ARE YOU READY TO DIE?
“What man can live and not see death, or save himself from the power of the grave?”
Psalm 89:48
This week we mourn the death of three people: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. The odds of three American icons dying in the same week should seem strange, but really it is more common than we may care to believe. Once the first person passes, I find myself wondering who will be next. But everyone in America knew these three, despite who you were. Ed McMahon brought stars to the stage, and we all wished we were the lucky winner of that big check. Farrah Fawcett was not only Charlie’s Angel, but an American angel who made age seem like a number and not a lifestyle to embrace. And then Michael Jackson, who in my definition, was one of the most talented dancers of my time.
The Bible says that it is appointed to all men to die once (Heb 9:27). The question is, are we ready? When Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they were warned that the consequence would be death (Gen 2:17). Yet tempted with twisted words, they took a bite and their eyes were opened to their nakedness and shame. Were they ready to die? Isaac had no real choice. Abraham his father was obeying God and placed Isaac on the altar to sacrifice him. God intervened and told Abraham not to lay a hand on the child (Gen 22:12). But was Isaac ready to die? Esther laid down her life for her people. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the blazing furnace. Daniel was thrown into a lion’s den. And let us not forget about all the disciples. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs tells us about others being crucified, tortured, burned, cut, beheaded. Were all these followers ready to die?
Are you ready to die? I am not. There is more I want to do in life. The problem is that I am running against the clock. If I cannot stop death and have no power over death itself, then I need to make sure my life is in order. Sure I have personal goals for myself, like visiting every state, traveling to see some of the greatest landmarks built, growing old and even, God willing, getting married again. But right now I am talking about my life in relation to God’s standards. Because of His love for me, Jesus gave up His life to save mine. Was He ready to die, to save a wretch like me? And yet because of His sacrifice for my life, He paved the way so that I can, in some peaceful way, be ready for death.
Do I want to die? No. But I know that when it is time, I will go to Heaven. How can I be so sure? Romans 10:9-10 is my guarantee. “That if you confess with your mouth that ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” We will all die, there is no escape from it. The question to ponder is will we be ready when that time comes. I hope to live a nice full life, but if God saw fit to take me soon, then I would be ready because of the condition of my heart.
I do not know the beliefs and hearts of these three icons; I cannot sit in the judgment of these three. I can only judge my own heart. The same is true for you. Ask yourself right now, am I ready for death? Do you believe in God, and in the sacrifice He made to pave the road of love for us? Maybe you think that your good works or donations will get you into heaven. It will not; the only way is Jesus. Michael cannot dance his way into heaven. Farrah cannot act so well that the truth is not seen. Ed cannot hand Jesus one of those big checks. God looks at our hearts and listens for our confession. Do you believe and have you confessed? If not, then right now I challenge you to accept Christ into your heart.
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
TIMING IS EVERYTHING
“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Est 4:14
I am going to be honest and tell a story from my college days. My junior year I decided I wanted to be a student chaplain. I applied, and began my series of interviews. The first one was a quick, "Why do you want to be a chaplain?" five minute meet and greet with a current chaplain. My second interview included a devotional taught to the guys of a chaplain I was paired up with. This last interview, however, seemed to be the most dreaded as it was done by the men's chaplain and two of the more seasoned chaplains.
There I sat, waiting my turn, not knowing what was about to be asked of me. I was ushered in and the questions began. I was doing well...and then the question I wasn't ready for. "So other than Jesus, who is your favorite character of the Bible?" Paul came to mind, but that would be too common. I wanted something different. Panic started as the three second pause in the room became a three minute pause in my head. "Esther," I said. The men looked at each other, and then at me and questioned, “Why Esther?" Honestly, this is what came out of my mouth. "Because she was HOT!" I was able to redeem myself after the looks and laughs, though, as I then said how she was a key character in the Bible and in showing how God works behind the scenes to save His people. And truth be told, it really is.
Here was Esther, dragged from her uncle Mordecai and required to be part of a royal beauty contest. Her hidden secret was that she was a Jew, so to save her life she was requested by her uncle to tell no one. Esther pleased King Xerxes and won his heart, yet still she did not reveal her nationality (Est 2:19). Haman the Agagite was elevated by the King and all the royal officials paid honor to him. All except for Mordecai. Knowing not that Queen Esther was a Jew, nor a relative of Mordecai, Haman became angry that Mordecai would not bow down and honor him. So Haman approached the King and discussed the Jews and his plot to kill the race. When Mordecai told Esther of Haman’s intent, he challenged her with these words. “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Est 4:13-14).
For the queen to come before the king uncalled upon was death. Yet Esther put her life on the line and dressed in her royal gown, approached Xerxes. Her only request was for dinner with the King and Haman, to which they both agreed. When the king questioned her reasoning for dinner, she told him she would tell him again the next night, if they agreed to dinner again. And so they did; and so the King asked her intent. Esther cried out for the salvation of her people. “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life – this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request” (Est 7:3).
God had placed Esther in her position for just that moment, and used her to save a nation. To this day, Purim is celebrated by the Jews as a memory of what God did. Was Esther’s journey easy? By no means. Being taken from her family, forced to marry by decree, and having to find the strength to not only be a queen, but to stand up for her people in the face of death…that is courage. And yet we are no different. God has called us all to something great, but the question is will we be like Esther and rise to the occasion? God is willing to give us the strength we need to face the kings and the Haman’s in our lives. He was able to give David the strength to stand before Goliath. And he was able to take a runt like Gideon and use him to smite an army when he thought he was no good. So how about us? Are we any different? No. So then, it must be true also of you. Who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?
“And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
Est 4:14
I am going to be honest and tell a story from my college days. My junior year I decided I wanted to be a student chaplain. I applied, and began my series of interviews. The first one was a quick, "Why do you want to be a chaplain?" five minute meet and greet with a current chaplain. My second interview included a devotional taught to the guys of a chaplain I was paired up with. This last interview, however, seemed to be the most dreaded as it was done by the men's chaplain and two of the more seasoned chaplains.
There I sat, waiting my turn, not knowing what was about to be asked of me. I was ushered in and the questions began. I was doing well...and then the question I wasn't ready for. "So other than Jesus, who is your favorite character of the Bible?" Paul came to mind, but that would be too common. I wanted something different. Panic started as the three second pause in the room became a three minute pause in my head. "Esther," I said. The men looked at each other, and then at me and questioned, “Why Esther?" Honestly, this is what came out of my mouth. "Because she was HOT!" I was able to redeem myself after the looks and laughs, though, as I then said how she was a key character in the Bible and in showing how God works behind the scenes to save His people. And truth be told, it really is.
Here was Esther, dragged from her uncle Mordecai and required to be part of a royal beauty contest. Her hidden secret was that she was a Jew, so to save her life she was requested by her uncle to tell no one. Esther pleased King Xerxes and won his heart, yet still she did not reveal her nationality (Est 2:19). Haman the Agagite was elevated by the King and all the royal officials paid honor to him. All except for Mordecai. Knowing not that Queen Esther was a Jew, nor a relative of Mordecai, Haman became angry that Mordecai would not bow down and honor him. So Haman approached the King and discussed the Jews and his plot to kill the race. When Mordecai told Esther of Haman’s intent, he challenged her with these words. “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” (Est 4:13-14).
For the queen to come before the king uncalled upon was death. Yet Esther put her life on the line and dressed in her royal gown, approached Xerxes. Her only request was for dinner with the King and Haman, to which they both agreed. When the king questioned her reasoning for dinner, she told him she would tell him again the next night, if they agreed to dinner again. And so they did; and so the King asked her intent. Esther cried out for the salvation of her people. “If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life – this is my petition. And spare my people – this is my request” (Est 7:3).
God had placed Esther in her position for just that moment, and used her to save a nation. To this day, Purim is celebrated by the Jews as a memory of what God did. Was Esther’s journey easy? By no means. Being taken from her family, forced to marry by decree, and having to find the strength to not only be a queen, but to stand up for her people in the face of death…that is courage. And yet we are no different. God has called us all to something great, but the question is will we be like Esther and rise to the occasion? God is willing to give us the strength we need to face the kings and the Haman’s in our lives. He was able to give David the strength to stand before Goliath. And he was able to take a runt like Gideon and use him to smite an army when he thought he was no good. So how about us? Are we any different? No. So then, it must be true also of you. Who knows but that you have come to your position for such a time as this?
Saturday, June 6, 2009
MAKE UP YOUR MIND
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’”
I Kings 18:21
So the prophet Elijah lays down a challenge to King Ahab. He tells Ahab to gather the people from all over Israel to meet him on Mount Carmel. This includes the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah. And once they are all gathered together, Elijah posses this question. “How long will you waver between two opinions?” You see, the people of Israel were not necessarily trying to rid God from their lives, but were moreso trying to mix a blend of God and other gods into their daily practices. They wanted to combine a worship of both.
Elijah then challenged the prophets of Baal to choose a bull and prepare it, call on the name of Baal, and request that he send fire on the altar. So the prophets spent the morning preparing and calling out, even dancing around their altar, yet no fire came. Elijah taunted them by saying that maybe their god was asleep or traveling, and that they should shout louder and work harder to get his attention. And the prophets did, cutting their bodies, screaming louder and continuing frantic prophesying until evening. When there was still no response, Elijah stepped up to the plate.
Elijah took twelve stones and built an altar, dug a trench around it to hold about five gallons of water, fixed his wood and meat, and then had four jugs of water poured on the altar three times. By all accounts the wood was soaked and should have been too wet to even burn. Then Elijah lifted a simple prayer. “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God.”
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (18:38). God came down in a mighty force and showed himself true. How could those who watched this event deny that God existed? How can you and I, who read this story and the countless others in the Bible, deny God or still try to mix God with sin in our own life. Years before this event, Joshua said pretty much the same words. In Joshua 24:15, we read, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”The challenge here is easy to see. We must choose between God or the gods that steal us from Him. The choice is not so easy, though. Sure, the temptations of life call our name and beckon us to follow and give in. And I admit, I have given in many times myself. But it is time that we make up our mind and consider the words that Joshua and Elijah dared challenge us with. Stop wavering and make up your mind.
“Elijah went before the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.’”
I Kings 18:21
So the prophet Elijah lays down a challenge to King Ahab. He tells Ahab to gather the people from all over Israel to meet him on Mount Carmel. This includes the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah. And once they are all gathered together, Elijah posses this question. “How long will you waver between two opinions?” You see, the people of Israel were not necessarily trying to rid God from their lives, but were moreso trying to mix a blend of God and other gods into their daily practices. They wanted to combine a worship of both.
Elijah then challenged the prophets of Baal to choose a bull and prepare it, call on the name of Baal, and request that he send fire on the altar. So the prophets spent the morning preparing and calling out, even dancing around their altar, yet no fire came. Elijah taunted them by saying that maybe their god was asleep or traveling, and that they should shout louder and work harder to get his attention. And the prophets did, cutting their bodies, screaming louder and continuing frantic prophesying until evening. When there was still no response, Elijah stepped up to the plate.
Elijah took twelve stones and built an altar, dug a trench around it to hold about five gallons of water, fixed his wood and meat, and then had four jugs of water poured on the altar three times. By all accounts the wood was soaked and should have been too wet to even burn. Then Elijah lifted a simple prayer. “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God.”
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench” (18:38). God came down in a mighty force and showed himself true. How could those who watched this event deny that God existed? How can you and I, who read this story and the countless others in the Bible, deny God or still try to mix God with sin in our own life. Years before this event, Joshua said pretty much the same words. In Joshua 24:15, we read, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”The challenge here is easy to see. We must choose between God or the gods that steal us from Him. The choice is not so easy, though. Sure, the temptations of life call our name and beckon us to follow and give in. And I admit, I have given in many times myself. But it is time that we make up our mind and consider the words that Joshua and Elijah dared challenge us with. Stop wavering and make up your mind.
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