I Want it All!

Photo by Vita Vilcina on Unsplash

"He who loves money will not be satisfied with money . . ."  (Ecclesiastes 5:10)

Have you ever wanted something you did not have? Have you ever wanted more of something, you already had? And, have you ever wanted it with a deep passion? Millions of people experience this. If this is you, God urges caution.

A young man once asked Jesus to get involved in a personal matter and make his brother divide the family inheritance with him. In response, Jesus made a profound statement, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15).

Jesus laid his finger on the real issue with the young man. Coveting. What does it mean? It is a strong inner desire to get what you do not already possess, or more of what you already have. Jesus illustrated the danger of coveting with a story about a wealthy farmer that had a tremendous harvest. He said to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” (Lk. 12:17) He already had storage places, but his current harvest was so large it would not do, so he made a decision, “I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.” (Lk. 12:18) He built, not just for the grain surplus, but for all his current and future goods he would purchase as well. With anticipation, he imagined his future, telling himself, “. . . you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” (Lk. 12:9)

Do you see anything missing in the story? God and others. The heart of this man was exclusively focused on himself. God provided the light, rain, soil and growth for his crops, but He receive no acknowledgement. The farmer did not do this all alone, there were others that were part of the process, but neither did they receive any acknowledgement. And the farmer had all his basic needs met, he had so much beyond what he needed, yet he gave no thought to others who were less fortunate.

It was all about his desire for more, and to hold on to whatever he had. The Bible says, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money . . .” (Ecclesiastes 5:10) How true! The farmer was walking down this deceptive path. He thought he could trust in his prosperity to enable him to “relax, eat, drink and be merry.” How wrong he was. For God spoke to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” (Lk. 12:19)

That is a wise question from God, which points out two things. One. The man has a spiritual soul that would live forever, beyond the grave. He paid no attention to it. Coveting caused him to live only for the here and now, and to neglect preparing for the next life. Two. God pointed out that upon death, all the man has toiled to acquire and keep, will no longer be his. Death will mercilessly tear it out of his hands.

Coveting is condemned by God. Why? Because it causes a person to place their trust in things, rather than God, which is a form of idolatry. It puts one’s money and possessions above Him. This angers God, who is worthy of our worship and service. Coveting is also condemned because of its danger. It can lead people to commit fraud, extortion or other crimes, where one so desires something, they debase themselves in pursuit of it.

Jesus suffered, died and rose again that you might live to place your trust in Him. He is sufficient for all your needs. And in Him is life, peace and joy unlike anything else in this world. Today, admit your coveting. Turn from it and find all you need in Christ.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, we are sorry we have made things more important than you. We confess our coveting and idolatry of stuff in this life. Take our heart. Wash it clean. Become the highest priority in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

A Vision of Heaven

Image from 9marks.org

“Tragedy, degeneracy, heartbreak, suffering, lies. Is there such a place where these injustices are nowhere to be found? Yes! Heaven!”

“Pastor resigns following affair revelations,” “Young athlete with wife and children dies after heart attack,” “Man murders college students,” “Nation at war accused of terrorizing its own people,” “Politician found guilty on all counts of election fraud.” Tragedy, degeneracy, heartbreak, suffering, lies. Is there such a place where these injustices are nowhere to be found?

There was once a man who had a vision of heaven. His name was John and one day he looked up and saw a door opened in the sky above. Then a voice spoke to him, “Come up here . . .” (Revelation 4:1) Then immediately, he was in the Spirit and taken up through the door.

What he saw when he first stepped into heaven was breath-taking. His attention was drawn to a large throne, with one seated on it. What he saw was no human physical appearance. Instead, there was a supernatural form described by John in terms of colors from the most beautiful gems. Surrounding the throne were 24 smaller ones with men like him sitting upon them called elders. Then from the throne came “flashes of lightening, and rumblings and peals of thunder . . .” (Rev. 4:5) In front of the throne were seven burning torches of fire, and a sea that was so placid and clear it looked like crystal. Then stationed around the throne were four creatures that kept repeating, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8) Then John witnessed the 24 elders standing up from their thrones and falling down in worship before the Lord God saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)

John’s vision of heaven was of a place where Almighty God reigned. He was the chief figure, where all attention surrounded the Eternal One. John was the last of the 12 apostles, and his fellow co-workers were in heaven, yet his vision shows how he was gripped by the stunning imagery and presence of God.

And what makes this picture of God so stunning? His holiness and power. No person, no other force in all of heaven and earth could challenge the power of the Lord God. He sits on His throne exalted above all.

We see God being called “holy” repeatedly. The picture of heaven itself, and God in all His beauty reveals how He is separate from all evil and perfect in every way. And as He is, so is His dwelling, which begs the question, “Who can live in such a place?”

There is the presumption, that everyone who dies, goes to heaven. As a minister, I have led many funerals, and there is always the assumption that their loved one has gone to live in the celestial city. Since God is the guardian of heaven, what does He say about who gets in?

He states, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” (Rev. 22:14-15)

If you have placed your faith in Jesus and have been washed by the cleansing blood of Christ, you are welcomed in. However, if you continue in your practice of disobedience against God’s law, heaven’s door will be shut and you will be cast into hell for eternal judgement.

God desires you to be with Him and to enjoy the kingdom He has prepared for you, but you must turn from your ways, and place your faith in Christ alone.

A prayer for you. Lord God, the King of Heaven, draw people to yourself, that they might examine their ways. Bring them to turn from their disobedience and to you. Fill their hearts with the love of God, through your Spirit, and prepare them for eternity with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Time for Change. Will it Take an Earthquake?

 Photo by Sanej Prasad Suwal

“No matter what your 2022 was like, nor what you hope 2023 will be, God wants to bring a spiritual change in you this year.”

For some 2022 was a year of hardship. A year they do not want to repeat. For others, it was a year of success and they want 2023 to build on it. Whatever last year was like, or whatever you hope for in the new year, I pray the Lord God will bring a spiritual change, that will impact the rest of your life. Such is one man’s story from centuries ago.

According to the Bible, there was once an unknown jailer who oversaw the prisoners in the ancient city of Philippi. It was part of the Roman Empire. As he was working in the prison, he overheard an uproar in the city. Soon the doors were swung open and authorities brought him two men named Paul and Silas, and ordered them bound. He had never met the men before. They were from out of town and had been beaten and bloodied by officials. He learned they were arrested for promoting some type of religious customs that were foreign to the citizens of Philippi.

The jailer put the men in the inner prison and fastened their feet with stocks. Then he went back to his routine business, spent the night at the prison and eventually feel asleep.

Paul and Silas though, never slept. In the midst of the dreariness of the prison and the pain from their wounds, they decided to sing. They started singing hymns of praise and thanks to God. Their voices rang throughout the prison, so all the other prisoners were listening.

As they were singing, something happened. The prison began to shake violently, like an earthquake had hit. It was so violent, the cell doors of the prisoners broke loose, along with their chains.

The chaos awoke the jailer. When he saw what happened, he drew his sword to kill himself, believing all the prisoners escaped. When Paul saw what the jailer was about to do he called out, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” (Acts 16:28) The jailer then came to Paul and Silas, and fell before them trembling. He knew these men were different, and how the earthquake was a result of them and the God they served. He brought Paul and Silas out of the prison and urgently asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Ac. 16:29) For this is what they had been speaking to the people about in Philippi. The jailer wanted to have what they had.

Paul and Silas gave him a simple response, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Act. 16:31) They explained the gospel further, and after hearing more, the jailer and his whole household committed themselves fully to Christ.

Then immediately everything was new. The jailer became a new man. He also had a new family, new friends in Paul and Silas, a new joy, and a new future.

God sent two men, along with an earthquake, to carry the good news of Jesus to an unknown jailer, that he might have a new beginning. No matter what your 2022 was like, nor what you hope 2023 will be, God wants to bring a spiritual change in you this year. Will it take an earthquake? Will something have to so rock your world for you to finally listen to God? Will He bring some unknown people in your life with an important message? Will you listen to what God wants to say through them? Today, may your life have a new beginning like the Philippian jailer and his family.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, as we begin this new year may people commit themselves fully to you and be transformed like the jailer. May people finally stop resisting and willingly yield their lives fully to you, the One who died and rose again for them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”