24

Jump Start # 966

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

.Jump Start # 966

Ecclesiastes 7:2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,
because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart.”

 

Much of this week we have been looking at the subject of grieving and death. Most of us would like to avoid going there, but life takes us there whether we like it or not. Death changes things. It is an interesting contrast that I have witnessed many times. Standing in a cemetery beside a casket, offering a few words of comfort for a family whose heart has just been crushed, and watching cars pass by on a street. For those driving by, they are busy with life– going places, listening to music, talking on cell phones. They seem to be in a hurry. For those gathered around the grave, life has stopped. Whatever they had planned that day was cancelled. They came to a funeral. With tears in their eyes and sorrow in their hearts, nothing else seems to be more important at that moment. What a contrast.

 

Ecclesiastes seven lists a series of contrasts. Solomon tells us one thing is better than another. What he tells us is better, is not what we would have chosen. Our verse is a supreme example of that. Go to the house of feasting or the house of mourning? I don’t have to think about that one. Feasting involves food. I’m in. Feasting implies conversation, laughter and fun. I’m in. I don’t know exactly what feasting Solomon had in mind, but for me, I’m thinking watching football with family and friends, with some chips and dip and other delightful things to munch on. I’m thinking chocolate. Fun, fun, fun. That’s not the best choice. Solomon tells us the house of mourning is better. In Solomon’s day, the house of mourning was not the funeral home. That is a rather modern concept. Even in my grandparents day, when someone died, they were “laid out” in the home. That sounds creepy to most of us. It’s just the way things were done back then. I remember seeing an envelope in my grandmother’s house that had two pennies from the 1930’s. I asked her about it and was told that the pennies were placed on some family members eyes to keep them closed. They would use pennies with the date of the person’s death. Again, very odd to most of us today. For Solomon, the house of mourning would have been the house in which a person lived. Funerals were generally held on the day a person died. A huge gathering of mourners would be found at the house. Jesus experienced that when he went to the home of Jairus. Jesus sent the mourners away and raised the young girl from the dead.

 

For us, the house of mourning is the funeral home. Party or funeral? Better the funeral. Solomon tells us why. He reminds us that the living take it to heart.

 

What lessons do we take from the house of mourning?

  • People I know and love die. We hear of death everyday. Planes crash. Cars wreck. Violence happens. These stories make the nightly news. So many video games and movies show death that it doesn’t do much to us. But then death comes close to us. Someone we know. Someone we love dies. Death takes on a different meaning. Some are taken before they accomplished their life’s work. Some had so much more to give. Death doesn’t wait for us. People I love die.

 

  • Our values change in the house of mourning. Somehow stuff doesn’t matter in the house of mourning. What affects us and hits us is the character of the person that passed away. We don’t think about how big his TV was, or what labels he wore, or how nice his yard was—what matters is what kind of person he was. That’s what draws us to the funeral home. Outside of family, we go to funerals because the person was a friend to us. The person was kind to us. The person made a difference to us. We forget that in the house of feasting. At the feast we do think about the kind of plates we are eating on, how big the TV is that we are watching, the kind of chairs that we are sitting in—stuff seems important in the house of feasting. We try to leave good impression upon others. That impression usually is atmosphere, food, entertainment and superficial things. The house of mourning makes us think about the kind of character of person that died.
  • The house of mourning draws a connection between us and death. We think about that. We don’t want to think about it, but we do. In our minds we realize that someday it will be us in the funeral home. We wonder what people will think about us. We wonder what we have done in life. We wonder what God thinks about us. Feasting doesn’t do that. At a party, we don’t think about hosting a party in our house. We are busy with the moment. Friends, food and fun are the thoughts of the moment. We don’t give much thought about the eternal, God or where our lives are leading us. We ought to, but we don’t. Funerals do that. We see pictures that cover a lifetime. We are taken back to memories and moments we spent with the one who passed away. We reflect. We consider. We think. We pray. The house of mourning is good for that. It could be that is why so many dread going to funerals—they don’t want to be reminded. They don’t want to think that it could be them the next time. This reflection has a way of getting our priorities in the right order. Things tend to get jumbled up and we often forget what is most important. Ballgames, food, fun and buying stuff often seem to be the most important things in life. We’d never say that, but we demonstrate that by our choices. After the funeral, there is a tug on our heart to be a better person. We want to talk about real things. We want to be around family and friends. The house of mourning is a place where many resolutions take place. We resolve to be better, to do more, to make a difference, to talk to the family member about Jesus. Why? We know that death is real. We know that death is coming. We reflect in the house of mourning.

 

  • The house of mourning connects us with God. We want a preacher at the funeral. Folks who never go to church, still want a preacher at the funeral. Folks that never read the Bible, want the Bible read at funerals. We want prayers at funerals. Folks that never gave a thought about the spiritual will insist upon the spiritual at the funeral. Maybe they think that will get them into Heaven. Doesn’t work that way. Maybe it’s their conscience telling them what they know. Maybe they are hoping that there is something beyond this life. There is, they just haven’t thought about it, nor believed it. It’s interesting that those who never have time for God when living, now want God at the funeral. They don’t want the bartender saying words. They don’t want to read the sports page at the funeral. Funerals bring out the spiritual. It connects us with God.

 

Those that have walked with God throughout their life, having a preacher, prayers and Bible readings at their funeral are all very natural. It was a part of their life. They believe. They know and trust what God has said. They know that the cemetery is not the end of the journey.

 

The house of mourning teaches and reminds us of things that no other place does. It’s good to go there, even when we don’t want to. What we walk away from those places with a heart that can change us and make us a better people.

Our day will come. At that time, nothing a preacher says at our funeral will change our eternal destiny with God. We determine those things while we are living. We make the choices. We include God or we ignore God. Our choice. Our consequences. Our eternity.

 

The house of mourning…

 

Roger

 

 

 

23

Jump Start # 965

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 965

 

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

 

Yesterday our Jump Start dealt with the theme of death and Heaven. We continue with more thoughts. The death of a Christian brings comfort in knowing that their suffering has ended and that they are with the Lord, the best place that they could be. It helps knowing that they live on. The cemetery is not the end of the story. In many ways, we can handle our own death much better than the death of one in our immediate family. It’s the grieving, the loss, the returning to life, the continuing on with an empty place at the dinner table that is so hard. The selfish part of us never wants to let the one we love go. But it’s not just selfish, there is a loss. Each person adds value to life. The death of someone very close to us, in many ways is the death of part of us. I write these thoughts for those who have had to carry on without someone else.

 

Our verse dealt with a misunderstanding that the Thessalonians had. They were confused about the second coming of Jesus. They feared that those Christians that had passed away would miss out on the coming of the Lord. Paul’s words took away their fears and doubts. He assured them that they would be with the Lord. They would be raised first. They would not be forgotten, overlooked, or left out. God would take care of their loved ones. This section ends with our verse, “comfort one another with these words.” There is comfort in the promises of God. There is hope in what God says. Trust God. Believe Him. That’s what our verse is about.

How does one pick up and go on after a death? Shakespeare said everyone can master a grief except the one who has it. It’s easy to be a back seat driver on this subject, giving out all kinds of advice and you ought to do this and that. I have found a lot of that is just talk and when one is grieving, while they know those things are true, it doesn’t take away the pain. Nothing seems to take away the pain.

 

First, every person deals with grief in a different way. Men grieve differently than women. Men don’t like to cry. We bottle up our feelings. We don’t like to talk about these kinds of things. “We’re ok,” is what guys tell everyone. They keep saying that to others, hoping that they could only believe that. Women, cry a lot. That’s ok. That’s part of the healing. Folks that study these things tell us that are seven stages of grief. That’s clinical, often it’s not reality. People grieve differently. Some may go through all seven stages. Some may skip some. Some may stay in one stage a long time. Others may fly through the stages. I wouldn’t worry about the stages nor where you are, nor where experts say you are supposed to be. Most of that stuff needs to be put away for psychology class.

There are some do’s and don’ts of grieving. We know these things but it helps to be reminded.

 

  • Don’t give up on God. Some get angry with God. Some blame God. Some feel that God refused to answer their prayers. God loves you. He is not wicked nor twisted. He does not delight in seeing His child in misery and crying. He doesn’t smile because you mourn. He’s not that kind of God. This is especially hard when parents have to bury one of their children. The parent has lived their life. They would rather die and let the child live. That’s not our choice. That unfairness can drain our faith. It’s been hard for me to understand the recent deaths of a very gifted gospel preacher and another one who served as an elder. Both were not old. Both were busy in God’s kingdom. Why them? The church needs them. We try to manufacture an answer for every feeling and question, and sometimes we just don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know why them. I don’t know why now. I do know that God is good. I do know that He remains on the throne. Why did God allow the apostle James to be executed so soon after things started with the church? I do know that throwing in the towel on God is not going to help things. It will not bring the answers you long for, nor will it bring your loved one back. It may keep me from ever seeing my loved one again, because if I give up on God, I give up on salvation, hope and Heaven. There is no hope then for me. Also, the Christian who departed certainly wouldn’t want me to give up.
  • Grief lives next door to discouragement and depression, the two ugly sisters of our emotions and mind. The journey from grief to depression is quick and easy. When we are sad, down and emotionally in a funk, we don’t feel like doing things. Staying in bed all day seems to be the best solution. It’s not. Keeping the curtains closed and playing songs that remind us of our loved one only puts us in a deeper depression. The thing we do not feel like is being around other people. We avoid them. We don’t want to answer their incessant questions, like “How are you doing?” Or, “Are you getting over it now?” We hate those things. However, loneliness feeds grief and depression. We sink deeper into the pit that way. I’m not a fan of pills. I know that there are times for them. I think our times use pills too often. Back in the olden days, people just got tough and dealt with life. God told Elijah to get out of the cave, eat and go appoint someone as king. Get out. Take care of yourself. Do something for someone else. That’s God’s therapy. It works. It doesn’t sound very good when you are in a cave. What you feel like doing is just rolling over in bed and staying another month in that cave. Bad idea. It makes the journey longer and harder. Doing something for others gets your mind off of self. Getting back to work is helpful. Praying often helps. Worship is hard. There are certain hymns that will bring a flood of tears. Some song leaders will choose those songs on purpose. They think that they are helping you. Little do they know that it only makes things worse. God’s word really helps. Read. Think. Pray. Get out of the house. Find a project to keep you busy.
  • Take advice carefully. This includes mine. People mean well. Many who never have been where you seem to know exactly what you ought to do. Amazing! Some will tell you that you must rid your house of clothes and items that belonged to the one who passed away. Some will tell you that you have to do it by a certain time. Really? Who made them the boss of these things. Others will try to get you to book a trip with them. Some will be so bold as to try to arrange a date with a friend. These people are trying. Some things they say work and are useful. Some things they say need to be put out with the trash. I have found that brethren tend to be nosey and a bit pushy in these areas. Not every question needs an answer. Not every probing question is their business. Be kind. Express gratitude for their concern. Do not feel that you owe an answer. Questions about finances, whether you are going to continue to live in that house, what are your plans for his car, what are you going to do now—are just too revealing. Understand your friends don’t know how to act just as you don’t know how to act. They don’t know if they should bring up the subject or if they should avoid it. If you bring up his death, they may try to get you to change the subject. Your friends are experiencing a new journey as well as you.
  • Time helps. It does. Surgery hurts at first. Later, you heal. Grief is like that. The first year is a real bummer. There is no fast forwarding through that. It’s a journey. The first holidays, anniversary, birthdays with one missing just rips your heart out. It does. Tears flow. You have buried a part of yourself as well. But also, a part of the deceased is living in you. Time heals. You’ll get better. Talk to those who have walked where you are. Talk to strong Christians. Forget the books. Don’t listen too much to those who are not Christians. It’s different for them. It’s different for you. Return to life. Live. You will smile again. You will laugh again. You will feel good again. It does happen.

 

  • Help others. This takes time. But you will find others, especially Christians, who face similar tragic events as you have. Be there for them. Listen. Use Scripture. Share your story. Each person has a different story. Don’t try to over trump their tragedy with what you went through. Let them know what worked and what didn’t work for you. Keep them connected to the Lord. Offer to sit with them during worship. Keep an eye on them. Your experience may be the very thing they need.

 

I don’t know if any of this helps. I hope. There are so many brethren who are grieving now. I wish there was a magical verse that would quickly heal you. There is not. I know you are embarrassed by your tears, I am not. I know you hurt. I pray for you. I hope that when it is my time to walk the sad journey of grief that you will be there for me.

Roger

 

22

Jump Start # 964

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 964

 

Hebrews 9:27 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.”

Death is a divine appointment that awaits each of us unless the Lord comes first. The thought of death is a topic many do not like to talk about. I suppose some feel that if we don’t mention it maybe it will go away. It never does. Death is all around us. Every night on the news we learn of car wrecks, shootings, crime and other accidents that ended in death. Death comes to all. It doesn’t matter what age you are, who important you are, how needed you are. It has taken politicians before they have completed their term. It has taken authors before they finished their books. It has taken young mothers, college students and star athletes. I had three friends die this year suddenly. The oldest was 61. I have two friends currently who are seriously ill with cancer. One, is a father who is in his mid-40’s. I remember my grandpa once saying that he knew more people who were dead than alive.

Becoming a Christian changes everything, even how we look at things. This includes the subject of death. Death through the lens of the Bible, and through faith in Christ is a whole lot different than it is for those who are not a Christian. Even the way we refer to death is different from a Christian perspective than a person of the world. The Bible uses expressions such as: gain, hope, reward, blessing, being with the Lord. The world uses terms like: gone, departed, ceased, kicking the bucket, never more.

Our passage reminds us that there is an appointment with death. God made this. We want to know why. Why do we have to die? More specifically, “Why did dad have to die?” or, “Why did my friend have to die?” The answer to the “why” is because God introduced death into the world as a consequence of sin. The question is then asked, “Why do babies die?” and “Why do young children die?” They have not sinned. We do not die because of our own sin, but as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin. We have not inherited their sin. We do not bear the guilt of their sin. We are not born sinners. However, a consequence to their sin, is that the human race is punished. We can scream ’Not fair.” We can grow an internal hatred for Adam. The reality is, had it not been Adam who sinned, we would have. Romans 3 reminds us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We choose the temporary over the eternal. We choose the pleasure, even when it is wrong, over what is right. We choose to listen to Satan rather than God. What Adam did, we have all done in our own way. We die because the human race is cursed.

 

Until Jesus came, death was Satan’s greatest weapon. Everyone who died stayed dead. We know that. The few that were resurrected eventually died again. I can only imagine what that would have been like. Jesus was the first to die and rise from the grave to never die again. He conquered death. He defeated Satan. He destroyed the greatest weapon Satan had. Death has been turned into a victory because of Jesus. Paul would taunt, “Oh death where is your sting?” There is a victory over death because of Jesus.

For the Christian, death is not the end of the journey. Our story does not have a “the end” to it. We live on and on as the hymn says. Death becomes a door, only a door, to take us to the next room in God’s house. A door, called birth, brought us into this world and another door, called death, allows us to go into the next room. The world gets fixated upon death. The world is stuck on death. The world fears death. Not the Christian. It’s just a door. Forget the door, look what’s beyond the door. That’s where the Christian has his hope. This is how a Christian endures. This is how the early Christians could allow Roman persecutors to kill them without resistance, because they knew they were going to another room in God’s house. They longed for that. They wanted to be there.

What a contrast. The world is afraid of death and the Christian longs for it. The world is stunned by death, the Christian rejoices. The world can’t get past death, the Christian sees the wonderful world with Christ beyond death. To get there, one must pass through the door.

This morning, I’ve turned on a light because it was dark in my study. Won’t need a light in the next room, Christ is there. My furnace is running because it’s cold outside. Won’t need furnaces or air conditioner in the next room. My door is locked and the alarm is on. Won’t need those things in the next room. When I’m finished writing, I will get something to eat. Won’t need that in the next room. Won’t need a pill in the next room. Won’t be any sad or bad news in the next room. In the next room, I will get to see the face of God. In the next room, I won’t be tired, sore, hurting. In the next room, I won’t need glasses, false teeth, hearing aids, artificial hips or any of those things. In the next room, I won’t be discouraged, afraid or doubting. In the next room I won’t be tempted by Satan or plagued with my own failures.

 

The next room is amazing. There is nothing like it. It is where God is. The more I really think about that the more I just want to get up and go through that door. This is what death means to a Christian. It is Heaven. It is God’s home. Where God lives is perfection. Everything is the best because God is the best. There won’t be any second thoughts or wishing I was somewhere else. My only thoughts would be I wish the rest of my family and friends could join me right now.

 

My lovely wife has thrown me two surprise birthday parties. I am not a fan of those. I don’t like all the attention, and worse, it seems everyone, but me knows what is going to happen. The impression I get from the Gospels is that Jesus is very excited to take us to Heaven. He’s from there. He knows what it is like. We are like the guy at the surprise party, we are unsure. I sense a divine excitement from Jesus about Heaven. Maybe we should grasp that as well.

 

Have you ever noticed how many hymns we have about Heaven? There’s a bunch. They reflect upon the beauty, the joy, the peace and the fellowship with God. These songs are sung with an anticipation. Won’t it be wonderful there, is how one song sums it up.

Every time I attend the funeral of a Christian I think to myself, “lucky guy.” He’s out of this place. He’s in the room with God and I’m stuck here having to carry on. Is the death of a Christian sad? Yes, especially for the family. Tears flow, but not in hopelessness.

We sing about Heaven. Our favorite sermons are about Heaven. We like talking about Heaven. We ought to be thankful when one of us gets to go. Home safe. Home and never having to leave again. It’s not a weekend get-a-way. It’s not a brief tour. Heaven becomes our home. Heaven is forever.

 

This is how death ought to be viewed by the Christian. If you are not in Christ, this is a most terrifying subject. The room behind the door of death is the most horrific thing ever if you are not in Christ. We do not become a Christian just to escape Hell, but it is one reason.

 

One final note for those who have read this and may think that I have failed to mention Hades. Someone will write and remind me that when we die we go to Hades first. This is true. The thrust of the New Testament is not getting to Hades, it is Heaven. The room is not Hades, it is Heaven. Recently I flew to Minnesota. I had to fly to Chicago, switch planes and then go to Minnesota. When asked where I was flying to, my answer was not Chicago. Technically, I was going to Chicago, but that was not my destination. I was going to Minnesota. My destination is Heaven, not Hades. I may have a layover in Hades, but Heaven is where I am heading. Heaven is what awaits us.

Die once. Go through the door. God is waiting for you. Not so bad. Even angels are sent to carry us there. Better yet.

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 963

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 963

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

In the midst of the sermon on the mount, Jesus established several concepts about the kingdom of God. These principles reflect the attitude and the responsibilities that the Lord’s disciples were to have toward the kingdom. Discipleship began by denying self. That came first. Then, it was followed by taking up the cross and following Jesus. Our verse says it this way, “seek first His kingdom…”

 

It seems we agree with this principle in theory, but in practice many don’t illustrate it. God first is the rallying cry. Turn to God is what we say. Yet, too often, the seeking first part is rather lacking.

Why is it that when a congregation plans a special meeting, some members do not come. Worse, some planned vacations during the same time. Could it be that we never even dreamed of thinking what is going on with the congregation? Could it be that supporting and helping the kingdom grow doesn’t even register on our radar? Could it be that we live by the spirit that “I will take a vacation whenever I feel like it?” Does this demonstrate seeking HIS kingdom FIRST?

Why is it that some can’t get to the church building on time? Understand things happen at home. We had four kids and I know that. But some families, it’s EVERY WEEK. It’s EVERY service. Late. It throws the teacher off. It disrupts the teaching process. Are these same families late to work every day? Doubt it. Are they late to school every day? Doubt it. It’s a kingdom thing. It’s just church and it is not a high priority. Get there when they can. It seems the FIRST part isn’t FIRST.

 

Why is it, as the context of this passage illustrates, the pursuit of life, including housing, food and clothing is allowed to shove God’s kingdom to the back burner? Why is it that concerts, ballgames and trips become a regular reason to skip the worship of God? Why is it that we shove God to the back? Why is it that if there is nothing else, then we will worship God? This is much, much more than attending church services. Putting the kingdom first, is a way of thinking. It is reflected in choices, attitudes, dress and behavior. It is illustrated in whether or not worship is a priority. It is illustrated where we put God in our lives.

 

Just what does first mean? This has to do with a priority as well as an order or ranking. Maybe one reason that God doesn’t seem to have much of an impact in many lives is that we want God, we say we love God, we know that we need God, but not FIRST. First, is me. First, is what I want. First, is taking care of self.

What would it look like for a person to truly put the kingdom of God first in their lives?

 

  • The day would begin with prayer. The eyes open and the heart reaches Heavenward. The person is always thinking about God. He doesn’t have to guilt trip himself into praying. He does it. It’s natural. He likes, wants, and needs to talk to God often.
  • As a person is getting ready to go about the day, the thoughts of the kingdom would influence what choices in clothes the person put on. The kingdom would influence what music the person listened to.

 

  • As the day progressed, the seeker of the kingdom, would think about the kingdom. He would pray for those who were needing help. He would pray for those who hadn’t found God. He would look around those he interacted with and remember that he is salt and light for the Kingdom.

 

  • The word of God would be read each day by the one seeking first the kingdom. Such a person is fascinated with the kingdom. He would want to know more about spiritual truths.

 

  • At home, the seeker of God’s kingdom would inject spiritual lessons in his daily conversations. He would talk about how things could be improved at home, in his life and in the congregation. He is always thinking about those things.

 

  • The seeker of God’s kingdom would make wise choices as to what TV shows he watched and what movies he went to. The seeker of God’s kingdom wants to be right with God. When ungodly advertisements came on the TV, he would quickly switch channels.
  • The seeker of God’s kingdom is quick to judge himself. He recognizes his failings and apologies to God and others when he has let them down. He is slow to judge others.
  • The seeker of God’s kingdom will be at worship services. He loves to worship. He is active in singing, praying and connecting with the church family. Even when he travels the seeker of God’s kingdom includes worshipping God in other congregations in other cities.

 

First, means first. First is not second. First is not almost. First is not close. First is first. In sports we know what first is. No one has to tell us. Your team is in first, or they are not. At graduation, we know what first in the class means. In music, first chair means first. Yet, somehow, when it comes to the kingdom of God, first, for some, means I’ll get around to it when I can. Don’t think we’d like a doctor like that. We’d spend the entire day in the waiting room. We wouldn’t like a mechanic like that. Our car would be in the shop for a month. We wouldn’t like a God like that. We might get forgiveness or we might not. God not only put us first, but He sent the best He had for us—Jesus Christ. It’s not too much to ask us to put His cause, His will, His kingdom, His way first in our lives.

I heard about a family back during the depression, World War II period, that longed to hear a gospel preacher preach. The problem was, the church conducting the service was in another state and the family didn’t have gas money. The dad, traded in some war bonds, just to get the gas money, to take the family to another state, to hear a man preach. Can you imagine?

 

I head about a husband and wife who used their only vacation of the year to go overseas to help a small struggling church. It wasn’t a paradise vacation. It was intense work but very rewarding. Can you imagine?

I heard about a high school football player who was the captain of his team, who walked off the field, in uniform, got in his car and drove to the church building to attend a church service. Can you imagine?

I heard of a man who every year bought hundreds of dollars of books and gave them to young preachers. Can you imagine?

 

Stories like these are in the hundreds. Men and women sacrificing time and money, devoting themselves to the cause of Christ. They want the kingdom to grow. They want the kingdom to win. They want to do their part. They are letting God know that He can count on them. These seekers of the kingdom are doing more than just showing up when it is convenient. They are doing things when it is most inconvenient. They spend on the kingdom rather than themselves. They give up things and time that could be spent on self, for the kingdom. They are true seekers of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Shame on some of us. We allow the first thing to stop us. If there is a conflict, self wins. If there is a difficulty, we pick the physical over the spiritual. Is it any wonder so many churches are stale and stuck? Is it any wonder why so many feel like they are not getting anything out of their spiritual life? Is it any wonder that it is so easy for some to just drop out?

 

It’s time to quit sticking our big toe in the kingdom and trying to decide if the temperature is right. Jump in. Seek first. Get busy. Even today, on a Monday, seek first the kingdom of God.

 

Be that kingdom seeker. It’s what God wants from you.

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 962

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 962

 

Psalms 119:63 ” I am a companion of all those who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts.”

 

Our verse today reminds us that we are in a fellowship with other believers. We see that in the congregation, but there is a huge spiritual family, worldwide that extends beyond what we see within our church building. This is important for us to realize.

 

Satan wants you to think that you are alone. Some of our readers worship in small congregations and others may be in areas where there are not many congregations. The “we are it” syndrome can be very discouraging.

 

Satan wants you to believe that we are losing. He wants you to think more bad than good is going on. He wants you to throw in the towel and give up. He wants you to think that it’s useless. Following the news can really do that. Just this morning I read that a school teacher was arrested for being high on drugs while at school. Another teacher was dismissed for posing nude in an adult magazine. A shopper was arrested for carrying a dead baby in a bag. I just finished reading a biography about a world famous auto racer. His lifestyle was sex, drugs and alcohol. The news about the bad, raunchy, and godless choices that people make are the headlines each day. We are bombarded with news about sinful choices and the consequences that those choices reap. It seems that God is losing. Satan wants you to think that.

Satan loves to dish out discouragement. It’s one of the best weapons in his arsenal. It works so well. Discouraged Christians feel overwhelmed. Discouraged Christians go through the motions. Discouraged Christians get confused and begin doubting what they once believed as true. More bad news. More people doing wrong. More. More. More. Until finally, the discouragement gets the best of you and you become a part of the very thing that discouraged you. Satan smiles. He accomplished exactly what he wanted.

There are three principles that turn all of this around.

  • God is on the throne. It may seem like Satan is dancing through this world, having his way, but God is still in control. That hasn’t changed. It’s not going to change. God will win, don’t doubt that for a second.
  • The outcome of Satan and those who follow him is certain. This is not a huge cosmic battle between God and Satan, like a movie, and the outcome could go either way. Not at all. Satan’s destiny is set. He’s Hell bound. There is no hope for him. There is no Savior for him. He’s a loser and he is headed on a one way ticket for torment. The Bible is clear about that. Matthew tells us that Hell is prepared for the devil and his angels. That’s why God made Hell. It wasn’t for people, it was for Satan.

 

  • There are companions of God throughout this world who love the Lord and walk daily with Him. Some of God’s companions are very talented and are doing incredible things with those talents. Doctors, dentists, attorneys, business owners, school teachers, mechanics, funeral directors, students, house moms, retired folks make up the family of God. These people are helping others as they walk with the Lord. They are making a difference. Through their influences people are being introduced to the Lord, the church is being funded, and God’s way carries on.  These talented people coach kids on Saturdays. They teach Bible classes on Sunday. They give up their time to help others. They sit in the surgery waiting room with others. They help a struggling family. They make it possible for a kid to attend college. God’s family is made up hundreds and hundreds of men and women throughout this world who love Jesus. They gather on Sunday to worship the God that they love. These are the best people on the face of the earth. Most are not well known. Many live what some would call boring lives. They go to work in the mornings, raise their families, and have their sights set on Heaven. They struggle with a world that they don’t fit in. Finding modest clothes to purchase, decent shows to watch on TV, and quality books to read is a struggle. They love the Lord. They want to do what is right. You don’t hear about these people on the news because they are not breaking laws. They are not wild and irresponsible. They are not indulging in selfishness. They are kind and generous. They are good people. They each have a past that is dark and that they are ashamed of, but are thankful it has been forgiven through Christ. These are the companions of God. These are the people that are serious about the Bible and going to Heaven.

These companions of God are everywhere. I have met so many of them. I have found them in little towns in Ohio. I have found them in huge cities like Boston. I have found them all across this country and even in other countries. God’s people. Making a difference. Keeping things going. Not giving up. Ready to spit in the eye of Satan. They wear the armor of God. They are tough and have been through all kinds of battles. I think of a sweet family whose young father is in the hospital facing grave health issues. The days are long for them. Their faith is anchored in the Christ that loves them. These companions of God are made up of young men who have chosen to preach God’s word. They are sincere, humble and amazing.

Our passage says, I am a companion of all those who fear you. Can you say that? Are you companions with God’s people? Are your dearest friends companions of God? Are you walking with those that walk with God? If not, you are missing out. These companions of God will bring quality to your life and they will enrich you and help you connect strongly with the Lord. They are God’s help and answer to the discouragement that Satan throws at you. You need the companions of God in your life. Include them. Get to know them. Surround yourself with them. Seek their advice. Become friends and companions with the companions of God.

I am blessed to know that my best friends are companions of God!

Roger