Walking With Jesus

Is It Time to Call An Audible?

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT)

Earl Nightingale said: “A rut is a grave with the ends kicked out.” Sometimes that’s a picture of our lives, doing the same things over and over and over again, with no hope of change and nothing to look forward to but death. But thank God, that’s not the way He designed us to live, and He has a plan to pull us out of our rut. Having walked with the Lord for many years, I’ve seen firsthand how He’s engineered circumstances in my life and the lives of many others, to move us in directions we never dreamed possible.

Is it time for a change in your life?

Though I’m not a sports fan, I do occasionally watch a game. There’s an expression used in some sports scenarios where the coach will call “an audible.” It essentially means that rather than run the play prescribed for a given situation, the coach will instead, on the spur of the moment, substitute another play. It’s done to confuse the defense and/or as a last effort to win the game.

There are times in our lives when it becomes necessary to “call an audible.” A time to try something new, different, perhaps unprecedented, something we’ve never done before that seems impossible, but holds the potential of moving us in a fresh, new direction. If you don’t know Jesus, that’s what He wants to do for you today.

Transformation, as used in the above verse, doesn’t necessarily have reference to our outward circumstances, but to the way we think. By God’s grace and with the help of His powerful Spirit living within us, WE can be different, WE can call the proverbial “audible” in our life, even if our outward circumstances never change.

There are lifestyles people today are following that are leading them straight to the grave. By their own or another’s decisions, they are on a proverbial “treadmill” existence, reliving the same day over and over again. STOP!

Even as I type that bold word, STOP, the Lord is reminding me that many who would love to stop, literally can’t. Either because they’re being forced to live the way they are, or because they’ve become so entrenched in the rut of their life, they’ve lost all perspective and hope of ever changing.

Many of the old Negro Spirituals grew out of the circumstances of slavery. A college choir I heard when I was in high school sang a song that said: “Soon I will be over with the troubles of this world…going home to be with God!” And the chorus said: “I’m going to meet my Jesus! I’m going to meet my Jesus! I’m going to meet my Jesus! I’m going home to be with God!”

Am I suggesting that people who are enslaved, literally by those who are evil, or figuratively by lifestyles they’ve chosen for themselves, should just sing a simple song and all would be well? Of course not. What I am saying is knowing Jesus is liberating to our soul. Regardless of our present circumstances, we can realize this earth is not our home. Whether we’re living with much or little, our present life is temporary and has no comparison with the liberating joy of being in heaven with Jesus.

Even if changing your outward circumstances is out of your control, take control of your mind and give yourself to Jesus. Even if you’re being forced to act in ways that are very ungodly, you are precious in God’s sight and loved with an everlasting love. You may be trapped in a lifestyle you would never have chosen for yourself, but there is freedom in Jesus that will liberate your soul and spirit and enable you to have hope in a life to come. A world awaits you that will be perfect in every way. A world that you can cherish and enjoy, but perhaps much more important, a world in which you will be cherished, loved, and liberated to be all God created and intended for you to be . . . for all eternity!

God is with you, even in your misery, and will one day deliver you into His loving, protective arms forever. Just say “yes” to Jesus. Trust Him and leave the rest to Him.

Blessings, Ed 😊

A Long Obedience

“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.” (2 Timothy 4:6-7 NLT)

John Stonestreet wrote in a recent edition of BreakPoint: “There’s something unusual and inspiring about a life lived faithfully to the very end. It’s what we want for ourselves but so rarely see. Of course, really the only way to end well is to live well. This is what has been called ‘a long obedience.’”

That’s what I want, and I suspect, you want as well. But what might “a long obedience” look like for us?

Every obedient life has at least three things in common. A starting point, a conscientious and intentional path to follow, and a faithful conclusion. It’s impossible to end well if you don’t at some point determine to start well. What does that mean?

It’s not unusual when I’m asking someone about their faith journey to have them say something like: “Well, I’ve followed Jesus my whole life. I grew up attending church. I went to a Christian school, etc.” And when I hear that it frightens me a bit. How so? Growing up in a Christian environment, having godly parents, going to a Christ-centered church and/or attending a Christian School, doesn’t always equate with walking faithfully with Jesus. Living in a Christian environment and holding all the right beliefs isn’t what makes us right with God. I can work in my garage my whole life, but never become an automobile.

We don’t become a believer by osmosis. We become a believer by an act of our will. Loving, serving, and following Jesus is a decision we make at the beginning of our relationship, and it builds as we continually reaffirm our commitment and desire to walk faithfully in that relationship every second of our journey. There’s no coasting or resting on our proverbial “laurels.” Because I served faithfully when I was younger, doesn’t give me the right or option to sit back and do nothing as I age.

Paul told his young protégé, Timothy: “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God.” The expression “poured out” is used in reference to someone who suffers a violent death, and their blood is poured out for the Lord. It’s a picture of a life lived purposefully and intentionally for Jesus to the very end. Paul understood the time of his death was imminent, and as he reflects on his life, he uses two analogies that should help us better understand how we should live.

He speaks of having fought the good fight. The term he uses here is the word from which comes our word “agony.” And the picture he paints is the stadium or arena where the participants would fight to the death. It reminds us of two very important things we should consider as we live our lives. First, we have an audience.

Hebrews 12 speaks of the great cloud of witnesses to our fight of faith. Additionally, there are those in our spheres of influence who are watching our lives, some of whom are not yet Jesus followers. But our most important witness is our Father who cheers us on as we battle the forces of evil for His honor and fame. The second thing is, our life’s battle is to the death. As long as our bodies have life, we have purpose.

The second analogy Paul uses is a race. He said: “I have finished the race.” Other translations use the term “I have finished the course.” Life isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. And the picture here is one who has given their all. They cross the finish line and collapse. They’re spent, exhausted, with nothing left to give. And the resounding echo in Paul’s mind is: “I have remained faithful.”

Do you know how to remain faithful for a lifetime? One breath, one battle, one obstacle, one decision, one temptation, one defeat, one prayer, one victory at a time. The only moment we have in which to remain faithful is this moment. Use it wisely. Love without reservation. Live as though whatever you’re doing is the last thing you’ll ever do before falling into the arms of Jesus as you cross your finish line. That’s a long obedience.

Blessings, Ed 😊

When You Can’t See What God Is Doing

“the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan.” (Joshua 3:16a NLT)

The children of Israel had received affirmation from God that it was time to begin the conquest of their Promised Land. There was just one problem – the Jordan River. Most of the people who were then living hadn’t personally seen the crossing of the Sea as on dry land when God delivered their ancestors from Egypt. And the plot thickened because God instructed the priests whose responsibility it was to carry the Ark of the Covenant to lead the way. All they had to do was take a few steps into the river and God would do the rest.

That’s all well and good, but it was harvest season and the banks of the Jordan we’re overflowing. To step into that raging river would be a very precarious step, demanding courage, and lots of faith. Add to their dilemma, the place the Lord chose to begin backing up the flow of the river was “a great distance away…” Obviously, to guess how long it took for the riverbed to dry is conjecture, but it would be safe to say it took a while.

Photo by Haydan As-soendawy on Pexels.com

In my mind’s eye I see that mass of humanity, likely covering miles, waiting to cross the river, but being unable to even see it, let alone have a clue as to how long it would be before they were able to cross it. I can almost hear some of the conversations: “Isn’t it exciting we’re going to begin taking possession of our Promised Land today?” To which a brother responds: “Sure I’m excited! But how long is it going to take? We’ve been waiting days, and then the officers tell us to prepare to move out, but no one’s moving. What’s going on?”

Have you ever prayed about something you believed strongly God was leading you to do? He’s given you clear instructions and promised He’d be with you every step, but the proverbial pieces aren’t fitting together. Time passes and it seems you’re just spinning your wheels?

That’s how I felt about starting this Blog. It was a dream, then a vision, then God finally put me in the right place at the right time to meet the right person to make my dream a reality. It literally took years. But while I didn’t realize it, God was preparing the way and working in me to make sure I was prepared when the “riverbed was dry.”

How about you? What has God laid on your heart to do? What step of faith is He leading you to take, but the timing just doesn’t seem right? Perhaps it’s time to put your toes in the water. Nothing happened for the Israelites until the priests put their feet in the water. Then that only began the process, it didn’t immediately dry the riverbed.

Faith isn’t about making demands of God to carry out our will, it’s patiently waiting, trusting His clock to keep perfect time, then alerting us that it’s time to move. Remember “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT) If we could see every move God was making, it wouldn’t be faith, it would be sight.

Paul reminds us: “For we live by believing and not by seeing.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT) The Psalmist reinforces that by telling us: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NLT) God doesn’t give us a flood light to light the whole path, but a lamp to show us the next step.

He didn’t command the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant to the middle of the river until the bed was dry, but that wouldn’t have happened had they not taken the first few steps. What steps is the Lord leading you to take toward the vision or dream that He has given you? Perhaps He’s already started holding the proverbial river back, but it’s so far away you can’t see it. Trust Him and take that next step.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Life Without a Legacy

“I am leaving you with a gift…” (John 14:27a NLT)

Every life leaves a legacy. It’s never a question of “if,” it’s only a question of “what kind.”

A legacy is “something that has come from an ancestor or predecessor or the past.” (Webster) Our goal as a Jesus follower is to leave “tracks” that will lead our loved ones and those in our spheres of influence to Jesus, long after our life on earth has ended.

Your life is leaving a legacy. What will it be? What will future generations remember most about you?

Just a few hours before His betrayal and brutal murder, Jesus said to His disciples: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart.” Think about that for a moment. Because Jesus was God in human flesh, He had all knowledge. He knew exactly what the next hours held. Every sneer and mocking word. Every drop of spit dripping from His holy face. Every slap, punch, kick, and penetrating pain of the thorns on His head and the nails in his hands and feet. He knew of the impending agony of fighting through the pain to gasp for one more gulp of air as He hung suspended between heaven and earth on the cross. But He also knew of the horribly disturbing anguish He would suffer in the garden, alone.

Yet in these last moments with His closest earthly friends, the thing He most valued, and knew those He was leaving behind would most need, was peace of mind and heart. Have you ever stopped to really think about how valuable a gift that is?

In the pressures of life that we experience moment by moment on planet earth, when we dare be honest with ourselves, what is that for which we most long? I can’t speak for you, but for me it’s peace of mind and heart. I want to know that what I’m exhausting myself to attain in this life is worth the fight. I long for assurance that the values to which I’m striving to hold fast and the banner of holiness I’m seeking to fly high with my life, are not only the things that will most honor my Savior but will most positively influence those to whom my life matters.

The millions of words that I’ve written and spoken over the course of my life have little or no value, compared to the message of the impactful impressions of my life. It’s not just what we think or even what we say, it’s how does our living align with those words? Are we living in line with the will and ways of God? And how did the right things we sought to accomplish convey the desire of our heart for the ones who knew us best and loved us most to know and love Jesus?

I have very little of material value to leave anyone. What I pray I leave is a legacy of love. I pray the message of my life shouts to those who have walked most closely with me: “I loved Jesus and whatever good was reflected in and through my life was His light and life. Because of His love in me, I sought to love you well. I know I failed often and I regret the times I hurt you. But now, my heart and mind are at peace, and I pray His peace will fill and envelope every avenue of your being. Trust Him. Love Him. Serve Him. Allow Him to flow in and through you. Don’t let anything hold you back from giving your all to His honor and fame.”

There is no life without a legacy. The only issue is, will the legacy that’s left honor Jesus or someone or something else. The choice is ours.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Mountains Without Valleys

“After His baptism, as Jesus came out of the water, the heavens were opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on Him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My dearly loved Son, who brings Me great joy.’” (Matthew 3:16-17 NLT)

Remember a time you felt really close to God? Maybe it was at youth camp when you were a teenager, or when you went forward after an inspiring time of worship. Perhaps after a spiritual retreat when you devoted an extended period just to read and study God’s Word and pray. These are often referred to as “Mountain top experiences.” Times you feel emotionally charged by God’s presence, like you can conquer any enemy or withstand any attack.

Is it safe to say Jesus’ baptism was a “Mountain top experience” for Him? Maybe this happens to you all the time, but I’ve never seen the heavens opened or had the Spirit descend on me like a dove or hear God say from heaven how much He loves me. But please understand, God has made it abundantly clear to me that I’m cherished and loved by Him, just not that demonstratively.

Notice what the next verse, Matthew 4:1, says: “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” For the next forty days Jesus went without food, and the Bible says: “During that time the devil came…” (vs 3). What’s my point? Often, after a spiritual “high,” it’s followed closely by an emotional low and/or a very trying season.

We are emotional beings. We can have highs and lows with some degree of frequency that may not be directly related to our walk with God. But the valleys we experience that effect our spiritual development have some commonalities. There is purpose in everything the Lord allows to touch our lives, but the peaks and valleys in our walk with the Lord typically have a specific reason. They often come just prior to the launching of a new chapter of our life in Christ.

For example, Jesus’ temptation was critical on several levels. It came just before the beginning of His earthly ministry, right after His baptism. Often that’s when Satan attacks us the hardest. Why? Because if he can derail us before we get our momentum as a believer, it’s going to be much harder for us to regain our balance and get back on track.

There was a young man I worked with when I was selling cars, shortly after my divorce. I’d prayed for him and talked to him with some frequency about his need of Jesus. God was obviously working, so when I invited him and his girlfriend to go with me to a Billy Graham crusade, they agreed, and when the invitation was given, they both went forward. I was elated and later, as we spoke of what happened at the crusade, I invited him to church with me the next Sunday, but shortly after the crusade he became evasive and wouldn’t have a conversation with me regarding what happened. Unfortunately, that’s not unusual.

Had Jesus failed to stand up to Satan and not remained steadfast in His determination to stay pure and focused on His mission for His Father, we would still be lost without hope. Gratefully, our temptations don’t carry the same impact as Jesus’, but whether we stand strong when tempted or give in can have a critical effect on how the Lord is able to use us, and how fruitful we can be for Him moving forward.

Life is filled with tests of all kinds. Some result in elation and joy, but others can lead us down very long and sorrowful pathways. So be very mindful of Satanic attacks after spiritual breakthroughs or highs. Expect tempting circumstances to arise and be extra prayerful as you seek the Lord for what might come next in your walk with Him. As with Jesus’ temptations, sometimes ours are leading to a season of unprecedented victory and usefulness.

That’s another reason daily disciplines are so vital. Reading and studying God’s Word, and ample time to lift your needs and the needs of others to the Lord in prayer are valuable tools in protecting us from Satan’s attacks. Peaks and valleys are unavoidable but falling prey to Satan’s tricks is avoidable. When we overcome his temptations and resist his attacks, we move ever closer to the Lord and increase our fruitfulness for Him.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Knowledge Without Love

“But it wasn’t long before reports got back to the Thessalonian hard-line Jews that Paul was at it again, preaching the Word of God, this time in Berea. They lost no time responding, and created a mob scene there too.” (Acts 17:13 The Message)

Perhaps you’ve heard the expression: “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” Having a lot of knowledge can also be dangerous, especially if what you’re learning has led you to believe something that isn’t true.

The Apostle Paul, though Jewish himself, suffered at the hands of angry Jews on many occasions, which on some levels was odd to me because Paul, more than any of the other leaders of the fledgling Christian faith, knew the Jewish faith inside and out. He had been a Pharisee, a member of the strictest sect of the Jews. Perhaps it was because he could argue convincingly from his personal experience and easily counter their objections.

For whatever reason, Paul was often confronted by intolerance and anger from people who were very knowledgeable, but not very loving. Things haven’t changed much, have they?

Many people today, both right and left, major on learning their agenda and jargon and seeking to spew it out on anyone who will listen, or perhaps more accurately, forced to listen. But, as much as that disturbs me on an emotional level, that’s not what saddens my heart the most.

What breaks my heart, and I believe breaks God’s heart, is when people or groups from differing denominational affiliations or systems of theological belief, take aim at each other. My personal growth and development as a believer took place primarily in the context of a small, conservative tradition. I didn’t notice it much initially, but it seems in retrospect that our concerns focused, not on what we believed, but on what others believed that didn’t align with “us.”

As a result, I was constantly evaluating people on what “church” they attended or pastored? Or what they believed about “this or that” specific doctrine. And honestly, my expectation didn’t center on hearing what they said, I just wanted to tell them what they should be believing. You’ll probably find this fascinating, but it never quite turned out the way I expected.

It didn’t occur to me for many years that Jesus rarely ever did things like that. And I can “hear” someone saying, “What do you mean He ‘rarely’ did that?” Well, He did give the Jews a hard way to go sometimes, much to the delight of most of His audiences.

But that’s not the purpose of this post. I don’t want to create further division; I just want to make a few observations in the hopes of pursuing oneness in love, even if not in doctrine. It wasn’t until I took some severe “beatings” from my like-minded brethren and sisters that the Lord began to open my heart and mind to those who didn’t believe exactly like me.

The Lord led me to Pastors with whom I enjoyed fellowship, not based on our differences, but based on our mutual understanding of the basic tenets of the Christian Faith. They had extensive knowledge, but more they had heart-warming and inclusive love. They accepted me and, by God’s grace, I accepted and loved them in return.

Knowledge is a wonderful thing, if it leads you to greater love and respect for, not only those with whom you agree, but those with whom you disagree. The Lord’s teaching me to listen a lot more than I speak these days. He’s also helping me to understand that in many cases, those with whom I have denominational or even theological differences aren’t nearly as “wrong” as I made them out to be. I’ve learned to love, respect, and appreciate them and look forward to being in heaven with them, where I suspect, we’ll both be surprised at some things we’ve missed.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Unity Without the Gospel

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” (Psalm 133:1 NLT)

It is wonderful to live in harmony and oneness, especially in a family – husbands and wives, moms and dads, parents and children, and even as co-workers or neighbors. And as we think of the Church as the “Family of God,” it makes recognizing and following the dictates of God’s heart easier to follow and enables us together to fulfil His mission much more effectively and fruitfully.

Unity is certainly a Biblical instruction, but what does it mean? From a Biblical perspective it means: “unanimity, agreement, together, altogether, all together, alike.” (Strong’s) Notice what it doesn’t say – “uniformity!” “Like” and “alike” have reference to that which holds us together as one, not the characteristics of each one being held together. The common denominator that unifies and keeps us together is our common belief in the completed work of Christ on the Cross and our resultant common mission to spread the good news of new life and hope in Jesus. But we can approach the fulfillment of that mission in many varied and unique ways, both as local church bodies and as individual believers.

J.C. Ryle wrote: “Unity without the gospel is a worthless unity, it is the very unity of hell.” While I agree with what I believe to be the author’s heart in this quote, I believe it deserves some perspective. When it comes to the Church of Jesus Christ, we must be very cautious with whom we form alliances. There are causes in which I believe and to which I contribute money and time, but they are humanitarian causes that are very different than the mission of the church, and while they may be good, cannot be allowed to draw us away from our central calling as Christ’s Body.

There are also “churches” that preach and promote non-Biblical teachings in an effort to “unite” people under their particular banner. And please understand, these are often very friendly, nice, and sincere people, but they’re sincerely wrong in their theology. Any person or group who denies the deity of Jesus or distorts God’s Word to fit their agenda does not deserve our money or our time, unless and until they’re willing to listen to the truth of God’s Word and be transformed by it, which, unfortunately rarely happens.

That isn’t to say we can’t support other groups or activities that aren’t strictly evangelical, in the sense that what they’re doing isn’t directly inviting people to become believers. I think of organizations such as Right to Life or Family Life, Focus on the Family, CRU, InterVarsity, and the like. Some of these ministries were birthed from the hearts of people who love Jesus and just wanted to move in directions they couldn’t move within the context of a local church.

Photo by Lagos Food Bank Initiative on Pexels.com

Even things like “Food Drives” or “Blood Donations” can be helpful to the communities in which the local church serves and give the church opportunity to meet and learn the needs of their neighbors. There are numerous ways the church united can carry the mission forward to the glory and honor of the Lord.

One last consideration regarding the unity of the church. The oneness, like-mindedness, and corporate devotion to the mission of the church doesn’t mean we can’t individually be effective in forwarding our united purpose. Realizing the unity of the church is focused and centered on the Gospel of Christ as taught and understood by the Church universal across the ages, we must therefore allow the Spirit of God to inform and transform our efforts as individual believers. Being sensitive to and proactive at every opportunity to share love, kindness, compassion, gentleness, and the good news of Jesus with the ones we meet during the course of our daily lives should be part of our normal routine.

To believe the only “united” effort we can make is in the company of other believers is to misunderstand the call of the Gospel. People aren’t saved in groups; they’re saved one person at a time. The Lord often lays on my heart, and I hope on yours, to speak or pray with someone I meet. I consider those divine appointments that give me opportunity to forward the mission and promote the unity of God’s church while at the same time submitting to Christ’s authority in my own heart and life. The salvation of lost souls must be at the heart of our unified efforts, both collectively and individually.

Blessings, Ed 😊

Faith Without Good Deeds

“How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” (James 2:20 NLT)

Throughout the Bible there are numerous truths that are emphasized in comparison with something else. Things like “faith without good deeds,” “knowledge without love,” “pleasing God without faith,” and many more. In the next few posts, I’d like to highlight some of these comparisons to see if it can help guide us in being more effective in our witness for Christ.

Our dilemma regarding faith and works is there are numerous points of view which tend to lean in one of two directions. There are those who believe all you need is faith to be saved, and those who believe works or good deeds is the real evidence of salvation. My heart in these articles is to understand what the Bible says and seek to understand it in a way that will exalt Jesus in and through my life most effectively.

James, the author of the above quote, is the half brother of Jesus. He lived his whole life in the shadow of the Messiah, yet he didn’t place his trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord until after Jesus was crucified and resurrected. To live your life with someone, watch them die, then see them after they’ve been resurrected would be a pretty strong argument that He’s the real deal. What’s my point? I put a lot of credence in James’ opinion on this matter.

“Acknowledge His Ways” “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

James lived through all of this. He watched the way Jesus lived, even before He put his faith in Him. He understood like few could, that there was never a point in Jesus’ life when He didn’t exhibit the presence and power of God in and through everything He said and did. Couple that with what the writer of Hebrews says in chapter 11:6: “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.”

Additionally, one very strong argument to me is the emphasis Jesus placed on His own “works.” For example, when John the Baptist questioned whether or not Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus responded by saying: “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen – the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” (Matthew 11:5 NLT) But we have to balance that with what Jesus said in Matthew 7:22-23: “On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’”

How do we give expression to our sincerity as we seek Him? Isn’t it through the disciplines of our life? How we pray, study, and seek to live God’s Word, as well as the fruit of His presence as it’s revealed in and through our lives. How can you love someone by faith alone? How can we demonstrate kindness, generosity, and compassion by faith alone? There must be tangible evidence of the life we profess to possess.

But, as Jesus explained, we can exhibit powerful manifestations, even miraculous things, without faith in Christ. We must understand that Satan also possesses miraculous power, that he will put on display, fooling many in the last days.

So, I’m with James. Faith not verified by good deeds, that not only reveal the power of God, but the fruit of His character, is worthless in God’s sight. And just for the record – life without Jesus is hell, whether now or throughout eternity.

Blessings, Ed 😊

What Does It Mean That Jesus Has Overcome the World?

“…But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b NLT)

John Piper said: “You cannot know what prayer is for, until you know that life is war.” Neither can you know how valuable and profoundly important it is that Jesus has overcome the world, until you know that being a believer in Jesus is a declaration of war against Satan.

When Satan was tempting Jesus, the souls of all mankind hung in the balance. Had Jesus succumbed to Satan’s tempting offers, we would have no Savior! Do you remember what the context of the whole framework of Jesus’ temptation hinged upon? Worship!

Luke 4:5-8 says: “Then the devil took Him up and revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ‘I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them.’ The devil said, ‘because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will WORSHIP ME.’ Jesus replied, ‘The Scriptures say, “You must worship the Lord your God and serve ONLY HIM.””

We live in the tension created by the ongoing battle between these two kingdoms – the Kingdom of God, ruled by God, and the kingdoms of this world, ruled by Satan. Satan understands he’s a defeated foe and he’ll use any means at his disposal to “kill and steal and destroy” (John 10:10) anyone who refuses to bow down and worship him. And please understand – to not worship Jesus is to worship Satan! To not submit your life to Jesus is to accept and be motivated by the authority of the evil one. Yes, Satan can be very subtle.

Anyone born of the seed of Adam is, by default, a child of the evil one. We are not, as is commonly misunderstood, children of God by creation. Only Jesus, born of a virgin who carried the seed of God, is truly a “Child of God.” The only possible way to become a child of God is to be born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:7).

“Dead to sin, alive to Christ” “Used by permission, © Ray Majoran, GlimpseOfInfinity.com”

Until Jesus, the Messiah, our Deliverer came to earth, and voluntarily laid down His sinless life as the sacrificial Lamb of God who took upon Himself the sins of all who would one day yield their life and allegiance to Him, there was no hope of eternal life. And from the Cross Jesus declared once and for all that Satan no longer had any claim on those who would place their trust in Jesus. To believe we, as God’s children, can coast through life without feeling the effects of Satan’s outrage is to believe a lie, which is among Satan’s favorite tools.

But we must also never forget the words of 1 John 4:4: “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people (who are not of God) because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” When the Bible says that Jesus has overcome the world it means that Jesus has conquered, prevailed, that He is once and for all eternity victorious over Satan and his emissaries. It means sin’s case against you has been settled and, because of Jesus, you have won!

But it also means you must be vigilant as you walk the pathways of this world. Satan may know he’s defeated, but he wants to take as many to hell with him as possible. Peter reminds us: “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

In any war there are casualties. May I remind you that no one escapes this life alive without Jesus. Until He comes, we must warn everyone we know that the end is near and the only answer to our sin is a Savior. His name is Jesus! Share Him with everyone you can, as often as you can, for as long as you can!

Blessings, Ed 😊

You’re Doing More Than You Realize

“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart…” (Matthew 12:35a NLT)

Have you ever been discouraged? Of course you have, as I and every other believer who ever lived has. What does it mean to be discouraged? From a Biblical perspective, it means “to be disheartened, dispirited, or broken in spirit.” (Strong’s) What causes us to be discouraged?

At the root of virtually every cause of every negative emotion is a catalyst of some sort. For Jesus followers the key cause is most often satanic influence, but it can come in many forms. Things like an unkindness; failure to get a promotion or to complete an assignment; the breakup of a relationship or an argument with our spouse; disappointment our kids aren’t living as close to Jesus as we’d hoped. There are dozens of “triggers,” but the bottom line is, it derails us, preventing us from being as effective as we can be.

What often happens in those circumstances is we negate virtually everything positive the Lord has accomplished and is accomplishing through us. We gather ourselves in a big circle of pity and proclaim: “I can’t do anything right!” or “everything I do just ends in failure!” Of course, those observations aren’t true, but they seem true in that moment, don’t they? How can we combat those demonic attacks?

One way is by learning to believe the truth. Sounds right, but how do I do that? One way is by remembering that any good that comes from us is coming from the Lord. As His sacred instruments, He flows in and through us accomplishing more than we could ever begin to imagine.

Scottish Pastor and hymn writer, George Matheson wrote: “We are doing more good than we know. The things we do today – sowing seeds or sharing simple truths of Christ – people will someday refer to as the first things that prompted them to think of Him. For my part, I will be satisfied not to have some great tombstone over my grave but just to know that common people will gather there once I am gone and say, ‘He was a good man. He never performed any miracles, but he told me about Christ, which led me to know Him for myself.’”

In my mind I imagine entering the gates of heaven and seeing the faces of loved ones and friends who have preceded me. But beyond those I recognize, in my mind’s eye, I see those whose faces are unfamiliar, yet their smiles seem as if I should know them. The Lord explains: “These are the ones whose lives were touched by those whose lives you touched.”

We can never calculate the ways God will use a kind deed or word we share with a stranger, who may not even know our name, but God knows. And the Lord plants that seed of kindness in that person’s heart. Over the years and through the circumstances of that person’s life, God waters that seed, until one day it blossoms into a relationship with Jesus. But the Lord isn’t finished.

He takes that person’s new faith and uses it to plant seeds in other people’s hearts and minds until, over the years, faith has been ignited in multiplied thousands, and lives have been touched and changed by the power of God’s Spirit working through one small kindness. Think of what He can do with all the things you’ve done and words you’ve spoken intentionally to honor the Lord and point others to Him.

You have no idea how much good you’ve done. How much honor you’ve directed to Jesus. How many people’s lives in whom you’ve planted the seed of hope. By loving your children and grandchildren with the love of Jesus, you’ve opened the door of opportunity for millions of people to catch a glimpse of heaven because of your unselfish devotion to your spouse, children, grandchildren, extended family, neighbors, and friends who all know how much you love Jesus. You’re among God’s favorite heroes of the faith.

Blessings, Ed 😊