All posts by 5Q

The Cup

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“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”1

I have read that when Leonardo de Vinci was forty-three years old, Duke Ludovinco of Milan asked him to paint the dramatic scene of Jesus’ last supper with his disciples.

Working slowly and giving meticulous care to details, he spent three years on the assignment. He grouped the disciples into threes, two groups on either side of the central figure of Christ. Christ’s arms are outstretched. In his right hand, he holds a cup that was painted beautifully with marvelous realism.

When the masterpiece was finished, the artist said to a friend, “Observe it and give me your opinion of it.”

“It’s wonderful!” exclaimed the friend. “The cup is so real I cannot divert my eyes from it.”

Immediately Leonardo took a brush and drew it across the sparkling cup! He exclaimed as he did, “Nothing shall detract from the figure of Christ!”2

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please grant that nothing I ever do or say will ever detract from the beauty of Christ being seen in me. Help me always in all ways to reflect your glory. This I can only ever do with your help. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV).

2. Quoted from the Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations by Paul Lee Tan.

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Spiritual Blahs

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“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son [Jesus]. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”1

A Daily Encounter reader writes: “I have received Jesus as my Savior but after many years I feel like I am just going through the motions. I feel dead spiritually. I have great difficulty reading and understanding the Bible and can’t seem to pray. I feel like I’m in the middle of a thick sludge pool and can’t get out. Do other Christians feel this way? Will I go to heaven if Jesus comes back and I’m in this state? Is our salvation dependent only on our trust in Christ as our Savior—regardless of how we feel?”

“Dear Isabel,” (name changed), I wrote, “let me assure you that you are not alone in your struggle. Most Christians, including myself, and many of the great heroes of faith, go through what has been called a ‘dark night of the soul’ when God seems far away and all seems hopeless. Nor will you miss out on heaven because of the spiritual blahs.

“There can be many reasons for the ‘spiritual blahs.’ If one is under considerable stress at home or on the job for too long, has been physically ill for some time, has a chemical imbalance, or is generally bored with his work or life—any of these can cause relationships (including our relationship with God) to feel blah and distant. Also, if one is acting out in self-defeating ways or has unconfessed sin in his life—these too can cause a person to feel far from God.

“Super-charged repressed negative emotions are also a very common cause for barriers to come between ourselves, others, and God. These are usually caused by impaired relationships from the past—anywhere from early childhood to yesterday. The walls we build to block out our feelings of hurt, fear, and/or anger so we won’t have to face them also block out our warm, loving and positive feelings. Doing this can also be very damaging to our physical health. This is why the Bible teaches us to resolve all negative emotions and impaired relationships as quickly as possible.

“I would suggest that you have a thorough medical examination to make sure you don’t have a physical problem that needs attention or medication. If you are under considerable stress, see if there are some things you can change or drop altogether. I also suggest that you see a qualified Christian counselor and share with him or her exactly what you have shared with me so he or she can help you resolve your struggle. All of us need help at times like these.

“And even if you don’t feel like it, pray and tell God exactly how you feel. Ask him to help you discover the cause/s of your ‘spiritual blahs’ and to lead you to the help you need to overcome.

“Let me again assure you that if you have prayed and invited Jesus into your heart and life, no matter how you feel, remember that Jesus said, ‘I will never, never, never, never, never leave you or forsake you.’2 This is when you need to take God at his Word and not allow your feelings to control you.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have promised to always be with me no matter what. About my blahs I experience, please help me to see the cause of these and lead me to the help I need to overcome them so I can again feel close to you and the ones I love the most. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

For further help read, “How to Be Sure You’re a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

1. 1 John 5:11-13 (NIV).

2. Hebrews 13:5 (Paraphrase).

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Creativity in the Mature Years

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“The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.”1

I have read that “Studies show that older people who hold jobs from which they do not have to retire get along best. Those who have a chance to do something creatively after they retire get along second best. Those with less chance to do something creatively go down most quickly. The body is a closed unit with lots of energy in it. Unless the individual has a way to discharge the energy, he gets into difficulty, and the difficulty is sickness and death.”2

Remember that “Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel lying on his back on a scaffold when almost 90; Paderewski at 79 played the piano superbly; at 88 John Wesley preached every day; Tennyson, when 83, wrote Crossing the Bar. Booth Tarkington wrote sixteen novels after 60, some of them when he was almost totally blind. Benjamin Franklin went to France in the service of his country when 78, and wrote his autobiography when over 80.”3

Jerry Beavan, at age 90, is another man who is still living a very active and productive life. He has worked in various foreign countries for extended periods of time … has been a professor in both a Liberal Arts College and a Theological Seminary … has been involved in the American government process as a state and federal lobbyist … and has been a journalist and news commentator. For 15 years he worked with the Billy Graham team ending up as Director of Crusade Planning and Organization. Dr. Graham said of him, “Jerry Beavan is the architect of world evangelism as we know it today.” In his so-called retirement years Jerry has been able to develop a weekly email newsletter, “American News Commentary,” which discusses and explains current events in the light of historic Christian viewpoints. His comments are well worth reading. You can read his website blog at http://american-news.notlong.com/. To subscribe send a blank email to american_news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Speaking personally, I am currently 76 and admit that I have never been healthier in my life or more productive. And Carol, my proofreader, is 81 and is a very capable and excellent help for our work. Being actively involved in something to live for that is bigger than one’s self and big enough to die for is a great help for productive and fulfilling living for most, if not all, of one’s life.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you have a purpose for my life. Please help me to know what that purpose is, help me to get the training I need to sharpen my skills so that I can serve you more effectively and therein glorify your name all the days of my life. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Proverbs 16:31 (NKJV).
2. Dr. Ewald W. Busse, in Knight’s Treasury of Illustrations, p. 244.
3. Walter B. Knight, Ibid, p. 243.

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Hiding From God

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“Where can I go from your Spirit [God]? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. . . . If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.’”1

Roger Ray, a minister in Springfield, Missouri, told of a local physician who was driving between hospital calls one evening, exceeding the speed limit rather shamelessly in an attempt to make up for lost time. Suddenly a police car pulled up behind him and turned on the lights. Having some considerable experience in both speeding and getting caught, the doctor picked up his stethoscope and held it up for the policeman to see in hopes of communicating that he was on a medical emergency. Yet the police officer continued in pursuit with no regard to the physician’s signals. Once more the doctor waved his stethoscope in the air, this time more dramatically, in hopes of conveying the importance of his mission. But when the physician looked into his rear-view mirror to see whether the police officer got the message, he saw a smiling officer waving his own symbol of authority in the air—his revolver.

These are the “Oh-oh” experiences in life when we realize we’ve been caught red-handed. And sometimes I wonder if there are certain things I don’t do more from a fear of getting caught rather than wanting to do the right thing.

However, there’s one thing that is certain … no matter how hard I may try nor how much I try to fool myself, there’s no hiding from God. He sees all. He knows all. But he’s not waving his “heavenly revolver” at us nor is he out to get us to punish us for our sins, but rather to save us from punishing ourselves as a result of our sins—the wages of which are death—eternal death.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that no matter where I am, what condition I am in, or what I have done or have failed to do, you know exactly where I am and what condition I am in. Thank you, too, that you are pursuing me, not to punish me, but because you want me to come to you for forgiveness, healing, and wholeness. Help me to stop hiding and stop running except to run to your open, loving, and forgiving arms. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 139:7-8, 11-12 (NIV).

For further help read, “How to Be Sure You’re a real Christian Without Having to Be Religious” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian.

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Water of Life

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“Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’”1

Brett Blair shares how, some years ago in South America, a crew of Peruvian Sailors heading up the Amazon River came upon a strange sight. A Spanish ship was anchored off the coast, and as the Peruvians drew closer they saw that the Spaniards were in terrible physical condition. They looked the picture of death itself, their lips parched and swollen. They were dying of thirst.

“Can we help you?” shouted the Peruvians.

The Spaniards cried out, “Water! Water! We need fresh water!”

The Peruvian sailors, surprised at this request, told them to lower their buckets and help themselves.

The Spaniards, fearing they’d been misunderstood cried back, “No, no we need FRESH water!

But they received the same reply from the Peruvians to lower their buckets and help themselves. They finally did lower their buckets into the ocean waters and when they brought the buckets on deck they discovered to their amazement fresh water. There at the mouth of the Amazon river, anchored for days, too far from land to see the coast, but not too far from the mouth of the river, they had fresh water in abundance.2

How like the blessings of God. They surround us everywhere we look and are new every morning—and he and he alone has the water of life. As Jesus said, “Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life’”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for your endless blessings you surround me with every day and, above all, thank you for providing the water of eternal life. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 4:13-14 (NIV).

2. Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com

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The Measure of a Man

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“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven….”1

Some years ago the Raleigh, North Carolina, News & Observer published an article entitled: “How Do You Measure Up as a Man?” The article stated that some extensive research had been conducted on the 20th century standards for measuring a man. The criteria were quite interesting to say the least. They were as follows:

1. His ability to make and conserve money; 2. The cost, style and age of his car; 3. (This is my favorite) How much hair he has; 4. His strength and size; 5. The job he holds and how successful he is at it; 6. What sports he likes; 7. How many clubs he belongs to; 8. His aggressiveness and reliability.

Jesus Christ’s estimation of the measure of a man (and/or a woman) was in stark contrast. His values are as follows:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…those who mourn…the meek…those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…the merciful…the pure in heart…the peacemakers…those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”2

Hmm…I wonder how I measure up. Sobering thought!

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to evaluate my life not on the basis of what the world or others think or say, but on what you say in your Word, the Bible. And help me to live and love accordingly. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. See Matthew 5:1-12.

2. Ibid.

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Believing Is Seeing

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“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”1

When explorers from England first went to Australia they discovered some strange and wonderful animals not seen anywhere else in the world—animals such as the kangaroo, the koala (which isn’t a bear as it is often called), and the ornithorhynchus—a mammal that laid eggs, spent some time in water and some on land, had a broad, flat tail, webbed feet, and a bill similar to a duck (now known as the platypus).

When the explorers returned home, nobody would believe their story about the platypus. All felt it was a hoax. Even after they returned to Australia and brought back a pelt from this strange animal, people still felt it was a hoax and refused to believe it was real.2

Many people say, “I believe only what I see for myself.” That’s not necessarily true either because, by and large, people see and believe only what they want to see and believe—and refuse to see and believe all else—regardless of the evidence.

However, what I see and believe has absolutely no effect on what is. What is, is—whether I see and believe it or not. For instance, I’ve never seen an atom but I’ve seen (at least in pictures) the evidence of its incredible power and believe it is real. I live close to a nuclear power plant and can’t see the electric power it is generating, but its electricity is probably powering my computer on which I am typing this article right now. I can’t see the electricity but whether I believe it is real or not doesn’t affect its reality. It just is.

I’ve never seen God either but I see evidence of his presence and mighty power everywhere I look—I see and believe because I want and choose to believe. With God, as with many things in life, believing is seeing. Indeed, the heavens declare the glory of God. Believe it and you will see.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, open my eyes and help me to see the marvels of your creation, the majesty of your presence, the magnificence of your power and, above all, help me to see all the riches in Jesus Christ you have for me—including the gift of forgiveness and eternal life to live with you forever in heaven. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV).

2. www.eSermons.com.

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No Fear! Yeah, Right!

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“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.”1

The story is told about a baby bear “that wandered away from his mother in search of food. This was his first foray; so he was a little timid. A large, ferocious mountain lion spotted the baby bear and approached to attack. The baby bear, not knowing what else to do, reared up on his hind legs as he had seen his mother do this as a defense. Immediately, the mountain cat retreated; ran like he was scared to death. The baby bear, very proud of himself, continued foraying for food. What the mountain lion saw, and the baby bear didn’t know, was that the mother bear was behind the baby bear, rearing up on her hind legs, ready to attack the mountain lion.”2

No fear! Yeah. Right! Breathed the man with soul so dead who never to himself hath said, “I’m scared half to death.” Fear is a common plight of us all—unless we bury and hide it, which is a dangerous path to follow for what we deny we inevitably act out in some self- or other-destructive way. Someone has said that there are 365 “fear nots” in the Bible—one for every day of the year!

David, who penned the words of today’s Psalm had every reason on many occasions to be terrified because King Saul, ravished by a jealous hatred of David, was hunting him down to kill him. So whenever I am afraid, I take a page out of David’s book, and keep repeating to remind myself, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

The good news is that God is with us … always … he will never leave us or forsake us … hence to counteract our fears we can learn to place our confidence in him and not in ourselves. It’s important, too, not to allow fears to control us for if we don’t control (or resolve) them, they will control us.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that no matter what circumstances I find myself in, you are always there for me. Thank you too for your promise to never leave me or forsake me. Help me to learn how to fully put my trust in you so I will not be afraid. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: For additional help see “Conquering Fear” at: http://tinyurl.com/rhlho

1. Psalm 118:6-7 (NIV).

2. Source an e-mail. Author unknown.

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Never too Old

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“So here I [Caleb] am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”1

A former mentor of mine, the late Cecil Osborne, spent most of his working years as the pastor of a church that helped found a number of daughter churches. He also saw the need for a counseling ministry for hurting people and when he retired from the pastorate at or about age 65, he set up a full-time counseling ministry. He was close to age 60 when he published his first of a dozen books, The Art of Understanding Yourself,” and kept counseling until he was well into his 80s.

Numerous other people have seen great achievements in their senior years. For example, “Cervantes completed Don Quixote when he was nearing 70. Clara Barton, at 59, founded the American Red Cross. Goethe finished the dramatic poem ‘Faust’ at 82. Verdi composed ‘Othello’ at 73, ‘Falstaff’ in his late seventies. Benjamin Disraeli became Prime Minister of England for the second time at 70.”2

“Pablo Picasso was still painting at age 91. Arturo Toscanini gave his last performance at 87. Konrad Adenauer was chancellor of West Germany at 87. And the accomplishments of many senior members of God’s Kingdom would make an even more impressive story if they could all be told.”3

Admittedly, in Caleb’s day people lived much longer than we do today. Nevertheless, no matter how old we are, we are never too old to serve God. Just check with your pastor and he will show you many ways you can do this.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, whatever years I have left I want to serve you all the days of my remaining life. Please lay on my heart what I can do to be a part of your plans and what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Joshua 14:10-12 (NIV).

2. Today in the Word (Chicago, IL: Moody Bible Institute, 1991), p. 9.

3. Ibid.

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Will Jesus Christ Come Again? Part III

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“So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man [Jesus] will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”1

Will Jesus come again? From the Bible, God’s Word, we have the promise from almost every prophet in the Old Testament and almost every writer of the New Testament that Christ will come again. We have talked about the promise and the proof of his coming, and today we want to talk about the plan of and the preparation for his coming.

Third, The Plan of Christ’s Return: Only God knows the exact day of Christ’s return, but the one thing he made clear is that on that day, as the Bible says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”2

In heaven there will be a great time of celebration after which each Christian will receive his or her special rewards based on his or her faithfulness to and service for God here on earth.3

Many Bible scholars believe there will be a time of distress and war on earth the like of which the world has never seen before with the climax at the great battle of Armageddon. Eventually, this world age will then end with judgment of all sin and evil, at what the Bible calls the Great White Judgment Throne of God.

Because God loves us he sent Jesus, his Son, to die in our place to pay for our sins so he could offer a free pardon to all who confess their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior—and to deliver us from the Great White Judgment Throne of God. Tragically, all who fail to accept God’s pardon will have to face God’s judgment of their sin, which is eternal separation from God, the source of all love and life; that is, they face eternal death.

Fourth, The Preparation for Christ’s Return: Christ likened the Kingdom of Heaven to ten virgins preparing for a wedding. When the bridegroom appeared only five were ready. Only these were included in the wedding. The others were left behind. That is how it will be when Christ returns. Those who are ready will be taken to heaven. Those who are not will be left behind. As Jesus said, “I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”4

We do not know the exact time of Jesus’ return except that he said, “When you least expect me, I will come.”5 The important thing is to be ready for Christ’s return when he comes. If you would like to accept God’s gift of sins forgiven, salvation, and eternal life so you will be absolutely certain you will be ready for Christ’s return, click on the “God’s Invitation to You” button link below, or on this link to “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian—without having to be religious at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9. This will be the greatest life decision you could ever make.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, again I thank you for the promise, the proof, and the plan of Christ’s return. Thank you for your great salvation and the promise of a home in Heaven for all who believe in and have accepted you as their Savior. Help me to be prepared today for Christ’s return by having repented of my sins, asked for and accepted your forgiveness and received Jesus as my Savior. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 24:44 (NIV).

2. I Thessalonians 4:16-17.

3. II Corinthians 5:10.

4. Luke 17:34-36.

5. Matthew 24:44 (Paraphrased).

NOTE: This series has been taken from the article, “Will Jesus Christ Return to Earth?” by Dick Innes at http://tinyurl.com/avesyg.

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