Is the End Near?

Threats of nuclear attack from rogue nations; unending terrorist insurgencies in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq; unresolved Israeli/Palestinian conflict; unparalleled numbers of earthquakes, incomparable floods, unprecedented global recession; warnings of global warming (endangering polar bears and cuckoo birds)—just a few of today’s headline stories—reminders, or perhaps heralders, of this earth’s ultimate doom.

Is the end near?

In his Newsletter this week, our longtime friend and trusted teacher Lambert Dolphin said: “I am following world affairs far more closely than ever this year because of the speed of major developments around the world. I believe we are very near the end of the age, which means the Lord Jesus could well return for His church at any time now. Christians in the First Century hoped He would take place back in their day. We can't predict the date, but the news is full of signs that the Stage of History is now being set for the last act in the history of this age. Up ahead will be a terribly violent time culminating in the return of the Lord Jesus to restore and rebuild His planet and His people.”

Jesus told His disciples: "…be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming…” (Matthew 24:42).

Are You Willing to Stick Your Neck Out?

My good friend Brian Golter is a successful “Head Hunter” who has just published his first book, “Your Right Job Right Now.” While it is a secular book, if you are in the market for a new job, the book offers some challenging insights for self-examination.

As Brian worked through his own 'death' to self-defeating attitudes and behaviors, he asked himself this question: “How would my world be different if I woke up every day thinking that this was going to be the best day of my life? "

Well, putting it in my "dying to live" language, I might ask: "How would my world be different today if I had faith that expected God to do "exceeedingly abundantly beyond what I could ask or think?" (Eph. 3:20) or "How would my world be different if I expected God would keep me from stumbling and make me blameless?" (Jude 24)

I think people are afraid to expect too much. After all, that kind of faith is risky! Maybe we tell ourselves it’s safer not to expect anything; then we can’t be disappointed! But Jesus' disciples are not characterized by such fear!

Paul’s words reveal him to be a man of great expectation: “For I live in eager EXPECTATION and hope that I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold for Christ” (Philippians 1:20).

This word “EXPECT” is made from these three words: from + head + expect, meaning “earnest expectation or looking for, as with the neck stretched out, and the head thrust forward.” I think Paul is saying that when you walk in expectation, you may be “sticking your neck out,” that is, "taking a risk."

Are you afraid to expect God will provide what you need? Are you willing to “stick your neck out”—believing He will? (NOTE: what He provides may not be what you were "expecting" but you can "expect" God to give you exactly what you need!! That's faith!)

What Would God Say About You?

One of the Bible teachers I listen to online is Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. The Mars Hill church is 21st Century culture-friendly. As a leader of a very contemporary church, Mark Driscoll comes under criticism from conservative church leaders. Some of the criticism is based on lies and/or distortions of the truth.

One Sunday morning Mark was speaking on “suffering” in 1 Peter, and by way of personal example, told how he had suffered from the unfair, incorrect, even mean-spirited criticism he received. Mark felt justified in defending his reputation. But doing so was wearing him out. Out of his despair, the Lord spoke to Mark: will you trust Me with your reputation? And in that moment of surrender, Mark found freedom in no longer being concerned about what others thought of him!

As I reflected on Mark’s experience, l was reminded that all that really matters is how God esteems us. And I thought of God's words about Job: “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’”

And then the thought struck me: What would God say about me to Satan? “Have you considered my servant Greg? For there is no one like him in California, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

…excuse me while I lock myself in my closet for a few moments of honest self-assessment… (Oh, and by the way, what do you think God would say about you?)

Time is the One Thing You can Spend, but You Can't Save

One year ago this month, I wrote in my journal “today is the first day of the rest of my life.” It was the day after I retired from my job with the Federal government.

For 25 years, I worked two jobs and never seemed to have enough time. Time was a precious commodity. And now I have time—more time than I have ever had; and I savor it! But even though I have a lot of it (my bank account is full!), I have to spend it every day: I cannot save it!

When I turned 60 I became very conscious that I have much less time ahead of me than behind me. And it has made me conscious of “spending” my time wisely. How? I “spend” my time on people: investing in people. These are good deposits that will go into my ‘heavenly’ account!

But you don’t have to be “old” like me to value your time. I know two young men who are currently “under-employed,” and waiting for God to open the next door of opportunity. They have time on their hands. They can be bored and restless, or they can enjoy this "season" by spending this “spare time” on making deposits, good investments into their heavenly account.

It’s possible to waste your time, ‘waiting’ for the next opportunity, but miss the one right in front of you today. Every day God gives you opportunities to “spend” your time on something eternal.

The Psalmist said: “Teach us to number our days”.

Paul said, “Buy up the time [use it wisely] because the days are evil.”

Herb Caen said: “Live every day as if it’s your last. One day you’ll be right!

Do You Have the Mindset of a Professional Athlete?

Being a ‘professional’ athlete, one who is in constant training, is a consuming lifestyle.

Likewise, God’s Gymnasium is NOT only a specific TIME and PLACE where you go in the morning to “work out,” i.e., do your spiritual exercises. God’s Gymnasium is a mindset, a way of life. When you know God as your Personal Trainer, you expect He will give you exercises throughout the day to increase your spiritual fitness!

While your morning “workout” will expose you to the teaching of the Word, the rest of the day you will be applying the Word to the situations you face. In other words, your workout really continues throughout the day as you “exercise” your spirit through many choices.

The result is that God’s Word permeates your thinking, regulates your emotions, and directs your will. Such is the person who has a mindset to be trained for the purpose of godliness (1 Timothy 4:7).

So, the next time someone asks you if your work out, think about God's Gymnasium.

The Naked Runner

[I thought the title of this 1967 Frank Sinatra movie might grab your attention! The movie has nothing to do with my thought today, as I am led to continue the theme: God's Gymnasium.]

In the 23 years of being a member of fitness clubs, I have never employed a personal fitness trainer. Having a personal trainer is just too…well, too personal! I don’t want anyone looking that closely at my body!

As I said in my earlier post (“Are You Spending Enough Time in God’s Gymnasium?” May 18, 2009), the word for training is “gymnazo.” This Greek word is derived from the word "naked," referring to how the Greek athletes stripped down in the ancient games.

By using the Greek word “train” (Hebrews 12:11) the author pictures God as our “Personal Trainer” who knows our spiritual needs intimately, seeing “everything” about our spiritual condition— “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13).

In God’s Gymnasium, you have a Personal Trainer. And He knows exactly what exercise you need to be built up in your faith. And not only what 'muscles' you need to exercise, He knows exactly how much resistance is necessary to increase your spiritual strength! (See yesterday's blog post)

Increasing Strength in God's Gymnasium

In your physical fitness training, you will have to continually increase your resistance if you hope to increase your strength. If you are a body builder, you will need to add weights and repetitions; if you are a runner, you will need to increase speed or distance or incline. So, as a card-carrying member of God’s Gymnasium, you can expect resistance. And the more RESISTANCE you can endure, the greater your spiritual growth.

Here is a biblical principle of spiritual growth:
Whenever you begin to move with God to change things in your life, you will be met by resistance—from within and without! Specifically, your enemy the devil is going to get very upset with you. He will attack you internally by doubt, fear and discouragement. He will attack you externally by slander, ridicule, even threats. One thing is clear: opposition (RESISTANCE) is inevitable.

At times like this you may need a work-out partner. Whenever the devil’s attack comes, don’t try to fight it alone. Find someone to pray with, to join you in the battle; someone to encourage you and keep you working out when you are tempted to give up. (When Elijah was so discouraged he said “Lord, take my life; it’s not worth it; I’m alone,” God sent him Elisha.) And remember: Jesus sent the disciples out in two's.

As you stay in God’s Gymnasium, don’t be surprised when you encounter RESISTANCE. But expect God to send help! “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10).

But of this you can be sure: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

In God's Gymnasium, the Strong become Weaker!

[In yesterday’s post, I spoke of the importance of spiritual exercise, using the metaphor of God’s gymnasium. As a pastor and counselor of 25 years, it grieves me that so many Christians think that this daily discipline is optional.]
In God’s Gymnasium, you will become weaker, not stronger.

The result of exercising yourself in GOD'S GYMNASIUM is the opposite of what will happen to you at 24-Hour Fitness!—where the purpose is to become stronger. In the spiritual realm, God’s training regimen is to make you weaker. Let me explain.

Our natural desire is to become stronger in our in self-esteem, self-confidence, and competence. In secular psychology, this is called EGO-STRENGTH. Ego-strength is considered a ‘good’ thing (by secular psychologists). In God’s Gymnasium our ego-strength is exposed. Conversely, the Holy Spirit shows us how weak and unable we are to live holy lives. The intent of God’s training, then, is to weaken (and ultimately destroy) our self-life, and make us stronger in spirit (God-reliant; God-dependent).

Before his conversion, Paul was a naturally gifted man, esteeming himself highly. But Paul learned that “[God’s] strength is perfected in [our] weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). To the self-congratulating Corinthians, Paul says God has “chosen the weak things of this world to shame the things that are strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

If you do not visit God’s Gymnasium regularly, you are in peril of thinking you are stronger than you really are. You are in danger of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Through daily exercising our spirit through Bible study and meditation, we are humbled and broken of self-strength. And we learn how to exchange our strength for His.

Isaiah says:
“He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the LORD [in God’s Gymnasium] will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (40:29-31).

And finally, listen to the words of the prophet Joel (3:10):

“Let the weak say I am Strong."

Are You Spending Enough Time in God's Gymnasium?

As a young man, I thought little about my physical welfare: I cared little about exercise, and generally abused my body. But in my late thirties, with the birth of my two children, I was awakened to the importance of being physically fit—so, 23 years ago, I joined an athletic club, and have been faithfully exercising my body ever since.

Getting regular exercise is a self-imposed discipline. Do you know that God affirms exercise of the body? But even more, He affirms spiritual exercise.

“Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness. Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next” (1 Timothy 4:7-8, New Living Translation).

The words (above) for “training” and “exercise” are the same word in the Greek: the word is “gymnazo,” from which we get our English word “gymnasium.” Every morning before I go to the “gym” for my daily workout, I spend an hour or more reading, studying, and meditating and praying on Scripture. This ‘devotional’ time is GOD’S GYMNASIUM. And this early morning workout in the Word of God is much more profitable to me than my physical fitness agenda will ever be. I am exercising my spirit!

Daily exercise, whether spiritual or physical, is a choice. And, yes, it is hard to do: that’s why it is called “discipline!” The writer of Hebrews encourages us with these words:

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful. Yet to those who have been trained [gymnazo] by it, afterwards, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (12:11).

What about you? Do you work out? Are you getting enough exercise every day?

The Lord is Longing for You

The Lord has longings. Our longings are a reflection of His: we are created in His image.

People long for things they don’t have.

Question:
So, what does the Lord God of the Universe long for? What does He not have?
Answer:
Our hearts: our love; our loyalty; our obedience; our complete attention!

Listen to the words of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah (30:18):

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you, and therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you…How blessed are all those who long for Him.

And listen to the agonizing words of the Lord spoken through Hosea (11:1-4; 8), as He longs for Israel’s repentance and return.

"When Israel was a youth I loved him, ... The more I called him, the more he went from Me; He kept sacrificing to the Baals, and burning incense to idols. Yet it is I who taught [him] to walk, I took him in My arms; but he did not know that I healed him. I led him with cords of a man, with bonds of love... How can I give you up? ... How can I surrender you, O Israel? … My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled."

Stop for a minute and reflect on how much the Lord loves you and longs for you. Until you freely give it to Him, He doesn't have your heart...He is waiting.

Born On a Battleship

I read in the paper this morning that the Taliban is flourishing despite opposition. This shouldn’t surprise any student of history. Opposition is the sure way of keeping a 'cause' alive. Christianity survived, thrived, and increased through 2,000 years of resistance and persecution.

Paul said the Christian’s mindset should be that of a soldier suffering hardship (2 Tim. 2:3). He frames the Christian’s struggle as warfare (2 Cor. 10:4), and declares that those who suffer with Christ will reign with Him (2 Tim.2:12).

Do you see yourself as a Passenger on a Cruise Liner or a Battleship?

I recently heard a Christian motivational speaker compare a Christian’s expectations to that of passenger on a cruise ship or a battleship. Unfortunately, too many Christians, he said, expect that being a Christian is like being a passenger on a cruise ship—fine dining, comfortable living quarters, sunny skies, easy living, etc. But such people are quickly disillusioned when they experience long lines at meals, noisy, inconsiderate cabin neighbors, and cloudy days. On the other hand, Christians who see themselves as passengers on a battleship have no such preconceptions to set them up for disappointment. Like sailors on a battleship, they know meals will be mediocre, and they expect inconveniences of confined living quarters: crowded bunk rooms and shared bathrooms.

The speaker’s point, of course, is that we should have a “battleship” mentality rather than cruise liner expectations.

I was very grieved when Joel Osteen answering Larry King’s question “is it hard to live the Christian life?” said “No, Larry: it’s fun.”

I fear many Christians are going to think they signed up for a cruise ship when they got born again, and, not knowing that they were “born” into a war zone, will, as Paul said, be “shipwrecked” in their faith.

What about you? Do you have a battleship or a cruise liner mindset?

[Hint: you can know the answer to this question by asking yourself how much you complain and grumble about your circumstances! Your disappointment is directly related to your expectations!]

I Hate Asparagus -- A Very Lose Paraphrase of Romans 7

Imagine if God made a law: “Everyone must eat asparagus on Sundays.” I would dread Sundays. And knowing my gag-reflex for asparagus, I probably would NOT eat it. And then I would feel very guilty. It's not that I disagree with God’s commandment. I am sure it's a good commandment. After all, asparagus must be good for me—vitamins, fiber, and probably other nutrients you can get nowhere else! It’s just me. It's the way I am wired! I can’t do it! I wish I was an asparagus-eating-loving-kind-of-guy, but I am just not. I wish there were some way I could change that law. Woe is me!

And then one day God says” “Greg, I am going to change your appetite—I am going to change your desire so that you will love asparagus.” And from that day on, I am a changed man. Now I look forward to Sundays—because I get to eat asparagus. Of course, I can eat asparagus any day of the week, but knowing God is pleased when I eat it on Sundays in particular, I love Sundays.

And now when someone says, “Do you know that God has commanded you to eat asparagus on Sundays?” I say: “Yes, I know, and I just love Sundays." Whether there is a law or not doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t need a law to make me eat asparagus on Sundays. The law is inside of me; it’s in my heart. I am an asparagus-lover by nature.

I wanted to change the law, but instead God changed me. It’s not a new law I needed; it was a new nature.

“This is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people…I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone [asparagus-hater] from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh [asparagus-lover] ” (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26).

Have You Seen the City of God?

Altha and I live in a mobile home. It’s rather ironic: mobile homes are not attached to the ground. And those who know us well know that we are not very attached to things of this world (or so it is our intent not to be).

Abraham, whose faith is an example to all believers, saw the City of God and was never the same (Hebrews 11:10). Though God promised him the land of Canaan, he lived in tents, never building a permanent dwelling. Abraham was detached from earthly things: he knew anything built in this life was temporary. The Bible says, he “pitched his tent and built his altars” (Genesis 12:8). His priorities were right. We should imitate the faith of Abraham.

Those who have seen the eternal city of God pay less attention to building something in this temporary realm. Like Abraham they are content to live in tents (or even mobile homes) because they possess a spirit of detachment. Conversely, the less they see the city God is building, the greater their attachment to their earthly dwellings.

So let us follow Abraham’s example: let us give more attention to building our altars of worship to God than our earthly dwellings. We have everything to gain, and nothing to lose: detachment from the world results in great contentment.

Do you see it? Once you see the city God is building, you will give your attention to that which is going to last forever.

Keep Looking Down

Last Sunday my friend Kevin asked me to preach at his church in San Jose. The title of my ‘sermon’ was: “You Can’t Live Beyond Your Vision.” Other ways I could have said this are: “Seeing is Believing” or “What You See is What You Get." The point of my message was to question ourselves as to how we limit God in our lives by the way we view Him.

But another expression that is often used to encourage people to see things correctly is: “Keep Looking Up” meaning, of course, that we should look to God for answers, for insight, and for encouragement.

But I have a better one: “Keep Looking Down.”

The difference between the two is where one lives. If you “live” down here, on earth, then of course you must keep looking ‘up.’ The problem is that this view can keep you “earthbound.” But if you are living in the heavenlies, you will always be looking down. Only when you truly recognize that you are positioned IN Christ, in the heavenlies, will you be able to see all things from the Lord’s point of view.

“The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men” (Psalm 14:2)... [and] God raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..." (Ephesians 2:6).

Our enthroned Christian position becomes the viewpoint from which we see all of our circumstances as we Keep Looking Down from our place of authority and power in Jesus.

What is your point of view?

The Facebook Culture

In yesterday's San Jose Mercury, I read an article about “The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement,” a newly published book by Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell. They address the narcissistic attitudes of the “Me Generation”—young Americans in their teens, 20’s and 30’s: now being labeled the “Millennial Generation.”

The authors attribute the narcissistic trend to a culture that builds a false sense of self-esteem by: enlightened ‘non-judgmental’ parenting; an education philosophy that rewards everyone equally; the Internet avenues of expression, like “Facebook” which allows anyone to create their own idealized persona; a celebrity culture (American Idol) that encourages the notion that anyone can be (and ought to be) famous; and easy credit which promotes instant gratification.

The authors say: “Narcissism is absolutely toxic to society: they feel entitled [but] don’t think about consequences." Twenge suggest that this 'entitlement' mentality might have helped cause America's economic crisis.

In light of this, look at the words [abreviated for emphasis] of Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-4:  But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, ungrateful … without self-control … reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Is Life a Road Trip without a Destination?

In yesterday’s blog I wrote about the importance of asking God for directions—using the analogy of a road trip. Imagine going on a road trip without a destination in mind. Asking for directions would be irrelevant.

I think this is how many unfulfilled Christians live their lives. To them life is like a road trip without a destination, or you might say, they have no sense of destiny. Such people focus on motion (or activity). They may not know where they are going, but they are on their way! Unfortunately, thousands who sit in church pews week after week have somehow missed the truth which provides meaning, direction, purpose and commitment: a sense of DIVINE DESTINY [or DESTINATION].

As the sons of God, our life is like a road trip. And in fact, we may not be aware of the specific “destination” we are “destined” to arrive at. But if we truly believed we were people of destiny, we would surely be mindful of seeking His direction every day. Why? Because we would know that each day’s assignment, given by Him, is a preparation and a precursor to the next step and the next, until we attain to that destiny for which we were called.

God has destined you for something that no one else can do. Do you believe it? Let us ask God to awaken us to this sense of divine destiny. Understanding God has a destination (a destiny) for us gives meaning to every step. And not wanting to miss-step, we are very careful to ask for directions!

“I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus…for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which he prepared [for us] beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Philippians 3:12; Ephesians 2:10).

"Real" Men don't Ask for Directions!

My wife and I went on a little road trip on Saturday. There were some points along the way where I was momentarily disoriented. Not Lost—I was only temporarily directionally challenged. Inevitably, when this happens every husband knows his wife is going to say: “honey, why don’t you stop and ask for directions!” And if the husband is a “real” man, he will say “not necessary; I can find it.” And he keeps going until he reaches his destination.

God forbid that we ‘men’ should transfer this spirit of independence and self-sufficiency to our relationship with God. But I fear we often do [and by the way, women do it too!]. We are so sure we know what God wants to do that we fail to stop and ask for His direction. Only after we get totally off-course and completely befuddled, do we stop and say, “oops! I should have asked for directions!”

One time a young pastor of a start-up church told me that he had made a major decision about moving the location of his church from one side of town to another. When the church changed locations, a large number of his congregants stopped coming. For a year, the little church hobbled along, trying to catch up to its earlier numbers. Finally, the pastor realized he had made a mistake and confessed his pride to the Lord. At once, a new opportunity opened up for the little church in the former location. Immediately, the church began to grow again as the former congregants now returned. The pastor had assumed he knew God’s plan. But he had failed to stop and ask directions.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5-7).

Are You a Martyr?

I never served in the military. But I have an idea of the bond that is formed between soldiers in battle. The camaraderie of those who serve and suffer hardship is so strong that each would die to protect the other. While never experiencing such “warfare” camaraderie, I did experience a fellowship of sufferings during my two years serving in the Peace Corps in Afghanistan. Life there was full of deprivations; it was hard. Many Peace Corps volunteers form life-long friendships. Suffering together can result in a bond that is not easily broken.

Paul calls us to a “fellowship of His [Jesus] sufferings, being made conformable to His death” (Philippians 3:10), and to “suffer hardship as a good solider of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3).

A soldier, or one who suffers hardship to the point of death, is a MARTYR. He is willing to die for the cause he represents. As good soldiers, suffering hardship, we too demonstrate we are willing to die. Just as Jesus did! Paul is telling us that there is a sweet fellowship in dying with Jesus. Where does this willingness come from?

In Acts 1:8, Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power after the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they would be “witnesses.” The word “witness” is the same word as “martyr.” Stephen is often referred to as the first martyr—he gave WITNESS to the truth about Jesus, and was MARTYRED.

When we receive the Holy Spirit He births in us an inward spirit and disposition of self-sacrifice. With this inward spirit of ‘death to self’ we enter into fellowship with Jesus who sacrificed Himself—the spirit of self-sacrifice conforms us to His death. As He died to self, so do we. This spirit of self-sacrifice makes us "WITNESSES" or "MARTYS" who willing die to our self-life for Jesus. It is not a physical death (although for some it is), but a spiritual death. Is this not what Paul means when he says, “I have been crucified [martyred?] with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Paul is saying he has joined Christ in death. This then is the fellowship, camaraderie, bond, of those who suffer and die together.

Do you allow the spirit of self-sacrifice to rule you? Have you joined the ranks of the martyrs for Jesus?