How are Your Eyes?

"The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.

"But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

                        Matthew 6:22-24 NASB

It is a fact that you cannot focus on two different things at once. If your eyes are focused on one object the rest of the things in a room are not as sharp, and if far enough apart, not even in view. 

Jesus uses this to make a point. Just as our eyes in the natural cannot focus on two separate things at the same time, likewise, our focus spiritually cannot be on two objects simultaneously either. That is why He states, "You cannot serve two masters."

God demands our full allegiance, therefore we must look to Him with singleness of purpose. In Hebrews 12:1-2 the Christian life is portrayed as a runner who eliminates everything that hinders him so that he has the endurance to finish the race. Not only do we need to cast of sin and every thing that might slow us down, but our eyes must be fixed firmly upon Jesus.

The NASB 2020 puts it like this,

Looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

And the Amplified version states,

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus...

The idea is to have a single eye to the glory of God. Our eyes, Spiritually speaking, must be turned away from every distracting thing, and placed on Christ alone. Just like the old hymn reads, 

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Look full in his wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

In the light of his glory and grace."

Our hearts go out to what we love; what we are devoted to. We are told to set our minds (KJV uses the term affections) on things above.

If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

This in not merely a mental exercise where we think about heavenly things all day, but a going after these things, drawn by a passion for them, born out of an ultimate passion for Jesus Himself. Where once we were consumed by earthly pursuits, now as those who have "died" to living for self and sin, and have been raised up by the quickening of the Holy Spirit, we now have new life with new passions and pursuits, all flowing out of a devotion to Jesus Christ.

The apostle Paul seemed to be a fairly busy man, missionary trips, planting churches, writing scriptures, among other things. The truth is all of this flowed out of one thing, the pursuit of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

                       Philippians 3:13-14 ESV

This is how "seeking first the kingdom of God" should look. Paul was not "beating the air" with a lot of activities, but was disciplined, focused, driven on by a love for Jesus, and a desire to someday stand before Him (1 Cor 9:26). In his pursuit, missionary trips were taken, churches were planted, scriptures were written, along with hardship and suffering, but even this he counted as joy in serving Christ. Paul's focus was on Christ. He didn't dwell in past victories or failures, but always pushed forward. How many of us are defeated by failure? And even more subtle than that, the temptation to relish in the mountain top experiences can sidetrack our pursuit of God as well. We can easily fall into a comfortable complacency if we are not constantly looking forward to the prize. We must move on, the race isn't over yet.

So how are your eyes? How is your focus? The image of Jesus should be sharp and clear, everything else should be fading into the background. If this is not the case for you, it's time to repent, and fix your eyes upon Jesus once again. There is a race to finish, and we need to stay focused.

Thorny Ground

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 

                                   Luke 21:34 KJV

Jesus taught with many parables. Perhaps one that is very familiar to us is that of the sower, sowing seed, with it falling upon various types of soil (see Matt 13:1-23).

While we can glean much from identifying the four types of soil Jesus used in this parable, I would mainly like to stick to that of the thorny ground in this post.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns spring up, and choked them.

                                    Matthew 13:7 KJV

The seed is the word, and Jesus explains the thorny ground in verse 22.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hearth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

                                Matthew 13:22 KJV 

We are expected to receive the word and allow it to shape and mold our lives. The word of God should transform us from the inside out, into the likeness of Christ. It should produce a harvest of fruit in our lives. 

What happens in a garden when weeds are allowed to grow up with the sprouting seeds that were carefully planted just a few weeks earlier?  Those of us who have gardened know that if the weeds are not pulled up, the plants we are expecting to produce a crop will not make it. The weeds will take the water and nutrients out of the soil, block the sun, and ultimately our harvest will be very disappointing.

Just as this is true in the natural world, it is true also in the spiritual. Jesus explains it well in Matthew 6:19-34.

Starting with our "treasures", where are we laying them up? Are we working towards the heavenly kingdom, storing our treasures there for eternity, or are we storing up possessions here on earth? Where our treasures are, is where our hearts are.

People often fool themselves, thinking that this thing, or that hobby, doesn't have my heart, while in reality it does. What consumes our time, money, talents, etc? Suppose a man has a wife whom he says he loves. He works a 40 hour week, stops by the bar for a drink with friends on his way home, after supper turns on the football game, falls asleep in his chair until midnight. He does this several times a week. Weekends are spent with the "guys." Fishing, golf, and hunting consume most of the weekend. Sure, he does spend some time with his wife, but can he honestly say that she has his heart? Who or what really does hold his affection?

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

                                Matthew 6:24 KJV

That is what Jesus says about our treasure. What about the cares and necessities of life? If we read on in Matthew, Jesus tells us not to worry about food and clothing. These are the things, He tells us, that the "Gentiles" (the world) eagerly seek after. Our focus, our priority, is to seek His kingdom and righteousness. He will take care of us, making sure that our needs are met.

What does that tell us about the cares of life? It is so easy to be consumed by them, losing our focus on what really matters. Just like treasures that steal our hearts, the cares of life can just as easily take our hearts as well. Stress and worry are signs that our hearts are in the wrong place. If one follows the context of Jesus' teaching here we see that He links our treasures to our hearts, the focus of our "eye" to serving one master only, and then says, "Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" These things can become our masters too according to Jesus.

Too many of us are working for nothing more than to make ends meet. Does Jesus forbid work? No, I don't believe that for a minute. However, our focus still must be on the advancement of His kingdom. That is our main objective in life as Christians. We have to eat, we need clothing, and jobs provide the necessary income to purchase these things. Yet, if we let our need for the basics of life become our pursuit, we are again trying to serve two masters. This is the danger of thorny ground. The word gets choked out every time.

Jesus, in speaking about the last days leading up to His return, warns against becoming caught up with loose living, and being weighed down with the cares of life. The day of the LORD will come like a trap on all who are not carefully watching for it (Luke 21:34). To be consumed by these things flies out of a heart of unbelief. Jesus, once while teaching about prayer, asks, " When the Son of man returns, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

Instead of anxiety, we are to take our needs to God in prayer, leaving them there in God's hands (Philippians 4:6-7). 

Then we read this warning in Hebrews 6:7-8,

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God.

But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and us nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

This steps on toes, and I am stepping on mine also. It is so easy to get caught up in either the pursuit of things, or the cares of life. Just like a farmer who fertilizes and waters his field expects a good yield, so too God expects us to bear much fruit for Him. He blesses us and gives us whatever we need, so how can we justify it when all He gets from us is thorns and thistles? 

Jeremiah the prophet's ministery to the southern kingdom of Judah began just before, and continued during the early years of the Babylonian captivity. His message was primarily that of impending judgement, however we do see a call to repentance that is just as relevant for us today,

For this saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up the fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

                              Jeremiah 4:3-4 KJV

To repent is to return to the LORD. It involves putting away our abominations (Jeremiah 4:1). This is painful, and we must be thorough. As someone who has had a garden, and then let it go, I can relate to breaking it up so it is useful again. It's not easy to run that tiller through that hard packed ground, roots and weeds wrapping themselves around the tines.

Fallow ground is soil that has been allowed to lie dormant over time. It becomes overgrown, with roots tangled up below the surface. It needs to be broken up with a plow if it is to be useful again. All those weeds have to go, roots and all.

Just like the parable of the sower, Jeremiah uses the figure of thorny, fallow ground to make a spiritual point. Many Christians today slowly neglect things in their lives over time. Often, without realizing it, they have been caught up with the cares of life and the pursuit of money or possessions. Their once soft hearts have become hard and unyielding. This fallow ground of the heart must be deeply plowed. The soil must be turned up and the thorns and weeds must be thoroughly pulled up. All of it must go so that we have a soft, tender heart once again. Then when the word of the kingdom is sown it has a chance to grow and mature into a bountiful harvest. It is not easy work. The things that steal our hearts away from Jesus have to be pulled up by the roots. This is repentance, to cut out sin, to turn away from it, and return to Jesus, with a heart once again devoted to Him.

To Dwell in the Presence of God.

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor.

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

                                   Psalm 15:1-5 KJV 

Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand  in his holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

                                   Psalm 24:3-6 KJV 

Obedience in the presence of almighty God go hand in hand. This can be seen in the example of Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, as priests. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them. God has an eternal standard for all who would approach Him. God will be sanctified or shown as Holy in all who would draw near to Him. He must be glorified before men (see Leviticus 10:1-3).

Again, when Moses struck the rock in anger, he, along with his brother Aaron, were denied entry into the land of promise. Why? Because they did not treat the LORD as holy in front of the congregation of Israel. God was sanctified in the midst of Israel now, through Judgement. That was a steep price to pay for a moment of anger (see Numbers 20:1-13).

This is not an Old Testament thing, where God is an angry God, but now under the New Testament he is living and forgiving. Just ask Ananias and Sapphira, who were struck dead when confronted by Peter for their hypocrisy. This had a cleansing,  purifying effect upon the early Church, as "great fear came upon the Church" (Acts 5:1-11).

Jesus tells us that it is the pure in heart who will see God (Matt 5:8). We fool ourselves if we think that we can enjoy intimate fellowship with the Holy God, while indulging our sinful desires.

Yet many professing believers, who were once passionately pursuing Jesus, have grown cold. They are unaware that the presence of God is absent from their lives. It's like the proverbial frog in the kettle of water. The water heated up slowly, the frog unaware, until it was boiling. A backsliding Christian grows colder and colder, until like Sampson, one day wakes up to the realization that God has left them ( see Judges 16:1-20).

There is a remedy however. When one has come to the realization of their backslidden condition, the only thing one can, and must do is to repent and return to God. 

Evan Roberts, the man mightily used by God during the Welsh revival of 1904-05, consistently emphasized these four points. 

1. Confess all known sin.

     Your past sins that remain           unconfessed must be dealt with.       Confess them to God, and forsake them. Confess them to those you have wronged, and do what is in your power to make it right.

2. Prompt obedience to the leading of the Spirit.

     Obedience must be prompt. To hold back our obedience to the promoting of the Holy Spirit is to grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), and to quench the Spirit (1 Thess 5:19). In Acts 5:32 we read that the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey Him.

3. Get rid of all doubtful habits.

     Are there things in your life that you are uncertain of? Are you doing things that you are not sure if they are right or wrong? Remove them from your life. There are actions that are not specifically addressed in scripture. Our conscience then becomes our guide. Romans 14 explains this. We must not allow our liberty to become an occasion to cause a brother to stumble (Romans 14:13-15). We also must be convinced in our own mind, and abide by our conviction, because to act contrary to this is to sin, because our actions do not flow out of faith (Romans 14:20-24).

4. Confess Christ openly.

     If we desire the presence of Christ in our lives we must openly confess Him before men. If we are ashamed of Him in this sinful world; if we deny Him, He will deny us before the angels of God. The Holy Spirit comes to empower us to be witnesses. As above, we quench the Spirit when we do not obey Him. How can one expect the presence of God while being ashamed of Him?

During this time period Wales was transformed. A sleeping Church was wakened, and while there is no exact count, they agree that well  over 100,000 souls were saved in this move of God. Bars were shut down, Judges had no cases to try in court. The mules used in the coal mines had to be retrained. They were used to being cursed at. They didn't know what to do now that the miners' language had been cleaned up. This is what happens when God draws near, and it begins with one individual who seeks after Him.

As we read above in Psalm 24:4-6, it is the one who has clean hands and a pure heart who receives the blessing from the LORD. This is the generation, or people who seek after Him. In a allusion to the story of Jacob, who wrestled with the LORD until the break of day, we also must tenaciously go after God with the same attitude, "I will not let you go until you bless me!"

The term "selah" at the end of this verse literally means "stop and think about that "

The story of Jacob does not start well. He deceives his Father and steals the birthright and blessing from his brother Esau. Forced to flee, he ends up working for his uncle Laban, who takes advantage of him, just like Jacob once took advantage of others.

God was with Jacob however, and when Jacob finally leaves Laban to return to back to Isaac, his father, he was a different man. Fearing Esau, he prays for God to deliver him. This is the point where he wrestles with a man, who turns out to be the LORD, and prevails (see Genesis 32:1-30).

Are we like that? Is our hunger for the presence of the LORD such that we can also say, "I will not let you go until you bless me." And is it temporal blessing that we seek, no matter how important that may be, or is it God Himself who we desperately desire?

.

Jars of Clay

My wife and I are learning to make pottery. We have dug clay out of our backyard, tried to fashion it into various objects, and then fired it.

After firing our pottery we let it cool, then took it out of fire pit. It looked good, felt solid, it even "rang" as we tapped on it (well sort of). It seemed pretty good until we attempted to clean it up some.

When my wife began to wash the ashes off, the pottery began to crumble. It could not hold up, and in the end was basically worthless. Upon further investigation we discovered that although we had fired it, we had not reached the necessary temperature. If we want to make useful pottery, we need to greatly increase the heat during the firing process.

There is a spiritual application that we can make from this also. You see, we are jars made of clay containing the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6-7). This is so that God gets the glory and not us. But what good is it if we are unfired and ready to crumble? 

You may say that God uses imperfect people, and I totally agree. However, God takes these imperfect people and makes them who and what He desires them to be. This involves the firing process. He must refine us if He is to use us. Remember Peter? He was ready and willing to die with Jesus, or so he thought. He crumbled in a moment of weakness, all of his zeal was forgotten.

Trials tend to purify us. They refine us. Things deep down inside of us, things we don't realize we are capable of, tend to come up to the surface when under pressure. It is in times of testing that we learn how to lean upon God, to let Him cleanse us to strengthen us, to deliver us. 

 

The testing of our faith produces endurance (James 1:3-4). Like Peter, we might fail, but next time we know ahead of time and find victory. Over time that victory becomes a way of life for us. That is endurance, a maturing process. So often the trial comes and we try to run from it. Trials are not fun. But here we see that we should let it be an opportunity to learn endurance.

Self confidence is a major detriment to the Christian life. Paul the apostle writes of affliction so severe, so beyond his strength, that he despaired of life itself. What was the purpose? To trust in God, instead of himself (2 Cor 1:8-9). I often wonder if some of the problems I go through have this as their purpose. It is hard to let go and leave everything in God's hands. It's easy to say when things are going good, but hard to do in the middle of the storm.

A few chapters later Paul calls these trials "momentary light affliction". The ultimate result of overcoming through our trials is an unimaginable weight of glory. We are being prepared for eternity. All that we face now is temporary. Paul who faced tremendous trials learned to look at the eternal, the unseen future (2 Cor 4:17-18). 

Peter also has this in mind when he exhorts his readers to stand up under trials. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:6-9 NASB).

 God is preparing us for eternity with Him. It is through much tribulation that we enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). 

It is so tempting to desire an easy and carefree life. Who wants trials and troubles? Our flesh desires the easy way. But what happens when a crisis overtakes us and our faith has never been exercised? What happens when we appear before Jesus and discover our faith is a mere intellectual dead faith? 

In Hebrews we read that God disciplines those He loves so that they may share His holiness. On the flip side, those who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord are illegitimate children (Hebrews 12:5-11). 

It is far better now to learn to trust in God through the storm, to let Him shape and mold us for His purpose and glory. Someday it will all be worth it, as we see Jesus face to face.

Focus

     If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3 ESV)

     I have run across a saying that goes something like this. "He is so heavenly minded, that he is of no earthly good." Immediately we think of an individual with his or her head in the clouds, dreamily going through life with heavenly thoughts, but unable to function much in the everyday affairs of life. But is this saying biblical? 

     The passage quoted above mentions several important aspects of the Christian life. First, the Christian has died. When we come to Christ in repentance and faith, we renounce ourselves, our sin and selfishness, and die to it. Paul, in Romans 6:1-13, paints a picture of the believer's uniting with Christ's death through baptism, and consequently uniting with Him in His resurrection, resulting in newness of life. We have forsaken our old life, to live a new one. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin (Romans 6:6-7 ESV).

     Paul writes that he has been crucified with Christ (Gal 2:20). As a result, it is no longer he who lives, but by faith, Christ lives in him. Jesus tells us that one must renounce all to become His disciple (Luke 14:33), he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him. We must lose our lives for Christ's sake (Matt 16:24-26). 

     To tell the truth, I often find myself caught up with earthly affairs. I worry about making ends meet. I can get caught up with my job, or hobbies. I'm sure many of us can relate to this. Life can be hard at times, and it is so easy to let our focus settle there. But what does Jesus say? He tells us to make His kingdom our priority! He knows our needs, and tells us not to worry, to be consumed by them. These are the things we need, clothing, food, the essentials of life. These are also the things the world is consumed with (Matt 6:25-33). He encourages us to pursue His interests, not ours, and what we need, He will provide.

     Now I am not saying we must all quit our jobs and go sit on a rooftop somewhere waiting for God to do something. We all have gifts and callings that God has given us, and we must walk in them. It might mean a radical change of direction in our lives. At the very least our focus must change. We are not our own, we have been purchased by Jesus Christ, to live for His glory (1 Cor 6:19-20). How will that fact affect my job choices, my interests, my pursuits? Can I glorify God in these areas of my life, or must I make a change? One who has died in this sense of the word has given up himself.

     We have also been made alive in Christ Jesus. Not only have we died, but now, as Jesus has been raised from the dead, so we also have been raised up to newness of life (Romans 6:4).

     Newness of life entails everything of one's life. We have renounced all for the sake of Christ, so now we use all for the glory of God. To set our minds on the things above means to focus on the interests of Christ. It means that we are consumed by the advancement of His kingdom. It is our priority. The things that hinder, that get in the way, must go. We cannot serve two masters, one or the other must go. You can only focus on one thing in the natural, and so it is in the spiritual as well (Matt 6:22-24). We must ever be careful to keep the things of eternity in sharp focus.

     Let us have the same attitude as that of Paul, who counted all things loss for the sake of Christ, who forgot the former things to press on towards the goal (Phil 3:8-15). He said he did one thing (verse 13). We know that Paul traveled as an Apostle planting churches and preaching the gospel. He wrote under inspiration a large portion of the New Testament. He suffered persecution and stood before kings. He did many things, but his life with all of its experiences and accomplishments flowed out of one thing. Paul was passionate for Jesus Christ. He had renounced all, he had been crucified with Christ, and was merely living out the life of Christ by faith.

      

      

 

Longing for God.

      Throughout the scriptures we find instances of individuals with a hunger for God. Read David's words, "One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple" (Psalm 27:4) It is the presence of the LORD that David desires above all things, and that which he determines to seek. 

     Consider the longing for God portrayed in verses like these,

     As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1-2)

     O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. ( Psalm 63:1-2)

     How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. (Psalm 84:1-2)

     A common theme in these verses is that of the tabernacle. It was here under the old covenant, that the presence of God "tabernacled", or dwelled. These psalms tell of instances such as David's flight from king Saul, or his fleeing from Absalom, where access to the tabernacle was impossible. Later on it was a similar thing during the Babylonian captivity when the temple was destroyed and the nation was carried away, far from the sacrifices and offerings prescribed in the law. Part of Daniel's prayer of repentance (Daniel 9:1-19), is a plea for God to shine His face once more upon His sanctuary that lies desolate (Daniel 9:17).

     Ultimately, God does not live in man made temples (Isaiah 66:1-2), but dwells within those who are surrendered to Him. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). We can carry His presence with us no matter what we face in life. And, like the examples old the old covenant saints, we are called to be strangers and aliens on this earth (Heb 11:9-10, 13-16).  To live this way, seeking nothing in this world, but looking to that which is to come should sharpen our hunger, increase our thirst, our longings after God. We are warned not to lay up material treasures in this life, but rather treasure in heaven. To pursue material things, and yet attempt to serve God is an impossibility. One pursuit must eliminate the other (see Matthew 6:19-33).  Much like a child "spoiling" their supper by sneaking an afternoon snack, we too can destroy our hunger for God by focusing on material things. 

     Picture a husband and wife, who through some circumstance find themselves absent from each other. If they are truly in love, they will long for each other, counting the days until they are reunited. Every letter, phone call, message, will be precious, giving them encouragement and hope until they see each other once again. What about our relationship with Christ? We are in this world, absent from His physical presence. It is true that by the Spirit we have fellowship with Him now. We can sense in a very real way His presence in our lives, but someday we will see Him face to face. The bible states that someday Jesus will return for those who love His appearing (2 Tim 4:8), and for those who eagerly await Him (Hebrews 9:28). 

     So do we long for His appearing like a wife longing for her husband to return from an extended trip? Are we eagerly awaiting His return? I do not mean in some abstract way, such as agreeing to the fact of Jesus' return someday and how wonderful it will be, but an actual longing for Him, an ardent desire to see Him face to face.

     I fear so many of us are going through life busily wrapped up in our day to day lives. Our jobs, hobbies, pursuits and possessions are taking up the space in our lives, and "spoiling our spiritual hunger for Jesus. Can we say with an honest heart that we are eagerly awaiting Him, longing for His second coming? Do our hearts and flesh cry out for the living God? Can we agree with the sons of Korah that a day in thy courts is better than a thousand (Psalm 84:10)? Or, has life treated us so well that we are no longer strangers here, but have settled in?  

     

Is God Trying to Get Our Attention?

     Look around the world today and you will see upheaval. There is a worldwide pandemic followed by worldwide lock downs to slow the pandemic. Add to this the perceived fear of government overreach in lock downs and other mandated actions. Of course all of this has devastating effects on jobs and the economies of almost every nation on earth at this time. People who were already facing poverty and hunger are now in an even tighter corner.

      Then there is the unrest. Riots and protests have sprung up throughout the world as well. Almost every major city in the U.S. has experienced protests, vandalism, police brutality, and police inaction, creating more confusion and more fear.

     We are seeing disasters of epic proportions, both natural and man made. This creates more hardship, and more unrest. The explosion in Beirut Lebanon has further exasperated an already dire situation for the Lebanese people. Other nations are suffering the effects of brutal civil wars, genocide, and the resulting displacement of millions of refugees. And droughts and famines, earthquakes, and on and on.  For me, it is numbing at times to see everything happening all at once.

     But there is hope....

     At night my soul longs for you, indeed my spirit within me seeks you diligently; for when the earth experiences your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9 NASB).

     It is through the hard times that God can get our attentions. I heard of a survey taken during the beginning of the Covid pandemic where the question was proposed as to what the pandemic could mean. 40% of the people questioned believed that God was giving us a wake up call. It was time to get right with Him. This was a general sampling of people of all walks of life. Now are all these things judgments from God? I cannot answer that. I do not know, but I do know that God in His mercy will take the hardships we face, and use them to get our attention. That's what happened to me. It took a personal crisis in my life to get me to surrender my life to Jesus Christ. I was an "inoculated christian", one who had enough religion to think I was all right, but not enough to save me.

     I hear that refugees around the world are wide open to the gospel at this time. They have seen that their religion is empty, and there must be another way. I have seen reports of multitudes in several countries falling on their knees in repentance and coming to faith in the Lord Jesus during these hard times. My heart is often overwhelmed with the craziness of these times, and yet I rejoice to see God at work in the hearts and lives of the people He loves and gave His Son to save. We have before us wonderful opportunities to reach otherwise unreachable people, and that gives me hope.