Honest to God

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous

When I was ten or eleven, my mom was constantly telling me not to throw the football in the house. Of course, it was almost irresistible to be able to do it and get away with it. One day, the absolute worst happened. After airing the football through the living room, it landed on a shelf where my grandmother’s antique figurine had been placed. With mom in the kitchen, I had a little time to buy, and so I assessed the problem and realized that a piece had broken off. I knew where my dad stored the super glue and immediately began fixing it back to normal. It was a success and the only person that knew about it was me. I was paranoid for months until my sister was playing in the house and knocked the same figurine over. Can you imagine what happened? Of course, she broke it and was the one to get in trouble.

Have you ever gotten away with something that you knew was wrong? At the beginning, you might find yourself relieved that no one else caught you. However, the conscience records our wrong doings and eventually our sin will find us out even though we may be able to hide it for a little while. Over the process of time, our conscience will not be so quick to feel the guilt if we continue to get away with our sin. First Timothy 4:2b speaks of men “having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” A clear and cleansed conscience is one of the greatest gifts a man can have, but many today carry guilt and remorse instead of finding forgiveness.

This morning, I was trying to do something special for my wife. It is her birthday, and I thought that I would take her to breakfast and to work to spend a little extra time with her. Of course, the roads were busy and I decided to take a back road. I have driven this road a hundred times and had become acquainted with every curve. Like usual, we were a little pressed for time, and I was not paying attention to my speed. I was going about 46. However around one of the curves, I saw blue lights. I immediately looked at the speedometer and realized it was me. I had been caught. My heart began racing, and I could not believe that this could be happening on my wife’s birthday. I was trying to be good, but good wasn’t good enough.

Between ages sixteen to eighteen, I knew that one of the most dreadful things that could happen would be to explain to my dad that I had gotten a speeding ticket. I knew that he would be disappointed and the citation would cost me. Now, I have no one to watch my every action. My parents are no longer responsible for my actions. They trained me in what’s right and wrong and now I realize that God sees everything. When I sin or do wrong, I am disappointing my heavenly Father whether the occurrence happens in open daylight or in the dark.

It takes more than good intentions to please God. I desired to please my wife this morning, but I still got caught. Are you serving a god that is only good but it not just, holy and fair? In reality, we can’t be good enough to please God. His law is holy, and we all have broken it. Do you know how I felt when I got caught by the officer? Convicted… Can you imagine how I really felt when my sister got in trouble for something I had done? I felt horrible and was ready to confess. Second Corinthians 5:21 reminds us, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” You and I are the reason that Jesus died on the cross. It’s humbling to know that He paid our penalty of sin and allows us to live to reveal His grace. That’s good news!

A Real Friend

Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.

Have you ever had someone come up and tell you that you still have the sticker with the size of your pants on the back of your leg? Has anyone ever told you that you had food stuck in your teeth or something hanging out of your nose? Of course, you could not help but to get a little embarrassed. However, did you see the person’s concern that they had for you? In many ways, we would like to find these things out for ourselves and be self-preserved, yet everyday, we need a help from our friends.

What is a real friend? They might be described as someone you like to spend time with, a person who has the same interests and hobbies, or someone you can share your real self to without fear. True friendship goes beyond someone you can hang out with or share a common interest for comforts sake. True friendship takes time to build and must have the foundational element of truthfulness and transparency.

While visiting a place where I speak regularly the other day, I came across two men who were older than me that had some advice that might help me. They told me that they were at the devotional that I led a few weeks ago. They have heard me speak many times and gave me some constructive criticism on how I could improve. At first, my heart wanted to say, “How dare you for trying to correct me?” This is often our first instinct from the smallest child to the person who is fifty and still working under a boss. Immediately, we want to justify ourselves. It is so hard for us to take correction. Proverbs 3:11 reminds us, “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:” Also Proverbs 9:9 teaches, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” Instead of justifying ourselves, it is of greater importance for us to evaluate if the statement is true. If so, we should accept it graciously and be thankful that someone would love us enough to carefully point out our mistakes.

After the conversation, I began thinking about what the two men told me. It really stuck with me and lingered in my mind for a few days. I realized that they were right, and God was trying to help me to be a better speaker by listening to their advice. This is why real friends are so important. They will tell you the truth in love even though it sometimes hurts. In the end, truth is the only thing that has the power to set us free.

In the U. S., we have one of the greatest privileges of hearing the truth of God’s word proclaimed. The reason that many fail to go to church is simply because they do not want to hear the truth about their sinful lives. Where would we be today without men and women who are more concerned for truth than the feelings of those comfortable at heart. Genuine love “rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). A real friend will be the one who will tell you the most truth. Do you remember the Apostle Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus? He thought he had it all together. He was even ready to have men and women of God arrested until Jesus spoke to his sinful heart. His heart was broken, yet God gloriously saved him. At the end of his life First Timothy 4:16-17a records, “At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” Today, we have a friend who sticks closer than any brother—Jesus Christ. He loves you and me but will make us uncomfortable about ourselves with the truth His Word reveals.

Pivotal Years

Exodus 40:17 And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

A lot can happen in a year. Over the past few days, I have tried to sit back and reflect over the different joys, heartaches, challenges and tragedies that have filled 2007. I have tried to write some of them down, so I can go back and remember the great things that God has done. Many times, it is very easy to forget the blessings that God has given us and begin to complain when something difficult comes along. If we are in the right relationship with God, it will not matter what happens in 2008. We can be empowered by God to press on, learn lessons about life and grow closer to the One who holds eternity in His hands. As the first few days of 2008 pass, we are like Abraham who went out not knowing where He was going, yet He trusted God to provide and protect him and his family.

In the book of Exodus, I found a remarkable scripture that reminded me of what the Israelites did on the first day of the second year after being rescued from Egyptian bondage. In the previous year, God had heard their prayers and groaning by sending a deliverer to lead them out of slavery. Moses was commanded by God to go before Pharaoh and demand that His people be let go! Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and God began sending the plagues on Egypt to get the Pharaoh’s attention. It didn’t get to him until the last plague took the life of his first born son. The Israelites who were prepared to go, left Egypt with spoils, and followed the leadership of Moses. Where did it get them? They were standing before roadblock number one—the Red Sea. With the enemy closing in, God made a way where there seemed to be no way. Of course, the people of God praised Him for the great things he had done, yet a few days later, they complained about the bitter water at Marah. Then, the people were getting hungry, and God sent them manna. Later, they went to war against Amalek and God sent them victory. They spent three months travelling to Mount Sinai. While there Moses spent more than 80 nights on the mountain as he received the Law and instructions for building the tabernacle. Despite the awesome sight of God descending upon Mount Sinai with thunders, lightning and a thick cloud, the people still rebelled by making a golden calf. God was infuriated and ready to consume them, but Moses interceded on there behalf. Within the next six months, the people constructed the pieces of the tabernacle, and it was raised up on the first day of the second year.

With one year of miracles behind them, Moses was commanded by God to take a census in the book of Numbers and arrange the tribes around the central place of worship—the tabernacle. He numbered the men starting from age twenty and up who were able to go to war. With God’s presence with them, an army that was ready to march, and a promise that God was going to give them a land, it seemed that everything was going their way. However after seeing the obstacles that lied ahead, the children of Israel drowned out the two courageous spies and leadership of Moses and decided not to walk in faith and possess the land that God had promised. They forfeited God’s blessings and wasted many precious years, because they were not willing to obey the word of the Lord.

Wasted time can never be bought back. It is gone. Do you realize that 2008 may be a pivotal year for you? There will be obstacles to overcome. God does not want us to retreat but remember His faithfulness, center your life in Him, and walk by faith and not by sight. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Be courageous and faithful in 2008!