Shake Me, Wake Me

Most of us would agree that life can be a challenge. We may often relate to a line from a song performed by the Four Tops "shake me, wake me, when it's over." We may have economic success at one moment and failure may come a short time later. We may go to bed feeling on top of the world and wake up the next morning with an illness. We try to take precautions but we all know things can happen. In reality, life appears to offer no guarantees, at least of our own making.

In 2 Samuel, David experienced the fickleness of life, its people, and day-to-day events. One minute he was supported and things are going well, a short time later, support had vanished and he was to blame. At that time I am sure David's confidence was shaken. The truth is life has the ability to shake us all up at times. It can be confusing, people can be difficult, and events can seem so unfair. Yet, for the believer,  life does come with some guarantees.

One: Salvation is a free and gracious gift. It comes through faith in Jesus Christ. This fact cannot be shaken and it does not change. In this life you may experience times of loss, times of disappointment, painful struggles, yet our salvation is secure in Jesus Christ. He is our rock and our mighty fortress, in him we have eternal security.

Two: Heaven is a kingdom that cannot be shaken. As believers we at not citizens of this world but of heaven. Buy the grace of Jesus Christ and through our faith in him, we have been guaranteed access to this kingdom. This world may be a place of dispair and disappointment but it is not our final destination. Christ has purchased our passage beyond this world and into the kingdom of God. It comes with a guarantee that cannot be resended. There are no additional charges, no late fees or weight limits. It is not based on any religious belief but on our relationship with him.

Three: This life is not permanent but our life with Jesus Christ is eternal. It has been purchased with his blood and will be perfected with his love. So I will continue to remind myself that life may shake me but God has chosen to wake me and give me his unconditional guarantee, through Jesus Christ my Lord.

RefRev

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"God has not thrown me away. I am in his mind day and night, and
                      his thoughts are at work to do me good."
                                     - William Gurnall

Possess What You Profess

I recently posed a question to a friend of mine, when does a half truth become a full lie? I have heard people use the phrase "half truth" as a sort of bridge between the truth and a lie as if it were an acceptable compromise. To be honest, I find this kind of moral quibbling very disappointing, and I view it as a proverbial slippery sloop. It is easy to profess variations of what might resemble the truth but much more difficult to possess what is the truth.

As followers of Christ we are encouraged by the scriptures to speak the truth. Our credibility is founded on truth, spoken with love, for the good of the listener, as well as the speaker. There is no place in the christian life for half truths, three quarter truths, partial truths, or fragments of the truth. This is especially true for those in positions of authority, clergy, elders, deacons, teachers, etc..

So here is the plain truth. The half truth does not exist; it is just a phrase used to disguise a complete lie. If one decides to withhold part of the truth then one has taken it upon oneself not to tell the truth. Half truths are the less sophisticated cousins of innuendo and gossip, but all are liars at heart.

In Zechariah 8:16-17, God spoke these words to Zechariah: "These are things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and render true and sound judgement in your courts; do not plot evil against your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely, I hate all this," declares the Lord.

As Christians, we are called to speak the truth in a faithful and loving manner so that it may benefit the one who hears and the one who speaks. It may be uncomfortable, difficult, or even a painful task to complete but it is what we are called to do. God encourages us to never be afraid to question or examine the words of others. We are to hold them up to the sound guidance of scripture where truth and lies are easily seperated.

So do not be afraid to seek and speak the truth, the whole truth. In doing so you will be one step closer to living the life you seek. Possess what you profess, for the truth will set you free.

RefRev

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"God always gives his best to those who leave the choice to him."
                                        - Jim Elliot

The Cross is My Anchor!

A Roman philosopher once said, “The art of living is more like wrestling than dancing.” I think I would have to agree because it seems I grapple more than tango through the days of my life. I often feel that my days spring forth with more challenges than moments of celebration. Yet, I know I am not alone in in my view. Another wise Roman was a bit more specific in his assessment when he said “Life is warfare!”  Well, I don’t know if I would carry it that far but I would say life can be difficult and challenging. 

However, trying to build my philosophy of life on either one of these phrases would be depressing. I know life can be difficult but I want to enjoy it and I want it to have meaning. So let me suggest another phrase, one that carries some meat on its bones.

The cross is my anchor! These words are translated from a Latin phrase I often use in e-mails and writings I send to friends. It reminds me my life is anchored in the Cross of Christ and all it stands for.


Carrying one’s cross has nothing to do with a servile submission to difficulty or disaster. It has nothing to do with a passive resignation to the pain and difficulties we all face in this life. Instead, it has everything to do with a joyful abandonment to doing the will of God. Fulfilling the will of God in our lives always involves putting the concerns of God’s kingdom before the pursuit of our own passions, security, possessions, status, or power.  The Cross of Christ is our constant reminder that we are to seek God’s will in our daily lives, just as Jesus did in his life. The world regards this as a foolish way to live life. People we know may even challenge us over the wisdom of our beliefs. They may regard the cross as a symbol of weakness. However, our daily lives can testify to the power of the cross and all that it stands for. 

In Hebrews 6:19 we read these powerful words, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. “ The verse refers to the certainty of God’s promises to us. God’s purpose and his promises are certain and our lives and hope are anchored in the cross, the ultimate symbol of his will. So we all can resonate with the phrase “the cross is my anchor.” May it always be and may we never forget.

RefRev

ReformedRev's Quote of the Day

"Christ is the candle that light's the way out of man's darkness."
                                   - William Gurnall

A Fool's Coat

In the scriptures Paul reminds us that we are not to be conformed to this world. Translation, we are not to compromise ourselves with the corrupt customs of our culture. We are to be different, or as Paul likes to say, “in the world but not of the world.” This is a task even the most dedicated believers struggle with.

The Puritan Minister, William Gurnall, echoed Paul’s reminder saying, “The Christian must not be such a complaint tailor as to cut the coat of his profession according to popular fashion.” Gurnall’s words are on target, even more so when we consider they were penned 1600’s.

“The coat of our profession” is a wonderful phrase. It’s like saying you are what you wear. It shows that we are not of this world but citizens of heaven. We therefore should be clothed in the garments of truth and not dressed in what is popular or the most current fashion. Popularity and fashions change about as often as the direction of the wind in Kansas.

It is difficult at times to stand out. Nonconformity is never trendy or popular. It is a difficult task to take a stand for truth, to choose to make decisions based on the word of God instead of what is popular. Yet many people struggle to stand up to the pressure to conform. They do not want to be labeled fools by those whom they view as more knowledgeable in worldly matters. They are afraid to be seen in what the world might call the fool’s coat. They choose, what we might describe as a self-tailored, yet fashionable, coat of conformity. A coat that is more stylish and colorful, more attractive to their pride. But in doing so, they turn their back on plainer yet more costly garment, the coat of truth. They have exchanged the truth of the scriptures for the praise and customs of the world. As Gurnall would say they “lose heaven because they are ashamed to go there in a fool’s coat.”

Truth is not always popular or fashionable. Truth is often difficult to discover and even more difficult to embrace. Individuals or our culture may seek to redefine truth based on their perceived needs, what is comfortable for them, or the opinion of a specific group.  However, truth is not based on the opinion of an individual or the group, or even a custom or fade. Truth is found in and based upon the word of God. To many this might be “a fool’s coat,” but to those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ it is, and will always be, in style. 

RefRev