Spiritual Fathering

Hebrews 12:9 - Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (KJV)

I am thankful today for the love and discipline of my father. It meant life for me, even though he did not father perfectly. There is only one who will exceptionally look after us in a paternal manner. God will always be the benchmark of the loving disciplinarian.

Our Father watches to fill up what is lacking in us as sons, fathers, grandfathers, and uncles. With each passing year, we have the opportunity to learn more what good fathering entails. May we all be grateful and blessed that our Father in heaven continues His wise instruction in our respective lives.

Vaporous Living

James 4:14 - Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (KJV)

The word James uses to convey "vapor" in this verse is from the Greek word "aēr," which means "the lower and denser air as distinguished from the higher and rarer air." James knew better than to use the Greek word "pneuma" because this would imply the eternality of the soul and spirit rather than the temporality of our earthly body. The word vapor here speaks of "the atmospheric region." Our eternal being suggests we possess a spirit and a soul that will one day inhabit "the heavenly region" with our Creator, or the lowest depths of hell with the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).

The author's comparison to our life as a vapor should put expediency in our hearts regarding our short stay upon this earth. How are we spending our time? Are we making selfish plans or are they continually filtered through a humble prayer of "if it be Your will, O God?" How we regard our vaporous life on earth will determine our eternal life in the age to come, beloved.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom" (Psalm 90:12).

Juxtaposing Time With Eternity

Ecclesiastes 3:11 - He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. (KJV)

Solomon reveals a great conundrum in this verse. He first tells us everything has an ordered sequence that is revealed according to God's will. This is the Lord's wisdom in making the visible world bound by the laws of time and space. However, then he states how God has put the idea of eternity in the heart of man so that he would understand that time is limited only to this present world. In addition, He has not allowed man to understand eternity in its fullness, only the concept of it which baffles all due to its incomprehensibility.

The reason for God's juxtaposition is simple yet not easy to understand. He desires his greatest creation, mankind, to know that we are only in a temporal state and that He is eternal. Yet, at the same time, He gives us hope of eternity as time will one day be swallowed up by the everlasting. When we as temporal beings think about eternity, it causes us to fear the Lord and His awesomeness, preparing us for our eternal state. Paul tells us to set our minds on things above, for in so doing, we align our affections with the fact that we are truly eternal (Colossians 3:2).

May we all dwell on the Eternal One, preparing ourselves for a timeless eternity with our Maker.

A Heart Like God

I Chronicles 17:2 - Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee. (KJV)

Like King David, when we have come to a place in our Christian walk where we are living in victory and the devil and the flesh are subdued, we come to a special place in God. When we are walking in peace and fellowship, then our hearts are totally given to the Lord and His desires become our desires. Nathan was speaking under the power and unction of the Holy Spirit, knowing David's heart was intent on doing God's will. Likewise, when we come to that place of communion, He gives us all the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).

We must be careful to guard our hearts for the enemy will always seek to dissuade us from the things of the Lord. David found this out in the Bathsheba affair. However, we do not need to fall. May we seek the Lord, asking Him to lead us not into temptation, but to deliver us from evil (Matthew 6:13). He is faithful and just to do so if we will but ask.

Wise Surrender

Ecclesiastes 1:18 - For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. (KJV)

Unfortunately, when Solomon turned from God into a reprobate his wisdom did not depart also. The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Therefore, Solomon suffered great despair because of his knowledge and the hopelessness of it all without God.

Many years ago, as a backslidden Christian who could not get free from his alcoholism, I understood Solomon's dilemma. As we used to say in Alcoholics Anonymous, "A head full of the Big Book and a belly full of booze is a bad mix." In other words, when we know the right way to go, and don't do it, this causes a deep, dark hopelessness. Often, this is characteristic of possessing knowledge of the right way and not having the wherewithal to do anything about it.

Solomon found the gift of repentance once again, as I once again found the gift of sobriety and new life in Jesus Christ. However, there are many who will continue to struggle as their "increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.” Take heart, beloved, and continue to cry out to God. He is the only One who can make peace between our knowledge and His wisdom to surrender.

The Unchangeability of God

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (KJV)

“You get worried about funding. If I say this [or that], will people stop funding [the church]…it’s jobs and it’s security and it’s families and their children. You get into a situation where you’re scared of saying what you believe.”

If we juxtapose the writer of Hebrews against this quote from a well-known evangelical preacher who has come out in support of homosexual marriage, we see two different mindsets. The writer of Hebrews in this same chapter tells them to remember those in prison who are suffering for their faith (Hebrews 13:3). Yet, there are many today who are denying their faith by compromising with what the word of God states.

There is fast approaching a time when to speak out against certain sins will be a crime. Before that happens, however, churches in America will lose their tax-exempt status if they speak out against homosexuality. Will we be worried about "funding" and whether or not our giving will be tax deductible? Or will we continue to sow into the kingdom, knowing that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever? How we respond to the fear of man versus the fear of God will inevitably determine our eternal state. May we know that our God is a holy God and desires us to be like Him in all things.

The Narrow Door

Luke 13:24 - Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (KJV)

Jesus' parable regarding the narrow door is just as relevant to us today. In order to obtain eternal life, one has to strip themselves of the things of this world. There is no other way to get through as sons and daughters of God. While we will look naked and foolish to some, others will not be able to pass through to salvation until they let go of the baggage of this life. Beware of the deceitfulness of riches, for it comes in all forms, including the pride of self-sufficiency.

Has someone called you narrow-minded as a Christian? This may be the greatest compliment one can receive. If we have narrowed our minds and hearts and focused on the things of God, then we ensure ourselves entrance through that narrow door to joy everlasting.