Things Will Always Go Well

To be one of God’s children means to have an eternal Father bestowed upon you by adoption, through no merit of your own, for the purpose of the Father’s glory. It also means that things will always go well for you for the rest of your life.

Yes – things will always go well for you if you’re a child of God.

How can I say that? Am I getting all “best-life-now” on you guys this morning? Nope. The truthfulness of this statement is not dependent upon semantics, but perspective. God’s perspective is far superior to our own impotent, sin-marred, self-centered perspective. And God has told us something very important about our life’s events: no matter how difficult, how confusing, or how painful things may be, they were allowed by God, and…

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28

No matter how badly things may go, things are going well for us. That’s such a difficult concept for us to grasp, but thankfully God’s wisdom is not squelched by our limited capacities.

We can allow this truth to manifest in our lives and in our hearts and by God’s grace, within the most difficult situations, we can trust our loving Father, knowing that He has an ultimate plan that is perhaps well above our understanding. We can embrace our weaknesses, for as the LORD has told us, “…my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

My prayer for each of us (and for myself) is that our circumstances will not dictate our joy nor our trust in God. Through Christ we have affirmation that God is working things out for our good, for His glory.

May we all be able to join Paul in saying:

For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. –2 Corinthians 12:10

Thank God

One thing that drives me crazy is that no matter what I'm doing, I could always be doing *more*. Do you ever feel that way? It's a pain because it imparts a sense of impotence on one's soul, even in the face of progress.

Thank God that we could never do enough to merit His favor; thank God that Someone has already done that for us.

He Must Do What?

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it. -Mark 8:34-35

I think I've figured out what Jesus is saying in this verse.

I think He's saying that if we want to be His disciples, we have to deny ourselves and follow Him.

We have to stop acting spoiled, stop insisting on comfort, stop demanding our rights, and stop being consume with *temporal* concerns.

We have to deny ourselves. It flies in the face of our culture and our hard-wiring.

But - as the text says - IF we're to follow Him, we MUST.

Literally?

I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.

-Matthew 25:45



How many times have you read this verse, or had it taught to you? How many sermons have you heard which used this scripture?

I've heard and read this, many times. I usually get the same moral out of it: we are to regard the less-fortunate among us as if they were Jesus Himself. When we read this scripture, it's supposed to remind us that we are to be sensitive to the lowly; generous to the poor; sympathetic to the downtrodden.

But wait...if you really think about it...we are to regard the less-fortunate among us as if they were Jesus Himself?

Sure, you can take that as a sort of "symbolic" lesson. But really, is that how Jesus means it? Or does He mean it to be a literal commandment for you to care for the homeless man at the subway...the neighbor who has cancer...the mentally impaired boy at the bowling alley...the relative who is poor and needy...the sex slave in Thailand...the orphan in Africa...as if they were God Himself?

If you saw Jesus the Christ, the God and Savior of the world, in need and begging on a street corner, filthy and hungry...what wouldn't you do for Him?

What if He means it literally?

Getting It

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God".

-Luke 9:61-62


This is an intriguing piece of scripture. Seems a bit harsh for Jesus to reply in such a manner, no?

What do you think this person thought when Jesus replied in such a way? Perhaps something like this:

"Sheesh! I just told Jesus I was going to forsake my own plans and follow him. All I want to do is go say bye to my family, and he doesn't have the courtesy to let me do that!?"

If we're honest with ourselves, though...we sometimes treat God like this.

God has saved us, but we'll obey when and where it's convenient. God has commanded us to do something, but we'll do it "when/after/once/as soon as" - and we decide to obey His command on our own terms.

At first glance, this scripture can be a bit of a struggle. At least for me it can be. It seems like Christ is being a bit "unreasonably" harsh. Not fit for the kingdom of God, because he wants to go back and bid his family farewell?

This is one of those scriptures you need to "think on" a bit. And here's what I think.

The person Jesus is speaking with doesn't "get it". Had he realized the hugeness of the situation he was in the middle of, he wouldn't have been thinking about saying goodbye to his family. He would have been awestruck, focuses solely on the Savior. Running toward Him. Forsaking everything else in full realization that he had found the one true treasure of eternity.

The modern equivalent? Those who are Christians, who follow Jesus, but don't give Him everything. They say, "Lord, I'm yours! But I want to keep this...this...and, that thing too. I'll hang onto those".

No! If you "get it", none of those other things matter! You've found the true treasure of eternity! Don't look back!

Are You a Parent?

I am. And a fairly new one, at that.

The amount of love I have for my son cannot be quantified in words. The only way I can attempt to describe it is to say that when I became a father, I was given new emotions that I'd never felt before (and plenty of them).

When I'm away from him, I think about him constantly. I ignore after-work errands so I can get home to him more quickly.

His well-being so captivates my mind that I have developed an anxiety issue which is in some respects a result of my worrying that something might happen to him.

Do you know that feeling?

The thought of harm coming to my son is the worst earthly thought I can imagine. That I would willingly allow harm to come to him is unthinkable.

Do those thoughts ever cross your mind?

God reminds me of His love for us through this avenue.

The God of this universe allowed His beloved son to go through the most terrible form of execution this world had to offer. Willingly. For us.

(inhale......exhale......)

Truly, an unimaginable love He has for us.

-G

Temporal, Defined

tem*por*al

[tem-per-uhl, tem-pruhl]

-adjective

enduring for a time only; temporary; transitory (opposed to ETERNAL)

Trust

Love the Way of the Master Minute today...

"The Christian is told that he understands 'by faith.' For instance, if we have major surgery, we trust the surgeon even though we have no real understanding of how he is going to operate on us. We have to trust him or there will be no operation. We understand that he has the ability to make us well, so we choose to have faith in him and his abilities. In the same manner, we trust God. Many have died at the hands of surgeons, but no one perishes who places himself or herself in the hands of God. His ability is boundless and His promises are "an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast."( Hebrews 6:19) Doctors and pilots will fail you, friends you trust will disappoint you, elevators will let you down, but the promises of Almighty God are utterly trustworthy."

Spurgeon Truth

"I have known some few hardened wretches, who passed out of the world, as they had lived, in open rebellion against God, and who to the last, therefore, despised religion; but, generally, I have found that the scoffer changes his tone when death approaches. “Send for someone to visit me,” is his cry then. “For whom shall we send? Shall it be John, the swearer?” “Oh no! send for John, the praying man; I should like him to pray over me. Or send for the minister.” “But why don’t you ask for your old companions? You used to say that they were the jolliest fellows, they were the merriest men you ever met. You know there is no such place as heaven or hell, for you often said so when in their company. Many a glass have you quaffed with them; why not have another before you die?” Ah! such companions as these will not do for him now; and that fact proves the honour which such a man, at last, puts upon the Christian." - Charles Spurgeon

"Blessed are those who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied." - Luke 6:20-21

Contrast the Lord's words above with what He says in verses 24-25:

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry." -Luke 6:24-25

Poor and hungry or rich and well fed. Which would you rather be?

Poor and hungry. At the heart of those words, what do they mean? If you're poor and hungry, you recognize that you have a need. If you're wealthy, you can't honestly ask God to "Give us this day our daily bread". But if you're dirt poor? Yes, you can sincerely and honestly rely on God, each day, for your bread. If you're hungry, you have a need, and you recognize it. How many of you have ever, when you're really hungry, decided you liked the way it feels? If offered food, would you say, "No thanks, I'm good and hungry". You have a need, a real need, and you recognize it.

Rich and well fed. What do those adjectives indicate? The word "rich" here means "abounding in wealth". Like, really rich. No material worries in the world. Well fed means you never have to feel hungry. You can completely rely on yourself for material goods, food, shelter...anything you want or need. Rich and well fed indicates self-reliance. The feeling that, "I've attained everything I need to be safe, sound, and secure". Your life's work has been to be self-sufficient, and that is your reward. You have no "needs" you can point to.

Blessed are those who recognize they have a need for a Savior! Blessed are they!

But woe unto those who scoff at the Savior, puffed up with pride, as if they are their own god!

Poor and hungry or rich and well fed. Which would you rather be?

-G

Quick Thought

God made men, and God made women. He made them different.

This is to be celebrated, not hated and downplayed. Are you a man? Well, then be a man. Are you a women? BE a woman, just like God made you to be.

Don't let this backward, evil world shame you into believing otherwise.

-G

Plug the Leak

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place." -Revelation 2: 4-5 (emphasis mine)

Stay up there, my friends. Don't fall from the heights. Stay in the Word. Once the Spirit makes the Word real to your heart, grab onto it, clutch it, and hold on for dear life.

It's your shield, your parachute, and your vessel.

We're like boats out on the sea. A small hole in the floor of the boat might not be noticed at first, and can easily be ignored for a while.

Worldly things leak in...slowly...discreetly...innocently.

Unless the situation is handled, there's only one fate for a vessel, out at sea, with a hole in it.

So don't wait. Don't let apathy rule the day. That's from the enemy.

Plug the leak!

-G

Primary Focus

Here's a profound quote by Francis Chan I recently came across:

“Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.”

Anyone else wake up one day to realize that something other than God has become the primary recipient of your limited energy and brain-power? (Shhh...don't say the "I" word...)

When it happens, it's startling. It happened to me, recently. I woke up one day and realized that I devote a significant amount of time and energy to business, sales, and acquiring money. And by "significant", I mean, excessive.

Perhaps it's because my wife is now a stay-at-home-mom, and I'm a 26 year old with a 1 year old at home and a bit of an anxiety issue. Perhaps it's the sense of "security" it gives me to acquire money; it makes me feel like I'm protecting my family and "doing my job as a man". Seriously...I have to ask myself...is that a joke? Am I playing a joke on myself?

Don't get me wrong, it's good to provide security for your family, and to be financially stable. But when it crosses over to the realm of "need", as in, you "need" to have money to feel secure...well, that's not OK. Security comes from God, not some stupid little thing like money. God provides and protects. God gives wealth and takes it away. If God trusts you with money, do you think it's prudent to allow that money to become your focus? No, not for a Christian. Seek FIRST the Kingdom. God will not stand for anything other than Him to be the focus of one of his chosen children.

Some time ago, at my church, the pastor said something to the effect of:

"Your primary focus in life is what you think about when you're not prompted to do so."

That stuck with me, and I'm glad it did. If that "primary focus" is not God, something's off.

-G

Thank you, God

It's been over a year since I've written on this blog. Lately, Regarding Eternity has been on my mind. Why? Not sure.

So much has changed since my last post. I feel strange just jumping back in, after not posting for over a year. But who cares? I think God wants me to. So I will.

I'm realizing that my blog was more than just ramblings of mine, it was actually a form of worship. And lately, God has been doing things to me. Calling me closer to Him. Clearing things up for me. Showering grace on me. And through many avenues, including the adventure of being a father myself, He is making His truths more and more real to me.

So hey, for what it's worth, there will be more worship coming from Regarding Eternity.

-G

Correction

A headline today:

"Congress sent legislation to the White House Friday granting the federal government unprecedented authority to regulate and restrict cigarettes, the single largest cause of preventable death."

The single largest cause of preventable death?

I beg to differ.

400,000 tobacco-related deaths per year in the USA.
1,300,000 abortions per year in the USA.

-G

Today's Game Plan

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;


and lean not unto thine own understanding.


In all thy ways acknowledge Him,


and he shall direct thy paths.

Food for Thought

If God would have wanted us to live in a permissive society He would have given us Ten Suggestions and not Ten Commandments.

-Zig Ziglar

Someday...

How many things made you sad yesterday? Or mad? Or even a little agitated, uneasy, anxious, worried, or confused?

Today is only half-over. How many awkward, unhappy, or high-pressure feelings have had already today?

Here's a happy thought to take along with you for the rest of your day:
Those thoughts & feelings are temporary. They only exist right now, in this life.

One day, this life will be a memory. And those thoughts & feelings won't exist.

Only perfection & happiness, in His presence.

Christian friend, what a blessed eternity is waiting for us!

Cookie Jar

It's funny how, if you get too excited-or-giddy-or-anxious-or-impatient over something you want, God will remind you that it really isn't that important, in the big picture. The things of this world aren't really that important, Regarding Eternity -- if you will.

God loves to keep His childrens' eyes on the prize. It's up to us to be "outside of ourselves" enough to realize that the frustration we feel after our plans are thwarted (or delayed) is selfish, and not unlike the frustration a 5-year-old feels when his father swats his hand away from the cookie jar.

Man, I'm always learning. What a Teacher.

-G

At Work?

I'm at work today. You?

Does your brain ever go into "big picture mode", like mine does? I have often thought, "It's curious that so much of man's life is spent working in order to survive." Seems a little odd, doesn't it? Do you work more than you sleep during the week?

To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.

It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field.

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."

-Genesis 3:17-19

This is just another product of Adam's original sin, and the "old nature" that we all struggle against.

The same condition separates us from God. Only Christ's offering can bridge the gap, and wash us free of that "old nature" that we inherited from Adam. Praises to Him!

Enjoy your day at work, friends.

-G