Monday, December 26, 2011

Crossing Over

In John 5:24 Jesus speaks of ‘crossing over from death to life’.  How often it is that we limit the application of that particular Scripture to only our conversion experience … when we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, dying to self in order to gain new life in Christ.

But let us consider the powerful effect this passage would have on us if only we would apply it to the additional areas of our lives that are in need of a touch by the Christ.  Let me give you an example that may bring this home for you …
Let us consider someone you know who struggles with an addiction … maybe it’s even you.  Of course, the first ‘addictions’ that typically come to mind involve the consumption of alcohol and drugs but consider also the addictions that invade our lives as we shop, or work, or as we respond to the God given pleasures of sex.  Further consider, if you will, that casual chance of gambling or even the everyday need to eat.  And what about those folks who struggle with ‘secret’ addictions like those who clean only to think that more cleaning needs to be done … or those who struggle to be perfectionists in everything they do, those who allow worry and fear to rule their lives or even the person who obsesses to control every situation that arises in their lives. 

How often these ordinary events of life take on lives of their own … slowly but surely becoming addictions that bring death to the very spirit that God has placed inside of us.  No longer are we filled with the peace that God planned for our life for now we are being controlled by something that is not of God.  As the journey turns us away from the light of Christ, true joy fades … often allowing the darkness of depression, fears and frustrations to enter us …  all the while leaving us very little room for hope.
Yes, the truth is that each of us are susceptible to the cruelty of addictions but when you extend John 5:24 beyond your conversion experience you find that God, in all His infinite wisdom, realizes fully the schemes of the enemy and through His mercies provides us the hope of being able to cross over from the imposed death sentence of addictions to the freedom that is possible in a life lived out with Christ.

So ok … we can clearly see the multiple pools of darkness that all of us are susceptible to … and the need that so many of us have to escape the quicksand that we’ve fallen into … but how in the world do we cross over from this type of death to a life that is free of the captivity of obsessions?
In one word … Jesus.  He is the answer to ever question ever asked and every issue that we’ve ever come up against.  In John 14:6 Jesus tells us “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” … beyond all the head knowledge (which in and of itself is necessary) beyond the feelings (which often serve to toss us to and fro) beyond all the effort we put out to manage the world around us … there we will find this Jesus who will reveal to us the truth.  There, if we allow Him, He will provide hope and peace and unconditional love.  So willing … so able … to move mightily in our lives … if only we would give Him permission to.  If only we would seek Him in our moment of need and surrender our own worldly desires over to Him.

Easy enough to say … but we’ve been trained up to feed our fleshly desires … surely we shouldn’t have to go without something that we ‘really’ want … something that brings us pleasure?
That, my friends, is a lie from the pit of hell.  Those are the chains that bind us and hold us captive.  How embarrassing it is to see myself stomping my feet … wanting to have my own way … having a childlike tantrum so that I can fulfill my fleshly desires without having to consider the spiritual consequences. 

Is the Light beginning to shine for you … as it did for me?  Has the idol that you’ve created before God been exposed as mine has been?
The path of righteousness (life) leads to a place of holiness (true peace).  It’s a journey … and we have the choice to walk away from this side of death and cross over to Light and Life.  Oh, don’t get me wrong … we can’t get there without Jesus … in and of ourselves we will fail every time … but with unconditional surrender of our own selfish desires, our faith will grow into stepping stones that build a road that will allow us to cross over to true peace.  Freedom FOREVER when our heart unites with His.

Psalm 119:105 tells us that ‘He is the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path’
Psalm 23:6 tells us that “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”  

I don’t know about you but I could never ask for anything more than that!
Father God, thank You for Your Divine Revelation that brought me into the Light and Life of Jesus.  Full dependency on Him is an awesome thing to behold and I thank You from the bottom of my heart for it.  I pray now Father, in the name that is above all name, Jesus the Christ, that you will go forth and reveal this and more to those who need the freedom of everyday addictions as I did.  Expose and exercise within us the Truth that will set us free indeed.
Amen and amen.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Beside The Still Waters

As my day began, the Lord put one person after another on my heart.  My dad, who passed away 31 years ago today, lead the group but he was joined in spirit by friends, co-workers and family members … all who are in need of a touch from Jesus.  It was then that I heard the Lord whisper in my ear to remind me that “He leadeth me beside the still waters”. 

Well, you don’t have to ask me twice … immediately I went to Him and found myself in a place where He provided refreshment for my soul… peace as I escaped from the chaos of this world … and hope for what is yet to come.
In His presence all issues faded away.  I cared not about the stock market  nor what the doctor’s report was for my friend nor about the destructive choices that are being made by more and more people of this world … no, my ONLY desire was to sit closely enough to Him that I could feel the warmth of His body and hear the beating of His heart. 

Refreshed and comfortable I listened to His words of love.  His kindness melted away every barrier that I ever built up to keep the world out.  Soon, an eagerness swelled within me to let others know about the incredible possibilities that exist when you sit quietly with Him by the still waters.  Indescribable joy fills you and I just can’t keep it to myself … so I asked the spirits of those He put on my heart to join us there.  Lifted from sick beds they came … out of pits of loneliness they ran … a few turned from the valley of the shadow of death to be by His side … there was even one who entered His rest rather than the door of their doctor’s office. 
Blessed are those who seek Him.
Blessed are those who surrender to His goodness.
Blessed are those who gather with Him and are restored in body, soul and spirit.

Father God, thank You for providing for a way of escape from the struggles that are of this world.  Thank You for the perfect plan that is Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.  May all who join Him by the still waters be refreshed, renewed and saturated with hope.  I pray this, Father, in His Holy Name.
Amen and amen

Revelation …

I recently watched a movie that depicted the life of the Apostle John as he endured his time in exile on the Island of Patmos.  As the movie unfolded it wasn’t long before I realized how easy it has been to read in passing about John’s journey in the pages of history without ever truly attempting to comprehend the stark realities of the abusive conditions that he had to endure.

Like John, each of us, in one way or another, have been on a journey through a place that can easily resemble Patmos.  A place where you feel overwhelmed and alone … where it seems like you’re unable to take on one more stone from the quarry … where you must cry out to God for mercy for as my mother use to say … “enough is enough”!

But praise to this everlasting God of mercy for He IS in control … and like John, our saving grace is the revelation that comes as the light of Jesus reveals truth that brings us to our knees.  He is our hope.  He is our only hope.

Chills overcame me when in the movie John fell to his face in utter helplessness when he first gazed upon the face of the glorified Christ.  All who have ever lived will follow John’s lead … without exception, ALL people WILL realize the purity and power of the light of Christ and without exception ALL people – devout Christians who willingly serve Him or those who choose now to go their own way - WILL bend their knee as they succumb to His greatness. 

In the meantime, we are able to endure whatever conditions come our way if we are willing, as John was, to go to Him and seek revelation.  In John’s willingness, Jesus revealed to him the plan that unfolds the ultimate glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ … and, if willing, the revelation that awaits us … even in the here and now … promises to be nonetheless powerful and effective. 

Are you ready … and willing … for the Lord to shine His light into your life?  Psalm 46:10 tells us to ‘Be still and know that I am God’.  Where better than on an isolated island are we able to sit quietly in His presence and relinquish all control over to Him.  Endless beauty of God’s Spirit awaits us as we seek the Light of Christ, and choose freedom … and joyfully give thanks for the revelation that is possible only through the Revelation that is Christ Himself.

Father God, as each of us draws nearer to you I pray, in Jesus’ name, that you will fill us with Your Spirit and reveal all the goodness that is possible to us in and through Your Son, Jesus Christ. 
Amen and amen