Author: scott

Mothers

Posted on by scott

…as one who laments his mother,
    I bowed down in mourning. – Psalm 35:14

Mourning

David is devastated.  The King (Saul) whom he loves is jealously pursuing him, seeking to put him to death.  In his passion to eliminate David, Saul has stirred up other enemies against him.  Enemies that David accuses of laying traps for him and bearing false witness against him.  David is devastated because his enemies have repaid him evil for good (v. 12).  Their behavior manifests their ungratefulness.  But it not only manifests their ungratefulness, it stands in stark contrast against David’s attitude towards them.

13 But I, when they were sick—
    I wore sackcloth;
    I afflicted myself with fasting;
I prayed with head bowed on my chest.
14     I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother;
as one who laments his mother,
    I bowed down in mourning.

Filial Grief

When David describes his attitude toward his enemies, he uses terms of humility and intimacy.  When his enemies were in need, David humbled himself before God by adorning himself in sackcloth, denying himself with fasting, and petitioning his Creator with bowed head.  David’s grief was not feigned.

The sadness David felt was extremely intimate.  He equates his grief with that of loosing a friend or a brother.  Or worst of all, as one who has lost a mother.  For many, the deepest kind of grief we will experience.  It is a grief that is singularly intense and painful.  One that nothing can prepare us for.

Mother’s Day

We just observed another mother’s day a couple of weeks ago.  For my wife and I it was bittersweet.  For the first time in our married life, we had no mother to visit.  As I wrote in August, Behold Your Mother, my worst childhood fear became a reality as my mother lost her battle with cancer.  My mother in law passed away in 2000 as the result of an accident.

“Motherless”, we had to observe mother’s day differently than we have in the past.  There would be no flower basket to purchase to hang on mom’s porch.  There would be no pizza to order after an afternoon of visiting.  The days of honoring our mothers in their presence have now passed us by.  Instead, there would be memories of Mother Days past.

Memories

The death of any loved one is sure to precipitate memories of the deceased.  But our mother is not “just” any loved one.  She is a special gift from God given a great blessing from Him.

We have but one mother who bore us and nurtured us. We have but one mother who loved us with the closest thing we will witness to a Godly love this side of Heaven.  Unconditional.

The Bible tells us to “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).  Who  in our lives does this better than our mothers?  Our mothers are truly interested in every aspect of our lives.  While others may be interested only in the highs and lows of our lives, nothing is too insignificant for our mothers. While others may be indifferent to the details of our lives, our mothers are certain to express an interest.  When we can talk to or turn to nobody else, we can always count on our mothers.  There is truly something very unique and special about the relationship of a mother and her child.

Character

When a fragile spirit has been crushed by an evil world and harsh words it is the affectionate embrace of a mother that can make things “right” again.  When a child scrapes his knee, it is his mother who tenderly cares for his wounds.  How many hurts have been mended by the healing qualities of a mother’s tears?

When we were in need, it was our mother who was willing to sacrifice so that we might have.  How often did your mother place your needs above her own?  Like the excellent wife described in Proverbs 31, who rises while it is yet night to provide food for her household, our mothers exemplify self-denial.

I believe a mother most clearly sees the potential of a child, accordingly, she will never “give up”on them.  With an unwavering patience, she grooms her children to enable them to be all that God intended.  While the rest of the world might perceive an unruly seed, a mother patiently waters and prunes as the seed grows into a beautiful flower for God’s garden.

Prayer

In one week I will be walking my second born daughter down the aisle and giving her away in marriage.  Like this past Mother’s Day, I know this too will be a bittersweet day.  It is never easy watching the children you love so dearly leave the “nest”, but we know it is part of God’s design.

All of our children are a gift from God (Psalm 127).  Like Hannah (1 Samuel 1:27), we cried out to God that He would grant us children and He granted our petition.  Our prayers for children evolved into prayers for their faith and then prayers for the faith of their future spouses.  Again, God has granted our petitions.  But our prayers are not done.

For my daughters, I pray that God will grant them the privilege of motherhood.  Although my wife and I may no longer have the blessing of spending Mother’s Day with our mothers, we can honor them by instilling in our daughters the profound but simple truth; motherhood is a special gift from God.  What is more important than raising eternal souls for God’s Kingdom?

I can’t wait to get to heaven and see all of the beautiful flowers you have nurtured for His garden.  Until then, I am going to enjoy the Mothers God has raised up under my own roof, starting new traditions and cherishing old memories.

God bless our mothers.  May your children rise up an call you blessed (Proverbs 31:28)!

Dead Men Walking

Posted on by scott

 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.  51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. – Matthew 27:50-53

Sunday Surprise

History revolves around the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Every Easter season we recount the events surrounding the empty tomb where Christ’s body was laid to rest.  As we read the Gospel accounts, much discussion is made of the surprise reaction of those that found the stone rolled away early that first Resurrection Sunday.

Despite Old Testament prophecies and the foretelling words of Christ Himself, His followers were stunned to find His body missing.  Even the raising of Lazarus did not adequately prepare them for the surprise of that historic day.  And why should it?

Death and the grave don’t easily give up the dead.  Since the bite of the forbidden fruit in Eden death has been such a certainty.  So much so that every generation fears and respects its presence.  Despite our efforts to push it from our thoughts, death has a way of too often interrupting our lives.  From our perspective death doesn’t usually “play” fair, but it does “play” for keeps.

Headstones

A few weeks ago, my family picked out my mother’s headstone.  Soon the stone will be placed at her grave site.  It will be just another reminder of the reality of her death.  Earthly speaking, what is more enduring than the granite stone that will mark her final resting place?

Such is the earthly plight of man.  We began as dust and will return to dust and then a stone will mark where we are laid to rest.  A permanent monument attempting to keep alive a fading legacy.

Our American landscape is full of them.

It is only natural to want to honor the lives and legacies of the deceased.  For many, the fitting way to do so is with a respectful burial and monument.  A tradition that has been carried on for years.

Historically the Greeks and Romans used stone monuments to honor the dead and prevent the graves from being disturbed.  We want the same for our deceased loved ones today.

Cemeteries

When he gave his famous speech dedicating the cemetery in Gettysburg, President Lincoln stated that those who fought there had already consecrated the ground.  Many gave their lives so that the nation might live.  Too many.

When you go to Arlington national cemetery, you are overwhelmed by endless rows of monuments paying tribute to thousands of others who also have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  I believe visiting each of these cemeteries is a beneficial exercise in may respects.

However, as intriguing as Arlington and Gettysburg are, we don’t have to drive to Pennsylvania or Virginia to pay our respects to the deceased.  As stated above, cemeteries make up a prominent part of the American landscape.

Today’s cemeteries were preceded by yesterday’s graveyards.  Churchyards that doubled as burial grounds, until they eventually ran out of sufficient space to bury their deceased.

The grave is never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20).  Every day we are one step closer to death.  Because of it’s certainty I already have the deed to my plot.  As sobering as it is to think about, one of these days I will be the one whose grave site is being visited.  Until then, I will continue to make my way to Gettysburg and Arlington in addition to visiting the grave sites of my loved ones.

Unexpected Visitors

There is nothing unusual about going to a cemetery and seeing the living paying their respects to the deceased.  Happens every day.  But what about the deceased coming out of their graves and coming to town to visit the living?

That is what happened the day of Jesus’ death.  As we celebrate Passion Week we seldom talk about one of the most intriguing surprises of Good Friday.

According to Matthew’s account, just after Jesus yielded up His spirit, the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.  Obviously, this represents the barrier between God and men being removed by the death of Christ.

But in addition to the curtain being torn, there was an earthquake.  One which shook the earth and split the rocks, thus opening the tombs of the saints and enabling their bodies to take a walk into Jerusalem and do some visiting of their own.

Dead Men Walking

As I stated at the beginning, we often talk about the surprise of the followers of Christ at the discovery of the His empty tomb.  But have you ever contemplated the surprise of those in Jerusalem that witnessed the visitation of the saints immediately following the death of Christ?

Imagine the chaos if you can.  How did the bodies of the deceased saints look?  What or whom did they visit?  Did they walk to the Temple to observe the now torn curtain?

More importantly, what can it mean for us?

Everything.

That granite headstone may not be as enduring as it seems.  That deed to my cemetery plot may not be worth the paper it is written on.  That do not disturb sign?  Doesn’t apply to Jesus.

What in heaven or on earth can withstand the loud voice of Christ?  Certainly, death and the tomb are no match for it!

When Jesus went to the cross, He did so meekly, like a sheep being led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).  But when He yielded His spirit, Jesus did so with a loud voice.  He wasn’t a helpless victim hanging on a cruel Roman cross, He was a victorious King setting His saints free.

When this King shouted, “It is finished“, death and the tomb were forever changed.  The Sunday surprise was Christ’s exclamation point to God’s perfect plan of redemption.

A Loud Voice

Chances are, someday, like me, you too will have your remains laid to rest in a cemetery.  In the tradition of the Greeks and Romans, your site will probably be marked with a stone to honor you and prevent your grave from being disturbed.

At least until Jesus comes.

When Jesus stood outside the tomb of Lazarus, He commanded  Lazarus to come forth, and he did.  Despite the fact that he had been dead for three days, the grave could not contain Lazarus after the voice of Christ called him out.  It had to surrender to the Savior.

Similarly, as Christ cried out on the cross, the earth shook and the saints arose from their graves and walked into Jerusalem.  Whether they were in the tomb for three days or three hundred years, the saints could not remain in their graves once Christ lifted up His voice.  Like the grave of Lazarus, the graves of the Saints had to surrender to the voice of the Savior.

And someday, Child of God, your grave will to.  Christ is coming back, and His voice will be heard on earth once again.

Looking Up

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Child of God, that cemetery is not your final resting place.  Some day, maybe soon, Christ is coming back.  He will give a cry of command.  When He  does so His saints that have died in the Faith will raise from their graves and join those who are alive as they meet Christ in the air.

How can we be so certain of this meeting?

As Christians we not only have the witness of Christ’s empty tomb, but we also have the testimony of dead men walking.  May this fact leave a lasting impression on us much like it would have for those in Jerusalem who witnessed it so many years ago.

As Paul reminded the Thessalonians, “encourage one another with these words“.

Christ has risen.

He has risen indeed.

And in the words of Lincoln, He has given His life so others may live.

Happy Easter.

Unplanned

Posted on by scott


Unseen

From time to time we see images that we just can’t shake.  Some sights just haunt us for days, weeks, and sometimes even years.  But what do you do with a sight that haunts you even though you have not seen it?

Such is the case with Unplanned, a movie I have not yet seen, but one that has shaken me nevertheless.

Unplanned is based on the experiences of Abby Johnson, one of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors in the United States.  In her position, Abby was involved in upwards of 22,000 abortions, primarily in a counseling capacity.  A role that she felt fulfilment in.

But Abby’s world would be turned upside down.  After years of defending a woman’s right to “choose” and dismissing the carnage as nothing more than a mass of unfeeling tissue, Abby would eventually see something she could never “unsee”.

Moving Pictures

For Abby, the day came when she was taken away from her desk and placed in the abortion room.  When God took Abby from her desk, He moved her from the realm of fine sounding words and propaganda and placed her in front of stark reality.  As she witnessed an abortion carried out on the ultrasound, Abby found her arguments reduced to mere rubble.

As difficult as it was to watch, there was no denying what was unfolding before her eyes.  What she had so long dismissed as a “blob of unfeeling tissues” was anything but.  Abby could see discernible arms and legs.  She could see tiny little hands and tiny little feet.  And then she witnessed these limbs being separated one by one by a vacuum placed into the uterus by the abortionist.

Graphic?  Absolutely.  But sometimes, like Abby, we need to be shaken to our core.  The cost of ignorance and apathy are just too high to hide behind our “desks” and meaningless rhetoric.  Like so many others, Abby was fed a lie and feasted on it until she believed it.  It took the sight of an unborn baby trying to “swim” away from an abortion vacuum to open her eyes.

How long can we live in our lies?

Reality Check

Let’s be honest.  We have all heard the statistics of abortions so often that perhaps we have become numb or calloused to them.

But God hasn’t.

There is no second chance for the 22,000 babies whose deaths Abby was associated with.

Ponder that for a moment.

Forty four thousand eyes will never witness a sunrise or a sunset.  Nor will they ever see a rainbow.

Forty four thousand hands will never hold a teddy bear or a doll.  Nor will they ever push a stroller or pull a wagon.

Forty four thousand feet will never leave footprints in the sand, nor will we ever hear their pitter patter coming down the stairs on Christmas morning.

Forty four thousand ears will never hear a bird sing or enjoy the sounds of music.

Twenty two thousand voices, silenced before any ear could ever hear them, will never whisper, “I love you.”

And these are just the deaths that Abby Johnson was personally associated with.  And there are countless Abby Johnsons out there.

Pro Life

Abby Johnson not only counseled many women to have abortions, but she also “chose” to end a couple of her own pregnancies with death.  When God opened Abby’s eyes to the reality of abortion Abby could do only one thing.  Ask for God’s forgiveness.  And she did.

But armed with the truth, Abby desired more than forgiveness, as precious as that was.  She wanted to be used of God to open the eyes of others.  Today, Abby is a top notch Pro Life speaker and activist.  Often sharing her story with others who are contemplating an abortion or who are suffering the consequences associated with having had one.

That life inside of a womb is not just a mass of tissue.  As Abby witnessed that day on the ultrasound, it is a baby Human Being with defined arms, legs, hands, and feet.

But even these don’t define the baby.

That baby in the womb is God’s creation.  Wonderfully knitted together by Him for a purpose (Psalm 139:13).

There is nothing unplanned about that life in the womb.

Redemption

As important as the abortion issue is, Unplanned is about more than that single issue.  It is about forgiveness.  It is about redemption.  Even while Abby Johnson was living in the spiritual darkness associated with her Planned Parenthood profession there were Believers praying for her spiritual eyes to be opened to the light of Truth.

And they were.

I am not trying to heap guilt on anyone who has had an abortion.  We are all sinners in need of salvation.  While there are many things we can learn from the experiences of Abby Johnson, perhaps the most important is that God can and will forgive anyone.  We just need to humble ourselves in repentance and ask for it.

But we must realize, God’s forgiveness is only found in the Person of Jesus Christ.

When we are living in darkness, He is the Light of the Word.  When we are enslaved to lies, He is the Truth that sets us free.

If you are still living in your sins, I pray that God would shake you to your core and open your eyes to the Truth, just as He did for Abby Johnson.

Blood

No one loves the unborn more than Jesus.  He went to the cross and died for them.  He shed His blood so that they might have eternal life.  But Jesus not only died for the unborn.

He died for Abby Johnson.

He died for abortion doctors.

He died for you and me.

It doesn’t matter how much “blood” is on our hands, the blood of Christ was shed to wash us white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).  As cruel and “shocking” as the cross and the crucifixion may have been, they were part of God’s infinite plan to “shake” us to our core.

The End

As time allows, I intend to see the movie Unplanned.  I will go knowing that I will experience the full gamut of emotions.

I will weep for the aborted children.  I will be angry at those who so callously take innocent lives.  Certainly I will rejoice with those who have their spiritual eyes opened to the Truth.  But most importantly I will be grateful to God for His grace.

I know when I leave the theater I will be unable to “unsee” the graphic sights intended to shake away my indifference.  But that’s okay, because I know there is a bigger, infinite picture.

I believe that those tiny souls that were denied the joys of earth, are in the presence of their Creator and Savior.  In the comfort and safety of Heaven they are basking in the love they were denied on earth.

To Jesus they are not a statistic.  They are His children.  Forever each one of them will look Jesus in the eye and say, “I love you.”

I can’t wait to see it.

Worthy

Posted on by scott

2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” – Revelation 5:2

Banished

Perhaps no human has ever penned words that match those of the Apostle John.  In my opinion, the Gospel that bears his name is without equal.  As John writes about his Savior, the sincerity of his love is so transparent.

For three years John had the privilege of living daily with his Master.  Every day he heard His teachings and witnessed His holiness.  Despite the confusion and chaos that surrounded Jesus, John was always certain of one thing.  Jesus loved him.  Accordingly, John would refer to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”

On the night Jesus was betrayed, John rested his head on his Saviors bosom (John 13:23).  But that was years ago.  Now an old man roughly ninety years of age, John finds himself on the rocky little island called Patmos.  On account of the gospel.  Presumably banished there by the Roman emperor Domitian who did not “appreciate” John or his Christian influence.

Transported

Being on Patmos must have afforded the sensitive Apostle time to reflect.  When Jesus was still alive, John was part of His inner circle.  Along with Peter and James, he was privy to three major events that the other disciples were not.

John was in the room with Jesus when He raised Jairus’ daughter back to life, he was on the mountain when Jesus was transfigured, and he was in the Garden when Jesus travailed in prayer.

As John reflected on these events and others, one memory must have dominated all others.  The crucifixion of his beloved Savior.  When his fellow disciples ran for cover, John stood at the foot of the cross.  As Jesus hung between two criminals, John watched His blood flow from His wounds.  As John pondered his future without His beloved Jesus, Jesus committed His beloved mother to John.  The disciple whom Jesus loved.

While John’s memories may be fresh, his beloved Jesus is gone.  And so are Peter, James, Mary and the others.  Many of whom were martyred for their faith.  The same faith that “sent” John to Patmos.

John may have been an old man on a little island, but he was never alone and never forgotten.  The ever faithful disciple whom Jesus loved had more words to pen, hence his Heavenly Father transported him to Heaven.

Scroll

As John is transported before the Heavenly throne, he sees God holding a scroll in His right hand (Revelation 5:1).  A scroll sealed with seven seals.  John doesn’t record what is in the scroll, but the writing on the back may have given him a clue as to what was written on the inside.

Was the scroll that the Father held in His hand a Title Deed to the Universe?  Was it a judgment lien? A lien issued by a court where a debtor (you/me) is unable to satisfy a debt (caused by our sin).  Accordingly, this scroll would authorize that the debtor’s assets (our very souls) be forfeit in judgment.

Obviously, since the scroll is held in the right hand of God Almighty, it’s importance can’t be overstated.  But its contents couldn’t be definitively known until the seven seals were broken.  But there seemed to be one problem.

Who was worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?

Who?

John senses the seriousness of the scroll and hears the loud Angelic proclamation:

“Who is worthy to open it?”

And then the Angel’s proclamation is followed by John’s devastation.  It appeared no one was able to open the scroll.  No one was worthy.  “3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it” (Revelation 5:3).  

John’s sensitive heart was crushed.  His aged frame began to quake, and his tired eyes succumbed to tears.  Because no one was found worthy, John began to “weep loudly”.  And why not?

Did Jesus die in vain?  Did John and his fellow disciples “throw away” their lives?  What was the ultimate meaning of Jesus’ teachings?  Is it possible the resurrection was just a cruel trick?  If so, are those of us who place our faith in it most to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19)?  If our Savior’s death was in vain then by implication won’t ours be also?

Fear not John.  Your eyes did not fail you, and neither has your mind.  And your Savior never can or will.  Weep no more!

Worthy

Like a fog gives way to sunshine, John’s grief gives way to hope.  Through his tears John is encouraged by one of Heaven’s elders to “behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, (who) has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5).

The lion of the tribe of Judah left Heaven’s throne.  As a babe He put on flesh and blood.  When it was time for Jesus to “begin” His ministry, The Baptist proclaimed Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  And so He would. 

That chest that John leaned against at the last supper was home to the heart of God.  The only heart that ever contained perfect love.  A love that was willing to still Jesus’ heart.  At least for a time.  The love that John so beautifully wrote about. 

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

The Root of David was born to rule.  He was born to break the seals and open the scroll.  But first He had to conquer.  And He did so with His blood.  The blood that John beheld as he stood at the foot of the cross.  Take heart fellow believer, it was not spilled in vain!!

Worship

Because of Jesus’ worthiness, John’s worries were turned to worship.  As the slain Lamb took the scroll from His Father’s hand, heaven was filled with a new song.

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” – Revelation 5:9-10, 12b, 13b

Because Jesus was slain, you were ransomed by His blood.  Some day you will join John in singing this song around the throne.  Perhaps you should start to get familiar with it now.  Jesus, and only Jesus is worthy!

Safe and Sound

Posted on by scott

2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared – 1 John 3:2a

Someone’s Missing

Today we are celebrating Brooke’s ninth birthday.  It is a bittersweet day.  To say the least.  We are gathering as a family to celebrate our youngest child’s birthday, without her presence.  The absence of her physical presence has precipitated a litany of questions.

If our preemie baby had lived to come home from the hospital, what would she be like as a little nine-year-old girl?  Who would she look like?  What personality traits would she have?  How would she interact with her siblings, nephews, and nieces?  What limitations might she have had as a result of being hooked up to a respirator for her entire brief life?

I think for anyone who has lost a child these types of questions are inevitable.  With each passing birthday and holiday, we can’t help but wonder how our lives would differ with Brooke in the equation.  But wonder is all we can do.  As we journey down this road called life we continue to pass milestones without our “baby” to share the experiences.

Lofty Mysteries

As we think about our departed daughter, we find that our questions are not limited to just the here and now.  We also have questions that transcend the temporal.  As intriguing as is it to ponder what Brooke might look and be like if she were still with us, we also question her current “status” in heaven.

As I was talking to my co-worker (Tammy) yesterday about celebrating Brooke’s birthday, she mentioned the three children that are awaiting her in heaven.  Children that she would dearly have loved to hold and nurture as a mother but was denied the privilege because of miscarriages.

Tammy has total confidence that her children await her in heaven, but in what state?  How “old” will they appear?  What type of bodies will they have?  How will she recognize her children she never held?

These are questions we will have to wait to have answered until we join our loved ones in heaven.  All we know is that our earthly bodies are merely seeds that are sown in dishonor but will be raised in glory (1 Cor. 15:43).  Our natural bodies will give way to a spiritual one.

Now and Later

Brooke may not be with us, but I would rather celebrate her birthday without her than to ignore it.  She is still a special part of our family.  Although we all grieve her absence, we also anticipate the day we will be reunited with her in heaven.

I believe it is a healthy thing not to live in denial.  We have all lost loved ones that we will never see again on this side of eternity.  While I recognize that others don’t want to continually hear about our losses or our struggles, pretending they don’t exist or never happened doesn’t help anyone.

Paul not only writes that our earthly bodies are “sown in dishonor”, but he also tells us that they are “sown in weakness” (1 Cor. 15:43b).  These jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:7) that we live in for a short period of time are so fragile.  But Paul encourages us that our weak bodies will be raised in power.  However, before our weak bodies are raised in power, we need all the encouragement we can get.

There can be a lot of difficult days before our earthly seeds are “raised in glory”, which makes me so thankful for the mercy God shines on us before He takes us home.

Safe and Sound

After sharing supper as a family tonight, we shared some memories of Brooke’s passing.  It isn’t often we discuss these memories but we do cherish them almost as if they were sacred.  It is always sobering thinking about our loved ones crossing over the river of death into eternity.

After our discussion, I sat down in the rocking chair.  As I was contemplating Brooke’s brief life, my four-year-old grand-daughter climbed onto my lap and rocked with me.  It was definitely one of those moments of mercy God shines on us to encourage us in our weakness.

As I rocked my grand-daughter I was reminded of the song my daughters were so anxiously looking forward to playing for their little sister when she came home from the hospital.  But never would.  For a long time after Brooke’s passing, I could not listen to the song.  The pain was too deep.  But what a comfort it is to know that the love and safety we wanted to provide for her in our humble home could never compare to heaven.

Sorry, Tammy.  I don’t know what our babies will look like in heaven, but I do know they are safe and sound.  And I also know that until our earthly seeds are raised in glory and we can join them, God will be faithful in shining His mercies on us.

Until we are in glory, enjoy every opportunity you get of rocking that child.  It is a blessing we earthly seeds should never take for granted.

The Song

Safe and Sound
Matthew West
Can’t believe you’re here now
Tiny dream come true
The answer to a prayer now
I’m so in love with you
Couldn’t wait to meet you
Hope you like your name
I get the funny feeling
Life will never be the same
Safe and sound
You’re here with me now
Like I hoped you’d be
Safe and sound
You’re here with me now
And that’s all I’ll ever need
The world’s a scary place here
But baby it’s alright
I’ll make sure the coast is clear
So you can just sleep tight
But if you’re afraid of monsters
Like everybody is
I’ll be right beside you
Closer than a kiss
Safe and sound
I’m here with you now
And you will always be
Safe and sound
I’m here with you now
And that’s all you’ll ever need
Someday I’m gonna teach you
The reason why we pray
So that heaven’s love may reach you
Every single day
So, baby close your eyes now
And say a prayer with me
Lord, I lay me down to sleep now
But I know I will be
Safe and sound
You’re here with us now
And we will always be
Safe and sound You’re here with us now
And that’s all we’ll ever, all we’ll ever need
You’re all we’ll ever need

 

No Going Back

Posted on by scott

 6 Abraham said to him, “See to it that you do not take my son back there. – Genesis 24:6

Babel

According to Genesis chapter eleven, “the whole earth had one language and the same words.”  Unfortunately, this common language fueled a sinful passion; to be god.

In their arrogance, the people decided to make a tower to reach the heavens.  In so doing they wanted to make a name for themselves.  Their self-centered motive didn’t impress God.

To frustrate their plans to displace Him from His throne, God confused the language of the people and dispersed them.  Their intentions of a great city, with it’s great tower as a monument to man, were thwarted by their confused language.  Their only lasting testimony is their association with the name of their abandoned city.  Babel.  Confused noise.

Such was the name they “made” for themselves.

It is against this background that we are introduced to a man named Abram at the end of Genesis chapter eleven.  God’s dealings with Abram could not be a greater contrast to His dealings with the people of Babel.  While the people of Babel illustrate God’s displeasure with sin, Abram represents God’s grace.

Called Out

If Babel’s lust for recognition paints a dark portrait of the ugliness of pride, God’s calling of Abram is a beautiful portrait of the merciful nature of God.  Through one vessel, God’s mercy can pour out enough grace to bless all the families of the earth (Gen. 12:3).  But God didn’t want His chosen vessel compromised.  It was necessary for Abram to leave his homeland and his family.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that in faith, Abram left his homeland not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).  Although Abram may not have known where God was leading him, Joshua gives us a glimpse as to what he was leaving behind.  Idolatry (Joshua 24:2).

God doesn’t like competition, whether in the hearts of the multitude in Babel, or in the heart of an individual in Ur.  But after the dangers of leaving sinful man to himself is witnessed in the account of Babel, the hope man needs is revealed in God’s calling out of Abram.

Babel would provide a segue to grace.  Confusion would give way to a covenant. But between the confusion and the covenant there had to be consecration.

God did not want Abram in Ur, because there was no room for Ur in Abram.  God wants undivided hearts.  Abram had to say good-bye to the idolatry of his people.

Isaac

In time, God’s promised child was born to Abraham and Sarah.  In their old age they were blessed with Isaac.  Finally, they had their own child to embrace and nurture.  Finally, they had a son to carry on the family name.  God had blessed them just as He promised.  But what if God’s blessings become idols in our desperately wicked hearts?

Despite the command to leave his family, the process was apparently difficult for Abram.  When he left Ur, his idolatrous father Terah accompanied him to Haran.  Abram apparently was content to stay in Haran, until God “motivated” him by taking his father in death.  It appears that even for Abram, faith was a work in progress.

If leaving his father Terah was difficult for Abram, how hard would it be to lose his own promised son?  Losing him to a natural death would have been difficult enough, but would he be willing to take his son’s life in obedience to God?  One way to find out, place him on an altar.  Such is what God asked Abraham to do.

As you are well aware, Abraham passed the test.  God stayed Abraham’s hand when he raised his knife.  Issac’s heart was spared.  Abraham’s heart was undivided.  But the lesson would not soon be forgotten.

Sarah

At the tender age of 127, Sarah died in the land of Canaan.  This was roughly 62 years after leaving Ur with Abram and 37 years after giving birth to Isaac.  Abraham and Sarah shared many experiences as they watched the plans of God unfold in their lives.  Together they left their families in obedience to God’s command.  Together they started a new home despite many obstacles.  Now they would be together no more.

Abraham would bury his bride in the promised land.  But the death of his bride did not blur Abraham’s understanding of life.  One generation passes away and another generation comes (Ecclesiastes 1:4).

The death of Abraham’s wife would give way to the quest for Isaac’s bride.  Despite his heavy heart and tear filled eyes Abraham’s hope was buoyed by one truth.  God’s covenant did not die with Sarah.  Therefore, neither would his faith.

Although his helpmate was buried and his earthly resting place was secured, Abraham didn’t want to see consecration compromised.  He was jealous for his jealous God.

See to it

Before his eyes were closed in death, Abraham wanted to see Isaac married.  But great care had to be taken in finding a wife for Isaac.  The people of Canaan where Abraham and Isaac now live were degenerate.  No bride for Isaac could come from them.  Rather, Isaac must marry one of his own people.

But allowing Isaac to leave the promised land to find his own wife was not an option.  Abraham would have to give instructions to a faithful servant to go back to his own people to get a wife for Isaac.  This servant was given the assurance that God would send His angel before him to make his journey successful.

God had commanded Abraham to leave his land and guided him to Canaan.  Abraham wasn’t going to risk allowing Isaac to leave the promised land to go back to his family and be tempted to stay there.

Abraham was so concerned with this danger that he warned his servant not once but twice, not to take Isaac back there (Genesis 24:6 & 8).

See to it that you do not take my son back there!

No Going Back

God promised to send his angel to pick out a bride for Isaac and he did.  God always keeps His word.  Rebekah was brought back to Canaan and became the wife of Isaac.  The Bible tells us that in his love for Rebekah, Isaac was comforted after his mothers death (Genesis 24:67).  I am sure it did Abraham’s spirit good as well.

You have a lot in common with Abraham.  As a child of God, you have been consecrated.  You have been called out of the world and made a citizen of heaven.  You have a covenant relationship with God.  A jealous God who loves you and doesn’t want to share your love.

Abraham knew the danger of going back once called out.  God means what He says.  When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness, Lot’s wife became a pillar of salt just for looking back (Genesis 19:26).  Her simple gesture of curiosity was disobedience to God’s direction. “Escape for your life. Do not look back” (Genesis 19:17).

This world is doomed for destruction.  It contains nothing that can compare with Heaven.  Avoid it’s temptations.  Stay away from it’s lures.  God has so much more for you.  All He asks from you is an undivided heart.

You have been saved from your sins.  Don’t go back.  Don’t even look back.  Revel in God’s grace, not the world mire.

22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” – 2 Peter 2:22

Exceeding Great Reward

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15 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” – Genesis 15:1

Carts and carrots

As you trudge through life pulling your cart of burdens, what is it that you are striving for?  What is the proverbial carrot on the stick that motivates you?  When you are up to your knees in mud, trying to get your load through the next rut, what gives you the strength to take the next step?

Many people aspire wealth.  The more they can accumulate the better.  When the harvest is good, more and larger barns are built.  How much is enough?  The cart is not a burden if it is full of goods.  So they tell themselves.

Some people are driven by emotional insecurities.  For them there can never be enough affirmation.  Their deepest desire is fame or recognition.  As they trudge through life pulling their cart they make sure it is detailed and covered with more stickers than a NASCAR race car.  As they pull their cart down Main Street they make sure they are often testing it’s horn.

For some, like Abram, proginey is paramount.  As a young man, Abram could boast living ancestry as far back as ten generations!  Noah, who lived to be 950 years old, was still alive when Abram was born.  But while Abram could reminisce with every one of his male ancestors from his father Terah to his (9x) great-grandfather Noah, he had no child to call his own.

After these things

When God spoke to Abram in a vision as recorded in today’s text, Abram’s cart was “parked” in Canaan.  After the death of his father Terah, God told Abram to leave his country and his people and move to a land that He would show him.

While it would be difficult to pack up and leave everything he knew, God made a covenant with Abram.  While it would be difficult at 75 years of age to make a new beginning, Abram had the assurance of God and His blessings.  But when would they come?

At this point in history, Abram is still childless.  At this point in history, Abram does not own a foot of ground.  To make matters worse, there has been tension between the camp of Abram and his nephew Lot.  In humility, Abram allowed Lot first choice of land.  Being a man of logic, Lot chose the most fertile land for himself.

Although Abram and Lot parted ways, Abram never stopped loving his nephew.  When a war broke out between rival kings, Lot was caught in the middle and carried away captive.  Showing no concern for his own safety, Abram gathered his men and rescued Lot.

These were the “things” that preceded Abram’s vision from God.

Fear Not

We all live with fears and uncertainties.  At one point or another we will all battle doubt and despair.  Although Abram may have been a very brave man, it would only be natural that perhaps he might fear retribution from those he fought with to regain Lot’s freedom.

If Abram did not fear retribution, perhaps the events of Lot’s capture reminded him of life’s uncertainties.  Without any warning, life can change so quickly.  How easily might Lot have been killed by the warring factions.  Certainly, Abram’s life may have been in danger when he set out to rescue his nephew.

Although many of his ancestors were still alive, Abram was not immune from the painful experience associated with death.  His brother Haran, Lot’s father, was buried in Ur, the land of his birth.  Likewise, his father Terah, was buried Haran.

But perhaps Abram’s greatest fear was infertility.  As he and Sarai were aging, it is very possible that his hopes for progeny were perhaps buried in Sarai’s barren womb.

Although Abram’s cart did not yet hold a son, it did carry God’s promises.

Fear not, Abram!

I am

We often speak of the great “I am” statements of the Bible, but I don’t know if I have ever heard this one from Genesis chapter fifteen included among them.  When Abram needs encouragement, God Himself provides it.

“I am your shield”.

After saving Lot from his captors, Abram encountered the mysterious figure Melchizedek, king of Salem, and priest of God Most High.  Melchizedek not only blessed Abram, but he also reminded him that it was God, “who has delivered your enemies into your hand” (Gen. 14:20b)!  

How comforting to know that when trials come our way, the great I Am is our shield.  He is our protector.  The Bible uses numerous illustrations to encourage us of the refuge we have in God.  God is our strong tower (Prov. 18:10), our refuge and tower of strength (Psalm 61:3) and our strong rock (Psalm 62:7).

Further, when disaster comes, we know that we can take refuge in the shadow of His wings (Psalm 57:1).  When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we are comforted by the protection of His rod and staff (Psalm 23).

No one is greater than God.  When we are in the hands of Christ, no one can snatch us out (John 10:28-29).

The great I AM is our shield, but He is so much more.

Very great reward

In the original language, God tells Abram that He is not only his shield, but God Himself, is Abram’s very great reward.  Or as the King James has it, his exceeding great reward.

Abram left his land and his family with only his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and the promises of God.  Promises of becoming a great nation, having his name made great, and being blessed and being a blessing.  In addition, his descendants would be given the land of Canaan.

As Abram drove his cart of burdens from the land of his family to the promised land, he drove it by faith.  Abram would encounter ruts.  He would trudge through mud.  His way would often be difficult, but he believed his reward would be great.

Abram was not a perfect man, as evidenced by his relationship with Hagar, but he was motivated by a perfect reward.  The great I Am.

Let’s come full circle.  What is your greatest motivation in life?  Do you recognize God for what He is?  Do you recognize Him as your very great reward?  Don’t strive for the world’s carrots on a stick.  They will all rot.  Only the great I Am can fulfill your greatest longings and meet your greatest needs.  Enjoy the relationship you were created to have.

Consider the attributes of God.  He alone is eternal, omniscient, omnipotent, immutable, sovereign, holy, etc.  Your exceeding great reward is without equal.  The wealth of the world and the praise of man are nothing compared to Him.  And nobody can love you the way He does.  Not even close.  God promised Abram so much, but the most rewarding “thing” He gave him was Himself.

What could be a better reward?

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. – Psalm 73:25

New Beginnings, Eternal Truths

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28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. – Genesis 1:28-30

Out with the old…

“Out with the old, in with the new.”  Once again it is time to turn over the calendar.  Not just from one old month to a new one, but from one year past to another just beginning.

Each new year brings fresh hope.  For many, each new year entails new resolutions.  This is the year we will finally lose weight!  This is the year we will finally address that home project we have been putting off.  After all, sooner or later that roof is going to leak.

Maybe this is the year to work on that strained relationship.  Do you really want to keep kicking the can down the road when a little sacrifice and forgiveness could be the seeds of reconciliation and peace?

As we step into the New Year with all of its promises, we say goodbye to the old and all of its memories.  Most notably, memories of loved ones left behind.  Those who will not turn the calendar into a New Year and share the future with us.

But despite their absences, time moves on.

Eternal Truths

I don’t know what, if any, resolutions you may have made for the New Year, but I do hope you have committed to making a journey through your Bible part of your plans for the New Year.  If not, I would like to challenge you to dust off your Bible and open it up and allow God to “accompany” you as you walk through 2019.

While each year is a mystery waiting to unfold, some things are a given.  The path will not always be smooth.  Nor will it always be well lit.  For every day of sunshine, there will be an allotment of storms.  Some severe.

When the way is dark, God’s Word will illumine our path (Psalm 119:105).  When the tempest rages, God’s Word can still the storm (Mark 4:39).

As we encounter the trials and temptations that are sure to confront us in the New Year, we can take comfort in the fact that the truth of God’s Word will enable us to persevere along the way.

In the beginning…

We are all familiar with the opening words of Genesis.  The first chapter of the Bible tells us that during the first six days of the earth’s history, God was “busy” creating.

As you begin your journey reading through the Bible, you will notice the multiple times the words “And God said” are recorded in Genesis Chapter one.

3 And God said, “Let there be light…”

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse…”

9 And God said, “Let the waters…”

For six days of creation, God spoke into being a material world.  With each “God said” there was obedience.  What God commanded came into being.  From nothing.

God’s Words brought life, order, and light to an earth that Genesis described as “without form, void, and with darkness over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2).

We would be wise to obey His Words.

Beasts

When God created man on the sixth day, He blessed them and gave them dominion over the rest of creation, including every creeping thing that creeps on the earth (Genesis 1:26, 28).

I am not sure what form Satan had before he was cursed to go on his belly and eat dust (Genesis 3:14), but I have to believe he was one of the beasts that Adam and Eve were supposed to subdue and have dominion over.  But they did not.

Genesis chapter three verse one tells us that Satan was “more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.”  Crafty enough to get Adam and Eve to be the first to disobey the spoken Word of God. And they would certainly not be his last prey.

Since the serpent first deceived Adam and Eve to doubt the veracity or integrity of God’s Word, the battle has never ended.  Because Adam and Eve did not subdue every beast, Satan’s “victory” ushered in a lifelong battle with sin.  Accordingly, we would be wise to heed God’s words to Cain.

7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” – Genesis 4:7

Promises

All of this brings us back to the importance of being in the Word of God every day.  Satan, the beast we are to subdue is a roaring lion, seeking to devour us.  Like he did with Adam and Eve, he wants us to doubt the integrity of God’s Word.  Better yet, he wants us to ignore it.

Don’t succumb to Satan’s lies this year, rather embrace the promises of God.

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you. – Isaiah 43:2

…in with the new

Obviously, the above are just a few of the many promises God has spoken to comfort His children.  As you can see I only quoted a few promises out of the Old Testament.  Hopefully, this is enough to encourage you to consider reading through your Bible this year if you do not already intend to do so.

God has “made the effort” to speak to us.  Satan has resolved to keep us away from God’s Word.  Won’t you honor your Creator by reading His love letter to you?  Won’t you bring Him glory by believing it?

Satan is slithering in the Garden.  Sin is crouching at the door.  May we have the wisdom to read and appropriate God’s Word so we can resist and rule over the enemy of our souls.  As you read the Bible this year, you might want to make a list of truths you can stand on in the midst of the world’s lies.

The next time we turn the calendar over from one year to another we don’t know what loved ones we will “leave behind”, but one of these years it will be us.  Thank God that based on His inerrant Word, we can know that eternity is secure.

As you walk with God each day in His word enjoy the journey.

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16

13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. – 1 John 5:13-15

Gloria in excelsis Deo

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13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” – Luke 2:13-14

Angels

When Zechariah was serving as priest before God, an angel appeared to him and told him his prayer had been heard.  Accordingly, he and his wife Elizabeth would have a son.  John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus.  The one who would make ready for the Lord a people prepared (Luke 1:17).

When Mary was told that she had found favor with God, the angel Gabriel was sent to her in Nazareth to tell her she would give birth to Jesus.  Mary would be overshadowed by the power of the Most High and bear a son.  He would be great and would be called the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32).

When Jesus was born, an angel appeared to some shepherds in the region.  The angel was commissioned to bring the shepherds “good news of great joy”  (Luke 2:10) for all people.  The Good news?  A Savior, Christ the Lord.  They would find Him lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling cloths.  But before their eyes saw the Savior, their ears would be filled with God’s praise.

Doxa

One angel was sufficient to tell Zechariah of the birth of his son John.  One angel was sufficient to tell Mary of the birth of Jesus.   Likewise, one angel was sufficient to tell the shepherds of the birth of Jesus.  But when God was to be praised, it took a multitude of heavenly host to sing His Glory.  “Glory to God in the highest!”

In the original Greek, the word translated glory is doxa.  According to Zodhiates’ Word Study, it can mean appearance, reputation, or glory.  It refers to the recognition belonging to a person, honor, renown.  It is related to the verb dokeo, to think, recognize a person or thing for what it is.  For such we were born.  For such we were saved.

In the last writing, we looked at Isaiah 61:1-4, the Words that Jesus read in the Synagogue and then pronounced their fulfillment.  In this passage of the promised Messiah we saw that the Jews were in a dire state.  As we looked at, the text refers to them as poor, brokenhearted, captives, bound, mournful, and faint spirited.

But there was hope of a Messiah.

According to Isaiah, the promised Messiah would bring good news for the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, liberate the captives, free the bound, comfort the mourning, replace their mourning with gladness, and replace their faint spirit with praise.

The Messiah did all of this to make the people oaks of righteousness.  But that was not the end.  He made them oaks of righteousness so God would be glorified (Isaiah 61:3).

excelsis

Gloria in excelsis Deo.  When we sing these words at Christmas, we are singing the message of the multitude of heavenly hosts in Latin.  Glory to God in the Highest!  When we sing these words, do we ponder their meaning?  Do we take to heart the Greek verb dokeo, to think, recognize a person or thing for what it is?  It is why God liberated you and bound up your broken heart.

In order to give God the glory He deserves, we need to recognize Him for who He is.  We truly must be thinkers.  We must believe what we sing, in excelsis Deo.  God is in the heights; high and lifted up.

If I can word it this way, we must “practice” excelsis.  We must “raise” God to the level He deserves in our lives.  Certainly He must be elevated to a level above ourselves.  Perhaps the best way to raise God up, is to follow the angels to the manger and get on our knees before the Babe.

On Earth

The heavenly host not only praised God in the highest, but they also proclaimed peace on earth.  Peace on earth is only possible because in the form of the Babe in the manger, the God in the highest condescended to our level.  Jesus wasn’t just a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, He was God incarnate; God wrapped in flesh and blood.

“O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.”

Many of our Christmas Hymns are steeped in theology.  As we sing, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, we are spiritually uniting ourselves with ancient Israel.  Like those in Isaiah chapter sixty-one that we have looked as, we admit our true condition.  Lonely mourning captive exiles desperate for Emmanuel.  Thank God the Son of God appeared in the manger!

If you want a clear revelation of the character and glory of God, take a good look at the Savior wrapped in swaddling cloths.

Worship

Although Zechariah was a priest in the service of the Temple, he was merely a man in need of a Savior.  After the birth of his promised son he worshiped in prophecy,

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David…- Luke 1:68-69

Although Mary was favored by God to bear the Savior of the world, she too needed to be saved.  When Elizabeth heaped praise on her, she rightly deferred worship to God,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…-Luke 1:46b-47

Although the shepherds had the privilege of being among the first to see the promised Savior, they did not boast in their privilege.  Like Zechariah and Mary, they too felt compelled to worship God.

20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. – Luke 2:20

Sing It

You have been redeemed for the glory of God.  Some day you will join the heavenly host in worshiping around His throne.  It is a good time to reflect on what He has done for you, and more importantly who He is.  You might as well start with the Babe in the manger.

Angels we have heard on high
Singing sweetly o’er the plains:
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem, and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the newborn King
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

See him in a manger laid
Whom the choirs of angels praise
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While our hearts in love we raise
Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Merry Christmas!

Instead of Ashes

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61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord‘s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations. – Isaiah 61:1-4

Fire

Yesterday morning, just after first light, I ventured into town to look at a pile of rubble.  No, I am not a dumpster diver.  I have no attraction to rubble.  But like a moth I couldn’t stay away from the light.  I had to make sure it was real despite my wishes that it wasn’t.

In a year filled with so much loss and grief, tragedy has struck again.

With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat I parked my car on Main Street.  Along with my son I walked up to the yellow tape blocking the sidewalk and looked in disbelief at the pile of brick and mortar.  On top of the pile of brick rested a large steel beam.  Below the pile of bricks was buried the charred remains of businesses and a home.  Buried below the bricks was a lot of past history and future hope.

Fire is no respecter of the past, nor does it care about the future.

As I surveyed the scene, I wanted to rewind time just twenty-four hours.  The morning prior, two buildings graced Main Street where the rubble now lay.  Two buildings that stood sentinel for the better part of the towns history which began in the mid 1800’s.  A lot of hard work had gone into the construction of the buildings and the building of the businesses they housed.  Despite the best efforts of nearly twenty fire departments, one fire reduced them to the pile of rubble I couldn’t stay away from.

Boot

The loss from the fire will leave a void not only on Main Street, but in our family as well.  Not only was a family business lost, but also an apartment that served as home for multiple members of the family for years.  To a few of my siblings and their children the apartment was the source of many family memories.  For a couple of my nephews and nieces it was their first home.  Besides the sweat equity and financial investment put into the business on the ground level, there were a lot of fond memories associated with the apartment above it.

This was no ordinary heap of ashes I was drawn to.  This was a sight I had to see to believe.  Despite watching the blaze for hours the day before it still seemed surreal.  One of those events you know is real but you still have to make sure.  And when you are sure you wish you weren’t.

As the events of the prior day were still replaying in my mind I saw a little boot at the edge of the rubble.  A reminder of not only the tragedy that transpired, but the tragedy that was averted.  While the fire may have claimed a couple of old buildings and the possessions they contained, it did not claim any lives.  The family living above one of the businesses narrowly escaped the fire with their two young boys partially dressed.  As bad as the fire was it could have been worse.

The little boot was a timely reminder.  Some things can never be replaced.

Down

With my mother’s death this past summer, the fire was just another blow to the family.  As the fire ravaged, we helplessly watched the firemen fighting a hopeless battle.  As emotional as the scene was, it was most difficult on my father and sister.  My father purchased the building in the early 1990’s and my sister is the current owner.  The two of them, along with my deceased mother, had the most sweat equity in the business.  None of us were “ready” for another loss.  But how often are we?

Although I rarely go to the movies, I did see Batman Begins years ago.  One scene in particular has stuck with me from that movie.  After Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) laments to his trusty butler Alfred that he has failed, Alfred replies, “Why do we fall sir, so that we can learn to pick ourselves up.”

Whether we fall, or whether we are knocked down, we need to get back up.  Nobody likes to be down, planted on their backside, but the position can have it’s benefits.  While it is true that there is no place to go but up, I believe that more importantly, when we get back up we arise a different person.  Being down doesn’t have to be equated with being defeated.  Triumph can blossom from tragedy.

Seeds

Before my early morning trip to the rubble pile, I sent my sister a text reminding her that flowers grow in ashes.  When we are down we can rise up even stronger.  And instead of seeing the bricks on the ground as defeat, we must recognize them for what they really are.  Seeds.

We can choose to look at fallen bricks as defeat; the end of a run, or as seeds; the promise of a bright future.  The fire didn’t care.  The bricks are indifferent.  The choice is up to us.  Are we going to lament the past, or look forward to the future.  The future has my vote.

Before I left the scene of the fire, I crossed the yellow tape and picked up three seeds (aka bricks) and put them in my car.  I can’t rewind time so I decided to carry just a bit of the past home with me to plant for the future.  I am looking forward to the possibilities.

Ashes

The remains of the fire are just another reminder of spiritual truths.  When Isaiah penned the words quoted above, it is natural to imagine the comfort they might have brought to the Israelites in exile with Zion (Jerusalem) in ruins.  More rubble that was mourned over.  But their mourning would be interrupted by the Messiah.

To those who were “down”, the promise of the coming Messiah was good news.

When Jesus began His ministry He read from this passage of scripture in Isaiah and told His audience, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).  But the good news of the Messiah wasn’t just for Zion or the Israelites in exile, it is for you and me.

You and I were being ravaged by sin.  Like a fire within us, sin was destroying us.  Just as the numerous firefighters could not save the burning buildings, we cannot save ourselves from the blazing fire of sin.  There isn’t enough water in the world to do so.

Like the Israelites during the days of Isaiah, we needed One who was Anointed by God to save us.  We needed a Savior of new beginnings.  One who can bury the past and give us a new future.  Jesus is the only One who can replace our ashes of mourning with a beautiful headdress.  One that is worthy of being seated by His throne.

Oaks

Look closely at the words Isaiah used to describe those who were “down”.  Poor, brokenhearted, captives, bound, mourning and faint spirited.  From such despair, Jesus lifted us up.  And when He lifts us up, He makes us a new creation.

When death takes a loved one, don’t give into despair.  When a fire destroys your possessions, don’t deny the ashes.  Jesus has already defeated death.  He has already lifted you from the ashes of sin and made you an oak of righteousness.  Mourn for a little while if you need to but never forget, our Messiah has promised us His oil of gladness.

As painful as losses are, I am glad God is a God of new beginnings.  Like the boot lying in the rubble, the cross on Cavalry is a reminder not only of the tragedy that happened, but the tragedy that was averted.  Jesus died so you could live.  He died so you could wear a crown instead of ashes.

I am not sure what tomorrow holds, but I am guessing it can’t topple an Oak of Righteousness.  After all, we are rooted in Christ.