Living in light of eternity

  Amy Carmichael lived in the first half of the 20th century.  She was an Irish Christian missionary in India who served for 55 years without furlough and wrote 35 books about the missionary work. She was famously quoted as saying, “I’d rather burn out than rust out.” As it turns out, George Whitfield, the famous revivalist in the 18th century, was the first to express this sentiment when he said, “I would rather wear out than rust out.” He preached over 18,000 formal sermons over a span of 33 years.   Both are excellent examples of commitment to the cause of Christ over the long haul.  They had nothing good to say about rusting out. Rusting out is not a good look for Christians.  The Christian life certainly can be very challenging.  It would be very easy to burn out or wear out in the service of the Lord. But there is no place for rusting out. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow wear...

“You are so heavenly minded you are no earthly good.”   Have you ever heard this phrase?   Is there any legitimacy to it?   Can a person have his head in the clouds in such a way that he is ineffective with the everyday responsibilities of life?   I suppose so.   But what about the opposite?   Can a person be so worldly minded that they are no heavenly good? Certainly.   I think I see a lot more earthly- minded people than heavenly- minded.   And what does the Scripture say about this.   Quite a bit.   Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first p...

  Have you found how easily we are distracted from pure devotion to Christ?   Every day we are bombarded with urgent demands on our time and energy.   These demands may be urgent, but are they important? Have we neglected the most important thing, our relationship with Christ?   And what is the result? By focusing on the wrong things, we become worried and bothered about many things.   This reality was pictured in Luke chapter 10. Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus were some of Jesus’ closest friends (John 11:5).   Martha had invited Jesus into her home and was preparing a meal for Him.   Let’s pick up the story in Luke 10:38-42 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister...

  Sometimes it’s good to reflect on your life.   As I’ve considered my years before I received Christ, there are many things I regret.   One of my most serious regrets is my competitive spirit.   You see, I loved playing with my younger brother.   I loved competing with Gordy.   When little, we would spend countless hours playing games of all sorts- action games, war games, and board games.   He was three years younger than me. Considering the age differential, it’s not surprising I won most of the time.   I loved winning.   I loved the feeling you get when you best someone.   My regret is that I rarely considered how it might have made Gordy feel.   I valued the competition over the relationship.   That is my big regret.   This spirit of competition has continued to haunt me.   As a Christian I’ve honestly wondered how to integrate it with my walk with Christ.   Does the bible have anything to say to us who st...

  In his book, “The Teaching Techniques of Jesus” Herman Harrell Horne, an expert in educational theory, states that Luke 15 is the most perfect parable ever constructed.    That’s not surprising.    It was given by the most perfect person.    You are probably familiar with The Prodigal Son. That’s the final section of three parts- the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. The religious leaders of the day had a serious problem.    They could not understand Jesus.    They continually asked Him,  “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?” They could not comprehend why He would fellowship with unbelievers.    They probably were concerned that the attitudes and actions of the sinner would rub off on them.    This was not an issue for the Lord Jesus.    He was impervious to their negative influence.    He brought light into the darkness, not the other way around. ...

  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls . “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30) “Come to me.” Jesus beckons all who are weary to come to Him.  What a comforting thought.  Those of us who are weary and heavy-laden- and that includes us all.  Life can certainly be wearisome.  The burdens we often carry are too much for us.  Jesus understood the plight of the human condition.  He has a solution.  He promises rest for those who are weary.  What a wonderful promise.  What burdens do we carry?  Certainly, the burden of sin and guilt is a huge one.  Who among us does not recognize our sin and moral failure?  The burden of sin is the universal experience of the human heart. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God , (Ro 3:23) Certainly, Jesus ...

  Remember those days as a teenager?  When most people existed in cliques- students who hung out together and did most things in the context of their group?  This was our social world, so to speak.  Some of us existed in only one clique, others had the capacity to jump from one clique to another.  I always admired those who were versatile like that, and I wondered how they did it. Did they stay true to who they are or were? Or were they like the chameleon who could change his color to match his surroundings?  Did they sacrifice something in order to fit in?  If you are familiar with 1 Corinthians chapter 9 you may wonder if the Apostle Paul was a chameleon when he said, " I have become all things to all men”  A careful reading of the text proves otherwise. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as unde...