Perilous Times

My heart breaks for those suffering at the hand of terrorism in Boston this week. 

This kind of senseless violence only re-emphasizes to me the fact that we are indeed living in perilous times.   The scriptures speak of wars and rumors of wars, and that we are not to be afraid, for these things must happen.  But “look up” for our redemption draws near. 

If you are a Christian, you know that the culmination of all things is at hand.  We are admonished to “redeem the time”, meaning make the best use of whatever time you have left by living on purpose.  Whatever God has called you to do, do it! Get on with it!  Stop living in fear and trepidation; work out your soul’s salvation with fear and trembling.  In other words, “Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God.” Phil. 2:12 (MSG)

If you are not, you may be feeling fearful, anxious and uncertain about the days ahead.  Perhaps it’s because you’re not sure where you stand with God.  We have no way of knowing when our time is up.  Indeed our very next breath is not promised.  Do you know where you’re going if something were to happen to you today or tomorrow? 

You can be sure of where you will spend eternity by praying this simple prayer:

Lord Jesus, I believe in my heart that You are the Son of the Living God; I confess with my mouth that You came to this world and died on the cross for my sins and was raised on the third day.  I confess that I’m sinner, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Please come into my heart, forgive me of my sins, be my Savior and Lord, and make me who You want me to be.  Thank you, Lord, for saving me! 

If you prayed that prayer, I want to hear from you. I want to rejoice with you and offer some guidance in your new walk with God.  Congratulations!  Welcome to the family of God!  

Press On!

Have you ever made a terrible mistake or gave way to sin in your life, and found yourself unable to get past it?  In Phil. 3:13-14 the Apostle Paul gives the prescription for getting untangled in the snare of your past.  To paraphrase, he is basically saying, look I may not have arrived to the full measure and stature to which God has called me, BUT one thing I am going to do is forget those things which are behind and press on toward prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus.  It's as if he's saying, I don't know how I'm going to get there, but I know I can't go forward if I keep looking back at my past.  I believe this statement is telling of what I believe was a tremendous struggle for Paul - and for good reason!

Paul had committed some of the most heinous crimes against God and his people.  He was a murderer - an assasin of all things Christian.  His life-changing encounter with the true and living God occurred just after Stephen was stoned to death.  Of all the killings Paul had been party to, this was the most heinous of them all.  Something in Paul snapped.  He was absolutely out of control...until one day while travelling on the road to Damascus.  

I know the enemy taunted him daily with his past persecution of Christians and, most painfully, the memory of Stephen's death. When you consider the calling on his life, what could most surely hinder him from preaching the Gospel to the gentiles, than to neutralize him by keeping his past sin ever before him.  The enemy desired to sift him as wheat, but Jesus was interceding that his faith fail not.  And indeed it did not fail, and he went on to become one of God's most anointed ministers of the Gospel who authored most of the New Testament, to the glory of God the Father! 

God has an amazing plan for your life.  As Way Makers - Sons of God, we can't afford to allow the enemy to keep us from reaching the lost because we're living in the past.   No matter what you've done, God is able to deliver you from the enemy of your soul.  He said, if you would just confess your sins, He is faithful to forgive you and cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  Every time the adversary brings up your past, make declaration that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ!  It's under the blood!!  You have been forgiven and cleansed of all unrighteousness!  When you do that, the devil will flee!!!

Listen, make amends to those you've hurt if you need to; make restitution where appropriate.  Then follow Paul's example:  Forget those things that are behind!  Let them go!  Press on!! 

The God of All Comfort

Yesterday I went to administer Holy Communion to a woman was very active in service to the Lord under my leadership until just a few short months ago.  That's when her health began to fail.  I'm always so grieved to hear of someone that seems so full of life and vitality, has suddenly become gravely ill, even to the point of death.   I'm saddened and amazed at what God has done in her life in the short time she's been a part of our ministry, "An Evening of Inspiration".  But He has done an amazing work in her life! This is her testimony.

As I come into the room, tears begin to flow down her frail cheeks and she smiles a very tired smile.  I can feel myself well up with emotion, but I hold it together because this is about her and what God wants to do for her at this time.  I hear the Christian radio station as I put my things down and come and sit on the side of her bed.  For awhile, we just look at each other as the tears continue to fall.  I speak first.  "I'm so glad to see you, Joyce."  She can barely speak; her voice only audible just above a whisper.  I tell her that I've come to share the Table of the Lord with her and I begin to prepare the elements and anointing her with oil.  I begin to pray slowly, allowing the Holy Spirit to direct me.  After administering the elements, the Lord prompts me to read some scriptures.  He quickly brings to mind which ones, and I turn them one after the other as He leads:  Psalm 23, John 11, John 14, etc.  As I read, I notice her gaze is fixed on me face...a kind of intent stare like she didn't want to miss anything.  I could tell that the Holy Spirit was ministering to her.  She said wanted God to forgive the mistakes of her past, to which I responded with 1 John 1:9-10.  At that, she smiled with a sigh of relief.  She said she was at peace and she wasn't afraid. There was no one she needed to forgive.  I asked her if she remembered when she received the Lord as her Saviour, and she said it was about 3-4 years ago, and she confirmed that she had accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior.

For a moment we were both quiet as I rubbed her frail hands to comfort her.  Then she said, "I guess I won't need this body anymore."  And I said, "No you won't.  You're going to have a glorified body.  This mortal body is going to put on immortality and death will be swallowed up in victory!  There will be no more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears."  Her eyes got really wide with hope!  My heart was blessed! 

It was time to go.  Just this short visit was enough for her.  I prepared to gather my things.  As I bent down to give her kiss on the cheek, she said, "I'll see you on the other side."  I smiled with watery eyes and said, "I'll see you on the other side."

It's just a matter of time now, before she passes into the presence of her heavenly Father.  As I was leaving the building, I thought, "God, I really want to see her when I get there."  I left with the feeling that this was all God's doing.  He is The God of All Comfort. When we respond in obedience and love to those who are in need, we prepare the Way for the Lord to come in.  We make room for the divine intervention of God in the lives of those whom He entrusts to us.  It's not so hard.  In fact, we find that life is just as it should be and you are in the center of His will.