He's on the Job

"But the LORD is in his holy Temple;

the LORD still rules from heaven.

He watches everyone closely,

examining every person on earth."

Psalm 11:4 NLT

It's easy to get discouraged when seeing the evil of this world.  Will those who cause such pain and suffering receive punishment?  Or will they get away with all they have done?

Not to worry; God is on the job.  He see it all.  Nothing escapes His attention.  

Rest in His righteous judgment.  Take refuge in Him.

Our Deeds Will Follow Us

"And (the angel) said in a loud voice,

'Fear God and give him glory,

because the hour of his judgment has come,

and worship him who made heaven and earth,

the sea and the springs of water.'

. . .And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever,

and they have no rest, day or night,

these worshipers of the beast and its image,

and whoever receives the mark of its name.'

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints,

those who keep the commandments of God 

and their faith in Jesus.

And I heard a voice from heaven saying,

'Write this: 

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'

'Blessed indeed,' says the Spirit,

'that they may rest from their labors,

for their deeds follow them!'"

Revelation 14:7,11-13 ESV

He spent his high school years having fun, focusing on friends more than academics, choosing partying in the place of studying, and favoring pleasure over discipline.  As a result, when the time came to submit college applications, he didn't have much of substance to include on his resume and failed to gain entry into any institute of higher learning.  The choices made in his earlier years followed this young man into the future.

In a similar way, the way I live my life doesn't just impact this temporary life.  Even though the time of judgment is not yet here, it is coming.  Therefore, I would be prudent to pay attention to the warnings of what is to come.  The decisions I make now will stay with me for eternity.

Patiently Endure

I felt like someone was watching me from the treeline.  My stalker's eyes followed my every move as he stayed on the lookout, biding his time until he saw his opportunity to attack.  When my defenses were down and I least expected it, the lion pounced on his prey.

While I've never really been assaulted by the king of the jungle, I have endured many attacks from the Evil One.  Satan has been compared to a prowling lion who is constantly on the lookout for someone to devour.  (1 Peter 5:8)  As a result, I must be aware of his schemes, remembering that the Spirit of God is greater than he. (1 John 4:4)

My willingness to patiently endure the temptations placed in my path by the Enemy of my soul will have eternal consequences.  Therefore, when things don't go my way and I am tempted to blame God for my hard times, I can instead resist the urge and accept my present circumstances as a tool the Master is using to mold me into the image of Christ.  (James 4:7)

Or when I feel the urge to give into anger and take my frustrations out on the ones I love the most, I can instead keep my eyes on the One who holds all things in His hand and will not let me fall.  Even when I am attracted to fleshly desires that will harm my walk with Christ, I can instead choose to stand firmly on solid ground by following the lead of His Spirit. (Galatians 5:16) 

Choosing to patiently endure the temptation to give in to Satan's alluring advances is a decision that will stay with me for eternity.

Obey God

"If it feels good, do it."

"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough."

"Live for yourself, not others."

These are common beliefs found in the consciousness of today's self-gratifying generation.  While these sentiments may appeal to my sin nature, they contradict the precepts I learn from God's Word.

When I only focus on doing what feels good to me, I will not take one foot down the path God has laid out for me.  Instead of holding my emotions up as a compass, I can desire to please God and go only where He leads me, even if it feels scary, uncomfortable or downright difficult. (Jeremiah 17:9, Jeremiah 29:11)  

When my life's goal is to accomplish everything on my own personal "bucket list," then I miss out on all the eternal blessings that will come from fulfilling God's plan for my life.  If my own opinion is the only one that matters in the end, then I will end up making decisions that make myself happy instead of desiring to please God above all things.

Choosing to purposefully prefer God's ways over the fleshly appeal of the world is a decision that will stay with me for eternity.

Remain Faithful

He never took his eyes off his master, even when the alluring duck flew in front of his face, tempting the Labrador Retriever to chase as was natural to his instincts.  The canine's devotion to his master, however, gave him a self-control that amazed even the most hardened skeptic.  Staying true to his beloved leader mattered more to this dog than did following his desire to chase and retrieve.

In a similar way, my devotion to Jesus will take me places I never thought possible for me to visit.  Instead of working hard in service to prove my allegiance to the Lord, I can sit at His feet and only move when He rises to lead me.  While I sometimes think it necessary to join in with what man is doing for God, I will never find Jesus there in the midst of them.  I will only find Him when I stop working and sit quietly, seeking His face above my desire to improve my reputation as a good Christian. (Psalm 46:10)

Oswald Chambers explained it this way.  He wrote, "We count as service what we do in the way of Christian work; Jesus Christ calls service what we are to Him, not what we do for Him.  Discipleship is based on devotion to Jesus Christ, not an adherence to a belief or a creed." 

When I hold my relationship with my Savior as most important, all the questions as to what acts of service I should do or not do will fade away.  All that will matter, then, is who I am to Him.  Am I paying attention to His promptings to love those around me?  Do I care when He points out a sin that is getting in the way of my connection to Him?  Is His opinion of me more important than that of the people around me?

Choosing to love Jesus more each day is a decision that will stay with me for eternity.

In the same way that the decisions I made as an adolescent influenced my life as an adult, so the way I choose to live my life here on earth will stay with me for eternity.  Therefore, I would be prudent to resist the devil's schemes designed to plunge me into sinful living, obey God above all other powers that be and remain faithful to Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.  (John 14:6)  Since my deeds will follow me to eternity, I would be wise to do that which will prove lasting.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember the eternal consequences for my actions.

Even though I am saved by faith, the way I live my life matters.  How can I change in order to live a more eternally-focused life?

When am I more in tune with the here-and-now than with eternity? 

Who Can Stand?

"Then the kings of the earth

and the great ones

and the generals

and the rich and the powerful,

and everyone, slave and free,

hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks,

'Fall on us and hide us from the face

of him who is seated on the throne,

and from the wrath of the Lamb,

for the great day of their wrath has come,

and who can stand?'"

Revelation 6:15-17 ESV

I love to think about the loving, gracious and merciful God who sent His Son to die for me so I might enjoy a relationship with Him.  It warms my heart to think of the generosity of God and how natural it is for Him to give good gifts to His children. (Matthew 7:11)  A smile comes to my face when I think of the attentiveness of my heavenly Father and how He doesn't miss a thing that goes on in my life.  (Matthew 10:29-31)  These are all attributes of God that bring joy to my heart so I dwell on them often.

In contrast, the part of God that is not so pleasant to think about but as equally as present is His righteous, just side.  To be honest, as much as I know I belong to Him through faith in Jesus Christ and that the blood of Jesus covers my sin so I escape judgment, it still brings a sense of awesome fear and respect to think that God is so holy and perfectly just.

While this aspect of God may be difficult to accept, I know that those rulers who are bent on destruction, the sources of evil that seem to rule this world, and the corrupt who always seem to win will one day stand before this righteous and just God.  Even though they seem to thumb their noses at God now, seeming not to care, the day will come when they will cower in fear as they stand before Him without the benefit of a Savior.  Who can stand before the Holy and Righteous God?

Temporary Reign

It aggravates me to see evil winning in this world.  It seems those who live a corrupt life are rewarded for their demented efforts.  I often see the cheaters and frauds live in luxury while those who work hard to earn a decent living barely scrape by.  It is common for the criminal justice system to let killers go in the name of human rights without a care to the effect on the victims' family.  Why does it seem evil reigns?

Even though life appears to be unfair, evil is allowed to work but by no means goes completely unchecked.  As much as the darkness bothers me, it angers God even more for He is perfectly holy.  There is no sin that will go unpunished:  Either the death penalty was served out by Jesus when He died on the cross, or it will be carried out by those who reject His free gift of salvation.  In this way, God's justice will be satisfied.

Since the reign of evil in this world is temporary, I can leave room for God's wrath and let Him handle vengeance.  If I take matters into my own hands and attempt to avenge the wrongdoings of others, my sinful nature will corrupt my intentions and turn them into something ugly.  (Romans 12:17-21)  Since God will perfectly mete out justice, I can then turn my attentions to loving others even if they are hateful, murderous souls.  It is not my place to decide who receives the love of God, so it is best that I not discriminate!

Knowing God is just gives me the ability to freely love as I understand that the evil that runs rampant now will one day be vanquished.

God's Sovereignty

No one likes to suffer and it's easy to get mad at God when my life is not as comfortable as I wanted it to be.  I expect to have hard days, but when they seem to keep coming one after the other, I naturally ask God, Are You serious?  Can't I get a break?

While it's human nature to steer clear of hard times, my Good Shepherd intentionally leads me through dark valleys for my own good. (Psalm 23:4, Romans 5:3-5)  When I suffer, I learn to trust God in a way that living an easy life cannot bring about.  

Acknowledging that everything that enters into my life has been carefully screened by God for a specific purpose helps me to accept the position in which I now find myself.  Instead of fighting everything that seems bad in my life, I can then realize the good that will come out of it and embrace the hard things.  (Romans 8:28)

Knowing God is completely in control gives me the ability to receive all aspects of my life with joy.

Righteous Judgment

It is so easy for me to see the sin in those around me.  I am quick to point my finger at others as their sins seem so glaringly obvious.  If I take the time to talk to my Father about what bothers me in others, however, He will quickly reveal twice as many areas of sin in my own life.  God sure knows how to knock me down off my high pedestal!

If I am noticing a certain sin in someone else, I can be sure that it only stands out to me because I have the same problem.  My fallen nature does not allow me to judge justly, so it's better that I do not try.  (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)  

Therefore, when the gossiping mouth of a friend gets under my skin, I would be wise to let God show me my own issues with talking about others.  Or, when I sneer in disgust at a brother's problem with pornography, I had better ask God to highlight my own issues of lust.  Or when I look down on a sister's anxious ways, I can be sure that worry often visits my own heart.

Knowing God is a righteous judge gives me the opportunity to leave the job of judging in His hands.

There is no doubt the world in which I live is evil and many times it's intensity seems to grow unchecked.  The reality, however, is that the rule of darkness is temporary, God's control is complete and absolute, and His judgment is perfect.  For these reasons, I can rest assured that my job while in the midst of this dark world is to love others, trust God with my circumstances and let God be the only One who judges others.  In these ways I will glorify a God before whom no one can stand.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with all the good and the bad in my life.

When do I get caught up in the darkness of this world, forgetting God's sovereign hand?

How am I quick to judge others?  

Worthy Lamb

"And they sang a new song with these words:

'You are worthy to take the scroll

and break its seals and open it.

For you were slaughtered,

and your blood has ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation.

And you have caused them to become

a Kingdom of priests for our God.

and they will reign on the earth.'"

Revelation 5:9-10 NLT

Savior?  Teacher? Friend?  Who is Jesus to me?

The disciples each had their own idea of who Jesus was.  They spent time with Him and saw His goodness, wisdom and loving kindness, but they didn't always understand His true nature.

While walking to another location one day, Jesus asked His followers what others say about Him.  Then He asked, "'But who do you say I am?' Peter replied, 'You are the Messiah.'" (Mark 8:29)  So Peter understood He was the One prophesied about in Scripture, but there was so much more that the man didn't get.

Challenging those around Him, Jesus explained that soon He would give His life and if they really wanted to be His disciples, they must do the same.  (Mark 8:31-38)  Peter freaked out, telling Jesus that He shouldn't talk that way.  Dying a sacrificial death, however, was the purpose for which Jesus entered into the realm of man.

In order to put Jesus in His proper place as Lord, Redeemer and High Priest, I must realize He is more than just a Savior.  He is the only One who is worthy to open the seals that unleash God's righteous judgment on the world.  (Revelation 5:5)  Why is that and what does it mean to me?

Slain

When I think of someone who will save the world, I picture a superhero of sorts who will overpower the enemies of mankind with sheer power.  Swooping in to save the day at just the right time, he will vanquish the foe with one swing of his mighty sword.

Instead of living up to my fantasies, however, Jesus saved the world in quiet submission as a lamb led to the slaughter.  His perfect sacrifice on the cross did more to free the world from the oppressiveness of sin and death than any other act ever committed in all of history.  He set me free from the burden of my own transgressions, removing not only the stain of sin but my rightful punishment for it as well.

While Jesus put Himself into the hands of the unrighteous, innocent as a dove, He returns as a Lion, glorious in His victory. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)  As a sinner who He has reconciled with a holy God, I now walk as a conqueror and overcomer.  (Romans 8:37)

Therefore, I have the power to walk free from the power of my sinful nature.  While I used to respond to ill-treatment with more of the same, I now experience a surge of compassion toward those who live a bitter life.  It used to be so common to want nothing more than what was good for me, but now I sense a desire to seek what is best for others.  If you could examine my heart in the past you would find a list of all the ways that I've been wronged, but now all you will discover is the love of God.

When I realize Jesus is the lamb that was slain, I can likewise give my life in submission to my heavenly Father's transforming work.

Blood Purchase

We have some friends who had to raise thousands of dollars in order to adopt some children from China.  Just last week, they finally brought the little girl and boy home to join their new big brother who showed them the ropes of living in America.  While adopting orphans is quite costly, it pales in comparison to the price that was paid for my life.

When Jesus gave His life on a Roman cross, He paid the price that purchased His own for God's own.  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)  Now I do not belong to myself to do with as I please, but I am God's precious possession created to do the things He prepared in advance for me to do.  (Ephesians 2:10)

God secured my salvation with the blood of His only Son so that I can live for Him.  Instead, I often live for my own selfish desires, stubbornly insisting on seeing things from my point of view and taking more than I give.  In short, I live as if God were not my adoptive Father.  (1 John 3:1-10)

When I realize Jesus secured my purchase for His Father with His blood, then I can start to live the life He has prepared for me to live.

Kingdom of Priests

There was a dark period in the history of the western world when Catholic priests gained political power.  As a result, their judgment was corrupted as they sought more and more control from the rightful king.  The usual role of a priest to serve and love was corrupted, transforming these leaders into evil tyrants bent on lording their illicit authority over all.

While I may not face an overbearing Pope who wants nothing more than to take power that does not belong to him, I do have a High Priest in Jesus Christ who not only serves as the final, perfect sacrifice that bought me passage into the holy presence of God, but also reigns as the King of all kings.  (Hebrews 4:14-16, Revelation 19:16)

Jesus is both Priest and King who serves and reigns.  Therefore, I can trust Him with my deepest fears, my greatest struggles and my most impossible obstacles.  He has both the compassion and the power to fill all my needs.  Jesus is my one-stop shopping destination for grace and might.

When I realize Jesus serves as both Priest and King, then I can live as His beloved, trusting Him to present me before God as holy and pure while allowing Him to fight my battles for me.

Jesus is more than just a wise Teacher, courageous Savior and loyal Friend.  Instead, I know Him as my Lord, Redeemer and both High Priest and King.  In my heart, He is therefore a worthy Lamb and I live to bring Him honor and glory!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember Jesus' real identity.

How am I living as a free agent instead of a member of God's team?

When do I approach God warily, as if I don't belong?