Turbulent Times

Suppose the things that make you happy were gone in an instant.

According to an Associated Press story, last year saw the “world gone wild.” Heat waves, earthquakes, floods, volcanoes, tsunamis, super typhoons, drought, tornadoes, and blizzards—2010 had all that and more.

Natural disasters killed more people worldwide than did terrorism in the previous 40 years combined. Economic losses totaled $222 billion.

In the past few weeks, thousands of people in Australia lost everything in the worst flooding on record. In Brazil mudslides destroyed villages and families with no warning. In Arizona a crazy shooter indiscriminately took the lives of six people at a grocery store parking lot.

This year isn’t looking much better than 2010!

How can you be sure it won’t happen to you? And if it did, what would you do? Are we to live our lives in constant fear? How can we be at peace in such turbulent times?

Well hold on just a minute.

Catastrophes and tragedies are not new to this world. The world’s first parents, Adam and Eve, had to deal with tragedy when their son Cain killed his brother Abel. Suffering is part of living in a sin-cursed world. Evil can affect us all. Good people suffer like everyone else.

In Psalm 23, David the Shepherd-King tells us how people in the family of God cope with tragedy. He writes, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you [God] are with me.”

Calmness in the valley comes from confidence that God is our companion.

When a child of God comes to such a ‘valley,’ God says, “You’re not in this by yourself. I’m with you.” He has promised his children, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

God will never be closer than when you are in the valley.

Even in Jesus’ day people were surprised by tragedy. A tower fell without warning and killed eighteen people. The Roman governor, Pilate, massacred worshippers in the temple.

What should be done? Jesus’ replied that we should turn from our sin and be sure we are right with God. None of us knows when our time will come.

The solution for facing the crises of life is as near as the Bible.

No matter where you are in your life spiritually, God invites you to draw closer to him. Jesus said, “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

According to the Gospel of John chapter one and verse 12, if you will come to Jesus and receive him as your Lord and Savior, you become a child of God. And as his child, he is present in your life and promises to provide for you and protect you.

One of those promises (found in the Bible) is in Philippians chapter four and verse seven which says, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

So if you want a peace that can weather these turbulent times, come to Jesus. No one is too burdened, too bad, too old or too young to find rest and forgiveness in Christ.

Peace is not found in fame, fortune, religious practices or a church. Peace is found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God. That’s the message of the Bible.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!

Face of Evil

Two weeks ago we saw the face of evil again. It showed up in a supermarket parking lot.

Jared Loughner’s picture from a Tucson, Arizona courtroom was stunning. The face of evil looked so human. No devilish horns and no pitchfork. He was just smirking.

His face was the face of any man. It could have been someone you knew.

Almost four years ago we grieved for students gunned down at Virginia Tech. Now we grieve again. For a nine-year-old girl. For a young man engaged to be married. And for an elderly husband protecting his wife. We have prayed with and for those who were hurt so deeply.

Now our focus is shifting. We are trying to understand why someone would do this. What was the shooter thinking? His video ramblings don’t help much. They leave us with more questions than answers. Others who are similarly deranged haven’t gone on killing sprees.

How can we comprehend such evil? How could someone commit such a crime?

Studies have been done on crime for years. Theories abound as to what causes it. Some thought it was the environment or the shape of a person’s head (Really?). After years of research and countless dollars, one study simply concluded that criminals cause crime.

Another expert observed that even babies—our ‘little angels,’—can become so angry that, if they had adult strength and abilities, they would probably kill or maim another person.

So much for everyone being “really ‘good’ deep down inside.” Is humanity hopeless?

Well hold on just a minute!

God says the problem is the human heart. Speaking through the Biblical prophet Jeremiah he said, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it?”

According to our Maker, evil intentions became the ‘default mode’ of the human heart after our first parents’ fall into sin. Instead of asking, “Why is there evil behavior?” we ought to ask, “Why isn’t there MORE criminal behavior?” The answer to that mystery is in the Bible.

God’s Word teaches that God acts as a ‘Restrainer’ in our world. Without God’s divine intervention, evil would be worse than it is. His purpose is revealed by the Scripture that says, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

In the New Testament Gospel of John Jesus observed, “Men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” He adds, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

The darkness of the human soul has a remedy. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Through his death and resurrection, light overcame the darkness of evil.

Later Jesus sent the Apostle Paul to announce to the world that, through faith in the risen Christ, God would “open their eyes and turn them from darkness to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins.”

Crime started near the Garden of Eden with the first murder. It ends at Jesus’ cross with mercy and forgiveness. Through his sacrifice, evil’s darkness can be removed from us one person at a time.

Each of us must respond to the good news that Christ died for our sins. That’s why Christians want everyone to hear about Jesus who said, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” Only Jesus can save you from the evil in your own heart.

Listen to the Bible; it’s good for your soul!

Toy Story

Is your life all about the toys?

My grandchildren are still enjoying their Christmas toys. And so are many adults.

Of course adults’ toys are a bit more expensive. As someone has said, “The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys.”

If you knew me you would know I like technology. I enjoy its benefits.

Some people think that gadgets like computers, smartphones and electronic book readers are just toys. And for some they may be. But for others they are tools to increase effectiveness.

Whether something is a tool or a toy depends on your focus.

For example, a notebook computer helps me get work done and spend time with my family. On some Saturdays it allows me to accompany my wife to the mall. Then while she shops, I can write a column, catch up on correspondence or work on a sermon. Later we have lunch together.

Others live for the latest and greatest gadget. Techies want to be the first to have the newest electronic marvel. Many love to show it off and be the envy of all their friends and coworkers.

Such a shortsighted attitude could be summed up by the bumper sticker I once saw that said, “He who dies with the most toys, wins!”

There is a measure of happiness in purchasing and enjoying new things. But if your only point to living is the accumulation of things, then life will end in disappointment. Why? Because, even if you were the richest person in the world, you would leave it all behind when you die.

“Now hold on just a minute!” you say. “That’s depressing. What else is there to live for?”

What else, indeed! There has to be more to life than just accumulating property.

Jesus once said, “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Instead of life being all about us and our toys, Jesus turned things around and made life about others and serving them--God first and then our neighbors.

He knew that joy comes through personal generosity, not in hoarding things for oneself. The misers and the greedy falsely assume that amassing possessions or money will make them happy.

Jesus’ plan is far better. When people believe the good news that Jesus, the Son of God, died for their sin on the cross and rose from the dead to give them eternal life, their minds are changed completely. Life takes on a whole new meaning and they rearrange their life around God’s truth.

Suddenly they have peace with God. As the peace of God fills their minds, they are at peace with those around them. Jesus’ mission of reconciling men to God becomes their mission. And Jesus’ compassion for people in need becomes their compassion.

Because of this change of heart, a follower of Christ wants to use their possessions to bless others. If God has given them more than they need, they believe it’s to help the poor.

This change in perspective is so amazing and so complete that it’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t personally experienced it.

For some people religion is like a new toy. They want it for the blessings, not the sacrifices. They’re like the people of Jesus’ day that followed him for the free meals and the health benefits.

But for people that love the Lord with their whole heart, toys become tools to accomplish a mission that is worldwide in scope and eternal in its impact. Sacrifices are part of the mission. As Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

When you follow Jesus, life is no longer just about toys. It’s about being effective for eternity.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!

Bad Memory

Do you have a bad memory?

A ‘bad memory’ has different meanings depending on your age. When I was a boy a bad memory would’ve been recalling an unhappy event like our family’s car wreck when I was three.

Now that I’m older, ‘bad memory’ has taken on a whole new meaning! If I have a list of more than three things to remember, I’d better write them down because otherwise I’ll forget.

Occasionally I have an idea but I forget it before I can write it down. You too? Frustrating!

An article I once read said forgetting is a normal part of aging for everyone. I guess that’s supposed to make us feel better!

I feel better already, don’t you? Wait--what was I supposed to feel better about? I forgot.

Last year, about this time, I got my first smartphone. In addition to keeping a list of contacts and phone numbers, it also helps me remember events, birthdays, tasks and other information. It was a great help until it crashed the week after Thanksgiving.

Suddenly my BlackBerry couldn’t remember either. Bummer. Talk about a bad memory!

Until my phone’s memory was restored, I wondered if I was forgetting to do something important. So it struck me as odd when I learned of someone who forgets things on purpose.

“Now hold on just a minute!” you say. “Why would someone forget things on purpose?”

Well he didn’t actually say he forgets things on purpose. He said he remembers them no more. So it’s kind of like forgetting on purpose--but not exactly. Let me explain.

There are some things we hope people will forget. Like our failures. Or ‘great’ ideas that flopped in a big way. Or times we let our family down--especially those things!

Have you noticed how people remember our failures more than our successes? We know we failed. But some people have to remind us about it. Over and over. They even seem to enjoy it.

So it’s a surprise to learn that God is the exception. He forgives and forgets. Really.

When a person comes to Jesus Christ and trusts in him as their Lord and Savior, the Bible says God forgives all their failures. All their sins. All the things they wished they’d never done.

Now being forgiven is an unusual experience for us humans. Usually people want revenge. So we’re not sure about this forgiveness deal. God knows that so he keeps it simple.

The Bible says God separates us from our sin, “as far as the East is from the West.” It says he has thrown our sins “into the depths of the ocean.”

We start to get the idea. He’s not planning to bring it up again and rub our noses in it.

But the best part is when he says, “I will never again remember their sins.” That’s even better than forgetting. Why? Forgetting is passive. It’s something that happens and we didn’t plan on it. We intend to remember but forgot instead.

However, to say, “I will never again remember” is active. It’s like God saying, “I know about your failure but I don’t plan to think about it again. I will not remember it. Ever.”

God is the only one who does that. Isn’t that amazing?

How can he do it? He can do it because the Bible says Jesus’ death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin in full. God doesn’t want you to feel dirty, grovel or be ashamed any longer. There’s no need. Once he forgives you, you’re clean. He gives you a fresh start.

So if your life is full of bad memories, bring them to God, trust him and he’ll forgive and forget. Forever. Then you can go and forgive others as you’ve been forgiven.

Listen to the Bible; it’s great for your soul!