IT'S FREE! IT'S FREE!

     It's interesting how gullible we can be when offered 'free' stuff. Such usually is of scant value anyhow. But of vital significance is the fact that GOD offers sinners free deliverance from the guilt and penalty of sin. And further, believe it or not, this means free entrance into heaven. Sadly and unbelievably, most turn away from the offer and often derisively so. 

     What goes? Why would anyone reject an offer of free grace from the Lord Himself? Here's why: In sin every human is born blind.  He can't see.  He can't understand.  He is dead in tresspasses and sin (Ephesians 2:1). 

     On the other hand, those who receive the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, look back and knowingly realize that it was God Himself who vivified them. God Himself enabled them to see, understand and believe. The Bible declares, "And you hath He quickened who were dead in tresspasses and sin" (Eph.  2:1). Salvation from sin is all of grace alone. This is God's grace (undeserved favor) received through faith alone, apart from any human effort.

     The offer still holds for all who will receive it! If you find yourself 'wanting' it, consider yourself 'quickened' and by faith accept Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. He paid for your sins long ago on the cross.  His resurection forever verifies the victory that can be yours, receiving it by faith alone. Be the Christian who can say, I've been "justified (declared righteous, by God Himself), as a GIFT by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). It's FREE, I say, FREE! It cost God His Son, but to you it costs nothing. 

     Martin Luther remarked: "The saved are singled out not by their own merits, but by the grace of the Mediator." "Our salvation is a pure gratuity from God," so said the renowned theologian, Benjamin B. Warfield. 

- dick christen

DON'T PUT OFF GOD.....HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS.....

HERE AND THERE God's Word is 'in your face' and shockingly blunt! For instance, He says:

"But he who hates reproof is STUPID" (Prov. 12:1).

You know... we often shoot back, "Don't tell me what to do!" Or, "Don't boss me!" Now, we may not verbally say that to God (or others), but, honestly, don't our actions too often speak louder than words? Or, we just 'turn a deaf ear.' Perhaps this is why God (and Charles Stanley) often say, "LISTEN!"

Samuel said to a disobedient king (who listened to a point but then cut his obedience short), "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice" (1Samuel 15). To interpretively paraphrase this, we could put it this way: "Hey, be very alert to OBEY (to the very letter) what God says (even if it shockingly goes contrary to what you want and cleverly justify); such obedience is vastly more desirable to Me (your God) than for you to be at church four times a week (even Prayer meeting), give gobs of money, volunteer for everything, bake cookies for the next church 'eat up', pass out tracts while all the time feigning innocence before the church leader and continuing in that hidden sin." The things listed in every week church life may well be done, but to obey God is the key to dynamic Christian living. 

And so, King Saul disobeyed the Lord's clear directive. Then he hated God's implicit reproof, acted STUPIDLY in seeking out a witch; and that was His demise, the end of his effective leadership over GOD'S people. Read the entire story in 1Samuel. Moral? LISTEN AND HEED REPROOF, down to the last detail (Saul's great failure)! Can we outwit and know better than God?

- dick christen

GOING IN CIRCLES

We lived on a cul-de-sac! We had good neighbors, except for one grouch on the corner. Traffic was minimal and a sign posted saying 'there was no outlet' gave us a life that was rather peaceful. 

But in the Christian life, "no outlet" is undesirable. Like a pond of water, "no outlet" means stagnation. 'Christian cul-de-sac living' can be boring with nothing new coming through. God desires to "flow" through the believer's life. He desires that His life, love and light come not only to us, but through us. If it doesn't we become entrenched in our thinking and way of life and the stench of a stagnant life becomes most unattractive. 

And so, the outlets of obedience, sharing, giving, serving and doing for others are essential to a vibrant Christian life. This is so, unless we are comfortable remaining in a status-quo kind of existence. 

Those upon whom God has bestowed much, of such much is required. We must act upon the knowledge we have in order to receive more insights and understanding. If we give, we receive. "Give and it shall be given to you." If we obey we enjoy a deeper appreciation of truth and begin to understand more. Spurgeon put it this way: "Many a man becomes empty-handed because he does not know the art of distribution." So, pass it on. Share. Let the life of God flow.

Responding to truth by living it out we  ready ourselves for more truth which will then dynamically pulsate through us. In such living God is glorified and known to be alive. And, we too are radiant and know more fully the filling of the Holy Spirit. Again, Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return" (Luke 6:38). The 'THEY' in the verse are the onlookers. When we give, they see the love of God and may very well return the love to us. It becomes contagious. All this, let alone the fact our God is so pleased with such living that He bestows more!

So, get out of the cul-de-sac of 'same old, same old' Christian experience and let His life flow. Add 'obedience' to the Word while living for Jesus instead of 'self' and we're on our way. 

- dick christen

PRAYING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

    The Bible's formula for prayer is: 1. Believers pray TO the Father, 2. THROUGH the Son and 3. IN the Holy Spirit.
     Jesus taught us to pray "Our Father Who art is heaven."  And Jesus is the way because of  His atoning death, burial and victorious resurrection. Jesus said, "No man comes to  the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
     Then, often, we forget the essential role of the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit who plays a vital role in our prayer lives. Paul expresses it clearly when He says:
     "Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26,27).
     So frequently we, sinners and weaklings that we are, come to God weary and worn. Our motives can be questionable, our minds confused and our tongues stammering to know what to say and how to say it. Our words are jumbled. It is right here that the blessed Holy Spirit steps in taking our mixed up words and thoughts, putting them in His Words and in heavenly speech, straightening them out as He does so. And God hears and responds perfectly.
     Ours is to take care lest we grieve or quench this Holy One who is given to make "intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." We cannot live defectively and expect to pray effectively. Prayer is the rope up to the belfry; we pull it and it rings the bell up in heaven. The Holy Spirit, if free to work, is at the other end of the rope to aid in the pulling of the bell, effectively so!

- Dick Christen

WHY DO I EXIST? WHY AM I HERE?

A man without the right purpose for navigating the sea of existence is like a ship without a rudder. He will wander aimlessly and even settle for ludicrous reasons for the journey.
     To a dog a stick has but one purpose. It is for chasing. It is hard to get in touch with any other reason for its existence.
     A LIFE article (12/88) once asked a group of people why humans exist. One man answered: "We're here to die, just live and die. I drive a cab. I do some fishing, take my girl out, pay taxes, do a little reading, then get ready to drop dead. You've got to be strong about it. Life is a big fake. Nobody gives a damn. You're rich or you're poor. You're here, you're gone. You're like the wind. After your gone, other people will come. We're going to destroy ourselves, nothing we can do about it. The only cure for the world's illness is nuclear war - wipe everything out and start over."
     If John Calvin had read the above he would say again as he once said, "All who are ignorant of the purpose for which they live are fools and madmen."  
     But God gives believers in Jesus Christ the ultimate in purpose. The Apostle Paul declared, "For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.  For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s" (Romans 14:7,8). And again, he says, "Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:20,21).
     The Christian lives for God's glory and personifies that by making Jesus Christ his reason for living. 
     Another man in that LIFE article said we all should purpose to go back to Eden, make friends with the snake and set up our computers among the wild apple trees." Wow! Such is a pretty empty and wildly delusional reason for living. I think Christianity and Paul and all the Scripture give us a substantive and hopeful reason for living. There is more to living than just chasing sticks. We are here to live for Almighty God, the God of the Bible, and to glorify Him in His Son Jesus the Christ.

- Dick Christen

LIKE PEAS LEAVING THE POD.....

When Christians die they immediately go to heaven. God delights in taking His own from this troublesome earthly scene to His blissful, sin-free place called heaven. How do we know this? 

Well... #1 - Long ago God did this. He transported some of His people upwards.  For instance, the prophet Elijah was suddenly transported to heaven. 2 King's 2:11 tells us about it: "And...behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire... And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven."

 

And... #2... Also, Paul and John had brief excursions to heaven to receive portions of the Scriptures. Paul tells us about his experience. It was for the purpose of receving Divine revelation which would become the bedrock of his Epistles. Here are his words: "I know a man (speaking of himself) in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter  (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). 

#3 - Jesus said believers will go to heaven (John 14:1-3). In fact, He is the builder of such a place. He declared: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself."

#4 - Jesus wants us with Him (John 14:3). "....that where I am, there you may be also."

#5 Lazarus died and was immediately in heaven (Luke 16:19-31). Lazarus had nothing in this life, but, through faith in Jesus Christ, he had everything for the next. "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom."

And #6 - The Apostle Paul believed that when he died he would at once be with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:6,7). "So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

Read the above passages and rejoice in this clear truth. This pertains to those who are saved and safe in Christ Jesus. When Christians die they leave their bodies, are transported by angels to heaven (Luke 16:22), are fitted with heavenly bodies (1 Cor. 15:40,41), return to the earthly atmosphere at the rapture and the uniting of Christ's Church (1 Thess. 4:13-18) and then return to the place Jesus went to prepare, the New Jerusalem. This is the glorious hope of Christians. Our bodies (pods) are left behind, are temporarily replaced by a heavenly body, are rejoined with our resurrected bodies at the rapture of the Church and then forever dwell with Jesus and all His bride

- Dick Christen

LIKE...KILLING A FLY WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER?

We use a fly swatter to eliminate flies not a sledge hammer. And, a soft slipper will take care of most spiders. And have you ever noticed that a softly spoken "hi" may be more effective than a boisterous "HELLO, HEY YOU'RE LOOKING TERRIFIC, GREAT SEEING YOU AGAIN, BLAH BLAH BLAH." Just a casual "hi" can be warm, effective and, with eye contact, convey love and sincerity. Sincere zeal certainly has its place, but, like a necessary fire, needs feeding but also close watching. There does exist such a thing as misplaced zeal or hypocritical enthusiasm. One can climb the ladder of success with gusto only to find it placed against the wrong house. 


     This an era of empty enthusiasm. (Yes, some of those TV ads are extremely 'nuts' and at the end we don't know what was even being advertised.) And, is it not a time of over-hyping? (Yes, those half-time shows are ridiculously wild.) AND this is the era of humongous flags the size of an entire football field! (Yes, thank you, an average size will do and can effectively stir up patriotism. It's what's in the heart that matters. It's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.) 


      Sadly, (to bring all this into the realm of the Church), God's people can make the mistake of simulating the world by making mere noise, commotion, loudness and forced enthusiasm a supposed genuine work of the Holy Spirit. We must remember that HE, the God we worship, may at times just prefer a quiet place of prayer, a lowly humility of a soul, or a stillness of a reverent spirit. 


     God tells us: "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). He taught this lesson to Elijah in a unique fashion. "Then He (God) said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.' At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a still small voice" (1 Kings 19:11,12), or, a delicate whispering voice. And then it was that "suddenly a voice came to" Elijah, and it was God!


     It is an all too prevalent form of worldliness when God's people crave noise, commotion, hip-hip-hooray stuff, strobe lights, a louder-than-necessary sound level and more and more activity ("running to and fro") in the place of a stillness that quietly waits upon God. One teacher wisely said, "Misplaced zeal is zeal for God rather than the zeal of God." John Trapp remarked, "Zeal without knowledge is like wild fire in fool's hand." 


     We are to rejoice exceedingly before our great God, but still with a holy trembling. 


     Yes, eliminate the threatening spider but not at the expense of ruining the stately structure wherein he is found. And, let us live life with zest and rejoicing while remembering at the same time that the fruit of the Spirit, among other things, is PEACE (Galatians 5:22,23). The fullness of the Spirit can prove to be one of God's remedies to much of the extreme and debilitating stress (and noise) that hurtfully characterizes so much of today's Western culture. God's way may even address in part the opioid crisis ravaging our land. 


     At the end of my hymnal is a responsive reading section and one of the entries is entitled PERFECT PEACE. Under the heading are the verses John 14:27; Isaiah 26:3; Psalm 91:1,2; Romans 15:13. Then, 

                           WORSHIP LEADER
Peace I leave you; My peace I give you.
     I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, and
     do not be afraid.
                               EVERYONE
You will keep in perfect peace him whose
     mind  is steadfast, because he trust in you.
                          WORSHIP LEADER  
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most 
     High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my    
     refuge and my fortress, my God, in Whom I trust." May the God of hope fill you with joy
     and peace as you trust in Him.         

- dick christen

BECOMING LIKE JESUS CHRIST.....

           In this life, the road to Christlikeness is always under construction. We cannot be discouraged or annoyed by this fact. Instead, we must ever 'keep at it'. In this regard, did you know that trees, unlike all other plants, never stop growing as long as they live. No wonder Psalm 1 declares that a believer who stays close to the Lord "shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water." 
      Spiritual growth happens when, like unveiled Moses reflecting the glory of God on Mt. Sinai, the Spirit of God replicates Jesus in us.  In the following passage, the image in the mirror is Jesus. It represents all that He is - the way, the truth and the life - as seen everywhere in Holy Scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments. Seeing and pondering Him therein, we become like Him. This happens because in the believer's ongoing sanctifying process, Jesus' glory increasingly emanates from us. The more we look upon Him the more we then also 'mirror' Him. Read and ponder this verse:
      "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18). 
     In this verse the "being transformed" comes from the Greek μεταμορφόω which transliterated into the English is "metamorphosis." This word pertains to 'radical change' like that of an earthbound chrysalis into a heaven-ward butterfly. Such is truly amazing and is to be. God doesn't save sinners just to keep them out of hell. He saves us and wants us to know that He chose us in eternity past and predetermined that we should be like Jesus. This is His major goal for every believer. How do we know this? Romans 8:29 clearly tells us: "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son."
     It's suppose to be! It's His eternal plan for believers. 

- dick christen

RESTING IN JESUS....

   Indeed, life here on planet earth is quite harrowing. However, in this world of sleep-depriving news (how much worse can it get?), there is the LIFE-GIVING GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! In fact, the very word 'gospel' means GOOD NEWS. A chorus we sang as kids put it this way:

I have good news for you
   and best of it all it's true;
I've read in a Book there's life for a look
   and Jesus will make you anew.
I have good news for you,
   I have good news for you;
No matter your station you may have salvation,
   I have good news for you.

   The world's depressing news is merely a reflection of man himself. We are incorrigible sinners desperately in need of a Rescuer. Augustus Strong remarked, "Man is a double-dyed villain. He is corrupted by nature and afterwards by practice." True! But the Bible announces the only solution, a Rescuer named Jesus Christ.  It says: "But when they believed Philip preaching THE GOOD NEWS about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike" (Acts 8:12). THIS good news gives meaningfulness to life now, and eternal life after death. Hallelujah! Plus, it can go a long way in giving a good night of sleep. It's great having settled the question: where will I spend my "forever"? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." Do read Romans 10:8-13.

-dick christen

JESUS GIVES VICTORY EVEN OVER DEATH...

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

SMILE, Christ conquered sin, death and hell for those who confess Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. Hallelujah! Because He lives we shall live too! The victory is won! We're rebranded. Actually, regenerated by Christ Jesus!

- dick christen

WALKING IN THE DARKNESS WITH NO FLASHLIGHT.....

     Too many Christians merely tout the Bible because it makes them look 'spiritual' and in tune with the traditions of Fundamentalism. And, they feel real good about this. But, it's all for show. To such it at least gives the appearance of 'holding the faith'!
     But it must be asked "do they love it, read it, keep it prominent in the home, pass its wealth on to their children and meditate therein 'night and day' like the Psalmist of old?" Few do. Can they say with David of old, "O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." Few can!
     Such is a detriment to vibrant Christianity. None can flourish in personal faith on just one Sunday morning meal of truth each week. Spurgeon remarked, "Backsliders begin with dusty Bibles and end with filthy garments." 
      We must embrace the concept that there exists a pronounced correlation between my love for the Bible and my walk for God and before my fellow mankind. God says the Bible is a lamp for my feet and a light to my pathway. Try walking in the night without a full moon or reliable flashlight. So it is walking through life with only an occasional or rare flash of God's truth.

- dick christen
     

TO EAT MEAT OR NOT TO EAT MEAT.....

This is a funny story (copied) :

Our teacher asked what my favorite animal was, and I said, "Fried chicken."

She said I wasn't funny, but she couldn't have been right, because everyone else laughed.

My parents told me to always tell the truth. I did. Fried chicken is my favorite animal. I told my dad what happened, and he said my teacher was probably a member of PETA. He said they love animals very much.

I do, too. Especially chicken, pork and beef. Anyway, my teacher sent me to the principal's office.
I told him what happened, and he laughed, too. Then he told me not to do it again.

The next day in class my teacher asked me what my favorite live animal was. I told her it was chicken. She asked me why, so I told her it was because you could make them into fried chicken.

She sent me back to the principal's office. He laughed, and told me not to do it again.

I don't understand. My parents taught me to be honest, but my teacher doesn't like it when I am.

Today, my teacher asked me to tell her what famous person I admired most. I told her, "Colonel Sanders." Guess where I am now...

Animals are fun and in many ways so very useful. A righteous person cares for his or her animal with diligence and affection. God has given us all things to enjoy! Life is abundant with such blessings. And so, our domestic pets enrich our lives. Even the ones in the wild and in barnyards are objects of huge interest. We'll even travel many miles to introduce our children to them in a zoo. 

But commonsense is to prevail. Animals, unlike humans, are not made in the image of God. Not even close. They are also given for our usefulness. They can be for our amusement and as helpers in our work. They are fascinating, made marvelously by the hand of God. They can also be a food source. 

Therefore it is alright to eat meat. The Bible says so: "And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered.   Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things" (Genesis 9:2,3).

Even ancient Israel that DID have food restrictions was told: “However, you may slaughter and eat meat within any of your gates, whatever you desire, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you; the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle and the deer.    Only you shall not eat the blood; you are to pour it out onthe ground like water" (Deut. 12:15,16).

That's pretty clear isn't it? There is indication that Daniel and his friends ate at the King's table, probably including meat, even after the commencement of their time in Babylon when they had insisted that their diet be just vegetables. Conclusion? It's alright to eat meat. It's certainly permitted. 

Vegetarianism is not a Biblical teaching. Thank you, Jesus, for eating fish soon after your resurrection. 

- dick christen

HOW BIG IS GOD?

      Volumes of books have been written about the wonders of God's created handiwork. All such facts put forth make us to know that an intelligent Creator must be the cause of it all. Listen to the Psalmist extolling God as he pens words describing the heavens. He says: 

     "God's glory is on tour in the skies, God-craft on exhibit across the horizon. Madame Day holds classes every morning, Professor Night lectures each evening. Their words aren't heard, their voices aren't recorded, but their silence fills the earth; unspoken truth is spoken everywhere. God makes a huge dome for the sun—a superdome! The morning sun's a new husband leaping from his honeymoon bed, the daybreaking sun an athlete racing to the tape. That's how God's Word vaults across the skies from sunrise to sunset, melting ice, scorching deserts, warming hearts to faith" (Psalm 19:1-6 - The Message paraphrase).  

     But, even with all this inspired and imaginative language we must say with St. Augustine, "God is more truly imagined than expressed, and he exists more truly than he is imagined." 

     Big thoughts about the bigness of Jehovah God make for a greater faith in Him and thus fuller and richer worship of Him. Then the infinite God richly becomes an intimate God with Whom we fellowship, by His grace through Jesus Christ. 

- dick christen
      

PLANNED NEGLECT ????

     I heard of a noted young concert artist who was asked the secret of her success with her violin. 
     "There were many things which demanded my time. When I went to my room after breakfast I made my bed, straightened my room, dusted the floor and did whatever came to my attention. When I finished my work I turned my attention to violin practice. That system failed to accomplish the result desired, so I reversed things. I deliberately PLANNED TO NEGLECT everything else until my practice period was completed. That program of PLANNED NEGLECT accounts for my success."
     Jesus said: "But seek FIRST His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33).
    The hymn writer put it this way: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in His wonderful face. And THE THINGS of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."
     Another hymn says "take time to be holy." Some have changed the wording to "take time to BEHOLD HIM." Every day we have choices to make. We must practice PLANNED NEGLECT in order to be in the Word, in prayer and involved in the work of His Kingdom. 
     Duties delayed are the Devil's delight!

- dick christen 

BEING LIKE JESUS...

A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Jack and Chris. The boys began arguing over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let My brother have the first pancake; I can wait.'

Jack turned to his younger brother and said, "Chris, you be Jesus!"

"And he (Jesus) sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

Many of us would be scantily clad if we were dressed in our humility. 

dc