Storing Up Treasures

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Lynn

Matthew 6 21I always thought that Matthew 6:19-21 was more a passage about greed and focusing on the attainment of wealth.  I suppose it does allude to that to some degree, but I was challenged recently to look at that particular passage from a different angle.  When asked what my “treasures” were, I did not think about the possessions I’ve accumulated through my life but the precious PEOPLE  I have invested my energy, time and all my love on: family, close friends, church friends, students and work colleagues.

I have said that Christians should always have an eternity focus and I believe wholeheartedly that heaven will be a gathering of all those people who have accepted the gift of salvation through Christ.  My single purpose in life, if I believe that, is to ensure that I am surrounded in heaven by those people I care the most deeply about first and then concentrate on drawing others to God as is our mandate in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).  My heartache as I grow older is knowing that there are loved ones who have rejected God and unless they repent and accept Christ into their hearts they will never join Him in the afterlife.  I know heaven is supposed to be free of pain, heartache etc. but I wonder if I wouldn’t experience an eternal grief if one of my most precious loved ones were to spend an eternity separated from God.

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left“.  Matthew 25:31-33

“And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life“.  Matthew 25:46

“Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation“.  John 5:27-28

“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness–indignation and wrath“.  Romans 2:5-8

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord“.  Romans 6:23

“So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come forth and take out the wicked from among the righteous, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth“.  Matthew 13:46-47

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire“.  Revelation 20: 12-15  (NKJV)

These are difficult passages of scripture to read, especially if I think about one of my most beloved being judged and then “cast into the lake of fire”.

So, I am devoting my energy to ensuring I am storing up my “treasures” in heaven.  I couldn’t imagine heaven without them!

 

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Christian Against Christian

Posted on August 15, 2016 by Lynn

I’ve been called lots of things in my life but “unchristian”, “hateful” and “un-American” are new to me, especially since the one who threwis-your-church-divided-by-disunity those monikers at me was a Pastor’s wife!  She apparently did not take kindly to my posting on FB a couple of articles that presented her presidential candidate in a less than favourable light and was very quick to write a very long explanation why her candidate was worthy of her vote and the other one was not.

I have deleted the article postings because who am I to cause another to stumble?

I am “un-American”… I am Canadian, so she was totally right with that one comment, but to call me hateful and unchristian because we disagreed on opinion just goes to show how terribly divisive this Presidential Campaign has become for Christians here in North America.  And the enemy, (Satan) is having a hay day!!

What better way for the enemy to gain a foothold in the world but to pit Christian against Christian?  The more divided we are amongst ourselves, the less relevant our witness is to those who are unbelievers.  The more we bicker amongst ourselves, the less we have time to do what Christ called us to do: Share the Gospel!

Sitting in pews, in churches all across our two nations, Canada and the U.S.A., there are well-meaning Christians who have polarizing opinions on who should sit in the Oval Office in Washington, D.C.  Christian authors and Pastors who have spoken out in favour of one or the other candidate have instantly been ostracized by congregants and by the Christian community who may disagree with their presidential choice.  I have read comments online from Christians who threaten to “never read” or buy any more of Max Lucado’s books for example, just because he has a differing opinion from them as to who should be in the White House.  Unbelievable!

There are good folks who sit beside me in church who do not share the same opinions as I do about MANY societal issues.  I have a right to my opinion as they do to theirs.  It is not right for me to question whether or not they are more or less “Christian” than I am based on those opinions.  Unless their opinion or mine goes against direct Biblical teaching, we should continue to live in fellowship with one another and try to avoid any divisive words between us.

“But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12:24-26 ESV

“I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”  1 Corinthians 1:10-13

This presidential election is making one thing abundantly clear: we are under a Spiritual attack from the enemy as never before in my lifetime, and the Church needs to recognize it and pray against the attack now!  One of the most effective strategies of Satan is to bring about division in the Body of Christ.  Jesus’ desire is for Church unity:

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—  I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  John 17: 15-23  

What is happening when we are name-calling one another, questioning our faith in Christ and refusing to forgive another brother or sister for differing opinions?  We are causing a line of division amongst believers, we are grieving the Holy Spirit, and a waiting, watching world is ultimately rejecting our message of peace and hope.

For shame, America, (and Canada) for shame!

 

 

 

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How Many People Can I Offend Today?

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Lynn

Ok, here goes…

After the recent debacle of the Canadian quartet, Tenors at the MLB All Star Game, that saw a rogue, “lone wolf” member change the lyrics of our beloved National Anthem to make what he says is NOT a “political statement”, but the entire country would disagree with that….

…I am moved to post what will likely be my most controversial blog response ever.

The what-was-he-thinking-Tenor, not only offended all Canadians by changing the lyrics of our National Anthem, he also offended an entire “Black Lives Matter” movement in the U.S. that has grown in recent weeks after police officers were filmed manhandling and then shooting black men they were trying to subdue.  I am not here to comment on the actions of police officers in these shootings.  The subsequent gunning down of five upstanding, white officers in Dallas, assassinated for all intents and purposes, as retribution for the two shootings by police days before, is an act of terrorism – plain and simple.

The fact is ALL LIVES MATTER whether they are unborn, born, red, yellow, black or white, male or female.  We’re all precious in God’s sight, but desecrating our Canadian National Anthem to state the obvious is not the way to get the point across.

The heartache lies in the fact that we, as people, made in the image of God, do not see each other as God sees us: His greatest masterpiece of Creation!  We define our worth by how others see us.  We demand respect and admiration for things deserved and undeserved.  We want equality at the expense of others.  We label those with differing views as bigoted or intolerant.  We only see the colour of a man’s skin, the accent in a man’s dialect, and the difference in a man’s culture that will either draw us towards that man or away from that man.  (And I’ve already offended many here by not being “gender neutral” in that statement.)

Our “O’Canada” anthem has taken quite a beating over the past few months with the lyrics being changed from “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command” (a grammatically disastrous change I might add).  Our anthem changed by well-meaning, but perhaps a little misguided members of parliament so that the words would no longer be offensive to women, but also to those who do not acknowledge a gender.  It shows just how ridiculous our political correctness has taken us.

Being politically correct does not necessarily make you CORRECT!  In fact, political correctness is an outright contradiction to the teachings in scripture.  Have I offended anyone yet?

Yes, all lives matter, but to me God matters more!

As Christians we are not children of this world, but Children of God.  We are to live by His rules, follow His teachings and conform to His standards, not the world’s.  “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;  one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”  Ephesians 4:1-6

As Christians we are called to cast off our former way of life, which was focused entirely on self, and embrace a life that is centred on God.  “So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.  That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”  Ephesians 4:17-24

As Christians we are to speak the Truth in love, remembering that we are saved by Grace, a grace that must also be extended to all.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32

Lastly, as Christians we are not to “grieve the Holy Spirit”.  It is more important for us to live according to the Bible than to compromise our beliefs by being politically correct.

We are united with Christ and must acknowledge His Kingship in our lives.  We are to model our lives after Him!  “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.   And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:1-11

Live in such a way

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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