An Uncertain Future is in God’s Hands 

Typically, in addition to attending my own church, I also tune in each week to watch the recordings of worship services at a couple of other churches. As I was doing so one Sunday recently, some announcements about church activities were being given during the service. It was mentioned how they had postponed a meeting which had been scheduled for that day and that it would occur the next Sunday instead. What stood out to me was the firm declaration that the meeting would happen the next week “for sure.” As I heard those words, the cautionary thought entered my mind that we never know what might happen over the course of a week. As it turned out, an ice storm came through the following weekend, resulting in that church canceling its service and again postponing the promised meeting.

 This incident reminded me of how uncertain the future can be. We all tend to make our plans and talk about particular events on our calendars as if they are unalterably written in stone. However, the truth is that we do not know much “for sure” about what the future holds, especially the exact timing of events. We don’t even know if we will live to see another day. There is so much that is beyond our control or our ability to predict. We do our best to schedule activities, but we do so with the understanding that things could unexpectedly change.

The Bible reminds us of that uncertainty and warns us about developing attitudes that lose sight of this truth. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16).

I am sure we are all guilty at times of talking about future events as if they are assured to happen. Sometimes we do so almost absentmindedly and innocently. It is certainly often done without intending to disregard God and the fact that He is ultimately in control. I don’t know that we need to always make it a point specifically to say “if the Lord wills” as we declare our future plans, but the awareness of that truth should be present in our mind and our attitude. It would probably be a good practice to voice that fact at times as both a reminder to ourselves and to others that only God knows what is coming – He is in control and not us. I don’t believe it is the words we need to pay the most attention to, but rather the attitude that may underlie what we say or don’t say. Let’s guard against what that scripture referred to as a spirit of arrogance and boasting. Let’s keep in mind how dependent we are on God. Let’s recognize that there are factors beyond our ability to control, as well as forthcoming events beyond our knowledge.

As meteorologists made their predictions about the winter storm, there was still much uncertainty about its timing and its effects in specific areas. Likewise, we may have a good idea of what is coming in the future, but there is still much uncertainty involved that only God knows about. We can only do so much, then the rest in His hands. So let’s plan for tomorrow, but humbly remember that God is the One in control. “If the Lord wills, we will….”      

 

Trust the Author Behind Life’s Mysteries 

Recently I went to the local library to choose a book to read simply for my enjoyment. I have always appreciated mystery stories, so on this occasion I decided to check out one of the works of Agatha Christie. It did not disappoint. The solution to the whodunnit wasn’t so obvious that I had it all figured out early on. Neither was the ending some ridiculous scenario. The plot had some twists and turns that made it interesting, but not to the point that it didn’t make sense or fit together. I was also confident that the book wouldn’t contain much objectionable material such as I might find in some modern-day authors. It was a very satisfying read. My faith in this author of classic mysteries was justified.

While some of us may enjoy reading such stories, we tend to find less pleasure when having to deal with the real mysteries in our own lives or in the world around us. I am not referring to efforts to solve murders or other crimes. I am talking about facing occurrences in our lives that we have a hard time figuring out. Why did that happen? Or why did something else not happen when I was sure that it would be for the best? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why am I or that other person going through this trial? Why did that person die and the other person live? Life can be full of mysteries for which we wish we had answers. Sometimes the solutions reveal themselves over time. We look back and exclaim, “O, now I see why that happened!” Other times the mystery goes unsolved until the day we die.

The good news about such mysteries is not that we are going to solve them. The good news is that we can trust the Author. Our lives and the happenings in our world are not random acts based on luck, chance, or fate. Neither are we the authors of our own destiny. There is a divine hand at work. We play a part in it, and our choices can affect the story. However, God is the One in control of the pen, or in these days, the keyboard. So whatever happens, we know that there is a good, loving, just God who is ultimately working out the plot. Yes, we live in a fallen world in which much evil resides. Yes, we have an enemy of our soul to contend with. Yes, we can make poor choices that can do us harm. But God is the one who is connecting all these various characters and events together to fulfill His plan and purposes.

The key factor is our relationship with Him. If we are loving Him and trusting Him, we can be assured that our story is going to work out well in the end. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). All things work together for good. That includes the mysteries for which we have no answers. We may not see how anything positive can result from some of those experiences. However, the Author is weaving all these twists and turns into a story that will have a good ending, at least for those who love Him and are submitting to His call. Those who resist God’s call and insist on trying to write their own story have no such assurance. Their story could well end in tragedy.

So we may not understand all the mysteries we face in this life. We may not know who, what, or why about certain matters. However, we do know that we can trust the One who is writing our story. Let’s trust the Author.    

 

Standing Against Spiritual Assaults 

My wife began a new job recently. Her first week was filled with trials as one obstacle after another was being thrown into her path. There were minor issues that were simply irritating or caused slight delays, such as spilled water bottles, computer issues, and traffic problems. But then there were other more impactful challenges, including an injured shoulder, a stomach virus, and family members in the hospital. It was such a barrage of events that several of us wondered if it might be a spiritual attack with Satan trying to hinder my wife in her new endeavor or seeking to discourage her. After all, this new position was more than a job to help pay the bills. It was a ministry that could have a great impact on people’s lives.

While we should guard against falling into a mindset of seeing demons around every corner, we should also be careful not to lose sight of the fact that there are evil spiritual forces at work in the world. Thankfully, our God is greater. We don’t need to live in fear of Satan and his minions. However, they can oppress God’s people and seek to hinder His work. There is real spiritual warfare taking place in the world.

Sometimes it may be difficult to discern if our trials are simply the common problems we face as human beings living in a fallen world resulting from natural forces or if there could be some spiritual evil entity behind those events. In some cases, our difficulties could even be the testing or discipline of our loving heavenly Father as He seeks to correct us in some way. However, when we have a strong sense that we are following God’s will and such obstacles keep showing up, we shouldn’t overlook the possibility that the enemy of our soul could be trying to hinder those efforts.

What should we do when facing circumstances which appear to be a spiritual attack? The Bible gives us some good direction about such matters in Ephesians 6. This is the passage that reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (v.12). It directs us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (v.10). We are not to simply give in and let Satan walk all over us. We need to resist him. We need to stand against him. However, we shouldn’t attempt to do that in our own strength. We are to be strong “in the Lord”. Our strength comes from our relationship with Jesus. And it is His power that gives us victory over the assaults of Satan.

This scripture also instructs us to “put on the whole armor of God” (v. 11). That protection is detailed for us in this passage in v. 14-18. God has given us the means to keep standing regardless of what the devil may throw at us. We just have to make sure we are making use of that protective gear. Truth, righteousness, salvation, the gospel of peace, faith, the word of God, and prayer all play vital roles in helping us withstand the enemy. Let’s make sure there are no gaps in our armor. We need all of it – the “whole” armor of God.

I believe prayer is especially vital as we face such battles. It seems to be the cord tying all the other pieces of armor together – “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (v.18). When the enemy attacks, let’s keep praying with faith in the Lord, in His promises, in His presence, and in His power to help us overcome. Stand and be strong in the Lord.

 

An Unexpected Treasure 

As one of my grandsons was helping his dad take down the outdoor Christmas lights in their yard, he found an Easter egg in one of the bushes. Apparently it was left over from the family egg hunt that had taken place on their property last spring. When he opened it, it wasn’t filled with spoiled candy or melted chocolate from enduring months of various kinds of weather. It was a prize egg with money inside of it. Although our grandson had recently received other gifts for Christmas and his birthday, this was especially memorable because it was such an unexpected treasure.

Sometimes the Lord surprises us with His generous blessings. In some cases we might be looking, asking, and praying for something when He provides us with an unexpected treasure that is different and much better than what we were hoping for. It reminds me of the lame man whom Peter and John encountered (see Acts 3:1-10). This man had been crippled his whole life. He was at his usual place that day – at the gate of the temple looking to receive handouts from any compassionate people who were entering the sacred house of God. When Peter and John approached, he asked them for assistance. When they stopped and spoke to him, the Bible says that he was expecting to receive something from them. However, instead of giving him a few coins, Peter gave him something totally different. He told the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Immediately the man’s legs were strengthened and healed. And he ended up going into the temple walking, leaping, and praising God. This gift wasn’t what he was asking for or expecting. It was so much better.

At this time of the year when we are often looking ahead, making resolutions, setting goals, contemplating hopes and dreams for the new year, what are we looking for the Lord to do in our lives? What are we praying for? What do we hope to receive from the Lord this year? We likely aren’t in the condition of the lame man, but we may have our own physical issues we are grappling with. We may not be standing at the interstate exit holding up a sign asking for help, but we may be facing some degree of financial struggles. There may be relationship problems weighing heavy on our hearts. Other challenges loom ahead this year. Maybe we are looking for the Lord to heal our sickness, to provide some funds, to help us to get along better with other people. And certainly God can move in those situations and fulfill our hopes. However, maybe He wants to do even more than we imagine or are asking for. He may not just want to heal our body but to heal our spirit. He may not just provide money to get us through a crisis, but provide a whole better lifestyle to help us not get in that tough financial spot again. He may not just help us get along with others but change our hearts or their hearts so that we can enjoy a totally different and better relationship moving forward. And if we are just looking at getting our physical and temporal problems dealt with, the Lord may go deeper and deal with the more pressing spiritual issues in our lives.

Let’s not limit what the Lord may want to do in our lives. He may have some unexpected treasures to send our way. Let’s be ready to receive them. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

 

Rebuilding a Relationship with Jesus 

One of my projects at the beginning of this new year is rebuilding our church website. I am no expert in this field. I have put a website together in the past, but it has been a few years. So I am having to try to refresh my memory on how to do it, playing with the various tools, and working my way through it by means of much trial and error. There are sections of our site that have been regularly updated – the weekly sermons, my blog, and upcoming events. However other pages have remained untouched for years. I didn’t realize how badly it needed updating until a recent closer examination. There are pages describing ministries that we no longer offer. Images don’t accurately reflect our congregation. And even my own personal information was woefully behind the times, failing to state the correct number of grandchildren who are now in our family. This rebuilding is long overdue.

Maybe some of us need to do another kind of rebuilding as we head into the new year. Are there aspects of our relationship with the Lord that need some attention due to neglect? Have we allowed our fellowship with Jesus to grow distant? Or maybe it has been more dramatic than simply failing to stay as close to the Lord as we should. In some cases, we may have knowingly turned away from Him. We have fallen into some sinful habits, or at least some practices that distract us from fully following the Lord. Our relationship with Jesus doesn’t just need a few tweaks heading into a new year – it needs a major overhaul to get it back up-to-date. 

I am no expert on this kind of rebuilding either, but I have learned a few things over the years from both scripture and my own experiences. Any rebuilding usually needs to start with humble confession and repentance. When Nehemiah saw the need for the rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem, this was part of his first prayer – a confessing of the sins of himself and his people. And when we turn to the Lord with a repentant heart, He promises to turn to us. So begin rebuilding your relationship with Jesus by being honest with Him about your need, turning away from any sin in your life, and fully dedicating yourself to following Him.

Another lesson we can learn from the book of Nehemiah is that rebuilding takes both hard work and prayer. Rebuilding your relationship with the Lord might require greater discipline to spend time reading His Word, to pray, and to gather with fellow believers for worship. You might have to work at cultivating a closer walk with God. However, never lose sight of your dependence on the Lord. In the midst of Nehemiah’s hard work, he would often pray, asking God for help. We have a role to play, but we need the Lord’s help if we are going to rebuild our relationship with Him. We need His forgiveness, His strength, His guidance, and His power to overcome the enemy who will try to hinder us in those efforts.

One other bit of advice that I have found helpful is this: take it a step at a time. Rather than focusing on some grandiose resolution at the beginning of the new year that can seem so overwhelming to try to achieve, just take it one day and one step at a time. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Spend some time today reading the Bible. Put aside some other activity this morning to make room for prayer. Go to church this Sunday. Show Jesus’ love to someone or plant a seed of truth in their life today. Take a step in the right direction toward rebuilding now, and then keep walking that way.

 

Watch for Signs of Complacency 

When I heard that a couple of my family members were looking for gift suggestions for me for Christmas, I let it be known that I could use two or three new pairs of jeans. In recent months, I had noticed that all of my current jeans were beginning to show significant signs of wearing out. However, those indicators didn’t show up where I would have expected. When I was younger, the signs that I needed to replace my old pair of jeans usually began with small holes in the knees from actively playing outdoors or from playing with toys on the floor of our house. And unlike today, those rips weren’t considered fashionable. But the holes I noticed showing up in my jeans today are in a different location. They can be found in the seat of the pants. As much as I might like to try to blame this on the fact that “they don’t make things like they used to”, I suppose it says something about which part of those pants get the most use these days. I guess I do more sitting than I did back when I was younger.

 Although I do still try to stay active by walking, doing yardwork, and even getting on a pickle ball court occasionally, I also do quite a bit of sitting – whether working at a computer or kicked back in my recliner relaxing, reading, or watching TV. I don’t expect to be joining in any neighborhood ballgames or to be crawling on the floor playing with toys too often, although I do some of that with my grandkids. However, my worn jeans serve as a reminder to me to make sure that I don’t become too inactive as I grow older.

As we get ready to head into a new year, let’s guard against complacency and lethargy, not just in life in general, but especially in connection with our relationship with the Lord and doing what He has called us to do. It may not show up by holes in the seat of our pants, but what would be some signs that we may not be as active as we once were in walking with God and in serving Him?  

It might manifest itself in some gaps in our church attendance. We don’t show up as regularly and faithfully as we once did. Granted, as we get older, health issues can play a part in such absences. However, let’s make sure that our desire to gather with other believers to worship the Lord and support one another has not waned. When possible, we seek to fulfill the scriptural admonition not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).

Evidence of complacency could also show up in our personal times of Bible reading and prayer. The first of the year is a good time to recommit ourselves to having a daily devotional time with the Lord, preferably in the mornings to get our day started off right and to get us focused on what is most important. Make a plan to read your Bible every day. Spend some time in prayer. Maybe some of us need to wear holes in the knees of our pants not by playing but by kneeling and praying more often.

What about our service to the Lord? Are we still finding ways to be a help, blessing, and witness to other people? Or are we focused totally on ourselves and our needs? Let’s not grow complacent in fulfilling our mission to share the good news about Jesus, to make disciples, and to love others.

Let’s allow the Lord to show us any holes in the seat of our pants today. And let’s dedicate ourselves to being more active in following Him.

 

It Is Not About Saving Christmas 

Last weekend I saw that a certain older Christmas movie was being aired on a TV channel that specializes in such programming. Since it was one we had regularly watched with our children when they were young, I decided to tune in for the sake of a little nostalgia. It is titled The Night They Saved Christmas. I am aware of at least a couple of other movies with similar titles about saving Christmas. Actually, when you think about it, that is a common theme among many holiday flicks. They involve stories about Christmas being threatened by evil characters, bad weather, or various other circumstances. Will Santa be able to deliver his gifts? Will the family be able to get together as usual? Inevitably someone comes along who heroically solves the dilemma and saves the day.

While that theme can make for some interesting stories, the truth is that Christmas doesn’t need saving. I suppose it might need rescuing at times from secularism and commercialism, but the reality of Christmas will come regardless of who or what may try to take it away. It is with us always, not just during this season of the year. No matter what our world may do to the celebration, no matter how our situations may change or our traditions be altered, the truth remains that Christ was born in Bethlehem.

In the midst of all these stories about saving Christmas, the true story is about how Christmas saved us. We are not the rescuers. We are the ones who needed to be rescued. We are not the heroes who saved the day. Our hero is Jesus. He is the one and only Savior. Christmas is about His loving, sacrificial, and heroic actions to come into this world to save us from our sins.

Granted, the act of being born or of the Son of God taking on human flesh is not what remedied our hopeless situation of being lost sinners facing the condemnation of a holy God. However, it was the first step toward our deliverance. It was the beginning of our Savior’s mission. The angels made it clear that this was the reason for Jesus’ miraculous entrance into our world. One of them told Joseph to name Him Jesus because “He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). And when the angel announced His birth to the shepherds, they proclaimed, “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). The One being born was above all else a Savior.

His saving mission wouldn’t be fulfilled until many years later. It would come after a wonderful, sinless life in which He would teach inspiring truths, do great miracles, and help many people. It would come through going to a cross and dying as the sacrifice for our sins. It would culminate in a glorious resurrection. But it had to start in a manger in Bethlehem. He had to be born in order to give His life for us. He had to live in a fleshly body in order to die.

 Yes, there is an aspect of “saving” in the Christmas story. However, let’s keep it straight. No red-nosed reindeer or any other character is the one who does the saving. And it is certainly not us. It is Jesus and only Jesus. While we might seek to save Christmas by making sure presents are given, traditions are upheld, and families are together, the best way we can celebrate is to make sure we have let Jesus save us – and then to let others know that He can save them too. Let Jesus be your Christmas hero. That is why He came – to save us from our sins.