Matthew 24:3 - Take Heed

 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Matthew 24:4

In what is known as the Olivet Discourse, the disciples ask Jesus about what signs would accompany his return and the end of the world. Jesus has just finished pronouncing woe on the Pharisees, and apparently they are shaken and curious about the things to come. This is a topic that I have followed closely throughout my life, first out of fear, and now out of a genuine desire to understand the prophecies we have been given in scripture to help us understand and navigate during what will be one of the most important times this world has ever seen.

It's interesting that Jesus doesn't immediately start describing the signs of the end as the disciples had asked. He begins with a warning. "Watch out, and do not let anyone fool you" (GNT). I always assumed this meant, "Do not let any false Messiahs deceive you," because of the next verse. However, I believe Jesus started with this because deception is going to be a critical factor in the last days. 

Looking around today, we have cries of "fake news" and "conspiracy theories" ad nauseum. Who do you actually know you can trust? Ninety-six percent of the news media is controlled by the same owners, all of whom have political interests they desire to protect. Actual "Christian" churches throughout the world are asleep at the wheel, questioning even the most critical aspects of the faith such as: was Jesus actually God in the flesh?, does it even matter if He rose again?, and is God a mass murderer? Even churches that adhere to the core of Christian belief have varying theories about how the end will play out.

When it comes to eschatology (the branch of theology that is concerned with the end of the world or of humankind), there are countless competing theories. Many are platitudes that are passed down from seminaries to pastors to church members, sometimes without any of those parties playing the part of the Berean.

In Acts 17:11 we see just what the believers in Berea were up to:

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

They were sitting under the instruction of the apostle Paul, one of the most anointed teachers that God has ever sent to us, but they still went home and searched their scriptures - the Hebrew Scriptures that had been passed down and preserved for centuries - to be certain that they were not being deceived by this new guy in town.

I believe that mentality has been lost today. Most believers blindly adhere to what they learned as a child, or in youth group, or in college simply because an authority figure that they loved and respected told them so. Not because the Bible told them so. We have the completed canon of Scripture in our hands, unlike the Bereans at that time, and yet most will just parrot what a teacher has told them without doing any due diligence to find out if that belief is even to be found in the Bible at all.

In this prophetic day and hour, we must examine our beliefs in light of the word of God. Satan has been at work, and lies have been heaped upon lies in the centuries since Jesus lived, died, and rose again. 

We do not have the luxury of living an unexamined life of faith. 

It's time to take up the sword of the Spirit and fight to prove that what we have been taught to believe is actually supported in scripture. 

I personally believe the consummation of all human history is closer than we have ever dared to believe, and I'm taking a deep dive to make sure that no one deceives me.

1 Peter 1:7 - Proof of Your Faith

So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ...

1 Peter 1:7

Beth Moore was asked the question: "If you could go back, what would you tell your 24-year-old self?" After much thought and soul-searching, her final response was, "I would. Not. Tell. Her. A. Single. Thing."

This connected with me so sharply because, despite my constant longing to know what is coming next, I would also leave my poor 24-year-old self in complete ignorance.

In college, I discovered one of my favorite poems, Tennyson's In Memoriam A. H. H. It has connected so sharply to most of my own literary attempts and musings, the part that touched me the most dramatically coming right at the beginning of the poem:

We have but faith: we cannot know;

For knowledge is of things we see;

And yet we trust it comes from thee,

A beam in darkness: let it grow.

Let knowledge grow from more to more,

But more of reverence in us dwell;

That mind and soul, according well,

May make one music as before,

But vaster. 

(The whole beginning makes me want to cry at how profound, beautiful, sad and GENIUS it is...)

In that class, we discussed that God makes us walk in faith because our finite human minds cannot bear what is coming next, whether it is something beautiful or something tragic. If something beautiful is coming up, we would not be of any practical good in whatever day-to-day drudgery or pain we may be enduring to strengthen and prepare us. If something tragic is coming, it would be very difficult to fully open up to the joy and blessings that God may have in that prior season.

God and God alone knows what the future holds for each one of us. 

Looking over the good and the bad that I have experienced over the last five years, I feel a strong confidence in God. It is one thing to decide to place your trust in someone. It is something else to see that same person use the brokenness of your worst fears like the most talented artist using their favorite shade of black over a rainbow of all your favorite colors. 

The colors were awe-inspiring before, but with the picture painted in sharp definition over them, they are mind-blowing to you.

With my own choice, I would've kept that black as far from the artist's hand as possible, but that artistic choice was not mine to make.

I'm only glad that I've had the chance to see my faith and strength in the Lord increase. I know that as long as life lasts, trials will come, testing that. But I know who holds my hand, who has the permission to paint with the black ink. And I want proof of my faith to grow....

Vaster.

John 17:14-21 - They Do Not Belong to the World

I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one--as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

John 17:14-21

When I get to thinking about things going on in the world, it gets to me. As mentioned elsewhere here in my posts, I am the type that just wants to love people, and I have a very live and let live mentality, especially when it comes to politics. But when any type of freedom of expression is threatened, that's where I dig in my heels and turn into someone totally different. This election has had me at my worst on social media and in conversations. Many people this year are likewise as outspoken and passionate because this election is causing people to examine their ideals of what we can and should be as a society.

No matter how much I truly do love people I disagree with, I am still terrified for this generation of children growing up and the kind of world they are going to have. With our freedoms as Christians being threatened by the day by an angry populace that associates belief in Jesus with the crazy actions of the radical, lunatic jerks of Westboro and that now has decided to become the thought police, I see a lot of bad things on the horizon.

Last night, some friends and I were having that discussion, and it got me in a place where I was, once again, feeling like the sky could be falling any second. Right now things in this nation are not dire. We may have some freedom of speech threatened and are being called some silly and inaccurate names by people who don't like us. That's not a big deal. But looking into the future, well, it's not going to get better politically or morally.

However, this morning I feel the need to remind myself that God is in control. Jesus foresaw many bleak, deadly situations for His followers and His prayer above illustrates the attitude He had. He prayed for the disciples with Him in that moment and all who would ever believe in Him. US! And He didn't pray for us to be taken from the world, but for us to be kept safe from the evil one (which in Greek is porneros - and you can tell what that's related to). 

One thing we discussed last night was what to tell our kids about certain things, and in my own heart I wonder how to raise a son in a world that keeps getting darker and darker, a place where a faith in Jesus is now a minor liability and could at any moment turn into a life-endangering ideology. This passage comforts me and informs how I am going to proceed. As Christians we are NOT of this world, and it's natural that we are going to be hated. Our purpose here is to represent Jesus, who Himself was hated and killed. 

Elsewhere, Jesus mentions that the servant is not greater than his/her master... So we can't expect better treatment than He received. Right now, Christians are being martyred around the world for their faith. Can we expect to be next? I believe at some point that will happen here, but that is not something that I need to be fearful of. I need to love my family, friends, and neighbors and remember where my true home is. I need to share Jesus with others, regardless of the cost.

Life Verse: Isaiah 55:8-9 - Beyond Anything You Can Imagine

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

As sinful, imperfect humans, we often try to take God's job away from him. We use our own methods of logic, applying what we can see now and what has happened in past experiences to determine how we think God should work. We direct our prayers simply to get one result - whatever it is that we want or need at the time. This isn't necessarily bad. God wants us to call on Him in the places of our deepest needs, interceding on behalf of those we love and pleading for aid in our own problems.

Sometimes, instead of submitting to God's will in prayer, however, we attempt to force God's hand in a situation. We try to manipulate Him or others so that we get our desired result, much in the same way that Sarah tried to give Abraham a child through her servant girl, Hagar, thus "helping" God in his promise to provide Abraham with a son. We often act on opportunities we see as good while forgetting that God knows what's best and that we need only to wait on Him.

God's way is not the easiest way. It requires patience and faith. The daily lifting of one's eyes to the heavens to see what type of deliverance God is going to provide for that day. Sometimes it's a miracle that blows our minds, but often it's just strength to take another step in the direction He is leading us. Following Him takes discipline, denying ourselves of what we want most in order to receive what he has for us, which is far better.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

It's courage to submit to His will even when we believe there is no way His plans for us could outweigh the beauty of our own dreams and our own aspirations for ourselves. We may have awesome dreams, but unless we are dreaming with the Father's heart and will in mind, we are settling for less than God intended. As the old saying goes, "God saves His best for those who leave the choice up to Him."

If we have the ability to dream good dreams, how much better dreams for us can God have? As I used to say in college all the time, God wants to knock our socks off. We just have to be patient and let Him do it.

This reminds me of a favorite poem (actually a hymn):

He leads us on by paths we did not know.
Upward He leads us, tho' our steps be slow;
Tho' oft we faint and falter on the way,
Tho' storms and darkness oft obscure the day,
Yet, when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.

He leads us on thro' all the' un-quiet years;
Past all our dream-land hopes, and doubts, and fears
He guides our steps; thro' all the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows, and o'er-clouded days
We know His will is done,
And still He leads us on.

And soon or late the rugged field of strife
Shall catch the sunlight that transfigures life;
The heart shall win the discipline of pain,
And know the struggle has not been in vain;
Its doubts and fears shall cease,
And Christ will bring it peace.

-Hiram O. Wiley 

Luke 18:41 - I Want to See!

"What do you want me to do for you?" 

"Lord," he said, "I want to see!"

Luke 18:41

My heart is filled with compassion toward the blind beggar who is sitting by the side of the road in the verse preceding the focus verse. Blind, helpess, relying on others for his daily needs due to his disability, he hears that it is Jesus passing by. 

At that point, he starts screaming, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

No doubt, he has heard of Jesus's other miracles and believes that Jesus can work a similar miracle on his behalf. Despite those around him yelling at him to be quiet, he persists until Jesus actually hears him.

So many of us are like that man, having our own problems, insecurities, fears, health issues, disabilities, worries. Modern science and medicine, themselves miracles, can often help with some of these problems. The danger for people of faith is that in trusting only medicine and science, we blindly miss the point that those methods are not the only way God works.

Just because we have different ways of getting our health needs met these days doesn't negate the fact that God still can and does work miracles. That's why He sent Jesus. That's why we call on His name.

I know that in my own life, I face the giants of my own fears daily. When it comes right down to it, Jesus is the one I must call on. He is the one who brings ultimate healing. He is the one that calms the storms and changes lives - miraculously. Sometimes in an instant, sometimes through a process: often in ways we least expect.

James 5:15 says:

Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well.

Prayer for healing is an area where we as believers cannot give up even if we think the answer God may be giving is no because we don't know the mind of God or how He may be choosing to show Himself strong on behalf of believers.

1 Timothy 4:12 - Don't Let Anyone Think Less of You

Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

2 Timothy 4:12

I am a product of the Millennial generation. Since I fall toward the debatable beginning of that time span, I feel that I understand the concerns of the older generation and the younger generation even as I feel misunderstood by both of them.

I have desired to serve God to the fullest extent I could, though obviously there have been mountain tops and valleys of that commitment. I have struggled with feeling that I am not taken seriously by older generations of Christians, whether that is rooted in the truth or not.

We Millennials DO need to be listened to. We understand the current culture, as tripped up as we often get by the traps the Enemy has set there. Those of us who want to see God move do want to be theologically sound. We do want to evangelize our friends and the world. We do want to see our churches grow. The committed of this generation do want to be connected and make a difference. We have passion. We want to know God in a very personal, relational way. 

Yes, we Millennials can be flaky and under-committed. At times we seek an emotional experience and make it all about us. We can demand to be heard in ways that are not always God-glorifying. Our opinions often are too secular, too relativistic, and too immature. We can be apathetic. We can't stay off social media or stop watching shows on Netflix. 

But... we are what's coming up next in the scene of this world. That scares me because things are getting darker by the day. We are tasked with passing truth down to the coming generation and often feel less than affirmed as to how well we are doing that.

I often find myself wearing this face - 0.o - at the whole situation. Or this one: :/ .

The burden of proof rests with us. We have to prove to the older generations that we are the real deal. We have to get up off our lazy, internet-addicted butts and actually do all the things our minds, hearts, and spirits connect with so intensely instead of leaving it an idealized image in our heads. Older generations have the position to cherish their ideals about the good old days and how things "should" be all they want. The Lord has given them the task of leading us, and they are worried, suspicious, and frightened by all the trends we are immersed in.

As much as we may resent this mentality, we have to honor it in some way because we do need the wise counsel provided by these believers. We can't always dictate the matters of style we believe would be more effective for us and our friends. We have to do what we think we do best - connect with this past heritage and validate the good in it - while finding a way to communicate our vision for what the future has to look like if Christianity is going to survive us.

Again, scary. 

Daunting. 

I'm tempted to go back to communicating with emoticons right now.

What can we do?

What can I do?

Paul gave Timothy sound advice: Be an example to all believers. This includes being extremely authentic and loving while at the same time remaining or becoming extremely pure. Being absolutely above reproach in the way we live, minister, and have fun.

We need to get serious about the Bible and its commands, esteeming others as better than ourselves and just going out there and sharing our faith, no matter what the cost.

Our mandate is to worship God in Spirit and in truth wherever we are planted.

We should be the most loving, the best at reaching out to others of all age groups, the most unconcerned with trivial issues that don't matter in the scope of the gospel message and the soon return of Christ.

All of this is starting to sound like a to-do list that no one is really capable of handling, but the truth is that if we are walking in the Spirit on a daily basis, confessing sins and seeking direction for all of our decisions, God will equip us to do far more than we could ever do on our own.

John 5:6 - Would You Like to Get Well?

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, "Would you like to get well?"

-John 5:6

I think that Jesus's conversations with the people he heals are so important. In this instance, he knows the man has been ill for an extremely long time and asks if he would like to be healed. The man doesn't instantly say that he does. He offers the details of why he hasn't been healed up to this point - he can't get to the healing pool in time. Jesus then tells him to get up, take up his bed, and walk.

I can definitely relate to this man's mentality. Instead of thinking about the answer to the question actually asked, he thinks only of the negative. What he can't do. This is probably due to a genuine disability to do so; he, in fact, cannot walk down to the pool fast enough in his condition. 

I know in my own life, sometimes the things I can't do start to look bigger than they really are as I focus on them. Sometimes, those things become excuses to not think outside the box or not do other things that I actually can do. I always wonder why this man hasn't already begged and pleaded with the people around him to put him in the pool or dragged himself a few inches every day. Maybe everyone was too selfish to help and his body was too weak to do even that. 

Weakness and infirmity are real and need to be engaged with compassion. Excuses need to be eradicated.

The only reason I insinuate this man could have been the cause of his own problem is what Jesus says to the man in verse 13: "Now you are well; so stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you." In either case, whether this man's inability to receive healing was completely legitimate or was caused by learned helplessness, Jesus doesn't acknowledge the obstacle the man presents. 

He issues a command: Get up.

The man is healed and obeys by doing just that. This is one thing I love about being in Christ. He heals us and enables us to do things we could never do otherwise. Did the man know he had been healed before he started trying to stand up? Perhaps he just had to obey what he was told to do having the faith that he would be able to do it?

Sometimes God's spirit moves that way, telling us to attempt something that seems impossibly crazy in the face of our own assessment of our ability level, real or perceived. Healing is from given from God, and we have to have clear sight and faith to see what areas He may be intending for us to walk toward.

Luke 13:12-13 - You Are Healed

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!" Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight.
Luke 13:12-13

What impresses me most about this scene with Jesus is how deeply He sees into each person and his/her needs in a very compassionate way. Jesus is teaching when the woman comes in, and he heals her of the evil spirit which had crippled her for eighteen years. He halts his important teaching (disregarding the legalistic company he is in) to deal with a person who had possibly been written off as hopeless by the majority in attendance.

I'm also moved by the woman's courage. The text doesn't say that she seeks Jesus out for healing, but ... she shows up. I'd think in eighteen years' time she had tried everything to improve her condition, perhaps even seeking healing in the very temple she attends here. Maybe she had lost all hope of being cured. Despite her physical problems, she is still in attendance at the temple, indicating that, in the midst of it all, she hadn't given up her faith.

This woman reminds me to never give up in the difficult places. Sometimes we have a thorn in the flesh that isn't going to go away and must learn to lean on God's sufficiency. Other times God decides to heal us for His glory. We don't get to choose which situation we find ourselves in, and we don't know what God plans to do with our struggles.

All we can do is continue doing what we know to be right and good, trusting that God knows best and that he does see us, including the causes of and cures for what ails us.

Matthew 15:28 - Prayer + Desperation

"Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed.
Matthew 15:28

This woman's persistence is impressive. Her plight - a demon possessed daughter - is desperate, and she absolutely refuses to give up begging for Jesus to intervene. She knows He alone is her daughter's chance at wholeness, so she does not allow herself to be intimidated by protocol - the racial and gender barriers of the day. She is willing to face scorn, misunderstanding, and repeated denials.

Her actions mirror effective prayer. Her faith and trust are so fully placed in Jesus that she makes an annoyance of herself when He tells her no. She is not passive. In boldness, she is not going to let this go without a fight. I admire her strength in enduring all she could for her daughter's only hope. It's the kind of endurance that comes only through a faith that refuses to give up.

I'm sometimes a little uncomfortable with Jesus denying her repeatedly when He so quickly acted on behalf of many others, but I believe this is the way He works. Sometimes prayers are instantly answered. Other times, often in our difficult places, we have to persist. Our faith is being tested. Not out of unfairness or unkindness but to help us grow into an increasing faith.

This scene is the epitome of James 1:3-4:

Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

 Also, this reminds me of part of one of my favorite poems (which, it turns out, is a hymn):

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

-God Moves in a Mysterious Way

by William Cowper
(His story that I just learned - whoah!)