The Simple Truth

Jesus' Return

No doubt you heard about Harold Camping's recent prediction that the rapture would occur last Saturday (5/21/2011) - he has since adjusted his time line by five months to October 21, 2011.  Last Friday (5/20) as I drove around listening to various talk show programs and everyone was talking about judgment day May 21.  Most were making fun of Camping's prediction.  As I listened I experienced a myriad of emotions - sadness, anger, embarrassment, hopefulness.  Needless to say Dr. Camping was wrong again (he tried this once before in 1994) and we're still here and so I felt compelled to write a blog post sharing some thoughts about these recent events....

• It's folly to try and predict the exact moment of Jesus' return. God tells us in his word that no one knows (Matthew 25:13). 
• People who wrongly speculate about the date of Jesus' return give ammunition to those who scoff at the notion of a rapture or 2nd coming.  We do damage to the cause of Christ when we wrongly interpret scripture and make claims even Jesus wouldn't make. However, the scoffers have been around since the days of the early disciples.  In fact this is one of the signs that his return is near (2 Peter 3:4). 
• Part of me was really sad that Harold Camping was wrong.  I'd love to see him return today. There is a crown of righteousness that awaits those who love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).  If Jesus' return makes you nervous or you don't want to see it happen, you might want to do a heart check.
• As fantastical as it may seem the Bible clearly speaks about a day when Jesus will return. We may not know the day, or hour, but it will happen (I Thes. 4:16-17; I Cor. 15:50-52; Rev 19)
• While we cannot know the exact date or time of Jesus' return we can observe certain occurrences in history and culture that show us the time may be drawing near.  When is Jesus coming back? Study what it was like in the times of Noah (Matt. 24:37). Study what it was like in the days of Lot (Luke 17:28). Watch the Nation of Israel (parable of fig tree - Mt. 24:32-33).  Look at the characteristics of the "last days" (2 Tim. 3:1-4)

While we didn't hear the trumpet sound last Saturday we know that one day it will. As believers we should live in light of that day. Don't let it overtake you as a thief in the night. Diligently serve Him with your life so that you are not ashamed at His appearing.  As I said earlier, I'm a little sad that Harold Camping wasn't right. The older I get, and the longer I walk with the Lord, the more my attitude becomes like that of John in Revelation 22:20 "...Even so, come, Lord Jesus"

Fear of God

This week we are wrapping up our "Fear Factor" series where we've dealt some of life's biggest fears.  We are going to conclude it all by talking about fearing God. I know, not the most popular of topics but one that is so important to our spiritual health.  I'm really excited about Sunday - it's going to be a wonderful service. I hope you'll join us. I'm asking God to blow apart the boxes into which we try and place Jesus. I want us to have a new understanding of who Jesus really is.  An understanding that drives us to our knees in awe and reverence of Him.  Please join me in this prayer. Even if Harold Camping is right, and tomorrow (May 21st) is the Rapture, we'll still have a new understanding of who Jesus is come Sunday morning. Either way my prayer is that our Jesus boxes get blown up.  See Sunday, if not before in heaven!

20/20 Life

Spring is upon us and for me that means time to mow the grass. I actually enjoy working in the yard but the Spring is rough when it comes to mowing. The grass looks great (nice and green) but it grows so stinkin' fast and has to be cut twice a week - oh my aching back!  I mowed on Monday and had six huge yard bags full of grass clippings.  I take great pride in keeping my grass looking good. In fact, I would say I have the perfect 20/20 yard - from 20 feet away and moving at 20 miles per hour, it looks perfect. At that distance and speed you can't see the dandelions, clover, crabgrass, and other miscellaneous weeds that are scattered throughout the yard.  If you take the time to slow down and move in a little closer, you would see that its not quite as nice as it appeared at first.  Of course I could work to get rid of the weeds, but that would require extra effort. I'd rather mask their presences and just mow them down so they blend in with the other grass. After all appearances are what really count anyway.

Do you have a 20/20 life?  Do you make a special effort to keep moving fast, all the while keeping people at a distance so they don't see the weeds (sin) in your life.  Do you keep up appearances and do your best to have the weeds blend in with the rest of the grass?  It's time to stop putting on appearances and start pulling weeds.  Get honest with yourself and acknowledge that the weeds exist. Get down and dirty and start pulling the weeds through confession to God and confession to another spiritual brother or sister.  If we will make this effort we will start to experience the true benefit of the weedless life. God's fruit will be able to thrive and bring forth abundantly. If we leave the weeds in our life they will choke out the work God desires to do in our heart.  Don't give the weeds another moment of growth. Pull them out by the roots today.

Significance!

God is calling you to a life of significance.

Significance does not equal grandiose. Significance = obedience.  It's human nature to equate significance with size.  When we hear God is calling me to significance we imagine stadiums of people coming to hear us speak, monuments being constructed in our honor, books being written about us, or millions of lives being touched with the gospel message because of our efforts.  Maybe that is what God has in store for you, but probably not.  However, if you are obedient to what God has asked you to do it is of no less significance than what Moses did when he lead a couple of million Jews out of slavery, what David did when he slew Goliath, or what Nehemiah did when he rebuilt the wall in Jerusalem.   You may say, "I only run the nursery in our church. There's nothing glamorous or significant about changing dirty diapers all morning." But if that is what God has called you to do, and you responded obediently and done it faithfully, then it is significant.  

For every Moses, David, Nehemiah, Billy Graham, or Rick Warren there are thousands, if not millions, of faithful servants whose names we will never know this side of glory. God is calling you to significance. Obediently answer His call upon your life and you'll soon find yourself living  a life of significance.

Overcoming the Fear of Failure

Fear causes us to do one of two things: 1) Flee, or 2) Freeze.  That is certainly true when it comes to the fear of failure.  We put ourselves out there, things don't go as planned, and we fall flat on our face. This type of failure causes us to flee from our dream and to become frozen in the comfort zone. We do all we can to avoid that type of hurt, disappointment, and failure once again.  As we contemplate moving form the safe confines of our comfort zone and to the danger laden prospects of significance, four huge fears flood our mind...

1. WHO AM I? (Exodus 3:11). As Moses considers once again answering God's call upon his life, he doesn't think he's the right man for the job.  He asks, "who am I?" He was a prince of Egypt. But he had conveniently forgotten this fact. You are a child of the King, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Christ. Have you forgotten this magnificent fact? Ultimately, Moses' focus is in the wrong place - on himself.  God says in verse 12 "I will be with thee".  God is the one doing the delivering, Moses is simply to be the obedient message deliverer.
2. WHO ARE YOU? (Exodus 3:13).  Who do I tell them sent me?  Are you really big enough to accomplish this task?  God says, "I AM".  He gives Moses the name "Yahweh" - the all emcompassing name of God.  This is a blank check answer from God.  What ever your need, I can supply.  I am big enough to do this thing.  Never lose sight of how big God really is.  If God calls you to do something trust that He is big enough to see it through.
3. OTHERS DON'T BELIEVE IN ME. (Exodus 4:1).  If you attempt anything significant in life you will face opposition. Don't allow the opinions of others to keep you from fulfilling God's call upon your life.  Stay the course and watch God do extraordinary things through ordinary you.  Give God the resources at your disposal and watch Him work miracles.
4. I DON'T BELIEVE IN MYSELF. (Exodus 4:10). Moses begins to degrade his own abilities - I don't speak well.  He doesn't think he has the tools to get the job done.  God answers this by saying, I made you the way you are.  God takes our weaknesses and turns them into strengths. He shows himself strong when we are weak.  

Don't allow the fear of failure to cause you to flee or become frozen in the comfort zone.  Don't make a god of comfort.  Significance is found outside the comfort zone when we obediently answer the call of God upon your life.