Living in light of eternity

  I have always loved Track and Field.   I loved it when I ran track.   I loved it when my son ran track.   He was much better than I was.   He ran the 400-meter hurdles.   That is a tough one.   I ran sprints.   I have never been much for endurance.   Maybe it was my short stature or lung capacity.   Maybe I just lacked fortitude.   I have always been the kind of person who loves to work hard for short periods of time.   Unfortunately, I have learned the Christian life is not a sprint, it is an endurance race. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)   ὑπομονή, ῆς, ἡ ( ὑπομένω )- the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance [1] Endurance is a primar...

  Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.   (Heb 12:13-14)   The writer of Hebrews offers some sound advice for all of us.   He tells us to strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.   You will notice that he assumes there will be weak hands and feeble knees.   Trials and tribulations are a certainty in this life.   Jesus told us, “in the world you have tribulation” (Jn 16:33b).   The issue is not one of avoidance, it’s one of healing.   The joints that give us trouble can easily go from bad to worse, if not treated.   So, what exactly is the writer of Hebrews referring to?   What might these ailments represent?   The beginning of the chapter gives a good clue:   Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us...

  I was reading in Proverbs chapter three the other day and noticed an interesting promise in verse thirty-two.…   “for one who goes astray is an abomination to the Lord , but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright.” (Prov 3:32, The NET Bible)   I was wondering what the meaning of “intimate counsel” might be.   It sounded interesting.   If there is a way to feel closer to God, I wanted to know about it. So, I looked in the footnotes of the NET Bible and here is what I found: tn Heb “his counsel.” The noun סוֹד ( sod ) can refer to (1) “intimate circle” of friends and confidants, (2) “confidential discussion” among friends and confidants, or “secret counsel” revealed from one confidant to another and kept secret and (3) relationship of “intimacy” with a person (BDB 691 s.v.; HALOT 745 s.v.). [1]   It appears that there may be an “inner circle” of friends with God.   If there is, how can I get in?   The secret of the Lord is...

  “To whom much is given, much is required” This saying reminds us of two vitally important truths: 1.   Everything we have is from God. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1 Cor 4:7) 2.   We will be evaluated by God for how we use what He has given us. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required (Lk 12:48) God has bestowed wonderful gifts and abilities.   Life itself is a gift.   Our families and friends are a gift.   Our physical and intellectual abilities vary according to God’s sovereign design for each person (Ps 139).   Certainly, our spiritual gifts are distributed as God decrees. (Ro 12:6) Some may say, “I’ve worked hard for what I have.”   Doesn’t that ability to work hard and that opportunity come from above? Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of...

  It is comforting to know that God has ordained the affairs of men so that “What goes around comes around.” I have been frustrated of late by what appears to be a steady increase of injustice. He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8) There seems to be a cultural drift away from biblical ethics and morality, and I feel helpless to do anything about it. It’s comforting to know that the LORD will ultimately do something about it and has already done something . God’s justice prevails.   In this fallen world, He has established the principle of “sowing and reaping.”   Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  (Gal 6:7) Throughout Scripture this principle is often repeated.   Whatever a man plants will eventually bring a harvest- either a harvest of righteousness or a harvest of wickedness. ...

  Timothy, the young pastor, faced many challenges in leading his fledgling congregation. One issue was especially troubling.    There was an obvious disparity of wealth among the members.    The Apostle Paul gives some great advice to this young pastor: Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share , storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Tim 6:17-19, NASB95)   You can see that Paul has been greatly influenced by Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.   When he says, “storing up for themselves the treasure…” it reminds us of Mt 6:19-21, where Jesus said:   “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, an...

  “You have heard that it was said, ‘ You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Mt 5:43-45, NASB95) We are to be like our Father in heaven.   We are to love our enemies just as He loves the unrighteous.   But how do we know He loves with this kind of love?   He has demonstrated His kindness and grace in the world He has created for us.   The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard. (Ps 19:1-3, NASB95) Creation itself speaks to us of the glory of God.   His divine nature is seen in all that He has made.   For sinc...