What’s On Your Love List?

“In order to bear the name Christian, there’s a condition. God requires your complete devotion. There can be no higher love.”

Love. It is a much-used word. We love our family. We love our friends. We love our hobbies; like fishing, hunting, golf, wood-working. We love our things; like cars, trucks, homes, cell phones, tablets. We love our food. We love our sports teams. We love our work. We love our learning. And some of us maybe even love our bodies; our smile, eyes or maybe even our six-pack abs (buried under lots of skin of course). (Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash)

And how do we demonstrate that love? The commitment or devotion we show to those things through the time we give to them, the money we spend, how much we talk about them, the sacrifices we make.

Now all these “loves” surround us. We love OUR family, OUR friends, OUR hobbies. Perhaps we could call it OUR love list. Notice though, I have left one important person out – God.

Let me bring Jesus in on this. There was once a religious lawyer, an expert in Old Testament Jewish law that asked Jesus a question, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25) Put another way, it could be asked, “What must I do to receive the forgiveness of sins?

Since the lawyer was the expert, Jesus asked him to answer the question, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (Lk. 10:26) Then the lawyer responded with an Old Testament quotation about loving God, “And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ And [Jesus] said to him, ‘You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.’” (Luke 10:27-28) 

In your list of things you love, is God on there? And why is that important? Because your life depends on it! Let me explain. 

Notice the lawyer’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Then observe Jesus’ response to the lawyer’s answer, “do this, and you will live.” So if he chose to love God, then he would receive the gift of eternal life, which means if the lawyer refused, he would be condemned to the opposite; eternal death. The implications of loving God are massive for every single one of us.   

Now what is eternal life? After a person turns from their disobedient ways and to Jesus by faith, then he instantaneously receives the indwelling invisible Spirit of Christ within him. This is what gives him eternal life, the life of Jesus. 

According to what Jesus said, this gift is dependent on loving God with all one’s heart, soul, strength and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself. What is Jesus communicating? Full commitment, total loyalty and maximum devotion to God through His beloved Son.  

There was once a wealthy young man that was drawn to Jesus, and asked a similar question like the lawyer. Jesus told the man that if he wanted to follow Him, then he must sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. The man could not part with his wealth, so he dejectedly walked away from Jesus. The man loved his wealth more than His Creator.

In order to bear the name “Christian” and receive the everlasting life of Jesus within you; there is a condition. He requires your complete devotion. There can be no higher love. Why? Because when He initiated a covenant relationship for you to enter into with Him, it required His greatest commitment; the sacrifice of His deeply loved Son. In similar fashion, for you to receive all the blessings He wants to bestow on you, you must love Him above all else. Will you love Him today?   

A prayer for you – Lord God, I praise you for how you have shown your love for all mankind through the death and resurrection of Jesus. What love! Now you call us to love you in return, which you are most worthy of. Examine our ways. Point out if there is anything we love greater than you, that we would yield it to you this hour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Why is God Kind to The Evil?

“Lord, why? Why do you allow this evil?” It is a common question, that anyone in unjust situations would ask.

As a minister I have preached in prisons, visited inmates and for years had a weekly service in our county jail. So it caught my interest when I recently read about a man who was convicted and sentenced to prison for murdering a friend of his. The reason for the story was because he was set free after being wrongfully imprisoned for 28 years. The sole witness in his case was pressured into picking him out of a lineup and paid off. There were many other corrupt elements to his situation, including how the actual murderers eventually came forward and confessed to the crime, but the man remained in prison. I cannot imagine being wrongfully imprisoned for just a few months, let alone for nearly three decades. (Image by Ichigo121212 from Pixabay)

Evil people conspired and succeeded (for 28 years) in doing evil things against this innocent man. How often do we see this? Evil people inflicting injustice against the innocent? If one is the victim, it is enough for them to cry out, “Lord, why? Why do you allow this evil?” It is a common question, that anyone in unjust situations would ask. And it would seem to be a legitimate one. 

Jesus once addressed this through a story about weeds and wheat. There was once a farmer that planted wheat and as it was nearing maturity, it was discovered a nemesis of the farmer had sought to destroy his crop, by purposefully and deceitfully planting dangerous weeds. The farm hands immediately wanted to uproot all the weeds, but the farmer chose to let the weeds remain until the harvest.  

In this story, Jesus was illustrating how it is a divine decision to let evil remain in the world until His return and judgement day. What does that mean? 

Is not one of the sources of evil, the hearts of people? It is a truth, that evil deeds are done from evil hearts. Therefore, to eradicate the world of evil, would mean eliminating all people who have ever committed an evil deed. Would not that involve the deaths of millions upon millions of people? And what about you? What if you should ever slip up and do something evil? Would you then be gone too? Who would be left? 

Why does Jesus allow evil people to remain? Mercy! If Jesus chose to, He would be justified in destroying the life of every person who perpetrated evil. Consequently, allowing them to live is in itself, merciful. 

But why? Because Jesus knows that evil people, doing evil things – can be changed. It is for this reason He came from heaven to earth, to sacrifice Himself on a cross, and be raised again. This was done to give every soul the opportunity to choose freedom and liberty, that they might be ransomed from the evil that has enslaved them.    

Liars. Manipulators. Deceivers. Corrupt people in positions of power. Abusers. And I could add more to this list. All of them, are candidates for heaven’s mercy. This is why Jesus says, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Matthew 6:35-36)

How do we walk through the dark valleys of injustice and evil without falling prey to its tentacles of unforgiveness and hate? Pray for our enemies. Believe they can be changed by the power of God. Overcome evil with good. Show mercy, as God has shown you mercy.  

A prayer for you – Lord God, we pray for those individuals who have committed acts of evil against innocent victims, including ourselves. We pray you would perform a miracle and change their hard and evil hearts by the grace and mercy of Jesus, and we pray you will help us to love and forgive them. We cannot do this on our own. We need your power to help us love our enemies. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Day of Reckoning

“Will there ever be justice? Will there ever be accountability for the evil that has been done?”

We had a rule in our home growing up; when we kids were home without dad or mom, no friends were permitted in the house. (Image from ppic.org)

One day when I was home alone, my friend Steve came over and asked if I wanted to play some ball.  I told him I could not because I had to do chores. He offered to help, so I invited him in.  

Then my heart stopped when I heard the sound of a diesel engine.  

It was my dad. The only person with a diesel in the neighborhood. I told Steve, “Quick, you have to get outside!” As my dad turned in the driveway, Steve and I were casually visiting through the screen door.  

After my dad came in the house I heard, “Clint!” When I walked to the room he was in, he asked if I vacuumed like I was supposed to. I said, “Yes.” Then he pointed out some dirt on the floor. At that point my story fell apart, because Steve vacuumed that room.  

I knew the house rules, but I was trying to lie and get away with it. Instead, I got caught.  

There is coming a day when all of us will get caught. One day every evil deed we have done, we will be held accountable for.  

Jesus once spoke of the future saying, “The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:40-42)   

All over the world, evil and injustice exist. And where there is justice, it is not always fair leading us to get angry and frustrated wondering, “Will there ever be justice?  Will there ever be accountability for the evil that has been done?” 

To those who ponder such questions, Jesus gives a resounding, “Yes!”

In the future, Jesus will return to the earth, and when He does, it will be the beginning of the end, when all people will stand before Him in judgement.  

During this time there will be the Great Separation. “What is that?” you ask. Jesus illustrated this through a story about weeds and a wheat crop. He said that when it comes harvest time, the wheat crop will be gathered up and stored, but the weeds will be gathered up and burned. This communicates a future separating out of those who are the children of God and those who are not, those who do good for the glory of God, and those who do not. The ones who are His will be gathered to heaven, but those who are not will be cast into the eternal fiery furnace.    

This is not alarmist language, but the truth about the future. There is coming a day when the earth and all who have ever lived on it, will have an appointment with their Creator. And He will bring this about in His time and way, and it will be done in such a way where everyone will know it is God. In other words, it will not be blamed on climate change, World War III, economic collapse or a terrible disease. It will be planned and carried out by God. On that day, there will be no more mercy, but only divine revenge and judgement for all who have opposed Him.

This appointment cannot be avoided or delayed, only prepared for. Are you ready for it? Now is the day of mercy. Receive heaven’s mercy while it can be found. Jesus, the light of the world, has made a way for you. In the midst of the darkness, accept this good news. Bring this light to live within you. Accept His merciful offer by faith.  

A prayer for you – Lord God, by faith we believe the whole world and all people have a day of reckoning with you. Prepare every heart for that day. If there is a person who is unsure where they stand with you. Bring them to turn and place their faith wholly in you, their Creator. In Jesus’ name. Amen.