Stop watching the Wrong Contest

Nowadays with the possibility of watching multiple media venues at once, you can be watching multiple sports events simultaneously. And that’s a rather modern expression but contemporary problem of our multi-tasking culture.

At the end of life on earth, Jesus made it clear to Peter that each of the disciples would have to run his own race. Peter looked back at John and inquired about what kind of race John would have to run, Jesus simply said, “when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). In other words, He said “Stop looking at other peoples’ contests. Pay attention to your own (Heb. 12:2).

What are you looking at today? Whose race are you watching? “Did you begin by fixing your eyes on Jesus?”

There are No Losers Anymore

A recent study in England shows a majority of children less concerned about competition, winning or losing, than just playing for fun, the cultural effect of the 21st century “we’re-all-winners” philosophy! As good as it sounds, how does a life without loss prepare children for the adult world of disappointment and rejection? And what happened to the notion of building character through defeat?

Likewise, our spiritual children must have a solid doctrinal understanding of adversity, or they will lose hope and abandon their faith when hard times come. Jesus said, “whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it… Everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property for my sake will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, children, wife or property—along with persecution. And in the world to come, eternal life” (Mark 8:35; 10:29-30). In other words, in God’s economy, the biggest winners are the losers!

The Cross is Personal

When Jesus picked up a wooden cross and died on it, He was not dying for His principles. It was personal—He died “for” you and me. And when Jesus said “pick up your cross” (Luke 9:23), He made the “cross” even more personal—that we die “with” Him. 

“Your cross” points to something individual, and personal: to give up ownership of your desires, ambitions, and plans. Not that they are sinful (some of them may be), but they now serve God's purpose. Jesus warned his cross-bearing followers that devotion to Him would mean a detachment from things on earth, even the right to one’s own life:

“You are not your own; you are bought with a price that you should no longer live for yourself, but for Him who died and rose again on your behalf” (1 Co. 6:20). Only by picking up your cross, by losing your life, will you find your life (Matt. 10:39). And you can't get any more personal than that. Have a blessed Easter!

How do Muslims View the End Times?

Did you know many Muslims believe that the end times are here? According to Mideast expert and theologian J. Richardson, many jihadists have joined the conflict in Syria because they see it as an apocalyptic war. Just before the Muslim messiah, Mahdi, comes to earth, there will arise a Sufyani, an enemy of Mahdi, who will battle for control of the earth. Such are the implications of the Syrian conflict. And because of this end-time perspective, jihadists are willing to fight to the death.

In addition to being just plain fascinating, the Islamic end-time doctrine evokes thoughts of Christian themes: Armageddon, antichrist, martyrdom, and John's description of the tribulation saints who did not love their life even when faced with death (Rev. 12:11). When Jesus told his first followers to pick up their cross, they knew exactly what he meant: they had seen thousands of their countrymen crucified by the Romans. But unlike Islam, Christians don't die for a cause, but for Christ's glory! The start of Passion Week is a good time to consider the question: Have I given up everything to follow Christ (Matt. 10:28)?

What will you gain when you lose?

If you've been trying to lose weight, maybe you should eat more cereal. A Kellogg’s commercial promises you can lose weight eating it. The campaign slogan, “What will you gain when you lose?,” also implies that cereal lovers will gain self-esteem, self-confidence, and the respect of others: standards of measurement in this world.

Before being killed by Auca Indians, missionary Jim Elliott wrote (rather prophetically), “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” A whole generation was inspired by this man who “lost” family, home, and life for Christ.

Even though we too believe our “kingdom is not of this world,” it’s hard not to self-measure by an earthly yardstick. Thus Jesus warns, "Whoever gains his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will gain it" (Matt. 10:39).  And Paul said, “I count all things loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ … For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 3:8; 1:21). For us, the answer to Kellogg's question is Christ. But a more relevant question for us is, What are we willing to lose to gain Him?

Choking to death

I received a letter from a friend, a young man with a wife and two small children, telling me he is being careful not to spend too much of his time fixing and changing small things around his new house.  I could identify with that.  Having just sold 2 houses and moved in to a new one, I know a lot about these things.  Since moving in our ‘new’ home, we have been occupied with making it ‘ours’ (new paint, carpets, blinds, landscaping), in addition to the regular things that occupy our attention. Yesterday was a day  of extreme occupation, and distraction, for me—with many unexpected activities, as well as those that were planned (several frustrating calls to IRS, DMV and Social Security).

How did I handle it? Well, in baseball jargon, I choked (a choker underperforms under pressure). Jesus said, “the worries of this life… and the desires for other things… choke the Word, making it unfruitful” (Mar 4:19). Note that is not things, but our “desire for things” (in my case, for order and routine). Not to worry. I'm praying that today when these things pop up, like a fly ball, instead of choking, I will draw upon the strength of His Word, and 'catch' them before I choke; and rather I might choke them to death! (Gal. 5:24)

Fools for Christ

Coming the day after what-we-call “April Fool’s Day” here in the US, I was reminded of this quote by Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Jim Elliot was a missionary martyred by the Auca Indians of Ecuador. His quote is a perpetual reminder of the cost (and privilege) of discipleship. But his quote also reminds us that any Bible-believing, fundamental believer will be considered foolish by the world. “We are fools for Christ's sake… we are weak… we are despised (1 Cor. 4:10)… for the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God… (1 Cor. 1:18).

I am afraid that the further our culture (and even mainline denominations) declines into amorality and universalism, the more foolish Bible-believing Christians will appear. It is time for us to ask ourselves, 'are we willing to be fools for Christ?'

To Die is Gain

Paul said it: “To die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). And he was speaking literally—not figuratively. Was he morbid? Our Christian Brother Zac Poonen asks: “Did he have an unhealthy fixation with death? Did Paul show a lack of respect for the life God had blessed him with?” And then Zac answers his own question: “Absolutely not! Paul lived life to the fullest. To him, life was a gift, and he had used it well to fight a good fight. He had overcome the fear of the “sting of death” and could now say, “It’s better to die and be with the Lord than to stay in the flesh.”

Why? Because Paul had already died to his attachments on earth. He possessed nothing here, and would receive his heavenly possessions there!

Do we love life on earth so much (all of our possession) that we are conflicted about leaving? Would losing these possessions make dying a great loss? One of the chapters in A.W. Tozer’s book “Pursuit of God” is titled: “The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing.” Just think about it. If you had no attachments on this earth, not only would you be ready to leave in a New York minute, you’d be eager. Having nothing here, you’d have everything to gain. Could that be what Paul meant when he said “to die is gain”?

Dying for Christ—the Blessing of Persecution

The level of persecution against Christians in North Korea is on the rise. Fearful of any opposition, the government has labeled Christian activities as criminal. Of the estimated 400,000 Christians in North Korea, about a quarter are being held in political prison camps. Open Doors Ministry estimates that over 1,000 were killed last year; numerous others tortured and used for testing biological and chemical weapons.

It is so easy for us to take our religious freedom for granted. Most, if not all of us, have never known anything else. Earlier this week I spoke of the persecution of Godly men, not afraid to speak their faith, e.g., Brit Hume and Tim Tebo. After reading about the persecuted Christians in North Korea, I must recant—I misspoke. There is no persecution in America—no torture, no beheadings; the worst thing any Christian must bear is hurt feelings!

We American Christians think our freedom from persecution means we are blessed by God. But Jesus said “blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11-12). Since almost all of the prophets Jesus refers to were killed, it seems quite apparent that the blood of martyrs is precious to Jesus and those who have died for His sake are indeed blessed; in fact, they will receive a special reward for their actions (Rev 14:13, 16:6).

By saying they are blessed, I don't mean for a second to diminish their pain and suffering. Let's not forget to pray that God will comfort the persecuted Christians in North Korea. But let's also pray, should the time come, that we will be willing to die for Christ and receive the blessing of persecution.