Beware the temptation to 'please man'

I remember all too well my transition to “enlightened” college student. A season when, in the face of a torrent of academic challenges to the “faith facts” of my childhood, I tragically opted in many areas to compromise God’s inerrant, infallible, inspired Word.

One such area of compromise was my conclusion that perhaps the theory of evolution reflected God’s means of establishing this world and its inhabitants.

So wrong, as reflected in the following excerpts from an article by the late Dr. Henry M. Morris, Ph.D.

Scientist Morris warned that “interpreting” scripture to make it fit secular scientism (“old earth evolutionism”) inevitably leads to a disturbing chain of questions/conclusions, such as:

1) If the Bible is wrong on these important matters of science and history, how can we trust it in matters of salvation, heaven and everlasting life, which we have no means of verifying scientifically?

2) Why would a loving God who termed His creation “very good” design an evolutionary system marked by violence, pain and death – long before sin came in?

3) The Bible teaches that Jesus was our Creator before He became our Savior (John 1:1-3, 10). If Jesus was present at the beginning, why would He say of humans: “God made them male and female” … “from the beginning of the creation?”

4) If God’s word was wrong about creation, do any of its prophecies and promises have value?

Is there any reason to believe in God at all? Would a “personal, loving, omniscient, omnipotent, holy, righteous God” create an “old world” filled with suffering and death from the outset? If suffering and death in the world are not the result of God’s judgment on sin, “then the most reasonable inference is that the God of the Bible doesn’t exist.”

Morris, founder of The Institute for Creation Research, wrote: “No matter how convenient it would be to adopt the ‘old earth’ approach or the ‘it doesn’t really matter’ approach, we (Christians) can’t do it.”

“We would do well to continue to believe His word just as it stands,” Morris wrote. “God forbid that we should ever ‘love the praise of men more than the praise of God’ (John 12:43).”

(Note: Dr. Morris stated in this same article: “No true evolution from one kind of organism to a more complex kind has ever been observed in all human history, and there is no recorded history beyond the 6,000 or so years of biblical history.” To read this article in its entirety, or to read more from the Institute for Creation Research, visit www.ICR.org.)

The joy of a life surrendered!

Like many of you, I learned at an early age the cultural definition of "surrender."

Not a good thing.

Surrender, after all, was the fate suffered by Napoleon; Confederate General Robert E. Lee; by German, Japanese and Italian generals in World War II.

I learned that surrender = defeat.

Then there was the mind-boggling truth of God's definition of "surrender." His plan for mankind: victory through surrender!

To those of us who have struggled with the ball and chains of dependence on self, it is actually freedom that we celebrate in a life surrendered to Christ.

"Torchbearer" Major W. Ian Thomas wrote famously of Christian's "threefold relationship" with God: love for Him, dependence on Him, and obedience to Him.

Thomas observed that this relationship, understandable only to those who have accepted the gift of faith, "allows God to be God in action within a human being."

We are given opportunity yet again to model Jesus.

"The true sinlessness of Jesus was His constant reliance on the Father, never falling back on Himself," wrote Thomas. "If you and I are to be functional, this same relationship that existed between Jesus Christ and His Father in heaven must also be the relationship between ourselves and the Lord Jesus."

The hole in our heart that we are born with in this fallen world is filled when we die to the flesh and are born again in the Spirit.

"Your new birth puts God into action in you," notes Thomas. "It lets all of God loose, clothed with the redeemed humanity of your own flesh and blood as a forgiven sinner, so that at last you become a normal human being just as Jesus was."

Thank you, Lord, for the invitation to walk with you in this life, seeking by the power of the Holy Spirit to discern Your will and to be used as Your instruments.

Divine appointment with a co-laborer

Recently on my way to a business appointment I prayed that God might connect me with a fellow believer.

He answered that prayer in a big way, not only introducing me to Paul Perry but giving opportunity to be encouraged by a young man whose gifts include commitment to a devotional under the title "Strides of Faith."

Paul's posts reflect a mature faith, an understanding of the trials of this life, and a devotion to prayer and the Word. In one post I will reference here, he focused on the subject of perserverance.

"As we conclude the first installment of these devotions," he wrote in part, "I would like to reflect on situations that we have overcome. Think about the trials, the anger, the pain -- and the words your Heavenly Father gave you while you were in your trial. What words have you never forgotten? Will you take a moment to share your situation with a person in need?"

A note of encouragement to fellow believers! "Overcomers," as our LORD Jesus has overcome death itself and prepared the way for life eternal with the Father.

"Remember overcoming is just the beginning," Paul cautioned. "Trials bring us closer to God. Think about it -- when is your prayer life the strongest? The Lord takes our trials and our tests and makes them our testimony."

James 1:2-4 NKJV: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

In keeping with all of his devotionals, Paul also addressed the area of life application, suggesting:

"If you have recently come out of a trial, take a moment to reflect on what the Lord has taught you in your trial. Ask Him for discernment to learn how to make the message applicable in your life. Remember He has put you through a process for His purpose and your message is meant to encourage, edify or teach another person."

He continued: "Please don’t be deceived into thinking that the trial was for no reason and that your struggle was purposeless. One of the most amazing things about being a child of God is that He has allowed us to co-labor with Him in spreading the Good News to others. In the Christian faith He has given us meaning, purpose, direction as well as a calling. And the trial that you may experience is all for the glory of God."

"Please remember He has given us a calling," he continued. "Matthew 28:18-20 reads: “Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age'.”

We know, Father, that your desire is relationship with all people, created in Your image but subject to death and separation from You without the power of Your saving grace. I give thanks again today for the precious, encouraging gift of relationship with other believers as we walk through this life. To You be the glory!

I will use you

Because I am a writer, I often scratch out brief notes that I think might have value at a later date. One such note floated to the surface the other day during an office search. It was an encouragement to me, so I decided to share it here.

The note was actually an email I shared with my pastor the morning after a Wednesday night Bible study.

I wrote: “Spencer and I shared a common ‘revelation’ last night, essentially to rest in who we are, to simply move ahead boldly at the Lord’s direction, seeking always to do His will, even if our own ‘record’ of accomplishments in His service seems modest to us.”

The message the Father had for me: “Be Steve. You are My beloved son, and My will for you is good. I will use you. Let Me define what is ‘praiseworthy.’ Focus on My Son, and I will do the rest.”

Psalm 46:10: “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

2 Co 12:10: “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for Your constant reminders to focus on Jesus rather than myself – who I am and who I am not. I know that when I walk with Jesus He will direct me, and regardless of circumstances I will be given opportunities to serve Him.

God's elect: redeemed and free!

More often than not I go to God in prayer before writing this blog, or even a note to a fellow believer. This week I was greatly encouraged when that prayer led me to two separate devotionals, each focused on the same message: Salvation in Christ – freedom from guilt, condemnation and despair.

Who among us has not been pulled by guilt into a dark place where we find ourselves questioning how God can call us His beloved daughter or son? Conversely, who among us has not considered the words or actions of others and concluded, at least for the moment, that their sin is too horrible for God's pardon?”

In the first of the devotionals I read, Greg Laurie wrote in part: “We all fail in life. We all have lapses. Simon Peter openly denied the Lord, but God gave him a second chance. Jesus recommissioned him at the Sea of Galilee.”

Laurie continued along that line: “What about Jonah? He ran from God, but God got his attention in the stomach of a great fish. Jonah came to his senses and was given a second chance. God gives second chances.”

“You can have a second chance, and God can use you,” he emphasized. “Maybe you feel like your story is over because of mistakes you’ve made or a sin you’ve committed. Get up and run again. Your story isn’t over.”

The seed for this blog message was planted, and then I was prompted to go to a devotional posted that day by Pastor Charles Stanley. He followed a similar theme to that chosen by Laurie that day, writing in part: “When doubts about the Lord's love and faithfulness arise, focus on truth. If we judge His loyalty to us by our circumstances or feelings, we will never get an accurate view of God.”

Stanley continued: “True security lies not in our good performance, but in our relationship with Christ, and no one can take that from us.”

He then referenced Romans 8, posing the rhetorical question: “Who will bring a charge against God's elect?”

Answer? “No accusation against us can stand, since at the moment of salvation, the Lord justified us. This means we were legally declared righteous, while still in our sinning condition. No one can reverse this transaction and make us guilty again. To doubt our blameless standing in Christ is to declare His atonement insufficient to cover our sin.”

Thank you, gracious Father, for this word of encouragement, this promise that demonstrates the undeserved, unconditional love you offer to all! Thank you for reminding me (as You have so many times) to look at those You put in my path through YOUR eyes of love.

Romans 8:33-34 “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”