THOUGHTS, QUOTES & REFLECTIONS

Year: 2010 (Page 2 of 3)

(Part 1) Humility: That Elusive, All-Important, Hard-to-Define Character Trait

If someone were to ask me, “Paul, what do you consider to be, one of the most (if not the most) important character traits in being used by God, in having a happy, healthy marriage and in having long-term successful relationships with friends and family?”

My answer: Humility.

No one has helped me more in understanding what a “prideful, arrogant” life looks like as opposed to a “humble, broken” life than Nancy Leigh DeMoss, in her superb book, Brokenness: The Heart God Revives. This book would certainly be one of the best, most personally impacting books that I have ever read.

The Apostle Peter, probably known as the most naturally arrogant of the disciples in his early years of ministry with Jesus, writes in his later years (after learning many lessons the hard way), the following:

“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

And then he goes on to say: “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”

The force of the Greek text in v. 5 could accurately be translated as, “God stiff-arms the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

How would you like to be “stiff-armed” by God? Not me! I want and need all of the grace from God that I can get.

Notice also in v. 5 “who” is the One that does the “exalting.” God!

Matter of fact, Jesus said in Luke 14:11, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Over the years in ministry, I’ve had dozens of men approach me about wanting to go into full-time ministry. Many times they have tried the “self-promotion” route and have come up empty. In many of these situations, no doors are opened for them and no one seems to be asking.

I always counsel them (only when asked for my opinion), Faithfully and humbly serve Christ where you are, with the opportunities in front of you and He promises to do the ‘exalting’ when and how He wants. He will open those doors if, when and how He desires. Trust His sovereign hand.”

I’ve learned over the years that there are two ways to end up humble: Either choose to humble yourself before God and others or let God do it for you! Trust me, I’ve been in the second category too many times to count (it’s painful).

Notice that Peter’s command in v. 6 is “humble yourself…” We’re commanded to choose humility each and every day, in all of our relationships and conversations. Humility in our relationships with others begins with humbling ourselves before God.

Augustine, one of the great leaders of the early church, once made this statement:

If you ask me what is the #1, #2, #3 most important quality of a Christian, I will answer by saying: Humility, Humility, Humility!”

(Part 4) The Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

“Perhaps the most difficult task for us to perform is to rely on God’s grace and God’s grace alone for our salvation. It is difficult for our pride to rest on grace. Grace is for other people – for beggars. We don’t want to live by a heavenly welfare system. We want to earn our own way and atone for our own sins. We like to think that we will go to heaven because we deserve to be there.” (R. C. Sproul)

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that there are three main tendencies that can draw our hearts away from “gospel-centered living.” They are…

  1. Legalism: Basing our relationship with God on our own performance.
  2. Condemnation: Being more focused on our sin than on God’s grace.
  3. Subjectivism: Basing our view of God on our changing feelings and emotions.

I want to focus our attention again this week on the first of these three tendencies: legalism.

Let me try and sum up in a single sentence the difference between living a “legalism-driven” life as opposed to a “gospel-driven” life.

Now that you and I are followers of Jesus Christ, we are to live our lives…

from acceptance rather than for acceptance!

Two different words can make all the difference in the world…“from” or “for.”

As I’ve said so many times before, God accepts us strictly by His grace through the merit of Jesus Christ alone. Some people immediately say, “Paul, such an unqualified statement about the love of God sounds exceedingly dangerous.” I mean, after all, doesn’t this leave me open to the charge of saying in effect that God doesn’t care whether you sin or not.

Before I answer that question, let me have you consider the alternative:

“God loves you if you are obedient and doesn’t love you if you are disobedient. Since God’s love is conditioned on obedience and you are never perfectly obedient, God never loves you perfectly or accepts you completely.”

Such a bold description of the all-too-common works/merit way of thinking about our relationship with God puts the issue into clear focus.

We are accepted by God, not only in salvation but also in our present relationship with Him, either on the merit of Jesus Christ or on the basis of our own performance.

So, are we to conclude, then, that since we are saved by grace and fully loved and accepted by God, that He doesn’t care whether we sin or not?

The answer to that is found in Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 6 and verse 2, “By no means!” The exact question and answer that Paul gives is this:

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!”

Or as one commentator said, “The force of the Greek text in verse 2 could be properly translated as “Hell no!”

A person who is genuinely saved will not want to abuse God’s grace and live a life of persistent sin (without strong conviction of the Holy Spirit)!

Anyone who thinks, “Since God’s love is not conditioned on my obedience, I am free to live as I please,” is not living by grace, nor does he understand grace. What he perceives as grace is really a caricature of grace.

Let me wrap up by simply saying this: Our love for God, expressed through obedience to Him, is to be a response to His love, not a means of trying to earn it.

Let me encourage you this week to live your life from acceptance rather than for acceptance!

(Part 3) The Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”(Galatians 5:1)

Last week I mentioned that there are three main tendencies that can draw our hearts away from “gospel-centered living.” They are…

  1. Legalism: Basing our relationship with God on our own performance.
  2. Condemnation: Being more focused on our sin than on God’s grace.
  3. Subjectivism: Basing our view of God on our changing feelings and emotions.

I want to focus our attention again this week on the first of these three tendencies: legalism.

I want to begin by answering the question:

Why is legalism so dangerous? Legalism claims that the death of Jesus on the cross was either unnecessary or insufficient. It essentially says to God, “Your plan didn’t work. The cross wasn’t enough and I need to add my good works to it to be saved!”

Back in the early 1990’s I preached verse by verse through the book of Galatians. We spent almost a year an a half studying this very important and profound book. The theme of the book of Galatians is found in chapter five and verse one…

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

In other words, what Paul was trying to communicate so clearly to these believers was…

We are saved from our sins by faith alone in the finished work of Christ, not by obeying God’s laws!

Paul makes it crystal clear in Galatians 2:15-16

“…a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”

Why was Paul having to emphasize this so strongly to these early believers? There were some false teachers in Galatia called “Judaizers.” Judaizers were “legalistic Jewish Christians.” They believed and taught that in addition to faith in Christ, a person also had to keep certain Old Testament ceremonial laws (circumcision in particular).

These Judaizers were saying to Paul, “We know what you are doing. You’re trying to make the message of the gospel more appealing to people by removing certain legal requirements. Paul, you are diluting the Gospel!”

The reality was…it was the Judaizers who were preaching a “false gospel.” Paul was preaching the pure, true Gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Paul makes this bold point very clear right out of the gate in Galatians 1:8-9

“But even if we are an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

(Side note: the Greek word for “contrary” is “heteron” from which we get our English word “heretical”)

Strong words! And appropriately so. Why? Read carefully: Anyone, no matter how seemingly moral they may be, if they are adding anything to the free gift of salvation found only in Jesus Christ, they are teaching a false gospel! And therefore, they are not saved and are leading others astray! That is what Paul is saying very clearly in the book of Galatians.

This is why the Protestant Reformation needed to happen. Because the church at that time had been adding to the salvation message. They would say things like, “In order to be saved, you must place your faith in Christ and you need to observe these certain sacraments, and you must pay these indulgences, and you must…, etc.”

The gospel message that the church was preaching was no longer the true gospel message.

Always be very wary of anyone who comes along and tries to add something to the pure Gospel message of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone! Many times these are some of the most sincere, dedicated people who end up leading others astray. They are the ones who end up starting cults (Joseph Smith, Ellen G. White, etc.).

A few weeks ago I saw a PBS special on Seventh Day Adventists. The focus of the program was on their highly rated medical hospitals (which are good things). But if you know anything about the doctrinal beliefs of Seventh Day Adventists, you know that they add “works of obedience” to the salvation message.

Almost every cult that comes along adds works of obedience to being “saved.” Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. all have a “faith plus something” in order to be saved. Why is this? Mankind wants to feel like they deserve what they get. Mankind naturally wants to feel like they “earned their way to heaven.”

As the well known ancient hymn of the faith (Rock of Ages) says,…

“nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling.”

Until next week, Soli Deo Gloria!

(Part 2) The Cross-Centered Life

“I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you. For I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:1,3)

There are many good, profitable and honorable causes in life that can occupy our attention. But what is the main thing?

The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 what is to be of first importance.

“The Bible tells us that, while there are many different callings and many possible areas of service in the kingdom of God, one transcendent truth should define our lives. One simple truth should motivate our work and affect every part of who we are: Christ died for our sins!”  (C. J. Mahaney)

The words “of first importance” point to the quintessence (i.e. the heart & soul, the center, the core) of the gospel which Paul preached. That is, while Paul’s preaching and teaching touched upon many themes, not all of these themes were of equal weight and centrality to his message.

A.T Robertson in his classic five volume set Word Pictures in the New Testament, mentions that the phrase “first of all” (ἐν πρωτοις in Greek), refers to importance, not time. In other words, Paul isn’t saying, “The first thing I shared with you was Christ died for your sins…, and then the second thing I shared with you…”. No, instead he is saying “The most important thing I shared with you…”

There are three main tendencies that can draw our hearts away from “gospel-centered living.” They are…

  1. Legalism: Basing our relationship with God on our own performance.
  2. Condemnation: Being more focused on our sin than on God’s grace.
  3. Subjectivism: Basing our view of God on our changing feelings and emotions.

Today I want to focus briefly on the first of the three tendencies, legalism.

What is legalism?

Legalism is seeking to achieve forgiveness from God and acceptance by God through obedience to God.

In other words, a legalist is anyone who behaves as if they can earn God’s approval and forgiveness through personal performance.

“Legalism has its origin in self-worship. If people are justified through their obedience to the law then they merit praise, honor, and glory. Legalism, in other words, means the glory goes to people rather than God.”

(Thomas Schreiner)

Theologian and Bible Scholar Dr. Lewis Johnson writes this about the insidious poison of legalism:

“One of the most serious problems facing the Christian church today is the problem of legalism. One of the most serious problems facing the church in Paul’s day was the problem of legalism. In every day it is the same.

Legalism wrenches the joy of the Lord from the Christian believer, and with the joy of the Lord goes his power for vital worship and vibrant service. Nothing is left but cramped, somber, dull, and listless profession. The truth is betrayed, and the glorious name of the Lord becomes a synonym for a gloomy kill-joy. The Christian under law is a miserable parody of the real thing.”

Next week we’re going to look at why legalism is so dangerous to our spiritual health and why it is so important that we understand the difference between living “from” acceptance rather than “for” acceptance.

Until next week, Soli Deo Gloria!

(Part 1) The Cross (i.e. Gospel) Centered Life: Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

“At the cross, the love of God and the wrath of God shake hands; the mercy of God and the justice of God embrace; and the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity appear in stark contrast.”

(William P. Farley, from Outrageous Mercy)


One of my concerns as I view Christianity in America today is that many Christians and churches seem to be more concerned with being culturally relevant than being cross-centered. We must never compromise the message of the cross on the altar of cultural relevance.

Over the next few weeks, I want to share with you a few thoughts on living a “Gospel-centered” (or cross-centered) life. Satan loves nothing more than to get Christians and churches to focus their primary attention on anything other than the “main thing.”

I hope these Scriptures, quotes and thoughts will uplift and encourage your heart.

The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Galatian believers, said…

“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 6:14)

C. J. Mahaney, in his excellent book entitled The Cross-Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel the Main Thing, writes, “The Apostle Paul recognized the universal danger of forgetting what is most important. He refused to be pulled away from the gospel. The cross was the centerpiece of Paul’s theology. It wasn’t merely one of Paul’s messages; it was the message. He taught about other things as well, but whatever he taught was always derived from, and related to, the foundational reality that Jesus Christ died so that sinners would be reconciled to God and forgiven by God.”

Theologian D. A. Carson writes of Paul, “He cannot long talk about Christian joy, or Christian ethics, or Christian fellowship, or the Christian doctrine of God, or anything else, without finally tying it to the cross. Paul is Gospel-centered; he is cross-centered.”

In writing to the church in Corinth, Paul said, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:2)

Jerry Bridges, in his excellent book entitled The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness, writes, “The Gospel is not only the most important message in all of history; it is the only essential message in all of history. Yet we allow thousands of professing Christians to live their entire lives without clearly understanding it and experiencing the joy of living by it.”

Most Christians, when they think of the Gospel, they think of John 3:16 and say to themselves, “been there, done that – now let’s move on to ‘other’ spiritual truths.” Because of this, we forget and lose sight of the life-changing, heart-transforming, mind-renewing power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

George Orwell once noted that, “sometimes the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.”

I have found in my own life that it is very easy to begin to lose sight of and appreciation for “the Gospel.” The Gospel is our anchor. It is our center-point.

So what does a “cross-centered” or “Gospel-centered” life look like? Mahaney mentions these…

The symptoms that arise from not being cross-centered are easy to spot. Do any of these describe you?

  • You often lack joy.
  • You’re not consistently growing in spiritual maturity.
  • Your love for God lacks passion.
  • You’re always looking for some new technique, some “new truth” or new experience that will pull all the pieces of your faith together.

A cross-centered life helps us to…

  • Break free from joy-robbing, legalistic thinking and living.
  • Leave behind the crippling effects of guilt and condemnation.
  • Stop basing your faith on your emotions and circumstances.
  • Grow in gratefulness, joy and holiness.

Next week, I’ll share some more thoughts that, I pray, will help all of us to live and experience true “cross-centered, God-glorifying, joy-filled” lives.

Until then, remember the profound words found in Romans 5:8

“…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

We are not only saved by grace, but we also live the Christian life by grace!

Milk Cows, Worldview and the Transformation of Cultures

This week, I wanted to pass on to you a few thoughts from Gary Brumbelow of the Disciple Nations Alliance. Over the past few years, I have learned a great deal (through books and missions periodicals, as well as many conversations with Christian leaders from around the world) about what it takes to bring true, lasting, godly transformation to people and nations. Listen to Brumbelow’s brief story entitled Milk Cows Can Change the World:

“In his remarkable book, Truth and Transformation, native Indian Vishal Mangalwadi writes about visiting a dairy in Holland.

I had never seen such a dairy! It had a hundred cows, there were no staff on site, and it seemed amazingly clean and orderly. In India we had a small dairy of our own, but our dairy had two workers and it was filthy and smelly.

Book cover

Vishal was introduced to mechanized milking, but something else was a bigger surprise: the honor system of paying for milk.

We walked into the milk room, and no one was there to sell the milk. I expected Jan to ring a bell, but instead he just opened the tap, put his jug under it, and filled the jug.

His host paid for the milk by making change from the open money bowl on the window sill, and the transaction was done!

Vishal was astonished at such a system and observed that it could only work in a culture of trust and honor.

Beyond that, he points out how such virtues build economic growth.

In a different culture, the milk would be diluted-requiring inspectors, and the money bowl would be pilfered-requiring employees. Hiring employees and paying inspectors would increase the price of milk for everyone.

His takeaway: Moral integrity is a huge factor behind the unique socioeconomic/sociopolitical success of the West.

Virtues grounded in biblical values have benefited the world more profoundly, and in more ways, than many people recognize.”

After I read this post by Brumbelow, it reminded me again of the strategic importance of the power of God’s Truth to transform entire cultures!

Until a person’s worldview is changed so that it is in line with godly values, ethics and morals (which all flow from a proper understanding of the nature of God, i.e. good theology), nothing substantial is going to change. Poverty will continue unabated. The reason why so much poverty continues in many of these countries is because their worldview (belief system) is not in line with Scriptural principles.

When a person has a biblical worldview and lives it out in their day-to-day life, the impact is astounding! Like the example above, when people begin to value and live out honesty and integrity, business tends to flourish. When people begin to value women and children as human beings made in God’s image, they are no longer treated as second-class citizens.

If we want to create lasting change and transformation within the poorest countries of the world, the place to begin is with God’s Truth (i.e. Scripture). Teaching, educating and training indigenous people in the principles of God’s Word is at the root. As they begin to develop a biblical worldview and live it out as followers of Christ, transformation begins to happen in every socioeconomic and sociopolitical area! I have personally witnessed this in the villages and communities of northeast India where we have been involved for over 12 years.

Here is a list of recommended resources that deal with the above issues which I have found extremely helpful…

  • Discipling Nations: The Power of Truth to Transform Cultures, by Darrow L. Miller (with Stan Guthrie), copyright 1998.
  • Truth and Transformation: A Manifesto for Ailing Nations, by Vishal Mangalwadi, copyright 2009.
  • When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor and Yourself, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert, copyright 2009.
  • Giving Wisely: Killing with Kindness or Empowering Lasting Transformation?, by Jonathan Martin, copyright 2008.
  • African Friends and Money Matters, by David Maranz, copyright 2001.
  • The Aid Trap: Hard Truths about Ending Poverty, by R. Glenn Hubbard and William Duggan, copyright 2009.
  • The White Man’s Burden: Why the West’s Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good, by William Easterly, copyright 2006.

(Important Note: just because I recommend a particular book does not mean that I endorse every single thing that the author says or believes. I always encourage people to read critically [i.e. discerningly] and learn to take the “good” and leave the “not so good”)

On the pastoral, leadership and theological famine ravaging the world today…

A few weeks ago, I heard a great analogy that describes the role of pastoral and leadership training throughout the developing world…

“Pastoral and leadership training here in America is like opening another restaurant – there’s one on virtually every corner. On the other hand, pastoral and leadership training throughout the developing world is like opening a lone food bank in the midst of starving people!”

I believe that the most effective way, in most situations, of fulfilling the Great Commission is by training the nationals to evangelize, disciple, equip, encourage and minister to their own people. The nationals know the local language, culture and customs, which allows them to immediately begin ministering to their own people without having to face the hurdles of learning a new language and culture.

Several years ago, I was struck by a magazine advertisement in a Christian periodical that showed all of the different types of Bibles available from a particular publisher here in America (note picture to left).

In almost every country where we do pastoral and leadership training, the local pastors are fortunate to have just one complete Bible in their own language. They have no “Study Bibles” available to them.

In a number of locations where we’ve conducted trainings, our staff have brought along copies of the new ESV Study Bible to give to pastors and leaders who can read and understand English. After giving them the new Study Bible, you would have thought that we had just given them a million dollars! They literally hug and hold their new Study Bible like it is their most treasured possession.

I use this illustration often when describing why GTN does what we do… “If you saw ten men trying to carry a heavy log and nine of the men were carrying the lighter tapered end…and only one man was struggling to carry the wider heavier end, which end would you jump toward to give your help?”

As great as the needs are here in America (and we truly have many), compared to much of the developing world, they have 10% or less of what we possess in terms of churches, ministries, and spiritual resources.

Research shows that 95% of pastors throughout the developing world have little to no theological training for their ministries. This is why ministries (of which GTN is one) that bring good biblical training to these indigenous pastors around the world are so vital.

What David Brainerd Taught Me

One of my favorite things to do during the Summer months (especially on vacation) is to read biographies of great men and women of the past.

One that deeply impacted me was on the life of David Brainerd, missionary to the Native Americans in the early 1700’s. It was entitled, An Account of the Life of the Late Rev. David Brainerd and was written by Jonathan Edwards.

David Brainerd only lived 29 years before the Lord called him home, yet despite his short life, God used his influence for generations to come. Brainerd was known for his passion and dedication to following Christ no matter the cost.

His life story inspired me greatly as a young 18-year-old freshman in Bible College. His words continue to challenge and inspire me to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

American philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Taking time to learn from godly men and women that have gone before us can enrich our souls and inspire our hearts. I almost always come away from reading a biography of a godly leader encouraged, uplifted and inspired to live for Christ in even greater ways.

Reading about the lives of godly saints who have gone before us serves as a poignant reminder that our current struggles are very similar, if not the same, as the challenges they faced. It breathes fresh hope into our souls and reminds us that we’re not alone in this spiritual battle.

I would encourage you to pick up a biography this Summer and learn from the successes and failures, the ups and downs, the good times and the bad times of other great men and women that have gone before us!

Here are a few quotes that I have gleaned from David Brainerd. I hope they encourage, inspire and challenge you in your walk with Jesus. I’ve included at the bottom of this blog a brief biography of the life of David Brainerd for your information.

Quotes from the Life of David Brainerd

“O God, let me make a difference for You that is utterly disproportionate to who I am.”

“Once more, Never think that you can live to God by your own power or strength; but always look to and rely on Him for assistance, yea, for all strength and grace.”

“We are a long time in learning that all our strength and salvation is in God.”

“We should always look upon ourselves as God’s servants, placed in God’s world, to do his work; and accordingly labor faithfully for him; not with a design to grow rich and great, but to glorify God, and do all the good we possibly can.”

“When you cease from labor, fill up your time in reading, meditation, and prayer: and while your hands are laboring, let your heart be employed, as much as possible, in divine thoughts.”

“Oh, that I could spend every moment of my life to God’s glory!”

“It is sweet to be nothing and less than nothing that Christ may be all in all.”

A Short Biography

David Brainerd (April 20, 1718 – October 9, 1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans.

Brainerd was born in Haddam, Connecticut. He was orphaned at fourteen and had an experience that intensified his dedication to Christianity at age 21 in 1739. Shortly after, he enrolled at Yale, but was expelled his junior year for privately saying of a college tutor, “He has no more grace than this chair”. Although his contemporaries, Jonathon Edwards, Wesley and George Whitefield attempted to re-enroll him, he was continuously turned away. The episode grieved Brainerd, but some two months later, on his 24th birthday, he wrote in his journal, “…I hardly ever so longed to live to God and to be altogether devoted to Him; I wanted to wear out my life in his service and for his glory …”

The University later named a building after Brainerd (Brainerd Hall at Yale Divinity School), the only building on the Yale University campus to be named after a student who was expelled.

He then prepared for the ministry, being licensed to preach in 1742, and early in 1743 decided to devote himself to missionary work among the Native Americans. Supported by the Scottish “Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge,” he worked first at Kaunaumeek, an Indian settlement about 20 miles from Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and subsequently, until his death, among the Delaware Indians in Pennsylvania (near Easton) and New Jersey (near Cranbury). His heroic and self-denying labors, both for the spiritual and for the temporal welfare of the Indians, wore out a naturally feeble constitution, and on October 9, 1747 he died at the house of his friend, Jonathan Edwards, in Northampton, Massachusetts. Brainerd is believed to have died of tuberculosis.

He made a handful of converts, but became widely known in the 1800s due to books about him. His Journal was published in two parts in 1746 by the Scottish Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and in 1749, at Boston, Jonathan Edwards published An Account of the Life of the Late Rev. David Brainerd, chiefly taken from his own Diary and other Private Writings, which has become a missionary classic. A new edition, with the Journal and Brainerd’s letters embodied, was published by Sereno E. Dwight at New Haven in 1822; and in 1884 was published what is substantially another edition, The Memoirs of David Brainerd, edited by James M Sherwood. Brainerd’s writings contain substantial meditation on the nature of the illness that eventually led to his death and its relation to his ties with God. (www.wikipedia.com)

(Part 6) Heaven: Living "here" in light of "there"

“Until you have found something worth dying for, you have not found something worth living for!”

“Out of all the eternal ages of our existence as God’s children, these tiny years here on earth have a destiny that can never be repeated. The Bible tells us that in the stench of a sick and rotting world we are perfume bottles for the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15). In the gathering darkness we shine as stars (Philippians 2:15). If only we could grasp the awesome implications of these few years!”

(David Needham, from his book Birthright)

Living with an eternal perspective should motivate and encourage us to live our lives responsibly and as good stewards of God’s many blessings.

Contrary to modern secular thought, the primary goal of life here on earth is not to “live it to the fullest” and to “experience maximum fun and adventure.” Not that there is anything wrong with fun and adventure in and of themselves; they are simply not the main objective of life.

In 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 the Apostle Paul tells us that we as Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (the Greek word is bema) to give an account of the stewardship of our time, talent and treasure. At the judgment seat of Christ, we will receive rewards or face the loss of rewards based upon what we did with our life and the works we did while we lived here on earth. This judgment is not for salvation (heaven or hell), but rather for believers in Christ only.

This does not mean that we are saved by works. We are not! Ephesians 2:8-10 and Titus 3:3-5 make that abundantly clear! Scripture teaches that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone! But, Scripture also says, how we live our life after we come to Christ and what we do with our time, talent and treasure is eternally important!

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” (2 Corinthians 5:9-10)

Over in Romans 14 the Apostle Paul says it this way…

“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.”

This reminds me of a story that appeared in the February 1998 issue of Readers Digest.  The article spoke about a couple “that took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells…” Picture this couple standing before Christ at the great day of judgment: “Look, Lord. See my shells.”

I’m convinced that “until you have found something worth dying for, you have not found something worth living for!”

Solomon, best known for his immense riches and wisdom, said in the book of Ecclesiastes (after trying to find meaning and happiness in every conceivable way) “Life apart from God is empty and meaningless…life only makes sense and has value when lived with God at the center.” (my paraphrase)

Throughout my life, one of my greatest fears has been that I would waste my life. Waste it on things that many would consider to be very good, but ultimately not eternally important. I remember hearing these well known words growing up as a young boy…

“Only one life,

‘Twill soon be past;

Only what’s done

for Christ will last.”

According to Scripture, only two things in life last forever – 1) The souls of people, and 2) God’s Word.  I think Joni Eareckson Tada said it well when she wrote…

“When a Christian realizes his citizenship is in heaven, he begins acting as a responsible citizen of earth. He invests wisely in relationships because he knows they’re eternal. His conversations, goals, and motives become pure and honest because he realizes these will have a bearing on everlasting reward. He gives generously of time, money, and talent because he’s laying up treasures for eternity. He helps spread the good news of Christ because he longs to fill heaven’s ranks with his friends and neighbors.”

Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that “you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

John Piper in his excellent book Don’t Waste Your Life, after having just quoted the above verses writes…

“I have written this book to help you taste those words (1 Cor. 6:19-20) as sweet instead of bitter or boring.” And then he goes on to say…

“If you are a Christian, you are not your own. Christ has bought you at the price of his own death. You now belong doubly to God: He made you, and he bought you. That means your life is not your own. It is God’s. Therefore, the Bible says, ‘Glorify God in your body.’ God made you for this. He bought you for this. This is the meaning of your life.”

And then he writes these very profound words…

“It was not always plain to me that pursuing God’s glory would be virtually the same as pursuing my joy. Now I see that millions of people waste their lives because they think these paths are two and not one.”

“God created us to live with a single passion: to joyfully display his supreme excellence in all the spheres of life. The wasted life is the life without this passion. God calls us to pray and think and dream and plan and work not to be made much of, but to make much of Him in every part of our lives.

Most people slip by in life without a passion for God, spending their lives on trivial diversions, living for comfort and pleasure, and perhaps trying to avoid sin. Don’t get caught up in a life that counts for nothing. My challenge to you is to live and die boasting in the cross of Christ and making the glory of God your singular passion.”

Remember: you have one life. That’s all. You were made for God. Don’t waste it!

(Part 5) Heaven: Living "here" in light of "there"


As I write this, I have just returned from the funeral service for fallen Phoenix Police Officer, Travis Murphy. Travis is the nephew of some long time friends of ours, Dale and Theresa Crull. Officer Murphy was only 29 years old and had a young daughter and a two-week-old son. As you can imagine, his dear wife is heartbroken. Our prayers and sympathy go out to Travis’ entire family.

Thankfully, Travis knew Christ as his Savior and had been born-again (John 3) years before.

As I continue this week in my series on “Heaven: Living here in light of there,” I want to focus a few thoughts that I pray will bring encouragement to your hearts.

As believers in Christ, having an eternal perspective should do two things for us and in us: 1) bring comfort to our hearts and 2) responsibility in how we live.  This week, my focus is bringing “comfort” to our hearts.

A passage of Scripture that I have had memorized now for over 30 years and that has ministered to me time and time again as I have gone through hard times is 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Here are these three “choice” verses…

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (NASB)

Or as Romans 8:18 says…

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

Knowing that in heaven we will “rest from our labors” (Revelation 14:13) brings comfort. Life this side of heaven is often tiresome, tedious, painful and discouraging.  Heaven reminds us that one day all of the “tiresome, tedious, painful, discouraging moments” will be eternally over, never to return! Only joy, happiness, peace, love, grace, kindness, righteousness and goodness will be present – forever! You will never be disappointed, discouraged, depressed or deceived ever again. You will never sin or make a wrong or unwise choice ever again! Imagine living in perfect righteousness every moment of every day – forever!

As the psalmist describes life in God’s presence…

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11)

C. S. Lewis said this about heaven…

“Joy is the serious business of heaven….In heaven, we will be strong, radiant, wise, beautiful and drenched in joy!”

According to Scripture, when we have a heavenly perspective, it takes the “sting” out of losing temporal possessions here on earth. The writer of Hebrews, speaking to believers who had gone through severe persecution and who had been imprisoned for their faith in Christ, said…

“You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions [in heaven]!”  (Hebrews 10:34)

Imagine someone coming in and taking all your earthly possessions away – house, car, furniture, valuables…everything – and “joyfully” accepting it! How could a person do that? Because they “knew that they had better and lasting possessions [in heaven]!”

According to Hebrews 11, Abraham had a heavenly perspective as he went through life…

“For he [Abraham] was looking forward to the city that has  foundations, whose designer and builder is God…having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth…But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” (Hebrews 11:10, 13b, 16a)

My encouragement to you this week is: wake up each day with heaven on your mind (Colossians 3:1-4). And allow that eternal reality to bring you comfort as you go through your day…knowing that whatever trials and tribulations, problems or pains that you may be facing, in comparison to eternity, they will be over before you know it!

An eternal perspective: It makes all the difference in the world!

Live “here” in light of “there!”

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