The Earth Groaned

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ESV Matthew 6:21

The cataclysmic movement occurred over eight miles beneath the surface and sixteen miles outside the capital city, but it was a deep, guttural groan that struck fear in the hearts of all on the surface as it reeked havoc in Haiti. In less than one minute on January 12, 2010 the face of a nation changed forever; hundreds of thousands of souls passed into eternity and all earthly treasures lay in ruins.

My friend Luis lives 125 miles away from the epicenter in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The first word I received from him said simply, “The earth shook very hard here today.” I learned later that even that far away the earth shook so hard that people poured into the streets in fear. When I spoke to him two days later, as the devastation became more evident, his church (Iglesia Baustista de la Gracia) was already mobilizing a relief effort; $6,000 had been pledged, 25,000 bottles of water had been ordered and they had agreed to pay the travel expenses for 35 local doctors to travel to Haiti for a week. Before the weekend was over, they would need an additional $20,000 for initial food and supplies for a clinic.

Buying the supplies was easy but getting them to Haiti would prove both difficult and dangerous. How would they avoid being robbed and looted on the way? By the grace of God! The Dominican Republic military volunteered to escort them to the border where the United Nations provided an escort on to Port-au-Prince and all arrived safely.

Now, almost two weeks later as hope for rescuing survivors wanes, the need continues. In a very short time, international news coverage will dissipate as public interest drifts to another calamity or everyday problems at home—but the need will continue. And I’m confident that when public interest and fascination wanes even more, Luis’s church will still be laboring and ministering however God enables them in this ravaged region.

When asked in a US radio interview how he was holding up to the stress of coordinating relief Luis replied: “Well, I’m actually very excited and very joyful that I’m a part of this [relief effort]. I think that very few things can give a man more joy than to serve and to serve God and to serve other people. It’s great not to be thinking about your needs but other people’s needs and I think it’s actually good for my soul and my heart. So, I feel very good.”

“….where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

If you’d like to help with the relief effort but don’t know how, I’d invite you to contact Tharptown Baptist Church (256-332-0063) or visit online at www.tharptown.com for more information.

Who is my neighbor? Haitians?

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" ^ESV Luke 10:29

Haiti is in ruins and the death toll could rise into the hundreds of thousands before order is restored for the living. International aid is flowing towards the country though, so it would be easy to look the other way. With a history of corrupt government and squandered resources, it would be easy to turn a deaf ear to their cries for help. We’ve become so calloused in recent years that it’s really pretty easy to close our eyes and pretend that the suffering and death is not mounting. But those folks are our neighbors; or are they? What is the biblical definition of a neighbor?

One time a lawyer stood up to test Jesus in a public forum by asking the question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Surprisingly, the lawyer and Jesus agree on the answer. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) But the answer raises another question that I suspect is a nagging one for the lawyer: “…who is my neighbor?” For the lawyer, it was the question of the day. Perhaps he thought his neighbors were other lawyers; the Pharisees perhaps; other religious leaders maybe. Though we don’t have time to expound on it here, it is highly unlikely that the lawyer would consider a Samaritan as his neighbor.

But at this point, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan. You know the story well. Three different people come upon a man who had fallen victim to foul play and left half dead on the roadway. The first two (both religious leaders) passed him by for reasons untold. The third was a Samaritan and a most unlikely candidate to lend assistance. But we know from Scripture that he did. He had compassion on the victim and went out of his way to lend a hand.

At the end of the parable, Jesus asks the lawyer a question: “Which of these three, do you think, proved [emphasis mine] to be a neighbor?” They agree that it is the person who showed mercy and Jesus commands the lawyer to go and do likewise.

Did you notice how Jesus phrased the question? The designation of neighbor doesn’t hinge on whether someone is physically located near me. Nor does it seem to matter what someone’s social status is. Ethnic background is thrown out the window as well. Jesus puts the emphasis on you, me and our actions. To whom can we prove to be a neighbor?

Today, Christians have an opportunity to prove themselves as neighbors by reaching out to Haitians during the aftermath of this earthquake. Will you be a neighbor?

If you’re looking for a way to be a neighbor to the suffering Haitians, feel free to drop me an email and I’ll direct you to some ways I’m aware of.

Resist the Devil

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ^ESV James 4:7

Through a friend, a prisoner emailed me some time back to make this point: Demons are real and spiritual battles rage continuously. He made his point in a very vivid way and it has set me to thinking about how to resist the devil and his demonic army.

Often times when reading about war and military actions the word resistance comes up. And it usually carries the implication of conflict or the meeting of opposing forces. I looked the word resistance up online and found this definition: “the act of opposing.” Similarly, a quick search on the word resist yielded: “to oppose actively.” These definitions make an important point; to resist, or the act of resistance is not passive. Resistance is active.

So, to resist is to actively oppose or engage. Likewise, in the case of our verse today, to resist the devil would mean to actively engage and oppose him. Rather than being passive against evil and the power of the devil, James is telling us to actively oppose him and the result will be that “he will flee from you.”

I have a passing interest in Civil War history because troops from the North and the South spent a lot of time, and often fought, right here in our backyard. One day while I was reading from Shelby Foote’s Civil War about some troops stationed in Tuscumbia, I came across a rather brash quote from a young General that is meaningful to our discussion of active opposition. In a message to Jefferson Davis, John Bell Hood wrote this: “You may rely upon my striking the enemy whenever a suitable opportunity presents itself, and that I will spare no effort to make that opportunity.”

Now think about the parallels for a moment. Hood was engaged in a physical battle. Christians are engaged in a spiritual battle. Hood vowed to strike (actively oppose) his enemy. Christians are commanded to resist (actively oppose) our enemy; the devil. Hood vowed to strike whenever he could. Does James indicate that Christian resistance is part-time? Finally, note that General Hood vowed to “spare no effort to make that opportunity.” May I suggest that we are to do the same? Spare no opportunity to resist the devil.

Followers of Christ can anticipate, even expect the devil to be lurking around every corner. The bible says he is like a “roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1Peter 5:8) Why then should we spare any effort to expose him? Why should we spare any effort to reveal the devil who is camouflaged, hidden in the shadows, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness? The answer is obviously that we shouldn’t. We must spare no effort to fight and resist the devil. And what is our chief weapon? The sword of truth; God’s word—keep it at your side and in your heart.

Take Courage

"Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus." ^ESV Mark 15:43

The prisoners were all dead. The Roman guard made sure of that by either breaking bones or spearing them in the side. The centurion in charge witnessed the death of Jesus himself. The Romans were very good at executions. The next step, though perhaps not immediately, would have been to take the bodies down from the place of crucifixion and throw them in a garbage heap just outside the city. That’s what it was like to die with the wicked during the time of Jesus.

Hundreds of years earlier the prophet Isaiah had predicted that Jesus would die in the same manner as wicked men but he also tells us that Jesus would be entombed like a rich man (see Isaiah 53:9). How would God bring this improbable scenario about? All but one disciple deserted Jesus when he was taken into custody, public sentiment was at an all time low, and the gospel accounts mention only a few loyal disciples watching the crucifixion from a distance; enter Joseph of Arimathea.

Joseph of Arimathea was a respected member of the Council; perhaps one of the same governing councils that had convicted Jesus the night before. Joseph was different though. Joseph was looking and waiting for the kingdom of God and based on his actions, it’s not difficult to conclude that he saw that kingdom in the person of Jesus.

The move was bold and courageous; even daring. It took courage to go against public sentiment. It took courage to go against his friends and peers on the Council. It took courage to meddle in the affairs of a Roman crucifixion. It took money, time and effort, but Joseph did and expended all these things and then stood alone before Pilate and asked the question: May I have the body of Jesus? Yes, it took courage, but Joseph could not bear to see Jesus the body of Jesus discarded in a trash heap. It took courage to be a disciple even in death but it was a courage born of love for Jesus.

The rest of the story is familiar. Joseph took the body, prepared it with Nicodemus’ help, and buried Jesus in a freshly hewn tomb that was secured with a heavy stone. The Council, with Pilate’s permission, even placed a guard out front. But the tomb, not even death itself, could hold Jesus and three days later he rose from the dead and left the tomb. Joseph’s faith and love was well founded!

Take courage this day. Live as a disciple of Jesus. At times it will mean standing against society. At times it will mean standing against friends. At times it will even mean standing against family. But take courage and stand this day for the risen Lord Jesus.

Genuine or Imitation Faith?

“…King Rehoboam made in their place shields of bronze, and committed them to the hands of the officers of the guard, who kept the door of the king's house. ²⁸ And as often as the king went into the house of the LORD, the guard carried them and brought them back to the guardroom.” ^ESV 1 Kings 14:27-28

(This article, adapted from one originally published in 2006, was inspired in part by a book titled Shields of Brass or Shields of Gold by O.S. Hawkins.)

When Solomon was King of Israel, he commissioned 200 large shields and 300 smaller shields that were made of solid gold. To put that into perspective, we are talking about over 2,000 pounds of gold! Oh what they must have looked like lining the palace walls. I imagine them in an outdoor procession with the sunlight reflecting off of a hammered gold finish. Can you imagine the splendor of it all? The shields were stored inside the palace and when Solomon ventured out, the shields were sent out before him; a symbol of his status, wealth and the financial health of the kingdom.

Unfortunately, Solomon’s legacy did not extend far into the reign his son Rehoboam. Rehoboam lost the shields, and most other kingdom treasures, to an invading king from Egypt just five years into his reign. But Rehoboam replaced the shields with shields of bronze. Oh, they looked like gold. And when painstakingly polished, bronze shines like gold and like Solomon, Rehoboam sent the shields out ahead of him in a public display every time he went to the Lord’s house. But though they glittered, Rehoboam’s shields were nothing more than a cheap imitation of the real thing; a deceptive false front.

As I reflect on this Old Testament story, it brings to mind many questions in about professing Christians today and the state of the Christian church in America.

But let us make it personal. How genuine are you in your commitment to God? If you attend church, do you attend because it is the socially acceptable thing to do or do you attend so that you can come together with other believers and worship God? When you dress up and go to the Lord’s house, is your worship genuine?

A New Year is upon us; the old has passed away. As you make resolutions for 2010, examine yourself honestly before God. Ask yourself this question: Has my commitment to God been the real deal this past year or has it been a cheap imitation of the real thing? Your walk with God and the Christian church in America will benefit from your genuine faith and worship.

Resolve to have and show genuine faith in God in 2010 and let your worship flow from a heart that genuinely desires His glory. Happy New Year!

Angels Worhsip Him

“And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”” ESV Hebrews 1:6

Why worship Jesus? Why make so much of a birthday celebration? Why does the Christian community come together in unity for this event that actually stretches over several weeks? Well, the easy answer is that Jesus is known to Christians as the Savior of the world. But Jesus is really much more than a Savior. Jesus’ should be worshipped, not necessarily for what He’s done, but for who He is.

The writer of Hebrews spends the better part of five chapters making much of Jesus and describing how much more honor our heavenly Father has placed on Him than anyone or anything else. So, while there are countless reasons why we should worship Jesus, let’s look at just a few of the things mentioned in Hebrews.

We should worship Jesus because the Son of God and God the Father are equals. The bible never speaks of Jesus as being some kind of lesser god that came into being just to take on human form or to be the perfect sacrifice. No, on the contrary, the bible speaks of Jesus as God. Isaiah prophesied the same saying he would be called “Immanuel” (which means God with us). Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the “exact imprint his [the Father’s] nature.”

We should worship Jesus because God the Father spoke to humanity through Jesus. God has communicated to us in many ways throughout history. He spoke to Moses in a burning bush. He communicated to Balaam by enabling a donkey to speak. He spoke to us through the prophets who were given visions, dreams and inspiration. But, says Hebrews, “in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son…”

We should worship Jesus because he was present at creation. Hebrews tells us that the world and everything in it was created through Jesus and that He upholds the universe today “by the word of His power.” The very next breath you take, the very existence of the universe, is dependent upon Jesus’ continued providence. Hebrews tells us that our heavenly Father has “left nothing outside His control.”

We should worship Jesus because one day creation as we know it will come to an end. Hebrews tells us that Jesus will “roll up” creation and it will be forever changed. The world as we know it will come to an end one day, but Jesus will never change. He will endure forever.

Finally, we should worship Jesus because He is our blessed hope for eternal life. Hebrews tells us that believers in Christ “share in Christ.” One day Christians will bask in the glorious presence of the triune God because their faith and hope was rightly placed in Jesus. One day we’ll stand with the angels and worship Him together.

Raging Seas

“And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.” ^ESV Luke 8:24

Ever had the “holiday blues?” Unfortunately, millions of people will be depressed or at least ‘blue’ this Christmas even though they are celebrating in one of the most blessed countries in the world. Some will be sad at the thought of celebrating without a loved one who has passed away. Some will be disappointed that their traditions have changed over time. Some will not be able deal with the financial pressures to give, give, give.

For those who are blue, a quick Internet search will yield you all kinds of advice on how to cope during dark, depressed seasons. Here’s some of the coping advice I found online: use humor; be realistic; stay healthy; reach out; delegate; spend time alone; let go. Some of these make practical sense but some of them absolutely left me scratching my head; especially the “spend time alone.” I’ve never known anyone feeling blue that benefited a great deal from aloneness.

Strangely absent in the advice I found quickly and easily was any dependence on God. That strikes me as odd at the very least and is somewhat indicative of how self absorbed our society really is. We are so confident in ourselves that we seldom take time to look to God. It’s as if God is like a fire extinguisher mounted on the wall that we should use only in dire emergencies. Why do you suppose that is? Why would we not call out to God as a first line of defense when dark clouds approach?

In the black of night the disciples once found themselves in great physical danger. A sudden storm had descended on the lake they were crossing and overtaken them. The winds and waves buffeted their boat and it was quickly filling with water; surely they would sink. No doubt gripped with fear, they woke Jesus shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” But instead of perishing in a sinking boat, our text tells us that Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and calm prevailed.

Now think about this. The same Jesus that calmed the seas that night with a simple verbal rebuke can calm your spirit today. The same Master who saved the disciples from physical danger that night can rescue your spirits from darkness today.

I was reading a Puritan sermon by John Flavel this past week and came across this quote that I think is fitting to share here. Speaking of Jesus, Flavel says: “He that saith to the raging sea, be still, and it obeys him; he can only pacify the disquieted spirit.”

If you find yourself feeling blue this Christmas season, call upon the Master that calms the raging seas.