REPUTATION OR CHARACTER?

REPUTATION OR CHARACTER?

 Many people are more concerned with reputation than with character.  It has been said that character is who you are in the dark, out of view of others you wish to influence or impress.  Reputation is more about who others ‘think’ you are; character is all about who God ‘knows’ you are.

 Warren Wiersbe aptly describes the key components of Christian character in his book, “The Integrity Crisis,” especially noting how genuine character leads one to looking within for honest self-examination.  Ask yourself this question: ‘Am I more focused on evaluating others, or myself?’

 Contemporary society is overly obsessed with the actions of others, and we are prone to displays of outrage and anger at what we observe.  Just watch cable news (as I often do), and you’ll be inundated with emotionally charged talking-heads, characteristically overwrought over one subject or another.

 But Wiersbe writes, “What we need today is not anger but anguish, the kind of anguish that Moses displayed when he broke the two tablets of the law and then climbed the mountain to intercede for his people, or that Jesus displayed when He cleansed the temple and then wept over the city.  The difference between anger and anguish is a broken heart.  It's easy to get angry, especially at somebody else’s sins; but it’s not easy to look at sin, our own included, and weep over it.”

 Christlike character results from a broken heart; it’s always the product of repentance.  According to the Apostle Paul, “godly sorrow produces repentance,” which causes a 180-degree turnabout in attitudes and actions. (II Corinthians 7:10)  Perhaps, we should focus less on personal indignation and anger, and more on sustaining a strong anguish over what we (and our society) have become.  The true test of whether any individual is truly born again is one’s typical response to shortcomings and sins.  Remember: God’s people are biblically likened to sheep. (Psalm 23 – John 10:27)  Although pigs love to wallow in mudholes, sheep bemoan filthy situations.  If we should fall into sin, we have a sure and steadfast remedy.  Be sure to summon and deploy your “Advocate” as needed. (I John 2:1)  

 Character is built over time via incremental steps that lead to the spiritual progress of faith pilgrims.  Prayerfully consider this sage saying: ‘Sow a thought, reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.’  Friend, what seeds are you sowing and what is your expected harvest?

 Final Thought: You must stop being damaged and dominated by the conjecture and opinion of others.  That is merely a reputation issue.  The character issue is what GOD ‘knows’ about you, and it’s the only matter that carries significant weight in time and eternity.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF LOVE

 the extraordinary power of love

 God is love.  Hence, the believer’s daily demonstration of love is the most potent persuasion of our covenant connection with Christ.  (I John 4:7-8 and John 13:35)  Indeed, love has extraordinary power.  If you need practical proof, prayerfully consider the following true story.

 George Crane, a newspaper columnist who was also a minister, wrote about an angry wife who came into his office one day and seemed to be absolutely full of hatred toward her husband.  Here’s what she said: “I do not only want to get rid of him, I want to get even.  Before I divorce him, I want to hurt him as much as he has me.”

 Dr. Crane suggested an ingenious plan to that emotionally distraught wife: “Just go home and ACT as if you really love your husband.  Tell him how much he means to you.  Praise him for any accomplishments.  Go out of your way to be kind, considerate, and as generous as possible.  Spare no efforts to please him, and really try to enjoy him.  Make him BELIEVE that you really love him.  After you have convinced him of your undying love and loyalty and the fact that you cannot live without him, then drop the bomb.  Tell him that you're getting a divorce.  That will really hurt him!”  With revenge in her eyes, the revenge filled wife smiled at him and exclaimed, “What you have shared is beautiful, creative and wonderful!  Will my husband be surprised!”  This determined wife followed George Crane’s advice with total enthusiasm.  For two full months, SHE ACTED AS IF SHE TRULY LOVED HIM!  For two full months, she showed unconditional love, kindness, attentiveness, supporting and sharing.

 In a few months,  she hadn’t returned to follow-up, so George Crane called her. “Are you now ready to go through with the divorce? he asked.

 “Divorce?” she exclaimed. “Never!   I discovered I really do love him.”  You see, her actions had changed her feelings!  Motion brought on emotion!  You see, the ability to love is established not so much by any verbal promise, but the ability to love is established by repeated loving deeds. 

 The Christian author, C.S. Lewis, penned similar thoughts in his book “Mere Christianity.”  C.S. Lewis wrote, "Do not waste your time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor.  Just ACT as if you did.  As soon as we do this, we will discover one of life’s great secrets.  When you are behaving AS IF you love someone, you will soon come to a genuine love for that person.  But if you harm someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more.  If you do good deeds to that person, you will find yourself disliking him less and less.”

 Indeed, love is a decision.  Love is a choice.  That’s why you don’t really have to like someone in order to love someone.  And that’s why JESUS offers the powerful spiritual advice, recorded in Matthew 5:43-45.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies…bless those who curse you…do good to those who hate you…and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He…sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

 Since love is a decision, i.e. a choice, what kind of choices are you making today, especially regarding any person who doesn’t quite meet your standards?  Think.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

THE CONTENTMENT PERSPECTIVE

 THE CONTENTMENT PERSPECTIVE

 A sage saying goes something like this: “I had no shoes and complained until I met a man who had no feet.”  It seems that the notion of contentment, like most things in our world, is a simple matter of maintaining perspective.  In a society that constantly encourages (even pressures) the pursuit of more-and-more, it is relatively easy to lose track of what is really important.

 Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor.”  Truth!

 Consider the story of an ancient Persian by the name of Ali Hafed.  He owned a vast farm with bountiful orchards, grain fields, and gardens.  People who knew him well described Ali as a wealthy and contented man.

 However, the farmer encountered a wise man from the Far East who told him all about diamonds and how wealthy he would be if he could only own a diamond mine.  Ali Hafed went to bed that night a poor man – poor because he was now completely discontented.  Desperately craving a mine of diamonds, he sold his farm and began a global search for those rare stones.  In his diamond quest, Ali traveled through several continents.  Ultimately, he became so poor, broken, and depressed that he committed suicide.  

 That same year, the man who purchased Ali’s farm led his camel into the garden for a drink of water.  As the camel put its nose into the water, that man noticed a brilliant flash of light glistening from the stream.  He immediately retrieved the clear stone that reflected all the hues of the rainbow.  That man had discovered the Diamond Mine of Golconda, the site of some of the most magnificent gems in all of history.  Had Ali Hafed remained at home and dug in his own garden, instead of his hapless quest that resulted in suicide in a strange land, he would have owned acres of diamonds. 

 The Word of God teaches us that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Timothy 6:6)  While all of us stand in need of money as a medium of exchange for goods and services, it is a fool’s errand to allow money to make you, as opposed to you making money.  My friends, in this life, always invest yourself wisely, and learn to enjoy the magnificent riches that are found in contentment.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

TACKLING TEMPTATION (Part II)

 Tackling temptation (Part II)

 Whenever you are strongly tempted, focus mindfully on the circumstances.  Learn from them.  In the future, you will want to avoid similar situations.  Remember: Satan has maintained an active portfolio on you since birth, so he is keenly aware of the various things/situations/people that float your boat, so to speak.  He will never present temptation venues that are not potentially attractive to you.  For example, since drugs have never carried any personal allure for me, it is highly unlikely that Satan will extend temptation invitations that are related to the drug culture.  Instead, he will knock on my life-door with that which is extremely appealing to me. 

 Before we go farther, I must appeal to your sense of compassion.  It’s difficult for us to wrap our heads around the reasons why someone would succumb easily to temptations that would never appeal to us.  You have your personalized set of temptations.  So show compassion to others.  I like the way F. B. Meyer frames it. “Whenever we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin.  And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her.  We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances.”  To wit, the model for a Christ-like attitude regarding the flaws of others is a simple cliché: There go I…but for the grace of God.

 Let’s examine the strategy and ‘end-game’ of temptation, and any of its resultant sins.  First of all, “the pleasures of sin” are only “for a season,” therefore, its seeming joy is utterly deceptive.  (Hebrews 11:25)  Just ask anyone who has fallen prey to the snare of adulterous relationships.  Certainly, it feels good (perhaps even feels right) for a quick moment, but the aftermath is a horrific cesspool of anger, hurt, guilt, confusion and condemnation.  John Piper wrote, “Sin gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be more happy if I follow it.  The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.”  Trust me on this one: IT NEVER DOES!  It only produces a momentary sense of carnal happiness, but absolutely fails to produce any lasting peace and joy.

 Prayerfully consider the following questions and advice by Charles Spurgeon:  “What settings are you in when you fall?  Avoid them.  What props do you have that support your sin?  Eliminate them.  What people are you usually with?  Avoid them.  There are two equally damning lies Satan wants us to believe: (1) Just once won't hurt.  (2) Now that you have ruined your life, you are beyond God's use, and might as well enjoy sinning.”  It’s a wise perspective, Pastor Spurgeon – very wise indeed.

 Satan knows that he is doomed, damned and consigned eternally to hell.  So he craves vengeance on God and seeks company for his misery.  Satan targets humankind (whom he seeks to influence) because we are the highest creations of Almighty God, whom he hates and could not possibly defeat.  So don’t become Satan’s patsy! 

 There’s a scene in John Bunyan’s classic book, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” that aptly describes the agenda of Satan and the atoning work of Jesus Christ.  It portrays one person who is called “Interpreter” bringing “Christian” to a wall where fire is blazing from an open grate.  One man is trying desperately to douse the fire with water.  Then, Interpreter shows Christian the other side of the wall, where another man is secretly pouring oil on the fire to keep it ablaze.  Interpreter says, “You saw the man standing behind the wall to maintain the fire, teaching you that it is hard for the tempted to see how this work of grace is maintained in the soul.”  Never forget: Satan strives vigorously to quench our faith, but Christ is on the other side (always), and He faithfully deposits the oil of His Spirit and the WISDOM of His Word in order to keep it alive.

 Believer, you can and will overcome!  “This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (I John 5:4)  

 Check out some of the wondrous joys that await us…

 To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life. (Revelation 2:7)

 He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)

 To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. (Revelation 2:17)

 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. (Revelation 2:26)

 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5)

 He who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. (Revelation 3:12)

 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21)

 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Revelation 21:7)

 Winner-Believer, our GOD has fully endowed you and miraculously empowered you to tackle any and every temptation.  You are an overcomer!

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

TACKLING TEMPTATION (Part I)

 Tackling temptation (Part I)

 Jesus Christ is our perfect example.  Unlike our ancestor, Adam, Jesus remained victorious in every satanic attack. [Compare/Contrast Genesis 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11].   The First Adam succumbed willfully to sin.  The Second Adam overcame every single weapon in Satan’s arsenal, i.e. “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.” (I John 2:16)  Jesus Christ was not only fully God, He was also fully man.  But while walking in mortal flesh, He obtained absolute victory over this world system.  Therefore, according to scripture, “We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15, NKJV)

 Christ overcame by steadfast reliance on the Word.  Rather than dialogue with the enemy; He dispatched the Word and defeated Him.  We, too, must deploy this Word weapon, with God’s sure promise that we will conquer. (II Corinthians 10:4-5)  Indeed, our “God always leads us in triumph in Christ.” (II Corinthians 2:14)

 The fallen archangel, Satan, is extremely crafty.  Though he has but three weapons in his demonic arsenal, he dispatches them with cunning creativity, as a treacherous snare to entangle God’s people. (Romans 12:2)  Consider “Discipleship Journal’s” survey that ranks man’s spiritual vulnerabilities, our points of greatest spiritual challenge:

1. Materialism

2. Pride

3. Self-centeredness

4. Laziness

5. Sexual lust

6. Anger/Bitterness

7. Envy

8. Gluttony

9. Lying

 This survey identified situations in which temptations become more severe: 

--81% of participants said it’s when they neglect time with God.

--57% of participants said it’s when they are physically exhausted.

 Survey participants also noted solutions that result in victory over temptation: 

--84% stated victory is accomplished through continual prayer.

--76% said it’s accomplished by avoiding compromising situations.

--66% said it’s accomplished by meditating on the Word.

--52% said it’s accomplished by being accountable to someone.

 One dangerous pitfall in our temptation experience is the human tendency to rationalize and justify circumstances that can lead directly to sin.  Read the following story to gain a deeper understanding into how so many of us (unlike Christ) find ourselves haphazardly navigating the hour of temptation.

 Toad baked some cookies. “These cookies smell very good,” said Toad.  He ate one. 

“And they taste even better,” he said.  Toad ran to Frog's house. 

 “Frog, Frog,” cried Toad, “taste these cookies that I have made!”

Devouring one, Frog said “These are the best cookies I’ve ever eaten!”

 Frog and Toad ate many cookies, one after another. 

“You know, Toad,” said Frog, with his mouth full, “I think we should stop.  We’ll soon be sick.”

 “You’re right,” said Toad.  “Let’s eat one last cookie, and then we’ll stop.” 

Frog and Toad ate one last cookie.  There were many cookies left in the bowl.

 “Frog,” said Toad, “let’s eat one very last cookie, and then we’ll stop.”

Frog and Toad ate one very last cookie.

 “We must stop eating!” cried Toad as he ate another.

“Yes,” said Frog, reaching for the cookies, “we need willpower.”

 “What is willpower?” asked Toad.

“Willpower is trying hard not to do something you really want to do,” said Frog.

 “You mean like trying hard not to eat all these cookies?” asked Toad.

“Right!” shouted Frog.

 Frog put the cookies in a box.

“There,” he said.  “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”

“But we can open the box,” said Toad.

“That’s true,” said Frog.

 Frog tied some string around the box.

“There,” he said. “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”

“But we can cut the string and open the box.” said Toad.

“That’s true,” said Frog.

 Frog got a ladder.  He put the box on a very high shelf.

“There,” said Frog.  “Now we will not eat any more cookies.”

“But we can climb the ladder, take the box down, cut the string and open it,” said Toad.

“That’s true,” said Frog.

 Frog climbed the ladder, took the box down, cut the string, and opened the box.

Frog took the box outside.  He shouted loudly. “Hey, birds, come and get it!”

Birds came from everywhere. They loaded the cookies in their beaks and flew away.

 “Now we have no more cookies to eat,” said Toad sadly.  “Not even one.”

“Yes,” said Frog, “but we have lots and lots of willpower.”

 ”You may keep it for yourself, Frog,” said Toad.  “I’m going home to bake a cake!”

 Moral of the Story: Some people draw close as possible to sin, so sure they will somehow  overcome.  However, triumphant believers refuse to get close to sin.  For whenever we play with sin, or ignore its influences and consequences, we lose.  And remember: Never exchange one temptation for another. 

Think.  Read.  Meditate.  Pray.

 Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

STAND COURAGEOUSLY ON YOUR FAITH

 STAND COURAGEOUSLY ON YOUR FAITH

 In a society characterized by compromise for the sake of political correctness, it sometimes feels easy to press the mute button whenever matters of faith take center stage in conversations among family and friends.  Often, we are tempted to ‘go along to get along’ – or to sheepishly opt for apathy and abject silence because we hold less acceptable, minority views.

 At such moments, perhaps we should ask ourselves a question that has become a fixture in religious pop-culture.  That is, ‘What Would JESUS Do?’

 Even a cursory examination of The Holy Writ reveals that Christ was never complacent in His public stance against the moral decadence of His day.  For instance, He radically overturned the tables of currency exchangers who greedily defiled the Temple of God.  Also, He was never reluctant in citing the hypocrisy of contemporary religious leaders, scribes and Pharisees, whom Christ publicly labeled as “hypocrites…child[ren] of hell…blind guides…[and]…fools.” (Matthew 23:15-17)  These men specialized in pompous displays of religiosity, but sadly ignored the need for a covenant relationship with God.

 My sisters and brothers, we must strive to deploy consistent courage in the face of spiritual opposition.  May I present a natural yet practical portrait of courage?

 One winter morning as Ray Blankenship was preparing breakfast, he gazed out the window and saw a small girl being swept away in the rain-flooded drainage ditch beside his home in Andover, Ohio.  Ray knew that in a short distance the ditch would pass underneath the road and empty into a deep and dangerous culvert.  He dashed out the door and raced alongside the ditch, trying to get ahead of the terrified child.  Then Ray hurled himself into the deep, churning water.  When he surfaced, he was able to grab the child’s arm.  They tumbled, end-over-end.  Within about three feet of total disaster, Ray’s free hand felt something – possibly a rock protruding from one side of the ditch.  He clung desperately to that rock, but the tremendous force of the water threatened to tear him and the child away.  ‘If I can just hang on until help comes,’ Ray thought frantically.  But he did much better than that.  By the time fire department rescuers arrived, Ray had heroically pulled the girl to safety.  Both were treated for exposure and shock.  On April 12, 1989, Ray Blankenship was awarded the Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal.  The award was especially fitting, because this selfless person was at even greater risk to himself than most people knew.  For Ray Blankenship had never learned how to swim. 

 How might we define courage?  In short, courage is doing what you are afraid to do.  Indeed, there can be no courage unless you are genuinely striving to overcome fear.  And what is fear?  It is merely an acronym for ‘False Evidence Appearing Real.’  The Word declares that our chief adversary comes to us AS a roaring lion.  The implication is that Satan is not nearly as powerful as he (or we) conceive.  Truth is, you serve The Almighty God, the One who promised to “be with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)  He is the One “who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)  Never lose sight on the fact that  Jehovah-Shammah is there.  He is your “present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)  So never fear.  Read His Word; believe it; memorize it; internalize it; practice it; declare it; and depend on it!  Always stand courageously on your sure foundation of faith.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!

DON'T DESPAIR OVER DISAPPOINTMENTS

don’t despair OVER disappointmentS

 Life happens.  Sometimes, the ball bounces just as planned and your team springs forward with vigor and victory.  Nevertheless, occasional disappointments do surface in order to test our resolve and our focus on life’s goals.  One must determine to proactively benefit and grow from any situation that disheartens and frustrates.

 Unfortunately, we humans lack the capacity to see beyond the bend in the road, as God alone can.  If we are not watchful and sensitive to His will, human shortsightedness can lead us to a dreadful place of pessimism, doubt and depression.  Allow me to cite three historical examples.  Alexander the Great conquered Persia, but broke down and wept because his troops were too exhausted to push on to India.  John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the U.S., wrote in his diary: “My life has been spent in vain and idle aspirations, and in ceaseless rejected prayers that something beneficial would be the result of my existence.”  Robert Louis Stevenson wrote words which continue to delight and enrich our lives, yet what did he compose for his epitaph? “Here lies one who meant well, who tried a little, and failed much.”  These three made substantial and durable contributions, yet they failed to fully circumvent the pitfall of despair.

 On the other hand, history reveals that some people staunchly refuse to be deterred or derailed by contravening circumstances.  In 1920, Oswald Smith stood before the examining board for selecting missionaries.  One solitary dream dominated Oswald’s heart.  He desperately wanted to become a missionary.  Over and over he prayed, “Lord, I want to go out as a missionary for you.  Open a door of service for me.”  He felt confident that at last his prayers would be answered.  However, when the examination was over, the board turned Oswald Smith down.  He had failed the test and did not meet their qualifications.  

 This was a major challenge and an unexpected life detour.  What would Oswald do?  He turned to fervent prayer, and God planted another idea in his heart.  If he could not go as a missionary, he would build a church which would send out missionaries.  And that is exactly what he did.  Oswald Smith founded and pastored The People's Church in Toronto, Canada, and their congregation sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time.  Oswald brought God into the equation, and God transformed his detour into an awesome thoroughfare of service. 

 Brothers and sisters, if you ever encounter a major disappointment, refuse to wallow in anger, apathy, doubt, or despondency.  As the sage saying goes, ‘Whenever God closes a door, He opens a window.’  So flip the script of your emotional perspective and one-dimensional thinking.  Take God out of the narrow box where you have kept Him.  Whether we realize it or not, some closed doors are directly due to the favor and blessing of Heaven.  Indeed, we may never know what God has kept us FROM (or brought us TO) by allowing an apparent door of opportunity to close in our faces.

 Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING. Maranatha!