Shadowlight

Did you grow up in someone’s shadow? I did.

My parents walked in the light of the Bible and I walked in their shadow. But they filled their shadow with light, the truth of God’s Word.

As they lived it, their lives reflected God’s light into my life.

Soon there came a day I had to choose whether I would step out in the light, cast my own shadow and fill it with light. It wasn’t easy.

Coming of age and going to college brings its own kind of darkness. Each one of us has to choose the light for our self. I learned that not everyone loves the light.

Jesus said, “Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”

God’s truth is light for the soul. It lights up a life and others can see God reflected in it.

Now hold on for just a minute! What’s all this talk about light? Doesn’t the Bible say, “God is love?”

It does. And as we learn about God and his love for us, our love for him grows. As we seek to know God better through his Word, the Bible, the result is enlightenment. Truth. Wisdom.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path,” a wise man once wrote in the Bible.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” When we come to God through faith in Christ we enter his light. Jesus continued, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

God’s Word adds, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from all sin.”

One of the blessings of God’s light is forgiveness for our failures. God said he accepts Jesus’ death on the cross as full payment for all our sin. And when God forgives us and shines his light in our life, we can reflect it to others who walk in our shadowlight.

When I stepped out of my parents’ shadow and walked in God’s light for myself, I learned that God was faithful to me. When I trusted him, I learned he was dependable. He led me, protected me and met my every need.

My children grew up in my shadow. Their faith grew in my shadowlight. And as my wife and I launched each one, we hoped they would step into the light, cast their own shadow and fill it with light for those who follow them.

Who stands in your shadow? Is it filled with the light of God?

Life can be depressing. So many people live in dark world. What they need is someone to shine God’s light into their life.

Do you walk in the light of God? If you do, then your shadow will be filled with his light. If you don’t, seek his light. Read the New Testament of the Bible and ask God to fill your mind with his truth.

God will surprise you because that’s a prayer he loves to answer.

There’s nothing quite like the joy of light entering a darkened life! Once you step into the light, you can cast your own shadow and fill it with God’s light. Your shadowlight.

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

Behavior Problem

Do you have a problem with your behavior? I do. And I’ll bet you do, too.

We know what we should do but we don’t do it. It must be human to think we’re exempt from the rules that others should keep.

Like what? Well what about texting on your cell phone while driving? Or driving over the speed limit? What about eating too much food with salt or sugar? We all break the rules.

People often pursue with abandon behaviors that have serious consequences. Addictive behaviors. Self-destructive behaviors. Behaviors that steal time and maybe a bit of their souls.

Part of the problem is that, while we’re often given the correct information, we don’t use it to change our lives. We haven’t learned a thing.

Now hold on just a minute! What’s the benefit of education if it doesn’t change the student?

Nothing. And since we were born with a rebel’s heart we resist being told what to do. God’s solution is to change us through faith in Jesus Christ. He changes us from the inside out.

When we accept that Jesus is the Son of God and that his death on the cross was for our sin, God forgives our failures, removes our guilt and gives us a totally new outlook on life.

Rebels become worshippers.

Then God begins the process of renewing our minds. To do that, he uses his Word, the Bible.

Jesus’ final instructions to his followers include one that says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Teaching them everything I have commanded you.” That IS what many churches do. But it’s NOT what he said.

Jesus said, “Teaching them to OBEY everything I have commanded you.” Big difference!

It’s all about the behavior. About bringing our obedience level up to our knowledge level.

In college I took a class on Principles and Methods of teaching. One thing I never forgot is this principle: “Teaching hasn’t occurred until learning has occurred and learning hasn’t occurred until there has been a change in behavior.”

For me it was one of those rare “Aha!” moments. In a flash I realized that most of my education was just a transfer of information. Information that, by itself, changed nothing.

But the Bible wasn’t given to us for information alone. It was given for our transformation!

Only the Bible contains the words of life. Its words are living, active and powerful enough to transform the worst criminal into a godly saint.

Don’t take my word on it. Find out for yourself. Pick up a Bible and check it out. Start in the New Testament Gospel of John and then keep reading.

You’ll discover that God can speak to you through the pages of his book. That’s why the Gideons put Bibles in motel and hotel rooms around the world. To see lives changed.

When I give talks about the Bible, my goal is to see lives changed. Sadly, not everyone who hears God’s Word allows it to change his or her behavior. But that doesn’t diminish its power.

God changed my heart and his Word changes my behavior. I work with him on it every day. And if you’re troubled by your bad behavior, the Bible can transform your life, as well.

Understanding this can transform church attendance from a pleasant past time to a life-changing event. Because the truth will set you free if you obey it!

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

Goodbye, Hello

Last week we said goodbye to our cat. She died Thursday, old and well loved.

Bria was faithful. She met us at the door with a meow. She sat in our laps while we watched TV. She lay on the floor near my feet while I worked on my computer.

She didn’t ask for much but gave a lot of love in return. She was a comforting companion.

It hurt to see her suffer. It hurt that we could do little to help. At least she didn’t suffer long.

If you’ve ever lost a pet, you know what we’ve been through. There’s an empty place in our home. I keep expecting to see her out of the corner of my eye.

On top of that, a special aunt also passed away last week. She was my dad’s closest sister.

I remember visiting in Aunt Jean’s home as a child and playing with my cousins. My uncle Joe was a preacher, too. Just like my dad. Now all three of them are gone.

My aunt’s passing reminded me of how much I miss my father. And my heart went out to my cousins who have had to say goodbye to both mother and father.

Losing a relative or a pet we love hurts. Every other time we said goodbye, we hoped to see them again. But last week we had to say the final goodbye. Twice.

The Bible compares death to a sting. At first the loss of a loved one can be almost unbearable. But with time the pain lessens. Eventually the heart heals. Until the next sting.

One thing about life I wasn’t prepared for. The longer you live the more you see death.

My dad came home from a funeral once and, from what he told me, it was one of the most difficult he ever had as a pastor. A man in his early forties had died in a hunting accident. His family was so distraught that they literally tried to pull him out of the coffin. True story.

Now while I miss my dad and others who have passed on, I have a sure hope I will see them again. And that helps me cope with grief.

OK, hold it right there for just a minute. Why is it that Christians talk about seeing their dead loved ones again? Isn’t that a little weird?

Not if you’re a student of the Bible.

The Bible teaches that there is life after this life. But it also says that decisions we make in this life affect our destination in the next.

God doesn’t want anyone to be surprised in eternity. So he tells us the facts of eternal life.

The Bible says people have eternal souls. It tells us that eternal life is available to everyone through faith in Jesus Christ.

What must you believe? That you are a sinner and you need a Savior. That Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. And that if you trust in him, Jesus will save your soul and take you to Heaven.

The Bible tells us that Heaven and Hell are real places. Just like New York City or Chicago.

For the Christ follower, the Bible says, “To be away from the body” is to be “at home with the Lord.” Reincarnation? No. With the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus once told a story that explained how we would one day join those who have died in faith before us. He said we would recognize them and be able to communicate with them. So while it’s “Goodbye” now, it will be “Hello” soon. Heaven is an amazing place!

So while saying a final goodbye is difficult, for the Christ follower it is an exercise of confident hope. Because we know that, one day soon, we will see our loved ones in Heaven.

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

Alive to Deer

I will never forget the dark Sunday night 20 years ago when I hit a deer.

We had just left the country church I served. After a long day I was looking forward to home.

In the back of my 1980 Pontiac Safari Station Wagon was a full load of firewood. In the front seat my daughter and I were settling in for the 90-minute ride.

Because it was so dark, I turned on the headlight high beams to see better.

Suddenly my daughter yelled, "Dad, look out!"

Then I saw it--a deer in the headlights!

I stood on the brakes, hoping the wood didn't end up in the front seat. The deer stood in the road staring back.

There was a THUD and a CRUNCH as the deer shattered the car’s grill. Then it rolled off the front bumper and bolted into a cornfield.

We got out of the car, shaken. After surveying the damage, we got back in the car and continued home. But, believe me, the rest of that ride was different than it had been.

Suddenly I was aware of deer like never before. Now I looked for them everywhere.

Someone once said, “Life is what you are alive to.” If that’s true, then let me tell you, I was alive to deer! My eyes constantly scanned the road and nearby fields looking for deer.

Wooded areas that once looked beautiful were now dangerous. Why? Because I knew the truth. There were deer lurking in those woods waiting to run in front of my car!

I was as alive to deer as the most eager hunter! If I saw deer standing near the side of the road, it made my heart pound and my palms sweat.

Several lessons have occurred to me about this episode in my life.

One is more obvious: Deer hunting should be done without using a car.

Another idea was more insightful: Is it possible to be just as alive to God as I was to deer?

Now hold on just a minute! What does hitting a deer have to do with being alive to God?

Here’s my take. Ever since that day, I think a lot more about deer. I think about where deer live, when they roam, where they hide and what I would do if one jumped out in front of me.

The Bible says that when a person comes to God through faith in Jesus Christ, he or she is “alive to God.” Suddenly there’s an awareness of God previously unknown.

While the average person ignores God, the Bible says, “In him we live and move and have our being.” It says he wants people to “seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him.”

God is the source of our life. He knows all about us and loves us anyway. The Bible says he wants to forgive our failures, bless us and have a personal relationship with us.

Here’s my question for you: “Are you alive to God?” If not, will you seek him more than money, pleasure, success or security?

Millions have sought and found him. You can, too.

God promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

So, as I see it, you’ve got a choice: You can live life as though God didn’t exist (and miss out on his blessings, provision, wisdom, guidance, peace and eternal life). Or you can seek him.

Take a lesson from the deer. They’re always around. But normally you don’t see them until you’re aware of them. By then it can be too late.

It’s the same with God. You must choose to become alive to him before it’s forever too late.

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

Homesick

Last week I received an invitation to my fortieth High School Class Reunion. I guess that’s the official notice I’m now “old.”

It was exciting to hear our class is getting back together. Just thinking about visiting my hometown, seeing old friends and catching up with them made me a little homesick.

When I go, there are some places I’d like to visit. So I went online and started looking up addresses. What I discovered surprised me.

On some Google Maps there is an option called “Street Level” view. When I clicked on that, I saw that I could virtually “drive” through the streets of my hometown. It was amazing!

First I looked at my grandparents’ house. Across the street was the building where my great-grandfather had a meat market. A few doors down was a building that held a neighborhood store where I bought penny candy as a child.

Then I checked out the two houses my family lived in. I went by the schools I attended.

There was the gas station where I used to get air for my bike tires. I went by the appliance store once owned by a friend’s father. Downtown I saw where Joe’s Diner used to be.

It was almost an “out of body” experience—like I was THERE. Wow. I didn’t want to leave.

The feeling that came over me is hard to explain. Was it nostalgia, homesickness or a longing to go back to a simpler time?

There was a real sense of connection to my past. And even though I wasn’t there any more, somehow I felt like I still belonged there.

Dorothy had it right in the “Wizard of Oz.” There’s no place like home.

Then I thought, “You know what? Heaven is like that.”

Now hold it for just a minute. How is Heaven like looking at your hometown online?

Well, it’s like this: The Bible gives us a virtual picture of Heaven. We’re not there but, when you read about it, you can “see” it in your mind’s eye. Sort of a virtual reality.

In Heaven you’ll have that hometown feeling forever. And when you arrive, you’ll feel like you’re being welcomed to a combination high school and family reunion—and then some!

In his book “90 Minutes in Heaven,” Don Piper, describes his experience entering heaven like a reunion or a homecoming. It was a place where he felt he completely belonged.

Some people think that Heaven is a place where we’ll sit on clouds and play harps. But that’s just a result of someone’s active imagination.

According to the Bible, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him – but God has revealed it to us.”

In the Bible we read about a heavenly city. It’s called a “paradise.” Jesus will be there. It’s a place where there will be no more tears. We’re told people from every nation will be there.

It’s common now for people to pre-arrange their funerals. Have you made advance arrangements for eternity? Everyone will spend forever somewhere. Where will you be?

The Bible says, “The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” If Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, that’s all you need. Be sure you are trusting in him and his death on the cross for your sin.

The Bible is like God’s “Street Level” view of Heaven. It gives us just a glimpse of the ultimate hometown! One of the best parts? --It’s a place you’ll never want to leave.

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

Sweet Poison

Revenge is a poison we drink believing it will destroy our enemy. It ends up destroying us.

Why we do it is hard to say. Maybe human beings are hardwired to get revenge. Perhaps getting even is our automatic response to a personal injustice.

One thing is certain. When someone else hurts us deeply, vengeance—evening the score—is our first thought. It’s what comes naturally

History is full of conflicts started by vengeance. The very first one involved Cain and Abel. You can read about it in the first book of the Bible, Genesis chapter four. It ended with murder.

In America, the Hatfields and the McCoys come to mind. On the international scene, Arabs and Israelis may have the longest running feud. And they are by no means the only ones feuding.

Conflicts started by revenge can go on for years and generations. Eventually those getting even forget the reasons and simply react with a primal instinct: Get revenge no matter the cost. Make sure the perceived enemy “gets what’s coming to them.”

But no matter how sweet revenge tastes, the result is as bad for us as our enemy.

“Now hold on just a minute! How can something that feels so good be so wrong?”

Well just think about it. Can you name one example where revenge ultimately solved the problem? Neither can I.

“But what about justice?”

What about it? Justice is not about getting even but about punishing wrongdoers in a fair and impartial way. And if you want justice, be careful because justice is a sword that cuts both ways.

Imagine that there is an impartial, all-powerful judge who could dispense justice for all wrongdoers. Where would that leave us? We have all hurt another person at some point.

To be honest, what we really want is mercy for us and justice for our enemies. Is that fair?

The truth is that we are all self-centered and self-serving with little concern for others. If we do what comes naturally and avenge ourselves, we destroy any hope for peace and harmony.

Vengeance only leads to prolonged conflicts. War. What our hearts truly yearn for is peace. And if we really want peace we must turn to the Prince of Peace.

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you: Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Then he said, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Later the Bible adds, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord…. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Impossible? Yes, but as Jesus said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

Peace with man starts by making peace with God. And the Bible says, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

If you would like to know how to have peace with God, go online and type stepstopeace.org in an Internet browser address window. Then follow the steps and pray with America’s spiritual counselor, Billy Graham. You’ll be glad you did.

Man’s solution to conflict is revenge. God’s solution is peace and forgiveness through Christ.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” not the revenge seekers. So if you want peace and God’s blessing in your life, it’s time to stop drinking the poison of revenge and trust Christ.

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

No Doubt

Is a crisis of faith good or bad?

Some time ago it was big news that Mother Teresa revealed she had a crisis of faith. Critics said, “See? How can God be real if someone like her doubts her faith?” But others nodded and thought, “She was a real person, just like me.”

The Fox News Channel recently showed the program “Escape from Hamas.” It chronicled the life of Yousef, a Muslim from Gaza.

Yousef’s father was one of the founders of Hamas, an anti-Israel terrorist group. After seeing the fear, hatred and torture of Muslims by other Muslims, Yousef had a crisis of faith.

When he compared the Bible with the Qur’an, Yousef was struck by Jesus’ command to “Love your enemies.” He said he knew then that Jesus was from God.

Yousef now lives in America. He has found peace with God and with his former enemies. And he is sure he has found the truth.

Now hold on just a minute. How can anyone know for sure they have the truth?

Unfortunately some people view certainty with suspicion. Since they have doubts about God, religion and faith, they think no one else can be sure of the truth. How sad.

What they fail to realize is that some people may have already gone through a crisis of faith. In many cases a crisis of faith leads to the truth. It did for me.

When I was a child, I lived by my parent’s faith. I knew God was real because I saw how he answered my parent’s prayers. But my faith was a second-hand faith.

As a high school student I began to explore my beliefs. In the Bible I found the answers to my questions. I learned God was faithful, not only to my parents, but to me, as well.

When it came time to choose a college, I prayed for guidance. And God answered my prayers in such a specific way that I had no doubt it was God!

After I got married, I can still remember my father’s advice to me as a new husband. He said, “It’s time you lost your parent’s faith and got your own.” And I knew exactly what he meant.

Until then I had taken excursions into faith, exploring it. But it was time for me to live it.

I learned that doubt and faith are not mutually exclusive. Convictions and strong beliefs arise through our doubts, not in spite of them. When doubts drive us to search for answers there is nothing quite so exhilarating as discovering the truth.

Jesus who said, “I am the truth” also said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” The truth about Jesus sets us free from sin, a guilty conscience and from our doubts.

Someone once said, “Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.” I like that.

Maybe you’re a skeptic. That’s OK. The Bible doesn’t condemn those who doubt.

When Jesus encountered “Doubting Thomas” after his resurrection, he didn’t belittle Thomas. Jesus invited him to come and examine the evidence. To see that it was really Jesus. Alive.

And he invites you to do the same. Listen to Jesus’ invitation to non-believers. Jesus said, “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”

Examine the evidence. Read the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles. Look at the testimony of the eyewitnesses. Ask God to show you the truth and he will.

So is a crisis of faith good or bad? It’s a good thing if it leads you to the truth and to peace.

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