Tag: Salvation

Living in the Light

Meteorologists tell us the darkest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere is December 21, the winter solstice. In my hometown we experience 14 hours and 56 minutes of darkness on that day. However, I do not consider December 21 the darkest day of the year. I consider January 2 to be the darkest day of the year. We experience 14 more minutes of sunlight on January 2 than on December 21, but darkness reigns on that day. Christmas is over, and Christmas lights have grown dark. I have always found Ohio winters to be hard, not because of the cold, but because of the darkness. I much prefer living in the light. I am not alone. That takes us to our scripture reading, Genesis 1:1-5.

Tradition tells us Moses wrote the Book of Genesis, along with Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Together, they are called the Pentateuch. They were written approximately 1,400 years before the birth of Christ. Genesis means “birth,” “genealogy,” or “history of origin.” It is the perfect title for the book because it summarizes the theme of the entire book. Our reading tells us how it all began. They are the opening words to the creation story.

According to the Bible, God created the world in six days, resting on the seventh. God is the main character in the Bible. In the Bible, God’s existence is never questioned, he always existed. In our reading, the original language, Hebrew, exposes Jesus was part of the creation because Jesus is divine. The first verse says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In verse two we learn darkness reigned until God acted. In other words, only chaos, disorder, danger and the unknown existed. In verse three, God introduces light. It is the opposite of darkness. Light brings order, safety and knowledge. In verses four and five, we are told God was pleased with the light, so he separated the dark and the light. The darkness was called “night” and the light “day.” I find it interesting everything began when light was brought into the story. This is certainly not the last time light is mentioned in the Bible.

The word light is used 272 times in the Bible. Sometimes, light means something that glows, like a campfire, firefly or a flashlight. Sometimes, it means more. In the Bible, light symbolizes God’s presence, purity, truth and spiritual illumination. In 1 John 1:5, God is described as light. In John 8:12, Jesus described himself as the “light of the world.” That verse says, “Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  I have been walking in that light for over fifty years. I feel sorry for people who are groping in the dark because life is hard for everyone.

When you live in the light of Christ, you are forgiven. Ephesians 1:7 says, “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Forgiveness in the Christian faith runs contrary to our world. According to the Bible, we are forgiven by God when we forgive others. That is the point of the parable of the unmerciful servant, Matthew 18:21-35. True peace with God is only possible when we forgive others. Who do you need to forgive?

When you live in the light, you have hope. Roman 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. According to a recent Harvard Youth Poll, 51% of young Americans feel hopeless. That is a sad figure because they live in a wonderful country. America is still the land of opportunity. However, with that opportunity comes responsibility. It was a wonderful day when I discovered it all didn’t depend on me. God has been taking care of me from the very beginning. Living in the light means I am not alone. God is with me, and God is with everyone who is living in the light. Those who chose to live in the darkness only see loneliness. Matthew 19:26 says, “With God all things are possible.”

When you live in the light of Christ, you have a purpose for living. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Discovering your divine purpose is vital. I am fortunate that my vocation and my purpose were one. For many they are not. God created you for a purpose. You were not born to be a consumer. You were not born to amass wealth. You were born to glorify God and work in his kingdom. What are you doing to glorify God?

When you live in the light, you have salvation. John 14:6 says, “Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”  This is the unpleasant reality – no one gets out of the world alive. We are all terminal from birth. However, that is not the end. For those who live in the light there is more. One of the great promises in the Christian faith is salvation. When I leave this world, I will go home. In other words, I will be in heaven with fellow believers. Are you still questioning your salvation?

Years ago, I was visiting someone in the hospital. They were in the intensive care unit. On my way out of the ICU, I stuck my head into the family waiting room. You never know who you will find. On that day, I found a woman I knew. She was surrounded by her family. She gave me a hug and introduced me to her family. Everyone greeted me warmly, except one brother. He was having a hard time. They told me their other brother was a patient, and things weren’t going well. I asked them if I could pray with them. They all said, “Yes!” except for the struggling brother. He looked at me and said, “No! What the hell has your God done for me?” The family apologized for his harsh words, but I wasn’t upset. I felt sorry for the hurting man. He was struggling because he was living in the dark. He only saw chaos, disorder, danger and the unknown.

How many people do you know are living in spiritual darkness? I prefer living in the light because life is more tolerable. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) once said, “I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun – not because I can see it, but because by it I can see everything else.”

Less Billy, More Jesus

American entertainer Kathie Lee Gifford (born 1953) was raised in a family where God was honored generally, but He was not known personally. Her father was Jewish, and her mother was a Christian. When she was twelve years-old, her mother and her sister were led to Christ by a televised Billy Graham evangelistic crusade. Several months later, they encouraged her to go see a movie produced by the Billy Graham organization, The Restless Ones. Kathy Lee decided to go.

In many ways, it was her story – a young girl trying to decide what path to take: the ways of this world, or the ways of God. She related to the girl in the movie, and she began to evaluate her own life. When the movie ended, an altar call was given, and young Kathie Lee went forward to accept Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her life would never be the same again. Ask Kathy Lee Gifford and she will tell you; we are saved by grace and by grace alone!

Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) was an English Baptist preacher. He has been called the Prince of Preachers. He once said, “Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification and eternal life by virtue of God’s grace.”  That is an old quote. Charles Spurgeon died in 1892. That quote may be old, but it still rings true today. Someday, we will stand before God justified because of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Never forget it – we are saved by grace and by grace alone! That takes us to our scripture reading.

We are in the eighteenth chapter of Luke, verses nine through fourteen. It is the parable of the publican and the Pharisee. The story is dominated by two men. They are not identified by name, only by vocation. The first was a Pharisee. We are critical of the Pharisees because they confronted Jesus. The Master’s own generation was not critical of Pharisees. They were viewed as the religious elite, who were the bridge between mankind and God. The second man was a Publican. That was the term used in ancient Roman times for a tax collector. In our time, we dislike tax collectors; they hated tax collectors. They were viewed as traitors, who sold out to the Romans. They profited at the expense of their own people, the Jews. This parable plays on our stereotypes or prejudices.

According to the story, both men went to the Temple to pray. There is nothing surprising about that. The people of Jesus’s day valued prayer. They prayed regularly. Daily, morning and evening prayer was scheduled at the temple in connection with the sacrifices. In addition to those times, the temple was always open for private prayer. Prayer was not isolated to the Sabbath. It was a big part of their daily lives.

In Jesus’s story, the Pharisee was the picture of complete pride. He stood upright and reported to God all his good deeds. He fasted twice a week and gave generously to the poor. The other man, the Publican, was the picture of complete brokenness. He stands at a distance beating his breast. He is not proud of the way he is living. He admits he is a sinner, and he asks God for mercy. The two gentlemen in Jesus’s story are from opposite ends of the universe. There is nothing surprising in the story until the last verse. Verse fourteen reads, “I tell you that this man (the tax collector) rather than the other (the Pharisee) went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” It is impossible to read this story and ignore the importance of humility. After all, we are all sinners saved by grace. Yet, there are many in our society who can relate to the Pharisee. You must know someone.

According to the Pew Research Group, 80% of American Christians believe Jesus is not their only hope of salvation. In other words, four out of five American Christians believe their entrance into heaven is merit-based. That is why we hear so much about good works when a loved one dies. They volunteered to help children read. They mowed their aging neighbor’s lawn. They gave generously to the church of their time, talent, and money. They cared for stray cats and loved dogs. They would do anything for anyone. Do you know why people say such things? They are trying to convince us, or themselves, that their loved one is in heaven because they were a good person. This is the problem: A merit-based entrance into heaven is not what the Bible teaches.

The Bible teaches us we are saved by grace and by grace alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 says it clearly: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourself, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Grace is God’s unmerited favor, demonstrated most fully in the sacrifice of Christ. In short, the only way to heaven is through Jesus – the way, the truth and the life. The faithful understand what Jesus has done for them.

Hudson Taylor (1831-1905) was a missionary who spent fifty-one years in China. At some point in his life, he was scheduled to speak at a large Presbyterian church in Melbourne, Australia. The moderator of the service introduced the missionary in eloquent and glowing terms. He told the large congregation all that Taylor had accomplished in China, and then presented him as “our illustrious guest.” Taylor stood quietly for a moment, and then opened his message by saying, “Dear friends, I am the little servant of an illustrious Master.” Hudson Taylor never forgot the truth. He was a sinner, who was dependent on God’s grace. Never forget it – you are a sinner who is dependent on God’s grace. We are saved by grace and by grace alone!

Billy Graham (1918-2018) was born on November 7, 1918 in a downstairs bedroom near Charlotte, North Carolina. His parents raised him and his three siblings in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He was converted at sixteen years old. He graduated from the Florida Bible Institute in 1940 and Wheaton College in 1943. In 1947 Billy Graham held his first crusade in 1947 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and held his last crusade in 2005 in New York City. I remember attending a Billy Graham crusade at Cleveland Municipal Stadium during college. Over those 58 years, he preached 417 crusades, including 226 in the United States and 195 abroad. It has been estimated he preached to more than 210 million people in his life. God only knows how many souls he won for Jesus Christ, including Kathie Lee Gifford. Graham is considered one of the most influential Christian leaders in the twentieth century.

Billy Graham died on February 21, 2018, in Montreat, North Carolina. He was a few months shy of his one hundredth birthday. If anyone deserved to go to heaven, it was Billy Graham. Yet, He never forgot the truth. He was a sinner, who was dependent on God’s grace. At his death, it was reported Billy Graham helped plan his own funeral. He had a simple request: less Billy, more Jesus. Billy Graham knew he was saved by grace and by grace alone! Do you? We are not saved by our good works. We are saved by grace. Do you remember the quote from Charles Spurgeon? He once said, “Saving faith is an immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, resting upon Him alone, for justification, sanctification, and eternal life by virtue of God’s grace.”

Life in Flagstaff, Maine

In Somerset County, Maine, is the community of Flagstaff. It was named after a flagstaff built by Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) in 1775. Today, Flagstaff is a ghost town. Her citizens left during the 1950’s when the Dead River was dammed, creating Flagstaff Lake. Historians tell us in the months prior to the flooding, all improvements, repairs and improvements in the whole town stopped. Why paint a house that was going to be flooded? Why repair something that was going to be wiped out? So, week by week, the whole town became more and more bedraggled, more gone to seed, more woebegone. Methodist preacher and teacher Halford Luccock (1885-1960) once said, “Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present.” That quote describes Flagstaff, Maine. Many believe it describes the world in which we live.

Like the residents of Flagstaff, Maine, many believe our world has no future. Just think about it for a moment. Our world is facing some tremendous problems. Population growth, illiteracy, and food and water shortages are common in many places. The United States is facing some tremendous problems. The news media is filled with stories about illegal immigration, drugs and affordable healthcare. The American family is facing some tremendous problems. 50% of American marriages end in divorce and 25% of American children are being raised in a home without a father being present. The greatest shortage facing our world, country and homes is hope. That is why knowing Jesus is so important. With him there is always hope. That takes us to our scripture reading.

We are in the sixteenth chapter of Acts, verses nineteen through thirty-one. Do you remember the story? Paul healed the fortune-telling slave girl from an evil spirit. Everyone should have been happy, but that just didn’t happen. Everyone was upset. Those who wanted to see into the future were upset because their window into the future was gone. The owners of the slave girl were upset because they had lost an income stream. In the end, everyone turned against Paul and Silas. After being stripped and flogged, they are imprisoned. I can’t describe to you the misery of their surroundings. Whatever words I use to describe it falls short of their reality. They are completely dependent on God. However, with God all things are possible.

About midnight, Paul and Silas are singing and praying. God must have heard them, because a great earthquake rocked the entire prison. According to the text, the prison doors opened, and all the chains and fetters fell off the prisoners. The jailor was responsible for the incarcerated, and he assumed everyone ran away. He considered committing suicide. It was a good thing he reconsidered, because all the prisoners remained, including Paul and Silas. In the morning, he looked at them and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They answered, “Believe in Jesus.” It is a great story with two sides. There is an eternal spiritual side and a temporary practical side.

The spiritual eternal side cannot be ignored. There are fourteen earthquakes mentioned in the New Testament, including the earthquake mentioned at Jesus’s resurrection. Earthquakes in the Bible always illustrate God’s power. The jailor had just experienced God’s power and was humbled by the experience. All his earthly pride was wiped away and he felt insignificant. In this humbled state he asks the question, “What must I do to be saved?” I have never met a person who didn’t want to live for eternity. Despite all our shortcomings, we believe that heaven is waiting for us and our loved ones. It would be a horrible thing to lose a loved one and question their salvation.

Years ago, I officiated at a funeral of a nineteen-year-old. His life ended before it got started. The story was tragic. The only thing he had done in life was get into trouble. He made one poor decision after another. On the night he died, he made one last poor decision. It was 3:00 in the morning and he was drunk. He was walking down the middle of a busy road, when he was hit by a drunk driver. Everyone who came to his funeral was young. It was their first taste of death. One by one they passed by his closed casket. A young woman wanted to speak at his service. The family granted her request, and she ended her emotional words by saying, “I hope he found a way to get into heaven.” I have never forgotten her hopeless words.

Have you ever wondered about the salvation of one of your loved ones? There are no secret entrances to get into heaven. There is no side door. There is no back door. The only way to get into heaven is by believing in Jesus. He is our only hope of salvation. His blood washes us white as snow. That is the eternal, spiritual side to the story. Yet, there is another side to this story. 

This is a temporary practical side to the story. God is always present and with God there is always hope. In the story, the incarcerated had no hope, until God intervened on their behalf. That theme isn’t just found in this story. It is found throughout the New Testament. It is the theme of our faith. People of faith understand it clearly. God can turn victims into victors. However, people who lack faith remain victims, like the residents of Flagstaff, Maine. Do the people in your life consider you a hopeful, optimistic person? Do the people in your life consider you a person of faith? Never forget, with God there is always hope. This is the story of the most hopeless time in my life.

When I was in seminary, there was one series of classes that I feared more than the rest – New Testament Greek. I was required to take three classes in New Testament Greek to graduate: Greek I, Greek II and a class in Greek grammar. I found Greek I to be challenging. I found Greek II to be impossible. Part of my problem was my life at that time; it was complex.

As the final exam approached, I knew it wasn’t going to be pretty. It would be the first class I ever failed. The standards were high for that class. There was only one test and you had to get an 80%. That simply wasn’t going to happen and my future hinged on that test. If I didn’t get an 80%, I wouldn’t get my degree, which meant I wouldn’t be ordained. It was one of the most stressful moments in my life. With no other options, I asked the professor for more time to study. He agreed and said I could take it at 8:00 on a Friday morning, because his grades were due at noon. I took that extra time to go back to the beginning of the class and retaught myself Greek. At first it was easy, but then it grew hard. The situation seemed hopeless. I remember the night before I took the test sitting in the library completely alone. Everyone else had gone home because the semester was over. Depressed, I sat there. In my heart, I knew it, I had no hope of passing. I remember at 8:00 in the evening I started to panic. I felt like my future was over before it began. Trying to control my emotions, I knelt by my study carrel and began to pray. My prayer was simple. “Please, God help me. I can’t do this alone. I need you. If you have called me into the ministry, then help me.” For another ninety minutes nothing changed. There is no other way to say it. I was living in Flagstaff, Maine, hopeless. I waited for the announcement that the library was closing. It was at that moment that God acted on my behalf. Like God rolled back the great stone on Easter morning, God rolled back the great stone to my brain. Suddenly, everything clicked. Greek is one of those things you either get or you don’t. For the first time, I got it! Overcome with emotions, I prayed a word of thanksgiving.

The next morning, I was there early to take the test so I wouldn’t have time to forget what I had studied. Once completed, I waited for the professor to grade it. I needed an 80% to pass the class. I would like to report I got a 100%, but I won’t lie to you. I got an 81% and it was the most magnificent 81% in the history of the church! I knew the truth. I didn’t get the 81% because I worked hard, I got an 81% because God was with me. Without God, I would have failed. Without God, there is no hope. However, with God, there is always hope. Can I ask you a question? 

How much time do you spend in Flagstaff, Maine? How much time do you spend in a sea of hopelessness, wallowing in self-pity? I cannot tell you all your prayers will be answered with a yes, but I can tell you in the end God wins. With God, all things are possible. God knows what is best. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) once said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” 

Taking Sin Seriously

The topic is sin. We understand sin to be an immoral act and a transgression against divine law. According to the Bible, sin was introduced into the world by Adam and Eve. You know the story – it begins in the second chapter of Genesis. God created Adam out of the dust of the ground (Ge. 2:7). God also created a perfect place for the Adam to live, the Garden of Eden. The Bible tells us it was a garden both pleasing to the eye, and full of food (Ge. 2:9). God gave man dominion over it, with one restriction: the man could not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The punishment for breaking that law was severe – death (Ge. 2:17). Everything in Adam’s world was perfect, except for one flaw. Adam was alone, so God decided to give him a helper (Ge. 2:18). Taking one of man’s ribs, God created a helper for the man, a woman. Her name was Eve. According to Genesis 2:23, the man was pleased with her. Isn’t it too bad the story doesn’t end with the second chapter? Sadly, the story continues. 

We are told in the third chapter of Genesis the serpent was the craftiest of all the animals God created for man. He is the one who convinced Eve to eat from the forbidden tree. It was Eve who convinced Adam to eat the forbidden fruit. For generations, men have been blaming women for the fall. If the truth is told, they are both responsible and things would never be the same again. Genesis 3:8-15 tells us of the consequences of their sin. One thing is clear, God has taken sin seriously from the very beginning. Adam and Eve lit a fire that has been burning since that day. Generations later, we live in the aftershock of their sin. With this as a background, let me make three statements about sin. This is statement number one.

Our generation does not take sin seriously. On December 8, 1980, former Beattle John Lennon (1940-1980) was shot to death in New York City near his residence. Mark David Chapman (born 1955) pulled the trigger and was sent to Green Haven Correctional Facility in Stormville, New York, where he is serving a 20 year to life sentence for the crime. He is still there today. A reporter interviewed him later and asked him if he had any regrets. He responded by saying, “Only one. I regret people don’t understand me. I am basically a good person. I only killed one person.” He illustrates the fact our generation does not take sin seriously. In my opinion, we may live in the most immoral times in American history because we don’t take sin seriously. How many things are accepted today that were not accepted years ago? The question is, why? I believe it is because we are always comparing ourselves to other sinners. Next to them, we look good.

Do you know of anyone who has stopped watching the news because they are tired of all the bad news. They are tired of hearing about violent crimes, sex offenders, and murders. They are tired of watching young people being sent to prison for decades, wasting their lives. They are tired of political corruption and hopeless world problems. They are tired of another church scandal. They are just tired of all the bad news, so they just stop watching. However, this is equally true – we compare ourselves to those in the news. In comparison to that list of bad characters in orange jump suits, we look good. We know we are sinners, but we are not that bad. Did you know, according to Lifeway Research, 67% of all Americans believe in hell, but only 2% of Americans think they are going to hell? It is painfully true, our generation does not take sin seriously. This is statement number two. 

Historically, the church has taken sin seriously. In the eighth chapter of John, we find Jesus speaking at the Temple in front of a great crowd. We do not know the topic he is addressing, but we do know what happened. Suddenly, the teachers of the law and the Pharisees appear, dragging a woman. We know nothing about her, except for her adulterous behavior. (It is interesting they only brought just the woman. The last time I checked it takes both a man and a woman to commit an adulterous act.) They remind Jesus what the law required – she must be stoned. Things look bad for the poor woman, but Jesus saves the day. The Master says, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  The good news is the woman was not stoned. The bad news is everyone had to admit they were sinners. It is not just true of that generation, it is still true today – we are all sinners. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” That is why the church has always taken sin seriously. What sin, or sins, are frustrating your spiritual development?

In the fourth century, a monk named Evagrius Ponticus (345-399) categorized all of mankind’s sins. According to him there were eight classifications of sin. Pope Gregory I (540-604) revised his list in the year AD 590. He said there were seven classifications of sin. We call that list “the seven deadly sins.” Through the years, preachers, both known and unknown, have examined that list. During Lent one year, I preached on the “Seven Deadly Sins.” Which one of these sins haunts you? This is the list:

1. Lust 

2. Gluttony 

3. Greed 

4. Sloth 

5. Wrath 

6. Envy 

7. Pride 

Christians must see sin for what it is, the way to bondage and death, so that we cling to Christ. While our generation does not take sin seriously, historically, the church has taken sin seriously. However, this is more important.

God takes sin seriously. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s greatest desire is to spend eternity with you. That is why Jesus entered our world and that is why Jesus died on the cross. Without the cross there is no hope of eternal life. May we never forget, we are not saved by our good works, we are saved by grace and by grace alone. The cross solved our death problem. God takes sin seriously.

When I was in seminary, I took several required preaching classes. One by one, students stood in front of their peers to practice their new trade. I heard many sermons, but one illustration I heard still haunts me. I will be honest with you, it is not an easy story to tell and it is not an easy story to hear, but it does illustrate the point that God takes sins seriously. It is an old preaching story, so you may have heard it in the past. This is how it goes.

A father had a young son, who welcomed him every day when he returned home from work. The boy loved his father, and the father loved his son. Daily, the boy asked about his work. Each day the boy became more curious. The father’s job was not exciting, but it was important. He was a bridge operator. Normally, the bridge was up, so the ships could sail under it. However, when the passenger train came, he dropped the bridge, so it could reach its destination. The boy loved hearing about his father’s job and one day asked if he could go to work with his father. At first, the father said, “No,” but in time he said, “Yes.” The next morning the father took the son to work. At first the boy was fascinated. However, he was just a boy and in time he grew bored. In time, the boy wandered outside. His father watched him through the window. The father got involved in his work and couldn’t watch his son every second. For several minutes, he forgot his son was there. Soon, the signal was given. The train was coming, and it was time to drop the bridge. The father looked for his son, but the boy wasn’t in the office. He looked for his son, but the boy wasn’t in the yard. He looked for his son and saw him on the bridge. No, to be more exact, his son was under the bridge, on the large cogs that raised and lowered the bridge. The father stood to run to the bridge to save his son, but the train blew its whistle to say it was near. There was no time. The father was in the worst possible situation. If he pulled the lever to lower the bridge, he would kill his son, saving the passengers. If he didn’t pull the lever, he would save his son, killing the passengers on the train. What would you do?

On Good Friday, God pulled the lever, so we could live. The story doesn’t end there. As the train passed over the bridge the passengers waived at the bridge operator. They were having a wonderful time. That never knew the sacrifice he made for them. I hope you know the sacrifice God has made for you!

Because You Believe

We find ourselves in the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew. Much has already happened. It is impossible to summarize everything in a few words. It will have to suffice to say, Jesus was dead, executed Roman style on the previous Friday. He was crucified between two common criminals. The picture was not pretty. It is difficult to hear the details all these years later. However, Jesus was lucky in two ways: first, Jesus died quickly. Some lingered much longer on the cross; second, it was not uncommon for the crucified to be taken down and thrown into a pile of lifeless corpses; their bodies would be eaten by buzzards or wild dogs. Not so with Jesus. Arrangements were made by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus that Jesus’ body would be taken down and placed in a new tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to contain the smell and to protect it from thieves. The Roman government was persuaded by Jesus’ enemies to place guards in front of the tomb to eliminate any future problems. This was all done by dark on Friday because the law prohibited any burials on the Sabbath. Once this was completed, Jesus’ loved ones grieved because Jesus was dead! That takes us to our reading.

According to our story, early Sunday morning, Jesus received his first visitors – two women with the same first name. There is Mary Magdalene and another Mary. They were the supporting characters in a scene that would change the world. Three miraculous things happened. First, there was an earthquake. Only Matthew mentions this earthquake, but this earthquake is worth mentioning because it reveals to us that God had done something truly special. Second, the giant stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. Third, it was announced Jesus had been resurrected. According to verse three, it is made by an angel, whose clothes were white as snow, symbolizing purity. The angel tells the women about the resurrection, but the women experience the resurrected Jesus for themselves in verse nine. In time, Jesus would appear to others, including the disciples. It is important that at some time in your life, you have experienced the resurrected Jesus too.

Jesus was not the only one to be resurrected in the Bible. There are stories in both the Old and the New Testaments about others being resurrected. There are no fewer than eight, Lazarus being the most noteworthy. However, Jesus’ resurrection is different. The others had human fathers. Jesus was the son of God. That means the baby in the manger at Christmas and the man on the cross on Good Friday are the same. Jesus was the incarnation of God, who not just became one of us, but died for us. He was the sacrificial lamb for our sins. God’s love is deep. How can you question God’s love for us? Never forget it! You cannot earn your salvation. You are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus.

Your belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not optional, it is indispensable. Many believe Romans 10:9 was the first creed in the history of the church. It says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  If that is true, then the opposite is also true. If you don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then the fires of hell are waiting for you. The early church understood the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. They worshipped on Sunday morning because every Sunday morning was seen as a little Easter, or resurrection day. That is why most Christian churches still worship on Sunday mornings. Your belief in the resurrection is not trivial. It changed everything about your life. Consider these three things.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus there is forgiveness! Ephesians 1:7 says it clearly, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richness of God’s grace.”  On the moment Jesus walked out of the tomb, mankind had the opportunity to experience forgiveness. One of the great hymns found in the church today is Amazing Grace. It was written by John Newton (1725-1807.) He was a former captain of a slave ship, who was saved by grace. The hymn reminds us we are all sinners, who are saved by grace. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus you are forgiven!

Because of the resurrection Jesus your life has purpose! Philippians 3:13-14 says, “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  It has been reported only 10% of Americans feel like they know their life’s purpose. I do not find that figure surprising. In my time in the ministry, I talked to people regularly who were clueless about their life’s purpose. Many confuse their purpose with their vocation. Your purpose is to glorify God. The Westminster Confession of faith says the purpose of life is to glorify God. What are you doing today to glorify God? Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your life has purpose!

Because of the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.”  On the day I die, don’t cry for me. I am going to heaven, not because I am a good person. I am going to heaven because I worship and serve a perfect and resurrected Jesus. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright too!

Located on an island in the Seine River in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral is a piece of history. It is a “must see” in Paris. Construction began in 1163 and took two hundred years to complete. It has been the backdrop of French history for generations. They say on an average week 12,000 tourists visit Notre Dame daily. During Holy Week, that number swells to 30,000. I am fortunate. I have been there three times. The first time I was with my parents as a teenager. The second time I was with wife Kathryn fifteen years ago. It happened to be our wedding anniversary. The third time was recently. I insisted we visit Notre Dame.

We went to lunch in a nearby café. As we ate, we studied the ancient structure, and we remembered April 15, 2019. That was the day Notre Dame burned. Many grieved for Notre Dame that day. I remember being moved by the emotions of the crowd who gathered to watch the blaze, some praying, some singing, some crying. They feared the building would be lost forever. That did not happen. At first, they said it would be reopened by the Olympics in July, but that is not the case. Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen on December 8, 2024. It will be a wonderful day for the Parisiens. I will be honest with you, on the day Notre Dame burned, I mourned for the building and the history, but not the faith. The Christian faith cannot be captured in a building.

The Christian faith is found in the hearts of men and women who believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. It changed the way you viewed your past – you can experience forgiveness. It changed the way you live today – your life has purpose. It changes your eternity – someday we are going to heaven. John Ortberg (born 1957) is a Christian author, speaker and pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo, California. He once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” Never forget, we serve a risen savior!

Ther Savior is Born

Everyone knows the name Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821). He was a French statesman and military leader, who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He was the Emperor of France from 1804-1814, and for a short time in 1815. During those years he dominated Europe. In 1809, the name Napoleon grabbed the headlines of every international newspaper. Yet, under the headlines God was at work.

The year 1809 was quite a year in the history of the world. For in that year, some significant babies were born. For example, in 1809, William Gladstone (1809-1898) was born. He grew up to be one of England’s finest statesmen. The great writer Alford Lloyd Tennyson (1809-1892) was born in 1809 to a minister and his wife. In 1809, Oliver Wendall Holmes (1809-1894) was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In Boston, Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was born. In 1809, a physician and his wife, the Darwin’s, welcomed their son into the world. They named him Charles Robert (1809-1882). In 1809, a baby was born in a log cabin in Hardin County, Kentucky to the Lincolns. They named him Abraham (1809-1865). Napoleon may have been dominating the headlines, but God was moving under the headlines. It has always been that way.

Our scripture reading is Luke 2:1-7. The headline on the day Jesus was born must have read: HIGHER TAXES! No one wanted to read that headline because no one wants higher taxes. Yet, taxes cannot be ignored. So, for that reason, a decree went out throughout the entire Roman world. Everyone had to return home to be counted for tax reasons. Joseph was not excluded. He was required to return to his hometown, Bethlehem. It is not as simple as it sounds. Joseph was traveling with his true love, Mary. The journey began in Nazareth, Mary’s hometown, so the journey was seventy miles long. To make the story even more complicated, Mary was pregnant, and Joseph was not the biological father. She conceived, not by the help of a man, but through the Holy Spirit. Timing is everything. The child comes after the long journey. Some say the baby came while Mary was in a barn, some say he was born in a cave. Regardless, the baby was born surrounded by animals, so they had to be careful where they stepped. Joseph and Mary did as God commanded. According to the Gospel of Matthew, they gave him the name Jesus. It is important that you know Jesus means “to save.” This is the question you must answer: What did Jesus save us from? In this blog, I am going to look at three answers to that one question. This is the first answer.

Jesus came to save us from disillusionment. One of the great stories of this season is A Christmas Carol. It was written by Charles Dickens (1812-1870) in 1843. You know the story. The theology is poor, but the theme is wonderful. The story revolves around a man named Ebenezer Scrooge. When we first meet him, he is a selfish, greedy businessman. His now famous response, “Bah Humbug!” has become a symbol of a disillusioned spirit. However, thanks to the visits of three ghosts, the ghosts of past, present and future, on Christmas Eve, Scrooge is transformed. By Christmas morning his transformation is complete. He became generous, loving, and a gracious servant of society. The reason our society can’t get enough of A Christmas Carol is, we all relate to Ebenezer Scrooge. Can I ask you a question? Have you ever grown disillusioned?

Jesus came to remind us that there is more to this world, than this world itself. The next time you feel disillusioned, remember this. The God of the universe, who created this entire world out of nothing, knows your name. When you are at your lowest, listen for God. He is calling your name to remind you that you are a person of significance. How important are you? You are so important, God sent his one and only son into this world to die for you, so God can spend eternity with you. Jesus came to save us from our disillusionment. This is the second answer.

Jesus came to save us from defeat. In 1939, a man by the name of Robert May (1905-1976) worked for Montgomery Ward department store. For marketing purposes, he was asked to create a new Christmas character. So, he combined two famous characters, Santa Claus and the Ugly Duckling. He called his new character Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer. You know this story too. The misfit reindeer goes on to save the day. Except for a few “Bah Humbug” people, everybody loves the story of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer because everybody can relate to Rudolph. We all dream of being the hero. Let me tell you another story.

In 1960, Wilma Rudolph (1940-1994) became the first American woman to win three gold medals in the Olympic Games. Millions of Americans were glued to their television sets that summer. They believed she was the greatest female athlete ever. What made Wilma Rudolph resonate with so many was her personal story. For the first three years of her life, she couldn’t walk and wore heavy braces. The reason was her left leg was paralyzed. Medical experts said she had no hope of ever walking, but Wilma didn’t listen to the experts. She listened to her heart. She worked those long legs in Clarksville, Tennessee, and beat the odds. She became the fastest woman in the world!

I am not going to lie to you. I have known many good people who feel lost. However, I will say this: The nativity stands as a reminder to the fact that God came into the world to stand with us. Jesus was not born in the palace surrounded by aristocrats. He was born in a barn surrounded by commoners, like us. Sometimes, we experience victory, and sometimes, we do not. As Christian people, we know the truth. God is always by our side, and in the end, we are going to be victorious. In the end, everyone who believes in Jesus is going to heaven. Jesus came to save us from our disillusionment. Jesus came to save us from defeat. However, there is more. This is the third answer.

Jesus came to save us from death. It has been said, “Death is not extinguishing the light from the Christian; it is putting out the lamp before the dawn.”  When I first read that quote, I thought of my grandfather, Roger Adams. He was the greatest man I have ever known. He had the ability to make any situation fun. He had the gift of making everyone in his life feel important and special. This is his story. He was born in Pierpont, Ohio, just south of Conneaut. As a teenager his leg was damaged in a train accident. His father, my great-grandfather, refused to let the doctor amputate his leg. My grandfather had his leg, but he always struggled with that bad leg. Maybe that is why he was the first Adams to leave the farm and head to the big city. He moved to the bright lights of Ashtabula, Ohio. He had many jobs in his life, but the only job I remember him holding was on the docks of Ashtabula harbor. It was a good job, but it was not the job he really wanted. He wanted to go into the ministry, but he never had the opportunity. When I went into the ministry, I wasn’t just fulfilling my dream. I was fulfilling his dream of ministry too. In the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, it says we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, saints, who are cheering us on to do our best. One of those saints cheering me on is my grandfather, Roger Adams. When I see him again in heaven, I am going to tell him everything he missed in the ministry. I am going to tell him I was passionate about the ministry because I did it for the two of us. The Ecology Global Network tells us that two people in our world die every second. You must know someone in that great cloud. There must be someone you miss. There must be someone you will never forget.

I have many questions, but there is one thing I know for sure. Someday, I am going to heaven. I am not making this statement because I think I am a good person or a perfect person. I know I cannot save myself by my good works or by being a good person. I know I am saved by grace and by grace alone, and I lean heavily on grace. I am going to heaven because I worship a perfect Savior. I am going to heaven because of Jesus, who was the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. May we never forget it. Salvation is a gift! Salvation is yours by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. When I get to heaven, I am going to look for Roger Adams, the greatest man I have ever known. Who are you going to look for when you get to heaven?

On December 17, 1903, in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, after many attempts, Orville (1871-1948) and Wilber Wright (1867-1912) got their flying machine off the ground. Orville was the pilot. He flew for 12 seconds and went 120 feet. The world would never be the same again. Wanting to share their good news, the Wright brothers telegraphed their sister, Katherine (1874-1929), back in Dayton, Ohio this simple message: WE HAVE ACTUALLY FLOWN 120 FEET. WE WILL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. Katherine was thrilled her brothers had flown and wanted to share their good news with the world. She went to the editor of the local newspaper and handed him the message. He read it and responded, “How nice! The boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the big news!

I hope you don’t miss the big news. The Savior of the world is born! He came to save us from our own disillusionment. He came to save us from defeat. He came to save us from death. Do you remember the words of the unnamed angel in the first chapter of Matthew? The angel said, “She will give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Not Enough Potatoes!

Amazing Grace is one of the great hymns of the church. You may know the story. It was written by John Newton (1725-1807). He was born in London in 1725. He grew up without any religious conviction. As a young man he was pressed into the Royal Navy. After his service, he got involved in the Atlantic slave trade. The practice was just as sinister as it sounds. West Africans were captured and sold into slavery in the Americas. As many as 1/3 of the slaves died in route. In 1748, when Newton was 23 years old, his ship encountered a terrible storm off the coast of Ireland. Newton cried out to God for mercy. That experience marked his Christian conversion. He stayed in the slave industry for another six or seven years, then he began to study Christian theology. The hymn, Amazing Grace, came from his own personal experience. He knew he was a sinner saved by God’s amazing grace. How many times have you sung Amazing Grace?  When was the first time you pondered God’s amazing grace? That takes us to our scripture reading.

We are in the first eleven verses in the fifteenth chapter of Acts. Paul and Barnabas have just completed their first missionary journey. It should have been a happy time because so many new converts were added to the fold. Everyone should have been happy, but that is not the case. I spent forty years in the ministry, so I am qualified to make the next statement. Everyone says they want church growth, but that isn’t true. Church growth always leads to change and most people don’t care for change. Historically, the church has never cared for change. You can find the tension in this passage. The first converts to the church were Jews. That means they came from a common background – Judaism. The new converts to the church are Gentiles, non-Jews. They come from a variety of backgrounds. Most of them had very little interest in the old Jewish ways. The only thing they care about is Jesus.

The original Jewish converts had a problem. Was it necessary for the new Gentile converts to follow the laws of the Old Testament? To be more exact, do the new male Gentile converts have to be circumcised? It is a sensitive topic at various levels. As with all church debates, everyone chose a side. Like drawing a line in the sand, the two sides parted. On the one side are the characters mentioned in verse one. They insist the new members must be circumcised. Many believe their numbers were made up of converted Pharisees who valued and upheld the law. Their voices carried some weight in the past, but the times had changed. The spokesmen for the other side were Paul and Barnabas. They said the law, circumcision in this case, had nothing to do with salvation. They said, we are saved by grace and by grace alone. They said Jesus’s sacrificial death was enough. It is a point that many still wrestle with today. Is Jesus enough? Or is Jesus needed for salvation?

Recently, I read a study that shocked me but did not surprise me. It came from the American World View Inventory and the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. They reported, only 35% of Americans continue to embrace the traditional biblical view salvation comes from the sacrifice of Jesus. He is our only hope of salvation. That means 65% of Americans adults do not believe Jesus is not necessary for salvation. In other words, most believe salvation can be earned. I find myself in the minority. Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace that you have been saved – and this is not from yourself, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that we cannot boast.”

We are saved by grace and by grace alone! We are saved by grace, not political correctness. Christianity is the only world religion which has an answer to death. We are the only ones to serve a risen savior. We are saved by grace, not by our political views or patriotism. I believe America is the greatest country in the world. If you cannot succeed in America, then you cannot succeed anywhere. However, that does not mean God only loves Americans. God’s love is universal. You are saved by grace, not osmosis. God does not have any grandchildren, only children. He doesn’t care if your grandfather was a preacher, or your mother taught Sunday school. God wants to have a relationship with you! We are saved by grace, not church membership. You can be a church member and know nothing about Jesus or his ways. There are many reasons to join a church. You are saved by grave, not good deeds. Cooking dinner for a sick neighbor is nice, but it will not save your soul. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. May we never forget we are like John Newton, sinners in need of a savior. (Romans 3:23-24) Our only hope of salvation is Jesus!

I had a colleague by the name of George. I respect him because he has a pastor’s heart. He once told a story I have never forgotten. I have told it many times. I worried my church members were like the woman in his story.

According to George, he had a woman in one of his churches who loved her church. She was supportive in every way. She never missed worship and served on every church committee twice. She sang in the choir and was generous when the plate was passed. She never missed a workday. However, her true passion was the kitchen. She spent many hours in the church kitchen. If you have ever worked in a church kitchen, then you know it is true. The regular kitchen workers have a certain job. Her job was to peel the potatoes. Only the Lord knows how many potatoes she peeled through the years. She never had to be asked, she just got into position and peeled the potatoes. It became her identity within that congregation. She was known as the potato peeling lady.

One day George was told the potato peeling lady was feeling sick and went to the doctor. The doctor sent her for tests, and the tests revealed she was terminal. George was a wonderful pastor and supported her as the disease progressed. As the end drew near, George was with her. From her deathbed she looked at George and uttered words that broke his heart. She said, “George, have I peeled enough potatoes to get into heaven?” George was speechless. The good woman had spent her entire life in the church and never heard the most important thing. We are all sinners saved by grace. Our only hope of salvation is Jesus. There are simply not enough potatoes!

I hope that is not your story. I hope you understand you cannot earn your salvation. We are sinners saved by grace and by grace alone. Take this opportunity and recommit your life to Christ. Heaven wouldn’t be the same without you! Philip Yancy (born 1949) once said, “Grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done for us.”

Sell Your Possessions!

Today, we find ourselves in the tenth chapter of Mark, verses seventeen through thirty-one. It is a story we know well. It is recorded, with minor variations, in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Combining all three gives us the whole picture. According to the three Gospels, Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when he is confronted by a rich young ruler. In other words, this man has everything this world has to offer. He is rich, so he can buy anything his heart desires. He never looks at a price tag or is concerned with sales. He is young, so his health is good. His calendar is not filled with doctor’s appointments and funeral home visitations. He is a ruler, so he has influence. He has friends in high places. He has everything this world has to offer, but he doesn’t have everything.

His soul is restless, so he goes to Jesus to obtain spiritual peace. Verse 17 is key. It says, the rich young ruler asked Jesus clearly, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus answers the question with a question. The Master asked him if he was guilty of murder or adultery. Had he ever stolen, given false testimony, or defrauded someone? Had he always honored his father and mother? The man had kept all those commandments because the man had been sincere from birth. He was a true child of his faith. Jesus must have been impressed. However, this is the problem: Salvation is not obtained by what we have not done. Salvation is obtained by what we do. What does Jesus want this young man to do? The Master wants the young man to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. That way, he will be free to follow him. Why would Jesus say such a thing? This is the answer: Jesus knows our possessions are often damaging to our spiritual health.Can I be honest with you?

It is my experience that we know the story of the rich young ruler, but we don’t like the story of the rich young ruler. The words of Jesus are too radical. Are you willing to sell all your possessions and give all money to the poor? If you sold all your possessions and gave your money to the poor, you would find yourself both bankrupt and homeless. Jesus’s words seem to be insane, so we dismiss them. Many believe this story is reserved for the truly rich, not us. It is reserved for the 1% of the American population that controls 38% of our nation’s wealth. He can’t be speaking to the 90% of the American population who own 78% of our nation’s debt. This is the problem: Jesus is speaking to us. I don’t want to sound like a preacher, but in comparison to most of the world, we are rich. We don’t consider ourselves rich because we compare ourselves with people who live at the same standard of living. You know the truth. We are much better at seeing the things we want and blind to the things we have. It isn’t just true of the youth going on a mission trip, it is true for all of us. Sometimes, we need to experience someone else’s world so we can appreciate our lives. We need to step out of our worlds to learn something about our world.

I live about fifteen miles from my childhood home. Every time I am in Warren, Ohio, I drive through the old neighborhood. I always liked driving through those east side streets and my wife likes listening to my silly stories about my childhood. The tour is exact the same every time. We drive by the location of my old elementary school, McKinley, which has been torn down. We drove by the location of my old Junior High School, East, which has been torn down. We drive my old high school, Harding, which is now torn down. (All my former school buildings are now torn down. They are trying to destroy the evidence J)  We drove by the homes of my childhood friends. Some are boarded up. We drove by my childhood home. My parents bought that house as their starter house in the early 1950s, but they didn’t leave it until I was out of college in the mid-1970s. The room that was my nursery later was the same room I slept in the night before I left for college. I do not want to sound critical, but the old neighborhood had seen better days. The street along with the rest of the city looks tired and worn out. When we get back to our home, my wife Kathryn always says to me, “Sometimes, I forget how nice our house is.” She is correct. Sometimes, when we step out of our world, we learn something about our world.

In 1996, my wife started making trips to Russia to help orphans who will never be adopted. We have traveled to the former Soviet Union several dozen times. Those trips changed me and the way I look at my life. One of the people we met during those trips was an orphan named Vlad. He lost his legs below his knees in a train accident in a Moscow rail yard. Kathryn brought him to America several times to get, and maintain, his prosthetic legs. We never legally adopted Vlad, but we did emotionally adopt Vlad. She communicates with him regularly. He is now thirty-four years old and lives in the city of Dmitrov, one and a half hours north of Moscow. Vlad lives with his girlfriend, Yulia. We took them out to dinner on our last trip to Russia. They have hard lives. Periodically, Kathryn sends them money to help. If you asked Vlad if Kathryn and I are rich, he would say, “Yes!” When I’m with Vlad, I feel rich. Sometimes, when we step out of our world, we learn something about our world.

Years ago, Kathryn and I were in Russia and stayed behind. The rest of the team flew back to the United States. We stayed behind to visit a United Methodist missionary, Matt Lafferty. He showed us his work and took us to a free medical clinic. That Russian medical clinic was filled with Africans. Their dark complexions caught me off guard, so I asked why they were there. Matt explained, Russians are extremely prejudiced against anyone of color. The Africans go to the clinic not just for their medical needs but for their social needs. I said, “No! What are these Africans doing in Russia?” He told me, many Africans have come to Russia because in Russia they have more opportunity than in their homeland. They see the Russians as rich. They see Americans as extremely rich. Sometimes, when we step out of our world, we learn something about our world.

I challenge you to discover just how rich you are. According to worlddata.info, the average person in the world makes $850 annually. The average American makes $70,930 annually. The average Ohioan makes $51,775. If you make $41,000 annual, then you are in the top 3% of the world’s richest. I know, I have gone on too long to make this point, but I want you to get it. When Jesus speaks to the rich young ruler, he is speaking to us. He is speaking to you! Like it or not, you are rich.

The rich young ruler walks away sad because he couldn’t sell his possessions. You really can’t blame him. Are you willing to sell all your possessions? The disciples are trying to understand. It is hard to comprehend. In verse 23, Jesus tells us why he said such a radical thing. This is why. Jesus said, it is hard for the rich to get into heaven. He did not say it was impossible for the rich to get into heaven. Jesus knows what we want to ignore. While money is a good thing in this world, money has a way of frustrating our spiritual growth. Spiritually speaking, how you handle your possessions and how you view your possessions are extremely important. They won’t just influence your time in this world. They will influence your eternity.

The Bible tells us four ways our money is retarding our spiritual growth.

  1. Money often leads to pride and arrogance. God hates pride and arrogance. God loves the humble.
  2. Money gives us a false sense security. Money can eliminate some of life’s problems but not all. It is God who has the final say.
  3. Money drains us of our compassion and mercy. We often think we deserve our money and judge those who don’t. Your money doesn’t make you right, but your money may make you hard-hearted.
  4. Money has a way of dividing our loyalties. Is money the driving force in your life? Or is God the driving force in your life?

Your possessions are a great test. Are you passing the test?

John Wesley (1703-1791) was the founder of the great Methodist movement. History tells us, he was aware of the influence of money on his spiritual life. He believed in making all you could so you could give more of it away. When he was a student at Oxford, his annual income was thirty British pounds. He lived on 28 pounds and gave away 2 pounds. Thirty British pounds then is worth about $6,500 today. Through the years his income grew. At one point, he made 60 pounds. Then, it grew to 90 pounds, then it grew to 120 pounds. What didn’t change was his living expenses, 28 pounds. He just gave away more all the time. Wesley was aware of the influence of money on his spiritual life. How aware are you?

Here is the good news for today: You are rich! Here is the bad news for today! You are rich! The way you handle your money, the way you view your money is a great challenge to your spiritual maturity. Remember, what Jesus said, “It is hard for the rich to get into heaven”, not impossible. The great evangelist Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.”

Living A Lie

Lance Armstrong (born 1971) dominated the world of professional cycling. He won the Tour de France seven consecutive times, from 1999-2005. He was the face of the sport. Can you name another cyclist? I can’t. For years the UCI, the Union of Cyclists International, suspected Armstrong of taking steroids, doping. For years Armstrong denied it. Then it happened. He grew tired of the lies and confessed it was true. The first one he told was Oprah Winfred (born 1954). I did not learn anything from the interview I had not suspected for years. Lance Armstrong was a doper! Lance Armstrong was a cheater! Lance Armstrong was a liar! Since his confession, he has been stripped of all his titles and has faced a mountain of lawsuits from past sponsors. Many consider Lance Armstrong to be the greatest cheater in the history of professional sports. Today’s blog is about lying. However, it is not about lying for personal gain. It is about lying to yourself.

We are in the eighth chapter of the gospel of John, verses twelve through twenty. Jesus is in the temple in Jerusalem. To be exact, he is in the temple courts. That was the place where rabbis taught their students. It is early in the morning, but a crowd has already gathered for another lesson. As Jesus surveyed the crowd, he knew it was going to be a bad day. For in the crowd were his well-organized enemies, the Pharisees. You remember them. They were experts on the law. That was no small task because there were 613 laws found in the Torah. The negative commandments numbered 365, which is the number of days in a solar year. The positive commandments numbered 248, which is the number of bones and organs in the human body. If you add the negative commandments and the positive commandment, there are 613 commandments. The Pharisees believed keeping those 613 laws was the key to spiritual enlightenment. The Pharisees believed keeping the 613 laws would hasten the return of the long-awaited Messiah. They did not just hope that was true. They believed that was true. In the end they were lying to themselves. That is why they were so outraged at Jesus.

They must have been shocked when Jesus uttered verse twelve, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” What does that verse men? It means Jesus is the key to spiritual enlightenment. It means the Pharisees are wrong. Then, a debate broke out between Jesus and the Pharisees over authority. The Master won the debate because he knew where he had come from, and he knew where he was going. The Pharisees knew neither because they were living in the dark. They were sincere, but they were living a lie. Do you know of anyone who is living a lie? You must know someone. There are so many.

In the world today, there are 1.8 billion Muslims. I hate to say it, but they are living a lie. There are many sincere Muslims. Islam teaches death happens when the body and the soul are separated. Muslims believe they will stay in their graves until their Day of Judgement. The spirit returns to their earthly home on the seventh and the fortieth day after their death. Also, the spirit returns to their earthly home on the first anniversary of their death. In Islam, Allah decides when everyone will die. There are some elements of Christianity there, but they are missing a savior. In Christianity, God left the perfection of heaven to be the prefect sacrifice for the sins of the world. A life without Jesus is living a lie.

In the world today, there are one billion Hindus. I hate to say it, but they are living a lie. They believe humans are in a constant cycle between life and death called samara. They call our spirit the atman. At death, the atman simply moves on to another person. The life you are living now has been influenced by your previous life. If you have a hard life today, it is because of the bad life you live in the past. If you have a good life today, it is because of the good life you lived in the past. The goal is to live a perfect life so you can exit the cycle. Can I be honest with you? One life is enough for me. I do not what to again.

In the world today, many do not believe in an afterlife. According to the Pew Research over 7% of all Americans are atheists or agnostics. When they die, they simply believe it all ends for them. Some famous people are, or were, in this category. You know their names:

          Morgan Freeman

          Brad Pitt

          Woody Allen

          Daniel Radcliffe

          Stephen Hawking

          Sigmund Freud

          Thomas Edison

          Karl Marx

There are others, but I do not have the time. They are not just living in denial. They are living a lie. Who wants to live when there is no hope of a happy ending? I long to go to heaven.

George Lee is a retired United Methodist minister in the area and a good friend to me and this church. Years ago, he told this illustration and I never forgot. A woman in one of his churches did everything in the church that was humanly possible. She sang in the choir, served on all the committees, and never missed worship. She went to every Trustee workday. She taught Sunday school. She worked in the kitchen. She had a certain assigned job in the kitchen. She peeled the potatoes. She peeled the potatoes for years. She pealed more potatoes, then anyone in the history of that congregation. One day, George was told she had cancer. She fought the disease with a positive attitude. Unfortunately, the disease was winning. One night, George was called because the end was near. He went to the hospital to be with her. When he arrived, he found her in a weakened state. She looked up at him and said, “George, have I pealed enough potatoes to get into heaven?” George said his heart broke. She played a large role in every part of the church, but she missed the main message. There simply are not enough potatoes! There just is not enough anthems. There are not dinners to cook or classes to teach. There are just not enough sermons to preach. We are not saved by our good works. We are saved by grace and by grace alone. Our only hope of salvation is Jesus!

It is called works righteousness. It is a product of the Protestant Work Ethic. What does the Protestant Work Ethic say? It says anything worth having is worth working for. It built our country. The problem is it promotes works at the expense of grace. I hear it at nearly every funeral I preform. The loved ones gathered in front of the casket and report on the live of the deceased. He or she loved everyone, and everyone loved them. They would do anything for everyone. They would give you the shirt off their back. Then, someone will say it, “If anyone deserves to go to heaven it was them.” I have never corrected a single person at that moment, but this is the truth. The loved one does not deserve to go to heaven. The loved one deserved to go to hell and so do you. I hope you are not living a lie. We are not saved by what we have done. We are saved by grace! You know the old Gospel story!

Jesus was born in the ordinary way, but he lived an extra ordinary life. There was something special about Jesus. After all, he was the son God. He loved and respected everyone. He taught about the Kingdom of God in a small geographic area. He healed the sick and the afflicted. He deserved to live a long and happy life, but that was not part of the divine plan. He threatened the leaders of the orthodox faith and made some powerful influential enemies. It was during the Passover one of his own agreed to betray him. Judas Iscariot did it for thirty pieces of silver, but he regretted that decision later. He would hang himself. Jesus was arrested while praying in the garden. Within hours he would face two trials. The first was in front of his own people. It was a monkey trial. He did not have a chance. They had everything they needed but the authority to execute Jesus. The one with that authority was the Roman governor, Pontius Pilot. He saw through the scheme but lack the courage to confront the crowd. In the end he sentences Jesus to be executed, and releases a notorious criminal, Barabbas. The solders followed their orders and made the fast few hours on Jesus’ life miserable. The Romans used their way of executing. Jesus dies on a cross between two thieves. The cheers of Palm Sunday had been replaced by the tears of Good Friday. Everyone thought it was over. Everyone was wrong. There was a surprise ending.

Early on Sunday morning, a handful of women went to the tomb. They must have walked slowly. Their hearts were heavy, and their minds were full of questions. They did not have a clue what had happened. The stone was rolled away, but Jesus’s body was missing. At first, they fear the body had been removed by one of Jesus’s enemies. Then, they are informed that Jesus had returned to life. It is too good to be true. They run to the disciples to tell them, but they refuse to believe them. They run to the tomb, and they found the account to be true. A short time later they encounter the resurrected Jesus, himself. Over the next forty days Jesus appeared to a variety of people. Then, Jesus ascended into heaven. The Holy Spirit filled the believers. There is no other way of saying it. The resurrection of Jesus changed everything! That is not a lie. It is the truth.

The Apostle Paul did not lie. He told us the truth in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your hear God raised him from the dead you will be saved.” It is my favorite Bible verse. Jesus did not lie to the Pharisees in the temple courts all those years ago. Jesus is the light of the world! Plato (427 BC – 427 BC) once said, “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” Are you living a lie?

Are You Born Again?

We find ourselves in the third chapter of John, verses one through eight. The storyline of John is different than the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. They have Jesus cleansing the temple at the end of his ministry; it is part of the climax. John is different. He has Jesus cleansing the temple at the beginning of his ministry (John 2). That fact is important to us for only one reason; Jesus had the attention of some very powerful influential people from the very beginning. If you want to get someone’s attention, then touch their money. It is still true today.

One of those powerful influential people was Nicodemus. According to the second half of verse one, he was a member of the Jewish ruling council. That means he had climbed to the very top of his profession. It is safe to say Nicodemus spent his days answering the questions of others. This story is unique because he is the one with the question. With everything that has been written about this passage through the ages, one thing is important to remember. This story is nothing more than a private discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus. It is John, the author and editor, who promotes this private discussion to the public’s attention.

According to verse two, Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. There is some debate about that fact. Some say Nicodemus went at night so the darkness could help hide his identity. How would it look for a trusted member of society to go to Jesus, a man with no credentials? Others say he went to Jesus at night so the two could talk privately. There was time to talk. The business of the day was done. Maybe it is a combination of the two? However, this point is crystal clear. Nicodemus went to Jesus because he was impressed by the Master. No ordinary man could have performed such miracles; he must have come from God. Jesus hears through these kind words and knows the real topic, salvation! That takes us to the key verse in the reading.

Jesus says in verse three, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Two thousand years later, the world is still wrestling with those words, so we should not be surprised that Nicodemus wrestled with them that night. Nicodemus thinks Jesus is speaking of physical birth, reentering your mother’s womb. That sounds painful for everyone involved. However, Jesus is speaking of spiritual birth. The two are as different as night and day. This is the plain truth. From the moment you were physically born, you struggled to survive. Babies cry to fill their lungs with oxygen. The goal of life is survival, so the most important person in your universe is you. Spiritual rebirth is different. From the moment you are reborn, the most important person is God. Spiritually immature people live for themselves; spiritually mature people live for God. Which is more important to you? Are you the center of your universe, or is God the center of your universe?

Let me take you a little deeper. One of our primary understandings of God is that God practices free will. In other words, God may be directing history, but you are directing your own life. The choices you make are yours, so the burden of responsibility rests on you. So many things in life distill down to a choice. It has been reported the average person makes 35,000 choices in a single day. That figure seems high to me. (I know that figure is true because it came from the internet.) Some of our choices are simple choices. What are you going to have for lunch? Some of choices are harder? They will affect the rest of your life. Some choices have eternal consequences. That is what we find in the discussion between Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus is telling Nicodemus he must be born again. So, this is the question of the day.

Are you born again? Do not answer too quickly. Your answer has eternal consequences. If you are born again then Jesus should be affecting every corner of your life. Remember, those who have experienced a physical birth live for themselves. Those who have experienced a second spiritual birth live for God. To answer the question of the day correctly, let me ask you three secondary questions. This is question number one.

Is God pleased with the way you are spending your time?  

One of the great stories in the Bible is the story of Mary and Martha. It is found in Luke 10:38-42. You know the story. Mary and Martha were sisters of Lazarus, the one who Jesus resurrected from the dead. The Master stops there on his way home to Jerusalem. For you see, their town, Bethany, was only two miles from the Golden City. When Jesus arrives, Mary sat at Jesus’s feet and hung on every word he spoke. Martha, on the other hand, slaved away doing the necessary duties, cooking and entertaining. That was the traditional role of women at that time. In time, Martha resents doing all the work and goes to Jesus to enlist some help. Instead of a helping hand, she receives some divine truth. Do you remember that divine truth? Jesus applauds Mary for her priorities. Martha filled her time doing good things, cooking, cleaning, entertaining. Mary filled her time with the best thing in life, Jesus. How do you fill your time?

Is God pleased with the way you are spending your time? I am not talking about spending your time in sinister ways, selling drugs or embezzling funds. However, I am talking about spending your time just doing good things, work, family, friends, church committees and fundraisers? How much time do you spend on the best thing, Jesus? That question challenges your priorities. Perhaps, this is a better question. How are you spending your time? Is God pleased with the way you are spending your time? If you are born again then God is the center of your universe. Are you born again? This is question number two.

Is God pleased with the way you are spending your money?

In 1965, Ferdinand Marcos (1917-1989) was elected President of the Philippines, which made his wife, Imelda (born 1929), first lady. They held those posts until 1986, when the entire family fled to Hawaii. The international news was fascinated with what was left behind. After having ruled a poor country for decades, the inventory was impressive: 15 mink coats, 508 gowns, 1,000 handbags and approximately 7,500 pairs of shoes. (However, Time magazine reported she only owned 1,060 pairs of shoes.) For your information, I only own four pairs of shoes; one is an old pair of sneakers for when I work on the lawn. Within a short time, Imelda Marcos was labeled the most selfish person in the world. One can only imagine how the world would have benefitted had she shared her wealth. Do the people in your world consider you selfish? In 2018, Imelda Marcos at age 89 was sentenced to forty-two years in prison for corruption.

Is God pleased with the way you are spending your money? Money is limited, so we only spend our money on things that are important to us. So, money is revealing. How much money do you spend on yourself? How much money do you spend on your family? How much money do you spend supporting the ministry of the church, the bride of Christ? How much money do you spend responding to human need? Imelda Marcos spent a fortune on shoes because shoes were important to her. What is important to you? Is God pleased with the way you are spending your money? If you are born again then God is the center of your universe. Are you born again? This is question number three.

Is God pleased with your personal witness?

We are only in this world for a short time. How will you be remembered? Will you be remembered as a kind person? Will you be remembered as a generous person? Will you be remembered as a loving person? Will you be remembered as a selfish person? Will you be remembered as a person who was passionate about your favorite team? Will you be remembered as a person who was passionate for God? Imelda Marcos owned 7,500 pairs of shoes. How do you think she will be remembered? How will you be remembered? Is God pleased with your personal witness? If you are born again then God is the center of your universe. Are you born again, or do you have some work to do?

It is like watching history. On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin (born 1952) announced in a prerecorded television broadcast he had ordered a special military action inside of Ukraine. It was not a complete surprise. I am not an expert on Eastern European history, but there has been tension between Moscow and Kiev for years. Some believe it can be traced back to the Bolshevik Revolution (1917-1923). The Ukrainians did not support Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) and the Bolsheviks. The Ukrainians were punished for their lack of support. The Soviets starved the Ukrainians. When the Soviet Union fell in 1991, Ukraine became an independent nation. Russia has been trying to reclaim that land sense. In 2005, the Ukrainians expelled their Russian backed President because he failed to keep a campaign promise and join NATO. In 2014, the Russians took Crimea without a shot being fired. The latest military action is not as much a surprise as a continuation. Like Adolph Hitler (1889-1945) expected quick victories in the Second World War, Putin expected a quick victory, but it is not happening. The Ukrainians are fighting back. The west has responded with severe economic sanctions. The fragile Russian economy is crumbling, but the Ukrainians are suffering. The United Nations has reported more than 1,000,000 Ukrainians have left their country. That figure may jump to 5,000,000.

Nightly, I watch reports on those refugees. It is heartbreaking. Mothers/wives are taking their children to safety. Husbands/fathers are staying in Ukraine to support or serve in the Ukrainian army. Those men are willing to sacrifice everything, to change everything about their lives because they love their wives, children and country. There is no doubt about it. Love is the most powerful force in the world. We are not afraid to sacrifice and change for those that we love.

It is the story of the Christian faith; how much do you love God? How much are you willing to sacrifice for God? How much are you willing to change for God? The time has come to change the way you spend your time. The time has come to change the way you spend your money. The time has come to change your witness. Are you the center of your universe or is God the center of your universe? It is the question that will not go away. Are you born again?