I think too many of us walk through life like Eeyore. It’s not that we are without joy. It’s just that the hard things in life tend to weigh so heavily on us that they seem to overtake our demeanor to the point that it impacts almost everything. The truth of the matter is that life is hard, and not only did God warn us of this reality, He told us to be happy about it.

There’s a line in the great hymn, “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise,” that says, “Thy justice like mountains, high soaring above; Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.” Maybe it’s time for us to recognize the clouds of life for what they are – fountains of God’s love for us – and therefore, let us be grateful. Romans 5:1-5 tells us:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us,” (NASB95).

God allows and uses, and at times ordains, the trials of life to grow and strengthen us into something useful for His purposes. He uses the hard times to conform us to the image of His Son. Sometimes, He uses these trials to discipline us. To bring us to our knees in contrition and brokenness. After all, we are sinful. Remember David’s words in Psalm 51 – that great prayer of contrition following his sin with Bathsheeba.

“Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice,” (Psalm 51:8, NASB95).

He doesn’t pray for God to mend his bones. They were a result of the reality of his sin. Rather, he prays for God to help him see his brokenness as cause for rejoicing. Likewise, the clouds of life are real. Let us see them as God’s fountain, showering us with what we need to be the people He intends for us to be. After all, are not His ways higher than our ways? His thoughts higher than our thoughts?

Immortal, invisible, God only wise
In light inaccessible, Hid from our eyes
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise!

Words have definitions and ideas have consequences. When definitions of words are no longer static and dependable, the consequences to the culture can be unnerving, unfortunate, and detrimental to society.

Over the past 2 years, at the risk of their own health, doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel have cared for those suffering the effects of a dangerous virus. We don’t know their names, but we call them heroes; and, they are heroes.

Edward C. Byers is a retired Navy Seal who, at great risk to his own life, saved the life of a civilian hostage in Afghanistan along with several of his own team members. For this, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Most have never heard his name. He’s called a hero, because he is a hero.

In India, in the midst of this dangerous pandemic, a Christian man named Sandeep knew of the desperate needs of people living in surrounding villages. Risking his own health, he traveled to a remote village where people hadn’t eaten in three days and provided them with food and other necessities. Sandeep was faithful to love his neighbors, no matter the cost, for the opportunity to meet their needs and tell them about Jesus. Very few among us know his name. Call Sandeep a hero, because he is a hero. 

Everyday, police, firemen, and EMTs charge straight into dangerous situations to save and protect the rest of us from harm. Rightly, they are called heroes.

In 1st Century AD, a innocent man suffered the most violent form of execution ever devised by mankind in order to satisfy the wrath of God and keep us from paying for our own wickedness. As we read in Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NASB95). Those of us who know Him call Him Lord. He’s our hero.

A hero is someone who performs acts of tremendous bravery in disregard for their own safety or well-being. Most often their names do not appear in news stories. We don’t fawn over them while their drama unfolds on TV, or listen to talking heads gush over them.

The big story coming from the Tokyo Olympics this week, is about Simone Biles–perhaps the greatest gymnast in history. She stepped out of competition due to a mental condition called, the “twisties”. Other gymnasts will tell you the condition is very real and very dangerous. Later, she was able to make adjustments and return to competition, winning the bronze medal on the balance beam. We all know her name. People call her a hero. Is she?

Simone Biles is a world-class athlete competing on the world stage. She’s garnering well-deserved praise from all corners for her accomplishments. Millions have enjoyed watching her do what she does, and she’s arguably better than anyone else in the world at it. She’ll return home to parades in her honor. She’ll go on Oprah telling her story to adoring fans. Is she a hero? Whose life did she save at great risk to her own? When we lower the bar of heroism the word no longer means anything.

Words have definitions and ideas have consequences.

“Therefore, we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal,” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18).

I remember, as a young man, watching TV with my grandmother.  I remember a certain commercial that would upset her whenever it came on. It was advertising a particular pain medication that claimed to relieve the minor pains of arthritis.  She would get so angry at the phrase “minor pains of arthritis.”  I would suggest that the drug likely only affected the arthritis pains that were minor.  She would say, “There’s no such thing!”.

Life’s afflictions never seem minor when we are in the midst of them.  They absorb our attention, takeover our thoughts, and easily become the only things that matter.  But here, Paul is suggesting that we view our various trials with an eternal perspective.  He is saying that, because God’s grace abounds—what “therefore” is there for—we should not allow our trials, which are temporal, to take us captive to the pain and cause us to lose our joy over the reality of eternal glory in Christ.  Paul is teaching us that the temporary pains of afflictions and trials are actually serving an eternal, divine purpose by producing in us a greater anticipation for this eternal glory.  The greater the pain, the greater the anticipation. 

Pain and affliction are real, but when we recognize that these various trials are temporary and we place our focus on eternity with Christ, we truly experience what it means to abide in Him and live fruitful lives in the midst of this life’s troubles, (John 15:4). By focusing on eternity we can truly know the fullness of joy in Christ (Psalm 16:11).

This past weekend, most of Christendom celebrated the most important event in world history, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Needless to say, our celebration was dampened by the news coming out of Sri Lanka and the horrific murder of nearly 300 Christians. For some time, studies have shown that Christians are the most persecuted religious group in the world.  It has been said, and it seems to be true that Christians are the only group it is entirely acceptable to hate.  This should not come as a surprise to us.

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:18–19)

To belong to Christ is to be taken out of the world and made separate. We are then, at odds with the world and its trappings. Being free from these things, places us in a position to be objects of the world’s scorn. This should not be a surprise to us, for Jesus said it would be this way. Those who persecute us do so because they don’t know Christ or the one who sent Him (John 15:21). This should arouse our pity, not our wrath.

Being in Christ means that we see the world without the veneer of Satan’s lies. We see the world for what it is–a dark, sinful place. For those who don’t know Christ, there are just two possible responses to the truth of Christ. They either assimilate or repudiate. Those who assimilate to the world’s depravity, either accept it as reality and conform their own worldview to the godlessness around them, and live according to it.

But also, throughout history there have been those individuals outside of Christ who have seen it too. Poets, painters, and philosophers who have looked at the world and found it cold and cruel. In their desperation, many went mad. Without hope, many have taken their own lives.

When we look into the eyes of a Christ hater, do we see an enemy, or do we see someone made in the image of God but lost in the evil that so saturates the world around them? Do we see someone without real hope?

Too often we forget who our true enemy is. We tend to think it’s someone who doesn’t think the way we think, or worship the way we worship. Or, we think our enemy is the person so adamantly hostile to the truth that their anger is volcanic. We must remember that “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood; but against the rulers, the powers, the world forces of this darkness; against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

It is appropriate and right to mourn the deaths in Sri Lanka as the horrible tragedy that they are.  But, it is also important to remember that those martyrs of the faith who died in Christ are now free.  Those who perpetrated this heinous act are not.

Yesterday was Easter Sunday and I trust everyone had a wonderful time of celebrating the most momentous event in world history.  As my thoughts and meditations were focused on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, I recalled something that occurred to me last Christmas.  Certainly, I’m not the first to notice that these two holidays and what they celebrate are inextricably linked; but while listening to a Christmas sermon this past December, something hit me that I’d never seen before.

Much of what we see and hear at Christmas has been adopted, and therefore corrupted, by a world that’s growing increasingly bitter to the full message of Jesus Christ.  It’s not unusual, during the Christmas season, to see banners and billboards with phrases like “Joy To The World,” and “Peace on Earth.”  No doubt, a world that is otherwise hostile to the message and purpose of Jesus Christ, can easily embrace calls for peace on earth. But the problem with that is the angels aren’t calling for peace on earth, they are announcing it.

The phrase, “Peace on Earth” comes from Luke 2:14, where we find the multitude of the heavenly hosts saying, “Glory to God in the Highest. Peace on earth, good will toward men.”  This, of course, is how the King James says it, but perhaps a better translation, may be found in the NASB. It reads, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  Considering this proclamation, there are two questions we should ask.  What is the nature of this peace?  And, for whom is this peace intended?

Easter provides the answer to these questions, especially as explained by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Christians in Rome.  Romans 4:25 says, “He [Jesus] was delivered over because of our transgressions, and He was raised because of our justification.”  This tells us that this child, proclaimed and celebrated by the angels, was betrayed and nailed to the cross as payment for our sins; and, He was triumphantly raised from the dead as proof positive that God had accepted this sacrifice. This was God’s intention from the beginning.  His Son would atone for the sins of those who would then stand before Him justified. But Paul doesn’t stop there. Continuing into chapter 5, he goes on:

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have d obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God,” (Romans 5:1–2, NASB).

The peace that the angels announced on that starry night is not peace among neighbors or nations.  Nor is it peace among social and political rivals.  It is peace with God bought and paid for by the blood of the baby in the manger. Peace that was broken by the tragedy of sin.  This peace brings eternal joy.  And those, who by Christ’s sacrifice, stand justified before God share in this deep and satisfying joy.  However, there are many who willfully reject the saving work of Christ; and for them, the temporal joy of presents, bunnies and baskets represents the only joy these holidays can possibly bring.

Christ’s resurrection is cause for celebration 365 days a year!  As we celebrate let’s not be shy about telling the full story of Christ to those for whom this life stands to be the best life they will ever know.

Does God have a specific plan for me? This is a question that has been weighing heavily upon me recently.  I have a good friend who is convinced that God does not invest Himself in the day to day events of our lives; but rather, His expectation is that we will be obedient to His word, share the gospel, and remain faithful through life’s many ups and downs.

Recently, I came across an article written by someone I respect addressing this very question. Citing Romans 8:28, the article was affirming that God does, in fact, have a definite plan for my life.  Unfortunately, I found the author’s biblical support rather unsatisfying.  Not that he said anything particularly wrong, he just didn’t answer what was troubling me.  I want to know if God is bringing about His will for me in this life, or am I simply careening from one trial to another, trying to be obedient and persevering until my earthly body wears out.

Romans 8:28 is a verse we all know. However, it has been so often taken out of context and used, with good and kind intentions, to tell us that this particular rainstorm is going to abate and we will soon be basking in the glorious sunshine of unforeseen blessing. Since tribulations are a promised element of the Christian life, most of us have been quoted this verse at one time or another.  Many of us have even used it in this way.  But what does this verse really tell us?

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:28, NASB95).

Is this a “Cheer up, it’ll all be ok” kind of verse? Not really.  Should this encourage us?  Yes, absolutely.  In looking at this passage of Scripture the first thing we should recognize is that God is absolutely sovereign.  “God causes all things…” tells us that He has the power and authority to harness everything in our lives and bring them harmoniously into His perfect will and purpose.

The second thing we see is that this is meant for a specific people. The “good” that God intends is for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.  So, what is the “good” that Paul is talking about?  What does it mean to be “called according to His purpose”?  Thankfully, we don’t have to look very far.  He answers this question in verse 29.

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren…,” (Romans 8:29, NASB95).

Here, we see that God foreknew and predestined who would love Him and be called by Him. And, the “good” that He works “all things together for” is their conformity to Christlikeness.  Our conformity to Christ is the purpose which we, the redeemed, are called.  In addition, verse 30 reminds us that His ultimate plan for us is our own glorification.  Glorification made possible by Christ Himself.

“and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified,” (Romans 8:30, NASB95).

It turns out that it will all be ok.

So, does God have a plan for our lives? In a word, yes.  His plan is that we, as those called by Him, will be conformed to the image of His Son, and He will use “all things”—failure, success, sickness, pain, and even our own sin, to bring about this sanctifying work. This is His plan.  Is it yours?

Life has too many syllables.  At first, you may be thinking “life” has but one syllable.  On the surface this appears to be true, but therein lies the great deception.  Life, in fact, has ALL the syllables.  Think how much more pleasant life would be if we were to collectively determine that syllable reduction would be to the benefit of all mankind.  Emails, letters, articles, and of course blogs would be considerably shorter and therefore much more bearable.  Political speeches would be over and forgotten sooner.  And, those extremely verbose text messages people can’t seem to stop sending would be reduced by at least 30%, by my estimation. (Just imagine how much sooner I would have finished this paragraph.)

I’m suggesting a grassroots movement toward a syllabification revolt.  Any word containing more than two syllables must be reduced by a factor of 1 or 2.  Such a small step could have huge results.  Mississippi would become Mispi.  Celebration could be simply bration.  Even the word syllable could be transformed to sylble.  The passage of time and pop culture have already given birth to this sort of verbal metamorphosis–pardon me, morphis.  President has given way to Prez, and vice-president is now veep.  The possibilities are truly endless.  As I see it the transmation would be cause for great bration.

What’s next? The extermination of the emoji.