I read recently how, “while on a South Pole expedition, British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton left a few men on Elephant Island, promising that he would return. Later, when he tried to go back, huge icebergs blocked the way. But suddenly, as if by a miracle, an avenue opened in the ice and Shackleton was able to get through. His men, ready and waiting, quickly scrambled aboard. No sooner had the ship cleared the island than the ice crashed together behind them. Contemplating their narrow escape, the explorer said to his men, ‘It was fortunate you were all packed and ready to go!’ They replied, ‘We never gave up hope. Whenever the sea was clear of ice, we rolled up our sleeping bags and reminded each other, “He may come today.”‘”

Christ’s coming to earth the first time some 2000 years ago is an indisputable fact of history. His birth was as real as the birth of Julius Caesar. And the temple he visited in Jerusalem was as real as the building of the Coliseum in ancient Rome. The Coliseum still stands. I visited it last year and was awestruck, not only with the marvel of its structure; but also with the history of the time it represented. Equally real is the promise of Jesus that he would return again to earth to take all his true believers to be with him forever in Heaven. That promise still stands.

We don’t know exactly when that time will be. As an old pastor friend used to say, all the signs that Jesus said would precede his coming have been happening in some way ever since he was on earth, but today “they are all standing up at once.”

Like the explorers on Elephant Island, we need to be prepared and ready for Jesus’ coming. He will be coming, whether we are ready or not. What if it were today, which it very well could be? Would you be ready?*

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the promise of Jesus’ return to earth to take all his followers to be with him in heaven with you forever. Help me to be sure that I am ready for his return. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: To make sure you are ready for Christ’s return see, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian. Read also, “Will Jesus Christ Return to Earth?” at: http://tinyurl.com/jesus-return.

1. Matthew 24:44 (NIV).

If we don’t know where we stand and what we stand for, as the saying goes, we can fall for anything. Thus, to be followers of Jesus, it is important that we have a reasonable grasp of the major fundamental doctrines (teachings) of the Bible—one of which is the understanding of sin. Yesterday we discussed the essence of sin. Today we want to discuss the aspects or nature of sin.

In the New Testament section of the Bible there are three different words to describe these aspects of sin.

First, is the word that means “rebellion.” It means rebelling against God and his will and going our own sinful way regardless of the consequences—with or without knowing what the consequences might or could be.

Second, is “breaking the law of God.” God’s commandments are not to take away our freedom or enjoyment, but for the wellbeing and protection of ourselves and our entire society. We ignore them to our peril. To forbid them to be displayed publicly, as is happening in certain places in North America, is akin to opposing the display of the laws of the land. The commandments and laws of God are not abstract or irrelevant religious rules. They are for the protection, safety, and benefit of all. They, like the law of gravity, are universal laws. We cannot break the law of gravity. If we try to, we break ourselves. Neither can we break the moral laws of God. When we try to, we break ourselves. For safety sake we need to live within the bounds of and in harmony with all of God’s laws.

Third, is not quite as easy to see but equally as sinful if not adhered to. It is “to miss the mark.” That is, the mark or standard of God’s holiness. And we are all guilty of this sin. As today’s Scripture says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This applies not only to sins of commission, but also to sins of omission. As God’s Word also says: “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins”.²

Falling short of God’s mark includes “sins of the spirit” such as envy, jealousy, hatred, pride, greed and so on—all of which express themselves in negative and harmful ways to one’s self as well as to others.

Remember, God is opposed to all sin because it is damaging to those whom he loves—us. His rules and laws are for our personal good as well as for the good of all. When we sin, we need to confess it to God and ask for his forgiveness. And where we have sinned against another and hurt him/her, we need to ask for their forgiveness too wherever possible. And then, with God’s help, we need to keep growing in maturity so that we will more and more overcome sinful actions and a sinful spirit.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for your Word, the Bible, which gives me directions for successful living and healthy relationships. Give me a love for your laws and a sincere desire to live in harmony with them. And help me to live accordingly both for my sake and your glory. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Romans 3:23 (NIV).

2. James 4:17 (NIV).

Most readers will be familiar with God’s test to the first man and woman, Adam and Eve. God made it clear to them that they could eat of every tree in the Garden of Eden except for one particular tree. If they ate of this tree, they would die.²

To tempt them, Satan (appearing in the form of a serpent) said to Eve, “Did God really say that you couldn’t eat of that tree?” The question seemed harmless enough but it gave an opportunity to sow a seed of doubt in Eve’s mind. Tragically, Eve took the bait and the seed began to take root.

Then came Satan’s lie which had in it an element of truth that made it believable and much more subtle. “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”³

To be like God is perhaps life’s greatest and most subtle of all temptations.

True, Adam and Eve would be like God—only in that they would know the difference between good and evil. What Satan didn’t tell them was that if they ate of the forbidden fruit not only would they know good and evil but they would also be left forever in a confirmed state of evil and, as such, be separated from God.

However, the essence of Adam and Eve’s sin was not so much taking of the forbidden fruit. It was setting themselves up as judge between God and Satan. In so doing they put themselves above God—usurping his authority. This was the sin that caused their downfall. Taking the forbidden fruit was the outcome of this action.

To make this concept clearer, picture God on one side and Satan on the other, and see Adam and Eve placing themselves above both and deciding who is right and who is wrong. Absurd, I know, but this is exactly what they did. They set themselves as the judge between God and Satan. In so doing they took the place of God.

This was the cause of Satan’s downfall in the first place. He wanted to be as God and said, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”⁴

This too is at the heart of the New Age movement whose adherents don’t talk about God within but “the god” within. That is; they put themselves on an equal footing with God and usurp his authority. They appoint themselves a judge of God and his Word. We all do this when we ignore God’s directives and when we decide what is right and what is wrong, and what is evil and what is good.

Furthermore, when we choose (as far too many do) what to accept in God’s Word and reject what we don’t like, we do exactly the same as Adam and Eve did. We set ourselves up above God and make ourselves the final voice of authority—this is at the very heart of sin.

Tomorrow we will discuss the three major aspects of sin.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to understand what sin really is, how totally devastating it is, and never usurp your authority in my life. Be my LORD, my God and my Savior—always in all ways. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Genesis 3:1 (NIV).

2. Genesis 3:2-3 (NIV).

3. Genesis 3:4-5 (NIV).

4. Isaiah 14:14 (NIV).

In Congress on July 4, 1776, fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence declaring the then Thirteen Colonies (now states) in North America independent from Great Britain.

Central to the Declaration of Independence are the following words: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

While there are conflicting stories² as to what happened to all of the fifty-six original signers, we can be certain that when they signed this declaration, they knew full well that they were putting their lives at risk. Furthermore, many men gave their lives in the War of Independence to gain independence from the then oppressive rule of Great Britain.

As history has clearly shown, there has always been a high price to pay for freedom, for there never seems to be a lack of despots who want to subjugate a people to their total control for their own evil and/or self-centered purposes.

Those of us who live in free lands have incredible blessings for which to be thankful. And let us be thankful today not only for these blessings, but also for all those who have given their lives to make us free, and for all those today who are risking their lives to keep us free.

As Christians, let us never forget that while freedom is a God-given right (which the Declaration of Independence affirmed), freedom has never come without a price—and will never be maintained without the high price of eternal vigilance. As Wendell Phillips (1811-1884) in restating the words of John Philpot Curran, said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the wonderful privilege and unfathomable blessings you have given to those of us who live in free countries. Today we pray for our brothers and sisters who are suffering under the tyranny and persecution of evil men. And grant that we in free countries will be reminded that ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Psalm 33:12-13, 16 (NIV).

2. See http://www.ctssar.org/articles/price_paid.htm

3. Psalm 33:12-13,16 (NIV).

4. Proverbs 14:34 (NIV).

Ron Clarke of Tasmania shared how “one of England’s great poets, Rupert Brooke, who died in 1915, wrote the following note: ‘I felt a trifle lonely before I left Liverpool; everybody seemed to have people to see them off. So I went back on shore and found a dirty little boy who was unoccupied who said his name was William. ”Will you wave to me if I give you sixpence, William?” I said. ”Why, yes,” said William. So I gave him sixpence and went on board. When the time came he leaned over the railing on the landing stage and waved. So I got my six-pennyworth and my farewell—thanks to William.’”

How very sad. Karen and Richard Carpenter in one of their popular songs some time ago sang with deep meaning, “Loneliness, it’s such a sad affair … and I can hardly wait to be with you again.” How true these words were for Karen who starved herself to death because of her own loneliness and the feeling of not being loved. Being popular and in the limelight can never compensate for the need for close, loving relationships. I believe it was Janis Joplin, another popular vocalist, who said that the only time she felt okay was when she was on stage. The rest of the time she suffered from deep loneliness. She, too, took her own life with an overdose of Heroin in 1970. Even though “her career lasted only a few years, she has been hailed as the greatest white female blues singer who ever lived.”

Think, too, of the elderly whose friends have passed on—the divorced, those never married, widows and widowers, numerous children, teens, and their parents living in unhappy homes, spouses who are abused and have nowhere to turn for help, military personnel and their families separated at times of war … the homeless—the list of lonely people is endless. Loneliness is indeed a plague of modern society. It is a very sad affair.

The fact is we were created for relationships and while it may not be the most desirable, we can live without romantic love, but we cannot live healthily without close, loving relationships with at least one trustworthy friend. God himself is in relationship within the Holy Trinity. And think of Jesus; one of the first things he did when he commenced his ministry was to choose the twelve disciples “that they might be with him.” And while he never married, he certainly had close friendships with Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha. If Jesus needed close friends, how much more do we? To truly “be” is to be in relationship.

Perhaps the most pathetic loneliness of all is to feel separated and isolated from God.

For many of life’s problems there are no simple, quick-fix answers. One way, at least for some, is to find a Christian church where the people welcome strangers and reach out to the lonely—and where you can find God.* It can take a while to gain a sense of belonging, but I encourage you to hang in, and especially to join a small and accepting group. In countries where the Christian church is forbidden, some find companionship in an “underground” church. All of these people surely need our prayers.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how I thank you that you have created mankind for relationships and today I especially pray for the lonely who are everywhere. Please help me to be an encourager and supporter of at least one lonely person or family and please lead all of our churches to do likewise. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

*NOTE: To help you find God be sure to read the article at: http://tinyurl.com/real-christian. Read also “Overcoming Loneliness” at:: http://tinyurl.com/3bg5xy.

1. James 1:27 (NIV).

A male Daily Encounter reader writes: “I wonder if you could give me some advice. Sometimes I feel as though God doesn’t like me and seemingly does everything to make my life a living nightmare. I have done all that I can to change my life and repent for all the things that I have done in my past and yet I still don’t feel the warmth of God’s love. Is it possible that it has anything to do with my not being christened or baptized?”

Of one thing you can be certain, God loves you totally and unconditionally no matter how you feel, what you have ever done or have failed to do. Be assured, too, that it isn’t God who causes our problems. We happen to live in a broken, sinful world where we all face trials and go through tough times. We won’t be delivered from tribulations until we get to heaven.

In the meantime, God wants us to keep growing towards wholeness so we will overcome many of our personal struggles.

Also, when God feels far away, it isn’t God who has moved. The barrier is in us. Neither does it have anything to do with whether or not we were christened or baptized. While Jesus picked little children up and blessed them, he didn’t christen them, and (though some will disagree with me) as far as I know there is nothing about being christened as such in the Bible, and while baptism is important, not being baptized doesn’t cause God to distance himself from us.

When God feels far away, it can be caused by un-confessed sins and/or by persisting in doing things we know that are out of harmony with God’s will. More often than not, however, that barrier has more to do with our impaired relationship with others, and especially so if it was with our parents in our developmental years. For those who had a close, loving, warm relationship—especially with their fathers, it is very easy to feel that God, the Heavenly Father, is also close, loving, and warm. But for those of us who felt their father was distant, cold, and/or punitive, we tend to project that on to God the Heavenly Father and feel that he too is cold, distant, and punitive. I’ve had to wrestle with this problem, too, so I can understand how you feel.

To overcome, you not only need to confess your sins to God, but you also need to have an open, honest, and trusting relationship with other men—or at least with one soul brother with whom you can share all your inner thoughts, feelings, victories and failures—one who will not judge, criticize or put your down or tell you what you should or shouldn’t do, but one who will love and accept you just as you are. Ask God to give you such a soul brother. As we grow close to others we will be able to feel close to God. (If you are a woman, you need a soul sister for this type of supportive relationship.)

Also, be sure to commit and trust your life to God every day no matter how you feel. Remember that God is close to you whether you feel it or not. Learn to thank God and accept this by faith regardless of how you feel.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that you are not far from me and please help me to find the help I need so that I will be able to face and resolve any and all barriers in my life that cause me to feel that you are far away—so that not only will I know in my head that you are close, but feel your closeness in my heart. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Acts 17:27-28 (NIV).

Ron Clarke of Tasmania, Australia, asks, “Have you ever been to the south coast of England? If not, you may have seen pictures of it or can remember the wartime song ‘There’ll Be Bluebirds Over the White Cliffs of Dover.’ These white cliffs are composed of chalk. Chalk is formed by the shells of very tiny animals called ‘Foraminifera’, meaning ‘hole-bearers’. They are so called because their small shells are pierced with little holes. Thousands of years ago there were trillions of these little creatures in the sea. As they died, their shells fell to the sea floor and formed a layer that gradually became thicker and thicker. Then followed an earthquake and pushed the layer upwards to form chalk cliffs.

“These cliffs are being destroyed by another small shellfish called a ‘Piddock’. This creature can twist its shell rather like an awl or drill bit to make holes in the chalk. They attack the cliffs just above high water, and as the seas pound against the cliffs, they are weakened and eventually collapse in a landslide. A naturalist, writing about Piddocks, said that Britain is an island because of the work of Piddocks. Britain was once joined to the continent of Europe, and over thousands of years Piddocks have destroyed the chalk cliffs to form the English Channel.

“This piece of trivia highlights what great things [or destructive things] can be achieved by very tiny creatures, and how much can result from very little. It would have cost billions to excavate the English Channel, but the humble Piddock did it alone.”²

As we noted in yesterday’s Daily Encounter, we all have a part to play in God’s service—no matter how small that may be. Your and my contribution is all a part of God’s greater plan and a part of what he is doing in the world today. We can’t improve on God’s plan. The smartest thing to do is to get in on it. And a vital part of his plan, as Jesus commissioned each of us, is to “go into all the world and preach [communicate] the Good News to everyone, everywhere.”

And that starts right where we are by being as Christ to every life we touch … and by joining hands and hearts with those who are reaching the lost with the lifesaving gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, I’m available. Please make me usable and use me to be as Christ to every life I touch, and be ready and prepared to share your plan of salvation as opportunities arise. And please help me to be sensitive to these opportunities. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

NOTE: Please join with us as a People Power for Jesus partner … there is no charge. For more information go to: www.actsweb.org/people_power. “When many people each do a little, together we can accomplish great things for God.”

1. Mark 16:15 (NASB).

2. Ron Clarke, www.pastornet.net.au/word4week.

In God’s economy there is a place of service for every single member of his family; that is, for every individual Christian in the church, or what the Apostle Paul called “the body of Christ.” Every one of us is equally important. As Paul said, “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’”²

And every one of us has at least one gift with which to serve God. The important thing is to know what your gifting is and put it to good use serving God … first at home … then in the church and Lord’s work … and in some way everywhere you go. For example, if you have the gift of encouragement, you can use that anywhere.

You are probably familiar with the words of Henry Van Dyke who said so simply yet so eloquently: “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.”

If you aren’t sure what your gifts are, ask yourself what is it that you like doing best and are good at doing? Or ask those who know you best, as they will see or sense what you are good at doing. Or you can take a spiritual gifts inventory such as is found at: http://www.fbchsv.org/biblestudy/gifts/gifts_inventory.html

Remember, too, that people are the “instruments” God uses to get his work done on earth and, like a doctor’s scalpel, the sharper the instrument, the more effective work God can do with the instrument. For example, if you have a desire to write, sing, teach, preach, or be a “butcher, baker or candlestick maker” then get the training necessary to be the best at what you like doing best. Then seek ways to use your gifts even if in seemingly humble ways to begin with. My job for several years as a young teenager was to collect and put away the hymn books in our small countrified church.

When we are faithful in the little things, God will lead us to bigger things if we so desire and are so gifted. Regardless, every responsibility is of equal importance in God’s service, and we will be rewarded, when Jesus comes, not according to our gifting but according to our faithfulness.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to know what my gifts are, get the training I need to sharpen them, and find a place where I can put these to best use in serving you—and thereby help make my world a better place in which to live. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Matthew 25:22-23 (NKJV).

2. 1 Corinthians 12:21 (NIV).

In preparation for his sermon about Jesus being the vine, and we the branches, Brett Blair shared the following: “I must admit that I know very little about the particulars of the wine industry. So I did some reading in this area and found it to be quite fascinating. Grape vines are very rugged in one way, but in another sense their fruit is very delicate and requires being treated with kid gloves. A young vine is not permitted to bear fruit for the first three years. It is therefore drastically pruned in December and January to preserve its energy. The particular branches that do not bear fruit are cut out to further conserve the energy of the plant. If this constant cutting back was not done, the result would be a crop that was not up to its full potential.”²

Sometimes we wonder why God allows us, his children, to go through so many trials and tribulations; and yet, when we look back over the past, we can see how God was with us guiding our every step and pruning us so our lives would become more fruitful and productive. As the writer to the early Hebrew Christians wrote, “No discipline [or pruning] seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”³

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, while I can’t say that I have ever enjoyed your ‘pruning’ in my life, I thank you for all the trials you have used in my life to do this. Help me to realize when trials come that you are using these to help me become more and more like Jesus in every way and accept them with an attitude of gratitude. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: For further help see “Lessons from Suffering” at: http://tinyurl.com/exuyw.

1. John 15:1-2 (NIV).

2. Rev. Brett Blair. www.eSermons.com.

3. Hebrews 12:11 (NIV).