Keeping the End in Mind

 

Today I’ll once again stand in the presence of Death and grief, something I have done almost weekly this year. Grim, you ask? It could be except for the promise and hope I know. 

 Reading in the mind-blowing, strange, and wonderful words of the Revelation, I came to this interlude this morning:  “And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, “they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:14-17, NIV)

We can anticipate standing in the Throne Room of the Almighty, welcomed into the Presence of God. THIS, my dear friend, is our great HOPE!  

Life is a gift and there are many joys to be found along the way.  And, then, too, we know that seasons of hardship come, when we experience the frustrations, when all is hard and tears blur our vision. The reality with which we must deal is that fact – regardless of how hard we try to deny it, ignore it, suppress it –  that we are mortal and our flesh will fail.  We all come to the same end, some sooner, some later. The stark question is – what then?   John says that because of Christ Jesus, we are destined to know the Presence of the Father, that life continues there with Him without the trials of life: no hunger, no sun scorched earth, no more tears!

Covey, writer of 7 Habits, says that those who live best ‘begin with the end in mind.’ 

Successful projects are those well-planned, those with a completed design that is guiding the work in progress. Think of your life as a grand project, which it is, really.  What are you building? What do you desire to the be result at ‘the end?’  Are you focused on superficial stuff – adding to your pile of possessions, working to add accolades to your resume? Or, are you focused on the eternal values of relationships, of God’s service, living a life of love that enriches others?

What rewards are you living for? As much as it might feel awful, take some time to ponder your mortality. If you need an image, think of yourself in a casket in front of a room of mourners. What are they thinking about you?  Are they remembering kindness, remembering a person who consistently loved, who was giving his best? Or, are they privately remembering a person who sucked life from the room, a person who made sure he was first in line?

Form another image of yourself standing before Jesus as He pages through the records of your life. Is He smiling His approval or does He see wasted years, a life spent on things of little value? If Heaven is at the horizon of time, your true Hope, you will live differently. Yes, we need to live with the end in mind; not grimly, not darkly, not with dread.  We can anticipate going HOME, leaving a legacy that honors the Lord.

Don’t put off the important because of the pressure of the urgent. Tend those relationships. Prioritize loving God and loving people. Practice spiritual disciplines – worship, prayer, meditation, service, generosity, simplicity, solitude, and submission – that allow the Spirit to make the inner person strong and rich!

The word from the Word should make us sober and glad. The wisdom in these words assure us that no matter how life appears to us in this moment, there will be a final moment of justice. What will that moment bring your way?"For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15, NLT)

By and by, I hope to meet YOU in the Throne Room of Heaven!

____________________

Mighty To Save

Ev’ryone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Ev’ryone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

 

Savior He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

 

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Ev’rything I believe in
Now I surrender

 

Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing
For the glory of the risen King
Jesus
Shine your light and let the whole world see
We're singing
For the glory of the risen King

Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan

© 2006 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

CCLI License # 810055

Beautiful for God’s sake

Eugene Peterson, in his memoirs, The Pastor, tells of the year of no Christmas tree, 1939, when he was 7 years old. His mom, a Christian who pursued a holy life, read an obscure passage in Jeremiah that warned of cutting down a tree and decorating it with gold (Jeremiah 10:3-4). She missed the context, which was about making idols and too literally took the words as forbidding the family to put up their Christmas tree.  Much later in life she tried to apologize for her ‘silliness.’ 

While Peterson acknowledges the absurdity of that Christmas year, he concludes that even his mother’s poor Scripture interpretation helped him to appreciate that God’s story of redemption, His entry into His Creation, to die and save those He has made. The story defies our understanding even as it changes us from sinners to saints!

Are you, Christian friend, a holy person, living a life that is distinctly different because of His love? Are you grappling with what it means to belong to Him, even at the risk of occasionally lapsing into the silly or superficial, but always desiring to love Him, about all else? 

God, by the work of His Holy Spirit has brought us new life. We no longer are slaves to lust, greed, or hatred. We are graced to be loving, contented, and joyful. But, there are choices to be made - everyday - that allows the work of God to be accomplished in us. Christians sometimes confuse the issue by thinking that keeping a moral code is the same thing as actually being holy. 

Raised in a holiness church, I was forbidden to enjoy any 'worldly' entertainment, to let profane words into my speech, to go to places that were ‘ungodly.’ The evils of alcohol and tobacco and ‘rock and roll’ were etched into my mind as if those prohibitions were part of the 10 Commandments! I mistakenly thought that I was saving myself through by “being good,” which meant keeping the rules. As with all who think that way, I was plagued with a sense of shame, knowing the gap between my inner thoughts and my outer conformity to the ‘code.’  

Maturity brought me to a place where I understood that it is God’s grace makes us holy!  We are not holy because we avoid certain places, don’t curse, or manage to be a ‘good Christian’ in appearance. We are being made holy by Christ Jesus who lives in us. Real holiness is beautiful, visible in big and small ways in us. God invites us to live intimately with Him - "...we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:15-18, NIV)

I see an amazing grace, an absurdity even, in the Bible’s story of David. This man who gave us the worship songs of Psalms, who led Israel to be God’s own people, was also a bloody warrior, an adulterer, a murderer, and a miserable failure as a father. Yet, God loved him and worked in him. Is that an excuse for sin. Not at all, but it should humble us enough to seek His transformation, to see the possibility of being His holy person in spite of our personal flaws.

Peter urges us to let God’s life fully develop in us. We actively pursue Him.  "Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." (1 Peter 2:11-12, NLT)

Oh may God help us to live in a way that reveals His goodness and love in true devotion. I pray that He will keep us from forming a defensive shield, an exclusively holy huddle that does not allow us to be the ‘salt and light’ in this world that Jesus desires.  In same breath, I pray that He will make us distinctively His, preserving us from compromise with the ungodly values and ways of ‘the world.’  

The key thing is to seek to know and intimacy with God that fills us with wisdom to know His will and an obedience that causes us to walk in His way.  I pray the beautiful words of Isaiah that the Spirit of the Lord will  "provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." (Isaiah 61:3, NIV)  Ah, this is the heart of holiness.

Here's a word from the Word to ponder today. "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations. For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch." (Isaiah 61:10-62:1, NIV)

______________

Goodness Of God

 

I love You Lord

Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days

I've been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up

Until I lay my head

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

All my life You have been faithful

All my life You have been so so good

With every breath that I am able

I will sing of the goodness of God

 

I love Your voice

You have led me through the fire

In darkest night

You are close like no other

I've known You as a father

I've known You as a friend

I have lived in the goodness of God

 

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me

With my life laid down

I’m surrendered now

I give You everything

Your goodness is running after

It's running after me

 

Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson

© 2018 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

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Forgetting Your Father?

 

In America, where many families live at a distance, loneliness among the aged is an epidemic. Some adult children ‘outgrow’ their parents, move away, and in spite of the many ways to stay connected, become so taken up with their own lives that Dad and Mom are forgotten ‘back home’ except for the occasional call.  Oh yes, sometimes parents of adult children create the chasm by their criticism or their unsolicited ‘advice.’  My children are well into their adulthood, my youngest near 40 and living 4 times zones from me. They do not ‘need’ their Dad like they did 30 years ago, but they still love me and I love them.  Though independent, we remain ‘family.’  We may only get to see each other in person once or twice a year, but they have not ‘outgrown’ their love for their Dad. This makes me so grateful. 

It distresses me as a shepherd of the people of God to see some come to a stage of life when, to all appearance, they outgrow their need for and love of God. Opportunities and responsibilities multiply.  Prosperity comes. For some, too many I believe, it causes God, their Father, to become secondary, perhaps even forgotten.  They may pray but their prayers are like the obligatory phone call that a son makes to his distant parent, not a warm loving conversation. They no longer serve Him in any ministry, letting the younger people do the work of His Church. At a stage in life when they could be a tremendous blessing to the life of Christ’s body, they choose to be absent from worship and service preferring the boat on the lake, or the house at the beach, or the ski slope to the sanctuary. 

This is a common human condition!
The temptations of prosperity are different from those we experience in desperate times.

Reading Moses’ words to the Israelites that are ancient, I find them timely and still relevant. The father of Israel knew that settling in Canaan and living in prosperity had a possibly dangerous consequence. He told the people "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers 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. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.”  Moses reminds them of God’s faithfulness, that He has cared for them right down to their basic needs.

Now, they are going to experience a new kind of temptation. “The LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.”  He would provide for them, give them the resources they needed to become a settled people, able to care for their daily needs. That’s a good thing, right?

Yes, but … he warns -  “Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Deuteronomy 8:1-14, NIV)

“Do not forget the LORD.” In contrast to those who seem to outgrow God, there are many who mature in their faith, who become beautiful, stable, fruitful saints. John, in the Revelation, hears God describe those who are faithful in a unique way. "All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write my God’s name on them, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And they will have my new name inscribed upon them." (Revelation 3:12, NLT)  They become part of the strong supporting structure in God’s work, known primarily as belonging to HIM, inscribed with honor by the Lord Himself. They are welcomed into eternity, home forever with their Father! What a glorious destiny, one that is incomparably richer than any earthly achievement or pleasure.

Here is a word from the Word. It is a prayer of the mature.  Psalm 90 is a reflection on life, a reminder that we never really outgrow God.  As you read these words today, may they keep your love for your Father vital. “A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations." (Psalm 90:1, NIV)  "The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away." (Psalm 90:10, NIV)  So, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NIV) Along the way, "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble." (Psalm 90:14-15, NIV)  Amen

__________________

Good, Good Father
(what a song, let it bless you today)

I've heard a thousand stories
Of what they think You’re like
But I've heard the tender whisper
Of love in the dead of night
You tell me that You’re pleased
And that I'm never alone

You're a Good Good Father
It's who You are, It's who You are
It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, It's who I am
It's who I am

I've seen many searching for answers
Far and wide
But I know we're all searching for answers
Only You provide
Because You know just what we need
Before we say a word 

You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Love so undeniable I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
Into love love love

 

Anthony Brown | Pat Barrett © 2014 Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Common Hymnal Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

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CCLI License # 810055

Random reflections the day after my birthday

My 66^th trip around the sun started yesterday.  A pandemic and all the accompanying restrictions was part of the last one, making it memorable mostly in an awful way. This year promises more change as I will step away from pastoral ministry and discover whatever work and service God brings for the next season of life.  Yesterday started with a 100 children at our Vacation Bible School singing “Happy Birthday” to me in a dozen different keys. I took calls from friends and family,  read through Facebook posts, enjoyed dinner with friends, and went to bed with a heart full of gratitude for the life with which I am blessed. Recently someone asked me if I’d like to be young again. Honestly, no! Each season has its own rewards savored in that moment.  Some valleys I would never want to see again!  And, today is rich with opportunity.

The Psalm of Moses is more meaningful now than it was when I was a younger man.  The fact that will not go on forever becomes more obvious with time’s passing so I pray - "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, NIV)  That is not a grim thought because I also pray - "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." (Psalm 90:14, NIV)  It is not grim to have an awareness of mortality that is offset by knowing the eternal God now, the hope I know in Him bridging the chasm that I will cross at the inevitable end of earthly life.

Yes, there are some regrets, a few missed expectations, and some as yet unfulfilled dreams.  I choose not to live looking back. Instead, I celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of God, anticipating ‘immeasurably more’ in His plans.  I do not forget that when I stumbled, He was there! When the way turned dark, He was my Light. I give thanks for blessings that are many, the richest of them, knowing Jesus and finding in Him a life that is purposeful.  But, I am future-focused, joining Paul in this desire - "to know Christ and to experience His mighty power.” (Phil. 3)  Each day, each season of living, brings new opportunities.

I have found a treasure in the friends who have walked with Way with me.  Some I knew personally, others only in their writing. Laughter and tears are part of those memories.  I cannot fail to remember my parents who instilled faith, the teachers who shaped my thoughts, the people with whom I work as ‘brothers and sisters’ in the family of God.  Some of those were for a month, some for a lifetime, but all sweet in my memory.  Surely the Proverb is worthy of remembering -  "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel." (Proverbs 27:9, NIV)  

The best life is formed when we are connected deeply to good friends and with solid spiritual leadership.  If you desire to live your best life, to enjoy each day to the full, take this counsel -   "Join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths." … Good friend, don’t forget all I’ve taught you; take to heart my commands. They’ll help you live a long, long time, a long life lived full and well. Don’t lose your grip on Love and Loyalty. Tie them around your neck; carve their initials on your heart. Earn a reputation for living well in God’s eyes and the eyes of the people." … You’re blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight. She’s worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary." (Proverbs 2:20, 3:1-4, 13-14, The Message)

Peter offers me the practical wisdom of God. This passage is quoted from The Message. "Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good; Run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what He’s asked;
But he turns his back on those who do evil things. " (1 Peter 3:8-12, The Message)

I close today’s thought with a heart-felt “Thank you” to you, friend, for walking with me, for letting me spend a few moments with you in these thoughts. Let’s finish well together, OK?

Paul knew his own life was about to end. He wrote to Timothy, leaving us with these wonderful words which I hope are true for you and for me when the clock runs out for us.  The word from the Word- "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (2 Timothy 4:6-8, NKJV)

______________

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

(Carrie Underwood will bless you with this presentation of a wonderful hymn)

 

Great is Thy faithfulness

O God my Father

There is no shadow

Of turning with Thee

Thou changest not

Thy compassions they fail not

As Thou hast been

Thou forever wilt be

 

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning

New mercies I see

All I have needed

Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness

Lord unto me

 

Summer and winter

And springtime and harvest

Sun moon and stars

In their courses above

Join with all nature

In manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness

Mercy and love

 

Pardon for sin

And a peace that endureth

Thy own dear presence

To cheer and to guide

Strength for today

And bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine

With ten thousand beside

 

Thomas Obediah Chisholm | William Marion Runyan

© Words: Public Domain