Hiding in Plain Sight

 "Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden." Genesis 3:8

"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.' For the great day of their wrath has come and who can withstand it?"  Revelation 6: 15-17

    When I was a teenager, I took the family car without permission. On my fool's errand, I drove through some very telltale tar which marked that car like a scarlet letter. Intelligent human being that I was, I hid the car in the garage. Now that's as feeble as trying to hide a buffalo under the bed. When my father approached me, requesting an explanation, did I rely on his love and confidently confess and repent? No. Regretfully, I lied. Why did I do that? My father loved me to pieces and he was never prone to violence or outrage, either. I had no reason other than shame.

    From Genesis to Revelation, mankind has been hiding from God. Who can blame us? The Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, thereby deserving death, so how can any one of us withstand the judgment and wrath of Holy God? If my sin brought fear of punishment from my earthly father, how much more a lifetime of iniquity against a powerful God? 

    Well, like my dad, God loves me. Loves me so much that he gave his only Son to take the stripes that I deserved. And, like that buffalo analogy, I cannot hide from Him. Proverbs 28:13 lends this wisdom: "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Armed with this undeserved mercy, how do I confidently approach the throne of God as his child? I'm glad you asked; it's no secret, nor is it hidden from sight. Jesus hung on a cross for all to see, thereby drawing the world to Him.

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world, we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4: 15-18

You Be the Judge

"Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'" Acts 4: 18. 19

    Recently, I began volunteering to help the food pantry at a local church. The food is kept on the church property and operated by loving brothers and sisters of their congregation. As part of the training, I was told we are "not allowed to proselytize" since the Cleveland Food Bank that supplies the goods does the governing. In my heart, I thought, "Oh, so the church is good enough to provide the means, but then we are told to shut up." Those who arrive to be fed will be hungry again as they drive away with souls as empty as raided shelves.

    The courage we lack was demonstrated by Peter and John in the days of the early church. They were also told to shut up by the governing authorities of that day, but reread their amazing response in the verses above. These two unschooled former fishermen had healed a man in the name of Jesus, then proceeded to preach the Good News to the hungry crowds. Before they were thrown in jail for this "crime", many who heard their message believed, so the number grew to five thousand. 

    When Jesus fed the five thousand by multiplying the little boy's lunch, those who ate were soon hungry again. At this feeding of the five thousand, the starving were satiated with the words of eternal life!

    After Peter and John's release from jail, they were given many stern warnings NOT to preach in the Name of Jesus again, yet in their subsequent prayer meeting, they implored of the Lord: "'Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness'...And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (Acts 4: 29, 31)

    It shames me to say that I complied with what I was instructed. I did not want to upset the apple cart. But is that what I am called to do? I believe I know the answer...

"Jesus answered, 'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" John 4: 13, 14 

The Bit Players

 "So He sent two of his disciples telling them, 'Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, "The Teachers asks 'Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?" He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.'" Mark 14: 12-15

    On our way to Texas, we would be driving through Memphis. Thinking it might be fun to stay in the Heartbreak Hotel, I inquired about a vacancy via telephone. The clerk responded, "Are you crazy, lady? That's during the throes of Elvis Week! You'll be lucky to stay anywhere in Tennessee."

    The earthly life of Jesus is bookended by busy, booked cities. A census caused the crowd in Bethlehem, when Joseph could only procure an empty stable for the birth of the King, and now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, AKA the Passover, had Jerusalem humming at a fevered pitch. I wonder if there's any hidden meaning in this parallel? 

    Anyway, I got to thinking about this homeowner who happened to have an upper room, "furnished and ready." For whom was it prepared? Had he known the Teacher would request it? Or did he have to cancel a reservation? The scriptures do not tell us because such details are unimportant to the story, yet I find it intriguing to peer beyond what's given and imagine being the bit player in the background. What was it like for this guy to host the Last Supper in his abode, though he likely had no knowledge of the historical impact of the event. Did Jesus greet him upon entrance, extending a hand in gratitude? Perhaps the man witnessed the grotesque display at the hill of Calvary the next day as he tried to piece the puzzling events together. Then, imagine what he thought when he heard the news of the empty tomb! What a time that must've been!

    I'd like to think that the full truth of the visiting Messiah opened the door of his heart, as well as his home, as he humbly welcomed the Living Lord. Then, upon his death, it would be Jesus's turn to open His heavenly home to the man with the upper room. 

    Our service to the Savior is not always star-studded, front page news. It may be as insignificant as opening ones home to someone in need, but when it's done for Him, it's a starring role.

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." Matthew 10:42  

     

Just Do It!

 "And when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them..." Exodus 12:26

    Every year in mid-March, I sit back and watch the frivolity surrounding St. Patrick's Day. Avid folks in shamrock shirts chase corned beef and hash with green beer, never stopping to think why they are doing it. Sometimes, I will ask them, "Who was St. Patrick?" It's a privilege to tell them about the missionary who'd been taken from his homeland as a slave to Ireland. After he'd regained his liberty, his love for the lost people of that country tugged him to return, bringing with him the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's a great way to begin a conversation about our Savior.

    When we forget the origin of our celebrations, we are like a person who walked past the historic St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, admiring its awesome architecture, yet turned a corner and looked back and all that is seen now is a Dollar General. The former is forgotten. 

    What's behind Christmas? Santa, silver bells and elves on shelves? Does the power of pretty dresses and pastel eggs blot out the resurrection of the crucified Messiah every Easter? Satan's smokescreens seek to smother the light of the Gospel until green beer replaces the celebration of the birth of Christianity to an entire nation. It's little wonder God, knowing us like He does, reminds us throughout the scriptures to remember! If the loss of our liberties in America meant the tearing down of crosses or the torching of sanctuaries, would the truth slip from your heart as easily as turning a corner?

    We have so so much to celebrate! At Christmas, bake a birthday cake for Jesus with the little ones in your life. Take them to a live nativity. Every Easter, don't glide right by Good Friday, eager to embrace the joy of the resurrection. Talk about the gravity of sin and the power of the blood. If we don't teach our kids the truth, what falsehoods await them in the secular kingdom? Don't wait for them to ask you either; just do it.

    "Only be careful and watch yourselves closely, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. " Deuteronomy 4:9

Coming to the Rescue

 "He said, 'Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me.'; and so, he became their Savior. In all their distress, he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."                 Isaiah 63: 8, 9

    One dark and rainy night, our phone rang. "Could you please come and help me?" our daughter asked. "My car is stuck in the mud." My husband compiled the tools of rescue he felt we may need and together, we headed out. On the way, however, our wipers quit working! Now we needed to be rescued. Enter our relative, Jeff, who kindly came to our aid in inclement weather. Our daughter tried to free her car on her own but she needed help. In the Bible, Jeff would have been our kinsman redeemer - a next-of-kin who, in certain emergencies, was expected to come to the rescue. 

    Sooner or later, in this life, we will find ourselves stuck in the mud. We're wet, miserable, sinking in our sinful mire, unable to free ourselves, no matter how hard we try. Who will rescue us from this mess? We need Someone who is not also stuck, Someone who has all the right equipment. "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1: 13, 14) 

    Do you know you were bought at a precious, valuable price? It was not with perishable things, like money, that we were redeemed, but "with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." (1 Peter 1: 18, 19) The word "redeem" means to "recover ownership of by paying a specified sum; to buy back." When it comes to saving souls for all eternity, who could possibly afford that price? 

    Jesus came to the rescue in person, in inclement situations, paying the price we could never afford. Just as we would never have left our daughter in the mud, He heroically came to deliver us from this body of death so we may go home to be with Him where it's safe and dry. He is our Kinsman Redeemer.

"I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?" Hosea 13:14

A Head Above the Rest

 "But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.'" Luke 19:8

    In a recent article warning readers about credit card fraud, the characteristics of Satan were plain as day within the text. The deceptive traps laid by the fraudsters were identified as "dark patterns" using such descriptive words as trick, sneak, fakery, deceive, crooks, illegal, fooled, risk, confuse and coerce. These patterns involved sneaking unwanted items into online carts, convoluted wording meant to induce confusion, visual tricks and psychological games. 

    There were such shysters in Jesus's day, too, the most infamous being tax collectors. This was the trade of Zacchaeus, a short guy whose desire to see Jesus drove him up a sycamore tree. Imagine his shock and delight when Jesus stopped beneath his bough and, addressing him by name, announced He (Jesus) would be dining with him that evening! His meeting with the Savior so changed his heart that he repented of his charlatan ways and vowed to make things right. His integrity raised him a head above the rest.

    I keep an excerpt from Psalm 140 near my computer as a prayer of protection: "Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent who devise ways to trip my feet...Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed...May the mischief of their lips engulf them." Maybe I should also pray that the hearts of the fraudsters, like that of Zacchaeus, be changed by the only One who can cleanse their sins.

"You must have accurate and honest weights and measures so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. For the Lord your God detests anyone who does these things, anyone who deals dishonestly." Deuteronomy 25: 15, 16

Voices from the Grave

 "By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God spoke well of his offering. And by faith Abel speaks, even though he is dead."     Hebrews 11:4

    In front of our county courthouse, two statues flank the entrance. The man on the right has a kind, relaxed demeanor, hands gently resting by his side. In contrast, the composure of the man on the left is tense and glowering with a furrowed brow and a clenched fist behind his back. These are the brothers Cain and Abel, representing the first murder in the history of mankind. 

    Both of these men's actions speak from the grave all these centuries later. In their biblical account, though both men had offered a sacrifice to the Lord, Abel had done so with a glad and generous heart. Cain, clouded by envy, reacted in anger against his brother, leaving his murderous mark on the world.

    Our heart's perceptions have an immortal quality. Long after I am laid to rest, will my voice from the grave speak of my faith in God? Or will I be remembered for my sins?

"God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7

Skeletons in the Closet

 "His (Manasseh's) prayer and how God was moved by his entreaty, as well as all his sins and unfaithfulness,...all these are written in the records of the seers. Manasseh rested with his ancestors and was buried in his palace." 2 Chronicles 33: 19-20

    Obituaries usually follow a certain format. After personal information may come a list of the person's contributions to society, family and church. Rarely do any contain negative aspects such as sins or regrets. Have you ever tried to pen your own? It's a true exercise in humility. I found I am not always willing to look in the rear view mirror too closely.

    When reading about this fellow Manasseh today, it struck me that ALL his sins were written in the record books. His skeletons didn't have a closet to hide in! Made a king at age twelve, here are some examples of his leadership over his 55-year reign in Jerusalem: He erected altars to idols inside the very temple of the Lord, worshiped the starry host, practiced divination and witchcraft, sought omens, consulted mediums and sacrificed his own children in the fire! God spoke to him and all the people he led astray, but they paid no attention until the Lord had enemies lead Manasseh away, bound in shackles with a hook in his nose. Finally, in his distress, this evil king sought the Lord in humility and prayer, and God listened, extending mercy.

    Most of us have a pile of dirty laundry hidden in the basement, but God sees it all, which makes our sin even more distressing. The next time you see a cross - be it on a steeple or a necklace - think of the power of the blood of Christ. How blood makes the stains of sin disappear is a mystery I am grateful to embrace. In the Bible, we are told God not only forgives, He forgets. "...you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19) "...all my sins are behind your back." (Isaiah 38:17) "I will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12)

    Once we confess our sins, God is faithful to wash our clothes and clean out our closets. Now, keep tidy by forgiving others! 

"Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13

     

Faith or Fiction?

"The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and the moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both the summer and the winter."              Psalm 74: 16, 17

    Do you remember taking science tests in school? There were myriad ways to divulge your knowledge or lack thereof: multiple choice, true or false or the dreaded essay answer. It seemed like the true or false questions were preferable because at least there was a 50/50 chance your guess was correct. 

    These types of questions present themselves in our lives as adults. I have found it's usually Satan who is giving the test. For instance, I was looking up some information about the origin of the sun on Wikipedia and here is the answer: "It formed approximately 4.6 billion years ago from the gravitational collapse of matter within a region of a large molecular cloud. Most of this matter gathered in the center, whereas the rest flattened into an orbiting disk that became the Solar System."

    Now, I don't claim to know everything, but that sounds like an Eddie Haskell answer to me. To be able to recognize lies, one has to become familiar with the Truth. Listen to what the Bible says about the origin of the sun: on the fourth day of creation, God made "the lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night...God made two great lights - the greater to govern the day and the lesser to govern the night. He also made the stars." (Genesis 1: 14, 16)

    The first explanation, though is sounds grandiose, is full of holes. Where did the matter come from? Who made the molecular cloud? Knowing my Father the way I do, when He tells me something, I believe it because He cannot lie. He says: "For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1:16) Therefore, the answer to my question about the origin of the sun is found in the truth of scriptures: God made it.

    If I were to take a test in science class today, knowing that they teach the theory of evolution as fact, I would likely fail, but I wouldn't fail miserably! I pass God's test with gold stars.

"Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens; who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing." Isaiah 40: 26

If You Don't Like it, You Can Exchange It

 "They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass. They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt." Psalm 106: 20 & 21

"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles...They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped it and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen." Romans 1: 22, 23, 25

    Years ago, I received a beautiful winter coat for Christmas from my daughter's friend, Pablo. Smiling and quite surprised by such generosity, my face fell as I noted it was not my size. Not having full command of women's sizes in the English language, he'd selected "grande" because I was tall. So, I had to exchange the coat.

    The practice of exchanging a gift usually means the recipient selects something better, as in my case, a better fit. Why would anyone exchange a gift for something worse or of less value?

    As foolhardy as that idea sounds, it is done all the time with the gift of God, which is eternal life in Christ. Perhaps they like the feel of a full wallet or the size of their lust for the flesh. A grand ego fits some while human praise and power cloak their days. Some never open the gift of grace; they say they don't need it. Their good works are enough for them, a garment worn in pride. They are trading in abundant life, everlasting love and life eternal in heaven for temporal gain not caring to realize that "what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

    With the gift in His hand and a smile on His face, He extends it to you saying, "If you don't like it, you can exchange it." The choice is yours.

"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might have life through him." 1 John 4:9 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." Romans 6:23