yourself to his foreknowledge.