I Shall Return

Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people …”

– Psalm 89:19

March 11, 1942, was a dark day for America — as well as for the entire free world. Just three months earlier, the Japanese had launched a devastating surprise attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The result was a crippled American Pacific fleet, 3,478 servicemen killed or wounded, plus an additional 103 civilian casualties. Meanwhile, the Japanese had trapped 85,000 American and Filipino troops on the Philippine’s Bataan Peninsula and the island fortress of Corregidor. 

Under orders from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, General Douglas MacArthur (the American commander) and his family evacuated the area for the relative safety of Australia. The thousands of troops MacArthur left behind were eventually forced to surrender to the enemy. But the general refused to turn his back on his men — or the Filipino people.

“I shall return,” MacArthur promised in his statement to the press. And on October 20, 1944, he kept that vow when he waded ashore with an invasion force at the Filipino island of Leyte. “People of the Philippines, I have returned,” MacArthur declared in an unforgettable radio broadcast.

Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, Douglas MacArthur was a warrior known for his bravery, heroism, and faithfulness. And while his promise was both historic and world-changing, it doesn’t come close the significance of another vow kept more than 2,000 years ago. 

Mankind had for centuries been enslaved by an enemy called sin, and there was no way to repay God for its many transgressions and failures. So, to keep a promise he had made at the foundation of the world, our Creator paid the enormous sin-debt himself through the sacrifice of his own son, Jesus. 

God understood that we were powerless to save ourselves from the punishment we all deserve. That’s why Jesus came to earth in the form of a helpless infant, grew up and lived a faultless, sin-free life, and was unjustly executed for crimes that he didn’t commit. One of the best-known passages of the Bible (John 3:16) summarizes this incredible act of devotion:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

It was through Jesus that God kept his pledge of forgiveness and salvation for those who ask for it in faith. And one day — quite possibly within our lifetimes — he’ll keep another long-anticipated promise when he returns to defeat Satan once and for all.

“Behold, I am coming soon!” Jesus assures us through Revelation. “Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophesy in this book ... Yes, I am coming soon.”

Truth or Consequences

Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.

– 2 Thessalonians 2:3 

It sounds like something found deep in the jungles of Africa, the Amazon rainforest — or maybe even on another planet. It’s a carnivorous plant called the Venus fly trap, which grows wild in the bogs of North and South Carolina. 

Venus fly traps feast on flies and other insects, and their secret lies in their attractive colors and outstretched, nectar-scented pads. When an unsuspecting victim lands on the exotic plant, sensors prepare its trap to shut. But by intelligent design, it takes more than a single motion to spring the snare. It’s only after a second sensor activation that the Venus fly trap grabs its prey within 0.1 seconds. Soon, powerful fluids fill the sprung trap, which dissolve the insect into usable nutrients. The cycle then resumes, with the plant re-opening its pads to repeat its lethal deception.

This illustrates an important lesson for Christ-followers: Although it might seem innocent at the time, we can suffer great harm from those who teach Scripture in attractive ways that are inconsistent with God’s Word. Moreover, following such doctrines can lead us astray while misdirecting seekers from the straight-and-narrow pathway toward salvation. Examples include pseudo-Christian tenets such as name-it-claim it, salvation by works, and legalism. One popular Atlanta-area pastor has also advocated unhitching the Old Testament from the Christian faith. And in recent years another familiar pastor/author has denied certain essential Christian beliefs. Declaring that “love wins” and that hell is just symbolic, he’s proclaimed that people worldwide will be saved in the end — even if they haven’t professed their faith Christ. Of course, Believers know through John 14:6 that Jesus disagrees:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

In addition to being non-biblical, such false assertions are even more dangerous because of their teachers’ popularity and honed communications skills. But the threat from bad theology is nothing new to Christ-followers. About 2,000 years ago, the apostle Paul addressed some of the false teachings of his day that were both confusing and upsetting to early believers in Jesus:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you,” Paul wrote in Galatians 1:8, “let them be under God’s curse!”

The good news is that God’s truth is near for those who seek it. And Christ-followers have open access to it through the Bible, prayer — and even wise counsel from fellow Believers. We should therefore have less trouble than others with telling right from wrong and discerning the traps of false teachings. It’s a stark lesson that underscores the importance of biblical literacy.

If you hear or read something that seems inconsistent with Scripture, maybe it is. Check the Bible and ask a trusted Christian friend. And if the teaching is unbiblical, don’t follow it. But if it turns out to be legitimate, God could be using it to help you become a bit more like our Savior, one day at a time.

Red Alert

The Law of the Lord is a lamp, and its teachings shine brightly. Correction and self-control will lead you through life.

– Proverbs 6:23

In late 2021, the lava, rocks, and ash erupting from the Canary Island’s Cumbre Vieja volcano destroyed about 3,000 buildings, covered acres of banana plantations and vineyards, and cut off miles of roadways. The resulting billion-dollar devastation to the popular tourist spot was a reminder that life is short and that it’s God — not man — who’s in control. However, warning signs often precede such disasters. And our ability and willingness to recognize and heed them can mean the difference between life and death.

Let’s rewind back to December 2004, when an earthquake generating a powerful tsunami in the Indian and Pacific Oceans released the energy of 23,000 Hiroshima-type atomic bombs. The resulting disaster left more than 150,000 people dead or missing, with millions more homeless across 11 countries.

It’s interesting to note that the approach of this so-called Boxing Day tsunami was not totally unannounced. Many survivors remember the spectacle of the water receding from the beach to expose the seabed. Fish and boats were left stranded on the sand. And these same danger signs led the curious to their eventual doom when they ventured to the shoreline to marvel at the unusually low tide.

However, some people did recognize the warnings from the rapidly receding ocean. Survivors who understood its significance reported that they ran for high ground, rounded up family and friends, and tried to warn those who were drawn to the water's edge. The Associated Press reported that one Indian national saved 1,500 of his fellow villagers after spotting the ocean’s dramatic recession from the shoreline. And for reasons debated by scientists, many animals somehow sensed the disaster and fled in time to higher ground.

The level of death and destruction from this natural disaster was unprecedented, and only those who recognized the warnings and reacted in time lived to tell their stories. But what about the impending disasters of our own making? Is God trying to alert you and me to devastation on our personal horizons?

Maybe it’s about our marriage, kids, career … or even that risky investment. Whatever it is, it’s likely that the warnings aren’t a complete surprise. The problem is that we already know what’s bad for us (spiritually and/or physically), and it’s our nature to put off what’s unpleasant until the last minute. But sometimes we wait until it’s too late. And by then, the damage — often permanent — is done.

Our excuses are remarkably consistent. We’re either too busy or we don’t think the issue is a big deal. Likewise, we like to play God by pretending to have a handle on the situation, such as with drugs, gambling, or alcohol. But your family, friends — and most importantly, God — know otherwise.

How should we respond when God sends us a warning? The best answer is the simplest one: Face up to it NOW and deny our tendency to ignore it or wait until later.

Now’s the time to prepare for the storms of life by looking out for God’s warning signs. A little discipline and self-control today can save us from years of hurt tomorrow.   

Out of the Darkness

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 

– James 1:2–3

According to Christianity Today’s 2022 report on Christian persecution, our brothers and sisters in faith are being targeted worldwide — particularly in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Christ-followers in Nigeria account for about 80% of martyrdoms, and 60% of church attacks happen in China. And it’s likely no surprise that Afghanistan, in the wake of the U.S. military’s withdrawal from that country, has replaced North Korea as the most difficult nation for following Jesus.

But religious persecution isn’t isolated to faraway lands. In Canada, the passage of Bill C-250 criminalized parts of the Bible that seemingly expose certain classes of people to “hatred and ridicule.” Bill C-4, a Canadian law that passed in January, describes some aspects of Christian morality as a “myth.” And in the United States, which has a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing freedom of religion, Christian business-owners face thousands of dollars in government fines and other penalties for the crime of adhering to Bible-based standards.

Christ-followers shouldn’t be shocked by such unsettling news. In fact, let’s consider the following admonition from the apostle Peter — biblical guidance that’s just as applicable now as it was nearly 2,000 years ago:

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

Peter adds that “… those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” So, how can we do that amidst our current adversities? It’s in troubling times like these that we should also remember these words from Jesus:

“Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

What does he mean by light? It’s really that “spark” or inner power that God grants each Christ-follower for demonstrating his goodness through their words and deeds. We might show it by running a much-needed errand for an elderly neighbor. Or volunteering to manage a co-worker’s project when he or she is struggling to finish an earlier assignment. Or it might involve cleaning up a community park, buying groceries for a shut-in, or visiting the residents of an assisted living center. Ultimately, it’s about tangibly living out our faith.

From the earliest Christ-followers to their 21st century counterparts, Believers live in dark times marked by persecutions both far and near. But it’s because of this darkness that many outside our faith are recognizing their own plight — as well as their need for answers and a brighter future. Let’s therefore turn our faith into light by accepting Jesus’ invitation to help brighten this dark, dying world that’s so much in need of our Savior’s guidance, truth, and love.

Building Blocks

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

– Matthew 16:18

Church means different things to different people.

Maybe it’s one of those modest clapboard places of worship that dot rural America. On the other hand it might be a massive medieval basilica in picturesque Europe. And still others might think of the small home churches found in China and Cuba.

We may envision church as a cathedral, a coffee house or something in between, but the Bible defines it quite differently. Rather than being a structure filled with pews and crowned by a soaring steeple, the church is a collection of people: all those who count Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. No matter who you are and where you live — if you’re a Christ-follower — you’re part of his church called the Body of Christ.

What a remarkable concept! We speak different languages, represent different races, and reflect different cultures. But we’re all united by Jesus’ death on the cross as payment in full for all the wrongs we’ve done (and continue to do) in our lives. As different as we are, we’re a single family that’s accepted Jesus’ free gift of forgiveness … and hope for eternal life.

But as with all families — even the best and most stable of them — differences, disagreements, and disappointments are bound to arise among the siblings. And the fact is that the church isn’t perfect. But why should it be? After all, its members are imperfect people who do very imperfect things. 

This leads us to another key Biblical truth about the church: It’s not about us. Instead, it’s all about Jesus. Everything we do as Christ-followers should be done to glorify God through Christ, who the Bible tells us is the head of the church. Whether it’s a local gathering of believers or the collective millions of Christ-followers on Earth, this Body of Christ answers to an audience of One.

Jesus paid for his Church with something much more valuable than money or gold. He bought our spiritual freedom and eternal future at the price of his own precious blood. That means we’re ultimately a single body joined through a common faith. So, with this in mind, let’s strive as Christ-followers to be building blocks of one that’s healthy, productive, and worthy of his sacrifice.