Author: tommestevenson@gmail.com

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The Greatest Name in History (Repost from 02/201/22)

The Greatest Name in History was originally posted in February 2022. But as we close out the Christmas season, I thought it was important to revisit it. Here it is.

Who is the greatest name in history? In the western world, you acknowledge Christ’s influence on your life any time you write a date on something. Crazy, isn’t it, how one man 2,000 years ago could still influence everyday life for almost everyone.

According to statistics from Wycliffe International, Gideons International, and the International Bible Society, the number of new Bibles sold, given away, or otherwise distributed in the United States is about 168,000 per day. In addition, the research conducted by the British and Foreign Bible Society in 2021 suggests that there are between 5 and 7 billion copies of the Bible distributed in the last 1,500 years.

The History Collection, a website dedicated to teaching history to the masses, created its list of the 40 most influential people in history; Jesus was number one, beating out names like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, and Aristotle.

Steve Skiena and Charles Ward, in their book “Who’s Bigger,” created a complex combination of measures to establish their “significance” ranking; they assessed more than 800,000 names throughout history. Number one on their list was Jesus. Judging strictly on longevity and influence, Jesus was determined to be the biggest name in human history ever.

Jesus has two billion people following His teachings over 2,000 years after His death; that’s pretty influential.

Why Jesus?

Isaiah 53:4, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”

Jesus never penned a best seller or sang a top 100 song. He didn’t invent a game-changing product or create a Fortune 100 company. Jesus had no Twitter account or Facebook page; Jesus was not an influencer on TikTok. He had no title or education and no political affiliation. Rather, he was a homeless, itinerate, unemployed preacher. His ministry was only three years.

Whether you believe Jesus is the son of God or not, you can not get away from His influence on your life. Several years ago, a book was published entitled “A Case for Christ,”; written by Lee Strobel in 1998. Strobel painstakingly applies forensic anthropology to validate the historical events in the Bible. It is almost 300 pages of detailed analysis and interrogation into the authenticity of the writings about Jesus. He concludes that everything written in the Bible about Jesus is historically accurate: miracles, quotations, and resurrection included.

If Jesus walked the face of this earth, and the historic chronology about Him is accurate, why do we struggle so much with believing He is the Son of God? Better yet, why do we battle to believe what He says?

Time magazine in the June 21st, 1971 edition, quoted the journalist William Emerson Jr. “that in different centuries and cultures, people have always concocted ‘the sort of Jesus they could live with.’”

Non-believers will say that believers must have this make-believe miracle worker in their lives to overcome their insecurities and give them hope. To them, following Jesus is a cop-out to facing the realities of the world. We have to have a bigger-than-life superhero to make it through the day. Unfortunately, for some Christians, that is true; their faith does not know the truth; it wishes it were true.

2 Peter 2:20, “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.”

The reality of Christianity isn’t that it makes life easier; it makes us more accountable. But unfortunately, this accountability causes most of us to be uncomfortable. The Bible never said that we would not see pain and suffering; it said it would only last a little while. Eternity is a very long time.

The number one hurdle for most non-believers is not finding hope in greater power; it is being held accountable for their actions. Postmodernism allows everyone to be responsible for their version of the truth. They can be a good person based on their perception of good. On the other hand, Christians are accountable to one great truth: there is no sliding scale.

John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is the author of that great truth. That is why Jesus. Because Jesus is the light in the darkness, he is the horizon point that we use to guide our decisions. He is the most powerful and influential force in the history of humankind.

John 14:6, “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Even before you feel the transformational impact of forgiveness, you have to acknowledge the importance of who Christ is and what He has done. Once you accept He is who He said He is, then you will start to experience the grace, compassion, and love inherent in His nature.

“Jesus didn’t come to tell us the answers to the questions of life; he came to be the answer.” Timothy Keller

Who is the greatest name in history? Knowing Christ and knowing about Christ are two different things. The world knows about Christ. Therefore, you must come to know Christ.

1 John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”
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Ahaziah’s Christmas Story

Ahaziah’s Christmas Story: I wondered what it might be like for a commoner (Ahaziah) to come across Jesus in Bethlehem. We know Jesus and the historical and spiritual impact of His birth. But what about a guy going about his business in ancient Bethlehem? Here is what I imagine that make-believe story to be.

Ahaziah’s Christmas Story

Ahaziah’s Christmas Story starts with Ahaziah walking down Market Street. He is a vendor of clay pots. The sun had set, and the stars began to shine, except for that bright star that seemed to shine all day. There was a lot of talk about it, but no one seemed to know its meaning. It was the time of Tishri, early spring; everything was trying to renew after the winter. It was a good night for a walk.

This year is the year of the census in Bethlehem Ephrathah. He grumbled over the lack of food, the overcrowding, and the noise. Ahaziah wanted his town back to normal. Usually, he walked in the evenings to meditate on all that God had done for him that day.

Luke 2:1, “In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.”

But when they were taking the census, the town was in chaos. There was not enough housing or food. The shortages stretched People’s emotions as children whined, animals bayed, and the smells were overwhelming. The good people of Bethlehem tried to anticipate the shortages by stocking up on everything they thought they would need but couldn’t prepare for the wave of humanity; they were like ants everywhere, all the time.

THE MEETING

The hinge of history is on the door of a Bethlehem stable. – Ralph W. Sockman

Luke 2: 6-7, “While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available for them.”

Ahaziah walked by Elisav’s house; she was an old friend with many relatives staying with her because of the census. All her rooms (kataluma) were filled before Joseph and Mary arrived. He knows this because Mary was well along in her pregnancy, and Elisav was concerned. Even in this hectic environment, the commotion around her house was noticeable, but the large crowd was quiet, almost reverent. What was going on? Had Mary had her child? Was there an incident?

Luke 2:8-9. “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.”

Ahaziah approached. There was a strange aura surrounding the property. His heart was lightened, and he felt a sense of awe with trepidation. Something had happened. Some of Jehdeiah’s shepherds were here; why were they not in the fields? He elbowed his way through the crowd to see what caused the commotion. They were all staring at a teenage girl with her newborn infant. This child must be Mary, whom Elisav talked about. But why was everyone here?

One look into her eyes took Ahaziah’s breath away. She wasn’t beautiful in the ordinary sense, but she seemed stunning; she had a radiance and a peace that drew people in. It made you want what she had. The child was extraordinary; at just a few days old, laying in a feeding trough, he held the majesty of a king. This image created a mental confusion; it was hard to understand what a King was doing in a manger.

Micah 5: 2-5, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
 Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she, who is in labor, bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach the ends of the earth.
 And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders.”

THE MOMENT

The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed, changed, and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the Incarnation. – J.I. Packer

Time stopped for Ahaziah, and all his thoughts melted away, for what seemed like forever, he stood transfixed on this little infant King. He tried to reconcile how something so small and helpless could be the savior of humanity. It didn’t make sense. Yet, he knew that God said it was so. His mind went to the teachings of the Torah. The prophets talked about this very moment. But it wasn’t what he expected. There was no army or entourage, just a tiny infant wrapped in a blanket. There was no crown, scepter, or Royal Robe. How could this be?

Eventually, Ahaziah went home to explain everything he had experienced to his wife.

Was Ahaziah’s eyes open when this child preached in the synagogue or when he changed water to wine or fed the five thousand? Did he believe after the crucifixion, resurrection, or ascension? Did He ever believe?

FAST FORWARD

We know Jesus as our King. The Bible is a testimony to all that He accomplished during His ministry. The significance of the moment that confused Ahaziah is clear to us. Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and sits at the right hand of God, His Father. If Ahaziah had any idea of how that moment would change the trajectory of all humanity, he would have laid prostrate in front of that tiny infant.

What is God doing in your life today that you can’t reconcile? Is there something God has performed in your life that you want to explain away because it’s not rational, logical, or reasonable? It was not what you thought it would be. David was anointed King by Samual in this city, then had to run for his life. Moses was exiled to be a shepherd until the burning bush. Ester faced all her difficulties, including serving a pagan King, until her moment arose: what is your Ahaziah moment? When did God show His face, but you were not ready to believe?

This Christmas, reconcile that Christ is King over all things. He doesn’t show up to impress; He shows up to save. It is not always what we expect but precisely what we need.

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Waiting on the Lord

Waiting on the Lord is one of our human flaws. Waiting, in general, is a major flaw for most of us. We live a results-oriented existence. I know one of my most significant weaknesses is impatience. My impatience falls into two categories:  delayed scheduling and delayed gratification. When I go to the trouble to schedule an event, like a meeting or appointment with someone, I expect them to be on time. Although I try not to display my impatience, it is there. The second is more challenging for me to disguise: delayed gratification. I did what I said I would do when I said I would do it, so where are the results? Quid pro quo, give and take, action and reaction: this isn’t rocket science.

ISRAEL’S WAIT

Around Christmas time, we are reminded of the value of patience. The Book of Isaiah, written around 739-680 BC, speaks of a virgin giving birth to a child and foretells the birth of a child who will be called the “Prince of Peace” and whose government will have no end. Micah, written around the same time, 735 – 700 BC, talks about one born in Bethlehem who will be a ruler over Israel. The Israelites waited 700 years before these prophecies came to be.

Isaiah 7:14, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,  and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Micah 5:2, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me, one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

SIMEON’S WAIT

Simeon waited on the Lord his whole life before seeing the coming of the Savior. Luke tells us that the Holy Spirit came to Simeon to announce that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. The Bible tells us that Simeon was old when he encountered Jesus. Simeon faithfully waited his entire life for the consolation of Israel.

Luke 2: 25-26, "Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah."

MARY’S WAIT

Think of Mary; as a teenager, she knew her son would be the Messiah. Her son, born in a manger, would be King of Israel but could not care for himself and depended on her for his development. She watched him for thirty years before he revealed himself to the world. How many sleepless nights did she lie awake, wondering if what she remembered was real? Did she hear the promise correctly?

Luke 1:26-28, "In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel approached her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."

OUR WAIT

When I sit in a doctor’s waiting room, impatient for my appointment, do I grasp the historical relevance of waiting on the Lord? Does every moment of my life fall within the providence of the Lord? When I pray in my time of need, do I put that prayer into the perspective of God’s timing? Does instant gratification of my needs overshadow the dominion of the God I serve? Christmas is not just about celebrating the birth of our Savior; it is about the experience of waiting for God’s revelation.

“To prepare our hearts for Christmas, we must cultivate the spirit of expectancy.” – Handel H. Brown.

It was thirty years before Christ said the time has come. Even then, people did not believe because they had lost hope during the wait. Their chance at salvation came and went without their knowledge.

Mark 1:14-15, "After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"

When things don’t happen on our schedule, do we rely on Christ? Do we have the confidence to believe that Christ will meet our needs in His time? Children get a sense of that anticipation every Christmas Eve as they wait on daybreak. Do you experience the same emotional high when waiting on Christ?

Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."

“The great challenge left to us is to cut through all the glitz and glam of the season that has grown increasingly secular and commercial, and be reminded of the beauty of the One who is Christmas.” — Bill Crowder.

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Is the Prosperity Gospel What You Think?

Is the true prosperity gospel what we think? I cringe every time I hear someone imply that God will reward us for doing what is right. God created us, and He sent His son to die for us so that we might have eternal life. That is a gift we can never do enough to earn. Its value is beyond calculation. God is not a vending machine that rewards us for doing good. God expects us to do good. Nowhere in the Bible does God say, “Give your money to me, and I will double it back to you.” The scripture does not pertain to worldly treasure; it addresses the spirit. The Bible clearly states that God will ensure you have the resources you need to do His will, but He never promises that you will be rich by worldly standards.

Jeremiah 17:7, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord."

My understanding of God’s prosperity Gospel is that if you live according to His word, you will find peace, joy, and meaning no matter your circumstances. If you live according to worldly standards, you may obtain worldly prosperity but still battle anxiety, fear, discomfort, and emotional pain. God needs people at every level of humanity to share the Gospel with everyone at every level of humanity. He needs the poor to nurture the poor, the middle class to the middle class, sick to the sick, and the rich to the rich. He needs the craftsman to nurture the craftsman, the teacher to the teachers, and Kings to Kings. God will resource your needs according to His will.

HIS DESIGN

Revelation 1:3, "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near."

The Prosperity Gospel is part of God’s grand design. He created everything, and in doing so, He created the right way to live. If we live according to His teachings, the natural outcome is spiritual prosperity. It is not a quid pro quo; it is His natural outcome. We may achieve success by worldly standards, or we may not. What we will achieve is meaning and purpose, and with that comes contentment and peace. We will be resourced according to His plan for our life, not according to the world. You will be without needs as you will not need anything you do not have. As flawed humans, we may want more than we need, but we will not go without.

Psalm 33:12, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance."

THE WORLDS DESIGN

When you live by worldly standards, not according to His will, you receive the natural results of your effort. Your display case is filled with trophies from a broken world. You will have trophies of broken relationships, fear of acceptance, failure or success, anxiety for the future, and a deep void of meaninglessness. You have all the trappings of prosperity without the joy. I know firsthand of this experience. Titles, positions of authority, power, houses, cars, and exotic vacations do not provide meaning. They are a way of distracting ourselves from our feelings. We convince ourselves we will be satisfied if we have a little more. It never comes. Every hilltop provides a view of the next hill; it is endless. Over time, it wears you down emotionally and sometimes physically. Stress kills.

Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!"

I mentioned in an earlier post that Skye Jethani, in his book “With: Reimagining the Way We Relate to God.” talks about Christians who “Live from God.” They live to please God so that God will bless them. God has and will continue to bless you because He loves you, not because you found the right formula to please Him. He doesn’t have an exchange calculator that tells Him how many blessings you’ve earned based on your output. If someone tries to convince you that your obedience will earn you something from God, turn away from them. It is a false doctrine—God’s blessings are free and overflowing to all who will receive them.

Matthew 13:16, "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear."

FAMILY

We are sons and daughters of the God most high, heirs to His kingdom, a priestly nation. We are blessed.

Matthew 5:2-12, "And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
•	"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
•	"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
•	"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
•	"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
•	"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
•	"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."
•	"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
•	"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
•	"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
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At the End of Our Days

At the end of our days, what do we want ricocheting through our brain? What are we left with when our hearing fades, and the light dims? What achievements will mean the most? Who or what will come to mind?

Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.”

Passion for God’s Creation

I watched a documentary on the Len Foote Hike Inn on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia. It is unique in that it can only be approached by hiking. I’ve had the privilege of hiking into the Hike Inn several times. It brought to mind how fortunate I was to experience God’s glory in nature. I’ve hiked thousands of miles of trails, seeing nature during all four seasons.

I’ve hiked the Ala-Too mountain Range with good friends from Kyrgyzstan, the northern Serengeti Plain, while in southern Kenya with a Maasi Chieftain and the Sierra de Lepaterique in southern Honduras. I watched sunrises and sunset, snow, wind, and rain. I once was lost in the Georgia mountains during a rainstorm when the trail became a stream—all those beautiful memories etched forever in my brain. The worst was more like a Dilbert comic strip than real life. My early experience as a Boys Scout has always given me the confidence to venture out.

End of Days

At the end of my days, when I sit in my wheelchair at the assisted living facility, I will recall the great outdoors. Nature is my eremos, my solitary place to commune with God. I’ll paint pictures in my mind of rugged mountain trails, breathtaking sunsets, and calm, quiet mornings with birds singing. I’ll remember God for what He made, not what we have done with His creation. My past will not be overcast by bustling offices, long meetings, or hurried schedules. It won’t be the titles I achieved, the deadlines I met, or the awards I received. It will be the peace, beauty, and tranquility of seeing God’s face through nature.

Job 12:7-10, “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

I will also remember all the great people God allowed me to meet. The most amazing of them is the young people passionate about expanding God’s kingdom. I will remember their enthusiasm, energy, and thirst for life. My daughter has done a fantastic job of raising one of these.

At the end of your days, will you find contentment or worry? Did you do the right things for your family and loved ones? Are you confident that you will meet them again? Is your future laced with fear or longing?

1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Every Moment

All too many times, we think there is more time than there is. We put off important things to concentrate on the mundane. Eternity is such a big concept, and today is urgent. I know, as a parent, I become hijacked into believing that God needs me to raise my children. He doesn’t need me; He wants me to raise them to be Godly. After my passing, He will still guide them, just as He guides me today.

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things that don’t matter” – Francis Chan.

Every moment is a gift to be shared. God wastes no moment. Live not with just a sense of urgency; we can hurry into an early grave, but with a sense of intentionality that every moment has a purpose.

2 Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

Live with an intentional urgency until you run out of time. That is God’s plan for your life.

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Being for God or With God

Am I for God or with God? This troubling question was brought up via a book by Skye Jethani, “With: Reimagining the Way We Relate to God.” Skye breaks down our interaction with God into five possible interactions.

  • Life under God – I am a sinner.
  • Life over God – I am a manager.
  • Life from God – I am a consumer.
  • Life for God – I am a servant.
  • Life with God –?

LIFE (BLANK) GOD

Life under God is a life full of accomplishing great things to please God. Is the quality of your salvation predicated on the quality of your gifts to God? It believes Devine Will is at the center of all things. Life over God is living by divine laws, rules, and rituals, each designed to qualify us for inclusion into God’s Kingdom. This interaction says that natural laws and principles are at the core. Life from God is believing that God exists to supply what we desire or need. It is about praying and receiving. Everything is of God; therefore, my life asks Him for things, and He decides what to give me. This interaction puts me at the center of everything. Life for God is about proclaiming His glory as the primary attribute to receiving grace. It has mission work and service at its core.

It is easy for me to visualize being in any one of these interactions. I am a sinner, there is no doubt. Rituals permeate my prayer life, bible reading, and churchgoing. I ask and want things from God and sometimes question my value based on the results. Obedience to His call is always at the forefront of my mind. I have been convinced over time that it is a form of worship to use God’s gift to me for His kingdom.

We express faith in Christ so God can forgive our sins, but it is done to get either a ticket to Heaven or a pass out of hell. It is safety by appeasing God with our behavior. God is a means to an end, not a treasure.

LIFE WITH GOD

Luke 12:34, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

So, what does a life with God look like? Being with someone connotates an understanding of what they are all about. Skye says Life with God entails treasuring, uniting, and experiencing God all in the moment. I see God as the enormous, all-knowing, all-seeing, time-independent author of the universe. Who am I that I could be with God? What possible contribution could I make?  

John Piper said, “Christ did not die to forgive sinners who go on treasuring anything above savoring God.”  Dallas Willard says, “The treasure we have in Heaven is also very much available to us now. We can and should draw on it as needed, for it is nothing less than God himself and the wonderful society of His Kingdom even now intertwined in my life.”

Life with God is the contiguous interaction with God every moment of our lives. It is a constant dialog with or without words. God becomes the object of your existence. In Matthew 13, Jesus talks about a man who, when he found a treasure in the field, sold all he had to acquire that field. To have a Life with God is to sell out of your worldly life to acquire a greater treasure in Christ. God is not the means of getting our treasure; He is the treasure.

GOD IS THE TREASURE

It is not about following the rules, being kind, earning blessings, or getting to Heaven. It is about selling out to God as the only value in your life.

Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”

He knows what we need; he is not insensitive to our situation. But he is not here to build treasures here on earth. He is the treasure. It is great to dream of a life with no pain, loved ones around us, and eternal bliss, but without the treasure, it is meaningless. Can you live for Christ without anticipating Him rewarding you for your effort? Is salvation about eternity in Heaven, or is it eternity sitting at the feet of Christ?

Colossians 2:3, “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
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The Next Chapter of Stories to Tell

Each one of us has stories to tell. We are a collection of great stories waiting to be told. It is our choice to write these stories or leave them untold. Throughout our lives, we experience challenges, and each represents an opportunity to become a victim of our circumstances or the author of a new chapter.

God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile. – Max Lucado

CHARACTERS

Let’s take a minute to understand the characters of our stories. There is the Protagonist and the Antagonist; neither are you. You are the object of the story. The Protagonist is Christ, and the Antagonist is Satan. The fairyland is a broken world called Earth. Throughout our lives, we experience the invasion of this broken world. Satan commands that invasion. He has several ways of attacking, none of which are head-on. He is the master of deception. Satan does not speak in lies but half-truths. He is good at manipulating us into situations that appear to be self-inflicted wounds or intentional violence perpetuated by another. Seldom does he show his face. He is a creature of darkness.

1 John 4:1, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

The Protagonist, Christ, is just the opposite. Christ is a creature of the light. He is the white knight who swoops in at just the right moment to save the day. Christ speaks the truth even when the truth seems counterintuitive. He acknowledges that we are not perfect and sometimes screw up, but he doesn’t hold that against us. He doesn’t dwell on the past but helps us visualize the future. The future is triumph and overcoming, filled with hope, compassion, and love.

John 15:16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

Where do you and I come into this story? We are the object of the Protagonist’s love. You and I represent the storyline. God created us to glorify Him, explicitly created for a unique purpose in His kingdom. The Antagonist’s job is to derail that purpose.

THE PLOT LINE

Plot lines are as varied as individuals are unique. We all have a line distinguished by time that flows from our birth into eternity. We are given specific skills, traits, passions, relationships, and opportunities along this line. The Antagonist’s job is to disrupt that flow. The Protagonist’s job is for us to experience the fullness of the path He has set before us. We have choices in this story. We make decisions that affect the outcome.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Now, at points upon this line, we have conflict. I have learned that you must look closely at the character development to understand the conflict better. As I have said, Satan never comes at you head-on; he sneaks in little by little until the moment is right. The conflict we experience at the moment can almost always be traced back to the small decisions we made in the past. That is one way the Antagonist rationalizes the conflict; it seems like the natural progression of events. There is no reason to involve the Protagonist, at least not until you are desperate.

Acts 16:31, “And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

CONFLICT

Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitudes toward life. The longer I live, the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it. – Chuck Swindoll

Conflict is any point in which life does not go as planned. We experience minor conflicts, deal with them, and move on. There are great conflicts that leave scares that last. We’re going to talk about the big ones. These are conflicts that make us question our existence and our future. They are the conflicts that keep us up at night and on edge during the day; they crescendo to a deafening roar with a force we can not repel. They make us wonder if the Protagonist lied. At this point, we choose to be a victim of our circumstance and allow the conflict to fester and infect us, or we see it as the genesis of another great story.

Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

That is a tough decision at the moment. It is a decision to give up or fight on. Does the white knight still exist? Does Christ care about me? Is the Antagonist too strong? Have I fallen too far?

THE OVERCOMING

Every great story has this dynamic, over-the-top, come-from-behind big finish. When there seems to be little or no hope, the Protagonist takes control. Sometimes, it is good for us to experience conflict. It is a teaching tool. But God will never give us more than we can handle. The situation is never outside of His control. The greater the crescendo, the higher the wave, the bigger the finish. It is one of the many ways God shows His love for us. He shows us His glory. The thrill and excitement of the finish make us forget the pain of the conflict. It changes the story from defeat to victory. We must choose to let Him take control. We are not the Protagonist; we are the object of His love.

THE LEGACY

Luke 12:8, “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God,”

All the stories of your life leave a legacy. It can be a legacy of overcoming or victimhood. The great stories are retold over and over. They are not only retold by the living but by the Angels themselves. Everyone loves a good story. When conflict strikes, and it will, what will your response be? Will you consider it an opportunity to write one of the greatest stories ever told, or are you a victim of your circumstances? What will your book look like on God’s shelf of life? It is thick and worn from much use, or more like a travel brochure that fell between the cushions on the couch. We have a choice; don’t let Satan ruin your book of life.

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Why it Happens or What Do I Do Next?

When faced with a difficult situation, do you ask why it happens or what do I do next? Why something happened is grounded in the past.  It is passive in that you can not change the past. It is blame-oriented. What you want me to do next is grounded in the future. It is active in that it requires me to do something to change the future; it is forgiveness-oriented. 

“You may be wondering why such difficulty has come into your life. However, the greater question is, “Lord, how do You plan to use this difficulty so I may serve You better?” ― Charles F. Stanley, How to Let God Solve Your Problems: 12 Keys for Finding Clear Guidance in Life’s Trials.

Proverbs 26:24 “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit.”

Why It Happens?

What to choose, why it happens, or what do I do next? Most people I know gravitate to why something is happening in their life. They want to know who said what, who did what, and who is responsible. Somehow, understanding who is at fault makes it more understandable. Unfortunately, that is not usually true; debating the past shrouds the present. The he said, she said, they said interrogation only leads to hurt feelings and a defensive posture. People do not remember exact words or actions. Personal bias taints repeated conversations; we remember what we want to hear. The discussion is personal.

Matthew 7:3-5, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

If we ignore the mistakes from the past, we will likely repeat them. However, learning from the past is all about making a better future. It’s about figuring out what we want and how to get there. What happened in the past doesn’t matter as much as what we should do in the future. To understand and solve a problem, we first must admit there’s a problem. Instead of blaming, it’s more important to focus on finding a good solution to prevent the same problem from happening again.

Proverbs 18:17, “Any story sounds true until someone tells the other side and sets the record straight.”

What Do I Do Next?

Let me give you an example of why it happens or what do I do next collide. I was at a board meeting where one party thought we had overspent the budget; another party understood we had a surplus. Rather than accepting the problem that we had two different perceptions, the discussion went toward who did what wrong. This conversation went on for over a week via text and email. At no point did the discussion turn to what do we do in the future to avoid this happening again. Can we create one set of financials that is acceptable to everyone? It was more important to understand who was right and who was wrong. Egos became bruised, reputations were tainted, and relationships got strained.

Christ wasn’t that way. He didn’t quiz people on the situation that gave way to sin. He accepted that sin had happened; the question was what to do next. You didn’t read that Jesus reconciled relationships by allocating blame. His focus was on the desired state and how to achieve it. He told people what they had to do for salvation. Christ has forgiven the past.

What About People Problems?

What if the problem is that two people don’t like each other? Listening to them complain will not help get to the root cause of the problem. Asking each one what they would ultimately like to see to resolve the problem would be a better approach. Getting to the root cause is far more productive than listening to two people gossip and slander each other. Getting to the root cause requires getting the parties to get off their emotions and on to a more objective conversation.

This sometimes creates a paradox concerning why it happens or what do I do next.

Regarding personalities, it sometimes means that the solution is to help one of them find another path. Toxic personalities that do not seek positive change are unsuitable for any relationship. But they still deserve grace. You must use compassion and love when you pursue a solution.

Romans 12:14-21, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink’… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Desired State

“All adversity, every problem you face, is a gift of love given to you from the hand of God.” ― Charles F. Stanley, How to Let God Solve Your Problems: 12 Keys for Finding Clear Guidance in Life’s Trials.

Ultimately, good problem-solving relies on God’s guidance. It is trusting that God knows everything, cares about everything, and is not surprised by anything. You can not change the past; the future is malleable; it has many possibilities. God desires that we not live in the past but look forward to the future.

People all have baggage, flaws, and biases. Much of what people say at the moment is a product of something in the past. Previous conversations or events bleed over to current situations. Even our childhood experience raises their ugly head from time to time. We can not rely on what is said to determine what is wrong accurately. The root of the problem may not have anything to do with the situation. God would want us to set aside our need to be heard to focus on His need for us to show compassion and grace. When faced with conflict or disappointment, ask yourself, “Lord, what do you want me to do next?”

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Time as a Commodity in God’s Kingdom

We rarely consider Time as a commodity in God’s Kingdom. Time is the only truly scarce commodity. Time is the only element of human existence that cannot be acquired, reused, or stored for later use; It passes with a constant flow that cannot be interrupted. Every single moment of your existence is unique. It cannot be replicated. There are no givebacks, takebacks, or mulligans. Yet we live our lives as if time were endless.

Colossians 4:5-6, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

We do not treat time nearly as valuably as it is. How much time do we waste daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly? How many opportunities pass with the perception that they, or something better, will pass this way again? We live our lives without a true sense of urgency.

Ephesians 5:15-17, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

God’s Favor

Do we live with an eternal point of view? We should use every moment we have available to us to pursue God’s favor. Not just His favor on us but His favor on all we interact with. For we do not know the time left for ourselves or the people we interact with daily. There are seasons throughout our lives. Each season requires diligence; every season should elicit the utmost importance at the time.

2 Corinthians 6:2, “For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Kaki King once said at the Ted2008 convention (I’ll paraphrase), “As I was thinking about my place in the universe, if time can reach forward and backward infinitely, that means every point in time is infinitely small and therefore somewhat meaningless. We don’t really have a place in the universe. But nothing else does either; therefore, every moment is the most important moment there is right now.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Live Every Moment

We can glorify Christ in every moment of every day, but the noise and clutter of the world often rob us of those opportunities. We are to reflect Christ in every situation, but we lose that opportunity when we let the world creep in.  Intentional rest, crucial for sustaining life, holds paramount importance to the weary soul.  It is part of the tapestry of our lives, but only a part.

1 John 2:17, “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

There will come a time when there is no more time. We will face that moment with a ledger that chronicles what we did with the time God allotted us. It is at that moment that we understand the true value of time. It is then that we itemize lost opportunities and lost souls. The coulda, woulda, shoulda of our life will be on full display. We have an opportunity now to impact our eternal story dramatically. But it is to be done with intentionality.

John 9:4, “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”
The Byrds TURN, TURN, TURN
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”

God wants to blow us away.

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Managing Spiritual Change in a Chaotic World

Managing any change in your life can be difficult. Managing Spiritual change is no different. Trying to become the person God made you to be is always a challenge. Change only happens when the pain required to change is less than the pain of staying the same. Many fail in this pain exchange when they say they want to change. We perceive the pain of making the change as more significant than what we are currently experiencing. We want to remove our current pain, but at what cost? Does managing Spiritual change have a return on the investment?

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines the outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.” – Warren Wiersbe

1 Peter 5:6-7 "And God will exalt you in due time if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand by casting all your cares on him because he cares for you."

PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN HIM

One of the critical assurances we possess when pursuing God’s vision for our lives is that when we locate the space where we place our trust in God enough to draw closer to Him, we will discover a profound joy that surpasses any previous experience. I understand that this notion may seem unconventional for some because it remains hidden from our immediate sight. The initial step is acknowledging God gives this to us out of His boundless love for us. There are no conditions or exchanges; it’s a selfless love that goes beyond comprehension. It remains steadfast, unaffected by our actions or choices.

Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

God is not human. He does not have the same frailties as we do. God does not act according to the preconceived notions we have. It is not a whim when he says he has a plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). It is a solid truth you can count on.

Numbers 23:19, "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?"

WORLDLY PERSPECTIVE

When considering the cost/benefit (sorry for the business jargon, it just seems to apply) of changing our lives to pursue God’s plan, we have to look at two scenarios. The first is the worldly scenario, where we weigh the discomfort of our personal life. How does it affect the relationships we have, the financial stability we have, and the sense of accomplishment? This scenario is a short-term perspective. The world is ever-changing. Perspectives change, culture changes, and attitudes change. Trying to sustain happiness in a fallen world is almost impossible. The cost of change today might seem too high. The cost of change tomorrow may seem cheap. The return changes with the wind.

The other approach has an eternal perspective. How does it affect that first conversation we have with God when we meet Him face to face? What happens when we get to Heaven?

Revelation 21:4, "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE

I would conjecture that the eternal perspective would win out every time if we believed in Heaven. The question is: Is Heaven real to us? If we believe that salvation will get us in, how bad can that be if we have no works? Do we want a true homecoming?

John 3:16," For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

We realize that our works or efforts cannot save us (Acts 16:31). The fact that we have accepted Christ as our savior gets us to Heaven. What does changing our life to mirror His plan get us?

THE PAYOUT

First, there is the submission issue:

Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

This leads us to this sobering passage in Matthew:

Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven."

It comes down to this question: If I have genuinely accepted Christ as my savior and do not have a corresponding change in my behavior, have I truly accepted Christ in my heart?

As you contemplate your next move, consider this:

Deuteronomy 31:8, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
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