What’s the Point?

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” -Isaiah 6:3

Good evening son,

You and I recently had a conversation about the battle between good and evil. We discussed how in recent years, evil has become more noticeable and more aggressive, if only in the headlines we read and how we’ve experienced it in this country, at least compared to what used to be not that many years ago. What I experienced fifty years ago and what you experienced twenty five years ago, is nothing compared to what your children are facing and will face today and in the future. During our conversation, I mentioned that Satan and God both desire our worship, and that this battle between good and evil is the result. You then asked, rhetorically I imagine, “What’s the point?” The short answer is, that in and through it all, God receives glory.

King Solomon struggled with the same question, and wrote about it in the book of Ecclesiastes. After he’d asked what’s the point or why, over and over again, he concluded that everything in this world is vanity, or meaningless, but at the very end of the book he wrote this, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep his commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Since I’ve had time to ponder your question, here’s a longer answer with a bigger picture view as I understand it. To better understand this battle, you must first recognize the difference between the spiritual world, of which you’re familiar, and the physical world, in which we live. One being eternal and one being temporal.

Because of John’s writings in Revelation, we get a glimpse of how things are in that spiritual realm and how they ought to be here. Taken to heaven in the spirit, John wrote of what he saw there, of how all creation, constant and never ceasing, gives glory and honor and praise to the God of the universe. All creation, all living creatures, giving him who sits on the throne, glory and honor and thanks. Why? There are two main reasons. One, because of who God is:

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)

God has no beginning, no end. He is. Time was invented for our benefit. With God, there is no time. As he told Moses to tell the sons of Israel on whose behalf he was sent, “‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God has always been and will always be. There is only one Lord God Almighty, and he has existed forever.

The second reason God deserves all honor and glory and praise is because of what he’s done:

“Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

So, God created everything, for his glory. All the stars and planets and universes and solar systems, and every living thing, including and especially humans, he created. For his glory. Although there are many verses in scripture that describe God’s glory in creation, Paul sums it up well in Colossians 1:16. Speaking of Jesus, who was there at creation, Paul says, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” We have no problem worshiping, praising, honoring, adoring, rock stars, athletes, movie stars, and British royalty, simply because they can dunk a basketball or sing or act, and yet, how much more should we honor the God of all creation? The whole earth declares his glory, so why is it so hard for humans? I’ve described the good, all things God, but what about the evil? It is that evil which explains the answer to the previous question of why humans struggle so much to declare God’s glory.

Evil started in heaven, with that being we call Satan or Lucifer or the devil. At one point, Satan wanted to make himself equal with God, to steal some of God’s glory. Here is how Satan is described in Isaiah 14: 12-15:

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of the assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.”

God said this to Isaiah the prophet, “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.” And because Satan tried to steal God’s glory, he was cast out of heaven. Here is how it is described in Revelation 12:7-9:

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

So, even though Satan was cast down to the earth, his desire for glory was not satisfied. His first act, after God had placed his creation in the garden, humans made in his image, was to corrupt Adam and Eve by deception and lying, as Satan is the father of lies. He questioned Eve as to what God had instructed her about eating from the tree in the middle of the garden and what would happen if she did, and then deceived her with the big lie, “You surely shall not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” And thus, sin entered into the world, separating man from God. And Satan continues to deceive man, in an effort to destroy him. He knows his eventual destination, hell, and wants to take as many humans with him as possible. Satan brought to earth all death, destruction, sickness, sorrow, pain, and suffering. All evil belongs to him.

Paul describes the spiritual world, and the ongoing war, in Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This battle rages all around us. The book of Job gives a glimpse into how Satan tries to turn humans away from God, and how he can only do as much as God allows him. And yet, after all Satan did to him and his family, Job did not lose his integrity and sin against the Lord. And through it all, God was glorified. And after a few thousand years of Satan corrupting the earth and man, God placed himself in the middle of it all, in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ, to solve the issue once and for all, to reconcile man back to himself. And what did Satan do? He tempted Jesus by offering him all the kingdoms of the world if he would just worship him (Matthew 4). But Jesus resisted. And when Jesus hung on the cross, Satan thought he’d won. But because of the resurrection, Satan and death were defeated, and Satan no longer has the power over man that he once did. We no longer have to fear the one who can destroy the body, but cannot destroy the soul.

So, what about America in the year 2024? Why is evil so prevalent now more than in the past. Jesus talked about what happens when a demon is driven from a man in Matthew 12:43-45, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.” Year after year, more Americans turn away from God and go their own way. I believe a nation is much like that demon possessed man described by Jesus. As the nation turns away from God, his Spirit is quenched and loses its influence, and the resulting void is filled by evil spirits. We can see it happening all around us. A nation once filled with Christians, serious about their faith, a people who once gave glory to God, who once worshipped him and honored him, no longer do, and the country isn’t the same.

And in the midst of it, Christians suffer. Much like they have for centuries. Paul wrote to the Philippian church, encouraging them to, prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world... (Philippians 2:15) If we do, this too will glorify God.

Paul also wrote in Romans that our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God. Put another way, without evil, we wouldn’t know good. Apart from God, mankind cannot do good. Apart from God, man has no morals. It is only because of God’s influence that we aren’t living in a dystopian hell on earth. But as mankind chooses to turn away from God, as he has so many times throughout history, Satan becomes emboldened and evil flourishes.

So, what does it all mean? What’s the point? The end of the story has been written. Jesus will return and Satan will be cast into the abyss for 1000 years and then into the lake of fire and brimstone, to be tormented forever more (Revelation 20). And those who choose Satan over God will join him there. However, those who choose the Savior of the world, Jesus, will reign with him forever in God’s presence, in heaven. Meanwhile, Satan tries to deceive as many people as possible. And every time a sinner repents and gives his life to the Lord, God is glorified. And every time anyone resists the devil’s temptations, God is glorified. And when a man lives a life of integrity, as Job did, not letting Satan deceive him, God is glorified.

Paraphrasing your brother, this life is just preparation for a destination. The sad truth is, each of us chooses his own destination. God does not force us to give him glory and worship him, he gives us free will, but he does force us to choose. Over time, God has demonstrated who he is, good. Satan has demonstrated who he is, evil. The choice is stark. It isn’t ambiguous. And when someone chooses Jesus, God is glorified.

That’s the point, my son.

 If you enjoyed reading this post, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

“Turn off that light!”

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? -Psalm 94:16 (NIV)

The message this past Sunday came from the gospel of John and a section subtitled: Jesus Is the Light of the World. The key verse was John 8:12, where Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” But what does this mean, Jesus being the light of the world? The preacher laid it out in three sections; the light reveals truth, the light leads to life, and the light provides guidance. What I want to focus on here is another thing the light does; it exposes darkness.

Shortly after the well known verse from John 3:16, where Jesus explains just how much God loves the world, he lays out the stark truth for all to hear in John 3:19-21, “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Have you ever wondered why so many people hate Christians? After all, followers of Jesus go around practicing good deeds, so why hate them? They aren’t perfect, which they will readily admit, but they try to stay in the light and live a life pleasing to God. Traditionally they’ve built hospitals and universities; they’ve adopted babies, fed the hungry, practiced charity, put their lives on the line sharing the good news of Jesus and his saving grace to a lost world. So why the animus? Read the quote from John chapter 3 again.

I assume you know what it feels like to be sound asleep in your darkened room, only to have someone come in and flip on the light switch. You cover your eyes and in anger yell, “Turn off that light!” Similarly, no one wants their evil deeds exposed to the light, and when they are, the reaction is much the same. Not only do the wicked not want their deeds exposed, they don’t want anyone to impede their efforts, and the truth is, followers of Jesus are in the way. Much like Lot was in the way when the men of the city tried to have relations with the two angels who came to visit him (Genesis 19). We humans sin because we want to, and whatever we desire, we think we should have. Forget self-control. And like a two year old, we do not want to hear the word no. Temper tantrums aren’t reserved for two year olds.

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, reminding them of who they once were, and who they had become. About those immoral people in the world, Paul wrote these words in Ephesians 5:7-12:

Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

I recall a time, back when newspapers were a thing, reading the section titled, Police Reports. Over time, I noticed a pattern in the time of day these events occurred. Inevitably, these infractions of the law took place in the darkness, many of them in the middle of the night, but certainly after 10:00 pm. Which made me think of those times when I lived in the darkness and engaged in immoral living; my deeds were almost always conducted at night, most often late at night when the rest of the world was sound asleep. When wanting to get drunk as an underage teen, I certainly didn’t seek out a men’s Bible study group on Saturday morning as the place to pop open a cold one. Rather, my like minded comrades and I waited until the dead of night to perpetrate our misdeeds. On a dark country road, far away from prying eyes. There is cover in darkness. Speaking of my former life, here’s what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:1-3:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Paul encourages us to expose the evil deeds of darkness. Why do you think it’s so easy for Christians to spot evil? In my case, because I once lived it. But for most of us, because living in the light trains us to discern evil. In the light, we recognize darkness all too well. Some might say, “Why don’t you Christians just mind your own business, keep your mouths shut, and get out of the way?” One question I have in response is, who will speak for and defend the innocent?

1. When powerful men and women want to secretly traffic innocent children for their sexual perversions and pleasures, who is it that exposes them in shame? There’s a reason Jeffrey Epstein’s client list remains hidden to this day.
2. When women want to pay others to kill their innocent, inconvenient babies in the womb, up until the time of birth, who is it that stands in the way? Who is it who builds and staffs pregnancy crisis centers? And why is it so many women seek the government’s approval via the law?
3. When politicians in government want to legalize drugs and prostitution, to fulfill their lust for more money, who is it standing in the way?
4. When pedophiles and perverts want to inculcate schools with their perverted ideology and propaganda, who stands in opposition?
5. When adults want to physically mutilate children, to accomplish something that cannot be done, joining these disturbed individuals in their fantasies, who is it that speaks the truth?
6. When the culture wants to change the definition of words and normalize deviant behavior, who is it calling them out?

In Ezekiel 22, the prophet brings the word of the Lord to the people. During this time, the culture of Jerusalem was rotten; people served false gods, engaged in sexual immorality and lewd acts, shed innocent blood, despised God’s holy things, and Israel had become a reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the surrounding lands. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? It sounds much like America today. And here is what God instructed Ezekiel to say to the people (Ezekiel 22:30):

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” (NLT)

Think what society would be like, what the rich and powerful and sexual predators would get away with, if not for Christians willing to speak up and be heard, if not for those willing to stand in the gap. No wonder they hate us. We’re in the way. I can hear them say, “If it wasn’t for those &%#$%+@ Christians, we could get away with just about anything.” And it’s true. Who else cares? Some might say that the law protects our children. Until the laws change. And they have and will. Man’s laws will never equal God’s righteousness.

Regarding the light, Jesus had this to say about his followers in Matthew 5:14-16:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Christians are called to do more than shine the light in the darkness, we’re to be the light in the darkness. We are called to live in a way that glorifies God, to be different from the world. But beware. Jesus said that everyone who does evil hates the light. However, take comfort, for as Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) As long as you don’t shrink back, but stay strong, you’ll remain in their way. So, gird your loins and remain true to your calling. And remember the words of the Lord as spoken through Isaiah the prophet, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness…”

Jesus also has warnings for those who do evil and lead others astray. From Matthew 18:6-7: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (NKJV)

On that note, one more quote I’ll leave with you to ponder. This from Hebrews 10:31- It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Here are some lyrics from an old hymn I used to love singing, back when we sang the old hymns:

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Praise the Lord for the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

The Director

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players;” -William Shakespeare

A Story

With production nearing its final stages, the director gathers all the actors and crew together to review his final checklist. Surrounding him are men and women, in costume, ready to perform. With script in hand, he barks out commands and shouts questions, ensuring all the players know their lines and everything is in its proper place.

At one point, the director claps his hands and shouts into his megaphone, “I need to see all the soldiers first. Come on, all you Roman soldiers gather around.” Several men, wearing helmets and breastplates, with swords and spears in hand, circle around the director. “Okay, men. We’ve already been over the scene where you arrest Jesus, but I want to finalize a couple of the other scenes. So, when Jesus is in custody, awaiting trial, what are you men doing?”

One of the soldiers speaks up. “We’re to give him a beating.” Some of the men laugh, but quickly silence themselves when they receive the director’s angry glare.

Temporarily chastened, the soldiers stand around and wait, while the director flips through his script, reading the minute details, and then says, “Yes, that’s the gist of it. You give him a beating, but that’s not all. It says right here you’re to mock him, spit on him, strike him in the face…” He pauses as he reads further. “And it also says you’re to pluck out his beard.” Moans are heard coming from the soldiers. The director shakes his head and thinks, Pluck out his beard. That’s rough. He refers back to the script and continues, “Oh, hold on. Before you do all that, you must first scourge him.”

One of the soldiers says, “What’s a scourge?”

The director says, “You know, one of those whips with bits of stone embedded in the tips. It’s designed so that when you whip him with it, the sharp pieces rip his skin as each stroke of the whip is retrieved. The script says that his appearance must be marred. Can you gentlemen make sure his appearance is marred?”

In unison, all the men cry out, “Yes, sir!”

The director continues, “Okay I think we’ve got that down. So, the next scene is when he’s on the cross. Do we have a cross?” Someone in the back affirms there is a cross. The director reads more of the script. “It says here, he’s to be with criminals in his death. Do we have any criminals scheduled for crucifixion?”

One of his assistants says, “Yes, sir. There are two criminals scheduled for death on the same day.”

“Perfect! Okay then, we’ll have the two criminals hanging on either side of him. That will make a nice shot as the sun goes down in the background. Now, there’s one last scene for you men. When Jesus hangs on the cross, there are several things you must do. First, after hanging in the hot sun, he’s going to be thirsty and want something to drink. You’re to give him vinegar.”

One of the soldiers says, “Vinegar! Why vinegar?”

The director glares at the man, while slapping the script against his leg. “Because the script says so, that’s why!”

Noticing one of the men holding a spear, the directors says to him, “At some point, you take your spear and thrust it into his side. And make sure there’s plenty of spilled blood.”

One of the other men says, “We’re supposed to break his legs, too.”

The director shakes his head. “No, no, no. You don’t break his legs.”

The man hangs his head and says, “But why? We always break their legs. It helps speed up the dying process.”

The director says, “I don’t care what you always do, it says right here, no broken bones.” There’s a bit of mumbling, and as the men begin to disperse, the director says, “Oh, and one last thing,” as he grabs three stragglers, “I want you three men to cast lots for his clothes. Got it?” The three men nod their heads and the soldiers all fade into the crowd.

The director then calls out on his megaphone, “I need to see Judas.” When Judas arrives, the director says, “Now, you’ve been chosen to betray Jesus. How will you go about it?”

Judas says, “Well, I planned to go directly to the chief priests and the elders and offer to betray Jesus into their hands, for a price of course. I’m going to ask for a king’s ransom, since they seem determined to arrest him.” The director listens to Judas while reading the script at the same time. “You can ask for whatever you want, Judas, but it says right here, they’re only going to offer you thirty pieces of silver.” Judas, disappointed, shuffles off to await his big moment.

The director then calls out, “I need to see the disciples.” Once the disciples are gathered around, the director says, “Now, when Jesus is arrested, I want you men to scatter and hide from the authorities. And from that moment on, you’re to observe from a distance. You’re all afraid. Got it?” Peter starts to say something, but John elbows him, and Peter remains silent. The disciples all nod their heads and shuffle away.

The director now calls out, “I need to see the crowd. Those listed on the script as “members of the crowd,” please report to me now.” A few minutes pass and when the director is surrounded by a crowd of extras, he says, “You people have a couple of crucial scenes. First, when Pilate brings Jesus out and presents him to you, all of you are to shout out, “Crucify him!” repeatedly. Whatever Pilate says, you repeat that line. And do so vehemently, as if you despise him. This needs to sound authentic.”

One man in the crowd raises his hand. The director says, “What?” The man says, “Why should we despise him? He never did anything to us, except heal us and feed us and teach us. Why should we hate him without cause?”

Exasperated, the director flings his script onto the dusty ground. “You don’t need a reason to hate him! You people will do exactly as the script says. You’ll gnash your teeth and scream for his death, like those who despise the man. This is a crucial scene and I need everyone to feel the emotion. Do you understand me?” The crowd mumbles their assent.

The director continues, “Now when Jesus is hanging on the cross, you are to mock him and jeer at him and say, ‘Save yourself! You said you’re the Son of God, come down off that cross.’ And then add, ‘He trusts in God, let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him.'” And looking to his left, he says, “You two criminals, while hanging on the cross, you’re to join in with the crowd and say the same things they’re saying.” The two criminals shrug their shoulders and nod their heads.

After several meetings, the day is nearly done. But the director still has one more player to meet. Jesus. Before he raises his megaphone to call out for him, Jesus is already standing before him. “Oh, it’s you. I assume you don’t have any questions, but I thought I would go over your scenes with you before the call to action. You don’t have many lines, but let’s run through this together, shall we?” Jesus nods. “So, when you are arrested, you offer no resistance, and when you’re brought before the authorities, you don’t defend yourself, but remain silent. And you have several key lines when you’re on the cross. Are you comfortable with your lines?” Jesus nods again. “Oh, and don’t forget, on the third day there will be some of your followers coming to the tomb. You must be gone before they arrive. Are you ready for this?”

Jesus, with a far away look in his eyes, says, “Your will be done,” and then turns and walks away.

The director, standing alone now, says, “I never heard a man speak like that man.”

All the players are now in their places, and as the director sits in the director’s chair, he’s confident that things will unfold exactly as he’s planned. Surveying the scene one last time, he raises his megaphone and shouts, “Action!”

Just outside of Jerusalem, a crowd of people line the road, waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

Just then the director jumps out of his chair and shouts into his megaphone, “Cut! Cut! Cut! People, Jesus can’t enter Jerusalem on foot. This is his grand entrance. Who forgot the donkey?”

*The scenes in this story were all pre-written (the script), hundreds of years prior to the birth of the Messiah, with most of the prophecies coming from Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, but also from Zechariah and others. God, the Director, and Author of the script, left nothing to chance. Everything that happened surrounding the arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, was by design. Nothing was accidental. As we celebrate Easter week, let each of us remember that the resurrection of Jesus is the culmination and fulfillment of all scripture. And because of God’s eternal plan, we who have placed our lives in Jesus’ hands have hope for a future. An eternity with God and His Son. And if you want to know the rest of God’s plan, I encourage you to read the script.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Always on My Mind

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence? -Psalm 139:7

The sermon Sunday was titled, “The Habit of Meditation,” and the key scripture verses were Psalm 1:1-2 and Philippians 4:8. I thought of other verses with a similar theme, but what does it mean to meditate? I searched for the word in an online dictionary and found this:

A: To engage in focused thought on scriptural passages or on doctrines or mysteries of religion, especially Christianity.

B. To engage in devotional contemplation, especially prayer.

So, here are several verses that speak of meditating on God and his word.

Psalm 1:1-3 (I added verse 3 to show what results from meditating on God’s word): “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he mediates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not whither; and in whatever he does he prospers.”

Joshua 1:8: “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”

In these two verses, we’re given specific benefits from mediating on God’s word. God wants us to prosper, to have success, and to produce fruit, and he shows us the way.

If the goal of mediation is to produce fruit, what is the role of mediation?

Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.”

In addition to the Philippians verse above, add to it these words from Isaiah 55:8-9: “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”

The role of meditating on God’s word is to focus us on him and his ways, ways that are contrary to our nature. For we won’t find whatever is lovely and pure and right and honorable by focusing on ourselves, or on the things of this world. These excellent things are found in God. And by focusing on God, we are changed.

But how does focusing on these things change us, and what does God desire for us to become? I recall a scene in the movie Jaws, where Chief Brodie and his youngest son are sitting across from one another at the kitchen table, just the two of them. When Brodie rests his chin on his hand, so does the boy. When he picks up his glass and takes a drink, so does the boy. When he interlaces his fingers, deep in thought, so does the little boy. When he makes a monster face, so does his son. Brodie’s son imitates everything his father does. God wants us to imitate him, “to become conformed to the image of His Son,” Jesus. (Romans 8:29)

The last book I wrote is titled, “Pondering God,” with ponder being a synonym for meditate. Do you ponder God? How often do you dwell on him and his word?  When do you meditate on his mysteries? How much time does God expect us to devote to thinking of him? Is meditating on God’s word, a once-a-day event?

From Deuteronomy 6:5-9: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

In the morning and at night? Really? Walking along the way? Loving him with all my heart? Does God really expect this much attention? After all, I’m busy. I must work. And I have family obligations. What does it look like to meditate on God, day and night? What does God expect from us?

Early in my walk with Jesus, I consumed God’s word and thought of him on Sundays, and then on Wednesday night at our mid-week gathering. But as I grew in my faith, I began to read his word daily. And then I found I was reading his word off cycle, in preparation for studies and writings. And when I invited God into all areas of my life, work, play, marriage, I found that I thought of him often. I now think of God when I’m on my daily walks. While driving in my car. I think of his word when I watch television, when I’m home alone, while reading a book, when I wake up and before I go to sleep. Many of my daily prayers include scripture verses.

When I read headlines like this:

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Stock Trades Earned A 65% Return in ’23 Sparking Moves To Ban Lawmakers From Trading

I think of scriptures like this:

“Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord, and a false scale is not good.”                       – Proverbs 20:23

When I see a sparrow in a field next to the road and watch it fly away with a worm dangling from its mouth, I think of Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than them?”

When I receive an unexpected property tax rebate in the mail, I give him thanks. When things go well at work, I thank God for being alongside me all the way. When my marriage improves, I give God all the credit. When someone gives me feedback about something I’ve written, I thank God.

Do you recall what it was like when you first went steady with someone? I do. I was sixteen at the time. I thought of her when I awoke in the morning. I thought of her while lying on my bed at night, trying to fall asleep. I looked forward to each weekday morning, knowing I would be walking her to school or picking her up in my car and driving her there. I looked for her in the hallway between classes, where we often passed notes to each other. I paced the house every evening, waiting for the phone to ring, even though I had just spent time with her two hours earlier. All my favorite songs reminded me of her. I could hardly wait for the weekend and our Saturday night dates. Other interests and activities took a backseat to this relationship. I wanted to be with her always, and I just couldn’t get her off my mind.

I’m beginning to understand what God requires of me and you. The truth is, God desires our full attention. He desires our endless adoration. He desires to be always on our mind. And if he is, you will become more like him. And as James wrote, you will “prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.” (James 1:22)

The truth is, God’s presence is everywhere, as the Psalmist noted above. How can you miss him?

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Fight or Flight?

He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight. -Sun Tzu, The Art of War

He that fights and runs away, may turn and fight another day; but he that is in battle slain, will never rise to fight again. -Tacitus

There is much wisdom in the Tacitus quote, and much truth in Sun Tzu’s strategy, and it seems they are offering similar advice. But what do these battle strategies have to do with a follower of Jesus Christ and how might they apply to you and me? Aren’t these two men talking about physical warfare and confrontation? Since I’m no longer the brawler I used to be, what does this have to do with me? The truth is, war has been declared on Christians, whether we want it or not, and woe is he who does not join the battle. We have a foe, and he plays for keeps. Paul describes the battle thus:

“Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this spiritual darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:11-12

So, now that I’ve established that we are in a war with Satan and his demons, a battle that we did not choose, but one we cannot avoid, which strategy should you choose to win? Resist the devil or flee? Should I stay or should I go now? Yes. Both strategies are effective, but wisdom leads to choosing the right one at the right time.

The scripture from Ephesians cited above tells us to stand firm. James gives us this advice, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) Peter, who once ran away himself when Jesus was arrested, instructs us thus, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

When I think of these words of resistance, I automatically think of Jesus and his direct confrontation with Satan in the desert (from Matthew 4). Jesus stood firm, aided by scripture, resisted every temptation that was thrown at him, and said to the Accuser, “Begone, Satan!” and the “devil left him.”

Or I think of Elijah, who orchestrated a showdown between himself and the 250 prophets of Baal, between his God and their god. “And when all the people saw the power of God, they fell on their faces; and they said, ‘The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.'” And Elijah seized the prophets of Baal “and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.” (1 Kings 18) Would that I too stand firm and resist when the time comes.

But what if I can’t resist? What if I’m too weak? After all, engaging in battle when I’m not ready would be foolish. I’m reminded of the seven sons of Sceva, from the book of Acts, who were trying to cast out evil spirits “by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” These men were not prepared for the battle, and the demon said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Ouch! “And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” (Acts 19:16) These men would have been better off choosing strategy number two, recognized what they were up against, and fled! Or as Dirty Harry put it in Magnum Force, “Man’s got to know his limitations.” Do you know your limitations?

Which leads to the second strategy. If you can’t resist, run for the hills.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) He wrote in 2 Timothy, “Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith love and peace, with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:22).

The writer of Proverbs wrote, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.” (Proverbs 4:14-15)

Sometimes the best strategy when facing Satan and his temptations is to find a way of escape and flee. But what if I don’t see a way out? God has provided that as well. Paul wrote this, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

The perfect example of this strategy in action is from the book of Genesis, when Joseph was faced with sexual temptation from Potiphar’s wife. While in Egypt, Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, put Joseph in charge of his house and everything he owned. Soon, Joseph was approached by Potiphar’s wife, who had intentions to sleep with Joseph. One day, when Joseph was left alone in the house with Potiphar’s wife, she came onto him once again. Here is the crucial encounter, “And she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me!’ And he left his garment in her hand and fled, and went outside.”

Joseph saw the way of escape provided by the Lord and took it. Do you look for the way of escape God provides for you? The truth is, we sin because we want to, but Joseph had made up his mind early on that he wouldn’t sin against God or his master. When the way of escape presented itself, Joseph was already on the lookout for it. Are you?

But how do we know which strategy to follow? Do we flee temptation or resist the devil? I’ll refer back to the Dirty Harry quote, “Man’s got to know his limitations.” Do you know your weaknesses? If you don’t, Satan does. Here’s another quote from Sun Tzu, from The Art of War, that seems appropriate here:

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

You need to know your enemy, Satan, and his many schemes and deceits. And you need to know yourself, with all of your vulnerabilities. Search God’s word and find out about your enemy and how he operates. Search God’s word and find out about yourself. Ask for wisdom and discernment, to know what to do when Satan and his temptations come. Learn to hate sin and make up your mind beforehand to resist or flee. Either way, Satan is defeated.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Driving the Speed Limit

“Life in the fast lane, surely make you lose your mind.” -The Eagles

I recently made a change in my driving habits. Whereas I once didn’t pay much attention to speed limits, content to move along with the flow of traffic, I now pay attention and do my best to not speed. The change came about due to a switch in insurance carriers. The new company offered us a discount for safe driving, but there was a catch. We had to install a device in our car that monitors our speed. To receive the discount going forward, we must receive a good report. So, now that I’m being watched, by the insurance company and my wife, I pay more attention to the speed limit. 

Since the change, I’ve come to a conclusion; people don’t want to obey the law. How do I know this? Driving the speed limit has almost gotten me run off the road. I’ve been flipped off and tailgated. I’ve been honked at, had curses screamed at me, and had lights flashed in my rearview mirror. I’ve had cars whip around me and cut me off at high rates of speed. As I slowed down at a stop sign, one guy accelerated past me, blowing through the stop sign while speeding at the same time. I’ve also been passed on a double yellow line section of the road, all because I was driving at a speed clearly identified by signs strategically placed along the way. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 25 miles per hour zone on a city street, or a 60 miles per hour zone on the interstate highway, people hate it, and me, when I drive the speed limit. As the F-150 rides my bumper, I can almost see and hear the gnashing of teeth as the driver raises his fist at me and mouths, “Get out of the way, you ————–!” It’s as if, as the Eagles sang, these people have surely lost their minds.

One time, while on the Interstate, I drove a 25 mile stretch and noticed that I didn’t pass a single vehicle, and as I observed the traffic flying by me in the lanes on either side, it appeared that I was going in reverse. Although I still speed from time to time, after all, I’m not perfect and it’s difficult to consistently maintain any speed, let alone twenty five miles per hour, it is no longer something I practice doing. Through it all, I’ve learned much about my fellow man, and much of what I’ve learned has nothing to do with driving. So, why does my driving the speed limit cause such uncontrollable anger and rage in someone else? Simply put, I’m in their way.

With the above in mind, I’ve often wondered why the secular world and pop culture hate Christians so much. The answer is simple; Christians are in the way. Those in the secular world, desiring no boundaries or guardrails in their lives, want to sin, and who is it that stands in their way? When they want to make abortion on demand the law of the land, who is it that gets in their way? When they want to distribute pornography in the grade schools, who is in the way? When they want to physically mutilate confused children without parental involvement or consent, who’s in the way? When they want to mainstream pedophilia, who is it that stands in the way? When they try to convince the world that men can become women and vice versa, who stands in the way? The truth is, it isn’t Christians who stand in the way, it’s who and what Christians represent.

In John 15:18-24, Jesus said: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.” (NIV)

A couple of things about sin. People sin because they want to, not because they’re helpless and unable to resist. The second thing is, no one wants to feel the guilt that comes along with sin. Without God, and as Jesus said, he represents God, there would be no guilt for sin, because we wouldn’t recognize it. Christians represent a life with moral guardrails, speed limits if you will. And even though we still sin, we no longer practice it and do our best to resist. The world doesn’t want guardrails in life, they want to race through life without any restrictions. And so they first tried to get rid of God, and did their best to remove him from the public square. After removing God, the next step was to shut up the Christians. They’ve had some success, but try as they may, it hasn’t worked. And so they rage. And scream. And curse. And ridicule. And mock. And still, the guilt remains. Why? The truth is, it isn’t Christians who cause the guilt. Once again, it’s who Christians represent. Because Jesus wears the title, Savior (save me from what?), his name is a constant reminder of sin. And who wants that hanging over their head?

When Jesus ascended to heaven, he left behind the Holy Spirit, in effect, a part of himself, so his followers would not be left alone. From John 16: 7-8, Jesus said this about the Holy Spirit,  “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;” (NASB)

You see, Christians don’t have to say a word, their presence alone (with the indwelling Holy Spirit) is enough. That’s why someone was recently arrested outside an abortion clinic for doing nothing more than standing across the street and silently praying. This person’s presence alone created guilt, and the people inside the clinic needed to have their anger and revenge satisfied. A similar phenomenon I’ve noticed at work. If I’m with a group of people and someone lets slip the F-bomb, they inevitably turn red and apologize to me. Even though I didn’t say a single word, and never once told them I don’t approve of swearing. And yet, they know I don’t use language like that, and they know who I represent. And they feel guilty.

The reason why my driving causes the kind of behavior I’ve observed is because it’s an aberration. Most people speed. The degree of speeding may vary, but the point remains. Have you ever wondered what the highways and streets would be like without speed limit signs, stop signs, traffic lights, road warning signs, and railroad crossing lights? Chaos. Now, imagine living in a world with no morals. Anything goes. What would that world be like? As more and more people turn away from God and his morality, and more and more Christians deny and stifle the Holy Spirit that lives within, the more we see our society in chaos. And as more and more Christians compromise their morals and become just like the people of the world, the more society will be, as Robert Bork put it, slouching towards Gomorrah, with everyone doing what is right in their own eyes. Exactly the way Satan wants it.

From my experiences, you’ve seen how angry people can get when someone driving the speed limit gets in their way. Imagine how angry the world can get when confronted with their sin. Maybe you don’t have to imagine. After all, in a rage, the mob crucified Jesus.

*Right after posting this article, I read this headline: “Rob Reiner makes it clear that leftists are coming for Christianity” And why would leftists come after Christianity? Christians are in the way.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

A Drowning Man

 “…and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him…” Matthew 14: 30-31

I’ve spoken with many Christians who struggle with how to present the good news (gospel) to someone not of the faith, for that is our mission. What is the best way to share your faith? Is it a specific verse? Do you need to explain all the mysteries of God? What if they challenge what you say? To simplify things, I encourage the men I talk with to personalize the good news. For who knows your story better than you? I suppose it would be best to define the terms. First, what is the good news, and second, why is it good news?

For me, the story is a simple one. At the age of twenty five I was crushed under the weight of my sin, overwhelmed with guilt and shame. I had sinned against someone I loved, against my fellow man, and against the God of the universe. I found it difficult to breathe. I lost my appetite, eventually losing twenty one pounds. I was desperate to be saved. But who or what could save me? No brilliance of mankind could save me. No self help guru. No billionaire. No amount of riches or possessions. No amount of education or learning could save me. There is only one to whom I could turn. Jesus. The truth is, Jesus is the only one who offered. For in Acts 4:12 is says of Jesus:

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

I was underwater, drowning in my sin and unable to save myself. And unless you can walk on water, so are you my friend. The words of this old hymn describe my condition well:

 I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me– now safe am I.

Not only was there no man on earth, no pastor or priest, no amount of money, no books or wisdom, no amount of forgiveness from those I’d hurt that could save me, the truth is, there is no one else who offers salvation. It is the reason he came. It is the reason he died. Another old hymn describes my resulting exaltation well:

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Why do I bother to share the good news? Like all Christians, I don’t want anyone to feel in life the way I once felt. Lost, with no hope. Overwhelmed by sin and guilt and shame. “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Maybe your sin isn’t as great as mine, but it only takes one. Why do I share the good news? Because I don’t want anyone to spend eternity in torment, excluded from the presence of God. I won’t try to browbeat you. I won’t try to force you to believe. I won’t convert you at the edge of a sword. I will simply offer my life as an example. I once was lost. Now I’m found. Never to feel the guilt and shame of my sin again. This offer from Jesus is for everyone. I’m certainly not special or deserving of saving.

The scripture at the top of this post is from Matthew, from the story of Jesus walking on water, and Peter, for a brief time joining him, only to sink beneath the waves. And like Peter, I too cried out, “Jesus, save me!” And Jesus reached out his hand.

Will you be saved? It won’t cost you a thing. The price has already been paid.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance: occurs when a person believes in two contradictory things at the same time.

I recently heard a sermon preached from the book of Hebrews that briefly touched upon this verse: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” -Hebrews 4:15

Him being tempted like we are, makes Jesus, our high priest, relatable to the common man, you and me. If he had sinned, he couldn’t be the perfect sacrifice for our sins and redeem us; he would be as flawed as we are. On the other hand, if he wasn’t tempted in all things as we are, our sin couldn’t be held against us and we might rightly say to him, “If you would have faced all the temptations I have faced, you would have sinned just like me.” However, he was tempted, just like us, and he didn’t sin, unlike us.

And then the preacher dropped in this verse from James: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” -James 1:13

This is where the speaker ran into trouble. How can this verse agree with the verse from Hebrews? If Jesus is God in the flesh, how was he tempted by sin, if God can’t be tempted? Are these two verses contradictory? The preacher did his best to explain it away and intimated that Jesus was tempted like we are in some ways, making the statement appear generally true. Which still doesn’t explain the meaning of the verse. So, here are the two questions to be answered: 1. Was Jesus God? 2. Was Jesus tempted in all things as we are?

First, was Jesus God? Through the testimony of many eyewitnesses, from the prophecies of long ago, and from the mouth of Jesus himself, we know that Jesus was both fully God and fully man.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” (John 10:30) and “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:8). He also said, “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.” (John 14:11) His miracles alone proved his deity.

And referencing a prophecy from Isaiah, written more than 700 years before his birth, is this passage from Matthew: “Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet (Isaiah 7:14) might be fulfilled, saying, ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.'” (Matthew 1:22-23)

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus (or Joshua, from the Hebrew root meaning, “the Lord is salvation“), for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

“…For that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20)

This testimony from one of the twelve apostles, “Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

There are plenty of more verses from scripture that speak of Jesus’ deity, but I will stop here. In summation, if Jesus were merely a man, I wouldn’t worship him, nor would I place my eternity in his hands. As it is, I do, and I have.

Moving on to the second question. Was Jesus tempted in all things as we are? Let’s see from scripture.

In Matthew chapter four, we see Satan (described as the tempter) tempting Jesus to test God. Taking him to the pinnacle of the temple, Satan urged Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give His angels charge concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'” Later, the tempter came at Jesus again and tempted him by promising him all the kingdoms of the world, “…if You fall down and worship me.” In each instance, Jesus did not give in to Satan’s temptation.

In the garden Jesus was tempted to thwart God’s will “…if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;” but did not succumb to the temptation, “…yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” In front of Caiaphas and Pilate, Jesus was questioned and tempted to lie, knowing that if he said what these men wanted to hear, he would save himself. And yet he told the truth. While being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, he was tempted to seek revenge and release, “Or do you not think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” And yet he allowed himself to be arrested.

Of course, Jesus wasn’t tempted by pornography, but as a man, he was tempted by those things that have always tempted mankind. Satan is strategic, and we’re not all tempted in the same way, but if I place myself in Jesus’ shoes (sandals in this case), I can see where he was likely tempted sexually; Jesus was often surrounded by women, some of them immoral (Mary, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery), who were physically (“…she began to wet his feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with perfume” -Luke 7:37-38) and emotionally (Martha and Mary when Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead -John 11) intimate with him; he was tempted to lose his temper in anger and revenge (who wouldn’t be, after being mocked, beaten and spat upon); he was tempted by wealth, power, pride; in all things tempted as we are, and yet without sin. He was tempted in the flesh (fully man), but overcame temptation in the Spirit (fully God).

Paul talks about the battle between the Spirit and the flesh in many of his writings, but this passage from Galatians 5:16-18 sums it up well: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Jesus, fully God (Spirit) and fully man (flesh) was led by the Spirit and walked by the Spirit, and because of this, he did not give in to the desires of the flesh.

I’ll share one other thought on this; if God can’t be tempted, in the person of Jesus, as we are, then God surely cannot die. Yet Jesus did die (in the flesh) but he overcame that as well (by the Spirit).-Romans 8:11

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Blue Christmas

“I’ll have a blue Christmas without you
I’ll be so blue just thinking about you”

It was 2004, the year I experienced my first blue Christmas. I suppose I should feel fortunate that I was spared for so long. After all, millions of people have the Christmas blues, but generally they suffer in silence. It’s hard to notice them, what with all the sparkling lights and glitter in your eyes. My youngest son, Christopher, was a Marine at the time, and that summer, he was shipped off to war. He and his unit (2/24 Marine Reservists) were somewhere in Iraq; we weren’t allowed to know just where. But the nickname of the area where he fought, “Triangle of Death,” told us enough, and more than we wanted to know. Communication from him in those days, was spotty at best. When the holidays came that year, we knew he wasn’t coming home. I recall driving home from work and hearing on the radio, “Another Marine was killed near Fallujah today,” and wondering if it was him.

Thanksgiving came and went, and then Christmas. One day, we received a package in the mail from overseas. It was a DVD of his unit, with photos and accompanying music, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” But “Blue Christmas,” was all I heard. As his mother, older brother, and I sat around the fire, just the three of us, the music played and the lights sparkled on the tree, but we all had holes in our hearts, and the tears flowed freely. For 21 years our son had been a part of our small family and the celebration that comes around each year. But not this one. I now knew what it meant to have a heavy heart. With much prayer we got through it, and early the next year, our youngest son made it home, and he’s been with us every Christmas since. What a celebration it was when he returned home, and especially the following Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As this Christmas approaches, I find myself with a heavy heart once again. Three years ago, our oldest son died, and it’s tough when this time of year rolls around. Ron especially loved Thanksgiving and Christmas, and was always a bright spot in the celebration, and so his absence leaves a huge hole. He was the one who sat near the tree on Christmas morning and handed out everyone’s gifts, and seeing the look on his face as the presents were opened, you knew that he enjoyed each gift as much as the recipients. I recall one Christmas when he and his brother received a good chunk of money in their stockings, he was so excited he fell off the couch, overcome with joy. He loved giving gifts as much as receiving them and his gifts were usually something that came from his heart, a painting to my wife and me, or a mix of music he’d burned on a CD, created with love, just for me. I miss him, especially at Christmas. I see all of the lights and hear all of the music, but it’s hard for me to smile. Unlike his brother, Ron isn’t coming home.

Yet, in the midst of my blue Christmas, I still feel a joy inexpressible. “But Ron,” you might say, “how can you experience joy in the midst of deep sorrow?” Linus Van Pelt said it best, quoting from Luke chapter two in A Charlie Brown Christmas:  “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'”

It was this Jesus, who died for you and me, who promised, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 13:2) Jesus has gone ahead of us and prepares for us a new home. And although Ron will never again return to his earthly home, he too, has gone ahead to his heavenly one. And one day, I will join him there, and together we will worship forever the King of kings, Lord of lords, the Lamb who was worthy to be slain.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King”

Joy to the world, indeed.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Mastering Our Desires

My wife and I enjoy having a quiet evening at home, sometimes reading a good book, but other times watching mysteries. We typically stay away from the current shows on television, preferring those shows that haven’t yet become overrun with pop culture and modern day sensibilities. Midsomer Murders comes to mind; a simple whodunit, often referred to as a “cozy mystery.” But no matter how hard we try, whether in books or in television shows, the post-Christian worldview seems to inevitably seep into the plot.

Recently we found a cozy mystery television show set in the late 19th century. I felt that this one, of all shows, would stay true to the plot and avoid preaching a secular worldview, but I was wrong. The first few episodes were fine, until we viewed the fifth. After a man is murdered on his wedding day, we find out that the marriage was a sham, a marriage of convenience, arranged to appease his mother so that he could inherit half of the family business, but at the last minute, he wanted out of the marriage because he was secretly in a homosexual relationship. At first, all of the references to the man’s sexual choices were in line with what you might expect from this time period. The man was initially referred to as a sodomite, amongst other slurs, but the language was softened to homosexual after a character was chastised for using the outdated term. I knew then, that the preaching was about to come.

As the murder investigation progressed, the dead man’s secret lover, who was also in a marriage of convenience, after his double life was revealed committed suicide by hanging himself. A couple of scenes later, we are treated to a heated argument between the lead detective and the female coroner, who seem to share a romantic interest. This is where the writers inject 21st century morals into a 19th century story. The detective is a devoted Catholic. How do I know? Besides it being stated in an earlier episode, he crosses himself at every murder scene, goes to confession, and prays the Rosary. She, on the other hand, is secular, driven by science and reason. The following interaction between the two characters I transcribed from the program. The dialogue, spoken by fictional characters, is a reflection of the writers’ mindset.

At the scene of the crime, while the coroner confirms the man’s death was suicide by hanging, the detective, while going through the dead man’s personal effects, says, “A beautiful home, wife, and child. Not only does he throw all that away, but he condemns himself to eternal damnation by committing suicide.”

The coroner says, “Perhaps he felt that Hell was no worse than the torment he was living in.”

The detective says, “There is always hope.”

Shaking her head and raising her voice an octave, she says, “He was living a sham. Everything was a lie. Secretly he was in love with someone he could never be with, and furthermore, that person was about to marry someone else.”

He says, “Yes, but to kill himself?”

She says, “Really, William. I’m surprised at your closed mindedness!”

He says, “Even leaving the Bible aside…”

With contempt, she says, “Yes, could we?”

He says, “It goes against nature.”

She says, “Oh, rubbish. Nature is full of omnisexual behavior. Have you never seen male dogs at play?”

He replies, “But those are dogs.”

She says, “We are all animals, William, behaving as nature intended. If God didn’t want us to express our desires, then why would he give us desires in the first place?”

He seems taken aback, and says, “To test our resolve.”

She says, “At whose expense? Surely this is not God’s plan.”

I find the coroner’s argument specious and childish. To equate two male dogs frolicking in the backyard with human homosexuality is absurd. The former is as nature intended, whereas the latter is contrary to nature. And to have this devoted Catholic at a loss for words, and to later question his faith because of her argument, invites incredulity, but that was the intent of the show’s writers after all, to have someone of faith doubt what they believe. Satan in the garden comes to mind. Yes, human beings are considered animals, but only as it differentiates us from minerals and vegetables. God created man in his own image, which distinguishes us from the remainder of the animal kingdom. We have the ability to reason. We have the ability to control our emotions and desires. God gave man many desires, one of those being a desire for sex, but he also gave us parameters for when those sexual desires are to be fulfilled. It is within marriage, that between a man and a woman, that sexual desires are to be fulfilled. Any sexual fulfillment outside of marriage is considered immoral. Not by me, but by the One who created me.

Yes, we have desires, but not all desires are good, and for this piece, I will limit my thoughts and examples to sexual desires. Many of mankind’s desires are evil. From Genesis 6:5- “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” As you can see, our rebellion started early on. What would society be like if every man and woman went about fulfilling their every desire, no matter the consequence? If there is no standard, and we simply behave like unreasoning animals, who’s to say what is right and wrong? The end result of that thinking is that there are no universal moral principles, a mindset often referred to as moral relativism. My guess is that everyone will place a limit on behavior to some degree. At some point, everyone will recognize some behaviors as going too far. Below are scenarios of behaviors that are driven by human sexual desire. Which ones are acceptable to you? Of which of these do you approve?

Scenario 1: A man and a woman are married, and on their honeymoon they engage in sexual intercourse, fulfilling their desires and consummating their marriage.

Scenario 2: A man, growing bored with his wife’s lack of interest in all things sexual, pays a prostitute to fulfill his sexual desires.

Scenario 3: A woman, whose husband is out of town during the week, finds her married, next door neighbor attractive, and to fulfill her sexual and emotional desires, she secretly begins a sexual affair with him.

Scenario 4: A Catholic priest, unwilling to fulfill his vow of celibacy, is attracted to an altar boy and entices him to have sex, and over the next thirty years he has sexual relations with over 100 such boys.

Scenario 5: A man, living alone, searches the internet for ways to fulfill his sexual desires, spending countless hours viewing pornography, visiting chat rooms, and engaging in virtual sex.

Scenario 6: A man, unattracted to the opposite sex, finds a likeminded partner of the same sex, and the two of them live together and fulfill their sexual desires with one another.

Scenario 7: A man, living alone and no longer finding satisfaction in online pornography, finds fulfillment for his sexual desires in his pet dogs.

Scenario 8: A high school boy and girl are attracted to one another and begin dating. They often find themselves alone. On one such occasion, they succumb to their sexual desires and engage in sexual intercourse.

Scenario 9: Rich and powerful men, in secret, fly to a private island to have sex with underage boys and girls, thus fulfilling their sexual desires. [Notice the secrecy stated or implied in many of the above scenarios.]

Which of the above scenarios did you find disgusting? Why? To which did you give your approval? Who determines which one is disgusting or acceptable? If you asked one hundred people those questions, would you get the same response? There are some in our society who find homosexuality acceptable. There are some who find pedophilia acceptable. There are some who find bestiality acceptable. There are some who find marital infidelity acceptable. There are some who find premarital sex acceptable. Since not everyone agrees on which is acceptable and which isn’t, where does that leave us? Do what is right in our own eyes? Say yes to all of our sexual desires? Or exhibit self control and harness our desires? God has given us an outlet for our sexual desires. When we choose other outlets, we are in effect saying to God, “What you’ve given me is not enough. I want more.”

The truth is, man can’t be depended upon to determine what is right, for we are corrupt in our fleshly natures, and where our evil desires lead us will end in death. James said it this way, from James 1:13-15 (NKJV): “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” The culture in which we live has done its best to remove all moral boundaries, especially in the area of sexual desire, by doing what the character in the show suggested, “leaving the Bible aside,” which has created a society of chaos and confusion. Which may explain the escalating suicide rate among the youth.

I, too, once lived a life of fulfilling my every desire as I saw fit, regardless of the desire or whether it was considered moral, and not caring what God or his word had to say. My desires were my masters. Many of the nine scenarios above, I have lived. But I was convicted of my sin against God and my fellow man, and sought a savior in his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus has not only forgiven me, but he’s placed me on a path that pleases God, and now, rather than seek to fulfill my every desire, I strive to fulfill his.

In a later scene from the show, while the detective is in confession, he says to the priest, “Two men dead, by all accounts good men, condemned to eternal damnation…” And then after stating that he can no longer follow his faith blindly, the detective says, “I imagine a world that is more compassionate, and enlightened.” I find the priest’s response ironic, especially considering the scandals that rocked the Catholic church in the latter half of the 20th century and beyond. Considering that more enlightened world, a world in which homosexuality is no longer frowned upon, a world in which many of us now find ourselves, the priest said, “Some day it may be. Perhaps not in our lifetime.” As if God is pliable. As if God changes his nature to match our standards, rather than the other way around. “Just give Him time, He’ll come around.”

Regarding the relationship between you and your desires, the question becomes, which of you is the puppet and which is the puppet master?

If you liked this piece, you may also enjoy my book, Pondering God.