“There’s a story about a woman finding herself alone in an elevator with the famous and very handsome Robert Redford. As the elevator moved up the floors, the woman, like many of us might, found herself uncontrollably staring at the movie star. Finally, in her excitement and nervousness, she blurted out: ‘Are you the real Robert Redford?’ To which Redford responded, ‘Only when I’m alone.’”

I think that if I were an actor—especially one as successful as Robert Redford—I might find it very difficult to be the real me when I am not acting a part and may all too readily forget who the real me is.

Even without being an actor, I find that one of the most difficult things in life is to be honest with myself. It’s hard enough to know and admit what my true feelings are, let alone my motives! And it’s all too easy to act out any part to avoid facing the real me. I may act the part of a super-nice (saccharine sweet) fellow to avoid facing my unresolved anger…or super-brave to hide my hidden fears…or gruff and macho to hide my insecurity and so on.

However, it’s only as I get real and courageously honest with myself and God that he can help me to grow and become the person he wants me to be. The same goes for getting close to people. Only to the degree that I am open, honest, and real can I relate intimately with those I love. And, unfortunately, the more I hide my true self the more I will live with others together alone apart—a very lonely and unfulfilling existence.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be real—one in whom there is nothing false—so that I can become all that you planned for me to be and have loving, wholesome relationships with you and all of my loved ones. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. John 1:47 (NIV).

Alan Smith tells the story about a carpenter who was giving evidence about an accident he had witnessed. The judge asked him how far away he was from the accident.

The carpenter replied, “Twenty-seven feet, six-and-one-half inches.”

“How can you be so sure of that distance?” asked the judge.

“Well, I knew some idiot would ask me. So I measured it!” replied the carpenter.

Oops … not a good way to answer a judge!

As Christians we need to be prepared to give a reasonable answer to everyone who asks about our Christian faith—and to do this in a spirit of “gentleness and respect.”

Remember too, that our life speaks much louder than any words we ever say. Furthermore, people who know we are Christians will be constantly reading and hearing the messages our life broadcasts. May we, like the early Christians, be known by our love for one another and for our gentle spirit and respectful, courteous manner.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me always to be prepared to give an answer to all who ask about my Christian faith—and help me always to answer in a gentle and respectful manner. And help me to so live that my life will always be communicating your love to every life I touch. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV).

“National Geographic magazine (May 1984 issue) showed through a series of color photos and drawings the swift and terrible destruction that wiped out the Roman Cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D. 79. The explosion of Mount Vesuvius was so sudden, the residents were killed while in their routine: men and women were at the market, the rich in their luxurious baths, slaves at toil. They died amid volcanic ash and superheated gasses. Even family pets suffered the same quick and final fate. It takes little imagination to picture the panic of that terrible day.

“The saddest part is that these people did not have to die. Scientists confirm what ancient Roman writers record—weeks of rumblings and shakings preceded the actual explosion. Even an ominous plume of smoke was clearly visible from the mountain days before the eruption. If only they had been able to read and respond to Vesuvius’s warning!”²

With tireless regularity—every year—Christmas and Easter remind us of the first coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to earth as a babe and then, as a man, died on the cruel Roman cross for the sins of lost mankind. This also reminds and warns us that Jesus promised he would come to earth a second time, but this time it would be as King of kings and Lord of lords to put down all reign of terror and to take his true followers to be with him forever in heaven. As every prophecy in God’s Word about Christ’s first coming was fulfilled in minutest detail, we can be just as certain that the prophecies promising his second coming will also be fulfilled in detail.

When Jesus’ disciples asked him what would be the signs of his coming again, he said that there would be many “rumblings” (warning signs); that is, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, pestilences, “Men [people] will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things BEGIN to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”³

Could all the wars, violence, deathly disease, disasters, and increased terrorism in today’s world be part of the warning signs Jesus said would occur preceding his second coming—just as there were warnings preceding the explosion of Mount Vesuvius? Jesus is coming again. The exact day and hour we don’t know, but the signs of the times may be an indication that his coming is getting nearer every day.

When he comes, it will be sudden and swift. The important thing is that we are ready NOW. For he will come when the vast majority of people least expect it. Let’s not be like the people in the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in A.D. 79 who failed to heed the warnings of Mount Vesuvius and suffered a dreadful quick and final fate. Whatever you do, don’t put off any longer making sure that you are ready for Christ’s return. For help see No. 4 below.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that we have your promise that Jesus is coming again for this is the blessed hope of every Christian everywhere. And thank you that you told us the ‘rumblings’ (signs) that would precede and warn us of your soon coming. Please awaken us to the fact that it could be today. And help us to spread your salvation message to as many people as possible all around the world while the door is still open. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Jesus in Matthew 24:43-44 (NIV).

2. Michael Bogart, Lemoore, California. Leadership, Vol. 6, no. 4.

3. Luke 21:26-28 (NIV).

4. For help see “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: /www.actsweb.org/articles

“True love is like quick-silver,” said Ann Landers, “if you hold it in the palm of your hand, it will remain. If you try to grasp it, it will slip through your fingers.” Perhaps this is what Jesus meant when he said, “Whoever will save his life will lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.”

Some parents never let go of their children even when they are adults. Out of their own insecurity they cling to their offspring and smother them. In so doing they drive them away and the thing they need the most—love—they lose. As the saying goes, “If you love someone, let them go; if they come back to you, then they are truly yours. If they don’t, they never were.”

In other words, when we cling to life to live for ourselves or cling to someone else for our own sake out of our own need, we lose what we need the most—love. This is because we have mistaken need for love. Only as we let go of clinging are we free to love and live life to the full.

When we do this and truly love, we give love without strings attached. In so doing we receive more love to give.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please heal the deepest wounding of my heart so I am set free to truly love others and you without strings attached, and be a clear channel through whom your love for others will flow. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. Jesus in Matthew (16:25).

“Down the streets of Portsmouth more than two hundred years ago,” said Lt. General Ira C. Eaker in a speech given some time ago, “walked a sailor with one arm, one eye, and a persistent state of nerves and unable to tread a ship’s deck without being seasick. Indeed he would probably have been in a home for incurables were his name not Admiral Lord Nelson. The man’s spirit drove the flesh.”

Born in 1758, Horatio Nelson, the son of a pastor, was a small, frail child who loved sailing. As a young teenager he joined the British navy and, while journeying to the East Indies, caught a fever that seriously damaged his health. But he never allowed this to hold him back. At age 18 he was appointed a lieutenant in the Royal Navy and by the year 1802 was made commander-in-chief of the British fleet.

Two years later, at the Battle of Trafalgar, Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets. This was the greatest naval victory in British history and left the British in control of the seas for the rest of the 1800s. Unfortunately, Nelson was mortally wounded during Trafalgar but lived long enough to know that his fleet had won the battle. His last words were, “Thank God I have done my duty.”

Nelson was a man of fearless courage and devotion. He believed in his country, in his cause, and in himself. He proved this with his words and more so with his life. He once said, “I am of the opinion that the boldest measures are the safest.” Nelson was a man greatly admired by others who said about him, “His frail body housed a great spirit.”

John Stuart Mill would agree. He said, “One person with a belief is equal to a force of ninety-nine who only have interest.”²

No matter what your limitations or your handicaps are, God has a plan and purpose for your life. Believe it and you will receive it. Act on it and you will achieve it and like the Apostle Paul you, too, will be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, help me to so believe and live that when I come to the end of life’s journey, I too will be able to say, ‘Thank God that I have done my duty.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

1. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIV).

2. Adapted from “The Power of Belief” by Dick Innes at http://tinyurl.com/79peh.

One of the problems common to many—if not most—of us is that we find it very difficult to forgive someone whom we feel has hurt us deeply.

The good news is that when we confess our sins to God and ask for his forgiveness, he forgives us totally and absolutely. He does this not because he ignores the just penalty for our sins, but because in his everlasting love for us he gave his Son, Jesus, to pay that penalty for us through his death on the cross. Because Jesus paid our penalty for us, God can now write across our debt, “Forgiven—too poor to pay.” And he wipes out our debt forever!

If we have confessed our sins to God and asked for his forgiveness, we need to accept his forgiveness by faith—regardless of how we feel. However, if we still don’t feel forgiven, we need to deal with the problem of false guilt and/or shame. I have addressed this problem before but will do so again in the next Daily Encounter. In the meantime be sure to thank God regularly for his forgiveness regardless. And because God forgives all of our sins and wrongs, we need to forgive all who have wronged us. As we have said before, “Failing to forgive is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.”

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, how can I ever thank you enough for all you have done for me in giving your Son Jesus to pay the penalty for all my sins. In confessing my sins to you, I thank you for your gift of forgiveness and eternal life. Please help me to be as forgiving to others as you have been and are to me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

Note: If you have never received God’s forgiveness, for help be sure to read, “How to Be Sure You’re a Real Christian” at: http://tinyurl.com/8glq9

1. 1 John 1:9 (NIV).