Christian Giants?

God set me up for today’s devotional with a dream last night. Someone I love was with me and a few of my Christian friends. As we were about ready to go to our separate homes, this person asked, “Can we pray?” I was surprised because he was not a Christian.

I asked someone to begin and while the prayer time was a bit odd (dreams are like that) this person stood up to pray also. He became very emotional and it was obvious that he had something important to say. I stood beside him and found out his news. He was too emotional to say it and gave me permission to make the announcement: God had touched his life and he was now a Christian.

I woke up, hoping the dream was a prophecy. Then I read Tozer’s story about Pascal. This man wrote on a piece of paper a brief account of his experience, folded the paper and kept it in a pocket close to his heart, apparently as a reminder of what he had felt. Those who attended him at his death found the worn, creased paper. In Pascal’s own writing it said: “From about half-past ten at night to about half-after midnight — fire! O God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob — not the God of the philosophers and the wise. The God of Jesus Christ who can be known only in the ways of the gospel. Security — feeling — peace — joy — tears of joy. Amen.”

Pascal is known for his mind. He was a mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer, philosopher and theologian. However, the Holy Spirit broke through and beyond all that was human and intellectual and philosophical and left him with such emotion that he could only say it was fire.

Was this a repeat of what happened to Jeremiah? Perhaps not exactly the same but it describes a visitation from the Holy Spirit that changed everything:

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.” (Jeremiah 1:8–9)

Jeremiah was a changed man after this visitation of the Spirit. God used him in a powerful way even though his ministry was excessively difficult.

Sometimes I’ve wanted to be like Jeremiah or other spiritual giants but realize such tasks requires tests, and I’m not sure I want the tests. Today I’m whining over the pain of a small surgical procedure. What would I do if God wanted me to experience more of His power and put me to the test to see if I could handle it? I can imagine Him saying to me:

“If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5)

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Lord, I understand. High ambition requires high requirements. While me trusting You depends on knowing You and that You are all powerful, You trusting me is about You knowing me — much more than I know myself. I’m not as powerful or as godly as I would like to be! May I have the heart and attitude of David who said,  

“O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” (Psalm 131:1)

Walk by faith, not by sight

Some say that the state of the world indicates that the return of Jesus Christ is eminent. I suppose that it could be, depending on a person’s view of the ‘last days’ or ‘end times’. Whether Jesus is coming soon or not, my mind has been preoccupied with those who are not yet saved, particularly family members and friends, but also the people who are experiencing floods, drought, earthquakes, hurricanes, terrorism, and other tragic events. Do they know Christ? Do they have assurance of eternal life? If they do, are the deaths from these events and from persecutions God’s way of taking them home?

Last night, I woke several times and prayed for some by name and others by circumstances. As my daughter said last week, the whole world is in a mess. If it is not adverse weather, it is adversity between people of different beliefs, or mindless terrorism from those who seem to delight in destroying others. I’m certain that I’m not the only one who has a knot in my gut when I turn on the news.

If my eternal destiny depended on my ability to believe, or on my faithful devotion and delight in God, then it would be okay those days when things go well, and not okay on other days when I feel unsure and unraveled. I know that God is true, yet so much of what is happening in family, friends, and the world around me feels like the devil is laughing in my face and mocking my assurance.

God must know that. He offers today’s devotional as a comfort in two ways. First, I am glad that the work of God applies to my own life. I am safe in His care. I’m also glad that it applies to all those who genuinely believe the Gospel. They are safe in His care too, and even if tragic events take their lives, they are forever with the Lord in a safe and glorious eternity. Here are some words from God that remind and encourage me that this is true.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27–30)

If this is not true, then Jesus is a liar and no one has any hope. However, no one or nothing could convince me that He is other than “the way, the truth, and the life!”

But what about those who walk away. They seemed to believe, but didn’t continue. Of these, the Bible says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19) This is a way of saying that anyone who belongs to God will continue with God. Walking away indicates that whoever does that was a phony in the first place. In the case of those I know who started a walk of faith and seem to have abandoned it, I’m not sure this is a comfort. However, it does assure me that those who believe will not be lost.

The devotional says, “If our salvation were in any measure dependent upon us, we would most certainly be lost and without hope. But salvation is entirely the work of God’s grace and power in Christ. And since it is the work of God, it cannot be destroyed.”

Solomon verifies this by saying, “I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14) No matter what is going on in this world or in the lives of individuals, the Lord God — who brings people to the saving knowledge of His Son — can keep them in that knowledge.

The New Testament says the same thing. God does not start something without finishing it:

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

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Lord Jesus Christ, when I add up the promises and assurances in Your Word, I am encouraged for Your people, many of whom are experiencing traumatic and life-threatening dangers. You can bring them through or bring them to their eternal home. I am also encouraged that because You are strong and faithful to keep Your people from turning away, You are also able to save those who do not know You yet. I will keep praying, not in fear but in confidence. Salvation is Your doing. Nothing is too difficult for You, and nothing can undo what You have done.

Love tested

Today’s thoughts are very deep and personal. I know what Jesus says to me, yet I cannot express His Words or my response except in general terms. Again, these questions are related to the questions He asked Peter after this disciple betrayed Him, and after His resurrection . . .

He said to (Peter) the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

Most of what I have heard or read about this passage has been negative toward Peter. This man denied knowing Jesus in words and actions, even though he swore that he would not do that. He failed utterly in his expression of love. When Jesus looked at Peter after the betrayal happened, that was enough to unglue the man. He went away weeping bitterly.

I can relate to Peter. I supposed most Christians can. At some time or other, circumstances back us into a corner and we throw out a denial to protect ourselves. Or a temptation comes along that seems impossible to resist, and instead of love and loyalty, we abandon the One who saved us from such sin and go ahead and disobey Him. Whatever form the denial takes, afterward we feel ashamed, shocked at what we have done or said, and in pain.

Chambers says that when Jesus comes to us after such a horrid thing, and speaks to us from His Word, there is an exposure of the very deepest place in our heart. He also says that the devil never hurts there, neither sin nor human affection hurts there either. Nothing gets through to that place but the Word of God.

At first I didn’t understand that, but then realized that Peter was grieved because he realized at that moment that in the real center of his personal life he was devoted to Jesus. He had been severely tested and failed, but he did not abandon Jesus totally; he came back! It was in repentance and shame and deep sorrow, but he did not walk away or hang himself as Judas did. Peter passed the test and he passed it because he really did love Jesus.

After this, Peter knew. He would not ever deny Jesus again, but the greater point is that even failure cannot sever the relationship that faith gives us with Jesus. The horror of denying Him was terrible, as was the pain of Jesus exposing his heart, but now Peter knew. Proving his love was not in ‘always doing the right thing’ or ‘being perfect’ but returning again and again to fall at His feet, no matter how badly he had failed.

Peter said, “Lord, you know everything.” He didn’t try to prove it or point to anything to confirm it. He knew, as I know, that loving Jesus is not about a perfect performance. Even though Jesus asked Peter to feed His sheep, and even though Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” Peter and every other follower of Jesus Christ will miss out, mess up, and at times wonder if they can do anything right. Yet Peter had learned earlier that Jesus was his only answer to the failures of life . . .

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, (John 6:66–68)

When Jesus asks if I love Him after all my shortcomings and failures, I can say ‘yes’ because I know in my deepest place that I do. Otherwise, when I turn away in denial or to do my own thing, I would never turn back.