Turning Back Time -- Part II

In Isaiah and 2 Kings, we read about how Hezekiah gets a dramatic second chance in life. I like to think of it as an Old Testament conversion story. His illness is like the sin that burdens the unsaved. He pleads to God for healing and rationalizes about the unfairness of his condition. Then, by God's grace, he's blessed with healing and a rebirth to life. God even performs an astonishing miracle of "turning back time" to put his stamp on the event. Isn't that like the second chance in life Christians get when they accept Christ as their savior? And, for us, Christ's death and resurrection is the ultimate miracle signifying our redemption.

Now, let's look how Hezekiah responds to his new life. Look at the thankfulness and zeal that drove his restored faith. The King James version puts it this way, "The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children, shall make known thy truth" (Isaiah 38:19). In the 1990's, Bill McCartney a football coach at the University of Colorado read these verses as a call to start a ministry for men to renew their commitment to God and their families. "Promise Keepers" filled stadiums around the country with men who confessed their shortcomings and pledged to build their relationships and witness for Christ. Coach McCartney saw the story of Hezekiah as a call to revival -- to make the most of the life we have left on earth to serve God. Shouldn't we do the same?

Turning Back Time

As King of Judah, Hezekiah instituted many reforms that strengthened the religious traditions of Israel while working to rebel against the country's Assyrian captors. Late in his rule he became gravely ill and prayed fervently for healing. As he confronts the big questions of life, God's answers and his response are chronicled in both Isaiah 38 and 2 Kings 20.

(Summary of Isaiah 38) Isaiah prophesies that Hezekiah will die -- which prompts his prayer for a longer life. Hezekiah makes a case for all of the good things he has done as king. In reponse, the Lord reveals to Isaiah that Hezekiah will live an additional 15 years and that the Assyrians will not take Jerusalem in that time. God confirms this promise with a miraculous sign of "turning back time" (approx. 20 minutes) on a sundial. After his healing, Hezekiah writes a song to express his thanks to God. He shows great humility and affirms that God is his strength. He proclaims that while he is still alive, he will be devoted to claiming the Lord's faithfulness.

Read and study both accounts of Hezekiah in Isaiah and 2 Kings. The miracle that God performs seems to jump out as the key to the lesson, but I think it is important to focus on Hezekiah's response to his healing. How can his response be a lesson for us today? What should we be doing in our families to show our affirmation to God? Check back soon.

My favorite verse -- Part II

One of the great questions of Christianity is the role of faith and works in the saving grace of Christ. Paul is pretty clearly on the side of faith. In his time, the Judaizers claimed that circumcision was key to salvation. It was a way to quantify their record of conversions. Paul was clearly put off by this kind of legalism. He said (in Galations 6:14), "as for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Jesus Christ." The Judaizers glorified in the flesh, Paul glorified in the Savior. In verse 15, Paul says, "it doesn't matter whether we are circumcised or not, what counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation." I think Paul used capital letters to explain this issue because it goes beyond just the question of circumcision. Everything we do should be for the glory of the Lord, and not ourselves.

My kids are involved with a group called Christian Youth Theater (CYT) that produces top notch musicals while promoting loving, Christian values. In the DuPage (Chicago-area) group, they have a great tradition to end each show with the entire cast raising their arms in unison and pointing their index fingers to the one who makes it all possible. They call it "The Point" -- and to me it's a great illustration of my favorite verse. The talented kids with all of the great singing and dancing have a special director. Everything they've done is for the glory of God. What a powerful witness. I can only hope that I can find a way that my life can "point" to the glory of God. For now, I will try to practice humility, and remember to only boast about Christ.

My favorite verse

Paul was the epitome of the hard-working disciple. Yet, he is also a prime example of humility and what matters most in this life. My favorite verse (Galations 6:14) is one that might not rank that high on most people's lists -- but, it is a great reminder of how we should live. I love the fact that, when studied in context, Paul himself says (in verse 11) pay close attention to what I'm saying here -- LOOK AT MY CAPITAL LETTERS!

(summary) may I never boast about anything other than the cross of Jesus Christ. Nothing else in this world matters.

Read the verse in the context of Paul's letter and see what it reminds you of in your life. How can we be more humble and better disciples of Christ? Check back soon.

Old is good! -- Part II

In these passages, Caleb gives an account to Joshua of his faithfulness. He recalls how, 45 years earlier, he and Joshua gave their report about the Promised Land and stood alone against the other 10 spies and a cowardly mob. They said beware of the giants, but Caleb stood true to his conviction in the power of God. He urged the people to trust God for victory. The faith of Caleb and Joshua was unshaken, and God set them apart to inherit the new land. If the story ended there, Caleb would be a towering example of faith. But, his story keeps growing and growing with decades of desert wandering, courage, sacrifice and obedience.

Now, at the age of 85, when most people think about the past, Caleb is energized to fulfill God's promise. In fact, he says he feels just as strong as he did when Moses sent him on that journey. Most people don't want to take on new challenges at that age, but Caleb pleads to Joshua to let him lead the battle against the Anakites (the so-called giants). Joshua grants his request and, amazingly, the next chapter of Joshua describes how Caleb fights as a courageous warrior and enlarges their inheritance more than expected. This is a great example of diligence. It's one thing to have your faith strengthened by a test -- another to build that strength with lifelong faithful obedience in order to bring ultimate glory to God. Old is good, because it gives us that much more time to get His work done!

Old is good!

My wife works in geriatrics and, as long as I've known her, she's had the "upside down" philosophy that old is good. In fact, the older the better. We are always collecting stories about people that have achieved great things late in life. Perhaps the best example of geriatric greatness is found in Joshua 14:6-14 in the account of Caleb.

(Summary) Joshua has just led the Israelites into the promised land where Caleb asks about his people's inheritance. He reminds Joshua about the time when he was sent by Moses along with 11 others to scout the land of Canaan. He came back and gave an honest report with faith that God would deliver them -- while his fellow spies doubted God's plan and spread fear among the people. Moses promised Caleb that he would one day be granted this land because of his great faith. Now, 45 years of wandering later, he is making his plea to Joshua to fulfill that promise.

Read the biblical account in Numbers and reflect on what has kept Caleb strong and faithful. How does he feel at 85? And, what did he take on at that age? For some geriatric wisdom -- check back soon.

A Sweet Perfume -- Part II

At the beginning of the passage, Paul compares his victory in Christ with the triumphant procession of a conquering Roman army. As the Romans marched, enemy prisoners were forced to follow in the victory parade. Now Paul is Christ's captive and he is marching in His victory parade. This is the "triumph in defeat" paradox of the Gospel message. The Romans burned incense in their processions -- but Paul talks about the sweet fragrance being the "knowledge of Christ" that is to be spread throughout the world. This symbolism is used in Catholic mass, when the priest sways the burning incense in a procession down the aisle of the church.

In the book "How to Stay Christian in College," author J. Budziszewski says that verses 14-16 hold the key to strengthening the great Christian virtue of discernment. For instance, if a physics teacher says "the material universe is all there is" -- you might think, "that smells fishy since physicists say the world has a beginning, and didn't something have to make it begin?" Or, if a literature teacher says, "there are no absolutes" -- and you might think "that smells fishy because how can he be absolutely sure about that? In 2 Corinthians, Paul says that how things smell depends on whether you are "being saved" or "perishing" -- whether you are following Christ or turned the other way. As Christians, we need to work on developing our discernment by our obedience to Christ, by studying God's word, and by asking God for discernment in our lives. We need more of that "Sweet Perfume" in our lives -- more of that wisdom like Solomon.

A Sweet Perfume

If you are dating, you know the importance of hygiene and smelling good. You want to put your best foot forward and be attractive to your date. Take a look at 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 and you'll see that Paul is talking about another type of perfume that is key to our identity as Christians. This is the sweet perfume that is the knowledge of Christ.

(Summary) Paul thanks God that he has triumphed and leads us in his glorious way. We are to spread His word like a sweet perfume. Our lives must take on this Christ-like fragrance that is not going to appeal to everyone. Sinners are going to be threatened and repulsed by it. But those open to God's message will be cleansed and saved.

Read Paul's words from the Scripture and think about how this perfume applies to our lives. How can we be more perceptive to a good vs. bad fragrance? How can we be sure we're equipped with the kind of fragrance that will be attractive to others? Check back soon.

Be Like Aaron and Hur -- Part II

I wasn't familiar with the story of Aaron and Hur until one pivotal moment in our family life. Bear with me, while I give you a little background. My wife and I homeschooled our three kids throughout their Elementary and Jr. High years. I was all set to take on High School when I taught my oldest daughter and a few friends a class in Biology. That was an eye opener. The volume of material and prep time seemed to take over my schedule. I couldn't see how I could teach one child High School, and still manage to teach the other two. I started to question whether I had the right stuff to continue homeschooling. That's when I decided to check out a Classical Christian program called The Greenhouse.

At their open house, the headmaster made it clear that their program was God-centered -- and, because they taught only the core subjects, we would still be homeschooling and in charge of our child's education. I could already see the benefits of the program, when he sealed the deal with a little story. He said, "think of us like Aaron and Hur in the Old Testament." "As long as Moses held his staff in the air, Joshua had the upper hand in battle. Then, when he got tired -- Aaron and Hur stood on either side of him and held his arms up. Think of The Greenhouse as your helper that is coming to your side to assure that your kids can excel in a Christian homeschool setting."

I was a virtual stranger in that meeting but I felt affirmed that I was seeking God's will for my kids. When you're in line with God, even in such an unassuming way, you can feel a bit like Moses. I learned that faith in action comes being like Aaron and Hur. That's what The Greenhouse is all about -- dedication to being a Christ-like servant. Now I want to help and encourage others who are seeking God's will. And, I want to lift up God's word (like Moses' staff) wherever I can. That way, I can be assured of victory -- just like Joshua.

Be Like Aaron and Hur

I've heard that the most overlooked things are often the ones that come after something really significant. Gem 5 is a story about Moses that comes just after he parted the Red Sea and led his people out of Egypt. The verses are Exodus 17:8-13. In the story, Moses once again works a miracle of God, but this time with a little help from his friends Aaron and Hur.

(Summary) The Amalekite army didn't like the idea of Moses and his people intruding on their land and planned an attack. Moses sent Joshua and an army of his own to meet them. To assure victory, Moses stood on a hill overlooking the battle with the staff of God upraised. As long as his staff was upraised, the Israelites had the advantage. But, whenever Moses dropped his hand, they faltered. Before long, Moses' arms were so tired he could not keep them raised. That's when Aaron and Hur stepped in to help. They stood on each side of Moses and raised his arms for him. They persevered until sunset and Joshua was able to overwhelm his opponents.

Read the account in Exodus for yourself and think about the application for us today. How can we know when God is with us? Do we have friends like Aaron and Hur? How can we be more like them? Check back soon.

The World's Temperance Lesson -- Part II

This is the first "gem" based on my collection of Sunday School Lesson Cards (it is the one pictured at the top left of my blog). In the picture, a great flood of water is rushing through the Northern Kingdom of Israel and destroying it the way God destroyed Pharoah's troops with the Red Sea. According to the children's lesson, this is because the men of Israel had been drinking too much wine. There's even a catchy verse to emphasize the point,

"Eyes keep clear, feet go right
by drinking water fresh and bright.
Hands keep strong, hearts keep true
when old and young God's bidding do."

This is a simplified meaning of temperance and of the passage itself. Apparently, drunkenness was a big problem in both the Northern and Southern kingdoms -- but Isaiah was using the imagery of a drunk to illustrate how the people were throwing away the blessings of God and becoming foolishly self-absorbed. The flood was another use of imagery. Isaiah warned of impending doom, not from a wall of water, but from the Assyrian army which would attack like a flood and desecrate the beautiful valley of Samaria. The Priests and Prophets ridiculed Isaiah for his warnings and failed to see their need for repentance. Ultimately, God is not mocked, and both Northern and Southern kingdoms would suffer for their disobedience.

So, what is the world's temperance lesson? I think the it has less to do with wine, and more to do with what guides your heart. Like it says in Ephesians 5:18 -- "Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life" (a noble thought). And, "instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you" (an even nobler thought).

The World's Temperance Lesson

Temperance is a word that has gone out of style -- but it's something that could use a comeback. It means moderation or self-control and it is usually associated with alcohol. One group that led the movement toward Prohibition in the 1920s was the WCTU (the Womens Christian Temperance Union) -- and it is still active today. Gem #4 is about God's lesson of temperance on the Israelites in Isaiah 28:1-13.

(Summary) The capital of Israel's Northern Kingdom is in for a fall. The people are drunk with wine and their own pride. Consequently, the Lord is going to send a mighty army to bring destruction upon it like a surging flood. Its glorious beauty will fade like a flower. Its leaders, priests and prophets are consumed with alcohol and are totally lacking in wisdom. They've ignored God's warnings and commandments, so He will send an oppressor to teach them a lesson and take them into captivity.

Read the full account of God's judgment in Isaiah 28:1-13 and reflect on its meaning. What can we learn from the mistakes of the Israelites in this passage? What can be said about the evil of alcohol? Why is there such a tolerance of alcohol in today's world? Check back soon.

Pray like Epaphras -- Part II

I agree with Charles Stanley who said, "the model quarterback is Joe Montana" and the "model evangelist is Billy Graham" -- so he must be right when he talks about the model prayer warrior as Epaphras. That's right, Epaphras. The man of few words but ardent prayers. He is Paul's coworker described in just two verses of his letter to the Colossians (4:12-13). Epaphras was a Colossian whom Paul described as a servant of Christ who prayed fervently for his people -- that they would stand firm in God's will. Epaphras wanted the Colossian people and church to be mature and fully assured in their faith. This fits the overall theme of Paul's letter.

As an intercessor, Epapras persevered and allowed the Lord to work through him. Praying for others is hard work because we are called to be diligent in these prayers until God's will is done. As Jesus modeled in his prayer, "thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." I think the takeaway here is that the most effective prayers are those that are the least self-centered and most focused on God's glory. In thinking about this passage, I was reminded of two other great prayer warriors in the Bible: Hannah in 1 Samuel and Anna in Luke 2. Both of these women had God's glory in focus. Hannah's prayers were answered with the birth of Samuel and his dedication to God. And, Anna prayed without ceasing (more than 60 years) and was rewarded by seeing the Messiah and being one of the two first witnesses for Christ.

Pray like Epaphras

Prayer may be the most talked about subject in churches today. You could build a library of books written on the subject. But, perhaps the most illustrious gem written about prayer is in three sentences in Paul's letter to the Colossians (4:12-13). There Paul introduces us to Epaphras -- a man who has it all figured out.

(Summary) Epaphras is a devoted Christian and a fellow Colossian with deep concern for his people. He prays with fervor for the Colossian church -- asking God to make its people strong and perfect, fully committed to God's will. Paul vouches that Epaphras is praying diligently for them and for other believers in Laodicea and Hierapolis.

Take some time to reflect on the character of Epaphras presented in these few verses. Also, think about what makes his prayers so effective. Who else can you think of that stands out as a prayer warrior? Check back soon.

A postcard to a lady and her kids -- Part II

The central theme of 2 John is to keep a balance between "truth and love". Many churches today fail in that balance by either compromising biblical truth in the name of love and acceptance or, on the other hand, by being exclusive and overly judgemental. Verse 6 is key in that it gives John's definition of love -- not a Hollywood romance or many splendored thing -- but following God's commands. God's greatest command is to love him with all of your heart, soul, and mind -- and to love your neighbor as yourself. It seems the lady in the story was on track loving God and following his commands, but failed to set limits on loving others. She had been deceived by a false prophet who spoke kindly about Jesus, but was clearly a wolf in sheep's clothing. These false teachers use the Bible as their base but either add or take away from its true meaning. John does not mince words calling these deceivers partners with the antichrist and implores his friend to be careful in her associations.

In the 21st century, there are many false teachers who distort the Gospel message. Sadly, Oprah Winfrey has promoted many of them to worldwide popularity including: Eckhart Tolle (A New Earth), Rhonda Byrne (The Secret), Helen Schucmen (A Course in Miracles) and Marianne Williamson (A Return to Love). Anyone who has sought answers to life's questions in New Age spirituality should read Erwin Lutzer's book titled "Oprah, Miracles and the New Earth." What becomes apparent is that New Age spirituality is in fact old age occultism that can be traced all the way back to the garden of Eden. This is not, as one person thought, "Christianity Lite"; it is a satanic counterfeit. And like the lady in 2 John, it would be wise not to accommodate this false teaching.