The Promise of Eternal Life

By Pastor Greg

In 1999 Tom Hanks stared in the movie The Green Mile. It's a story about a Prison Guard who worked on death row. Each prisoner on that cell block had received the death penalty for their crimes, and would eventually end up in the electric chair. Early in the movie we meet a prisoner named John Coffey. And as he is being escorted into the prison, the guards call out "Dead man walking". The judge had pronounced his sentence; death by electric chair. John Coffey was destined to die. The execution had just not happened, yet.

Strange at it may seem, the same can be said about all of us. We are all "Dead men walking". Now, I'm not trying to be morbid by pointing this out to you. But I think most of us are aware that death is real. As the writer of Hebrews has pointed out, everyone will die once (Hebrews 9:27). We are all destined to die, it's just that for those of us still walking and breathing, death has not happened, yet.

Except for a few individuals, death has been happening since the fall of humanity. Oh sure, some people have been rescued from death; people like Lazarus who was brought back to life. But truly stories like these are rare. Nothing seems to stand in deaths way, which makes Christ’s promise in John chapter three seem a little hard to swallow, especially if we don’t fully realize just what He was promising.

One night a Pharisee named Nicodemus drops by to talk with Jesus. As the two were talking, the topic of life came up, and Jesus makes an incredible promise. "And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him (John 3:14-17).

Jesus told Nicodemus that he was already dead. He just didn’t know it, yet. He was a dead man walking; bitten by sin, destined to die. But then He tells Nicodemus that he did not need to die. Jesus says that Nicodemus could find eternal life if only he would look to Him in faith and believe. Jesus compares Himself to the Bronze Snake Moses used to restore life, a story we read in Numbers 21:4-9.

While the people of Israel were wandering in the wilderness, they began to grumble and complain (for the “umpteenth” time). “God, we hate this food. Our feet are tired. When will we get there? We are so miserable out here. Nothing could be worse than this.” So God shows them just how “worse” it could be, and He allows poisonous snakes to invade the camp. Many people were bitten. Many died. Eventually they turn to Moses for help. “Tell God we are sorry for grumbling and complaining”, they plead. And God, in His mercy, instructs Moses to make a Bronze Snake, lift it on a pole, and anyone who looked to the snake in faith was healed.

I’m sure Nicodemus knew and understood this story. But what he probably didn’t know was that he, a Jew, had also been bitten by sin, even though he was an exceptionally religious man. 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. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants” (John 3:18-21). The point Jesus was trying to make was that everyone is already dead. Even the Jews were dead men walking. But God, in His mercy, had once again provided a way for anyone to find healing and life. They only needed to look to Jesus in faith. Those willing to admit they are poisoned (destined to die) must look to Jesus in faith. That is how they will find healing and life. However, Jesus points out that those who believe in God’s only begotten Son will not merely have their life restored, but that they will be granted eternal life.

This is the good news preached by Christ. He will grant eternal life to all who are willing to admit they have been bitten by sin; destined to die. But the promise He makes here is sometimes misunderstood. Christian and non-Christian alike don’t fully understand this promise. Jesus isn’t saying that our bodies will live forever. He is speaking of something far greater and substantially better than merely immortal flesh and blood. The life He is talking about here transcends the breath in our lungs or the beating of our heart, and instead focuses on the very part of us that makes us human in the first place.

A person may still be breathing and they may still be standing, but without Christ they are dead, and not just waiting to die someday. Those who have rejected Christ are dead to love, happiness, peace, contentment, purpose, and the many other things that bring meaning to life. It is to those still living in darkness that Jesus offers eternal life. But He isn’t merely talking about a body living forever. Jesus says that the effects of this Eternal Life can be seen and heard and felt today, just as the wind can be heard and felt, and its effects seen. This promise of Eternal Life affects the way a person loves today. It affects the way they feel, the way they treat others, and the way they care for others. This healing opens a person’s eyes today to the glory and majesty of God all around them. The person reborn into eternal life finds purpose and meaning in life today, not one day off in the distant future. Jesus asserts that Eternal Life is granted the believer the moment they look to Him in faith. This Promise of Eternal Life begins the moment they admit they have been poisoned by sin and turn their eyes to Jesus; the moment they are born again.

Be honest with yourself. Your heart might still be beating and there might still be breath in your lungs, but do you really feel alive? Isn’t there a longing deep within your heart for purpose and meaning? Do you feel like you are groping in the darkness for love, friendship, compassion, and peace? Jesus says this is because you have been bitten by sin, and its poison has marked you for death. You are a dead man walking. However, it doesn’t have to stay that way.

Nicodemus, the most respected religious leader of Israel during that time, had no idea he was a dead man walking. His life was empty of the kind of life Jesus was offering. But it did not have to stay that way. And it doesn’t have to stay that way for you either. Physical death has not happened to you, yet. But one day it will. You and I are both marked for death. I looked to Him whom they pierced and found life. And the good news is that you too can find healing and life; eternal life by looking to Jesus in faith.

The Promise of Grace - March 17th, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Even though she had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church, eventually teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, some in the church didn’t think a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son, so the church began to argue and fight about the matter. To decide what was right, the church scheduled a meeting. During that meeting people argued from both sides of the issue, and tempers began to rise. The meeting was getting completely out of hand. Of course, the young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry, the pastor’s son stood to speak. He stated, “Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. I ask you, does it wash away sin or not?”

This illustration asks a very weighty question. And it’s not a question about forgiveness; rather it is a question about Grace. How much of a person’s past sin does God still hold against them? Now, I think we all would agree that any sin can be forgiven provided the person seeks forgiveness in the name of Jesus and repents of that sin. But Grace, on the other hand, choses to no longer hold that sin against the sinner. This is the promise of Grace; a promise Jesus illustrated so beautifully in the story of the Prodigal Son (read Luke 15:11-32).

In this story, the young son comes to his senses and returns to the father (That’s repentance). Expecting one thing, he receives just the opposite (That’s Grace). The father did not hold the son’s past against him. Instead the father celebrated the life that that had been restored. What was lost has been found. What was dead is now alive.

In the Kingdom of God, this is what happens to all who turn to Christ in faith. All who come to their senses, confess their sin, and repent of their sin, will find Grace. They will receive not what they had earned through their sin or by their disobedience, but what God choses to do by His Grace. However, even though this is true, Jesus needed to remind a couple of religious big shots of this truth. They didn’t seem to understand Grace nor appreciate Grace. So in this story Christ identifies the difference between God’s attitude toward a repentant sinner and the Pharisee’s judgment against the repentant sinner. God’s grace looked forward, not backward at what HAD been done or what HAD been said. The story of the prodigal is a lesson of hope to those seeking forgiveness, and a scathing rebuke to those who continue to hold sin against those whom the Father has forgiven.

In this parable, Jesus is pointing to the Religious Elite as the elder son. The Pharisees and the religious teachers would not show grace. They would not forget what God had chosen to no longer remember. Okay, that being said, let’s jump ahead a couple of years. Jesus has ascended. The Spirit came and the Church was birthed. Now the tables are turned. Peter and James and John and the rest of the apostles had been with Jesus since the beginning. They had been with the Church and with Jesus all along. But one day this troublesome Pharisee named Paul comes along saying that he has become born again. He confesses to being a believer. So now you have a Pharisee playing the role of the younger son. How will the Church (the elder son) respond? This Paul had persecuted the Church. He assisted in the stoning of Stephen, a deacon in the Church. Would the Church become like the older son; holding Paul’s past against him? Would Paul’s past become a noose around his neck for the rest of his days, or would the Church celebrate Grace?

Thankfully, a man named Barnabas speaks on Paul’s behalf, and demonstrates the lesson of Grace which the Church needed to learn. Barnabas says, “If Paul has received Grace from God, then he will receive Grace from me” (okay, that’s my paraphrase of Acts 9:27). God then teaches Peter a valuable lesson about Grace; that Grace is granted to anyone, regardless of their sin (Acts 10:34-35). Later on, this recipient of Grace will write “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

Most of the un-churched people I’ve talked with remind me of the younger son in this parable. Feeding the pigs; broke, and starving, the prodigal son knew his life was a wreck. And it was in desperation that he came to the father. But he came expecting judgment. He came expecting anger for the way he destroyed his life. This is what the un-churched seem to expect from God. They expect wrath and judgment, which is part of the reason they stay away from church in the first place. They feel bad enough already. They already know their life is a disaster. Now, I hope we all know what they will find when they come to God. But I wonder what they find when they come to the Church. Sadly, even after finding Grace and restitution from God, some Christians never let anyone forget their past; as if there was no Grace or no forgiveness. Oh, I’ll admit that Grace does not remove the earthly consequences of sin. We cannot remove the way our sinful choices in the past affect us today, but the past does not determine who we are today or tomorrow. That privilege belongs to Grace.

Why do you suppose some Christians today struggle with Grace? Why do some Christians continue to hold sin against those who have received Grace? The problem is not with Grace. The problem is selfishness. Some Christians, acting just like the older brother in the parable, feel that Grace is unfair. Some complain to the Father that it is not fair to grant Grace. “What about all that sin”, they exclaim. “You’re just going to let someone say they are sorry and let bygones be bygones?” And the Father answers “Yes, that is My choice”. And so to the selfish, self-centered Christian, God’s choice seems unfair; a choice they simply cannot accept.

We cannot disregard Grace. Grace cannot be ignored. Grace demands to be noticed. It jumps from the Word of God and smacks us square between the eyes. The Word of God takes Grace and forces us to choose; either Grace works, or it doesn’t. There is no middle ground. Either a sinner is granted Grace when they confess their sin, or they are not. But if they are, then we, as fellow believers, must celebrate with the recipient of Grace, and help them look forward to a life lived in fellowship with the Father. He has chosen Grace. So too must we.

Bible Study Companion–John 11

John 11

• John 11:1-3 By the time John wrote this Gospel account, many people were quite familiar with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. He wanted his readers to identify this Mary with the same one mentioned in chapter 12. Mary’s actions in John 12 were apparently well known even by the Christians living near the end of the first century.
• John 11:4-6 Jesus was in a town about 20 miles from Bethany. If the messenger traveled quickly, he could have arrived in one day. When Jesus heard the news, He sent the messenger back with the encouraging proclamation, “This sickness is not to end in death”. So the messenger travels another day to return to Bethany. But we will learn later on that by the time he returned, Lazarus had died. So even if Jesus had immediately left for Bethany with the messenger, it would have been too late. And I think Jesus knew this. However, we have to wonder why He didn’t simply do a long distance healing like he did for the Nobleman’s son (see John 4:43-54). But Jesus was waiting for a reason – a very important reason. This trip to Bethany will eventually end at the cross. This is His final trip to Jerusalem (Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem). Not only did the timing need to be right for His death (He needed to die during the Passover), but He was going to use the death of Lazarus as one last opportunity to bring glory to Himself (John 11:4). It will become one last miracle to boldly testify to those living in darkness that He is the great I AM.
• John 11:7-10 Afraid for His life (and perhaps their own), the Apostles protest the trip, especially since Jesus had said Lazarus would not die (verse 4). But Jesus points out that His time to shed light in this dark world is coming to a close. God was providing one last opportunity for Jesus to shed some light upon the people of this world.
• John 11:11-16 The term “sleep” is used often times in the New Testament to describe death, especially when speaking about a believer. But the Apostles didn’t make this connection. That’s why Jesus tells them plainly that the man was dead.
• John 11:17-19 Apparently is was not just believers who came to comfort Mary & Martha. Many Jews came as well. My church will typically provide a small meal for those who wish to fellowship and visit with the family after the graveside ceremony. This would be something similar, just longer. So although Lazarus would have been buried quickly, people would have been coming and going for several days. In Jewish culture expressing sympathy to those in mourning was considered a sacred duty.
• John 11:20-27 Martha does not seem to criticize Jesus. She just stated her faith in Jesus. And it is a good faith. Martha did not doubt that one day they all will rise again. But Jesus had something planned that Martha and Mary could not possibly know: to use this tragedy as one last opportunity to demonstrate that He is the Resurrection and the Life. It is obvious Jesus had been saying this and teaching this because Martha confessed to believing this. But this truth needed to be demonstrated, and not just for those in attendance. This truth needed to be recorded so that all who would read it would believe. Jesus was about to do something for one man that He will later do for all who believe. He will stand at the grave, call out our name, and we will rise (compare Paul’s example in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). “I AM”, says Jesus. I AM in charge of the resurrection. I AM in charge of life.
• John 11:28-32 Jesus waits outside of town while Martha runs to get Mary. A crowd of mourners follow her, presumably either to or near the cemetery. Personally, I think Jesus was close to the tomb just waiting for the crowd to come. And I love the irony here: eternal life standing among death, ready to shout death into submission.
• John 11:33-38 Why was Jesus angry? Why was He troubled? Why did He weep? Was He moved by the emotion demonstrated by Mary and the mourners? What broke the Savior’s heart? I do believe He was touched by the sadness being expressed here. And I believe this is what moved Him to tears; to see people struggling with their loss. But I suggest that Jesus was angry and troubled at death itself. How great a blemish death truly is in God’s creation! It has left a foul smell and a foul taste upon what God had originally described as good. Why wouldn’t Jesus be angry, for He was there when creation began! I imagine Jesus felt even more determined to go to the cross. I can almost picture Jesus saying “Death, your tyranny ends NOW”.
• John 11:39-44 Why did Jesus wait so long? So there could be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Lazarus was indeed dead. He had not fainted. He did not swoon. Jesus didn’t perform CPR. Lazarus was dead and already decomposing. But with a shout the last four days become undone, as if they had never happened. Jesus reverses the damage caused by death and the damage caused by the illness. With just a shout, the man comes out. Some have said it was a good thing Jesus mentioned Lazarus’ name because had He not, many other dead people in that graveyard would have come walking out of their tombs. But the truth is, Jesus had just demonstrated His authority over death. Incidentally, Lazarus lived a long time after this event. Once Christ ascended, it is said that Lazarus traveled to Britton and then France to preach Christ. Eventually he ended up on the island of Cyprus where he became Bishop of that church. 30 years after being called from the tomb, Lazarus died (again).
• John 11:45 Now I don’t know about you, but this would have been a life changing event for me. At least I hope it would have been, but I guess I will never know. Being a believer, this would have confirmed my belief. But if I was a skeptical unbeliever, would it have changed my mind? I’m not sure.
• John 11:46-48 Notice verse 48 specifically. One of the main reasons the Jewish leaders refused to publically acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah was because they feared Roman rule. This is because they wrongly assumed that Jesus, being the Messiah, would establish as earthly rule at this time, placing Palestine in opposition to the Roman government. Naturally, Rome would win. At least that’s what they thought. Isn’t it pathetic that they had no faith in Jesus, neither spiritually or physically? Since Jesus was the Messiah that would have meant that He was sent by God. And if sent by God, surely He had the power and the authority to tell Rome to take a hike. But they wouldn’t even believe that! How pathetic. Seems I remember eight spies believing the same thing (see Numbers 13:31).
• John 11:49-52 What Caiaphas suggested here was the in order to preserve their way of life, Jesus should be killed. Better for one man to die for the nation than the nation to die for the one man. John points out that there was indeed a splinter of truth behind that statement, even though Caiaphas was acting in rebellion.
• John 11:53-57 Thus brings to a close the public ministry of Jesus. The other three gospel writers will fill in some more details, but the point is, once Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus stopped traveling from town to town teaching and calling people to believe. He spends the next several days in a town 14 miles northeast of Jerusalem. But even though there was a bounty on His head, Jesus would still go to Jerusalem at the appointed time. Knowing what will unfold next, I started to wonder if Judas the Betrayer knew of this bounty before they arrived for the Passover. Did he carry one of those wanted posters around in his pocket?

The Promise of a Guide - March 10th, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

          A young Marine and his commanding officer board a train headed through the mountains of Switzerland.  The only available seats face a young woman and her grandmother. After a while, it’s obvious that the young woman and the young soldier are attracted to each other.  Eventually the train passes into a tunnel, turning the interior of the car pitch black. Suddenly there were two distinct sounds: the smack of a kiss soon followed by the smack of a slap. When the train emerged from the tunnel, the four travelers sat in silence. The grandmother is thinking to herself, "It was very brash for that young soldier to kiss my granddaughter, but I'm glad she slapped him." The commanding officer is thinking, "That young Marine sure was brave to kiss the girl, but I wish she hadn't missed him and hit me!" The young woman was thinking, "I'm glad the soldier kissed me, but I wish my grandmother had not slapped him!" The young Marine, however, had a satisfied smile on his face.  He thought, "Life is good.  When does a fellow have the chance to kiss a beautiful girl and slap his commanding officer all at the same time?"

There was confusion because it was dark.  However, had there been light, they would have been able to know the truth.

Now that I’ve shared this story I suppose I should also add, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand”.  At least I think it’s the appropriate time to say this. That’s what Jesus would say when He was trying to make a point through a story.  For example, at the end of a story known as the Parable of the Sower He says this.  IN that story He was trying to teach a Spiritual lesson that hopefully those who were listening would understand.  So ends by saying, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand”.   Unfortunately not everyone got the point.  Even His disciples were unsure exactly what He was trying to say.  They were still in the dark and not able to completely understand.  So Jesus makes them a promise.  “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand” (Luke 8:10).

          This promise may seem insignificant at first, especially when compared to Eternal Life and the Resurrection.  But it is significant when we consider that because of this promise, Christians are better equipped to live as Christians in this word.  A believer is promised the ability to understand the mysteries of God's Kingdom.  Believers are granted the ability to see the work of God and understand the Word of God.  In other words, believers have their eyes and ears opened, and what the world calls a mysterious secret is revealed to those who call Jesus Lord.  They no longer live in the dark.

          The Apostle Paul understood this concept completely.  He was a religious man: a very devout Jew.  He knew the Jewish Law forward and backward.  He lived by the Law.  Yet without this promised revelation that comes through a relationship with Jesus, Paul did not fully understand the mysteries of God.  However, on the day Paul accepted Jesus as Lord, God fulfilled the promise Jesus had made, and Paul finally truly understood the Kingdom of God.

          Paul attributes this revealing to the Spirit of God.  It is God's Spirit, the Holy Spirit, which grants believers the ability to understand these mysteries. It is the Spirit that sheds light in the darkness so that all can be seen and known.  We see and hear and understand the Kingdom of God because Jesus promised us The Spirit.  "But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets" (1 Corinthians 2:10).  Paul even claims that believers can know the thoughts of God.  "No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us" (1 Corinthians 2:11-12).

As Jesus spoke of leaving His disciples, He also spoke of sending His disciples a guide; someone to help them and equip them as they lived out their lives.  After all, a person can hardly walk in the light if the Light of the world has ascended to Heaven.  So He promised that God would send His Spirit to those who do believe so they would not be forced to live in darkness wondering about the truth and guessing about God and His Kingdom.  "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13).  It is this revelation from God that grants a believer wisdom and courage as they face trials and as they live out their lives in this world.  In His grace and in His mercy, God has granted the believer His Spirit to open their eyes and ears.

For some of us, we fully understand why this is a significant promise.  If it were not for the Spirit to guide us, we would have been lost long ago.  But maybe there are some people who don’t fully understand why this promise is so significant.  Some might be tempted to think that since they have trusted Jesus for salvation, why worry about anything else.  Why be so concerned with fully understanding the Kingdom of God?

Let me tell you why this is important.  It’s important because Jesus expects us to live a holy life - one that is set apart and unlike the people of this world.  He expects us to seek righteousness - to act according to His commands.  We are called to follow His teachings.  If we call Him Lord, Lord, we should act upon what He has taught and revealed to us.  Paul alludes to this in Romans chapter 6.  He says, "But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed" (Romans 6:17).  If Jesus is our Lord, we must turn away from our sin and instead obey the teaching of Jesus.   The Lord expects us to live according to His commands.  Now, this would be an impossible task if all we had to depend upon was our wisdom, our strength, and our determination.  In our own strength, we are still in the dark.  But by grace the Father has not left us to fumble around in the darkness on our own.  He has promised us a Guide; the Holy Spirit of God who will help us understand how to live, how to overcome, how to love, how to care, and how to serve in ways that honor God.  We are not left to search and learn on our own.  "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26).  The Father has granted us His Spirit that guides us, leads us, teaches us, and convicts us.  God grants light to those living in darkness when they confess the Son as Lord.

Knowing what pleases God or how to live according to His will is just one side of this promise.  But there is another side I think we need to remember.  Without the Spirit, you and I would know nothing of God’s mercy and grace.  We would still be in the dark not knowing the depth of God’s love.  Without the Spirit to guide us we would still be left to guess whether we have been forgiven or not.  Without the Spirit to guide us, we will only see ourselves through the dark eyes of this world; never truly understanding just how precious and how valuable we are to God.

Over the years I have had countless conversations with individuals who felt in the dark when it came to God and His Kingdom.  My answer has always been the same.  Ask God.  Tell Him you want to know more about Jesus, more about His Kingdom, more about His Word and His Truth.  Ask Him to provide these things.  And true to His word, the Lord will grant you His Guide.  He will shed some light in your heart so that you can know the deep mysteries of God.

Bible Study Companion–Luke 17

Luke 17

• Luke 17:1-10 There are three obligations a disciple of Jesus should embrace. As a Christian we must not lead others into sin (presumably sinning by causing them to reject Jesus as Lord). As a Christian we are obligated to forgive those who have wronged us once they repent. As a Christian we are obligated to be Christ’s servants; we do as Christ has commanded. This lesson is repeated often in the rest of the New Testament, most notably by the Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth. Chapter eight is especially important. There he points out that our knowledge and understanding of Truth should not override our love and compassion toward others, especially those “young in the faith” (1 Corinthians 8:12-13).
• Luke 17:11-17 I find it interesting that this is an actual event, not a story or a parable. It speaks volumes about what many people thought of Jesus. Oh, they liked it when He fed them or healed them, but their hearts were filled with selfish motives. We see this in John 6:66. The minute Jesus starts asking the people to believe and accept Him as Savior, Messiah, and Lord, they walk away. This is why the nine who were healed never came back. They got what they wanted (and perhaps felt they deserved). The foreigner (a Samaritan), understood who had done this for him. This is why He came back and threw himself at Jesus feet. He recognized Jesus as God. Whether he recognized Jesus as the Messiah is not mentioned. Some people have asked if the nine who did not return were truly healed. Luke points out that they were healed before they made it to a priest (verse 14), yet he only pronounced healing to the one who returned (verse 19). When I’m asked this question I always point out verse 17. Jesus says “Were there not ten who were healed” – a pretty clear indication that they all received healing, but only one received a special blessing. Some Bibles will include a footnote at the end of verse 17, indication that an alternative translation of this phrase could read “your faith has delivered you”, or “your faith has saved you”. It’s quite possible Jesus was speaking of this man’s recognition of who Jesus was (a spiritual cleansing), not simply a physical cleansing.
• Luke 17:20-21 It seems logical that these Pharisees would ask this question considering that Jesus had been speaking about the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven throughout much of His ministry. Jesus responds by saying that the Pharisees would not be able to observe the coming of the Kingdom by visible signs. In other words, it will not happen by overthrowing the Roman presence within Israel and declaring the nation independent once again. Jesus says these Pharisees are completely unaware that the Kingdom of God is already among them (or is within their grasp), not that it exists within them. However, the Pharisees were right. At some point in time the Kingdom of God will be evident. People will be able to see and recognize that God’s promise of restoration has finally been fulfilled. But what they missed was that Jesus came first to establish a Spiritual Kingdom; a Kingdom hidden within the hearts of those who believe. Then one day this Kingdom will be revealed.
• Luke 17:22-25 Even today many people long for Christ to return and establish His external earthly kingdom. The Apostles longed for this day, especially considering the suffering and hardship they faced. Christians have been longing for this day for nearly two thousand years. Jesus says that when the day does come, no one will miss it; it will not be something secret and hidden within the hearts of believers.
• Luke 17:22-35 (or 36, depending on what translation you read) Although no one will miss the coming of His earthly Kingdom, many will be unprepared and unwilling for it to come. Can you believe that? Many will be unwilling! I can understand the unprepared part (the Noah reference), but to cling to this life instead of willingly accepting the life Jesus offers (the reference to Lot’s wife)? By the way, this is not a reference to the Rapture, as some have claimed. This is a lesson on the coming of Christ’s earthly Kingdom. This is a lesson about the coming Judgment (the Sodom reference). He will return when people are not looking or do not expect Christ to reappear. And since the Church has constantly been watching and waiting, looking for the signs, the one’s left behind here speak of those who will enjoy the earthly reign of Christ. Those taken away are taken into judgment. Prior to this “Second Coming”, the Church has already been taken away. The Rapture has happened before the millennial reign of Christ.
• Luke 17:37 The disciples ask where will this happen, not when, an indication that they wanted to know where those taken into judgment will go. “Jesus says that when the judgment comes, the scenes of death will be obvious and so will the location of the judgment”.[1]

^[1] Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.

Bible Study Companion–Luke 16

Luke 16

• Luke 16:1-9 This parable was spoken to the disciples to teach that they should use their wealth for the work of the Kingdom. The parable is an example of Jesus making a good point from a bad example. He was not insinuating that the disciples should be dishonest or deceitful. He was reminding them that a person needs to consider who truly owns all they had been given. And at some point in time the Father will ask them to give an account of how they utilized all He had given them. The rich man marveled that even this dishonest manager had the foresight to plan ahead; to insure a secure future.
• Luke 16:10-13 Following this parable, Jesus points out three things to His disciples.

¹ Use money to win people into the Kingdom in a shrewd (wise) manor. “The disciples’ wise use of wealth would help lead others to believe the message of the kingdom and bring them to accept that message”.[1]
² If a person is faithful in their use of money, then they can be trusted with greater things. True Riches seems to imply the Spiritual Riches of God’s Kingdom.
³ One should use their wealth (Mammon), not store it up or be a slave to wealth. No one can serve both God and money (the word Money in verse 13 is actually the Greek word Mamona – Mammon. It is more accurately translated as Wealth – anything in our life which we treasure or worship). Love for money will actually drive someone away from God, both the individual and the people who associate with the individual. A Christian who has made something other than God their Mammon losses an opportunity to be an effective witness to the people of this world.

• Luke 16:14-15 Of course the Pharisees completely misunderstood the blessings mentioned in God’s covenant. Like Job’s friends, they apparently assumed that God blessed a person with wealth because they had lived such a righteous life. But what they failed to realize is that many righteous people mentioned in the Old Testament lacked material wealth, while many of the unrighteous people had plenty. So according to their standard, these Pharisees claimed they were righteousness, even though Jesus had just stated that no one can serve two masters. A person cannot hold on to wealth and hold on to God at the same time.
• Luke 16:16-18 These verses are tied together with the problem of self-justification which plagued the Pharisees. They felt they were righteous according to the standards by which they were willing to measure themselves. And according to their standard they were righteous. But Jesus makes an interesting point about God’s standard of righteousness. Some of these Pharisees took a loose view of divorce. If pressed, they would admit that a man should not commit adultery. But in order to get around that Law, many of the Pharisees said it was okay for a man to divorce his present wife for no good reason and marry the woman he wanted. In other words, to keep someone from committing adultery, the standards of divorce were lowered or ignored. However, as Jesus pointed out, this was a perfect example of justifying themselves in the eyes of men but not being justified before God.
• Luke 6:19-31 The story of the Rich man and Lazarus demonstrates that being rich does not mean a person is automatically righteous. But on a deeper level, we are left to wonder if this is a true story Jesus told to make a point or if it was simply an illustration. There are certain elements of truth found in this story. Indeed, those with closed minds and hearts would not believe, even after a man named Lazarus was raised from the dead (John 11:38-44). Nor did some of them believe when Jesus was raised from the dead. But what of Abraham’s bosom, the fire of torment, and the great gulf between them? Were these told to simply spice up the story, or are these accurate descriptions of something Jesus had seen for Himself? We must be careful that we do not take things out of context. Jesus didn’t preclude this story with “Heaven and Hell are like . . .” But we also need to consider that if this was an accurate description of what awaits us when we die, who else would know this truth better than Jesus. He is not prone to exaggerate or embellish the truth in other areas, so why would He here? I suspect that Jesus used this accurate description of what He had seen in order to drive home the point. As if He said to the Pharisees, “Let me tell you what I have seen and what I know happens once a person dies”. Erwin Lutzer wrote an interesting book surrounding this passage called One Minute After You Die. It’s a fascinating read that speaks of what endures when we die and what passes away. Without giving away too much from the book, let me just say that more endures death than many of us fully realize.

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^[1] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Lk 16:8). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Bible Study Companion–Luke 15

Luke 15

• Luke 15:1-2 The religious leaders were amazed and distressed that Jesus associated with sinners. Truthfully, these religious men did not understand Jesus nor did they understand God. How often do we read in the Old Testament that God called sinners to repent? Isn’t this exactly what Jesus was doing? But of course, we don’t act this way today, do we? Christian’s today don’t turn up their noses and shun those living in sin. We understand that the church is a hospital for the sick, not a country club for important individuals.
• Luke 15:3-10 To illustrate this point, Jesus tells two parables; the story of the Lost Sheep and the story of the Lost Coin. And Jesus doesn’t let the people guessing what He means. He is blunt and to the point. God finds great joy over one sinner who repents. A church would be wise to keep this in mind. The greatest labor any church might do in the name of Jesus is to help a sinner find life in Jesus Christ. If a church wants to know what God desires from them it would be that they labor to bring the lost to salvation in Jesus name, not build monuments and shrines and cathedrals in Jesus name.
• Luke 15:11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates the point even further. There is the father who is always watching and waiting for the prodigal to return. There is the younger son who felt he could find personal significance and a meaningful life in a world separated from the father, and the older son who passed judgment upon the younger son because of his sinful way of life. This is the way it is when a sinful person comes to God through Christ. They receive abundant grace and unmerited mercy. The Father longs for the prodigal to come home. And if those in fellowship with the Father truly understood the Father’s heart, they too would be watching, waiting, and working for the lost to return home. Jesus left no doubt that the religious leaders in Jerusalem were to be compared to the older brother in the story. Rather than rejoice that a sinner has been saved, they draw a boundary with legalistic lines between those deserving the Fathers love and those deserving the Father’s wrath. Yet Christ has just demonstrated clearly the heart of God. A church would be wise to keep this parable in mind before it gets too high and mighty about who is saved and who is a sinner.

Bible Study Companion - Luke 14

Luke 14

      Luke 14:1-6  Could someone please explain to me why it would be wrong to heal someone on the Sabbath?  Why would it be wrong to take a life that was broken and make it whole again just because it was Sunday (okay, Saturday is the Sabbath for the Jews.  I’m just trying to make it relevant)?  Exodus 20:8-11 says “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy”. The argument came from the interpretation of the word work.  What constituted work?  As stated earlier, the Jews actually interpreted this in a variety of ways, one of which stated that offering medical assistance to a person on the Sabbath was considered work.  But Jesus points out that the Jews created no law against helping an animal on the Sabbath.  So He simply wants to know if an animal is more valuable than a person.  Of course they knew the answer, but to give that answer was to admit Jesus was right. 

      Luke 14:7-11  The closer a person sat to the host, the greater was their position of honor.  I can’t help but wonder where the man with dropsy was seated (dropsy is a condition of excess fluid and swelling possibly caused by a form of cancer, liver problems, or kidney issues).  I would think he naturally was seated at the far end of the table.  But Jesus had just made him the person of interest in the group.  He points to the man and draws attention to the man the rest of the group had probably chosen to ignore.  This demonstrates an endearing characteristic of Jesus.  It is the humble who catch the eye of our Savior, not the proud.

      Luke 14:12-14  If Jesus were speaking this to today’s church, what would He say?  I think He would wonder why the Church so often caters to the saved but ignores the lost.  Why do you suppose many churches plan and organize fundraisers, or plan events that will hopefully convince people to attend the church?  When is the last time you’ve heard of a church giving back to a community with no strings attached?  It concerns me when a church consistently plans for ways to make money off of the community, but seldom looks for ways to give back to the community.  People were aghast when our youth group once gave away free gas at a local station.  Each driver was given $10.00 of gas with no strings attached.  I was surprised that some people felt it did not benefit the church in any way; throwing money away, and possibly helping those who did not need any help.  But is this not the heart of what Jesus is saying here?

      Luke 14:15-24  One of the men gathered for this meal assumed that everyone around the table would be present in the Kingdom of God.  This man was either a Pharisee or a friend of the Pharisee who hosted this meal.  Jesus takes his comment as an opportunity to shed a little light on what it means to be a part of the Kingdom of God.  The implication here is that Jesus had come as the servant in His story to call the Jews to the banquet.  Yet those initially invited gave excuses why they could not come.  In their eyes, they were legitimate excuses, but not in the eyes of the One who prepared the feast.  The parable of a banquet at a banquet becomes an opportunity for Jesus to reinforce what He had been already saying.  Because it was the official stance of the religious leaders to reject the message Jesus was proclaiming, they would find themselves replaced by the sick (people deemed unworthy by the Pharisees) and by the Gentiles (those supposedly outside of God’s grace).  The lesson is that a person enters the Kingdom of God on God’s terms, not on man-made rules and regulations.  A person would be wise not to assume they will get to heaven.  The only way to be sure is through Jesus; a point these men would not believe.

      Luke 14:25-27  As Jesus left the banquet, a large number of people followed Him.  In response, Jesus points out two important attitudes that must be found in a true disciple; priorities and sacrifice.  A person must make obedience to Jesus their highest priority (not literally hate their family), and understand that the old person must die; the old way of living must end, and the public will see evidence that they are indeed a disciple of Jesus.

      Luke 14:28-33  Jesus gives two illustrations to help these followers understand the cost of discipleship.  Don’t begin until you count the cost.  Wow, this is a teaching of Jesus you don’t hear mentioned very often.  To become a Christian involves sacrifice.  There are certain things a person will have to surrender; certain things they will have to put down, but also certain things they will need to pick up.  To give up everything you own means that you are willing to surrender all that you are and all that you own for the service of Jesus.  However, many people who agreed to become a Christian refuse to become a disciple.  Far too many individuals spend their life as a Christian never truly surrendered to Jesus.  He receives what time, talent, and tithe they can spare.  I will not go so far as to claim these types of Christians are not saved, but one has to wonder what will become of the individual who never truly calls Jesus Lord.  If they lose their saltiness (Luke 14:34-25) what use are they to the Kingdom of God?  Do they really think Jesus doesn’t notice that they are trying to hitch a free ride to heaven?

Bible Study Companion–John 10

John 10

John 10:1-6 In biblical times many different flocks were gathered together within a walled enclosure for protection during the night. A gatekeeper would guard the gate all night long. In the morning, the shepherds would come, walk into the pen through the gate, and call out to his sheep. Remarkably, the sheep recognize the shepherd’s voice and follow him out of the pen. Jesus tells a story here that would have been understood by all. It was common practice among the Jewish people. But as He said this to the Pharisees who were present (see John 9:40), they simply did not understand. They didn’t make the Spiritual connection. They could not make the connection that Jesus was speaking of Himself. What Jesus was saying is that those who truly recognize the voice of God were following Him, insinuating that since the Pharisees were not following Him, they obviously do not know the voice of God nor are they part of His flock. These religious men were not only blind to the miracles but deaf to God’s voice as well. I should probably point out here that this chastisement was directed toward those who should have recognized the voice of God, but would not. This is not the same as someone who is following Jesus, but who has a difficult time discerning His will. This scripture should not be used in that context.

John 10:7-10 To help clarify just what He was implying, Jesus gives two examples of how He cares for those who hear His voice. He is the door – He is the only way a person might find security and safety. Everyone else who came before Him only cared for themselves, not for the flock. If these Pharisees truly cared for the people they would not pitch holy temper tantrums every time someone came along and put a person ahead of custom or tradition. It was from selfishness and vain conceit these Pharisees drilled the former blind man and were upset that a rule was broken. Andy Griffith once explained this to Opey. He said “Suppose there was a lake that had a No Swimming Allowed sign. And suppose a boy comes along and disregards the law and goes swimming anyway. And suppose that boy starts to drown. Now if a man came along and saw the boy drowning, the more important thing to do was to save the boy rather than obey the law”. That’s the point Jesus is trying to make. Out of selfishness and vain conceit these Pharisees were upset that the Law was broken rather than rejoicing that a life was saved. That’s stealing grace. That’s killing hope. That’s destroying truth.

John 10:11-13 Jesus points out that He is willing to sacrifice His own life for the good of the sheep (the people of Israel), something the Pharisees were not willing to do. They expected the people to make the sacrifice, and not an animal sacrifice upon the altar, but personal sacrifice to rules and laws and customs. For example, the Pharisees placed their customs and traditions ahead of the people, as seen with this man born blind. Jesus, on the other hand, elevates the person above the law. Sometimes I think this is still an issue the church struggles with today. Sure, the Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin. I agree with that teaching. But I am not going to drive a person away from God because they practice homosexual behavior. I will gladly do what I can to bring that person to the Lord. I don’t criticize and harangue them about their sin, trying to clean up their life before they come to Christ. I will teach them that God accepts us while still a sinner, redeems us from a life of sin by the blood of Christ, and will then confront our sin from that day forward. To minister in this way is to place the person ahead of the Law, and still uphold the Law. We don’t diminish God’s requirement for holiness, we simply place the person’s salvation ahead of the Law. Now I know a lot of my evangelical friends will disagree with that statement, but it has been my experience that a person becomes more sensitive to their sin once the Spirit is present in their lives. And the Spirit is given after they accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It’s just far more effective to teach holiness to someone filled with the Spirit than it is to someone deaf and blind to God’s truth.

10:14-18 Unlike the Pharisees, Jesus indicates that His voice will be heard among the Gentile nations (not of this fold). This too becomes a condemnation to the Pharisees. Jesus is saying that even those among the Gentiles are above these Pharisees, for they hear the voice of God while these religious Jews do not. Harsh words, but true. In due time the Church will be more Gentile than Jewish. Even today, Gentile Christians outnumber Messianic Jews. Amid this reference to other sheep, Jesus makes an interesting statement that was probably missed by most of the group. Not only will He lay down His life when the time is right, but He (Jesus) has the authority to take it up again. Someday I want to spend some time discussing whether God raised Jesus from the dead, or if Jesus chose to renter His old body, reanimating it back to life. I mean, it was only the body that had died, not Jesus, right? And since He and God are one, would He not have the authority to make that choice? Anyway, we’ll talk about that another day.

John 10:19-21 Once again the people are divided about Jesus. Some head His voice and believed, while others thought they heard the raving of a demon-possessed lunatic. This division still happens today.

John 10:22-23 Today we call this celebration Hanukkah; an eight-day festival celebrating the cleansing of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus in 168 BC.

John 10:24-27 Jesus says that His works in His Father’s name should be proof enough. But those doing the questioning would not believe what they see nor believe what they hear. Arguing and debating with these people was pointless. It’s the same today. Those who want to debate about Jesus will not believe even if you win the debate. They are not seeking the truth. They are seeking proof that their beliefs are correct. If you even encounter someone who wants to argue about Christ, don’t waste your time. Don’t cast your pearls before swine. These people are not the same as someone wanting to know more about Jesus.

John 10:28-30 In Christ’s final confrontation with these unbelieving Jews, He leaves them with an amazing statement of assurance for those who do believe. No one can snatch a believer away from God. For those who see and believe or hear and know, Jesus will grant everlasting life. They become a child of the King; a child of God. Paul’s words of assurance come to mind as Jesus assures those who believe (see Romans 8:38-39). Our eternal security rests in the strength of the Shepherd, not on frail sheep like you or me. Those who call upon Jesus for salvation will be guarded, protected, and secured by Jesus who, by the way, is one with the Father (not one person, but one in purpose or one in nature).

John 10:31-38 Once again the people become irrational. Notice that in verse 33 they clearly understood what Jesus had just implied. He had claimed to be God. In His defense, Jesus points them to scripture; Psalm 82:6, to be exact. Although this was not considered part of the Mosaic Law, all the Old Testament was considered to have God’s stamp of authority (Cannot be altered or broken). Jesus quotes this Psalm questioning whether these Jewish people wanted to say that the scripture was in error. Which they would not (a testimony to the inerrancy of scripture). The point He is making here is that the leaders of Israel who had been appointed by God to represent Him on earth should be acting as His representative. Asaph (the author of Psalm 82), in an effort to awaken honor and responsibility in the leaders hearts, calls them “gods”; for through them the justice and righteousness of God might be seen. So what Jesus is pointing out is that since Asaph called God’s representatives “gods”, was it wrong for Jesus, God’s representative, to call Himself God. Let the proof of His work be His testimony of truth.

John 10:39-42 Jesus leaves Jerusalem and travels east of the Jordan River where His ministry first began. John has taken us full circle.

The Promise of a Sure Foundation - March 3rd, 2013 Sermon

By Pastor Greg

Once upon a time, long ago, there lived a sailor named Captain Bravo. He was a manly man's man, who showed no fear when facing his enemies. One day, while sailing the Seven Sea's, his lookout spotted a pirate ship, and the crew became frantic. Captain Bravo bellowed, "Bring me my red shirt!" While wearing the brightly colored frock, the Captain led his crew into battle, defeating the pirates. That evening, as all the men sat around on the deck recounting the day's triumph, one of them asked, "Sir, why did you call for your red shirt before battle?" The captain replied, "If I had been wounded in the attack, the shirt would not have shown my blood. You men would have continued to fight, unafraid." All of the men marveled at the courage of such a manly man's man. As dawn came the next morning, the lookout spotted not one, not two, but TEN pirate ships approaching. The crew stared in worshipful silence at the captain and waited for his usual orders. Captain Bravo gazed with steely eyes upon the vast armada, and without fear calmly shouted, "Get me my brown pants!"

Sometimes you and I are a lot like Captain Bravo. We figure that it is true grit, brute determination, and unrelenting effort that enables us to face anything in life. But we are wrong. We are deceiving ourselves because sometimes the storms of life are more than we can handle on our own. Sometimes, no, most times, we have come to trust in the wrong things. We have built a foundation with the work of our own hands and upon the strength of our own will, which, according to Jesus, is a disaster just waiting to happen.

Turning to a crowd of “would be” followers, Jesus asks “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins” (Luke 6:46-49).

One of the promises of Jesus is the promise of a sure foundation; the promise that when life does indeed rage against us, we can withstand the storm if we have followed His teachings and if we have placed our trust in Him. But if we have learned to trust in our own effort, determination, and strength of will, we can expect to face a situation someday that will destroy us; that will cause our life to come crashing down.

First of all I want you to take notice here that the floodwater broke against both individuals in this illustration. Jesus didn't say that by following Him our life would be easy and absent of stress. So don't start thinking that Jesus will establish some sort of hedge of protection around you. That's not what He is saying. And don't think that because you are facing difficulties right now that you must be a person of little faith or that God is angry with you. Jesus has plainly stated that even those who listen to His teaching and follow His teaching will face a storm; will endure trials and hardships. At some point, everyone, even the Christian, will face a situation where they find themselves asking for their brown pants. What Jesus is saying is that when the storms come, those who have truly surrendered to Him as Lord will find themselves still standing after the storm.

I know this seems like a simple promise; one tucked away behind forgiveness and eternal life, but there is more to this promise than we may think. For those who hear and follow the teachings of Jesus, He promises to hold us tightly in His arms; something we need to remember when facing trials and storms in life. No matter what situation we might be asked to endure, we know deep within our heart that we will not perish because our lives are held securely by our Savior. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand" (John 10:27-29). And because of our relationship with Jesus, Paul asks "Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us" (Romans 8:35-37). These are truly comforting words, especially as we face trials and hardships. No matter what may come against us, the Lord is with us. And there is nothing above the earth, on the earth, and beneath the earth that can ever separate us from the love of God found within Jesus our Lord.

As comforting as this promise truly is, I couldn’t keep from wondering why God would allow the floodwaters in the first place, especially against the Christian’s house. Their foundation was built upon Christ, not upon good works or deeds of righteousness (doing good and being good). And least that’s what we might think. Maybe, just maybe, even a Christian needs a gentle reminder every now and then that they have allowed something else to take the place of Jesus, and the trial or the period of testing is God’s way of washing away the things that do not belong.

My friend, making Jesus the Lord and foundation of your life is more difficult than we imagine. It is no simple task. It takes more courage than Captain Bravo could ever muster; more than you might think. It means we stop asking Jesus to provide and instead trust that He will. And no, this is not a matter of semantics.

In my own life, for example, I will ask God to grant me the strength to endure the flood of trials I face each day. I ask God to strengthen my faith, but my faith in what; myself and my abilities? If I pray this way I am asking God to strengthen the foundation that I have laid; that I have built; a foundation built with my own hands and with my own strength. Perhaps many of us do this without ever thinking about what we are asking or saying. We ask God, "Give me the strength I need" or "Grant me courage". But if we have been relying on our own strength of will, our own fortitude, and our own determination to make it through the flood, we are asking for an extra boost of faith FROM Jesus instead of placing our faith IN Jesus. And at some point in our life we must realize that even with the Lord’s help, we will never have the ability to withstand the flood. Our only hope is to place our life into the hands of the One who can.

So, is it possible that God might allow a flood or even send a flood to demonstrate where our foundation is weak? Perhaps He sends us through a trial to wash away those things in our life that we have come to depend upon other than Jesus. Perhaps God sends the flood of trials and tribulations against us to merely remind us of those things we have been leaning on or depending upon that are sinking sand. Maybe the catastrophe you are facing right now is a wake-up call that something other than Jesus has become the foundation of your life.

Truthfully, no one is Captain Bravo. No one can withstand everything that comes our way in this life. It is not true grit, brute determination, and unrelenting effort that enables us to remain steadfast against the storm. And neither will we remain steadfast when Jesus strengthens OUR grit, fortifies OUR determination, or grants US superhuman effort. The only thing that will bring us through the flood is to admit that we do not have the strength; that we cannot endure no matter how hard we might try. And at that point, where every brick and piece of mortar that we have come to depend upon is replaced with Jesus, we will find a foundation in life that is not shaken nor washed away.

I think this is going to take some time, at least for me it will, because I am so used to asking Jesus to strengthen me instead of trusting Jesus to be my strength. I know this needs to happen, and perhaps you do as well. But I tell you the truth; it is so hard to admit that I am the other ground; that I am the sinking sand.