Friday, December 25, 2009

AS WE LOOK TOWARD 2010

Does it seem to you that things around us are unraveling more quickly than ever? I’m not talking just about the economy and international affairs, I’m talking about how quickly people’s lives unravel. How could we have predicted the speed with which Tiger Woods’ personal life has fallen apart? A few short weeks ago he seemed the consummate good guy, a family man, and the best-known sports figure in the world…and now…what a mess!

I always get a little bit reflective as we come toward the end of one year and look toward the beginning of the new. As I have been thinking about personally preparing for 2010 and mentally wrestling to understand what is going on in our world, I have found myself frequently going to the book of Daniel: “Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine…” (1:8). Daniel and his friends had been kidnapped and taken from their homes in Israel to live in Babylon and were being prepared for life in the court of Nebuchadnezzar.

There are two words in verse 8 that I want you to be familiar with. The first is “resolved” which is translated “purposed” in older versions of Scripture. The use of the word here means that Daniel had an opinion or a philosophy that was firm, well established, immovable. The second word is “defile” and it means to be polluted or stained. Pollution is often invisible but that doesn’t make it any less deadly.

Daniel’s resolve was not about food and wine. I repeat—this is not about food and drink but about the lifestyle that they were symbolic of. Daniel was not down on Nebuchadnezzar, a certifiable mad man, nor was he advocating a specific dietary structure. Daniel was just making sure that he did not get entangled in a philosophy of life that would destroy his relationship with God.

I believe that Daniel’s resolve was birthed out of the concern, “How do I maintain my life with God while living in this pagan community?” The conclusion Daniel arrived at is valuable for us today.

While our society is unraveling and becoming more violent and volatile, it continues to become increasingly secular, and the invisible pollution of secularism intensifies. This is the air we breathe every day! How do we continue breathing this and not be polluted?

Daniel saw what was going on around him and came to a simple point of resolve. He and his friends chose to put the Lord first in everything, but that choice would not be without its challenges. Daniel ended up being thrown into a den of lions because he would not compromise his desire to honor God, and his friends were thrown into the fireplace because they refused to worship at the feet of the prevailing idols of their day. However, all these young men experienced the protection of God that was released unto them because they chose to honor Him and put Him first in their lives.

Daniel and his friends continually saw the favor and blessing of the Lord upon their lives while they lived in Babylon. Their testimonies were not destroyed because they dwelt in a hostile environment; in fact, the opposite was true. These Jewish immigrants lived their lives honorably and made an impact in the Babylonian culture. Nebuchadnezzar made this statement when the three Hebrews walked out of the fiery furnace unscathed: “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated [set aside] the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God” (Daniel 3:28 NKJV).

I believe the key to Daniel’s success is found in Daniel 1:8. Had Daniel not made this commitment of spirit unto the Lord, there would have been no success in the fire pit. Instead, there would have been three kosher charcoal briquettes, Daniel would have been lunch for hungry lions, and the prophecies of Daniel would never have been written.

Daniel purposed/resolved to honor God as first in his life and when he did, it unleashed the plan of God for his life. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). When this Scripture speaks of “His kingdom,” it is referring to His kingly rule in our lives; “righteousness” means that we seek to do that which pleases Him. In response to this “resolve,” He pledges with covenant faithfulness to respond to the seeker.

Getting ready to go into 2010, I am not going to make any New Year’s resolutions. What I am going to do, however, is refresh my commitment to make Him first in my life. The greatest security we can have in an unraveling and polluting world is the protection of God’s plan being fully played out in our lives. The toxic savagery of a world system falling apart cannot destroy the purpose for which God created you, and honoring Him and living fully in His plan for you brings His hand of grace and protection.

Friday, December 18, 2009

THE OLD HAS GONE THE NEW HAS COME

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
(Isaiah 9:6).

This prophecy, written 700 years before the birth of Jesus, is very likely the most well-known and most repeated Bible verse about the birth of Christ. Somehow the powerful truth of this verse has gotten all tangled up with nativity scenes and the commercialism of the “Holiday Season.” Unfortunately, the message of Isaiah’s prophecy has often been covered up by the secularized selling of Christmas.

Isaiah’s prophecy was looking forward to a climactic moment in history when our world would be changed forever. When a baby is born into a family, the structure and makeup of the family is forever changed to include the new arrival.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” Everything changed when deity took on a human form and came as a baby. “The old has gone and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus came to institute a new kingdom that would be called “the Kingdom of God.” One of the first statements Jesus made (that we are aware of) is found in Mark 1:15: “The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” This beginning of ministry statement underscores its importance to Him, to His mission, and to us.

“And the government will be upon his shoulder.” The kingdom that would be birthed with the Messiah would be like none other ever seen on this earth. The rule and dominion of the Kingdom of God would rest on His shoulder, and not an earthly monarch. The old was passing away and the new was coming.

Isaiah then presents five attributes of the Son of God who would rule His everlasting kingdom, five attributes of the Christ of Christmas.

Wonderful—this word is speaking of the miraculous nature of Christ’s life and ministry. Everything about His life, His ministry, would have a manifestation of the miraculous in it. I believe in miracles and I believe that miracles have a place in our life in Him. He is a “wonderful” Savior and I believe that we are to expect and anticipate His miracle-working power in our lives, too.

Counselor—in some translations the words wonderful and counselor are put together as in “wonderful counselor.” The word counselor is expressive of great wisdom and the qualifications to guide and direct all men’s lives.

Mighty God—the term here refers to a king, a conqueror, a hero. We know that Jesus was all of those and more. He is a king, a conqueror, and to all of us who love Him, He is a hero.

Everlasting Father—the term “everlasting Father” has been somewhat controversial. Some have said, “No one is to be called Father except God and therefore it is wrong for Isaiah to have applied this title to the coming Messiah.” Those who said that are right except for one thing: Isaiah was not presenting this as a title for the Messiah, he was describing the fatherly nature that the Messiah would manifest throughout His life and throughout His eternal reign.

Prince of Peace—this is possibly the most recognizable term for the Christ of Christmas. Someday all the wars, all the pain, and all the tears of humanity will cease and there truly will be peace on earth. That won’t happen until Christ’s eternal kingdom is manifest on this earth, the devil is bound, sin is judged, and the earth is swept clean of all demons, and the redeemed of God are the only inhabitants of this world. In the meantime, however, the Prince of Peace comes and establishes His reign in our hearts and lives. We can know His peace because it dwells in us.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

The world around us may be in turmoil but to the redeemed He is The Prince of Peace.

Friday, December 11, 2009

STAY ON THE LINE!

Have you seen the TV commercial for an investment company that features a progressing green line? I’ve seen the commercial several times during the evening national news. The premise is very simple; if you follow their advice, which is illustrated as a progressive green line, you will be financially successful. As you move forward in life, the green line shows you which direction to take.

One of the variations on the ad shows a man following the green line right to a new car dealership. The traveler stops to look at the cars, gets that faraway look in his eyes (you can tell he is picturing himself in that gorgeous car), and then steps off the line to go into the dealership. As he steps off the line, one of the investment advisers appears a few feet behind him, smiles, and says, “Stay on the line.” The man does as he is told and the commercial shows him following the green line into the future and the implied success that the following of the line will bring.

This is an interesting commercial because it taps into our desire to live a basically productive, successful life. It also is a great illustration of a biblical truth about God’s guidance and His desire to direct and make His people successful.

Isaiah 30:21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.


Proverbs 3:5-6
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”


John 10:3-4
“….the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”

Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.”


All these verses are essentially saying the same thing: “Direction is available, He will lead us.” Not only does the Lord provide us the line to follow, but when we are tempted to take a side trip, our adviser, the Holy Spirit, will remind us, “Stay on the line.”

No one ever went astray by listening to His voice. Our troubles begin when we start listening to other voices and elevating them above His. As much as I appreciate Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and all the other General Presbyters of the Assemblies of God, their wisdom and insights are interesting but they do not guide my life.

In the late spring of 2008, God began speaking to Carol and me about selling our home. We were in agreement that this was what the Lord wanted us to do, but there was one little hitch. Carol was ready to make the move right away but I was having a struggle over the timing. By early summer last year, the economy was falling apart and nowhere was it worse than in the housing market. “Lord” I argued, “couldn’t we wait for a better time, when market conditions are more favorable?” My whining and logic didn’t move Him at all. So with certain reticence on my part, we put our house on the market in mid-September. I fully expected it to take at least four to six months to sell and figured we would take a bath on the price of selling. In the back of my mind I was wondering, “How could this be God?”

It is impossible for me to tell you how surprised I was when less than 48 hours after we listed the home for sale, it was sold—and for a fair price in any market. I believe this was a miracle, given the prevailing market and economic conditions, and we give all the glory to Him. My struggle was not so much of staying on the line He had established for us but in my wanting to dictate the timing. Will I never learn?

Following the line set out for us may take us through territory we don’t fully understand and it may involve timing we don’t understand. It’s at moments like this that we need to remind ourselves, “He is God and I am not!” He does not owe me an explanation of everything He does.

The “follow the green line” commercial implies that if we do so, we will achieve success. As Christ followers, we have a better promise! Our promise is that if we follow the path God established for us, we will:

1. Achieve success in life according to His plan and this means we are recipients of His blessing.

2. We will not only have a rear guard that advises us but He will lead us.

3. We have an instruction manual that works like a flashlight and shows us where to walk.

All things being equal, I think the guarantee that is extended to Christ followers is far superior to one that implies success. Frankly, I don’t trust much that comes from the Wall Street/banker types of this world. Can I hear an amen?

Stay on the line!

Friday, December 4, 2009

HE NEEDED TO "TESTIFY"

I wonder how I might feel if I had been on the run for seven years. The man on the run that I’m writing about was not a career criminal and had not committed a crime in a moment of weakness. His only crime was being a good soldier and supporter of his country and his leader. His skill and faithfulness made him popular and that’s when the trouble began. His leader was a jealous type and he grew increasingly envious of the young warrior’s popularity. One day in a fit of rage, King Saul tried to kill David and David had to flee to preserve his life.

David ran for his life for about seven years. Not only were Saul and his special forces on David’s trail but so were the Philistines. Israel was in a protracted war with the Philistines and David had risen to fame by killing one of the all-time Philistine bad guys. At times, during the years of flight, David was able to forge temporary truces with the Philistines but they never seemed to last because the Philistines never trusted David, nor did David trust them.

Imagine seven years of pressure, of living on the edge, of expecting that at any moment Saul’s killers might strike. Seven years of constant moving and looking over your shoulder, wondering if someone might betray you. Years of running, hiding, waiting and watching…seemingly not much of a life.

I believe it was during these years that David’s character and integrity were forged. At one point David and his men were hiding in a cave at En-Gedi (1 Samuel 24) and Saul and some of his men came to rest in the same cave. David and his men were hidden deep in the back of the cave and Saul did not know they were there until after he left. David had a perfect opportunity to get the pressure off by killing Saul—and who would have faulted him? The depth of David’s character showed in this encounter as David restrained himself and his men from harming Saul in any way.

David showed respect when Saul demonstrated jealousy. David was truly a king and Saul was a disobedient failure. It was during these turbulent years that David’s walk with God was deepened and expanded. David was waiting for deliverance to come and he didn’t waste the waiting! (See Psalms 119:67.)

When Saul died by his own hand, David was able to come out of hiding—finally the pressure of being hunted was off. God had protected David and his men, and with the threat of death from Saul finally gone, David wanted to praise God for His faithfulness. He needed to “testify”—and so he did. Were you ever in a service when spontaneous testimonies were asked for? Some were fun but it was sometimes embarrassing when nobody had anything to say. Here is a sampling of David testifying.

“For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.”
Psalm 18:1-3

The whole of Psalm 18 (and 2 Samuel 22) is David’s testimony of God’s faithfulness, provision, protection and guidance. The rest of the Psalm is just as rich and is there for you to explore.

One of the descriptive words that David uses twice in these verses and four times in the chapter is “rock,” as in “The Lord is my rock,” meaning that God is our secure refuge. “The Lord is my rock, in whom I take refuge” (v. 2).

“Strength” is speaking of prevailing, of being made strong. The Apostle Paul understood this well and said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Strength comes from the Lord.

“Fortress” is a strong castle and is speaking of security. God is our fortress and our defense!

“Deliverer” is a word rich in meaning. One of the meanings is to be slippery or smooth, referring to God providing a way of escape, a way of deliverance. (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.)

“Refuge” speaks of a place of shelter and also speaks of trust. We are to trust God and His refuge. If we don’t trust Him, there is no refuge.

“Shield.” The Lord is the protector of His people.

“Horn” is a symbol of strength, power and victory.

“Stronghold” is often translated high tower, as in Psalm 9:9 and both mean a place of refuge.

Remember that David is giving thanks that the season of his life of running and hiding is over. There is almost a euphoric element to his testimony and, frankly, it sounds good from here.

Thank you, Lord, for preserving David and thank you, David, for sharing your testimony. It encourages me!