AS I REACH MY JOURNEY'S END

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul was granted his heart's desire. "I have finished my course," he wrote later, and it was with joy. Not with money or earthly possessions, because he wrote from a dungeon, needing his cloak and parchments. Not with a host of friends, for all men had forsook him. Not with fame, for he died a martyr. But he finished with joy, anticipating a crown.

Just as the last day of the year anticipates a new year, so journey's end for the Christian is but the end of a prelude. Phil 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:  There are no turns for the worse. To die is gain, even death for the believer is a paying proposition. 

It was for the joy that was set before Him that our Lord endured the cross despising the shame. And looking unto him we run with patience and finish with joy.

Some who have known starting grace and sustaining grace have grown careless about finishing grace. What fools we can be on the mile! Be sure to make your last testimony the joy of journey's end!

SUFFICIENT

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 2Co 12:8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In January of 2005, our church closed the deal of the sale of our old building on Massachusetts Avenue in Indianapolis. We moved into a warehouse in Lawrence, which was suppose to be for only a short period of one year. We did this thinking that we would be able to begin the building of our new church building by fall of 2006. We had our architectural plans made, secured the services of a builder, and purchased a steel building for the primary structure. All this not taking into account that the Lord was going to allow the “messenger of Satan” to bring us a thorn in the flesh. We spent five years and three months in that warehouse praying, pruning and preparing for the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We discovered that the harshest thorn can bring us to a greater knowledge and relationship in the grace of God. Therefore, I say, we owe that thorn a debt of gratitude.

Our Lord certainly knows how to prepare us for what we must face in the future. Whether it be illness, lack of finances, or emotional heartache, the grace of God is sufficient to turn our weaknesses into the strength of Almighty God. We owe a debt of gratitude to every adversity that comes our way for it allows us to see the hand of God in our lives. We can glory in our infirmities and when we do it brings us to the power of Christ resting upon us.

By the way, God has given us a wonderful church building to worship in and though the thorns keep coming the grace of God is still sufficient. Amen!

FAMILY CAMP 2010

Jos 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

Our family just returned from attending Family Camp at Camp Victory in Somerset, Kentucky. I have always enjoyed this particular three days there. Family Camp has been a great source of encouragement to me and other members of my family. This year was no exception, I was not disappointed in the least. If ever a group of people desired to lift up Jesus Christ and worship the Lord, I certainly was with them this year. And we had a great number from our church attend, as well.

The “old timers” really knew how to worship because they learned what worship really is! We need to learn a lesson from them about true worship. No fakery, no human glorification, nothing worked up, no distraction from the real purpose of worship. As they would say, “God got on it!” You just had to be there to know and experience it. Others, like myself, have gone in years past and it has always been Holy Spirit blessed, but there was just something filling and satisfying this year that only God could supply. As my friend, Pastor George Heitman, said “I’d rather sing than grieve.” 

Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,

Just to take Him at His Word.

Just to rest upon His promise,

Just to know “thus saith the Lord.”

I DON'T NEED TO KNOW, I JUST WANT TO KNOW

Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Of late, as a devotional for my grandchildren (Kaycee, Laurisa and James) I have been reading from “Streams For Teens,” which is an adaptation of the devotional book by L. B. Cowman, “Streams In The Desert.” Each morning before they go off to school we have a moment of  Bible reading and a selection from this book. I do not know if they are getting much from it, but my cup is over flowing.

Today’s offering was based upon our text and featured comments by F. B. Meyer, one of my favorite authors. Meyer said, “Abraham’s decision to leave was based not so much upon the promise, but rather the Promiser.” This really hit home with me and reminded me that the direction for our lives is not so much what we can see and understand or even desire. It is based totally upon the character and integrity of our Lord and Master. Many are saying “Lord, Lord” today, but never follow Him as their Captain. Modern Christians have a habit of mapping out their own plan and strategy then seeking God’s approval. The old timers would call this “putting the cart before the horse.”

As we walk and serve and worship our Lord, we must allow Him to “lead His dear children along.” The Holy Spirit’s phrase in Hebrews 11, “By faith” must have a deeper meaning than we put to it today. However, we would say “I need to know the promise before I move.”  No, we don’t need to know, we just want to know.

As my friend says, “think about it.”

WAITING FOR GOD

Isa 30:18

And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

I found this poem in one of my devotional books. I do not know who the author is for it is listed in the book as “selected.” But the thoughts truly minister to my heart.

I longed to walk along an easy road,

And leave behind the dull routine of home,

Thinking in other fields to serve my God;

But Jesus said, “My time has not yet come.”

I longed to sow the seed in other soil,

To be unfettered in the work, and free,

To join with other laborers in their toil;

But Jesus said, “‘Tis not My choice for thee.”

I longed to leave the desert, and be led

To work where souls were sunk in sin and shame,

That I might win them; but the Master said,

“I have not called thee, publish here My name.”

I longed to fight the battles of my King,

Lift high His standards in the thickest strife;

But my great Captain bade me wait and sing

Songs of His conquests in my quiet life.

I longed to leave the uncongenial sphere,

Where all alone I seemed to stand and wait,

To feel I had some human helper near,

But Jesus bade me guard one lonely gate.

I longed to leave the round of daily toil,

Where no one seemed to understand or care;

But Jesus said, “I choose for thee this soil,

That thou might’st raise for Me some blossoms rare.”

And now I have no longing but to do

At home, or else afar, His blessed will,

To work amid the many or the few;

Thus, “choosing not to choose,” my heart is still.

John Bunyan wrote in Pilgrim’s Progress, “And Patience was willing to wait.” Patience is not easy to come by, for patience means our lives are about waiting for God not consumed with self. The Word says “tribulation worketh patience.” God can not be served any other way for to try to do a work in His name without His timing is only self-serving. I am two months away from age sixty-one at this writing...I believe I can say this much, patience displays our faith and trust in the One Who called us. I’ve learned that much in my lifetime.

SHAME! SHAME!

Ps 35:26 “Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.”

The Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “shame” as: A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation; or by of that which nature nature or modesty prompts us to conceal. Shame is particularly excited by the disclosure of actions which, in the view of men, are mean and degrading. Hence it it is often or always manifested by a downcast look or by blushes, called confusion of face.

Our text, no doubt, is a reference to David being mistreated by Saul. Even Jonathan was ashamed of his father’s actions in doing so. For it says in 1Sa 20:34 “So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.”

There will be times when those of authority will act shamefully. Sometimes it will be a close friend or even a family member who seeks your hurt. As I have said many times, we all have to stand in front of the same Jesus. He is always the righteous Judge. It is then, if not before, that Christ will bring them to confusion and clothe them with shame and dishonour. Vengeance belongs to the Lord.

Recently, I learned of two “preachers” who have acted shamefully. Once I respected both these men, but because of their foolish and shameful speech and actions I have lost all respect for them. It is such a pity because both of them claim to represent our precious Lord. My fear is that one day they both will stand to give an account and be brought to shame before the Lord. That will neither be productive for the ministry nor for them as God’s men.

Let us be careful to do as the Scriptures command, Eph 5:15 “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,” this should always be our endeavor, this is always wise.

DANGERS OF A REFORMED HEART

Lk 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

I believe that most would agree that Zacchaeus truly repented. Our Lord gives testimony in the text that salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus. His actions not only changed, but his heart changed as well for earthly wealth, suddenly, became of little value to him. So it is with all who truly repent. Nothing matters more than pleasing God, keeping Christ’s commands, and sharing the truth with others. That is why Zacchaeus did not call Jesus “Rabbi” (teacher), but he recognized Him as “Lord” (adonai, sovereign master).

During my forty-three years in the ministry, I have seen many reformations, but not quite as many repentances. Reformation displays a change, a change of course, a “turning over of a new leaf.” But there is no heart change. “Making a decision for Christ” or “allowing Christ in your life” sounds good, but it is not the same as being born again. True salvation gives us a new heart, reformation takes the old heart and tries to do better. Many a teenager or young adult has made a profession of reformation only to find out later in life that they are still empty within. All their reformation has brought them is a false sense of security. Though they have changed in one area of life, the venom of sin has just found a new conduit to spew out from an un-regenerated heart.

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines reprobate as “abandoned in error, lost in apostasy.” So it is with the reformed heart.

THE THREE FOLD CORD

Ecc 4:12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Recently I preached a message on the three fold cord of our text. The illustration I used was the braiding of a young girls hair. Before the congregation I had her mother come and demonstrate just how the hair is braided.

First, I asked her to separate her daughter's hair into two sections and then try to braid the hair. The best she could do is twist the sections together, but when she let go the hair fell to its nature state. The tinsel strength of a cord with only two sections was not very strong.

Then, I asked her to separate her daughter's hair into three sections. She began to layer one section over the other until she had the entire length of hair braided. It was much easier for the hair to stay together as a single braid and the tinsel strength of the braid was much stronger.

But upon close examination, something was noticed. Looking directly at the braid one could only see two sections. Where was the third? It was intertwined with the outer two. Not only did it make the braid work, fortify the braid with much greater strength, but made of itself no reputation.

Such is our Lord Jesus Christ. He makes life work. He fortifies us with inner-strength. But He choses to work through us. And that is a cord that is not quickly broken.

Consider it.