Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 8

Are You Unbalanced?

Our discussion this week focused on the “Balance Beam Video”. (If you haven’t seen the clip yet, scroll down and take a look. It will take about 3 minutes.)

Last Saturday, I turned on the television and saw a gymnastics meet in progress. The event being shown at the time I tuned in? The Balance Beam!

I am amazed by what these young women can do on a surface that is only four inches wide. Most of us would find it difficult to even stay on the beam. Some of us could walk from one end to the other, execute a turn, and then walk back. I doubt that any of us could execute the maneuvers these highly skilled gymnasts perform. Although these athletes performed a variety of skills, I noticed that all of them had something in common – the very first thing they did when they mounted the beam was to find balance.

This makes sense, right? Even though these women are extremely gifted athletically, attempting one of these difficult maneuvers from an unbalanced, out of control position, could result in disaster. The outcome certainly wouldn’t be what they wanted. Balance is critically important to the gymnast. It is important to the believer as well.

In the physical realm, balance is a “state of bodily equilibrium.” Equilibrium refers to a stable, unchanging state. Think of yourself standing upright on a firm and stable surface, feet about shoulder width apart, eyes straight ahead, arms hanging at your sides. If all is working correctly within your body according to God’s incredible design, you are not falling over. Why not? Because your center of gravity is centered over your base of support.

In the human body, the center of gravity (C of G) is somewhere around the heart level. This will vary somewhat based on body type, but for purposes of our discussion let’s assume that for most of us, that’s where the C of G is located. If I plant my feet on a firm, stable foundation, and center my heart over that foundation, I will be in balance. But what if the foundation isn’t firm?

Do you remember what happened when I asked Kevin to stand on one foot the wobble disc? You may have noticed that when Kevin was standing on the floor, he had no difficulty with balance. When he stepped onto the wobble disc, something changed. He was no longer standing on a firm foundation, but on a surface which was continually changing. An unstable foundation makes it very challenging to find balance. This is an undeniable truth claim in the physical realm. This is true in the spiritual realm as well.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get a bit wobbly in my spiritual life. As I think about it, that is not an accurate statement. It’s not “sometimes” – it’s often. And it’s not a “bit” – it’s a lot! This happens every time I stand on an unstable foundation. What is that unstable foundation? It is anything other than Jesus Christ. He is the only firm foundation.

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

Psalm 40:2
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

In spite of the clear truth claim of scripture, it is surprisingly easy for the believer to find herself standing on something other than the rock. What that “something other” is can vary depending on the individual, and it can vary for the individual based on circumstances and worldly influences. For me, one of the worst “wobble discs” I try to stand on is the one called “Personal Ability”. In other words, I try to stand on My strength, My ability, My capacity, My discipline… You get the idea, right?

I do this even though I know the truth:

John 15:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Trying to do something (anything) for God apart from Him, is the equivalent of standing on an unstable foundation. When I stand there, I cannot find balance. Just as it is extremely difficult for the gymnast to execute her skills from an unbalanced position, it is also difficult for me to do anything for God from an unbalanced spiritual position.

I am in spiritual balance when my heart (my mind, my will, my emotions) are lined up with the truth claims of God’s word. Then my spiritual center of gravity is firmly balanced on a sure foundation – the rock. From this position I am ready to step out in faith and fulfill my duties as an ambassador of Christ.

Do you find, as I often do, that you are not a true ambassador? If so, it’s time to check your balance.

What are you standing on?

Great Metaphor - Living for God

Thanks to Laura for sending along this short video clip. It will make you think…

THE BALANCE BEAM

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 7

The Reluctant Ambassador

Thirty Five years ago, I became a citizen of the Kingdom of God. Somehow, I missed the fact that I had been simultaneously appointed as an Ambassador to the UCW (Unsaved Citizens of the World). It seems to me that something as important as this would involve some kind of “swearing in” ceremony. You know – something involving an oath, a speech, maybe even a job description and a “how to” manual. As hard as I try, I can’t seem to recall this taking place.

This “Ambassador thing” has been on my mind lately. This past Sunday, we spent a good amount of time talking about it in The Truth Process class, then went upstairs and listened to Rick Stauffer preach a message on the very same topic! (Some of you have asked. The answer is “No”, I did not know that was to be the topic of the sermon.) It was a “divine ‘coincidence’”, and it got my attention.

Early this morning, I decided to have a chat with the Ruler of the Kingdom of God about this Ambassadorship. He goes by a number of different names, but I usually address Him as “Lord” or “Father”. I reasoned that I might as well go right to the top, since He is a Ruler who welcomes all of His subjects to come directly to Him. It is the ultimate “open door” policy.

“Lord”, I said, “it’s about this “Ambassador thing”.
“What about it, son?” (I love when He calls me that.)

I explained that I didn’t remember the swearing in ceremony, and in fact, I had no recall of having volunteered for the assignment.

“You didn’t”, He said. “When you became a citizen of the Kingdom of God, you were appointed as an Ambassador for the Kingdom. It is the duty of every citizen of my Kingdom.”

“Isn’t that why you appoint Pastors and Teachers? Isn’t it their job?”

His reply was gentle, but to the point. “Come now, John. It’s been 35 years. You know better than that. You have read my letters, and I have made this very clear that I have assigned to you the ministry of reconciliation.”

When I stop to think about it, I have probably read that letter at least a hundred times over the years and I had no good explanation for missing the clear intent and instruction.

Knowing my thoughts even before I become aware of them, the Lord looked directly at me and said, “What part of this do you not understand?” That’s when I began to run down the dead end street of rationalization. That’s when I said, “I understand, Lord, but…”

“It seems to me that you could take care of this in a heart beat, Father. You are omnipotent. Why don’t you just take over the UCW? Why do you need to send me as an Ambassador to these people?”

He shook His head slowly and smiled at me. “You seem to think that you know of a better way than my way. Need I remind you that you are not equipped to comprehend my thoughts?

I persisted. “I know Lord, but have you seen these people lately? They are stiff-necked and hard-hearted. They call evil good, and call good evil!”

“I am well aware of the condition of these people” He said, “and this is precisely why I have sent you as my Ambassador.” He then reminded me of what my perspective should be regarding the people of the UCW. “These people, though stiff-necked and hard-hearted, are made in my image, and they are more than flesh and blood. One of my children once wrote these words:

‘There are no ordinary people. You have never met a mere mortal’.
(The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis)

This is TRUTH, John. Every person I bring across your path is an eternal being. Those who are reconciled to me will be in Heaven, with me, for all of eternity. Those who are not will spend eternity in hell – a place of suffering beyond imagination.”

The silence hung heavily. Thoughts I didn’t want to acknowledge crossed my mind.

“Father, I have to confess – I don’t like these people very much. They are wretched, pitiful, poor in spirit, blind to the truth. They are so deluded. So lost! I can’t relate to them.”

“But you can relate to them’” the Lord replied, “if only you will remember what you were like before you were reconciled to me. Were you not wretched? Were you not pitiful? Were you not poor in spirit and blind to the truth?” He did not wait for my answer.

“And how was my message of reconciliation delivered to you? It was through my Ambassadors, Chuck and Nancy. They understood their ministry, and they helped you understand that I sent my beloved Son to die for you, paying the price for all your sins. And now, you should no longer live for yourself, but for him who died for you.”

“Enough talk, John. Are you ready to go out and be my Ambassador?”

To my own amazement, I heard myself say “Let me get back to you on that”, and I ended the conversation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brothers and Sisters –

Obviously, this is not a transcript of an actual conversation with God. It is however, representative of what goes on in my heart and mind. Maybe you can relate...

It is an absurd notion to think that any of God’s redeemed people would, in light of the crystal clear call to the ministry of reconciliation, would actually say “I’ll get back to you on that.” As though we need to analyze God’s plan to be sure it’s the right plan of action!

Yet, for a variety of reasons, it happens quite often in the body of believers. I believe that one of the significant reasons is that we have a tendency to forget what we once were, and what God has done for us.

Joe Stowell (DAILY STRENGTH WITH JOE STOWELL) said it well:

Unfortunately, it seems that over time we grow accustomed to what we have been rescued from and what we really deserve. Without a continuing awareness of why grace is so necessary for us, we are lulled into forming an exaggerated perspective of our own worth before God.

True ongoing love for Jesus flows from a heart that is gripped by the awareness of how much we have been forgiven. When we grasp both the depth of our sin and the depth of God's grace in Jesus Christ, then we'll be looking for ways to… extravagantly express our love and gratitude to Him!

Until next week – Remember that you have never met a mere mortal, and that you are God’s ambassador to the immortal beings He brings into your life.

In Christ,

John

Soli Dei Gloria

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 6

On Morality, Ethics, and Stone Throwing

Imagine this:

A senior high math teacher walked into her advanced calculus classroom and announces a 50 question “pop quiz”. Once the groans have died away, she patiently explains that she has both good and bad news for them, and that she has just given them the bad news. Smiling brightly, she delivers the good news – “There are 50 questions on the quiz, and you get to decide whether the answer you choose is right or wrong!

The classmates looked at one another in bewilderment. “You’re kidding, right?” one of them said. “Absolutely not” came the reply.

Deb raised her hand, and when called upon asked the following. “Let me get this straight. Let’s say a question on the test is ‘What is 2 + 2?’. We know that the answer ought to be 4, but if I put down 5 as the answer, I can decide that 5 is right, even though it’s wrong?”

“Not exactly,” the teacher said. “There are 20 of you in the class. If 11 of you decide to accept ‘5’ as the right answer, then it will be considered right.”

Deb’s hand shot into the air again. “So if the majority says that ‘5’ is right, does that mean that ‘4’ is wrong?” The teacher replied in the affirmative. “But ‘4’ IS right”, said Deb.

“Not any more” was the reply.

What an absurd story, you say. Well, it’s no more absurd than the culture we live in today.
In The Truth Project Lesson titled “Philosophy & Ethics: Who Says So?”, Ethics is defined as follows: The standard, the line, that which ought to be. The principles of conduct governing a person or group of people.

The dictionary definition of “standard’ offers more than 20 meanings. The one that stands out to me is “a rule or principle that is used as a basis for judgment.” The Truth Project definition of Ethics is centered on a truth claim that there is an objective truth which sets the standard of what “ought to be” in terms of human conduct. That objective truth is found in the divinely inspired word of God.

“Morality” on the other hand is defined in The Truth Project as “the rightness or wrongness of conduct; that which is. Habits of life or the practices of an individual.”

Ideally, that which is should be consistent with what ought to be. Up until the Fall, it was. Then Satan slithered into the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve “bought” the false truth claim presented by the serpent – “you will not surely die”. At that moment, the cosmic battle between truth and lies, good and evil, began to rage in the hearts of the only creatures created in God’s image.

The battle continues to rage, thousands of years later. And, since no one knows the date and time of Christ’s return, for all we know, it may continue to rage for thousands more. Paul’s words would certainly apply to today’s culture:

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

So what’s a believer to do in such a cultural climate?

It seems to me that the first priority is to look within. Certainly our culture is an absolute mess, but what about me? Is that which is in my life – thought, word, and deed – consistent with what ought to be ? In other words, does my morality match God’s ethics? All too often, the answer is “No.” Now, does this reality disqualify me from being a “change agent” in the culture? CERTAINLY NOT! What it does do is give me a humble perspective.

Deb touched on this in the course of our discussion last week. It’s easy to cast stones at the culture and harbor an “I’m better than you” attitude. That attitude is not very winsome to the unsaved, and can hurt the cause of Christ. If we are not careful, we can become “Pharisee-like” in our thoughts as well as in our actions.

Jill Carattini, managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, wrote the following:

Each of us, in an instant, can drudge up a snapshot of humanity at its worst. Images of genocide in Germany, Rwanda, Bosnia, or the Sudan come readily to mind. Other impressions are not far off: students planning deadly attacks at school, looters taking advantage of natural disasters, the greed that paved the Trail of Tears. They are visions that challenge the widespread hope that people are generally good, leaving in its wake the sinking feeling of human depravity. But such snapshots of humanity also seem to grant permission to distance ourselves from this depravity. Whether with theory or judgment, we place ourselves in different categories. Perhaps even unconsciously, we consider their inferior virtue, their primitive sense of morality, or their distinctively depraved character. And it is rare that we see the stones in our hands as a problem…

In the worst images of humanity, we cannot afford to leave ourselves out. For in them is a picture of how far the curse extends within us, and how great is the reach of God’s cure. Considering the depths of human depravity without seeing ourselves in the picture is failing to see the true depths. Viewing the sins of the world with a position of superiority is like picking up the stones God has saved you from and lobbing them at someone else. Jesus has called us to examine both the stones in our hands and the rockiness of our hearts, and to drop every one at his feet. (For the entire article go here.)

So – if I have to drop the stones, what do I do instead?

It occurs to me I ought to do. With the humility which comes from an awareness of my own sinfulness, and the confidence born of the magnitude of God’s grace – I can offer the one thing this culture so desperately needs – the TRUTH.

The more I think about this, the more I recognize my tendency to throw “truth stones” at the culture. We can’t hurl the truth at the culture and expect change. What we can do is offer the truth in love and humility, trusting God for the outcome.

In Christ,

John

Soli Deo Gloria

Additional Resources

Brothers & Sisters -

A few hours after I finished the commentary on last week's discussion, I received the following article. I encourage you to read it through.

John
Shortcut to:
http://www.americanvision.org/article/popular-culture-as-a-worldview-wedge/

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 5

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 5

A little over a year and a half ago, Fran and I sold the home we lived in for twenty years, and moved into a carriage home. One of the factors which drove that decision was a desire to be free of all the maintenance obligations that come with home ownership. One of the big ones for me was grass cutting.

Our lawn was pretty big, and it usually took me 45 minutes to an hour to complete the job with a walk-behind mower – not a rider. For most of the 20 years I actually enjoyed the job. It was simple (not easy), very little could go wrong, and I loved the way the grass looked after the job was done. The reason I loved the way the grass looked was that all my lines were straight. For those of you that know me, this should come as no surprise.

Everyone in my family as well as some of my neighbors would comment from time to time at how straight the mower lines were in our lawn. I would jokingly reply “If you are going to make lines, why wouldn’t they be straight? Besides, it’s not that hard.” And it wasn’t …

All I did was follow a simple process. I started the mower, took it out into the grass, and picked out an object in the distance – usually the trunk of one of the big oak trees in the back of our lot. Then, keeping my eyes on the tree, I began pushing the mower in the direction of the tree. When I reached the turn around point, I would look back at the path I had just made. If it was nice and straight, all I had to do was line my mower up with the lines I had just made and push the mower back to the other end. On the other hand, if I saw that my line wiggled or waggled, I made the appropriate adjustments on the way back. My guess is that I followed this process more than 1,000 times over the years, and I found this to be true: If I became focused on the front of the mower, I started to wander “off course”. But if I regularly looked up at the larger object (the oak tree), I could get the first cut straight. If I got the first cut straight, it was easier to make the rest of them straight.

Which leads me to our discussion last week…

We are called to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Heb 12:1)

This tells us that we have a race to run, and that it will require endurance – it won’t be easy. The very next verse reveals the key to running the race:

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”

This reminds us that our main point of focus must be on Christ, and nothing else.

Imagine that all the “doing” of your life – the running of the race – is represented by your standing behind a lawn mower, intent on making straight lines as you cut.

Imagine that Jesus is represented by the big oak tree.
You know that if you take your eyes off Him, you will begin to wander, but you also know that you have to look down now and then. Why? Because you may encounter obstacles which need to be removed or avoided.

What was true for me in my “grass cutting days” is true for me in my spiritual life. Just as I had to continually look up at the oak tree, in a sense acknowledging its presence and orienting myself to it, I must continually look up to Jesus, keeping my eyes fixed on Him and orienting myself to His presence, His will, His power, and His glory. With Christ as the main focus, I must also continually examine my path for the obstacles which inevitably appear.

When cutting grass, as I turned the mower around, getting ready to make the next cut in the opposite direction, I always looked at the path of my last cut. I wanted to be sure that my path was straight. In other words, there was a moment of self-examination at the end of every row. It should be this way in my spiritual life as well. My life must be self-examined every day as I ask myself “Is my path straight?”

It’s probably just me, but sometimes I get caught up in “doing”, and I take my eyes off Jesus. The outcome is never a good one.
In the coming week, I pray that you will keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, knowing that He will guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. (Proverbs 4:11)

In Christ –

John

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 4

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 4

In December of 2007, I purchased my first lap top computer. I must confess that I do not know much about computers. Over the years, I have learned to do quite a few things with a computer, but I know next to nothing about how they work. Consequently, I had to rely on the knowledge and expertise of a young sales associate at Best Buy to help me select a lap top. Once I had made the decision, the conversation turned to security measures.

These security measures added considerable cost to my purchase, and I naively asked about their necessity. I don’t remember her exact words, but the young lady said something like this: “There’s a whole bunch of bad stuff out there, and if it gets into your system, it will corrupt it – sometimes beyond repair.” I paid the extra cost for security measures which seem to do two things – 1) block bad things from getting in, and 2) sweep out bad things which do get in. Now, when I turn on my computer, I receive two messages. One message reads “Your last sweep was 2 days ago. No problems were found”. This is good news because this means that the security program has swept over my computer’s operating system, and did not find anything there that shouldn’t be there. The other message reads something like “You are now protected against 251,826 viruses.” This is also good news because it means that this program is continually identifying new viruses and defending my computer against them. This is also somewhat amazing to me that the number of corrupting viruses keeps increasing so consistently.

What does this have to do with our conversation this week?

We were looking again at the instruction provided by scripture:

Heb 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

We began to examine Matthew Henry’s commentary on this verse, part of which reads: First, we are to “lay aside every weight.” This refers to “all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world. It was at this point I asked you to turn to I John 2:15.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

What does God’s word mean when making reference to the “world”? In this context, it means the realm of sin which is controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness. (NIV Study Bible).

The realm of sin…
Controlled by Satan…
Organized against God…

What an interesting perspective on the world we live in.!
“Realm” can be defined as “the special province or field of something or someone”. The “something” is sin. The “someone” is Satan. This world, which we are specifically instructed to not love, is the province of sin under the control of Satan. Note that it is “organized against God and righteousness.”

Organized…

I suppose I never really thought much about this before. “Organized” carries a sense of pulling parts together to comprise a whole for some unified action. It also means “to systematize.” As we consider the Cosmic Battle raging in our culture, I can’t help but marvel at how Satan has pulled parts together for what has become a unified action against God and righteousness.

One of the first laws of our land included these words: “Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia…” (Mayflower Compact, November 1620).

For the glory of God…
For the advancement of the Christian Faith…

How did this nation get from “there” (1620) to “here” (2009), where we now seem to exist not for the glory of god, but for the glory of man, and where it is no longer about the advancement of the Christian Faith, but the abolishment of the Christian Faith?

Satan is a great organizer. He has pulled together parts to create a whole unified in its action against God. Consider these “hot zones” in the Cosmic Battle:

Science (Evolution) – There is no God. Everything is the result of random chance. Since there is no God, there is no absolute truth. I am free to define “right” and “wrong” as I choose.
History – References to God and the faith of our founding fathers has gradually been removed from our history books, creating the impression that this nation was always a secular nation.
Social Order & Design – “Family” is no longer Husband-Wife-Children (God’s design). According to some in our culture, two men should have the right to marry – and adopt a child. To question this is considered evidence that you are intolerant or discriminatory.
The State – Government is no longer simply in the business of punishing evil and commending good. It seems that often the intent is to punish good and commend evil! We often find our government involved in areas which are more appropriately the province of the church or the family.

Are you getting the picture? Satan is at work in these parts of our culture – and this is not a complete list. Do you see the unified action against God and righteousness? We need to recognize that he is not only a good organizer, he is also very systematic.


Systematic…

When we examine cultural change, what we typically see is relatively slow, systematic, and incremental change.

Our enemy is pretty smart, and recognizes that sudden drastic changes raise the proverbial “red flags”. On the other hand, he sees ample evidence that incremental, systematic change can and will be accepted. This reminds me of the “Boiling a Frog” fable.

Now, I have no idea why anyone would want to boil a frog, but they say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger. But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late. The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes. Although this legend is untrue, it is a good illustration of what happens in our culture.

Pick almost any cultural issue and examine it and what will most often be found is a series of incremental changes in how that issue is perceived. Evolution, pre-marital sex, casual sex, divorce, abortion, pornography, evolution, the government’s role, homosexuality… Our culture views all of these issues quite differently than it did 50 years ago, and in each case, the change in perspective was gradual. And it seems that once an incremental change becomes accepted by the culture, the next “logical” step is introduced. Consider this example:

Same-Sex 'Marriage' Being Used to Defend Polygamy in Canada.
A defense lawyer in Canada is using the country's same-sex 'marriage' law to defend his clients' polygamy. "If (homosexuals) can marry, what is the reason that public policy says one person can't marry more than one person?" said the defense lawyer. Canada's Parliament extended full marriage rights to same-sex couples in 2005. Allowing homosexual couples to marry opens the door for polygamy, polyamory and other relationships. Once the definition of marriage has been changed once, why stop there? (This is yet another reason why states like Pennsylvania need to give constitutional protection to marriage between husband and wife.)

We would do well to remember that we live in a world controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness.

Aren’t you wondering what this has to do with me and my lap top computer? Allow me to shed some light on that…

The reason I spent the extra money on security measures (not just at the time of purchase, but also a year later when the programs had to be renewed) was because I became aware of the danger. Had the young lady at Best Buy not warned me, I could have taken my new lap top home and started working away, blissfully unaware that some things were beginning to happen in the unseen world of my computer’s operating system. Inevitably, my computer would have been slowly, incrementally corrupted by one or more of the 251,826 viruses. Then, one day in the midst of a Truth Process power point presentation – BAM! The frog has been boiled, the screen goes dark, and I’m wondering “what happened?”
Do you see application to our lives in this world?

There are times when I am far too “relaxed” living in this world. The reality is that if I really believed that this world is the realm of sin, controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness, I would be more vigilant about the corrupting influences of the false truth claims of the culture. I would be more vigilant because I would be aware of the danger. All too often, my computer is better protected than my heart and mind. Perhaps this is true of you as well.

If I am to run the race I am called to run, in the manner in which I am called to run it, then I must maintain a high level of vigilance. I need to be very careful about what goes into my mind and heart, and I must also examine my life on a regular basis, looking for the evidence that the things of this world have crept in. The only way I know to do this is to read and study God’s word and to spend time in prayer and self examination.

If I know God’s word, then I can identify the messages of the culture which are inconsistent with His word, and a “corrupting virus” is blocked.

If I take I take the time to examine my life – my thoughts, my words, my actions – the Spirit will guide me in uncovering the things that are “in there” that shouldn’t be.

Sometime after 9/11, the Department of Homeland Security instituted an advisory system to communicate to the public the current “threat level”. The highest threat level is RED (Severe), then ORANGE, YELLOW, BLUE, GREEN.

The threat level is always RED for the believer.

In His service –

John

Soli Deo Gloria

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 3

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 3

Rabbit Trails…

I receive some lengthy articles from an on-line publication I subscribed to about one year ago. Every article is foot noted, and where applicable, the author will include a link to resources and references. This can be quite interesting and helpful. It can also prove to be a distraction.

I find that following the links can lead me far away from the article itself. I find that when I follow one link, it seems to lead to another, and another, and another… I start out reading about the Christian History of the United States, and somehow I end up reading about George Washington’s tailor’s eye doctor. (I made that up…) Even though I know what may happen, it seems that I can’t help myself – I have to click on that blue symbol.

This is known as a “rabbit trail”. The term is used to describe what happens when we have intention to travel along a certain path, and deviate from that path because we become distracted. Rabbit Trails were a significant part of our discussion in class this past week. In fact, the discussion itself was a Rabbit Trail, and was evidence that some Rabbit Trails can be good. Often, they are not…

We have looked at the instruction of scripture “to “work out ” our salvation. We have seen in Hebrews 12:1 & 2 that we must “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and run with perseverance the race marked out for us”. To do this, we must “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”. We have discussed the need for “intentional” living in this regard. This way of living does not come naturally to any of us, and our enemy the devil, knows this. He is masterful at distracting us and leading us down rabbit trails. When he is successful in this endeavor, the cause of Christ suffers, and consequently, so does the culture.

Do you hear the giant sucking sound?

In 1992, the "giant sucking sound" was United States Presidential candidate Ross Perot's colorful phrase for what he believed would be the negative effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which he opposed. The phrase referred to the sound of U.S. jobs heading south for Mexico should the proposed free-trade agreement go into effect.

For the believer, the "giant sucking sound" is the sound of two precious commodities heading south, down the rabbit trails of life. The two precious commodities? Our time and our minds…

Have you noticed how busy everyone is? It seems that everyone in this culture lives life at a furious pace, with little time for the things that really matter. This is true of the culture in general, and all too often, it is true of believers as well. Do you find it difficult to “find” the time for regular and frequent quiet time which includes Bible study and prayer? How about that neighbor or work associate you have been meaning to reach out to. You know – the one you haven’t called because you just don’t have the time to do so. (Or maybe you could find the time to make the call, but you know that you don’t have the time to actually get together with them.) How about that note of encouragement you’ve been meaning to write, but can’t seem to find the time to do it? Sometimes we fall victim to a false truth claim regarding time. The false truth claim is that we “find time”.

Twenty four hours in a day. Seven days in a week. One hundred and sixty eight hours in a week. Here’s a rabbit trail you can follow for a while: Start looking for time. See if you can find an extra hour each day, so that you have 25 hours to use, instead of the 24 the rest of us have. You and I both know that you can’t find time – you can only take time. In other words, you make choices regarding what you will do with the 168 hours you are given each week.

Now I know that there are some areas in life where we really don’t have a choice about how we will use our time. If you work outside the home, your employer probably tells you when to start and when to end each work day, right? But when we start to look closely, we will see that there is quite a bit of time available each week where we get to choose the activities which fill up our time. What about those early morning hours before the work day begins? What about those evening hours after the work day ends? What about weekends?

I believe that every believer who wishes to live life as we are called to live it, running the race we are called to run, must look closely at how he or she chooses to use their time. When I look at my life (and I encourage you to examine yours), and when I look at the lives of those around me, I realize that there are a number of “rabbit trails” which suck the time out of our lives. Keep in mind the meaning of “rabbit trail” – “what happens when we have intention to travel along a certain path, and deviate from that path because we become distracted.”

For the believer, the path we are to follow is marked out for us, but there are a number of things which can cause us to wander far off the path. Too many activities, too much entertainment, too much technology – these are just a few examples of areas of life where we can tend to use our time and our minds in ways that lead us away from Christ rather than toward Him.

As I write these words, I am reminded of two things. First, I am reminded of how easily I can be distracted from keeping my eyes on Jesus. Second, I am reminded of my changing perspective on time as I get older. As I approach my 59th birthday, I find myself more and more aware of the precious gift of the time God has granted to me. As always, scripture says it best:




PSALM 90

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.

2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You turn men back to dust,
saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men."

4 For a thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.

5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death;
they are like the new grass of the morning-

6 though in the morning it springs up new,
by evening it is dry and withered.

7 We are consumed by your anger
and terrified by your indignation.

8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 All our days pass away under your wrath;
we finish our years with a moan.

10 The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span [a] is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands.

In Christ –
John

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 2

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 2

Our discussion this week reminds us that there is much yet to be done after we are saved, and there are some significant obstacles which get in the way.

God’s word states the following:
Phil 2:12-13
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

An exploration of the meaning of the words “work out” led us to the realization that Paul was talking about doing work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish. This does not mean that some aspect of our salvation is left undone – one’s salvation is a finished work. What it does mean is that once saved, our lives should be characterized by continuous spiritual growth and development. Salvation is a gift received once for all – and it expresses itself in an ongoing process in which the believer is strenuously involved.

Scripture is full of language which alludes to the strenuous nature of the Christian walk. For example:
1 Cor 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

Although I realize that not everyone can relate to examples from the world of athletics, I think Paul paints a vivid picture here. He writes: “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” What would this mean to a competitive athlete? What does this mean to the “spiritual athlete” intent on working out his or her salvation?

The competitive athlete marks the race on her calendar. (April 1st – RACE DAY!)
The spiritual athlete realizes that EVERY DAY IS RACE DAY!

The competitive athlete takes time for training, understanding that discipline and hard work are necessary to run the race in such a way as to win the prize.
The spiritual athlete does the same.

The competitive athlete trains for the race, pushing himself to get stronger and faster.
The spiritual athlete trains himself in the word of God and spends regular and frequent time in prayer, allowing the Spirit to make him stronger.

On game day, the competitive athlete is not merely content to be in the race, but runs in such a way as to win the prize.
The spiritual athlete does the same.

Sound like a lot of hard work, discipline, and perseverance? That’s because it is! But we need to be careful here. Although we are called to this life of strenuous involvement in the process of spiritual growth and maturation, it is NOT something we can do through sheer personal discipline and the application of our God-given skills and abilities. JUST AS JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF OUR RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, HE IS ALSO THE SOURCE OF OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

Heb 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…

Christ is not only the author of our faith, but also the perfecter – the completer, the consummator, the one who enables us to grow strong and deep in our faith, empowered to run the race we are called to run.

Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that we must make Christ the focus of our lives. As Kevin observed in the course of our class discussion, it takes strenuous effort to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus because our lives are full of distractions of all kinds. So, how can we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and work out our salvation? Hebrews 12:1 offers some help:

Heb 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

Matthew Henry’s commentary provides profound insight into this verse. First, we are to “lay aside every weight.” This refers to “all inordinate affection and concern for the body, and the present life and world. Inordinate care for the present life, or fondness for it, is a dead weight upon the soul that pulls it down when it should ascend upwards, and pulls it back when it should press forward; it makes duty and difficulties harder and heavier than they would be.”

I wonder if the failure of the church to influence the culture as it should is related to the reality that too few of us are “working out our salvation”. And I wonder if we fail to work out our salvation because we carry so much “dead weight upon the soul” – a result of excessive care and fondness for this present life. When I examine my own heart and life, I find that there are times when I feel exactly what Matthew Henry describes. I am called to ascend and I cannot. I am called to move forward, and I am unable to move at all. I am burdened by the dead weight of concern for the things of this world. Maybe you have had this experience as well.

This scripture instructs us to lay aside every weight. It also instructs us to lay aside the sin which so easily ensnares us. As we discussed, this sin could be different from person to person, and could even be related to the circumstances of our lives. Have you ever noticed how some sins seem more prevalent during certain circumstances, both “good” and “bad”?

There is one sin however, that seems to easily entangle or ensnare all of us from time to time –
the sin of unbelief.

Jesus often chided His followers regarding their “little faith”, in a variety of circumstances.

When they were overly concerned and anxious regarding the basic needs of life –
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matt 6:30)

When the disciples reacted to an unexpected storm –
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matt 8:26)

When Peter walked on water, and in fear took his eyes off Jesus –
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?“ (Matt 14:31)

When His disciples missed the point altogether, and developed short term memory loss regarding the miracles they had already witnessed –
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, "You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? (Matt 16:8)

When His disciples could not drive out a demon, and asked “Why?” –
He replied, "Because you have so little faith.” (Matt 17:20)

Little faith can be the trap which ensnares us – entangles us. An ensnared believer cannot at the same time be working out his or her salvation, because a believer of little faith no longer has his eyes fixed on Jesus. His eyes are fixed on himself, or others, or circumstances – not on Jesus.

Once again, the “haunting question” from the Truth Project comes back to mind –

“Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?”

In Matthew 17:20, the disciples wanted to know why they could not drive out the demon. Jesus’ answer was short and to the point - "Because you have so little faith.”

Think about your own Christian walk. Is there some area which is a constant area of struggle for you? Some area of your life that always seems to trip you up – entangle you – ensnare you?

Could it be because you have so little faith?

This week’s lesson reminded me that my faith is often too little. When I believe – really believe that what I believe is real – I continue to work out my salvation, growing and maturing spiritually. When I am a man of little faith, I get all tangled up in the affairs of this world – and this is exactly where Satan wants me.

Until next week – remember that you are perfect in God’s sight. Remember that He loves you even when you demonstrate little faith. Remember to fix your eyes on Jesus, for He is the author and perfecter of your faith.

In Christ,
John

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 1

Truth Process Session IV, Lesson 1

In our first lesson we were reminded of one of the “harsh realities” of life – we live in a post-Christian culture in which false truth claims seem to spread and multiply like dandelion seeds in the wind. Metaphorically, our culture is deluded into thinking that a field full of dandelions is more desirable than a lawn of lush, green grass!

The reality is that there is not a single person or organization which is capable of changing the culture. No program, no matter how well organized or promoted can do it. A super-charismatic, eloquent speaker could not, by virtue of his words and the manner in which they are delivered, bring about a change in the moral climate of the world we inhabit. If it were possible, that would be an example of “Top Down” change. That’s not going to happen…

The alternative is “Bottom Up” change. This type of change involves each of us, as individual parts of the body of believers, doing all that we can do to impact those around us for the glory of God. Now you may find it as difficult as I do to imagine that God could use me as a tool in the transformation of others’ lives, but we need look no further than the life of Paul to see the evidence that God can do extraordinary things with very ordinary people. But you and I, as believers, are no longer ordinary at all – we are, each and every one of us, a “new creation”.

I have no idea what you were like before salvation, but I was a stubborn, angry (at God and the world in general), harsh person – hard on myself and even harder on others. (Remember the Donkey picture I showed you? Well, that was a kind depiction of what I was like.) An amazing thing happened at the moment of my salvation – I became a new creation! No longer a donkey, but a Thoroughbred – built to run – swift and strong. And although a new creation, I found that I still carried many of the old “donkey” habits and characteristics. Over the years, the Lord has helped me to change, and become more like a Thoroughbred, but I still find the old “Donkey nature” appearing from time to time. But here’s my point…

You, as a believer, are a new creation. Whatever you were before, God has changed. You are now His beloved, His child, His ambassador. A saint! You are an extraordinary child of the God of the universe. He knows you personally, and you get to call Him “Father”. Isn’t that incredible? Isn’t it amazing?

Think about this: Christ is in you. The Holy Spirit is in you. Christ and the Father are one, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son. That makes you pretty extraordinary, doesn’t it? You would think that so many extraordinary people would have a huge impact on the culture. So what’s the problem?

I think it’s fair to say that there a number of reasons why we have failed to impact the culture as we should. I can’t speak for you, but for me, it’s often an ATTITUDE problem.


God’s word says:

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” (Phil 2:5)

The word translated “attitude” has to do with “being mentally disposed in a particular direction”. This addresses how we think, how we view the world, ourselves, and ultimately, our purpose.

The verses which follow give us an idea of Christ’s attitude:

Although fully God, He poured himself out – emptied himself.
He humbled himself. Christ willingly humbled himself – He did have to be humbled by the Father – He willingly humbled himself.
He was obedient. The word translated “obedient” means “attentively listening, (by implication) submissive.”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Imagine how different our lives would be if we were disposed to have the same attitude as Christ - pouring ourselves out for Him, willingly humbling ourselves before Him, attentively listening to Him.

In addition to the ATTITUDE problem, there’s the “working it out” problem.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-- not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” (Phil. 2:12)

“Work out’ means “to do work fully, i.e. accomplish; by implication, to finish,”

Let me be clear here in stating that this is NOT a reference to an attempt to earn one’s salvation by works. Your salvation and mine are a finished work through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Scripture plainly tells us that “by grace you have been saved through, not by works…” So what is this “work out” business all about?

Working out our salvation is the expression of one’s salvation in spiritual growth & development. Over time, we should find ourselves becoming more mature in our faith, more Christ like, less like the old fallen self.

How I wish this was something I could just check off my “To Do” list! I love “To Do” lists. I love it when I can check of an item, knowing it’s done. It’s not that way for me when it comes to working out my faith, and it’s not that way for you either.

Note that Paul says “continue to work out your salvation.” There is nothing accidental in the divinely inspired word of God. This clearly conveys to us that spiritual growth and development is a continuous, life long process. You can’t be “done with it.”

This week’s lesson reminded me that my attitude falls far short of that of Christ Jesus, and that I have a tendency to stop working out my salvation. I encourage you to take some time for your own self examination this week. Maybe you will discover the same is true for you as well.

Until next week – remember that God loves you with a love higher than the heavens are above the earth. Your sins have been removed from you as far as the east is from the west. Whether you act like a spiritual donkey or a spiritual thoroughbred, you are always beloved by Him.

In Christ,

John