The Window

     

     Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.  His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service and where they had been on vacation.
     Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.  The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his life would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
     The window overlooked a park with a gazebo.  Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.  Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. Lovers walked hand in hand. Children played softball in the brilliant summer sun, while others lay on the carpet of grass, book in hand.  As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the scene.
     One afternoon the man set up and said, "You won't believe what is going on today.  There's a parade going on out there.  The floats are so detailed and beautiful.  The marching bands are dressed to the hilt.  Thousands of people line the streets, clapping and cheering in appreciation of the incredible entertainment.  What a sight!"
     And for the first time, the thought hit the other man, "Why does he have the bed next to the window?  Why does he always get to look outside?  Why can't I have the chance to enjoy the view?"  At first the man felt ashamed about his ill feelings and thoughts but that shame quickly vanished.  
     Days passed and he became more angry and bitterness began to eat at his spirit until he became totally soured. The man by the window would atempt to describe the bustling activity outside only to be totally rejected by his roommate.  The conversastion and fellowship between the two stopped, as hatred overwhelmed the the bedridden man.
     One night, as he lay thinking about how much he detested the man by the window, the other man began to cough uncontrolably, chocking as the fluid was congesting in his lungs.  The dying man tried to ring for the nurse but the button had fallen to the floor.
     The other man also had a buttom and all that he needed to do was to push his button to summon help for his dying one-time friend.  Help would be on the way and his life would be spared.  Instead, he just lay there as the other man drowned in his own fluid.  There was silence.  The man was dead.
     The next morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths, only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window.  She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take him away.
     As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved to the other side of the room. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
     He was looking at a blank wall.  There was no window.  The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you and bring you some happiness."
     You see, jealousy had completely overtaken this man, stealing his joy and happiness... even robbing him of his morals and ability to help his fellow man.  He could have saved the life of the man by the window but instead he plotted to be where the other man was.
     Proverbs 27:4 MSG, "We're blasted by anger and swamped by rage, but who can survive jealousy?" Once we start thinking that we've got less than what we ought to have, that's when we start thinking that we are less than what we really ought to be and that's when jealousy... the cancer of the heart... kicks in.
     Lord, help me to realize that I already have much more than I deserve.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10)  Help me to appreciate the blessings in my life, and to appreciate those blessings that you heap upon others.  

Note: There are many versions of this story.  I have 'polished' it a bit to fit the situation.  I hope you've been touched by it.

Why Fear The Grasshoppers?

Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

People, by and large, are pleasers of  people.  Everyone wants to be accepted by their fellowman and most of what we do and how we act is determined by what we think others will expect of us.  We may proclaim that is not the case but our lifestyles betray our confessions.

Here is the unmistakable truth: There is a day coming when we will stand before God. And knowing that, we are worried about being accepted of men?  In the not too distant future, we will encounter the Righteous Judge.  At that judgment seat appearance, will we be acceptable to God?  He alone is the one that should cause us concern; yet we continue to live our lives, fearful of men and anxious about what they think, resulting in our constant 'performance' for their approval. 

In my opinion, it's a matter of comparison and contrast.  Allow me to explain.  Let's say that there are two men standing before you.  The first is a 5' 6", 90 pound weakling, capable of bench pressing a whopping 10 pounds.  The other is a 6' 6", 250 pound hulk-of-a-man who can bench 700+ pounds and is one of the meanest, orneriest men on earth.  Of the two, who should you fear most?  Hands down, the hulkster should provoke the greatest apprehension and fear.  Likewise, he will prove to be the one that you seek to please.

Here's my point.  You may be scared out of your wits of that 6' 6" brute but he is nothing... a mere grasshopper compared to God.  All the mighty forces of all the nations of the world combined would be but a drop in the bucket compared to God, and yet we fear the grasshopper?!

So what does it matter if we are fearful of others?  It was William Gurnall who said, "We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another. When man's terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God."  You see, we may fear man but if we know even the slightest bit about God, we will fear Him in a greater way, and that fear of God will emaciate our fear of man.

Is there a tendency in all of us to want to be accepted by people?  Without question.  However, if we believe that God is who He says He is, then our desire to be accepted by people will dissipate once we come to the reality of the need to be acceptable to God.

Here's the bottom line:  What does it matter if others judge us?  Why be upset if others mock us?  Why should we care if others call us fools?  The only thing that is going to matter and have any bearing on eternity is that day when we will stand alone before a just God.  Nothing hidden.  All revealed.

We should not be concerned with getting our best life now!  We need not focus on our feeble, unsuccessful attempts at being man-pleasers.  Rather, we should be fix our attention on how we will fare on the day that we meet God face to face.  Heb 10:31 could not be any clearer, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  

So why fear the grasshoppers?

Being Wholly Holy

I don't know about you but I have found that when God continually deals with me on a particular subject or thought that is an area that most needs to be further strengthened or more committed to Him.  Lately, I've been pondering a lot about being separated (2 Corinthians 6:17) and holy unto God (Romans 12:1).  

What does it mean to be holy?  Does it mean that we follow all the rules?  Certainly not, for we can follow all the rules and not be holy.  Holy has the idea of being completely separate unto God.  But don't misunderstand... we can separate ourselves completely from the things of the world; but if we stay there it's a very boring, legalistic life.  Furthermore, we can separate from the things that are wicked and wrong for our own glory; like the Pharisees of the New Testament, and it will mean nothing to God.

Holiness is separating from the world in order to be separated unto God.  It's a heart issue. It's recognizing Him as having infinite worth above all else; thus we separate our lives unto Him.  It involves passion... esteem and worth.  We have judged Him to be infinitely more worthy than anything or anyone else and so we drop those things that keep us from Him and run to Him.

You see, it's not about doing the  right thing.  It's not about saying that we love Him.  It is loving Him for who He is... and doing so with a passion.  It's not about moral regulations.  It's not about treating God like an impersonal thing.  God is a person.  He can be grieved.  So holiness is not about doing all the right things or abstaining from the wrong things .  Holiness is when we say to God, "The only reason that I run from these things is because I want to run to you!"

Here's the deal: When we truly have a new relationship with God... an intimacy and a passion for Him like never before... we too will have a new relationship with everything else.  Those things to which we once cleaved, we will abandon in favor of God.

To be absolutely clear... offering our lives a holy and living sacrifice is not about forsaking the things of the world so that we can be in God's good graces.  It's not about doing the right things so that we can go to heaven.  It's saying to God, "I no longer present my members to the things of the world so that I may present my members to you!"  It's called a sacrifice; for indeed it is one.

You see, the subject of dying to the world is foreign to most Christians and a taboo teaching in most churches.  The thought of sacrificing all to God and not craving the things of this world is a morbid-almost 'monkish'-sackcloth and ashes-kind-of-existence to most Christians.  But those who loose their life shall find it (Matthew 10:39); for He came to bring life in abundance (John 10:10).  When we stand before God, the only regret that we should have is that we have not given Him more! 

God, help me to abandon the 'foreign gods' of my life and run in hot pursuit of You.  Help me to walk away from those things that keep me from you.  Lord, I want to be wholly holy.  Help me to do that... not out of obligation or what I might gain... but out of pure love for You.  

Living By Faith

"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." ~Galatians 3:11

The words "the just shall live by faith" are first seen in Habakkuk 2:4.  They are seen again in Romans 1:7; again in Hebrews 11 and here in Galatians. 

Martin Luther beat his body until it was blood soaked.  He crawled up stairs laiden with broken glass... on his knees!.  He fasted relentlessly.  All this in an effort to get close to God.  Nothing worked.  And then one day Luther read this verse -- and he understood that the Christian experience is not, "Do, do, do" -- it's "Done!"  Jesus did it all.  We must rid ourselves of the burden of trying to be spiritual.  Get rid of the notion that since you had morning devotions ten times in a row, God owes you a blessing.  Stop thinking that God will give you this or that as a result of the fact that you've read your Bible every day for the last month! It doesn't work that way.  You are justified by faith...  and faith alone.

You don't have to do morning devotions.  You don't have to pray or study the Word.  You don't have to attend church.

You don't have to do any of these things.  You get to.

You get to check in with God morning by morning, moment by moment.  You get to spend time late at night or before the sun rises, seeking the face of the Lord.  You get to fellowship with other believers at the church of your choice.  It's not got to, it's get to.  And that makes all the difference in the world, for once you're free from the "got to's," you will absolutely do more than you ever did before.

James said, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:20) because true faith will always bring about lots of works.  The more I realize that He loves me by His grace and mercy being poured out upon me, the more I have no choice but to love Him in return.  So I do more under love than I ever would do under the law.

When you understand grace and mercy, you say, "You bless me Lord, when I don't pray.  You love me when I'm not lovable.  You take care of me when I fail to walk with You.  You're faithful to me day after week after year.  I want to find out more about you."  That's what it means for the just to live by faith.

Defensiveness

Defensiveness

One of the dictionary definitions for a barometer is that it is 'an indicator'. So any time we sense defensiveness in ourselves or in others, it is a barometer indicating pride or immaturity.

You cannot become defensive if you are going to exhibit humility and Christ-likeness.

You cannot become defensive if we are going to be teachable and taught by the Lord.

You cannot be defensive if pastors, elders, and other believers are to have their proper place in our spiritual growth.

An honest and valid question-- Am I a defensive person?

If we get defensive when others point something out in our lives, then we are still immature to some extent.

Defensiveness is rooted in pride and prejudice.

Not being willing to be corrected is defensiveness rooted in pride.

Racism or Reverse-racism is defensiveness, rooted in holding on to racism because you don't want to let it go as a defense mechanism.

Defensiveness rears its ugly head whenever anyone touches a nerve in my soul, possibly exposing that I could be wrong about something.

Defensiveness is that feeling I get when anyone challenges me on something, possibly exposing that I have blind spots they see that I don't see.

Defensiveness shows itself in touchiness when anyone disagrees with me in any way.

If I am defensive, pride is raising its head in me.

If I am defensive, I still think I know better than anyone who disagrees with me.

If I am defensive, I still am, to some real degree, unteachable.

If I am defensive, I am revealing an inner attitude that I could not be wrong.

If another Christian or one of my pastors, comes to me to share something they feel is a need in my life, do I respond with defensiveness or do I quietly listen, truly hear what they are saying and make sure I understand it, and thank them for coming, and then examine myself before the Lord to receive what He wants for me? If I do, that is maturity and Christ-likeness. How I respond at those times will make all the difference between real growth and change or not.

If I am defensive when another brother or sister in Christ says something I don't agree with, I am showing that I am still trying to live like an island, separating myself from the body, asserting my carnal independence from the body, and thus from the Head as well.

Defensiveness is so ingrained in us, it's almost like breathing--we exhibit it even when we don't know it if we get challenged, corrected, or rebuked; it is ugly, immaturity in action, and pride holding forth its inglorious presence.

When I am defensive, I am far from being like the Lord Jesus right then. May God save me from this wicked and ongoing evil. Jesus was never defensive one time in his life, not even once. And He is calling me to put it off, die to self daily, and become defenseless, with all my defense being in Him alone.

-- Mack Tomlinson

Tending Last Year's Dead Garden

I grew up in staunch Pentecostalism. Some of the 'old-timers' would say, when they testified, “Pray for me that I'll hold out until the end!” While I was not entirely insensitive to their struggles; being the whipper-snapper that I was... having barely faced any real-life trials... I would think, “Now where is the victory in that statement? “Pray for me that I'll hold out until the end!?””

Now, as the songwriter once penned, I've crossed those hot burning deserts. I have felt the stinging mist from the water that has roared under untold numbers of bridges. The real-life 'stuff' has come my way... and with hurricane force. And while I believe that we can live a victorious Christian life in spite of our situations; there have been times when I wondered if I could make it 'until the end.'

This past year... 2009... served up several of those times.

I've been pondering the apostle Paul's statement to the church at Philippi: "No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." ~Philippians 3:13, 14 NLT

You see, we have made it.

In spite of the enemy of our souls... we've made it. Adiós and Sayonara 2009! Hello 2010! It's a new decade. A new year. A new season. I'm abandoning the 'living-life-in-the-rear-view-mirror' mentality. Why not!? I can't go back; nor can I change anything in the past. And truth be told, while there were some blessed times, I have no desire to return to the same-ol'-same-ol'.

Paul admonishes us, through the unction of The Holy Spirit, to forget it; for it is indeed water under the bridge... over and done with. We must be determined not to let the past steal our present. Remember Lot's wife!

You see, if all our attention is focused on what happened (or what could have been) yesterday; we have no time to realize what God wants to do in us today.

The prophet Isaiah admonished us: “Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. It's bursting out! Don't you see it? There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.” ~Isaiah 43:19 The Message

Someone said, “It's but little good you'll do... a-watering the last year's crops.” Isaiah was right... something brand new is on the horizon but if we're busy tending last year's dead garden; we'll miss it.

Becoming A Seeker

We are all seekers. In this life... never fully finding. But isn't that the intriguing part of it? The continuous search? Someone once said, "It’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey." It's not all about realizing heaven but it's about what with do with this 'life' opportunity that we have now.

I want to spend my life seeking with purpose. I am seeking God. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, saying: "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." ~Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV Jesus said, “Seek first, the kingdom of God and His righteousness...” Matthew 6:33 The Scriptures constantly admonish us to seek God. To know Him.

In the midst of this chaos called 'life' it's about searching for God. It's about making Him our priority. It's about God-intimacy. It's the God search! It's about loving Him with all that is in us (Matthew 22:37). It's about having a God-passion.

Will you join the countless numbers of God-seekers? It's a lifetime process... this seeking. But we are promised that when we seek, we will find. It will take tenacity... this God search. We may have to give up a few things in order to realize God in all His fullness. Self must die. But the reward will be an intimate relationship with God that few will ever experience.