Your Life Depends on It

Most mornings, around 5:30, I awaken and my first act is to turn on the lights in the  bedroom!  I love light! Yesterday a gray, foggy morning made me feel depressed, but with the arrival of the sunshine later in the day, my spirits lifted.I truly do love to watch the sun’s ray breaking through the trees at the edge of my backyard, splashing my little corner of the world with warmth, making the colors brilliant. Light changes everything!

Without the light of the Sun, life would end.  We may survive a season in the darkness, but to thrive we must have light. God’s creation requires the energy of the sun to sustain us and the ‘magic’ of photosynthesis turns that energy into sustenance that makes its way up the food chain.

A consistent theme in the Holy Scripture is “light.”  
Light, in the Word, represents God's presence, truth, goodness, life, and salvation.

David sang that “the Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27)
Jesus declared “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8)

Think deeply on those words and ask “Is God truly my Source, the Person who makes true and eternal life possible for me?  Do I draw from Him my strength, my hope, my joy – just as the earth draws on the light of the sun for survival?” Yes, friend, God’s light is that essential for us if we desire to truly live.

When we turn to Christ, in faith, we find a whole new identity.  Paul says “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”  (Ephesians 5) Christians who are filled with the Spirit of God can live a supernatural life, one of purpose that shines brightly into the darkness of this present world.

Jesus says that He is the LIGHT of life and that we are to carry that light wherever we go, in what we say and do.  His commission is simple and clear. “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16, NLT)    

I remember a happy song of a past generation that captures something of the joy of living in God’s Light. Evie Tornquist sang,
“Step into the sunshine,get out of the shade.
This is the one time that you've got it made
And you can feel yourself smilin' way down to your shoes.
Step into the sunshine, find the great Good News.”

Are you living in the darkness of hatred, bitterness, pride, greed – ignoring the goodness of God?
Does life lack clarity, leaving you with feelings of emptiness, like you are stumbling around?
Step into the sunshine of Christ’s love, by faith. Give yourself, your situation, to Him with a simple prayer – “Lord Jesus, here I am in need of the Light.”  I pray that you will feel the warmth of the Son’s light making it’s way into your life.

The word from the Word comes from John who loves that theme of light. He says ^“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1)

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O God, early in the morning I cry unto you.
Help me to pray. And to think only of you. I cannot pray alone.

In me there is darkness.
But with you there is light.
I am lonely but you do not leave me.
I am feeble in heart but you do not leave me.
I am restless but with you there is peace.

In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience.
Your ways are past understanding,
but You know the way for me. Amen.

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer - 1906 – 1945,
Martyred by the Nazis for his faith)

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The Power of the Truth

Last week, I reconnected with a man I’ve known for years. In his youth, he was entangled in drugs and crime. But then he encountered Christ, turned his life around, and built a future many would consider blessed. He married, started a business, and lived in a beautiful home. Yet, after decades of stability, addiction crept back into his life. Over time, he lost everything—his marriage, his business, his home, and his self-respect. Witnessing the wreckage of his present life shook me to my core, and I wept for my friend’s self-inflicted suffering.

I do not judge him because I understand the power of temptation. While I may not fully grasp the grip of addiction, I know that each of us faces our own unique lures. For some, it is pleasure; for others, pride or greed. The truth remains: if we listen to the seductive voices of "the world, the flesh, or the Devil," the outcome will never be good.

In Genesis 3, the story of temptation unfolds as humanity encounters a Beautiful Liar. Twisting God’s words, he entices Eve by suggesting that God is withholding something good from her. He plants doubt: “Did God really say…?” When Eve clarifies God’s command, he boldly contradicts it: “You won’t die! God knows that when you eat it, your eyes will be opened. You will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The deception works. Eve sees the fruit as desirable and eats. She shares it with Adam, who also eats. Instantly, they realize their nakedness and cover themselves in shame (Genesis 3).

I want to scream—“He lies!”—because this same deception plays out millions of times every day. People hear the enticing voice of temptation and ignore the truth.

Are you listening to the serpent’s whispers?

• Is he telling you that another car, a new house, or a trendy pair of shoes will fill your emptiness?

• Is he offering a shortcut to success, asking you to compromise your integrity?

• Is he luring you with fleeting pleasures to escape life’s difficulties?

He lies!

Luke records Jesus’ encounter with the Devil in the wilderness. After fasting for forty days, Jesus was hungry. Then, “the Devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ But Jesus answered, ‘No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone’” (Luke 4:2-4, NLT).

Jesus countered every lie with truth. He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3: “He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (NIV). Every temptation Satan presented was met with the power of God’s Word.

When questioned about true discipleship, Jesus declared, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32, NLT). Truth may be hard to accept, but it is always liberating.

Admitting our failures and sins is difficult. No one enjoys confronting their shortcomings. But when we meditate on God’s Word and allow the Spirit to shape our understanding of Him, the world, and ourselves, we experience true freedom.

Need a place to start? Here are truths about you, declared by your Heavenly Father:

• You are more than a conqueror. (Romans 8:37)

• You are the apple of God’s eye. (Psalm 17:8)

• You are a joint heir of with Christ of Heaven's riches. (Romans 8:17)

• You are a beloved child of God. (1 John 3:1)

Silence the Liar with the Truth and find 'life abundant.'

Here’s a word from the Word:  “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9-11, NIV)

Choose life and truth today. Let Christ, through the Spirit, defeat sin and death for you.

Love Endures!

Tomorrow, I have the privilege of consecrating a marriage, officiating the wedding ceremony of two wonderful people I have known since they were children. What we will do in that sacred moment is holy work—the beautiful creation of a new family. As I anticipate their special day, my thoughts drift back to when I first fell in love and became a young husband 50 years ago.

I first saw her on a Sunday morning in June 1974, in church. A week later, when we shared our first kiss, a surge of emotion left me delirious with desire. On January 10, 1975, we were married. Our early days were filled with the bliss of new love. Then, life happened. Within two years, we had a child, then another. By our seventh year, she was a tired mother of toddlers, and I was a young minister consumed by church work.

During the 41 years I had the privilege of being Bev’s husband, I discovered a dimension of life I could never have known as a single man. Together, we were stronger than we could have been alone. The wisdom of Solomon rings true:
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." (Ecclesiastes 4)

Too many marriages end when passion matures into a deeper love that isn’t always recognized or appreciated. Some prioritize the thrill of being "in love" over love itself. When the heart-stopping emotions of early passion fade, they assume love has died. But that doesn’t mean marriage must settle into dull routine.

Despite what our culture portrays in songs and movies, love extends far beyond desire and roses. The older couple who finish each other’s sentences, who sit together in silent understanding, have discovered a love that newlyweds don’t yet know exists.

The Bible often uses marriage to illustrate God’s relationship with His people, and for good reason. Many come to Christ in a moment of crisis or deep searching, experiencing a spiritual "honeymoon" filled with relief, love, and purpose. Yet, over time, that initial excitement can wane. Scripture verses that once stirred deep emotion may feel routine. Prayers may seem to echo unanswered in an empty room. Worship can become more about habit than heartfelt adoration.

If you find yourself in that place, don’t abandon your faith. Instead, seek a deeper intimacy with God—one built on commitment, gratitude, and the anticipation of His eternal promises. True spiritual maturity is found in faithfulness, even in the silence. Some, mistaking the absence of emotional highs for a lack of faith, search for another church or abandon spiritual practices altogether, falling into apathy or worldly distractions.

Having been raised in Pentecostal traditions, I now recognize that much of what we called “revival” was, at times, a longing for the emotional intensity of early faith. But true renewal doesn’t look backward—it reaches forward. Yesterday may be a sweet memory, but we cannot relive the thrills of the past.

As we walk through this season of Lent, take time for silence. Seek God beyond the ways you have known Him before. Be open to a fresh experience of His love. Let go of the expectation that church services must always leave you tingling with excitement. Instead, rededicate yourself to serving Him and to being part of a church community—just as in marriage, through both the joys and the challenges.

I am overjoyed for the couple who will stand before God and their families as I lead them in their vows. Their love is beautiful, but I know they will face trials that will require them to renew their commitment again and again. Likewise, I rejoice for the person who has just found faith, glowing with the thrill of discovering God’s love. And I pray that they, too, will remain faithful when trials inevitably come.

Put your hope in God. Here is a word from Scripture—one you may have heard before, but take time to reflect on its call to mature love. Then, go love God and live in the fullness of His joy.

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love."
(1 Corinthians 13:7-13, NLT)

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(Video of this blog at this link)