15

Jump Start # 1538

Posted on February 15, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1538

2 Timothy 4:8 “in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and no only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

 

Here, in these well known words of Paul, we find his hope for a crown to be given to him by the Lord. Paul’s journey was nearing the end. He was locked up in a Roman prison and he knew that this time was just about up. His great example and finish are found in the expressions, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” I have. I have. I have.

 

But tucked within our verse today is a gentle reminder. The Lord is the “righteous judge.” Paul would face Caesar first. Caesar wasn’t righteous. Caesar was political to the core. His decisions furthered his dynasty. He was selfish, sinful and corrupt. But after Caesar, there was yet another judge that Paul would face, the Lord. The Lord was a righteous judge. The Lord would judge fairly. The Lord would not be bought off. The Lord was merciful. The Lord knew.

 

The political scene in our country is buzzing because of the death of a Supreme Court Judge. Now the search will begin for his replacement. What happens next and who actually makes the appointment will cause further political divide. This is a good time to talk about judges.

 

One of the things we notice about Supreme Court Justices is that they interpret the law, particularly as it applies to the Constitution. I’m not a lawyer. My brother is. That’s enough in one family. He’s the attorney and I’m the preacher.  A preacher and a lawyer—that’s all you need for all kinds of jokes and conversations. I feel that many look at the Bible through our legal process today. This can lead to some misunderstandings.

 

The Supreme Court can look at a law and interpret it differently. It is not uncommon to hear of decisions which were not unanimous. Some thought one way and others thought a different way. This thinking spills over to how some folks look at the Bible. They feel that we each can interpret God’s law differently. Some are conservative and strict. Others, are more progressive and loose with how they see God’s law. This thinking has allowed folks and even churches to travel down different avenues doctrinally. We feel this way. Someone else declares, “I don’t read it that way.” The concluding thought is that the word of God is open to various interpretations. More than that, it is believed that each of these conclusions are allowable with God. So the pattern for worship, how one is saved, the means a church raises money, how a group does outreach—all varies, we are told, based upon how one interprets the word of God.

 

This thought is troublesome to me. I don’t see it that way in the N.T. Paul taught the same thing in all the churches. Faithful men were told to teach the same thing to those who would teach others. I find expressions of one mind, one voice, one purpose. United in one spirit. No divisions among you. Those wonderful expressions imply a consensus of understanding. We agree. We are on the same page.

 

The idea that God’s word means different things to different people misses the point of the message. It makes the word vague and ambiguous. It takes away from the absoluteness that faithfulness and obedience demands. How can there be one faith, if we cannot interpret that faith the same? We must be careful that we do not allow the concepts of our court systems to color how we see the Bible. When God told Noah to build the ark, he seemed to understand and do all that God commanded. Noah didn’t interpret the ark to mean a condo at the beach. When the tabernacle and later the temple were built, God’s people understood what God meant. The sacrifices of the animals, the priesthood and even understanding what God required, all seemed to be clear to those people. When the young man asked Jesus what he had to do to interpret eternal life Jesus told him to keep the commandments. Jesus named a few of them. He replied that he had done that. He seemed to understand what Jesus was saying.

 

When the apostles went into all the world and preached the gospel, and part of that saving message included believing, repenting and being baptized, it seems that people understood it. They didn’t come up with “I just don’t see it the way you see it,” thinking. We’ve just bought into that concept. We’ve allowed that thinking to allow differences among us. We just assume that all these different ways and different ideas are fine with God. We’ve just concluded that when God said something, it could mean multiple things.

 

How could Paul keep the faith, unless he understood what the faith meant? How could he tell Timothy that some had shipwrecked the faith unless he understood what the faith meant? How could he warn about those teaching strange doctrines unless he understood what the faith meant? Maybe those doctrines weren’t strange. Maybe that was just how those folks interpreted things. Do you see how fuzzy, cloudy and confusing this could be. Does stop mean stop? Does go mean go?  There has been lawsuits argued in courts that tries to define just when is stop, really stop?

 

Contend earnest for the faith is what Jude told his readers. The message that Peter taught, Paul taught and John taught didn’t result in different conclusions or different interpretations. There is a sameness that flows through the N.T.

 

When someone says, “I don’t see it the way you see it,” instead of accepting multiple ideas, maybe it’s the guys eyes. Maybe he doesn’t see it because he doesn’t want to see it. Maybe he doesn’t see it because he’s looking through rose tinted glasses and his mind is made up no matter what the Bible says. It’s not an interpretation issue but an honesty issue. Reading the same Gospels ought to lead us to the same conclusions.

 

Variety is found in ice cream shops, not the word of God. The Supreme Court interprets the law. Their interpretations vary and often change. We believe and obey God’s law. The two are not the same.

 

Next time, more on The Righteous Judge.

 

Roger

 

 

12

Jump Start # 1537

Posted on February 12, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1537

Proverbs 25:13 “Like cold snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.”

  It’s supposed to snow again today, where I live. It may snow some more at the first of the week. This is life in the north in the winter time. It snows. Most don’t like it much, but we manage. It’s the big snows that make most folks groan. Our verse mentions snow. Cold snow—that’s the only kind of snow that I know.

 

The thought of the passage is the loyalty and faithfulness of the messenger is refreshing to his master. He has done what he was sent to do. He didn’t forget to deliver the message. He didn’t spend the day at the market place. He wasn’t sleeping under a tree. He delivered the message and that pleased his master.

 

There are two thoughts from this that I want to explore with you.

 

First, is the expression, “refreshes the soul of his master.” That simply means, he pleased his master. The expression, “refreshed” is found a few times in the N.T. Paul told the Corinthians that the coming of Titus comforted his soul. Paul said that the slave, Oneisphorus, “refreshed me.” He also stated that Stephanas and Fortunatus have refreshed my spirit.

 

The idea of refreshing brings thoughts of cold water, clean smells, sunshine, joy and happiness. Refreshing is an expression of encouragement and hope. The spirit that has been refreshed is recharged. It’s ready to get up and go again. Maybe it was tired. Maybe it was worn out. Maybe it was discouraged. Shuffling along, head hung down, going through the motions of life, but then someone intersects with us. They are excited, up beat, hopeful, and faithful. They get us seeing the spiritual again. They help us continue on. What a delightful thought.

 

I think, especially by Friday, our batteries are about run down. What a long week. It’s more than being tired on the outside, it’s being worn out on the inside. Life can do that to us. Problems, issues, demands, things not going right, people not going right—it can keep us up at night. We can feel stretched and strained.

 

Many of us do not recognize that we need some refreshing. We need that cold snow at harvest.

 

Here are a few ways to get “refreshed.”

 

Worship can do that. Singing those hymns, seeing those faces, listening to God’s word being passionately preached—has a way of lifting us up. We ought to leave worship in a better shape than when we came in. Worship can be like an oasis to us. It’s an island get-a-way in the midst of this crazy world. You might drag in to worship, but leave refreshed. Allow the atmosphere, the words, the smiles, the Lord to fill your heart. Cold snow at harvest—that’s what worship can be. I love Sundays. It’s the best day of the week. I wish everyday was Sunday. Do you feel that way?

 

Daily routines can find splashes of refreshment for our souls. Turn off the political jargon that fills the airwaves. This poll, and that poll—can drive a person nuts. I have a CD of three songs that I play every morning. It’s the same three songs. They are hymns. The hymns are about thanking the Lord. That’s what I need to help start the day. It’s a reminder to me. Today is a blessing. Today is a gift. Refreshment. Cold snow at harvest. Reading a few passages can do that. Reminders. Sunshine. Truth. Hope. The Lord.

 

Connecting with others will do this will do this. A phone call, lunch with someone, a short email—just a reminder, just a thought, that I appreciate what you are doing. Goodness shared. Joys reminded. Precious memories recalled. This is the power of fellowship. It has a way of refreshing our spirits. Use your drive home as a way to just make that brief connection. Come home to your family refreshed, not grumpy and beat up. Come to your home ready to refresh their souls.

 

Some of us are in need of refreshing. Others are the cold snow who are helping others. Complaining, gossiping, negativism, gloom and doom, is not what we need. All we have to do is turn on the TV for that. Anyone can do that. But to rise up through this and be a refresher, now that’s something. Every church needs a refresher. They need those whose sole job is bringing back a smile to a tired face. They make us feel better. They lift us, remind us, and help us. They do that by being the sunshine on dark days. They could complain like the rest of us, but they choose not to. They could see problems everywhere, like most people, but they choose not to. They could sing, “Woe is me,” like most of us, but they choose not to. They are refreshers because that’s the choices that they have made. They help us to see that we can choose to be miserable or happy. We can count our blessings or name our problems. Refreshers. They are a special group of people. I hope God has a special place for them in Heaven. They sure help the rest of us.

 

The second thought that our verse brings out is the faithfulness of the messenger. He did what he was supposed to do. That pleased his master. That was refreshing. That was like cold snow at harvest. Isn’t that a wonderful example for us? We ought to be doing what we are supposed to do. God has assigned us all special and unique things to do. Moms need to mom. Dads need to dad. Leaders need to lead. Deacons need to dec. Preachers need to preach. Friends need to be friendly. God expects us to live a certain way. We need to do that. God expects us to be faithful to His word. We need to do that. It is important that we do what God wants us to do.

 

The messenger pleased his master and today the Christian needs to please His God. He does that, by being loyal, dependable and faithful to the tasks God has before us.

 

Cold snow…what a great reminder as we head out the house today. Sprinkle some sunshine about you as you interact with others. Be the refreshing soul in the meetings today. Be the cold snow at harvest when you return home today. There are many tired souls that are beat up by the world. Do what you can.

 

Cold snow…

 

Roger

 

11

Jump Start # 1536

Posted on February 11, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1536

Matthew 25:19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.”

  Our verse today comes from the parable of the talents. This is the second of three parables that has a similar theme about the coming judgment. The parable of the wise and foolish virgins, the parable of the talents and the parable of the sheep and the goats each detail specific principles about the Lord’s return and the judgment that is to come. In each of the stories, Jesus is gone for a period of time. He returns.

 

Our verse, from the talents, has Jesus as the master. He has been gone a long time. It’s that long time thought that I want to explore today.

 

I read recently of a prisoner who was denied parole. He was denied for the 15th time. He has been in prison more than 45 years. That’s a long time. We remember Abraham waiting for the child of promise to be born. It took 25 years for that to come about. That’s a long time. We remember Daniel in the lion’s den. Most think that Daniel was a teenager and that story is used for Friday night devos. Daniel was taken captive with other young Jewish men by Babylon. The captivity lasted 70 years. When Daniel prays, it’s during the reign of the Persians. Daniel has been in a foreign land for 70 or more years. Daniel is not a teenager, but a senior citizen. He may have been in his 80’s or 90’s by the time he is caught praying to God. The woman with the issue of blood had her disease for a dozen years. She had grown worse and spent all that she had but nothing helped.

 

A long time. Generally what follows a long time is patience. Waiting upon the Lord. Waiting for the Lord to come through.

 

 

The Long Time wait can make one think that God has forgotten. One can begin to believe that things will never get better. The long time wait can wear patience out and one can begin to doubt. They doubt that their prayers will ever be heard or answered. They can doubt that God will be good on His promises.

 

  • Some have had long time health issues. Like the woman with the issue of blood, some have dealt with failing health for decades. This has made them very weary.

 

  • Some have waited for prodigals to come home for a long time. Sons and daughters that are living in the far country of sin and every night moms and dads pray for their return. They have talked, begged, asked questions of these prodigals, but there doesn’t seem to be any movement. They seem content in the far country. The long wait has made these parents weary.

 

  • Some have waited a long time for changes in their mate. Maybe promises have been made to stop drinking or to take more interest in the kids but nothing changes. Promises are broken again and again. The long wait for one to change has made some consider leaving the marriage. It has led to many nights of crying on the inside.

 

  • Some have waited for God to open doors for them. They are wanting a way out and are looking for a better way. They have prayed and prayed but nothing seems to be happening. It may be a better job. It may be waiting for a church to turn around. It may be waiting for shepherds to be appointed. Wait and wait and wait.

 

The long wait can lead to two consequences. First, one just gives up. They decide that things will never get any better so they resolve that misery will be their companion. They are not happy about this, but they feel that there is nothing that they can do.

 

Second, the long wait can lead to some taking matters into their own hands. Abraham and Sarah did that. That’s where Hagar enters the picture. She was their solution to the long wait. She was the wrong solution. We can become tired of waiting and we can take actions in our own hands. But like Abraham and Sarah, our actions may be the wrong actions.

 

In the Psalms we find:

Wait upon the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord (27:14)

Our souls wait for the Lord; He is our help and shield (33:20)

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him (37:7)

…those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land (37:9)

 

Waiting for the Lord and waiting for others is not the same. The Lord’s promises are good and true. We must be patient. We may wait for the Lord to answer our prayers “yes,” when He has already answered them “no.” God is good. God can be trusted. God doesn’t keep schedules like we do.

 

Waiting for people is another story. Some won’t change. Some don’t care to change. Some can’t see beyond themselves. Patience runs extremely thin when waiting on others. We can make and break promises. We change our minds. We say things that we never intend to follow through on. The wait for others is hard. Patience, prayer and hope –that’s what keeps us going.

 

A radio station many years ago had listeners call in to describe the word “forever.” Some named a stop light at certain intersections. Waiting for the light to turn green was “forever.” One identified a fast food place that wasn’t very fast. Another talked about waiting for a package to be delivered. One woman described forever as waiting for her husband to apologize. Waiting. Waiting a long time.

 

Has it been a long time since you talked to God? Really talked to Him?

Has it been a long time since you held your mates hand and told him/her that you love them?

Has it been a long time since you really opened up the Bible and dived into a fascinating study?

Has it been a long time since you had a family from church in your home?

Has it been a long time since you thanked  God?

Has it been a long time since you sang hymns in your car?

Has it been a long time since you told God that you loved Him?

Has it been a long time since you told God you were sorry for what you did?

 

Have you ever thought how long God has been waiting on us? How long did it take for us to finally “get it?” How long he was patient with us? How long…

 

A long time…

 

Roger

 

10

Jump Start # 1535

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1535

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

  Our verse today comes near the end of the sermon on the mount. In many ways the sermon actually ends with the golden rule in verse 12. What follows are a series of “what are you going to do with these things?” This includes our verses today.

 

These verses seem to surround a specific day. “Many will say to Me on THAT DAY…” What day? Most likely, THE DAY. The day of Judgment.

 

There seems to be two strong threads running through these verses.

 

First, is an apparent surprise that they were not going to be in Heaven. There are happy surprises in life and shocking surprises. The happy ones include surprise birthday parties, an unexpected bonus, a kiss by a grandchild. We love those kinds of surprises. The shocking surprises would include being laid off from work, finding a dent in your car and no one around to account for it, finding out some hidden scandals about someone you admired. Here, in this passage, are a group that thought they were sitting well with the Lord. They expected the gates of Heaven to be flung wide open for them. They were anticipating eternity with the Lord. To their horror, they found out, at the wrong time to do anything about it, that they had not pleased the Lord. To their horror, the Lord declared that He didn’t know them.

 

How could that be? They try to defend themselves and build a case for why they ought to be included in Heaven’s kingdom. Look what we have done. Everything we have done has been for you. It was in Your name that we prophesied. We even cast out demons and preformed miracles in Your name. How could you not know us? How could you not include us?

 

Did these people actually cast out demons and preform miracles? In Jesus’ name? How could they do those things and not be included in Heaven? This may be an extreme example to emphasize the point. Even doing miracles does open the gates of Heaven. Casting out demons, the vile enemies of the cross, does not guarantee Heaven.

 

Second, they seemed to miss what was most important, “doing the will of My Father who is in Heaven.” Had they devoted their time to doing what God said, instead of these other things, they might have heard, “Well, done good and faithful slave. Enter into the joy of your Master,” as repeated to the five and two talent slaves in Matthew 25. Do the will of God, that’s what Jesus is after. Having given details in the sermon on the mount that illustrates what citizenship in the kingdom is like, Jesus ends this by wanting His disciples to do what He has said. Don’t go out and do what you want. Don’t go out and grab the headlines by doing great things such as miracles and casting out demons. Do the will of God. The will of God, taught in the sermon on the Mount, included, righteousness from the inside out. It involved putting others first. It included having right motives, right attitudes and a right heart.

 

Jesus isn’t impressed by the great things that people are doing. His eye catches those who genuinely are doing the will of God. In the name of religion people have built universities, dug irrigation trenches, fed the homeless, built houses for the poor, provided safe haven for teens to play sports, published books, and filled stadiums in the name of Jesus. Amazing things. Great good done. But was it, is it, the will of God? How are these any different than doing miracles or casting out demons? The word “Ministry” is attached to just about any word you can think of today. There are bike– ministries, puppet–ministries, camping-ministries, prison-ministries, cooking-ministries, travel-ministries, quilting-ministries and on and on and on and on, it seems to go. Stick the word ministry behind any hobby and it gives it credibility, because it seems to be “divine” and a part of the church, and then it will be funded by the church. Who can argue with a “ministry?” Who would dare question a “Ministry?” If it’s a ministry, it has to be right. Right? Are these much different than casting out demons and doing miracles in Your name? These great activities take a lot of time and a lot of money. Certainly good is being done. Certainly lives are being touched. But what is often missing is asking, “Is this the will of God?” “Is this what God wants us to be doing?”

 

Jesus states three shocking revelations to these people.

 

First, what they were doing was not the will of God. If it were, then they would be included in Heaven’s kingdom. They were busy but they were not busy doing the will of God.

 

Second, what they were doing was considered “Lawlessness.” Lawless means without law. They were on their own. They were making their own rules. They were not following what God had said. Instead of pleasing God, which they thought they were doing, they were guilty of doing things without law.

 

Third, Jesus said that He never knew them. That’s harsh. That’s some of the hardest words in the Bible. Sometimes we may forget a name. We may forget that we already met someone earlier. But to say, “I never knew you, depart from Me.” It’s one thing to meet someone for the first time. “We haven’t met before…” And then an introduction and a relationship of friendship begins. It’s not that way here. These folks were dropping Jesus’ name often. Seven times they either said, “Lord” or “Your name.” They sure seemed to think that they knew Jesus. How wrong they were. If they really knew Jesus, then they would know that He is interested in doing the will of the Father. In the garden, before the cross, Jesus prayed, “Not My will, but Thy will be done.” Jesus understood doing the will of the Father. These people loved to drop names, brag about what they had done, but were not serious about doing the will of God. To their surprise, Jesus declared, “Depart.” Get out of here. Get out of My way. You are not in the Kingdom. You are wayward. You are lawless. You are lost.

 

This leads us to two final thoughts.

 

First, what is the will of God? How do I find it? Contextually, Jesus is referring to the sermon on the mount. That’s a starting point. That’s not all of it. But read Matthew 5-7, with a Bible in one hand and a mirror in the other. Are you doing what God says? Are you becoming what He wants you to be? From that, read the rest of the N.T. This is the will of God. This is the “one faith” of Ephesians 4. This is “the faith” that Jude tells us to contend earnestly for. The will of God is not for you to strike out on your own and do what is not in the Bible. The will of God is for you to imitate Jesus and pattern yourself after the Lord. Have a heart like Jesus. Forgive like Jesus. Be a light into the world like Jesus. Be compassionate. Be good. Be righteous. Be obedient. Stop judging others so much. Stop trying to keep an image up and be honest. Be prayerful. Be a worshipper of God.

 

Second, is it possible for me to be fooled into thinking that I am right with God when I am not? Certainly. Leaning upon what I have done, rather than who I am, will get you there quickly. Some seem to think that they are more spiritual than others because they travel the oceans doing things overseas. The stay-at-home mom, who is raising her little ones to know Jesus may well be doing the will of God more than those who travel the globe. Yes, I can be fooled. Yes, I can feel safe, when I am not. Yes, I can believe I am saved, when I am not. Yes, I can tell myself and even others, that I am going to Heaven, when God says, “I don’t know you.” How then, can I be sure? The will of God. I must set my heart upon doing what the Bible says. I must know His word. I must please God by doing what He says, not what I dream up.

 

Is it possible to know if I am pleasing to God? Paul did. Read 2 Timothy 4. He told us that we can know to. It is by faith through Christ that all of this is possible.

 

God has set a course for us. Don’t get off that course. Don’t try to try to find a better way. Don’t try to find short cuts. Don’t be surprised on THAT DAY.

 

Roger

 

09

Jump Start # 1534

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1534

1 Kings 19:4-5 “But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.’”

  The Elijah syndrome happens to many of us. In the previous chapter, 1 Kings 18, Elijah stands alone in confronting a massive contingency of Baal prophets. There are over 400 of them and just Elijah. The nation doesn’t back Elijah. They can’t make up their mind who God is. Elijah, through a mighty contest, shows that Baal is nothing. He cannot be heard. He cannot accept a sacrifice to him. He cannot even light the fire for his sacrifice. Elijah mocks, ridicules, and humiliates Baal. As the chapter ends, Jehovah sends a fire upon His sacrifice displaying for all that He is the one true God. The prophets of Baal are chased down by Israel and all of them are killed. It’s a great victory for the people of God.

 

The next chapter opens with Jezebel, the queen, ordering the death of Elijah. The patsy king, Ahab, seems to allow Jezebel to do whatever she wants. Elijah is scared. He runs. This is where our verse finds him. He is out in the wilderness, most likely a place where Jezebel’s henchmen would never look. But it looks as if Elijah has run out of steam. He can’t keep doing this. He states, “It is enough”. He’s ready to throw in the towel after the first round. He wants the Lord to take his life. Elijah is not suicidal. In suicide a person takes their own life. Here, Elijah wants God to end it. Just put an end to my life. Interesting, he doesn’t ask God to take Jezebel’s life. He seems tired and wants to stop running. Just end this God. Take me out of this.

 

This is the Elijah syndrome. When a person has reached the end of their limits and they are finished. I just want it to be over. I’m tired of dealing with this.

 

This is the spirit that some have in a broken marriage. The frustrations have grown into arguments, patience has run out long ago, and nothing seems to change. He continues to speak lies. Her heart has grown cold and indifferent. The weight of managing a house has fallen to one person. When it seems all the options have run out, “It is enough,” is declared. It’s over. I want out. I’m tired of all the problems. I want the problems to end. The Elijah syndrome.

 

This is the spirit that some parents have toward a rebellious teenager. He is spiraling out of control. He’s gotten in trouble at school. He’s been in trouble with the police. He continues to violate the house rules and seems indifferent to a path that would lead to success. There has been so many discussions that have turned ugly. There has been many nights with very little sleep. There has been counselors and therapists. Nothing seems to be working. “It is enough,” declares the parents. They are at the end. They are willing to toss him out with the hopes that he will learn a lesson once and for all. They are tired of all the problems. The Elijah syndrome.

 

This is the spirit that some shepherds in the church have toward a member who can’t make up his mind if he wants to be a Christian or a person of the world. He comes just once in a while to worship, but he has far too much of the world still in him. He drinks. He has a foul attitude. His choice of words are not very choice. His marriage teeter-totters. There has been so many discussions and Bible studies with this person. He either doesn’t get it or worse, he doesn’t want to get it. Just about every time some discipline takes place, he shows us and shows some improvement. But it doesn’t last. Back to his old wicked ways. This cycle wears the shepherds out. They are running out of patience with him. Like Elijah, they are ready to declare, “Enough.” The Elijah syndrome.

 

Elijah prayed that God would take him. God didn’t. God wasn’t finished with him yet. Elijah hides in a cave. God calls him out and gives him a job to do. In later chapters, Jezebel comes to a fitting end. But not here. Not in this chapter. Not while Elijah has had enough and is in the cave. His problem is still there. God is showing Elijah that you can’t always run from your problems. Nor, can you just wish for God to take your problems or even you away from it all. We love isolation. Isolation is being removed from problems. That is generally how we pray. Remove me or remove my problem. Put distance between me and the problem.

 

More times, God is interested in us facing our problems. God is in the insulation business. Isolation is to be removed from the problem. Insulation is able to go through the problem without it destroying what is inside of you. Our readers in the North understand insulation. This morning the plow truck has already been down my street. More snow. But inside a nice warm house, I am insulated from the cold. God wants to equip us with the means to go through problems and not have the problems destroy our hearts. The Psalmist wrote, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” (23:4). That’s what we struggle with. We don’t want to walk through those valleys. Take another path is what we pray. But God leads us through the valley. It’s not isolation, it’s insulation.

 

Insulation would include trusting God and His word. It would include worship and surrounding yourself with quality spiritual people. It would include prayer. It would include seeing things from God’s perspective.

 

Leaking roofs, dripping faucets, sick pets—those all can be fixed. When you deal with people problems, those are always more complex and based upon the willingness of others to do what is right. When they don’t, that’s when we become weary. We can’t change adults. We’d like to, but we can’t. We can’t fix attitudes. What we can do is show, influence, teach and pray.

 

God wasn’t finished with Elijah. God was telling Elijah, “It’s NOT enough.” Get up and get busy in the kingdom. Elijah was discouraged and depressed. Those feelings drive us to our own caves. And in those caves we stay. For some, they have been in a cave for years. Sometime it takes medication to help a person. Sometimes, it’s just will power. You often have to do what you do not feel like doing. “It’s enough,” is all it takes to stop us. We have to keep going. God never asks, “How do you feel about this?” He never asked that to Noah. He never asked that to Moses. He never even asked that to Jesus. Your walk with Christ will take you to places that you do not feel like going. There will be days that you may not feel like being around others. There may be days that you do not feel like going to worship. But you will. You will, because it’s the right thing to do. The right thing always trumps how I feel about things.

 

You may not feel like apologizing or forgiving someone. If it’s the right thing to do, you’ll do it. You may not feel like giving your marriage another try. If it’s the right thing to do, you’ll do it. You may not feel like leaving your cave, but if it’s the right thing to do, you’ll do it.

 

The right thing must always come before how we feel about things. If it doesn’t, then we have put our self at the top of the list. God is at the top.

 

It is enough, is not enough in God’s book. Get up. Get out of the cave. Get back into the battle of things. God needs you where you are. God isn’t finished with you yet.

 

Tough words to a tired prophet. But it happened to be the right words.

 

Roger