Doubt

Have you ever doubted your faith?  

Have you ever wondered if all of this is true or just a grand fantasy?  

If you are really honest doubt is part of your journey, part of the odyssey to faith.

As I read this passage from Matthew this morning I was once more amazed to read that men who had been with Jesus for more than three years, who had seen miracles...eyes opened, lepers healed, dead men raised, Jesus walking on water and so much more...now find themselves doubting.

Can this all really be true?  Is it a grand fantasy or is it real?

I love the honesty of the Bible that God would tell us about these first doubters....that even they wondered "is this really true?"

How do we answer these doubts?  If you haven't had them, you will.  If you have children they will go through them.  Anyone coming to God through Christ will struggle with doubt.  Some of it is honest inquiry, some of it is the enemy challenging your faith and some is our attempt to work through our own faith issues.

Doubt, it's a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction, a question.....and it's real.  Now what?

When it comes go to God, be honest, test his word, test your questions.  Investigate the history of your faith.  God will never be offended at your questions.  He welcomes them, he knows they are there and this faith of ours can stand the test of evidence.

Doubting?  That's great, now investigate, see if this is true or not.  You will find your faith stronger for the experience.  

God is bigger than your doubts.

Divine encounters

"For we are God's handiwork, 

created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do."  

-Ephesians 2:10

She seemed lost as she stood in the middle of the mall parking lot.  

We had not planned to go to this mall to walk around, but on a whim it was our destination.  We walked the mall, looked at the stores and then headed back to the car.  That's when my wife, Joye, saw her.  She asked, "Are you ok?  Are you lost?"  Her name is Ariane and she couldn't find her car.  It was clear she was panicking a bit.  

We offered to help her find the car.  She was grateful for the help, got into our car with us and we began the quest to find her car.  We began where we were, driving down each aisle of the parking area.  No car.

Then we went to the next lot, looking for her car.  She was just here visiting she said.  It was a friend's car and clearly she was lost.  Then the next lot, no car.  One lot at a time we circled the mall looking for her car as she pushed the remote to unlock the doors hoping to find this lost car.

"You don't think it was stolen." she asked.  We reassured her it probably was not taken. And then on to the next lot.

She was visiting, so we asked where she was from.  "Israel" she replied.  Oh, my how wonderful for us!  We would have helped anyone, but to help one of Abraham's children, what a blessing.  She told us the town she was from (near Tel Aviv) but we did not know the name.  We told her how thankful we were that the Lord had let us help her.

And then another lot, and she asked, "there's more?"  Around the mall we ventured, row by row, looking for a gray minivan.  DO YOU HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND A GRAY MINIVAN IN TEXAS?  They are everywhere, but we needed the one that responded to her remote.

And then finally, we turned a row and the lights went off on a gray minivan on the opposite side of the mall from where we found Ariane.  Elation!  We had done it.  You could tell she was relieved, we were thrilled to have helped her.  What a blessing for us.

She got out of our car, Joye followed her, gave her a hug and said goodbye.

This was one of those good works God had prepared for us to do.  What a blessing to get to serve our God in such a wonderful way.  We prayed for Ariane after we left.  We can't wait to see what God does in her life.

Closing thoughts- If we had not been watching, not been aware of those around us, looking at others as part of God's plan, we could have missed this wonderful encounter.  I wonder, as we go through our days, how many times we walk right past another Ariane and miss the joy of being part of God's work.

Wherever you go...

"But this comfort of finding yourself, 

by the order of Providence, 

in the situation in which you are, 

is an inexhaustible consolation."  

-Francois Fenelon

"I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  

-Paul,  Philippians 4

"Wherever you go, there you are." -Buckaroo Banzai

From Paul to Francois in France and finally Buckaroo in movie and fiction there is one thing that we must not lose- wherever we go, in whatever situation we find ourselves, we are there by the hand of God and in his hands he holds us.  In that place of much or nothing we must not lose sight of the fact that this has come from God's hand and is a rich blessing from him.

Stuff

One of my greatest enemies is stuff.

The desire for stuff.

The need for stuff.

Having a place to put my stuff.

Knowing what stuff to take when we go somewhere.

Stuff like clothes, computers, phones, cameras, video games, extra shoes, e-readers, books, and a thousand other things.

Our house is full of stuff. 

We have no more room for stuff.

And yet, every day in every media we are told....

...YOU NEED MORE STUFF!

I'm tired of all the stuff.  I wish I could get rid of it all and just have the bare necessities...the things we really need.  A simple life is so appealing right now.  Having all this stuff, paying for all this stuff, finding places for the stuff is overwhelming.

But tomorrow new stuff will be available, stuff I don't know I need yet...and once more the desires are kindled. The ads will tell me that I really need this, I must have that, my life won't be complete without this new stuff.

And so we get more stuff, and when we run out of room we sell our old stuff in a "garage sale" to make room for the new stuff.

Doesn't this all sound crazy?

I know the "Jones" have all the nice stuff, but I'm willing to let them keep it.  More power to them.  We are on a quest for nothing but Christ alone....a quest to know him and live simply.  

Now for the challenge of getting rid of all the stuff.  

Anyone want some?  

We have a bunch!

  

It's a marathon!

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

This morning I watched a video of a young man I know running a 3200 meter race.  His family filmed it and put it on Facebook.  The race was run on a 440 track so they had to circle the track multiple times to finish the 3200 meters.

At the finish line of each lap I wondered, "is this the end?"  They all looked tired, but they kept going!  Once more they came to the finish and kept going.  And again.  I was getting tired just watching the video as it seemed they circled this track 20 times. Finally, the finish, and my  young friend won the race.

If he hadn't trained multiple miles, if he hadn't prepared for months he could have never finished this race.  It demanded preparation, training and an eye on the prize....the finish line.

They crossed the finish line multiple times. I'm sure my young friend thought, "soon, this will be over, soon I will cross the finish line one last time and the race will be over."

The Christian life, the life of following Christ, is much like my friends marathon.  It takes training, persistence and an eye on the  finish.  If you aren't looking ahead to the finish you could never keep going.  You would never have the endurance to keep going.  

Like my friend, my walk with God is a marathon towards a goal- the prize waiting for me at the finish line.  The challenge for me, as I grow older, is to lay aside those hinderences that hold me back and continue the race, keeping my eyes on the finish.  Because you see, I won't cross my finish line until I finish this life.

Oh to finish well, to cross the finish line with hands raised in celebration of a race well run, with eyes on Jesus who ran this race and won his event.  May I imitate him as I run my marathon.

The man who saw tomorrow

This week I was talking with another pastor about a passage she was working on for her next sermon.  It's a passage from Mark 13.  She had noticed in Jesus what she described as an awkwardness, but as I read it I saw something else entirely, something I had never noticed before.....here's the passage and my thoughts,

Mark 13:1 And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 3 And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

I read the passage several times and suddenly saw something I had always missed....Jesus saw everything differently than his disciples! They saw a temple, a building, Jesus saw tomorrow.  They saw beauty, Jesus saw what would happen in the days ahead.  They saw today, he saw the future.

I'm sure it changed how he viewed everything.  As I read other passages after this it became clear that he always saw tomorrow, his vision was beyond the events of the day, beyond the moments and into eternity.  

When James and John came to Jesus with their mother to ask for the best seats in the kingdom he asked, "Can you drink the cup I will drink?"  And they replied, "Yes, we can."  He looked beyond them and replied, "Yes, you will."  He saw tomorrow.

This one we call Jesus, Messiah, and Lord is God.  As he walked through life on planet earth he lived in the present and in tomorrow at the same time.  Even his prayers speak of it.  This morning I read John 17 once more and it's all through this final prayer!

Ok, so what does it mean to me?  I serve a God who sees my tomorrows.  He loves me and knows what is ahead.  He is the ultimate "scout" for my path, my life...this one, this God who knows my tomorrows.  

When he looks at me he sees my tomorrows, my outcome, he sees a son, a dearly loved child who will be with him forever and he will guide me on the path of my tomorrows...because he already knows what's ahead.

And so he says to us, 

Matthew 6:31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The one who sees tomorrow is my savior.  I can trust him for all that lies ahead, he's promised to take care of everything and in the days ahead I will be with him in his amazing Kingdom.  What a great hope!  

There was a man who saw tomorrow.  He is the Lord of glory and he's taking care of you.

Because God sees

What difference does it make how I live?

Who cares? Everyone else is living for all they can get, living for themselves....what difference does it make if I do the same?

Who cares that I live well, try to do the right thing?  Life is short, I just want to be happy.

Why should I live for God, forgive others, love as Christ loved, care for the hurting, help that guy with the flat tire, listen to a friend...why should I take time for all of that?  What difference does it make?  Who cares?

Why?  Because God sees.  He sees me more clearly, more honestly than I can ever see myself. He sees my heart, my motives, my insecurities, my attitudes.  God sees me....he sees all of me!  

Why should I live well, live differently, live for others?  Because God sees.  That alone should change everything, that alone should motivate me, challenge me, convict me.  I can hide nothing from him.  There is nothing I can do or think that he doesn't already know.  God sees me....all of me.

Why live for God?  Why love well, why care for the hurting, why spend time with those in need, why?  Because God sees and he has invited us into the life he lived.  He has invited us to imitate him and live for eternity...to live beyond ourselves....a million years beyond ourselves.

Why?  Because God sees.  Now, for some that's a scary thought, an idea they never entertained before and so they live as if he didn't see them, as if their lives were their own, but he does see...he knows...he hears....and he invites us into a life of great reward as we live for him.  The invitations are all through scripture, on every page, the invitations to walk with God, to be like him, to live out his life in the world....Here's one of those amazing invitations,

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." Ephesians 5:1-2

Why live this way?  Why does it matter?  Here's why-  Because God sees.

Who do you trust?

"Don't put your confidence in powerful people; 

there is no help for you there."  Psalm 146:3

Who do you  trust?  We have come to a day when an entire nation is looking for a savior, a white knight, someone who can rescue us from the impending storm.

"We need a man who can make us great again!"  That's the cry of a people looking at all the wrong things, a country trying to grasp the illusion of prosperity and safety, trying to recapture "what we had."

And, like Israel in past centuries, we are looking for a man to do what only God can do.  We have placed our hope in a man, a woman, to be "our savior." 

We are looking for a man to do what only God can do.

But you might ask,  "how can God save us?  what can he do?  isn't it too late?"  These were the questions spoken thousands of years ago to Jeremiah the prophet when the people of Israel said, "what use is it?"  They chose to follow their own way, their own desires, and chose men to lead them.

Captivity and exile was the outcome.  

The voices of politicians today sound very similar to the voices of a man in Germany in the 1930's promising a return to the greatness Germany had in the past.  He was a man who changed the world and killed millions.

When we trust men to do what only God can do, what only God should do, we find destruction and not salvation.

Like David, I want to shout,  "Trust in the Lord!  In him alone is salvation."

So, today, after all the promises and words, who do you trust? 

Who will you trust in the days ahead for your life?  

Who do you trust?

The most high God

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;

    wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;

    he deposes kings and raises up others.

He gives wisdom to the wise

    and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;

    he knows what lies in darkness,

    and light dwells with him."

Daniel 2

Believe it or not there is a King in heaven in charge of everything.  He rules the kingdoms of this earth.  He raises up one leader and removes another.  HE is in charge, he rules the Universe...every molecule of it.  

HE is King.

Then why are we afraid?  Why are we fighting over this politician or that one?  None of them can help us.  None of them can fix our problems.  They are just men placed there by God.  

Why are we so angry, so afraid?  Why all the frustration, the name calling?  

Is there a God in heaven or not?

If there is a God who rules then trust him.  

If there isn't then you aren't fearful enough!

I'm saddened by what I see in the Christian world as "Christians" verbalize their fears in the public forums as if a man will be our solution.  Why do we trust in man?  Even David wrote of the foolishness of trusting in the strength of men.

Like Daniel, I'm so glad there is a sovereign and he does not rule from Washington or any other city.  He rules from heaven!

One of the worst kings of all time said this about that God, words that came after God humbled him,

King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

How great are his signs,
    how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
    his dominion endures from generation to generation.

"The Most High God"

There is a ruler over the affairs of man.

Oh that we would trust him and rest in his care.  

He is in charge of everything, even who rules this little nation of ours.