Eyes That Do Not See

Seeing you will see and not perceive.   —Matthew 13:14

I am not normally one of those people who count steps, although I once counted the steps between the new pole lights on the walking track around Roxbury Park. In my defense, I was a contractor when I was in my twenties, and I wanted to see if the lights were put in willy-nilly or in a set plan. This past week, as I loaded the car to leave our annual United Methodist Church gathering at Grove City College, I found myself counting steps. In order to add to my step total on my pedometer, I used the stairs, three flights, instead of the elevator.

On the first trip up, I counted one, two, three … ten steps to the first landing and then eleven, twelve … nineteen steps to the second floor. I was intrigued that the landings were not both ten steps so I counted the steps to the next floor—nineteen steps again. Uncertain whether I miscounted or not, I counted again, one, two … nineteen. Yes, nineteen steps between floors. Did you notice anything? I was headed to the third floor. After counting steps three times, I was now looking at a ladder that went from the fourth floor to the roof. I was so busy counting steps, I forgot that my destination was the third floor.

Most of us have heard the saying, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” As I climbed the stairs, I saw the steps (counted every one of them) but did not recognize the floors. Spiritually, many of us get so caught up in the day to day activities that we miss the spiritual significance of what is happening. We need spiritual eyes and spiritual understanding to see how God is at work in and through our lives.

As Jesus taught the people in parables, earthly stories with spiritual meanings, Jesus was fulfilling what Isaiah had prophesied. People would hear Jesus teachings but not understand and see spiritual events but not perceive. The reason the disciples heard Jesus’ teachings and understood and saw the miracles and perceived the significance was twofold. One, they were in a relationship with Jesus, and He taught them. Two, they believed and were willing to obey.

Many of the religious elite of Jesus’ day studied the Scriptures and Biblical laws with great diligence but missed God’s intended meaning and its fulfillment in the life of Jesus. Jesus condemned the Scribes and Pharisees not for not knowing the Scriptures, but for not believing in Him. The fact that they knew the Scriptures increased Jesus’ criticism towards them.

We can all see and understand if we believe and are willing to heed Jesus’ teachings. The wise and learned of this world do not automatically have an advantage over the young and uneducated in understanding spiritual truths. Jesus said, “I thank You, Father … that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes” (Matthew 11:25).

When we claim that we do not understand, we may actually be saying that we will not understand. If we believe in Jesus Christ and are willing to do what He commands, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s will to us. We see and perceive spiritual truth. Having eyes that don’t see doesn’t have to apply to us. We can see, believe, and respond. Lord, give us eyes to see, spirits to understand, and hands and feet willing to obey.

Washed Clean

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.    —Isaiah 1:18

Along both sides of my driveway are stone walls made of rock-faced sandstone. The stones come in three heights, and until recently, were a grayish brown color. The stonework is good, and most of mortar remains solid. But, there was nothing exciting or extraordinary about the wall.

The church gave me a pressure washer for Pastor’s Appreciation month back in October. Last week (yes, seven months later), I finally got around to removing the bow and firing it up. We washed the driveway walls, and to our delight, the stones were not brown and gray, but red, gold, white, and tan. The pressure washer made the walls come alive in beauty. Imagine looking at the Grand Canyon in a black and white photo and then seeing it live in full sunshine.

Many persons live broken, dismal lives without Jesus Christ. They get by, and things seem good enough, but they have no idea how beautiful life could be in an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Isaiah writes, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (1:18). Past sins, failures, and rebellion leave stains and scars in our lives. The blood that Jesus shed for us on the Cross cleanses us from all sin.

As I power washed the stone wall, dirt, road dust, and mildew were blown away leaving clean, beautiful stones. Some of the stains had been there for years and may have been on the stones when they were installed. In our lives, some sins have plagued us for years. Others have been in our families for generations. Just like the high pressured water washed even nearly permanent stains away, Jesus Christ promises to not only forgive our sins but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

How do we receive this spiritual cleansing from sin? It’s a gift! Just as the pressure washer was a gift to me, salvation, eternal life, and forgiveness of sin are gifts from God. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). A gift means two things. One, someone else paid for it. The people of the church paid for my pressure washer. Jesus Christ did for us what we could not do for ourselves. He lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death to pay the price for our sins. Jesus can now offer us eternal life as a gift which He purchased.

Two, a gift must be received to complete the transaction. On a Sunday in October, last year, I was presented with a new pressure washer with a large gold bow on it. I said thank you. Mentally and ceremonially, I accepted the gift, but in reality, I did not receive it until last week, when I removed the bow, read the instructions, and started the engine. Then and only then did I personally and actually receive the gift. It has made such a difference—beautiful.

Spiritually, many believe there is a god and believe Jesus came and died for us but have never personally received this greatest of all gifts. John 1:12 says, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” Have you received the gift of God’s Son? Have your sins been washed clean? When we believe and receive, we become children of God. Friend, Jesus loves you. Jesus gave His life that you might receive life in all its fullness. Call upon the Lord, today. Receive His love and forgiveness and be washed clean.

Deep Sea Fishing

Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.              —Luke 5:4

Darlene and I were both only nineteen years old and had been married less than a year. We sat in our home church’s fellowship hall eating cookies after a missionary and evangelism service. As we visited at one table, members from our youth and young adult small group were beginning to cause a commotion in the other end of the basement.

Several of our group had been on choral mission trips to Haiti. They decided among themselves that since Darlene and I had not yet been on a mission trip that they would send us on one next year. The commotion was excitement caused by deciding who and how they would tell us. Upon hearing their plans, we felt God was calling us to “put out into deep water.”

For us, deep water, was stepping out in faith and committing to something we could not afford. Deep water was leaving the comfort of our small little church, small little hometown, and family to travel to the third world. We were only nineteen and had never been anywhere, alone, together.

The door to Haiti closed to us, but God opened a new door to Honduras. We went on a three week mission work tour during November, 1975. We took our first plane ride to Miami, but no one from the mission team was there to greet us. We literally ran through the construction-ridden Miami airport, got our luggage, and hopped our first taxi ride to the hotel. The taxi nearly crashed in road construction, but we eventually found our hotel and our team.

We handled the stress well enough, but, during this time, we discovered how desperately afraid of flying Darlene was. The two airlines we flew on from Miami to Honduras were TAN and SAHSA. I think they were Honduran airlines but cannot remember what the letters actually stood for. The locals told us TAN meant Tragedy Arrives Nightly, and SAHSA—Stay At Home, Stay Alive. We landed on short runways in the mountains; we believed their jokes.

We worked hard for three weeks building a church in the outskirts of the capital city of Tegucigalpa. We toured the country, met many great folks, and became committed to world missions. We were definitely fishing in deep water, but God protected us and gave us strength.

Sometimes the deepest water is a situation in your own home or the difficult neighbor across the street. If we are willing and available to be used by God, the Holy Spirit will call us to join Him in reaching the lost of our world. When Jesus told Peter to “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4), He went along with him. They caught such a large catch of fish that they had to call their partners to come help them with a second boat.

Jesus begins the Great Commission in Matthew’s Gospel by telling the disciples that all power and authority had been given to Him (28:18).  Jesus then commands them and us to “Go make disciples of all nations” (19), but concludes His command with a promise, “And surely I am with you always” (20). What deep water is Jesus calling you into? Across the table, across the street, or around the world? Take a step of faith. Hear God’s voice and go deep sea fishing for men.

A Joy-filled Christmas

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”    —Matthew 2:10

Many dedicated Christians cringe as we hear the greeting, “Happy Holidays,” from store clerks or on the streets. We may return the greeting by saying, “Merry Christmas,” with the emphasis on Christmas. Did you ever ask yourself what we mean by the world “merry?” According to Webster, merry means “giving pleasure, causing happiness.” The definition continues: full of gaiety or high spirits. Merry carries with it the emphasis on hearty laughter and outbursts of song that may have its origin in activities related to drinking and partying. Is that what we really mean when we say, “Merry” Christmas?

I am convinced that pursuing happiness or merriment as an end will not be successful. The pursuit of happiness can act much like a drug addiction. At first a little makes you happy. Then two or three things or events are required. Eventually, the happiness craving overwhelms us to the point that nothing completely makes us happy but only numbs the ache for more.

This Christmas, let us pursue joy. Joy may be the only true cure for the pursuit of happiness. Just as gift giving and gift receiving are opposite actions at Christmas, I believe joy and happiness are the opposite sides of the same coin. Happiness and merriment are solely intended for me. Joy (spelled, J-Jesus first, O-others second, and Y-yourself last) is intended for God, others, and our relationship with them. Joy comes at Christmas as we worship and thank God for the One and only perfect gift of His Son. Joy continues to grow as we give gifts and ourselves to others.

Joy dominates almost every scripture passage surrounding Jesus’ birth. The angel told John the Baptist’s parents, “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth” (Luke 1:14). When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby in her womb, John the Baptist, leaped for joy (Luke 1:44). The angel’s message to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). Even the wise men, when they saw the star, “rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10). The dominant emotion expressed at the first Christmas was joy.

The joy of the magi can be further seen in worship, gift giving, and self-denial for the benefit of another. After rejoicing at seeing the star, the Wisemen arrived at the house in Bethlehem where Jesus was, worshipped, and gave gifts. The precious nature of the gifts was not mere monetary value but the energy, commitment, and time required to deliver them. The Wisemen further risked their lives to benefit another as they disobeyed King Herod and fled the country by another route.

Your joy level this Christmas will probably depend upon your attitude and focus. Are you focusing on receiving gifts or on giving? Do you face the many activities and obligations as things you must do or as opportunities you get to do? Whether you are putting up more decorations than you think are needed, chauffeuring to one too many practices, or being asked to give to more local charities than you’d like, a change in attitude may bring the lasting joy Jesus came to give. Scripture tells us to look to Jesus, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). We find true joy in having the opportunity to worship, give gifts, and share with others. I wish for you a joy-filled Christmas. Joyful Christmas!

Let It Snow

“As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”    —Genesis 8:22

I love the snow just about as much as I loved watching my favorite Pennsylvania football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, slide their way through cold and icy conditions to a win against Detroit and solidify their position in first place of the NFC Central division. Have you ever heard of sarcasm? Webster defines sarcasm as the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny. My celebration of the Eagles’ win is code for complaining against my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers for failing so miserably, again. Also, the older I get, the more I dislike the snow.

Unless you are into skiing, snowboarding, missing school, or plowing, you probably would agree with the guy I saw on the evening news who yelled into the camera, “I hate snow.” Actually, snow and ice have some good points most people do not usually consider. Winter weather speaks volumes about the goodness and faithfulness of God. Much of the water supply from the west coast comes from the spring runoff of the mountain snow from winter. When it snows, some folks literally thank God for supplying them with their next summer’s water supply.

In another way, all of creation: earth, sky, sea, and weather praise the Creator. Just as King David did in his early years as a shepherd, let us worship God by spending some extended time outdoors and observing God’s beautiful handiwork this winter. “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). David was not worshipping the mountains but the Creator of the mountains. May this winter’s beautiful scenes direct your gaze and worship heavenward.

Psalm 19 celebrates the way God’s glory is declared by His creation. “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.” Immediately after the destruction of the earth with the Flood in Noah’s time, God promised to never destroy the earth again with water. “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:22). Each change of the seasons, each snow storm in winter, rain shower in the spring, hot dry winds of summer, and cool frosty mornings of the fall declare God’s faithfulness. Every time it snows in the wintertime, God is keeping His promise to bring a change of seasons and not destroy the earth again until the final judgment. Notice the opening words of Genesis 8:22, “As long as the earth endures.” There is coming a day when the earth will be destroyed and made new at the end of the age. Until that time, each winter snowstorm declares God’s goodness. Praise the Lord for snow.

The snow comes; schools are canceled; snow blowers and shovels are pressed into service; and many voices are heard to mutter curses to God and the weather. May that not be you or me. Let us praise the Lord for snow. Let us rejoice in God’s promises and for the change of seasons. Let us lift our voices to God in song, and sing that familiar winter carol, “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” Praise the Lord and pass the shovel; here it comes again.

Joy: Competing for Third Place

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”    —Luke 2:10

I reluctantly joined two pick’em football leagues this fall. I say reluctantly because I am not that detailed of a person to deal with all 32 football teams in the NFL. Secondly, I do not really have time to select winners and losers for each week. I joined both leagues so I could share in my family’s and the church staff’s lives. No money was involved so I was not gambling. I signed up, picked the first week’s winners, and then forgot to pick the next two weeks. I immediately found myself in last place. I am currently in 8^th place out of 11 in one league. The bottom three have stopped playing. I am in 14^th place out of 17 in the other league.

Just like the Steelers, I am certainly out of the running to win any prizes. I feel like I’m playing for third place. How do you push on and play your best when you know you have no hope of winning the grand prize? In the pick’em leagues, since I may not even overtake the person directly ahead of me, I am playing for weekly wins. A few times I have come in second in my weekly picks. I find it almost as enjoyable as competing for first place.

Many of you probably remember Brian Piccolo, a running back for the Chicago Bears. He was a roommate and running mate of Gale Sayers. Brian died from cancer in 1970 after playing four seasons with the Bears. His story is portrayed in the movie, Brian’s Song, and described in Gale Sayers’ autobiography, I am Third. The title of Gale’s book comes from his personal credo, “The Lord is first, my friends are second, and I am third.” Playing for third reminds me of a definition I once heard for joy: put Jesus first, yourself last, and others in between.

The angels announced the birth of Jesus Christ to lowly shepherds watching their sheep on the hillsides of Bethlehem. Shepherds are considered lowly because they are generally the youngest, uneducated folks with the least potential for success. The shepherds were in the fields doing their job out of the spotlight of glamour and public acclaim. The angels told them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.” Can lowly shepherds have joy? If they have no hope of coming in first place in the game of a prestigious life, can they still find joy? The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” In Jesus, they can.

Our world is desperately seeking happiness. We are happiness junkies. The problem with making happiness our goal is that we are looking for it at the wrong end of joy. True, lasting joy comes from putting Jesus first and others second. Seeking our own personal happiness first puts our needs and enjoyment before everything else. The result is usually unhappiness rather than joy.

How do you compete in the game we call life when you know you will never be on the winner’s platform? You may be fortunate to come in 13^th out of 17 if you work very hard. You compete for a higher eternal prize. The prize is knowing the Lord and His power in this world and the next. The joy of Jesus comes from serving the Lord through an intimate personal relationship with Him, and serving others out of the overflow of His love. How is your joy level this Christmas season? If you compete for third place, I am certain your life will be full of the joy of the Lord and overflowing.

Peaceful at Jesus' Feet

“They came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.”    —Luke 8:35

The dog trainer called him, “The Shepherd.” My son’s big, black, and beautiful German shepherd’s official name was Prince Hoss Bain. As a pup, he was fun and playful, but as he grew, Hoss began to show signs of aggression, more like nervous defensiveness. We took him to obedience classes. The nine or ten other dogs all had cute names and practiced together. We were instructed to keep Hoss at a distance and he was known only as “The Shepherd.”

The goal of the obedience school seemed to be two-fold: one, to teach the owners, my son, my wife, and me, to correctly train and discipline our dog. A secondary resulting goal was for Hoss to learn to walk obediently on a leash keeping his eyes trained on his master. If we stopped, he should stop. If we turned, he should turn. The distractions of squirrels, cats, dogs, butterflies, and strangers should not drive him crazy as he keeps himself at peace by looking to his masters and resting at their feet.

Recently, I heard a new description for pastors. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and pastors are like sheepdogs. As a sheepdog herds the sheep, he must keep his eyes on the Shepherd for directions. Go out further to bring the sheep back. Turn left or right. Start here and drive the sheep forward. Constant eye contact with the shepherd is required to herd the sheep according to the will of the Shepherd. In all the craziness of herding the sheep, the one constant is the direction and protection of the Shepherd.

Jesus led the disciples to the other side of the Sea of Galilee and met a demon-possessed man who lived among the tombstones. The demoniac actually behaved very much like my son’s German shepherd. He ran around naked and would break the chains and shackles used to control him (Luke 8:29). Hoss would often break his leash in order to attack a vicious butterfly. Several times Hoss tore a steel door apart to get at a dangerous beetle.

Jesus cast many demons out of this man and sent them into a herd of pigs that immediately drowned themselves in the lake. The herdsman ran off to town to report what had happened. When the townspeople returned, they saw the crazy man sitting at peace at the feet of Jesus. I can picture him sitting completely calm with his eyes trained on his Master, Jesus.

 

Our world appears to be growing crazier with each passing year. I know I am growing older and am less able to cope with change, but I really do think our world is losing its mind. Jesus came that we might have life, abundant life. Because of God’s great love for us and His offer of salvation, each of us can choose to follow the Lord and live at peace. As we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, we can be delivered from being controlled by the craziness of our culture. Stress, persecution, and crazy behavior will still surround us, but Jesus has overcome the world.

As we enter this holy Christmas season, let us take our directions from Jesus, our Master, and not from this world. If we keep our eyes on Jesus and sit at His feet, this Christmas can really be a time of peace on earth, at least peace in our hearts and lives. Let us sit peacefully at Jesus’ feet.