"I will sing of the goodness of God"

In these crazy days of pandemonium we are all facing, I think it’s important to look back and remember God faithfulness in the past.  I love the terminology in 1 Samuel 7:12: “Then Samuel took a stone and…he named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”   Today I want to share an “Ebenezer” from my life.  Before my first birthday, I developed a horrible disease that caused me to have seizures.  My parents took me to the children’s hospital multiple times, yet there was only minimal improvement.

Things looked bleak until April 24, 1982.  In the midst of another hospital visit, my heart stopped; I was clinically dead for three minutes.  But God wasn’t done with me yet; He breathed life back into me.  Miraculously, after returning to the land of the living, all traces of my seizures, and the accompanying disease that caused it, were gone!  All these decades later, I have not had any seizures since!  I cherish the gift of life every day, but it is in the month of April when I feel a visceral gratitude in my heart.

Several years ago, I gave an oral presentation for a college assignment at Colorado Christian University.  I shared this April 24th story with the class.  And then I asked: why did God choose to heal me?  Why did He choose to grant me life again?  In part, my answer was Psalm 139:16.  This verse says, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  When my dad passed away, my mother and I were helped by this verse.  We knew that Dad entered his afterlife the exact day that God had ordained. The same idea is true for me. I have lived through life-threatening situations because there are still more days determined for me.

Now, please don’t misconstrue what I’m saying here.  I would never advocate being reckless, irresponsible or thoughtless, simply because a Bible verse says that God ordains all our days.  That wouldn’t be a wise course of action at any time, but particularly in these days of insanity thanks to the covid-19 outbreak.  But ultimately, I can assert to God what the Psalmist did in Psalm 31:15: “My times are in your hands.”  I’m going to have my reunion with Dad in Heaven on the very day God intends, not one day sooner.

Let me conclude with this.  Jenn Johnson has written (and performed) a beautiful song called “Goodness of God” that has been popping up a lot lately.  I love to sing this line of praise to God from the song.  It goes like this: “All my life You have been faithful; all my life You have been so, so good.  With every breath I have been given, I will sing of the goodness of God.”  In the midst of all this chaos and pandemonium, I celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness.  That helps me face whatever tomorrow holds.

   

Kevin

Famous last words (part 3 of 3)

I have enjoyed decades of Easter remembrances in my life, but never has there been a celebration quite like this one.  The coronavirus (or covid-19) reared its ugly head, and everyday life has been anything but normal.  It has felt like we have been living in lockdown mode for these last few weeks and months.  But, thankfully, no matter how turbulent life gets, Jesus is alive, and as Bill Gaither’s song puts it: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.”

Today – on this Easter that no one will ever forget – I want to conclude a short blog series that I began earlier this month called Jesus’ famous last words.  We will be looking at a few verses from John the 20th chapter.  The first part of verse 19 says, “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews” (New International Version).  After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples went to a house, bolted the door, and stayed there.

Does that sound familiar?  They didn’t need to be issued a “stay-at-home” order; they were terrified that someone was going to recognize them, and they would be executed just like Christ.  What they didn’t realize was Jesus had actually risen from the dead!  But He shows up.  Look at the second half of the verse: “Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”  Jesus, in typical miraculous fashion, suddenly appears in the room with them.  And then, in a mere matter of seconds, they went from fear to joy.

I have it in mind that someone reading this has been contemplating the claims of Jesus Christ.  Maybe you’ve never really paid any attention to Palm Sunday or Good Friday, but perhaps someone invited you to an online gathering at their church.  You learned Jesus’ identity: He is God in human flesh.  And He died on a cross, not primarily to offer a selfless example, but to pay the wages of your sin and mine (Romans 6:23).  It is Easter.  I pray that God has illuminated the truth of Easter to your heart; Jesus walked out of that tomb, alive forevermore, just as He said He would!

John 20 goes on to convey that Thomas said he wasn’t going to believe in the resurrection of Jesus, unless he saw it with his own eyes.  Interestingly, a week later, just as before, Jesus appears with them in the house, even with the bolted doors (verse 26).  Christ singles Thomas out; He says to him, “Put your finger here; see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it into my hand and put it into my side.  Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27).  Thomas’ reaction is priceless: “My Lord and my God” (verse 28)!  Verse 29: “Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

In our world today, there is a lot that can make us afraid.  That is patently clear to everyone right now.  But in a similar way to what happened that first Easter, Jesus can come into your home.  His love and peace can envelope you right where you are, via an online church service (or even a blog).  What’s more, Jesus Christ can change your life forever, if you surrender to Him.  That’s my prayer for you because it will be the best decision you’ve ever made.  Your entire outlook can be transformed from dread to joy, from panic to peace, and from despair to hope.  It’s not that the fearful situation magically doesn’t exist anymore; it’s the realization that Jesus gives supernatural peace in the midst of the storm.

Kevin

"Looking unto Jesus" (part 5 of 5)

Even though it seems a lot longer, thanks to the insane days of this covid-19 pandemic, it was just in late February we began this blog series.  Today – on Good Friday – I want to conclude it.  Our key verse has been Genesis 3:15.  The Amplified Bible renders it this way: “And I will put enmity (open hostility) between you and the woman, and between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, you shall [only] bruise His heel” (brackets in original).  Jesus Christ’s death on the cross wasn’t an accident; it was God’s plan.  Centuries before, in Genesis 3, it was predicted that His heel was going to be bruised on the cross.  Why?  To atone for humanity’s sin.

Watchman Nee is his classic work “The Normal Christian Life” writes, “We need forgiveness for the sins we have committed, lest we come under judgment; and they are forgiven, not because God overlooks what we have done, but because he sees the Blood…It is God’s holiness, God’s righteousness, which demands that a sinless life be given for man.  There is life in the Blood, and that Blood has to be poured out for me, for my sins…The Blood of Christ wholly satisfies God.”

This is supremely good news.  But there is more!  Genesis 3:15 says that not only will Christ’s heel be bruised, but also He shall "fatally bruise" the head of the devil.  As I was putting all this together, I remembered a talk by David Kyle Foster; years ago, someone gave it to me as a gift, on a cassette tape (anyone remember those?).  In it, Foster stated that Satan worked so hard to instigate the death of Jesus on the cross, but even through that, God was at work, and Satan just ended up dooming himself in the process.  As Foster aptly put it, the devil actually “signed his own death warrant.”  The brilliance of God astounds me!

Let me try to illustrate this.  Last Sunday, Fox Sports re-aired Super Bowl 45.  This is when the Green Bay Packers defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 31-25.  No matter how close the score was at various junctions, Packers fans could watch the game last week without any fear, because they knew victory was already certain (Steelers fans probably just skipped it altogether).  In the same way, the devil is defeated.  Oh, he can rear his ugly head, but Jesus won the victory on the cross!

In conclusion, while I don’t want to move to quickly from this scene of Christ’s love for humanity at Calvary, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one last thing.  While Jesus was undeniably dead, on Sunday, He arose from the grave!  Once again, Genesis 3:15 – in the Amplified Bible – says that the devil’s demise will be fatal, but notably, the verse concludes with these words: “you shall [only] bruise His heel.”  In the book of Acts, we see Christ’s disciples repeatedly testifying to what they had seen with their own eyes: Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection.  At one point in Acts we read this powerful declaration:

“And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.  Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.  But God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 13:28-30).  In verse 38 it says, “Therefore, let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you, the forgiveness of sins; [39] and by Him everyone who believes is justified.”

Kevin

"A stronghold in the day of trouble"

As a compassionate person, and a man who knows the pain of loss, I admit that it is difficult to hear about all this death on the news every day.  However, not every instance is a result of the coronavirus.  For example, actor Logan Williams passed away on Friday, April 3rd.  Williams was best known for playing young Barry Allen on the CW TV show “The Flash”; he was only 16.  The cause of death is unknown at this point.  Tributes from the cast are touching, but John Wesley Shipp (the man who played Barry’s father on the show) put it in such a poignant way.  He wrote, “Heartsick to learn of Logan Williams death at 16.  He was 100% committed to playing young Barry Allen, and we missed him once we moved past that part of the story.”

(Source: https://variety.com/2020/tv/people-news/logan-williams-dead-dies-the-flash-1234570933/)

This news hit me hard because I have seen every episode of “The Flash” since its premiere in 2014.  I have seen Logan’s impressive work on it.  His talent was evident.  My heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Logan’s family and friends.  To use John Wesley Shipp’s word, this makes me “heartsick”.  The road of unexpected loss is a hard one to walk (once again, I know a little something about that); all of his loved ones are undoubtedly experiencing deep shock and intense grief right now.  Perhaps they will experience a degree of solace when they realize that many who knew him from his work will mourn his loss as well.

And then, I heard the sad news that former NFL kicker Tom Dempsey passed away, over the weekend, from the coronavirus.  He was 73.  Dempsey was an incredible talent; he held the record for the longest field goal in NFL history (63 yards) for a whopping 43 years!  Not many records remain for four decades.  Amazingly, Tom was born without toes on his right foot and fingers on his right hand, and yet he still played in the NFL for 11 years.  A few other kickers may have tied his extraordinary kick – until it was ultimately broken by Matt Prater in 2013 – but Dempsey will never be forgotten (information from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/05/obituaries/tom-dempsey-dead.html).

Furthermore, to be candid with you, in addition to feeling the sadness from all of the losses, I am feeling the added strain of living in these tough days of uncertainty and pandemonium.  You may be asking, “Okay, then how do you find the strength to keep going in the midst of all of this?”  The truth is God is my anchor and strength in the fierce storm.  Without Him, I am nothing.  This is not just a pious answer that looks good for a blog; I am sharing the sincere cry of my heart.  I'm not saying that I’m sinless or that I follow the Lord perfectly.  I make mistakes.  But God is faithful, no matter what.

The Bible says in Nahum 1:7: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him” (italics added for emphasis).  Proverbs 18:10 declares, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.”  Yes and amen!  I love the song “Follow You Anywhere” from the group Passion.  They declare, “You are the refuge I run to; You are the fire that leads me through the night.  I’ll follow You anywhere.  There’s a million reasons to trust You, nothing to fear, for You are by my side.”

Kevin

Famous last words (part 2)

Today I want to look at John 15.  I want to remind us again that these are some of the last things that Jesus spoke to His disciples before He faced the cross.  These are urgent statements.  Or to use the blog title, they are some more of His famous last words.  Jesus says this:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.  You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.  I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.  [Verse 8] My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (John 15:1-5, 8; NASB).

This passage in John 15 has had a special place in my heart for many years.  Jesus is such a brilliant communicator.  He gives to His disciples (and by extension to us today) a vivid analogy of our relationship with Him.  In verses 4 and 5 He gives what I believe is the key point.  Christ states that just like a branch can’t produce fruit unless it remains connected to the vine, neither can we unless we remain in Him.  In verse 5 He declares that He is the vine; we are the branches, and if we “abide” in Him, we will produce fruit.   Because, as He says in that last clause in verse 5: “apart from Me, you can do nothing” and this includes bearing any fruit in the first place.

I love the message that Jesus is conveying.  Essentially, He is declaring that He is the source of life.  Author Beth Moore has written a new book that recently caught my attention.  I have not read her work; and so this is not an endorsement or a lack of it, but I do like her title: “Chasing Vines”.  I like that imagery because I think that sums up our existence; we are like branches that are chasing after vines to cling to or abide in.  The problem is these vines cannot give life.

The examples abound.  We look to human relationships to give us sustenance.  We look to corporate success.  We look to recognition.  We look to continuing education, achievement, or humanitarian causes.  But none of these things give life because Jesus said only He is the true, life-giving vine (verse 1).  Now, please don’t misunderstand me, in their proper place, these are wonderful things.  But if you look to them for your survival, they will let you down.

I recently heard a fascinating sermon; even though it was from a few years ago, it sounded like it could have been from last week.  The pastor spoke about how, in times of crisis, we are prone to run back to our vices.  He was right.  In times like this, that bottle of alcohol calls our name.  We think drugs will save us.  We abuse God’s gift of food by turning into gluttons.  We participate in illegitimate sexual encounters (and by the way, this includes pornography).  These “vines” are false, hollow, and artificial.  Ultimately, they only produce shame and guilt.

To conclude, in an online only Wednesday night prayer service, my pastor spoke words of comfort and hope.  He prayed for the prodigal sons and daughters; that they would, as he put it, “recognize that the cup of the world that they’ve been drinking from is empty.”  No matter where you have been, you can run back to God.  He won’t ask you to stand in a corner and think about what you've done.  The truth is just as Jesus expressed it in Luke 15 – He will embrace us in love and forgiveness.

Kevin

Famous last words (part 1)

As we enter the month of April, the time draws closer to Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and ultimately Easter (or Resurrection) Sunday.  The chaos of these days will not steal my focus from these monumental events.  While I do want to return to the content that still remains unfinished regarding the examination of Genesis 3:15, I felt led to submit a few blogs under the banner of famous last words.  Jesus Christ said some very noteworthy statements in the final hours leading up to His eventual crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven.  For today, I want to look at some verses in John 14.  Jesus, speaking to His disciples, said these words:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:1-6; New International Version)

I wonder if you’ve ever had this experience: you are in conversation with someone, and they casually mention a fact with the assumption that you already knew it.  So you blurt out, “Hold on.  I didn’t know that.”  This happened to me.  A few months ago, before all of this covid-19 madness, I learned that we had changed a procedure at my job.  We had done it the previous way for many years, but not anymore, and somehow the information didn’t get to me.  It was a fresh reminder that ignorance is not bliss.

Sometime last week, to make conversation, a coworker asked me if I was religious.  I answered that I didn’t really like the word “religious” because it implied a list of do’s and don’ts.  I went on to say that I prefer to think in terms of whether or not a person has a relationship with God.  Jesus’ statement in John 14:6 is liberating.  He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Do you want a relationship with God?  Jesus is the way to do so.

You might be saying, “I always thought it was rules.  I thought you had to check off all of the boxes. Jump through all of the hoops.  And then maybe you could come to God.”  That’s why I shared what I did earlier: ignorance is definitely not bliss.  Jesus said that He is the way; no one comes to God except through Him.  1 Timothy 2 says that there is one mediator between God and man, and that is Jesus; the passage goes on to declare that Jesus “gave himself as a ransom for all men.”  

In conclusion, I don’t know where it originated, but someone once gave this acrostic for the word faith: Forsaking All I Trust In Him.  My prayer is that if anyone reads this that sees they need to forsake trying in vain to work to impress God, would instead trust in Jesus, the One who shed His blood for us all.

Kevin