Longing for Christ's Return

Matthew 24:44 (NIV)  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

            I wish I spent more time thinking on Christ’s return. The Scriptures call us to be watchful and waiting as we anticipate the return of Jesus. It is something to greatly desire and long for. Therefore, it is not a matter of wishful thinking, but a matter of constant readiness. So many biblical passages about the return of Christ have a two-fold perspective to them. On the one hand eagerness for the return of Christ is commended. It is described as a thing just as sure as His first coming… His life, death, resurrection, and ascension happened before the eyes of many witnesses. So will His return. But the second perspective always has to do with the here and now. It’s like the Bible is saying over and over again, “Jesus is returning. So what about now?”

            Jesus is returning, but one of the biggest impacts of this truth is related to how I live now. Because He is coming again – soon according to many biblical texts – I (we) should live in a certain way now. A future event has an influence on the choices, behaviors, and attitudes I have now - right now – every day that I live. The return of Christ influences how I handle hardship and suffering. It inspires me to a greater and more intentional pursuit of godly living and holiness of heart. It encourages me toward faithfulness and a deep commitment to stewardship of the gifts and blessings He has given me. It seems like the more I forget that Jesus is coming back the easier it is for me to sin, to become discouraged, and to live according to sight and not by faith. But when I remember the certainty of His return I am reminded of how much I have to live for and how much I have to live for Him. Upon His return I will be found faithful or faithless, walking in Him or walking according to my flesh, tending to His business or behaving as if my life is my own and that He will never come back.

            The Apostle Paul looked forward to Jesus’ return and spoke of those who “loved” it: “… in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8 - NASB). What joy there is for those who live “loving his appearing”. Last week Joanne and I drove to Newark Airport to pick up Brianne and Mason. As we were walking toward the terminal I was thinking about how much I enjoy airport reunions. In my ins and outs of airports I have seen many joyful reunions of those ending journeys and those gathered to meet them. Hugs, kisses, and tears abound. And when you yourself are involved in one of those reunions it is even sweeter. In the terminal we found someone to help us find out where people on Brianne’s flight would be emerging. So there we went and waited. Our eyes were steadily focused on the hallway leading out of the gate area. We were looking for a young woman pushing a stroller. We had no interest in anyone who did not fit that description. People kept coming and coming through. It seemed like it was taking forever. The more anticipation we had, the longer it seemed to take. But we did not take our eyes off of that hallway, for we knew at any moment they would turn the corner and be heading for us. And, to our delight, finally, there they were coming our way. Then came our own hugs and kisses and tears. There is a joy to that that is very special.

Are my eyes on Christ’s return like this? I think I would be happy if I just had a moment every day to remember that Jesus is coming back. After all, the subject of His return is not meant to replace the stuff of my daily living, but rather to refine and define it. His return will bring the end of sin in me. It will bring a new clarity of sight and understanding, as I will no longer see through a glass darkly. It will be accompanied by an establishment of justice that was never fulfilled in this life. It will usher me into His presence. It will be the next step of His eternal purposes for me. It will feature a new ability to worship and depth of appreciation of who He is. Great joys await us! So let us be up on our tiptoes, craning our necks in anticipation. Our Lord is returning. We know not when, but we know that He is. May God give us at least a moment each day to remember His return and to long for His coming. Amen.

Matthew 24:42-45 (NIV) ⁴²  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³  But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. ⁴⁵  "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

Acts 1:10-11 (NIV) ¹⁰  They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹  "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."  

Titus 2:11-14 (NIV) ¹¹  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³  while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

1 Peter 4:12-13 (NIV) ¹²  Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

1 John 2:28 (NIV)  And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

PRAYER:  Father, stir my heart to love and long for the appearing of Jesus. Let your Spirit remind me each day and lead me to a few moments, at least, of this blessed hope. And may this daily discipline lead me to a holiness of life that is pleasing to you. I sincerely desire for Christ’s future return to impact me here and now. And I thank you for how that works. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

On the Verge of a Meltdown

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) ⁶  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

            Have you ever been on the verge of a meltdown?

            Golf fans watched Jordan Spieth have a meltdown on Sunday at the Masters Tournament in Augusta Georgia. The New York Post’s headline read: “Danny Willett takes 2016 Masters after Jordan Spieth’s Meltdown”. Spieth had a 5-shot lead in the final round after having the lead for the entire 4-day tournament. Here’s how the story was reported: “A bogey from the bunker on No. 10. A tee shot into the trees on No. 11 that led to another bogey. Willett made birdie on the 14th to get within one shot. Spieth only needed to get past the dangerous par-3 12th hole to settle himself, especially with two par 5s in front of him. Instead, his tee shot bounced off the slope and into the water. From the drop zone, his wedge was fat and Spieth turned his head. He didn't even look as it plopped into the water again. He made a quadruple-bogey 7. On the 10th tee, Spieth was five shots ahead. On the 13th tee, he was three shots behind.” In this context, the definition of a “meltdown” is “a rapid decline or collapse”. A few weeks ago, the Boston Bruins were cruising toward the playoffs in the NHL. Last week they were eliminated after losing too many of their final nine games. This was considered a meltdown at the end of their season.

            Many parents also know what a meltdown is. Little Johnny is in the grocery store with his mother and informs her that he wants a candy bar. Mommy says no. Johnny won’t take no for an answer. Mommy won’t give in. Johnny starts to scream and falls on the floor rolling around in anger. Mom later tells Grammy on a phone call that “Johnny had a meltdown in Hannaford today.” In this context, a meltdown is “a breakdown or loss of self-control”. The urban dictionary describes it this way: “what happens when a person freaks out, cracks, loses control of themselves. Life - reality at large- becomes overwhelming. They just can't deal with it all. The person may act out, withdraw, become emotional, run, etc...”

            Whether it is a stock market collapse, a team choking in the clutch (losing in a high stress situation), or a person losing their cool or “going ballistic”, meltdowns are rarely enjoyable to watch, and they are even more painful to be a part of. These ideas about meltdowns are derived from the original meaning of the word as it relates to a nuclear power plant disaster. In that scenario a reactor core literally melts from overheating and presents life-threatening danger if not contained (think Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, or the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster in Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami).

            In the book of Daniel we learn of a powerful king named Nebuchadnezzar who experienced a meltdown. You could say he lost his “cool” when three young Jewish captives refused to bow down and worship the large statue (of himself) that Nebuchadnezzar had erected. He even gave them a second chance of avoiding the fiery furnace he had built for those who refused to bow down. When they told him they still wouldn’t – that they couldn’t/wouldn’t forsake their God, the one true God – he became so angry that he ordered his furnace to be heated even (seven times) hotter. And then he had them thrown in. The man having a meltdown expected the fire to immediately melt down these stubborn young men. But it didn’t work, because God was with them, protecting them, preserving them from the literal power of fire.

            A God who can keep His faithful servants from a literal meltdown can also keep His servants from any kind of harmful emotional meltdown. Believers in Jesus who find themselves on the verge of a meltdown know and worship the same God that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. The next time it is you on the verge of a meltdown, may your faith rise to the occasion like it did for them. And may you see the awesome deliverance of God like they did.

Daniel 3:12-30 (NIV) ¹²  But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon--Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego--who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up." ¹³  Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, ¹⁴  and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? ¹⁵  Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?" ¹⁶  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. ¹⁷  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. ¹⁸  But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." ¹⁹  Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual ²⁰  and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. ²¹  So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. ²²  The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, ²³  and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. ²⁴  Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." ²⁵  He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." ²⁶  Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, ²⁷  and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. ²⁸  Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. ²⁹  Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." ³⁰  Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

PRAYER:  Father, circumstances often conspire to cause meltdowns in my life. Thank you that you are greater. Help me to trust you and to seek deliverance in you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

"So Bad I Can Taste It"

Psalm 34:8 (NIV)  Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

            There is a scene near the end of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Return of the King where Frodo and Sam have accomplished their great quest of destroying the enemy’s evil ring. They have found a high place as lava from the erupting mountain flows around them. Sam is thinking about the food of home. They’ve had virtually nothing to eat for days and their physical strength is completely spent. Frodo is not so sure they will ever make it out of their predicament and get back home, which seems so distant in his mind that he can barely picture it. He doesn’t remember how good things tasted, and might taste again. So many times on their journey they had both longed for the culinary delights of their homes in the Shire.

            A good deal of my own memory associates with food in some way: my mom’s cooking, family meals at my grandmother’s house on holidays, what and where Joanne and I ate on so many wonderful occasions in our lives together, her mom’s mammoth meals in their small apartment in Brooklyn, the “steak” we had at the hospital the night after Brianne was born… the list of memories is way too large to choose from. Most of those memories connect us with people we have loved and known. When I remember the food I remember the person, and vice versa. I’m glad for this association, for when I remember I have a certain longing to be with the person again. When I think of them it leads me to thanksgiving to God for their place and impact in my life. I think of the goodness of knowing them, being influenced by them, being loved and loving. And I don’t just hunger for a taste of the food one more time. I hunger for the presence of the ones I miss.

            I stayed up late last night to watch the national championship game between Villanova and North Carolina. It was a great game with a spectacular last second finish. If you had asked any of those athletes before the game how badly they wanted to win, you probably would have heard at least one of them say something like, “I want to win it so bad I can taste it.” Anyone who has ever longed for something deeply enough understands that statement. It reflects a hunger and a desire for something that is so great that in your imagination you can experience how wonderful it will be when it happens.

            May our hunger and thirst for the Lord be the greatest hunger and thirst in our lives. It will be the only one – when met – that truly satisfies us.

Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV) ⁸  Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, ⁹  for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 119:103 (NIV)  How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 34:10 (KJV)  The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV) ¹  As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. ²  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 63:1-2 (NIV) ¹  O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ²  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

Matthew 5:6 (NIV)  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Revelation 7:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶  Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. ¹⁷  For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

PRAYER:  Father, your love is steadfast and magnificent – even beyond the glories of Creation. You’re justice and wisdom exceed the greatness of mountains and oceans. And you are gentle and caring. Your constant love is of greater value than crown jewels, more precious than all the treasuries of earth. You are our protector and defender. You feed us with blessings from your own table and we drink from your rivers of delight. Thank you for making known to me the path of life, for filling me with joy in your presence, and for the eternal pleasures you give from your right hand. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

It's the Little Things

Joshua 6:18 (NIV)  But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.

            I have been reading in the Book of Joshua in recent days. There is a portion of this book that is devoted to the victory over Jericho. It was a mighty demonstration of God fighting for the Israelites and keeping His promises to give them triumph over the peoples of Canaan. This victory gave them confidence, assurance of God’s presence, and was a reminder of His guidance and aid. You could say they were “on a high” after it. But have you ever felt a letdown after a high? That happened to me after Easter. Easter Sunday is a day I usually “ramp up” to with services during the week and a lot of preparation and anticipation. The day itself was full of celebration in worship and with friends as we remembered that Jesus is risen. Then Monday came and I experienced an emotional letdown. This is not uncommon. Some of it is a physical response and some is an emotional one. You may have this experience in your life in certain ways. Sometimes there are “highs” that are followed by “lows”. It’s part of the rhythm of many a life. I am always thankful that my “lows” have never gotten too low or lasted very long. I know for some it can be much harder.

            The Israelites experienced a “low” shortly after the great victory God gave over Jericho. And it was over a very small matter. The next city to conquer was tiny compared to Jericho. So Israel’s leaders, in a bit of over-confidence, send out a small contingent of soldiers. The numbers really don’t matter when it comes to the Lord - if He is fighting your battles for you. But the Lord wasn’t fighting this battle for them, and the men of the small city – Ai – routed the soldiers of Israel. It wasn’t even the over-confidence that was the problem. But it was something small in men’s eyes. In men’s eyes the “little things” are often of no consequence. But in God’s eyes, the little things always matter. In this situation a man named Achan had decided to help himself to some of the spoils of the victory over Jericho – a nice robe, some coins, and a small piece of gold. These weren’t very significant in the larger scheme of things. “Certainly they would not be missed,” Achan must have thought. He had hidden them in his tent. And then Israel lost the battle against Ai. God held the entire nation responsible for one man’s sin. The actions of one man kept God’s blessing from His people. In a way that is a scary thought, because each of us is “just” one person. Are the “little things” in our lives ever in the way of God’s blessing of ourselves and others, like a small stone stuck in a hose blocking the flow of water? I know I would not want that to be the case because of me. In this way, this story is an encouragement to me to pursue holiness. Ultimately, I abide in the righteousness of Christ, so I am thankful that His blood covers my sin and keeps me from being a stumbling block. Yet my choices and decisions do matter. God calls me to holiness. And holiness becomes real and deep in the little things.

            Achan was discovered and ended up being judged by the Lord because of the “little things”. Temptations to small bits of dishonesty… to small acts of thievery… to brief views of things that don’t please the Lord… to tiny morsels of selfishness – these are among the many “little things” we face in our lives. We discount their importance because they are little. We fool ourselves into thinking they do not matter. It is always good to remember that there are no little things with God. We know that based on the Bible’s descriptions of God’s blessing on and valuing of so-called “insignificant” people and His judgment of people for what we view as minor matters. But in God’s eyes there are no minor matters or minor people. The by-word of the Christian ministry called Ligonier Ministries is a reminder that we live coram deo – “before the face of God”. We live moment by moment in the presence of, and in the full knowledge of God. We forget this often, and it is often to our detriment and grief. Another of R.C. Sproul’s mottos is “Right now counts forever”. If these things are so, then there are no small matters, no little things. May be glorified in the little things of our lives.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)  But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV) ²⁶  Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, ²⁹  so that no one may boast before him.

Proverbs 15:3 (NIV)  The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Matthew 17:19-20 (NIV) ¹⁹  Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, "Why couldn't we drive it out?" ²⁰  He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

PRAYER:  Father, give me a heart and mind to pay attention to the small stuff in life, that it may all come under the Lordship and reign of Jesus, your Son. Remind me that there are no little people, and that nothing in life that is from you or for you is little. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

A Rearranged or a Changed Heart?

Psalm 51:10 (KJV)  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

            Joanne took advantage of the snow day on Monday by doing some things at the house she had been wanting to do when she had the time. One thing was to rearrange the living room furniture. Do you do that in your home? My mom did it when I was a kid. When you’re little something like that seems like a big deal. Why do people do this? I think probably because they want a fresh look... something different. We get bored with the same old same old and we like to mix things up. In our living room we have no new furniture: it’s the same furniture we’ve had for 10+ years. Two rocker-recliners that still have arm rests that are not close to being as clean as when they were when new. A small arm chair that belonged to my mom many years ago and found its way to our house. A small wooden rocking chair that is as uncomfortable as ever. And a couch that is showing its age. So yes, there is a new look in the room. But it’s just a rearrangement. It doesn’t change how things look up close. A throw might cover up spots and give a new look, but it won’t change what’s underneath. We do clean things up from time to time, but even a cleaning won’t get the “new furniture look” back completely. Small improvements help, but they tend to fall short of a true “new look”.

            My spiritual life can be like the living room at times. In my spiritual life I have lots of “stuff” in my heart. Some of it has been there a long time. It’s well-worn and dirty. In some cases I don’t even remember how it found its way there. But it’s there: an attitude toward someone I’ve been holding onto… a sin I’m unwilling to surrender… an expectation or direction from Scripture that I have been too stubborn to put into practice… a use of my time or money that is selfish and isn’t really honoring to the Lord. Some of these things – maybe just a couple – have been in the living room of my life for a long time. From time to time I move them around or do a cosmetic, superficial alteration: a small cleaning job so it looks passable. I attend to religious stuff a little more or start an effort to be a better person in certain ways… . Those aren’t bad things in themselves, but my real need is a heart change, not superficial, external rearrangement. I need a new heart, and those only come from Christ. I need transformation from old to new, and I cannot make that happen. Only Jesus can do that. When I surrender my “stuff” (when I repent) He will give me something brand new. He will give me from what is His. He doesn’t say to me, “Just apply a little soap and scrub. Just rearrange it so the spots are covered up.”

            Managing sin is like trying to rearrange a living room to make me feel better. Only Jesus can give me something brand new and different. The Gospel is about the righteousness of Jesus being placed over me so that God the Father doesn’t just see a clean cover over something dirty underneath. It’s about a righteousness that permeates me so deeply that it is all there is for the Father to see. There is no unrighteousness for the Father to see because Jesus has replaced it with His own. That’s a massively major transaction that gives me a whole new perspective: new life… clean life… no stains… no blemishes. Jesus is our “interior decorator” extraordinaire. Just one thing… He wants me to know that my heart is His living room now. He decides what goes where: what to keep and what to get rid of.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 18:30-32 (NIV) ³⁰  "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. ³¹  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? ³²  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)  "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

PRAYER:  Father, there is “stuff” in my heart that I have gotten comfortable with and allowed to remain in my life unchanged. This stuff has kept me from you, even when I’ve gone to church and done spiritual duties. I need my heart changed and I recognize that only you can do this. Give me eyes to see the poverty in my soul and my love for things which fall short of what you require. Have mercy upon me and transform me. My efforts to just touch up my brokenness and sin just don’t do it. Let me see the uselessness of thinking my works will ever be able to satisfy your holiness. Have Thine own way, Lord, Have Thine own way. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Flow, River, Flow

John 7:38-39 (NIV) ³⁸  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." ³⁹  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

            When I was a boy a friend and I would spend many summer days exploring the area in which we lived in East Auburn, Maine. There were lots of woods and hills and a lake close by. It was a terrific place to grow up for boys who liked fun, adventure, and exploring. About a mile from my house we could make our way through a hay field off of a small back road out to the Androscoggin River. The Androscoggin is a good-sized river in southern Maine that flows into the Kennebec before it comes out to the ocean through Bath. Far out at the other end of the hay field was a small hill that overlooked the river – or should I say, the dam.

Gulf Island Dam is one of the larger dams and hydroelectric projects in Maine. It was completed around 1927 and spans the river about 4 miles north of the twin cities of Lewiston and Auburn. On the Lewiston side there are access roads and traffic in an out. On the Auburn side there are only trees, a hill, and hay fields… and a fence to keep people from getting too close to the dam. My friend and I would approach the fence and then walk along it down the hill to a huge rock ledge that served as an overlook below the dam. We were also below the height of the dam and had to look up to the top of it. Years before iron bars had been put in place on that rock ledge, suggesting that it was once a formal kind of location for viewing. It’s a great spot.

Now dams are interesting to look at, but when no water is flowing through the gates at the top of the dam it’s hard to stay interested for very long. We could always tell long before we got to the overlook if gates were open or not. The roar of flowing water was intense enough to cover a fair distance. And when you combined it with the sight of millions of gallons of water crashing down on the rocks below, it was pretty impressive. And if water levels were extremely high due to heavy rains, what a show it all put on.

The power of flowing water attracts us - so much so that we build places of safe observation so that they may be enjoyed more fully. Water in Acadia in spring makes a beautiful sound and a beautiful sight. There is a place fairly high up on the Cadillac Mountain auto road where water flow is especially striking over some ledges. The flow of heavy surf crashing on rocks mesmerizes people all up and down the coast of Maine. Great canyons show panoramas of beauty that flowing water has carved out through the centuries. Letchworth Park in upstate New York was a favorite of Joanne’s and mine when we were at college at Houghton. The north-flowing Genesee River had many beautiful, large waterfalls to enjoy. But especially thrilling are the great waterfalls, like Niagara Falls. Even though the flow of water is greatly reduced from what it once was, when you lay your eyes on it for the first time, it is difficult not to be impressed. I am really happy God that created waterfalls and I try to remember to praise Him for their beauty whenever I am around one.

Jesus spoke of another kind of water flow that is even more impressive. Streams of living water will be the natural and normal outcome in the life of the person who believes on Christ. Not literal flowing water, but a flow coming from the presence of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus would give to all who place their trust and hope in Him. We learn in Galatians that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Imagine your life with a “Niagara Falls” of these flowing in you. May God open up the gates in our lives so that this fruit may overflow and impact our relationships with God and with one another. God hasn’t designed this to be a small, quiet flow, but a great flow that crashes and roars with the beauty of the presence of His Spirit and attracts others to Christ.

Psalm 78:14-16 (NIV) ¹⁴  He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. ¹⁵  He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas; ¹⁶  he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.

Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV) ¹  Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ²  down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. ³  No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

PRAYER:  Flow, river, flow. Fill me with your Spirit. May his fruit in me be abundant. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott

Happy Endings

Revelation 22:3-5 (NIV) ³  No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵  There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

            On Sunday night Joanne and I watched the series finale of Downton Abbey. This television program which originates in England ran for six seasons here in the U.S. and gained a large following of fans. One theater in Portland hosted a community viewing of that last episode. Things like this happened in many communities. Fans everywhere could not get enough of the show. PBS used the occasion to garner financial support. After the program concluded one of the PBS hosts was just glowing with delight at how “satisfying” a conclusion the episode was. I think she felt that because virtually every circumstance and relationship of the show’s characters ended up experiencing a happy ending. I remember thinking as I was watching, “This is all a little bit too good to be true, isn’t it?” Of course, with fiction you can write it and make it happen any way you want.

            The world cannot guarantee us happy endings in real life. In fact, life surrounds us with all kinds of injustice, evil, sadness, brokenness, and death. Words like cancer, nuclear, warming, etc., trend our thinking toward unhappy endings for our lives and even the world. Doom and gloom overhang us and keep us from the comfort of the happy endings we long for. In fact, some consider anything that ends happily to be confined to fiction and fantasy. When things are “too good to be true” we may tend expect that it cannot last, or that we do not deserve it. Real life in the real world doesn’t happen that way, we may think. Perhaps we aren’t far from where Solomon was as he wrote the Old Testament book Ecclesiastes. He begins with "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (1:2), and goes downhill from there. But if you stay with the book of Ecclesiastes you will find a happy ending: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (12:13-14). Now that might not sound too happy to you. But it seems to me that any ending with God in control is a happy ending.

            The Scriptures reveal to us a God who writes the last chapter, and at the end of all things He will establish complete and perfect justice. All injustice will be judged and/or “made straight”. At the end of all things God will overcome all evil and all impact of evil in the universe. At the end of all things God will destroy death and all of the despair that accompanies it. God will put an end to all things that cause hopelessness. All of our hopes in Christ will be fulfilled. There will be no such thing as pain, and all sorrow will be healed. How is all that for a happy ending? And it is not “pure fantasy”. This is the real promise of the Word of God. What a future awaits us in Christ! What joys will result from knowing and walking with Him!

            And here is really good news: The foundation for such a “happy ending” future has already been established. It would be easy to accuse Christians of a “pie in the sky when I die” mentality… if it were not for the cross. When Christ entered this world, the beginning of the end was written. When Christ went to the cross and when He rose again, everything that awaits the people of God was sealed for eternity. The Gospel promises that God will make all things right because the work of Christ on the cross was sufficient to do so. The power of the cross undoes sin. It heals all that is unwell in us and in the universe.

            Are you looking for a true “happy ending” to all the problems and troubles of life? Then look to the cross and to Him who gave His life for you upon it. See there the Gospel of God’s love and grace and put your hope in Christ alone. You will not be disappointed, even though your world may be full of adversity now. We have victory in Jesus and true peace in the midst of hardship. God is faithful and He is good.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV) ¹⁷  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV) ¹  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ²  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." ⁵  He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

PRAYER:  My hope is in You Lord. Thank you for all that is ahead of me in Christ. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!    

Scott