The Same Place

Years ago, I heard Paul Crouch, then president of the Trinity Broadcasting Network say, “The brink of a disaster and the brink of a miracle are the same place.”  God does his finest work and proves His power when things look their worst. The hour preceding dawn is the darkest.  You may be in that hour, but take heart, morning’s coming!

Travel back with me to 1446 B.C.  Moses and the Children of Israel have escaped from Egyptian bondage.  But not without nerve-wracking consequences and further testing.  The people are backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit.  Things look pretty bleak for the approximate 1.5 million men, women and children. Many in the crowd begin to murmur against Moses. “Why did you bring us out here to die in this wilderness” (Exodus 14:11)?  Fear began to sweep through the camp, as horse hooves trampling the earth became louder. 

Disaster appeared imminent.  Between confusion brought on by the enemy and the grumbling of the people, Moses had his hands full.  His leadership was on the line, and God’s reputation was soon to be verified.    

But then…

Moses lifted his rod high and the waters of the Red Sea divided.  The breath of God piled the waters high on each side and dried the earth under the sea.  A pillar of fire then separated the Israelites from the fast approaching Egyptian army.  It was Israel’s finest moment, one that Jews still celebrate today!  We do, too!  In that hour, the brink of a disaster and the brink of a miracle were one in the same!       

Have you been there?  Perhaps you’re there now!  Backed up against the wall with seemingly no help in sight.  The enemy of your soul may even be taunting you:  “Where is your God now?”  

Keep praising.  Keep believing.  Your deliverance is on the way!  God has not brought you this far to fail you now.  “The horse and its rider WILL be thrown into the sea” (Exodus 15:21b).   We used to sing this faith declaration:

“How great is our God!

How great is His name!

He’s the greatest One, forever the same.

He rolled back the waters of the mighty Red Sea.

And He said, “I’ll never leave you, so put your trust in Me!”

No matter how difficult your circumstances, no matter what you’re facing, the waters are about to part.  “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b).  Let this incredible story from Israel’s archives, hold you steady today.  The same God Who parted the waters approximately 3,466 years ago is still proving His power today!  The brink of your disaster is about ready to become your most glorious victory!

Praise Him out loud this very moment! 

That Night

When life knocks me down and threatens to overwhelm me, I look to a fixed point in time that lifts me up.  I’ve learned that perspective is everything.  During those times I must look at things the way God does. 

He shows all of us His perspective in the Bible. We have to keep our focus in the right direction.  Billy Graham once said:

1.  If you want to be distressed, look within.

2.  If you want to be defeated, look back.

3.  If you want to be distracted, look around.

4.  If you want to be dismayed, look before.

5.  If you want to be delivered, look to Christ.

6.  If you want to be delighted, look up!

When I feel like giving up, when tragedy strikes, when sickness goes long term, when financial setbacks occur, or when facing problems in general, I have an anchor.  It keeps me from throwing in the towel. 

I often look back to the night when my life was forever changed.  I have never been the same since August 4, 1970, when I said “Yes” to Jesus Christ while at summer camp in Big Prairie, Ohio.  I repented of my sins and accepted Him as my personal Savior. That same night I was called to preach!  I felt like a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulder.  My conversion was a very emotional experience that ran deep.  I was a changed young man! 

One of my favorite chapters in the Gospels in John 6.  Large crowds to that point gladly followed Jesus.  He had changed the water into wine, healed their sick, walked on the water, and fed the multitudes.  He also provided a veritable outdoor smorgasbord.  Who wouldn’t want to follow the itinerant teacher/preacher from Galilee? 

Then Jesus began to teach on total commitment versus a casual relationship.  Perhaps you remember the infamous cartoon from years ago which featured a picture of a chicken and a pig.  The caption read (with the pig talking): “For you it requires only a contribution, for me it’s total commitment.” 

Likewise, Jesus exposed the true motivations of the peoples’ hearts in verses 25-26: “When they found Him on the other side of the lake, they asked Him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’  Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.’”

Jesus began to require commitment based on WHO He was, not what He did.  He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day” (verses 53-54).  Obviously, theological treatments of the passage differ; however, I believe Jesus was asking the multitudes and specifically His disciples, to enter into a reckless abandonment to God. 

Verse 60 says, “On hearing it, many of His disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching.  Who can accept it? From this time many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him.’”  Jesus then looked at the Twelve, perhaps staring intentionally at Peter. He said, “You don’t want to leave too, do you” (verse 66)?  I love Peter’s response, and I’ve embraced it as my own: “Lord, to whom should we go?  You have the words of eternal life” (verse 67).  Some translations say, “You alone…”

When difficult days come, I look back to that night almost fifty years ago when Jesus touched me and reversed the course of my life.  During these times He renews my thinking and therefore my perspective. 

Remember, perspective is the way you look at things.  It’s determined by the way you think.  My conversion has kept me anchored when life’s difficult days threatened to batter me.  Jesus remains my one Constant and Keeper in the day of tribulation. 

He has kept me in the day of adversity.  The preacher warned us that “If we faint in the day of adversity, our strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10).  The New International Version renders it this way: “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.”  I wish to remain strong in my resolve to serve God. And I know you do too!  How I praise Him!

It's Not Fair!

Have you ever said something wasn’t fair?  I suppose most of us have at some point.  I have!

Living for the Lord comes with highs and lows, good times and bad times and we who take our faith seriously often are challenged by life’s inequities.  We have even developed our own Christian cliché: “Life is not fair, but God is good!”  This quote sounds reasonable and smacks of truth, but when we face circumstances that threaten to harm or even destroy us, we wonder about the validity of such a statement.

That’s why I caution believers not to allow unfair circumstances to become their defining moment.  Serving God may seem a cruel joke if we allow seemingly unfair events to stall our faith.  It could appear that God is not as benevolent as we preach.  Truthfully, I have allowed certain inequities in my life steal my entitled joy and make me doubt God’s love for me.  In short, I have at times become angry at God for allowing adverse situations to win out over my faith, thus making it look like evil or wrong triumphed.  I had to push through my questions!

Why could I not find gainful employment during the months after college graduation?  It wasn’t fair! Why did I have to leave three of my five pastorates after church leaders rose up with control issues?   Why did other leaders not help me?  It wasn’t fair!   Why did we buy two homes only to lose money because of ministry moves?  It wasn’t fair!  Why were several individuals in five churches allowed to create church division and strife, and manipulate still others to follow them?  It wasn’t fair!  Our credit rating took a serious dip when events out of our control caused us to get behind financially?  It wasn’t fair!

But listen.  I cannot spend my life asking “why.”  I have to move on.  Isolated unfair incidences cannot determine how I serve God.  The inequities of yesterday cannot override my victories today!  I still believe that serving God is the best way to live!  “He has invited us to “call upon Him in the day of trouble; (and further promises) I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).

The Bible is replete with examples of those who faced life’s inequities with a deep faith in God and came out on top.  Hebrews 11 is a roll call of those who “having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised because God had provided something better…” (11:39-40).  They understood that fairness had nothing to do with their faith walk!

For purposes of this discussion, let me remind you of two men who loved Jesus with all their hearts, and who had specific assignments on their life.  One was a prophet, the other a newly appointed deacon.  And both of them were martyred for fulfilling their call.  It doesn’t sound fair, does it? 

I’m referring to John the Baptist and Stephen, respectively.  John was Jesus’ first cousin, who spent his ministry making a way for Jesus to outshine him.  His assignment was succinct: “A voice is calling, Clear the way of the Lord in the wilderness.  Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). 

What did John get for his obedience and faithfulness?  His head delivered on a platter at the request of a sex-crazed mother, Herodias, the queen of Galilee.  She conspired to arrange John’s execution, and later Jesus showered John with this accolade:  “Among those  born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).  Naturally speaking, there was nothing fair about John’s earthly demise.  But heaven holds a faith hero!

Stephen, too, was a man with a mission.  Dr. Luke describes him this way: “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8).  This Spirit-filled man, full of faith, was a recognized leader in the Early Church.  He was one of seven deacons chosen to serve the growing, developing Church.  Lying, Christ-hating religious leaders subsequently stirred the crowd against him. 

God’s precious servant met his death by being stoned after he preached a sermon in defense of his wonderful Jesus.  Large rocks crushed his skull and ushered him into the presence of One who stood to welcome him into his heavenly home.  Was it fair that God’s choicest servant met such a dreadful end?  Naturally speaking, no!   

However, his martyrdom was not in vain.  Stephen’s death propelled devoted followers of Jesus to regions beyond where the gospel was preached.  “And on that day great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered…” (Acts 8:1).

Life is NOT fair, but we who love the Lord dare not allow the isolated, unfair and harsh events of our lives cause us to view God through the lens of pain and unbelief.  Romans 8:28 becomes our flagship verse: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Fairness is not a Kingdom principle, but we who love Jesus understand that God ultimately brings victory out of what appears to be unfair circumstances.  We are called to trust His righteous ways!