Taste of Eternity

"But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction." Psalms 1:4-6

I read somewhere recently the suggestion to go through Psalms and write down what you learn about God in each one. I've never done that before, so I'm giving it a shot. Today, I read Psalm 1, and I learned that God separates the godly from the wicked. He sees them differently, and he treats them differently. This idea was expanded in the other passage I read for the day from John 3.

"Jesus replied, 'I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit... God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.'" John 3:5,17-18

Between these two passages, I learned that God separates the godly from the wicked, and has very specific conditions that need to be met in order to be considered "godly". Those are:

1. Believe in God's Son, Jesus, through whom we have salvation.
2. Be born again

If someone meets those requirements, there is no judgment against them--which I find to be a remarkable statement--and the Lord watches over their path. However, if anyone doesn't believe in Jesus, they have already been judged for their unbelief. They have been judged, they will be judged, and their path will end in destruction. This is both a warning for those who don't believe, and a sobering reminder for those of us who are responsible for sharing the truth with those who have not heard it. It tells us what is at stake, and helps to explain the state of our culture, especially in the United States.

In our culture, many people have refused to believe in Jesus and God, and their lives lack all true peace, joy, and hope. Depression, suicide, wickedness, selfishness, apathy, and mental health illness are all on the rise. See the way the book of Romans describes the lives of unbelievers, and the consequences that have resulted because of their unbelief:

"But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. 

As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 

So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. 

As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 

That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. 

Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. 

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 

Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too." Romans 1:18-32

This passage describes the progression of a life full of death. First, God reveals himself, but people refuse to acknowledge him. Then, they replace him with worthless things. So, God abandons them to do what they wish. This results in sins and shameful acts that carry with them natural consequences, which God allows them to experience. And, with them continuing to refuse God's authority, they live lives that are full of wickedness, and empty of God. They still have God's law written on their hearts (otherwise known as morality - see Romans 2:15), yet they do not obey it. As a result of all of this, they experience a taste of death even while they live. This is the judgment that unbelievers experience while in this life.

However, their judgment is not final--not yet. While their lives on this earth continue, there is still opportunity for them to turn to God and experience the blessings of having him for them instead of having him against them. There is still time to abandon their sin, believe in Jesus, and have his blood wash them clean of their wickedness. On the other hand, if they instead continue as they are, a final judgment is coming, from which there is no escape.

What a contrast this story is to the story of the believer! When someone acknowledges God, believes in Jesus, and abandons their life of sin, they are given a life that is so new that it is referred to as being "born again"! Jesus baptizes the believer in the Holy Spirit, which equips that person to be changed from the inside out on a daily basis. Every moment, the believer has access to God's counsel, his comfort, his correction, his peace, his joy, and his love. Everything God is, he offers to those who come to him. That constant access is a little taste of what eternity will be like in God's presence. And it is the exact opposite of the abandonment that is experienced by the unbeliever.

Thinking about these things this morning made me realize that believers are not the only ones in the world who are being given a taste of their eternity. Believers are experiencing new life, and it gives heaven a present reality for them that refreshes the soul and gives the heart hope for what is to come. Unbelievers, on the other hand, are experiencing death and decay in their hearts on a daily basis. Their only hope is that things will one day get better for them. But the reality is, they are simply experiencing the eternity they are destined for: an existence without God.

I don't know about you, but for me, this reflection has given me a fresh compassion for those who are perishing, and a fresh perspective for what they are truly experiencing in their daily lives. Our motivation for sharing the Gospel with people is often to save them from the hell they are headed for, but what about the hell they are living in now? If we only think about their eternity, we get to excuse ourselves with the assurance that there's still time. But not only is more time not guaranteed, but we also need to keep in mind that every day we are experiencing a taste of our eternity, so are those around us. For better or worse, light or darkness, life or death. Every day they live without God is another day of hell. Yes, the actual hell will be worse, just like the actual heaven will be better. But let's not forget that the constant access we have to God's presence makes all the difference in being able to face another day on this dying earth. And for every day we give excuses, we are withholding that life from those around us.

Now I feel I understand better what "cold love" can look like, that Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:12. It's a love that stares a dying person in the face, has compassion for his condition, but passes by without offering the salvation that he needs. I always thought that "cold love" was something that was going to happen in the future. But now I have to ask myself, is that the character of the Church today? Cold love?

I also feel like I better understand what valuable weapons distraction and delay are in the hand of the Enemy. This brings to mind the passage from Luke 21, which, along with Matthew 24, is another account of Jesus warning his disciples about the end of ages:

“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21:34-36 (emphasis mine).

I guess what I'm saying is that, if our love as a church has grown cold, that in itself is a sign of the coming of the end. And if the end is indeed nearer than we thought, it is all the more important to throw off all distractions and hinderances. They do not equip us to stand, to keep standing, and to still be standing when Jesus returns for us.

So what now? I can think of a couple of responses, depending on where each person is:

1. If you are living in the present reality of a future death, respond by turning to God. Acknowledge his authority over your life, confess that Jesus is your only hope of salvation, and then ask him to save you. His sacrifice can cover over all the sinful and shameful things you've done in your life, and his resurrection is the promise of the life he has the authority to give to you in replacement. Once you've done that, connect with a church to learn more.
2. If you are surrounded by those who are experiencing this taste of an eternity without God, and you hold the key to their life, but have been resisting the command of God to offer it, stop resisting. Repent of your delay, distraction, and dullness. Ask God to fill you with new power and boldness, and then go in his grace. Don't worry about what to say. Just like Peter and John did when they encountered the crippled beggar at the temple (see Acts 3:2-8), don't offer what you don't have. Just give them what they truly need.
3. If you don't know what you're supposed to do--or if you're like me, and God has a different role for you in this story--pray. Ask for his direction on what to do with this information. For me, I am to pass it on to others, because I have been gifted with teaching. I am also praying for the unbelievers on my heart, begging God to send someone to do for them what he has called me away from doing. And I, too, am examining my heart for dullness, coldness, delay, and distraction. I encourage you to do the same.

Now, if you're a believer, and you've been convicted by the Holy Spirit, do not be afraid. Time may not be on your side, but God is. 

"Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" Romans 2:4

God's correction is kindness, and it is his kindness that changes us. So if you've discovered that you're off the path of obedience, I encourage you to turn around, and let his kindness lead you back to him. After all, for the believer, there is no judgment, and your life is a taste of a wonderful eternity to come.

Be Ready

For those who don't know, I'm currently 34 weeks pregnant. I'm reaching the stage where I need to write a birth plan and pack a hospital bag, set up the car seat, and assemble the crib. This is because my baby could arrive at any time, and I don't know when he'll make his appearance.

Before bed one night this week, I was overcome by a sense of urgency. I was convinced that my hospital bag needed to be packed right now. As in, do not wait until morning. This sensation was probably part of the "nesting" instinct. But while I was packing a spare set of PJ's into my suitcase at 10:30 at night, I was struck by the sad realization that my sense of anticipation for this baby should be matched by my anticipation for Jesus' second coming. As I was packing, a verse from the Bible kept repeating in my head: "Be ready in season and out of season" (2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭2 ESV‬). I realized the fact that it's most likely that my baby will wait a while longer, but that wasn't stopping me from preparing for an early arrival anyway. Whereas, Jesus could come back literally any moment, but I've let my heart believe that he'll wait a while longer, and I've let that be an excuse to let go of my sense of urgency and anticipation.

As this failing has been revealed to me, I've also been shown a few areas in my pattern of behavior that reflect my new attitude of anti-anticipation:

1. I put things off. For example, if it's put on my heart to check in with someone, I wait until morning. Or if there's someone at church who I need to greet or engage with and encourage, but others are grappling for my attention, I let myself say, "I'll talk to that person next week". But the truth is, God has a time for everything. And when he prompts me to do a good thing, the time for it is now. Not the next day, and not the next week. We never have a guarantee for a next day or a next week, and I've not been acting like that.

2. I will occasionally skip my God time for the day because I don't anticipate needing him. What I mean is, my schedule is clear, and I'm not going to be interacting with more people than I can handle, so I let myself off the hook for subjecting my day to his will. However, God is teaching me that this attitude is like the five foolish virgins in Matthew 25 who did not equip themselves with extra oil for their lamps. In the end, they ran out of oil right when they needed it most. I'm not saying that I'm going to be kicked out of the Kingdom of God for skipping my Bible time. The danger in this situation is the attitude that I know what's best, and that I only need to turn to the Holy Spirit for grace when I'm facing something more challenging than I think I can handle. But the truth is, I don't know what each day holds. I have no real idea what challenges are waiting for me.

The truth is, the Bible has warning after warning about complacency. The parable of the Ten Virgins is one example. Others include:

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭41‬ ESV

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew‬ ‭24‬:‭44‬ ESV

“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” Luke‬ ‭21‬:‭34‬-‭36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

In view of these warnings, and the dozens more like them, I am repenting of my own complacency. I pray to have my sense of urgency renewed, so that when Jesus arrives--with justice in hand--I may be found ready to face him, having accomplished all he has given me to do.

Dog Class

"I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning."

2 John 1:5 NLT

If you have been to my house at any time in the last 11 years, chances are you've been greeted by my little dog, Dixie. Either in "person" or vocally from her kennel in the other room. She has an issue with barking at strangers, especially strange dogs. This wasn't really an issue until March of 2018, when we adopted back a dog whom we had raised to be a service dog. This new dog, Cambria, had just retired from service, and, as her "puppy raisers" my family was offered the chance to take her into our home again. We said yes.

Everyone was on board with this plan. Everyone, that is, except Dixie. No matter how much we tried to convince her to get along, she had chosen to make Cambria her arch-nemesis. Dixie had always been a bossy dog, and had not yet met with a dog that was willing to stand up for itself. But Cambria did. She refused to be pushed around. The result: daily dog fights. This led to several vet visits, and even one or two trips to the "people doctor" for those of us who dared intervene. After this, we decided it was time to do something. So we started by keeping the two trouble-makers separate. However, that didn't feel like a permanent solution, especially for Dixie, who just needed to learn to chillax and enjoy life. Therefore, we found a professional dog training service.

We were taught how to help Dixie calm herself down and follow the new rules, no matter what distractions were present. New rules were put in place for her, not to restrict her, but to free her from having to find the right path for herself.

But why tell you all of this? I have a dog with issues, but why should you care? Because I want to tell you about what happened next.

We finished our sessions with the trainer, and were invited to attend "graduate class" at any time. You see, this trainer holds free weekly group sessions for everyone who has gone through their program. Well, our life got crazy, so it was several months before I could attend my first graduate class. I was super nervous. I was so afraid of how Dixie would act around all those strangers and their dogs, that I didn't even bring her along the first time. I went to dog obedience without my dog! 

I showed up early. It was held at a park near my house, but I'd never been there before, so I left myself plenty of time to get lost and then un-lost before I had to be there. But I didn't end up having any trouble, so I had a chance to get my bearings with my environment. That helped my nerves a bit. Then the dogs started gathering.

I knew it was unusual to come to doggy class as a pup-less person. So I was a bit reluctant to join the party. But even more than that, I was afraid of what people would think of me. You see, Dixie was still having issues. Our training had fallen on the back burner for a while. We were still keeping her and Cambria separate. The lack of progress made me feel like a failure. So, there I was, about to face all these people who could bring their dogs into public without fear, while I had left my little terror at home. And all I could think of was excuses for the questions I “knew” would come. 

However, as soon as I walked over to the gathering, I simply found a spot to stand and watch for a few minutes while everyone got organized. There were about fifteen or twenty dogs there, and as I watched, I saw that every single one of them was having trouble. Some were more nervous, some were too excited, and a few had to stand a couple yards away from the group in order to stay calm. Every one was different, but I realized that they were also the same. They all had issues, just like my dog did. And it wasn't something that drew judgment, but understanding from those around them. Instantly, I felt better. And as the class progressed, I grew confident that I could handle it. And so could Dixie.

Just as I was hesitant to bring my dog to the class, I find myself feeling that same pressure at church to “be normal”. It’s not an outside pressure, but a pressure that comes from within me that makes me not want to stand out. I’m sure I’m not the only one. However, as I attended the dog class that morning, I was reminded that church is a place for people with problems. We don’t have to leave our “issues” at home. That dog class exists to connect people who have “problem dogs”, to support them in their efforts to keep going with their training, and to answer any questions that come up. It’s the same with church! It is a place where we can connect, gain support, and have our day-to-day issues or questions addressed.

Now, I’m not saying that church is perfect. How could it be, when it’s made up of “problem people”? Not every church even cultivates such a welcoming environment for those who are living life and want to bring it with them when they attend. However, at its core, the Church exists to serve as a gathering of those who are united in Christ, and are pursuing the holy life that he lived. It is a place where we can “love one another” (1 John 3:11), and “encourage each other and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). It is a place where we can “serve one another” (Galatians 5:13), “bear with one another” (Epheisans 4:2), “instruct one another” (Romans 15:14), “spur one another on towards love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24), and “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs” (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19). Finally, it is a place where we can “accept one another” (Romans 15:7).

I want to be clear that the Church is not called to accept those who are living in sin and are unwilling to leave it. That is where the shepherds must protect the sheep by first instructing, then correcting, and then refusing to associate with someone if they refuse to repent. Both Paul and Jesus taught regarding this subject, in Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; and Titus 3:10. I am, instead, trying to encourage Christians to connect with their own church in such a way as will allow them to bring their troubles, sorrows, doubts, and fears, and find a caring community that is willing to bear their sorrows with them. “It is not good for man to be alone” was the reason God gave for creating woman (Genesis 2:18). How much more is it true for those of us who are facing a corrupt and hostile world on a daily basis? Therefore, God has given us the community of believers that we call “church”. 

Church is more than a place where we walk into a dark room, sing for a bit, listen to the word, and leave. It is more than just another place where we put forth a polite, polished, prideful, and perfect persona. Those attitudes leave room for multiple excuses to “skip this week” or even leave the church altogether (which is forbidden in Hebrews 10:25). If, on the other hand, we put forth the effort to cultivate real relationships, share our burdens, discuss the Scriptures, and serve one another, we will find ourselves virtually inseparable.This is the place where we may find friends who “stick closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Where we may “flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22, emphasis mine). This environment will be more attractive and welcoming than all the coffee shops and light shows in the world!

Now, you may be wondering how you can find a church that provides you with all this acceptance, comfort, and support. Wake up! You are called to serve the Church just as much as the pastors, elders, and deacons. The Church does not exist only to serve you. If you want to see change in your church, make it happen. Get connected by reaching out. Who do your kids hang out with in Sunday School? Who sits behind you every week? Who do you watch from across the room, whose faith and devotion you admire and want to emulate? Who else stays behind after the service to connect and relate with others? Then, once you’re connected, establish trust by meeting together often. I know, it’s inconvenient. You’d rather have your nice family Sunday lunch at your favorite restaurant every week than bring a crockpot to church to serve a meal to others. You’d rather keep your family game night small and special than invite your kids’ friends’ family to join you. But let me encourage you with a personal testimony.

My family used to have hamburgers every Sunday after church. My dad makes good hamburgers. However, when I was in high school, God called my parents to start bringing lunch to church every week instead. You know that feeling you get when you’re going to a family reunion, and you don’t know if there will be anything brought that you’ll actually want to eat? Try having that feeling replacing the joy of knowing you’ll be eating a delicious hamburger every week without fail. Yeah, I was not a fan. However, as time went on, and we kept inviting people to join us, more families started coming regularly and bringing lunch to share. Our group is not big by any means, but fairly consistent. I made good friends, and not just with people my age. I have, through my parents’ obedience and faithfulness (and insistence), found a true community that I can depend on. Not only that, but it provides constant opportunities to make new friends, too. Any time a new family walks into church, my mom invites them to join us at “lunch bunch”. And, though many people have come and gone at our church in the twelve years since “lunch bunch” started, there is a core of families now that can’t imagine leaving each other except by the call of God. It’s extremely hard to explain how much of a blessing it has been. I’ll suffice it to say that when I was talking about what church should be like, it’s because I’ve experienced it that way.

Now, I still have trouble sometimes with the temptation to pretend that everything is OK when it’s really not.I want to leave my “problem pup” at home. However, because my church is my community, I know that “problem people” are not only allowed, but encouraged to come and be accepted. Therefore, if you have problems, don’t be afraid to bring them to church. If you have a faith community, good! If you attend church, but don’t have that connection, fix that. Finally, if you are not connected with any church, find one. Don’t expect perfection. Only make sure that they follow and preach the Bible with accuracy. Then, the people who are shepherded there will be able to accept such a change as you can bring.