Of all the ways to bring Him glory here on earth there is only one that we can do better here than heaven. That one way is to share the Gospel with lost people. You see, there are no lost people in heaven. Did I need to say that? Does it not stand to reason that this is why God has us here on earth? Is this the reason He hasn’t taken us home?

Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

When you become a part of His family, you receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Rather than take you home to be with Him, God grants you all power and authority here on earth to advance His Kingdom. Jesus says you WILL be my witnesses. It seems safe to say that we are here to bring Him glory by being His witnesses (sharing the Gospel) in our home, our neighborhood, and around the world.

This is why we are here.

In his book, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day, Mark Batterson makes a great point. People are either complainers or worshippers. Your tendency, your default reaction is either to complain about circumstances or worship God. In reality, the circumstances that surround these two types of people are typically not that different. What is different is their perspective.

Consider Paul and Silas. By most accounts, they were having a really bad day. I would have understood if they vented a little by complaining, but that was not their mindset. They worshipped God and people took notice. I want to be like that.

Too often, we pray for God to change our circumstances. We should be praying for God to change our perspective. God, give us a glimpse of your perspective. Had Paul and Silas prayed for God to keep them from getting beaten and thrown in jail, if they would have prayed for God to ease the pain or provide a good attorney, they would have missed the miraculous earthquake jailbreak that gave God glory and opened the eyes of some of the toughest men in town to the power of the Living God.

She changed the rules so she wouldn’t lose. I felt like I had to teach a lesson about rules, but I also had to admire her quick thinking. I’m pretty sure every kid has tried that at some point.

It’s not just the kids! I was watching a “News” program yesterday. The host was interviewing an expert in marriage relationships. She is a a doctor. They were discussing the divorce of Al and Tipper Gore after 40 years of marriage. The interview ended with the words, “We must not label a marriage as a success or failure based on whether or not it ends in divorce.”

What?

God made marriage and the rules for marriage. One man, one woman, in love, until death. Those are the rules. They always have been the rules. The bride and groom commit to these by reciting them in their wedding vows.

The truth is we are losing. Marriages and families are falling apart all around us. When you are losing, the answer is not to move the finish line or change the rules. The answer is to study the sport, know the rules and prepare before the starting line.

Anyway, I have a hard time really capturing in words where I find myself as of late…it’s not a “bad” place, per se. It just seems so…repetitive. And sometimes I find myself really wondering, “Lord, am I doing anything of any real, lasting value?” I love adventure, I love living on the edge of faith, I love seeing God do what only He can do. I know, I know…raising children and being “busy at home” is indeed of lasting value, and I certainly don’t mean to suggest that any one calling is more or less significant than another. Remember, I’m just trying to describe where I am, not necessarily make any judgments on it. To say it as simply and plainly as I can, God has placed some dreams in our hearts, and I just don’t see how or when they are ever going to come to pass. And I’m just a bit weary of the waiting and wondering.

 As I was talking with Him, I made the remark that I don’t expect nor do I want to necessarily be on the mountain top all the time. Immediately, I pictured in my mind some recent hikes I had taken with my family, up the sides of mountains and back down to the valleys. And I thought of how difficult it was, at times, to get to the top. I remembered the incredible views, but also the reality that I couldn’t stay there – that it was good and necessary to go back to the valley. And I remembered how beautiful it ALL was. I remembered the drives to the different places we had gone – and the beautiful flat places of abundance, where farmers awaited their harvests or the small, quaint communities of people – people just like me.

 And I just felt in that deep place – that place that only God can somehow mysteriously reach – that He was showing me in my mind’s eye that ALL places are good. They are all so very different. There is different vegetation in each place; each has different perspectives, different things that can be done. And no one place is to be exalted above another. Every single one is critical to the whole.

And so it is with our lives. We are on journeys, and our journeys are going to take us to mountain tops sometimes – sometimes through valleys. We will have to endure through the long, flat places – sometimes full of fruit, sometimes hot and dry and seemingly barren. But all are good. All are to be embraced. And through all those places, no matter how long we may find ourselves camped out in one or the other, our God is present with us and He is faithful! He is working out His purposes, and we are called to trust in Him and to follow Him, full of faith and expectancy.

 So, here I am. I’m doing today pretty much what I do every day. And I’m still waiting on God to show us what is next and when. But, I will wait with assurance and trust – and, by His grace, I will consider it all a joy.

1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.

Are you doing what God made you good at or are you trying to do everything? We can apply this to evangelism as well. If you think it is your personal assignment to reach the whole world, you will probably reach no one. The job is simply too diverse and overwhelming for me to even wrap my mind around. God created me to reach the people around me. He has equipped me and placed me here and now for that reason.

That is what Oikos means. Literally, it is your household and more. It includes people you do life with, friends, coworkers, family, etc. Some would suggest that there are about 8-15 people in your oikos. Do you know who they are? Who are the people that God has strategically placed in your life, in your circle of influence? He custom made you to have an impact on their eternity.

Go do what God created you for.

Scripture holds a different view. First, debt is not a place for children of the King.

Proverbs 22:7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

As His children, we are to be enslaved to no one. When Jesus sets us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36). The reality is many of God’s children are in debt. What now? How do we handle that? Again, we are children of the King. When you enter into a lending agreement, you are making a promise to pay it back. Our Father keeps His promises. We, as His children, must follow suit.

Psalm 37:21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;

Can bankruptcy be used as a financial tool? Can you use it to buy a little time? I can’t answer for every situation. What I can suggest is that you work with the lender. You have made a promise to him. Bankruptcy can get you off the hook in the eyes of the law, but if you wear the name of Christ, you must represent the Family. You represent the God of kept promises. Even if the law says you don’t owe it any more, the truth is, you borrowed money on the promise that you will pay it back.

Hebrews 12:14  Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy…

Make every effort.

It is finished. These were the last words of Jesus on the cross. What is finished?

• The nightmare of the crucifixion – Jesus had survived the most horrific day in all of history. The agony and humiliation of the cross were behind Him.
• His ministry on earth as a human – Jesus ministry was certainly not over, but His ministry in the constraints of a human body were finished. From here on out, He would minister in His glorified, resurrection, eternal body.
• Religion – The religion of the Law was finished. No more ritualistic attempts at being good enough for God. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice and as such His righteousness is imputed on us. We are good enough when we are sharing His righteousness.
• His life – Jesus was physically born of a virgin. He was fully human and living the human experience. He was now physically dying.

A secondary but common meaning of the word tetelestai was “Paid in full.” What an image. Jesus paid the debt for our sin. His act on the cross is sufficient to pay the due penalty for our sin. One day, all who follow Jesus as Lord and Savior will stand before the throne of God. We will owe a debt in keeping with our sin. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). In that glorious court room of the One True God, Jesus will stand at our side and say, “Tetelestai… paid in full.”

Celebrate Easter!

But God brought the hammer down on me a few years ago. I was reading a set of books…one called Why I am Not a Calvinist and its counter, Why I am Not an Arminian. He simply said to me: “You have lost sight of Jesus and have made an idol out of theology.” It was one of the clearest things He has ever said to me…I’ll never forget where I was sitting and how I responded: I fell to my knees, repented and begged His forgiveness. And I haven’t touched the books since.

Until yesterday. A dear friend of mine has found herself right smack dab in the middle of one of, if not, THE most controversial theological debate: the doctrine of election (predestination). She is wrestling through some seemingly conflicting passages of Scripture and finding herself more confused than ever. (I underlined “seemingly” because nothing in Scripture contradicts anything else in Scripture. It was all perfectly inspired by the Holy Spirit! See 2 Timothy 3:16)

Ever been there? It’s a tough place to be. If you’re at all like my friend and me, we don’t quickly settle for easy answers or unclear conclusions. But as I sat outside reading those books that have been collecting dust on my shelf for the past 4 years, I realized that God has done a life-changing work in me. No longer do I lose sleep over subjects like the doctrine of election (I used to!). No longer do I long to go to seminary (NOT that going to seminary is a bad thing!) No longer do I feel this insatiable need to debate “my side” of Biblical interpretation. No longer do I take pride if I’m right…nor am I afraid of being wrong. No longer do I look at those who disagree with me as the “other” ones. I marveled at and thanked God for His sanctifying work in me!

And then I cried. I’m convinced that a significant chunk of the Church has made an idol out of theology. We’ve allowed division to rule, rather than our unity in Christ and Christ alone. Right theology isn’t going to save one single soul. Christ and Christ crucified is to be our banner. Our foundation. Our hope. Our joy. Our treasure. It is because of Jesus’ righteousness alone that I can look forward to an eternity with Him. There are going to be Arminians in heaven! Halleluiah! There are going to be Calvinists in heaven!! Praise the Lord!! There are going to be Pentecostals, Methodists, Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians…Jews, Gentiles, rich, poor, male, female…(gasp)…there are going be to sinners there! Sinners, saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. And do you know what we’ll all have in common (besides the fact that we put our faith in Christ for salvation)? We’ll all realize that NONE of us had a corner-market on theology! “Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Ps.92:5/Rms.11:33).

Now THAT is Good News!!! Amen?!

So, I still read commentaries. And I can still have worship experiences while doing so. But I rest in the unchanging love and grace of my Savior, Jesus Christ. And I just don’t feel the need to debate subjects that I’m convinced we’ll never all agree on. If the Church put all the energy it’s spent debating theology into simply, but radically loving people in Jesus’ Name, this world would be a different place.

Theology can’t save OR love me…only Jesus can!!

         “Peter followed at a safe distance…”

           Just let that sink in for a moment.

 I don’t know what kinds of feelings or thoughts those words stir in you, but for me, I am incredibly convicted and challenged by them. How many times have I wanted to play it safe when it comes to following Christ? How many times have I been too bound up by my own pride or fear or insecurities to boldly walk in to the darkness and proclaim light and life in Jesus’ Name? How many times have I been tempted to “hedge my bets” just in case things didn’t quite work out the way I hoped/believed they would? How many times have I ignored those inner promptings from the Holy Spirit, because they required risk and sacrifice on my part? How many times have I kept my mouth shut, because I didn’t want to rock the boat or possibly offend someone? How many times have I tried to follow Christ “at a safe distance?”

 DOES ANYONE ELSE EVER WANT TO SCREAM BECAUSE THEIR LIVES ARE SO “SAFE?!” After the rooster crowed twice, Peterson simply wrote that Peter “collapsed in tears.” I have to confess that I did the same thing as I allowed the Holy Spirit to reveal to me just how often I have done exactly as Peter did.

 O, God, forgive me!! I don’t want to be safe, Lord! NOT if it means that I let You down when it matters most! O, God, please give me courage. Please increase my faith. Please take every fiber of my being to make it surrendered and obedient to You, no matter what, no matter where, no matter how. I want to be right on Your heels, Jesus! That is the safest place for me to be.

 How about you? Where or how in your life are you “following Jesus at a safe distance?” We will never live the abundant lives Christ died to bring us if we only ever play it safe.

 Although it’s looking at “safe” from a slightly different angle, I can’t help but remember Mr. Beaver’s description of Aslan in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

 Hmm…so, maybe following on Christ’s heels won’t be “safe” but it will be good!!

I will be preaching on Acts 1:4-11. My desire is to encourage them with the idea that the Holy Spirit WILL grant them power and He WILL reach the ends of the earth. It is God’s desire for us to be on mission globally and it is by His power alone that we will accomplish the mission of the Church. By the way, Jesus delivered this mission to the church in Acts of which we are a part. The Acts church is the Christian church that operates under the power and authority of the Holy Spirit.

Although the task of reaching the world seems overwhelming at times, it is the desire of the Almighty God that we do so and it is His power available to us. That is a life-changing combination.

“The light that shines the farthest will shine the brightest at home.”

-Dr. Oswald J. Smith

When you aim to shine the light of Jesus to the ends of the earth, you are bound to feel the heat at home!