Don’t Quit - Keep Following Jesus  

 

Recently my wife and I were playing a board game with two of our young grandsons. This is one of those games in which you have to roll a certain number on the die before you can even bring one of your playing pieces out of start so that it can begin to make its way around the board. Our five-year-old grandson got increasingly frustrated and discouraged at his numerous failed attempts to roll that desired number. He was ready to quit several times, but we encouraged him to keep trying. Finally, in spite of our continued pep talks, he grabbed his pieces off the board and gave up. While I was disappointed that he quit, I was glad when he came over to sit with me, declared that he was on my team, and helped me play the rest of the game. And, by the way, we won.

 In our journey through the game of life we are often faced with the temptation to quit. Hopefully along the way we have learned the value of persevering. We have benefited by continuing to push forward in spite of the difficulties and the obstacles on our pathway. We have seen that just because someone gets off to a slow start or experiences some setbacks, it doesn’t mean that he can’t still come out on top in the end. Additionally, we have discovered that sometimes there is joy and reward in just playing and finishing the game, no matter whether or not you are the official winner.

We need to remember those truths when it comes to our journey with the Lord. Perseverance is a needed quality when it comes to our faith, our prayers, our obedience to God’s will, and our service to Him. It may be tempting to quit at times. When you face some loss or heartache in life and don’t understand why God allowed it to happen. When your prayer seems to go unanswered – you keep asking and seeking, but the situation still seems to be stuck in the same place. When you are doing the right thing and obeying God, but end up being ridiculed or suffering in other ways as a result. When you are faithfully doing the work God calls you to do, but you aren’t seeing any positive results from it. Those are the times when we feel the urge to just pick up our pieces from the board and quit trying.

 However, the Bible encourages us through both word and example to persevere. Hebrews 11 is full of examples of people who kept trusting God in spite of rough roads and temporary setbacks. Yet they all won in the end, even those who lost their lives in the process. Jesus told people to keep praying and knocking on God’s door. Don’t give up – the answer may be just around the corner. The Bible encourages us to “not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9). Keep doing what is right, even if it isn’t appreciated by those around you. Continue to serve the Lord, even if you don’t see much fruit from it at the moment. Sooner or later, you are going to reap the blessings from hanging in there when others have given up and fallen to the wayside.  

Don’t be a quitter when it comes to following the Lord. Even though it may be frustrating when it seems you are not making progress, or it is painful when others misunderstand you or mischaracterize your actions, or it is discouraging when you don’t get the desired results – keep running. Stay in the game. If you are on God’s team, you will win in the end.

 

Don’t Get Close but Still Miss Out   

I was watching a golf tournament on TV recently as it came down to a playoff between two of the competitors. The moment that especially stood out to me was when one of the golfers had a golden opportunity to win the match. All he needed to do was to sink a reasonably-makeable putt. As the ball drew near the hole it looked like it was going to drop. As it reached the edge of the cup, the player raised his club in anticipation of celebrating his victory. However, the ball spun around the edge of the hole and came to rest a couple of inches on the other side. He almost won, but not quite. A hole or two later he ended up losing the match to his opponent.

It can be heartbreaking in any sport to get so close to a win, only to fall short. It is even sadder when it involves matters of greater significance, such as our relationship with the Lord and our eternal destiny. Some people get so close to experiencing the victory of knowing their sins are forgiven, of having peace with God, and being assured of a home in heaven. Unfortunately some don’t follow through but choose to turn away. They flirt with the idea of receiving the truth and submitting to Jesus, but they keep putting it off or just can’t quite get themselves to take the plunge. Almost, but still lost.

It reminds me of a couple of individuals we read about in the Bible. After listening to the Apostle Paul’s powerful testimony, King Agrippa commented, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28). There are some who question whether or not this government official was truly as close to faith in Christ as his statement made it appear, but I tend to think so. He was almost persuaded. Nevertheless, concerns about his position, what others might think, or something else held him back from faith in Jesus.

Then there was the scribe whom Jesus encountered. They got into a conversation about the greatest commandment. This is when Jesus pointed to the commands about loving God and loving our neighbor as being of primary importance. After this man gave his own affirmation to Jesus’ words, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34). We don’t know what happened to that man. However, we know at that moment he was close to stepping onto the narrow road that leads to life. Close, but not quite there.

There is an old song some of us used to sing that describes this sad condition. It is entitled “Almost Persuaded.” It describes someone who is close to receiving Christ, but puts Him off until “some more convenient day.” The last lines of the song are haunting – “almost cannot avail; almost is but to fail! Sad, sad, that bitter wail – almost, but lost.”

I wonder if there is anyone reading this who might fit that description. Maybe you are exploring the Christian faith, checking out its beliefs, and wondering if there is any validity to its claims. You are seeing the truth and getting close, but you just haven’t taken that step of putting your trust in Jesus as your Savior. Or maybe you are someone who has known about the Lord for a long time, maybe even attend church, but you haven’t been willing to give up certain aspects of your life and submit to God and His way. You keep putting Him off until some unknown future time.

Don’t make the mistake of being close but losing out on a wonderful life now and a glorious existence in eternity. Now is the time to receive the Lord and live for Him.

 

Trust in the Goodness of God  

Sometimes our granddaughter suffers the consequences of not only having three brothers but also of being the only girl among our seven grandchildren. Such was the case last Sunday when the whole family came together for an Easter egg hunt. While searching for those hidden treasures, one of our grandsons uncovered a small frog. I won’t place the blame or give the credit to any one person for the subsequent action because it seems like all the boys were eventually co-conspirators in the plan. They decided to put the tiny creature in one of the plastic eggs that would make its way into our granddaughter’s basket. So when she opened the egg expecting to get a treat, she was understandably startled to be met by a jumpy frog instead.

 It reminds me of one of Jesus’ comments about prayer and the answers God gives to us. “What man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11). Here Jesus affirms the goodness of God and His love for us. He doesn’t play tricks on us as those boys did to their sister or cousin. When we come to Him with our needs and desires, He doesn’t ignore them or give us something undesirable or even hurtful. He isn’t mean nor does He take pleasure from our disappointment or pain. God is always seeking after what is good for us and wants to bless us with good things.

But what about those times when our prayers seem to go unanswered or when the situation doesn’t work out the way we had hoped? What about when I pray and my loved one ends up dying anyway? What about when I ask God for something that I believe would be good, but when I expectantly open up the brightly-colored gift, an ugly frog jumps out at me?  The plain truth is that God doesn’t always give us exactly what we ask for. And you know what? We can be thankful that is the case.

First of all, we live in a fallen world corrupted by sin and its consequences. We will face suffering, pain, sickness, and death. God can intervene to spare us from some of it, but He doesn’t always do so. For example, no matter how much we pray and ask that it be otherwise, we are all going to die one day unless Jesus returns first. Nevertheless, we can seek and experience God’s presence and help as we face those inevitable issues in our lives.

Additionally, God knows what we need and what is better for us than we do. He may not give us what we ask for because He sees the harm it could cause or because He has something even better for us in its place. Even what looks like a frog when we first encounter it could turn out to be a prince.

The bottom line is that we can trust in the goodness of God. If we know that it is not good to give someone a frog when she is expecting a piece of candy, how much more is God aware of what constitutes a good gift. If we wouldn’t give a bad or hurtful gift to our child, God certainly isn’t going to give a harmful gift to His children. No matter what comes out as your life unfolds, keep trusting that God loves you and is doing what is best.

 

Christ’s Blood Cleanses Us of Sin  

It happened suddenly as I was helping get all the elements prepared for Communion to be served in our worship service last Sunday. As I was pouring the grape juice from a larger cup into the tiny communion cups, the container I was holding slipped out of my hand. As it banged against the countertop, the juice catapulted into the air with some of it splattering on me as well as on the trays we use when we participate in this sacrament of the church. Thankfully, with the help of others, everything got cleaned up and we were back on track again. I was grateful I was wearing a shirt and tie of such a color that the stains didn’t show up. I could imagine myself walking into the sanctuary with purple dots all over me. However, my nose suggested that I still may have smelled like I had used a grape-scented cologne that day.

   While the spilling of the juice that represents Jesus’ blood was accidental, it reminded me of how Christ purposefully spilled His blood for us. What He suffered was no accident. Neither was He simply the victim of the evil intentions of others. Jesus was the good Shepherd who willingly laid down His life for His sheep (see John 10:11-18). He was our great High Priest who didn’t offer animal sacrifices but who sacrificed Himself for our sins.

I am glad I wasn’t a priest back in Old Testament times. I don’t think I would have enjoyed participating in all that was involved in the slaughtering of animals as part of their sacrificial worship. If I can make a mess with grape juice, I can imagine how much worse it could be with blood. Gratefully, Jesus came to fulfill what those sacrificial offerings all pointed toward and represented. Therefore they are no longer necessary. “Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:28).

As the blood of those sacrificed animals was sprinkled on various objects and individuals to indicate a ceremonially cleansing, there is a sense in which Christ’s blood is sprinkled on us to wash us of sin. “The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin…If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:7, 9). Hopefully, the fragrant scent of His precious blood rests on us as we have put our trust in Him as our Savior.

However, even as significant as that event was, it is not the end of the story. This weekend we remember not only Jesus’ death but also His resurrection. These two epochal events are inseparably linked. Jesus’ resurrection validates His identity as the Son of God and the purpose of His death. He is not only the High Priest who offered His own blood, but now He is our living representative and intercessor before His heavenly Father. “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25). Part of the good news of Easter is that we aren’t simply honoring a dead hero who sacrificed His life for us. We are worshiping a living Savior who is still ministering on our behalf before His Father in heaven.

So as we especially remember Jesus’ death and resurrection this weekend, be thankful for His blood that was spilled for you. Be sure you are experiencing both the forgiveness and the cleansing which it provides. And rejoice that your Savior who died for you still lives and ministers today.  

 

Be Grateful for a Suffering Savior  

Recently I have been suffering from my allergies. It is not unusual this time of year for some of us to have to deal with sinus issues, scratchy throats, or other symptoms as we face the spring pollen. We use the word “suffering” to describe these physical irritations, but they pale in comparison to the sufferings others are enduring. I think of a ministerial colleague and friend who has suffered greatly over the past few months from cancer surgery and the effects of chemotherapy treatments. I think of individuals close to me who are suffering grief over the loss of a loved one. I think of those who are suffering the devastation from recent storms in various parts of our country, in some cases losing family members, houses, or possessions.

And then there is the suffering of Jesus. “Suffering” is one of the concepts we should be keeping in mind as we move into this Holy Week of commemorating the events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection. As important as Jesus’ death on the cross was for our salvation, the Bible doesn’t only focus on the fact that Jesus gave His life for us. It also emphasizes His sufferings, both in what took place prior to His crucifixion and in this horrible act of execution itself. Jesus didn’t quickly and painlessly leave this life. He suffered, and He did it for us. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit” (I Peter 3:18). In the Suffering Servant passages in the book of Isaiah, it foretells how Christ would be a man of sorrows, who was acquainted with grief, despised and rejected by men. It declares how He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities (see Isaiah 53:2-5). In the great historic statement of faith we have come to call The Apostles’ Creed, it not only points out that Jesus was crucified but that He “suffered under Pontius Pilate”.

You have probably heard how painful a death it was for someone to be crucified. Additionally, let’s not forget the other ways Jesus suffered. The Son of God was unjustly condemned, mocked, and ridiculed. He was beaten and had a crown formed out of large sharp thorns jammed forcefully onto his head. He was scourged – an awful beating that would rip apart a person’s flesh. In addition to the physical suffering, Jesus carried the heavy weight of our sin and guilt as He offered Himself up as the sacrifice for our sins.

I don’t know that we can fully comprehend how much Jesus suffered in both His body and His spirit. Nevertheless, it can be helpful to remember that He did it and why He did it. He suffered out of love for us. It would be heroic for someone to give up his life for another person, even in a quick and painless fashion. However, it is even more meaningful and moving when you know the person was willing to suffer agonizing pain as part of the process.

As you contemplate the events and truths in relation to Jesus’ death on the cross this week, don’t just focus on His willingness to die for you, but also remember His willingness to suffer for you. May it stir up a greater love in our hearts for Him. May it cause us to recommit ourselves to being willing to suffer for Him when called upon to do so. Our suffering will be minor compared to His, but let’s be willing to endure it for the sake of this One who suffered so greatly for us.