This World Is Not My Home

   

    When our grandson Branson died in January, I found myself spending more time reading God's Word to find comfort.  I also picked up a number of books on heaven to gain a better understanding of what lies ahead for believers in Jesus Christ.  Recently, I have been reading an excellent book written by Dr. John McArthur entitled "The Glory of Heaven".  In the pages of this work, he points us to Scripture which describes the place we will live for eternity with our Lord and Savior.  I appreciate that he does not go on feelings but rather on the fact of God's Word.  He doesn't speculate, rely on personal opinion but instead points to the glory that awaits us.
     As I have reflected on the Bible passages concerning heaven, I have to confess that often I have been so preoccupied with worldly matters that I have not really loved my future home as much as the present one.  The Apostle James tells us in chapter 4 verse 4:  " You adulterous people!  Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."  James does not mince words here in this passage.  We have a choice to make.  Either we will pledge our friendship to the world or we will ally ourselves with the Lord.  Dr. McArthur makes it clear in this passage from his book:  "And that is the essence of worldliness: it is a love for earthly things, an esteem for earthly values, and a preoccupation with earthly cares.  Scripture plainly labels it sin - and it is sin of the worst stripe.  It is a spiritual form of adultery that sets one against God Himself" (Kindle edition, "The Glory of Heaven" location 935).
     In his letter, the Apostle John pens a similar message to the one that James wrote:  "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2:15).  Then, he explains why we should not love the world in verse 16:  "For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world."  The problem is that loving the world system means we follow the desires of the flesh rather than God's will for us.  We cannot have two mindsets as Jesus told us in Matthew 6:24:  "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."  So, how then can we become more focused on our eternal home of Heaven?  Where can we learn more about it?
     Over the last ten years or so, there have been many books written about people who have had a near death experience and claimed to have visited heaven.  These have sold in large numbers, but we must always be careful about anything we read because only the Bible contains the full truth about God, His character and our eternal destination.  There are some things we will not know until we cross over and return home to the Lord.  As Scripture teaches us: "But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— (1 Corinthians 2:9).  Therefore, be wary of what others say.  We are fallible people who often miss the mark, but God's Word is changeless and filled with truth.   All those other books will pass away, but God's Word will remain.
     With this being said, our best source for learning more about heaven and being renewed in our minds is the Bible.  After all, the Apostle Paul wrote this very clear statement to believers in Romans 12:2:  "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  As we study God's Word, our thinking is changed.  Our hearts are renewed and our love for God grows as well.  The Bible is alive and is a powerful weapon which is able to discern our very thoughts (Hebrews 4:12).  Our purpose in living in this world is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever as the Westminster Catechism teaches us.  If we live with a worldly mindset, we will never accomplish this.
     Cultivating a love for our heavenly home does not mean that we cannot enjoy the beauty of God's creation here or our relationships.  However, our citizenship is in heaven.  We are just passing through this earth, and this must be at the forefront of our thinking.  Therefore, let us study God's Word and let go of an adulterous love affair with the world.  We belong to our heavenly Father who redeemed us by the blood of His Son.  May we strive to serve Him and live for Him in such a way that "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."  Selah!


The picture above is courtesy of Aaron Thayer.

"O Foolish Galatians!"

 

 When I hear about brothers and sisters in Christ who follow after a particular movement, teaching or leader, I feel a sense of caution in my heart.  It is so easy to be swept up in something that can side track us in our walk with Christ.  Recently, the leader of the Vision Forum, Doug Phillips, had to step down as a result of an improper relationship with another woman not his wife.  This type of failure had to impact those families who closely followed his ministry.  However, I think it was more than that.  We can become so caught up in certain viewpoints and perspectives that we can lose track of the center of our worship.  This is why it is imperative that we pray for those in leadership, and for our churches.  Besides prayer, perhaps it is time for us all to take a look closely at movements to see if they are really from God or built on human efforts to get closer to God.  I believe that like the Galatians we can go off on tangents and return again to works.  This can lead to confusion and sin.
     As I read an article written by Chelsea Schilling for WND (http://www.wnd.com/2014/04/pastor-accused-of-using-nanny-as-sex-object-2/), she quoted the head of the Home School Legal Defense Association Michael Farris who worked alongside Doug Phillips for six years.  He stated:  "“The reason Doug left HSLDA is because [President] Mike Smith and I, who were his bosses, were growing more and more uncomfortable as he started developing his patriarchy theory. We started limiting his ability to speak on those things while traveling on our behalf. We basically made it clear that he could not pursue those things with his HSLDA hat on. So he eventually chose to leave us so he could do those things because we were not comfortable with where he was headed.”  After I read this statement, I recalled my days as a home school mother of four.  During my 21 years of educating our children, I saw many movements come and go among families involved in home education.  There was the "Quiverfull" movement popularized by Mary Pride which encouraged families to have as many children as God wanted you to have doing nothing to prevent them.  Then came the "head covering" movement which advocates that women cover their heads at all times to show their submission to their husbands, and of course, the patriarchy movement which was a tenant of the Vision Forum (you can research any of these movements to learn more).  My point is not to put down anyone who has a sincere belief in some of these teachings, but to call attention to a danger here.
     In my own experience, I witnessed some families becoming involved in these movements as a means to draw closer to God.  It became a "work" to earn His favor.  I do not think they consciously thought about it that way.  However, like the Galatians, people can be swayed by popular opinion that following a certain teaching, a certain leader, or even using certain materials can bring them closer to God.                                                                                                                                                                      
     For the Galatians, it was the Judaizers that tried to convince the Gentile believers that they needed circumcision in order to be a true Christian.  They stirred the people up and brought confusion.  Paul put it very clearly in Galatians 3:1-6:  "O foolish Galatians!  Who has bewitched you?  It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.  Let me ask you only this:  Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain - if indeed it was in vain?  Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith - just as Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness?"  I have to love Paul's straightforward approach.  The Bible is clear that salvation comes by faith in Christ.  It is not a result of any works we can do.  We cannot make ourselves more holy by wearing or not wearing a head covering.  Having unlimited children is a decision between a husband, wife and God.  While children are a rich blessing, having many does not make you more holy.
     Unfortunately, we human beings have this built in "we have to contribute something" mentality  that makes us feel as though we must add something to salvation in order to be acceptable.  This comes from the flesh.  Once again, we need to remind ourselves that God, by His perfect love, accomplished our salvation.  He did it all.  We were dead in our trespasses and sins until He regenerated us and called us to Himself.  Now that we know Him, why are we falling into the same pit as the Galatians?  Adding things to what is already perfect whether its dietary, physical, or otherwise does not and cannot make us more saved.  Instead, it causes pride to rise to the top, and we know this can lead to downfall.
     Before we follow any movement, trend, or teaching, we need to take a good long look at it from the perspective of God's Word which is the only rule of our faith and practice.  We need to pray about it and seek godly counsel within our fellowship of believers.  All of us are subject to being led astray if we let our guard down.  We must be certain we are following God and not a manmade idea which makes us feel more righteous or holy.
     I will never put down those who feel called to have a large family as I hope they would not judge us for not having more than we did.  Nevertheless, I would be remiss if I did not issue a concern and warning.  If the Galatians can be fooled, so can we.  The spirit is willing but our flesh is weak when it comes to following men, and movements.  Let us make certain our eyes are fastened on Christ and our hearts are grounded in His Word.  Selah!

The Heart of a Child

 

Our precious grandson Briggs

   Yesterday, being Easter, my son and daughter-in-law were on their way to church with their two boys Briggs (4) and Beckett (2).  My daughter in law had been thinking about Branson who left our family for heaven on January 9th.  She became teary eyed as she thought about his great celebration in heaven, but also, how much she missed him.  Briggs asked her why she was crying, and she replied that she missed Branson.  Four year old Briggs responded, "I don't.  I'm happy for him."  Shocked, our daughter in law asked, "Why are you happy for him?" and Briggs said, "He's in heaven!  He gets to be with Jesus!"  No truer words of comfort were ever spoken.  Oh that God might increase my faith to be more like that!
     Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus interacted with children blessing them and pointing out to the disciples "of such is the kingdom of heaven".  At one point when the disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus answered them with an example.  Matthew 18:2-6 says:  "And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever receives one such child in my name receives Me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."  This is quite a statement about the heart of a child.  Jesus is, here, pointing to the humility that a child has.  We cannot enter into heaven with pride, self-importance and a party spirit.  Then, Jesus goes on to say that when we receive a little child in His name we are receiving Him.  Let there be no mistake - God loves children.  Also, Jesus gives a very solemn warning to adults in these verses.  If we lead a child to sin, our judgment will be certain.  When I think of our current culture, I shudder to think of the coming wrath over the abuse, abortion, and destruction of children's lives.  Our nation needs to repent in this area.
      In addition to humility, children have a simple, untainted faith.  Briggs simply believes because both his father and mother have taught him about Jesus Christ.  For him, it is a done deal that when his brother died he went to be with the Lord, and heaven is a happy place to be.  Childlike faith is NOT childish.  It is a trusting faith that says, "I believe in You God and what You say."
     I remember when I was in the hospital fighting my battle with polio at the age of seven.  I wanted to go home.  I simply asked God to make me well so I could go home again.  There was no long theological discussion or complicated prayer.  It was short and sweet.  I trusted God to hear me and He did.  I went home, and by God's mercy, I recovered.  I wish I could tell you that I always trust God like that, but that is not the case.  It is too easy for us, as adults, to get caught up in worldly thinking.  This is why it is so important to be in God's Word to drive out the doubts, fears, and thinking of the world and fill our minds with God's thoughts after Him.
     Sometimes the greatest wisdom comes from the simple faith and humility of a child.  Briggs certainly ministered to his mother, and to all of us in the family.  Out of loss, God brings such redeeming and comforting words.  In fact, I am learning that the more we gather together in family events the more healing there is for each of us.  The same is true for church fellowship as well because they are also our family who never fail to pray for us.
     Our Gospel message is a simple one to be embraced with simple faith and humility as a child would do.  Let us cultivate this childlike trust in God that we may glorify the Lord.  May God grant us the heart of a child.  Selah!