Category Archives: Just a Thought

Several years ago, during a trip to China, I had the privilege of standing on the Great Wall.  It was a fantastic sight and experience that I will never forget.  The majority of the existing wall was built during the almost 300-year reign of the Ming Dynasty.  For over 2000 years (beginning nearly 800 years before Christ) the wall would be repaired, rebuilt, and improved.  Though it was not constructed using the same means as the Great Wall of China, the wall around Jerusalem that was restored under the guidance of Nehemiah was erected for the same reasons: protection and security.

What was so crucial that Nehemiah felt the need to construct such a wall?  We see a glimpse of this in Nehemiah 1:3.  Without the wall, the city was vulnerable to the outside world and all of its influences; this was shameful not only to the people of God but the way it represented the only true and living God. There was no protection from the outside world.  What had placed them in this situation?  They allowed the sinful decay of the world to penetrate the hearts and souls of God’s people.  The lack of a wall protecting the city was a representation of their lack of spiritual defense.

People have always desired to keep certain things out of their lives.  Things that would or could harm them were held away by some form of defense.  They were concerned for the welfare of themselves, their friends, and their family.  I share these two accounts with you to ask you this: If you have been redeemed by Jesus Christ, what are you doing to keep the sinful decay of the world out of your life?  Or, is it important to you?  Satan paints sin in virtues colors to make it seem acceptable.  So, how do you recognize it?

I am not suggesting that you become a monk or a nun and hide from the world.  We are to be in the world, but we must make sure we are taking steps to stand firm in what is righteous and holy.  This is what Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 2:22, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  Do you have an awareness and defense that allows you to pursue the purity of God?  We should continually evaluate our actions by determining if they represent the purity of God and help us in the pursuit of displaying his glory.  Asking this question may be a stone in your wall of defense.

There are moments in our history and in recent days that the church has chosen a verse to serve as a mantra.  You can find these verses on blankets, wall art, and coffee cups.  And now, with the medium of Facebook, they can be seen repeatedly on your newsfeed.  2 Chronicles 7:14 is one that is often used and with the things happening in communities through the nation, this verse has become more prevalent.  However, let’s look at verse 13 as well.  “If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the grasshopper to consume the land, or if I send pestilence on My people, ¹⁴and My people who are called by My name humble themselves, pray and seek My face, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

Our first question: Who are my people?  In 2 Chronicles, this was the nation of Israel.  They were God’s chosen people.  However, today God’s people are all those who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  We use church jargon and say that it’s everyone that is saved or we call them believers.  So, we must understand that if we apply this to our current time, it is for the church and not for America as a whole.  We learn in verse 13 that the disobedience of God’s people (currently the church) brought on drought, famine, and pestilence.  These things were done so that the Israelites would turn from their wicked ways, back to God.

Our second question: What are my people supposed to do?  The quick answer is –  confess their sin and repent.  If their current situation was brought about by turning away from God, they must turn back to him for it to be corrected.  God’s people knew him, turned away from him, and were now being told to return to him.

Our third question: What will God do?  He will forgive their sin and remove the consequences that are wreaking havoc on their land.  The drought will be over, the famine will end, and pestilence will be removed.  He will lift his partial judgment from his people.

So what does this mean for us?  The church, as God’s people, should be focused on the confession of and repentance from our sin.  We should seek God and turn from our wicked ways.  This is a call to repentance for the church, not for America.  It begins with the church, and if the church does this, it will affect our country.

Life has value.  This is true of every life no matter ethnicity, gender, age, or income.  We are plagued by news reports of people that hold a low view in regards to the value of life, and this comes about when we remove the teaching that mankind was made by God and in his image.  Life has value because God is its source.  Remove this truth from our mind, and we see no value in ourselves; remove this truth from society, and we see no value in each other.

Your life has value, and this value is only realized from a biblical perspective.  Genesis 1 tells us that God made mankind in his likeness.  This wasn’t just in a collective sense but as individuals.  We see this individual value expressed in Psalm 139:13-14, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. . .”  This truth of creation holds for all mankind.  Every life has value.

We get to see this again in re-creation, or salvation.  Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:18 that as believers, we are God’s glorious inheritance.  Did you catch that?  Believers are an inheritance in which God delights and sees the value.  This is why Jesus taught in Luke 15:10, “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Many have taught the angels rejoice, but that is not the case.  The angels observe God rejoicing.  Why?  God rejoices because life has value.  Life has value to God in creation, and he sent Jesus Christ to bring spiritual life to mankind who is dead in sin.

So what does this mean?  Your life has value, and that value is only found in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Many have tried to find their value in other things: being a parent, a profession, in the opposite sex, or in others.  We could produce a lengthy list, but none of these things will allow you to see your real value because they did not make you.  They cannot redeem you, and they do not hold your purpose.  It also means that others have value.  They are created by God, and though they struggle with sin or are different from you, they are just as valuable.

Apply this truth to your life, and you will find your purpose and fulfillment.  Apply this truth to society, and you will be a conduit of grace and mercy to a lost and dying world with the message of Jesus Christ.

“What do you want?”  This question is often modified throughout the year.  It could be used in a grocery store, a restaurant, for an approaching birthday, or at Christmas.  The applications seem almost endless.  Even in church life, we are quickly able to list the things we would like God to do and the things we would like to happen.  In our material world we are distracted by material objects and often we neglect the spiritual needs.  In our prayer times, we are often focused on things in this material world and not God.

Is the desire of our heart that God would do things for us or that we would have more of God?  God chose, through the redeeming power of Christ, to reveal himself to sinful humanity.  The purpose of this was to restore a relationship with mankind that would surpass the intimacy God had with humanity in the Garden of Eden.  However, though this is accomplished in Christ, it is not currently completed in our lives.  We will not see the fulfillment of this until Christ returns.  This process is called sanctification, the means by which we are made more like Christ.

An intimate relationship with God should be our desire and the focus of our prayer life. We should long for the most intimate relationship with God as possible, this side of Christ’s return.  Augustine stated it this way, “Alas, it is easy to want things from God and not to want God himself; as though the gift could ever be preferable to the giver.”  We want things from God, but do we want God?  God should be the desire of our hearts.  What do you want?  Let’s look at this one other way.

In the closet at my house, there is a rod and reel that belonged to my grandfather.  I remember spending countless hours on the lake with him.  We would fish from morning to evening surviving on Vienna Sausages and Dr. Pepper (though Coca-Cola was his preferred drink).  Every time I look at or use that rod and reel, it brings back memories.  He passed away a few years ago.  Though I treasure that item, I would rather be able to be with him.  It was a great gift, but it is not as precious as the giver.

Are you focused on the gifts of God or God himself?  Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing knowledge of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”  My prayer is that God would create a desire in your heart for him and him alone.

Sometimes a Bible verse needs a little more explanation before we quote it to people.  This is the case with Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  It has been used several times and on several cards that have been handed to graduates.  Does this verse apply to God’s people today?   Yes, but to understand its truth for today, we must understand the circumstances in which it was given.

This promise was given to God’s chosen people, and its fulfillment was not solely based on material possessions or success.  The idea of welfare and care was explicitly related to God’s presence among his people.  Remember, Israel was given into the hands of Babylon and were under oppressive rule.  This situation was brought on by their disobedience and rebellion from God.  In God’s plan, the exile had taken place to draw his people back to him and was an exercise of his grace and mercy, though it did not seem like it at the time.  God used this circumstance to bring about his plan in their lives.  His plan was for his people to call upon him and seek his face.

So how do we properly use this verse today?  First, we must understand the hope that God has for an individual is only acquired through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The gospel is the means by which God has chosen to graft the Gentiles into this promise.  He has plans of hope for his children, but apart from Christ, we are children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) with no hope.  Second, as a child of God, this statement does not mean his children will prosper and be successful.  The chief blessing in a believer’s life is being drawn near to God through confession and repentance.

This verse is not applicable to the lost, because it is only accessed through a covenant relationship with God – in Christ.  Also, we must not forget that the substance of this verse is talking about God’s people following his commandments and drawing near to him.  The word of hope that we have for graduates is that if they will seek God with all their heart and lean not on their own understanding, they will reap the joy of knowing their purpose and value.  This intimate knowledge of God through Christ is our ultimate hope.  This is the way we know true success and prosperity, delighting in God and him delighting in us.