Altar Call

Have respect for marriage. Always be faithful to your partner, because God will punish anyone who is immoral or unfaithful in marriage.

-- Hebrews 13:4

When Barbara Bush died in April 2018 at age 92, it marked the end of her 73-year marriage to George H.W. Bush, America’s 41st president. She met her future husband at age 16. They became engaged 18 months later and got married in 1945. And over the next 13 years, George and Barbara Bush had six children, who between them gave the loving couple 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren:

Such a committed, long-lasting marriage is admirable. But unfortunately,

it has become the rare exception rather than the common rule. Society’s attitude toward marriage and the family has evolved since the Bushes exchanged their wedding vows. Seventy years ago, news of a couple living together outside of marriage would have been considered scandalous at the very least. And in some states, it led to jail time for the offending parties!

Think of everything that’s changed in America since our nation has effectively turned its back on committed marriage (the “death ‘til you part” type). With more flexible divorce laws and the media's literal promotion of adultery, it’s no wonder that so many marriages end prematurely--and that fewer people take the institution seriously. It’s also no surprise that so many people consider marriage as not worth the trouble. To them, living together is the rational option.

Our “enlightened” culture has rejected Biblical norms like monogamous marriage between men and women. Moreover, we’ve turned away from God's teachings as a whole--the ones he gave us for experiencing meaningful, fulfilled lives. What were once considered clear, black and white issues of right and wrong have blended over the decades into murky shades of gray. Everything--even truth itself--is considered relative by today’s so-called progressive free-thinkers.

Our Creator, who invented the institution of marriage, has a different perspective. In fact, it’s only two chapters into the Bible that we find this revealing passage:

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Fast forward to the 21st century, and easy-divorce, cohabitation and serial adultery have become accepted--or at least tolerated--lifestyle choices. A prime reason is that commitment is such an uncomfortable word. It's one that implies responsibility, faith and dependence on a much greater Power.

But ultimately, isn’t that what it means to be a Christ-follower?

Solitary Confinement

For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so.

-- Matthew 19:12

It was a place of suffering and loneliness known as The Rock.

Alcatraz was a notorious maximum-security prison situated in the midst of San Francisco Bay. Originally a pre-Civil War era military outpost and later a military prison, it became the last stop for society’s worst-of-the-worst when it re-opened in 1934 as an escape-proof penitentiary.

The Rock’s ultra-strict code of discipline helped the facility earn its nickname of “Hellcatraz.” In its infamous D Block, prisoners lived in 4’ x 8’ cells and were allowed out just once a week for a 10-minute shower. “Harsher punishments,” reports the Legends of America website, included “solitary confinement, in total darkness, for days without any release, or confinement in the dreaded steel boxes.”

Alcatraz closed its doors in 1963. But today there are still millions of

Americans who suffer in solitary confinement in a prison called loneliness. Even in a crowded nation like ours of more than 300 million, too many people are on their own without close friends or family. They know all too well that it’s possible to be lonely without ever being alone. In fact, a May 2018 Cigna survey of 20,000 adults reveals that loneliness is nearly epidemic in America. Nearly 50% of respondents said they sometimes or always feel alone or left out. And about 20% of people reported that they rarely or never feel close to people or feel like there are people they can talk to.

This was never God’s plan for his people. But we all to some extent have trouble forming relationships – with each other and with The Creator. If you go back to Genesis, the first book of the Bible, God put the original man and woman in a perfect, carefree existence called Eden. There were no job deadlines, traffic jams, illnesses or broken marriages. And it was a place where God literally walked with his creation. But when the man and woman sinned by intentionally disobeying the Lord’s instructions, things were never the same. Adam and Eve’s eyes were opened, and they realized the damage they had done. It’s then that they hid from their Creator. Their sin had built a high wall between them and God!

We’re no different today. In addition to our own sins, we also run from relationships because of what others have done to us. We’re determined to avoid being disappointed or hurt again — and running away is the easiest solution.

The good news is that God has a two-fold solution to this problem. First, he re-established a relationship with us through his son, Jesus. When we became Christ-followers, we also became God’s sons and daughters, and joined his family. Second, he established the Church, which is composed of every Christ-follower in the world. It’s a body of imperfect people like you and me who are all looking for the same thing: a safe place to rest from the world, heal their spiritual wounds and make lifelong relationships.

Married or single, we all live with loneliness to one extent or another. Let’s embrace the happy truth that we’re never alone in Christ.

Family Matters

As many as received Him, to them He gave the right, the authority,
 to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name.

-- John 1:12

Baseball legend Babe Ruth. Apple computer mastermind Steve Jobs. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Country music superstars Faith Hill and Shania Twain. Other than being famous for excelling at their professions, what do they have in common? They were all adopted. 

About 135,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. Of non-stepparent adoptions, about 59% are from the child welfare (or foster) system, 26% are from other countries, and 15% are voluntarily relinquished American babies. And as anyone who has been through the process can tell you, adoption can be stressful, tedious and very expensive. Arrangements with birth parents can fall through at the last minute. And related agency fees, court costs and attorney fees can easily exceed tens of thousands of dollars. But for the right adoptive parents whose hearts are set on a special child, no price is too high.

Scripture reveals that God is quite familiar with the adoption process,

its struggles and legalities. That’s because in a very real sense, he’s the adoptive parent of every Christ-follower. When we first put our faith in his Son — Jesus Christ — as our Savior, God acted legally on our behalf and paid all the related costs. The result? Our adoption into the Creator's royal family.

But just as adopted children don’t pick their new parents, John’s Gospel reminds us that the same holds true for our heavenly adoption. “You did not choose me; I chose you,” Jesus told his disciples. “And I gave you this work: to go and produce fruit, fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.”

Before God became our Heavenly Father, we were spiritually dead. And from breaking God’s laws, our sinfulness had made us his enemies -- and he's the Judge. What’s so remarkable is that this same Judge has declared us “not guilty” because of his willingness to pay the price of our adoption through Jesus’ death on the cross. And for us — through our adoption — came a change of family, name and home. As God’s adopted children, it also meant an array of new privileges as well as life-changing responsibilities.

The implications are remarkable. God — as our loving Father—is now approachable through prayer. He’s no longer some cold, impersonal Being accessible only through a priest. In fact, Jesus outraged the strict religious authorities of the day by referring to God as “Abba” or “Daddy.” And he’s a Daddy who watches out for his kids!

Indeed, the Creator of our vast universe cares for us so much and knows us so intimately that he’s literally counted the hairs on our head. He’s also willing to pay any price to adopt us into his family. And for every Christ-follower, that’s exactly what he did to forever convey his name, protection, inheritance and love.

Instant Replay

Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.

-- Psalm 32:1

There are few do-overs in the game of life. But sometimes there are in the game of golf. For example, if a golfer slices their shot into the woods or a deep sand trap, they might ask their opponent for a mulligan — a chance to try again.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could get a mulligan every time we fail in life?

Like for the times we speak rudely to a family member or cut off another motorist in traffic. Or when we gossip about someone at church or “forget” to report some income on our tax forms. Better still, how about a do-over for that night (25 years ago) when we shoplifted on a dare from a friend? Big or small, our failures can weigh heavy in our hearts. We can’t stop thinking about them and about what could have been.

If we could just erase those ugly moments in time and start over with a clean slate. The truth is that we can all use a few mulligans.

The Apostle Peter understood these feelings. Although he was one of Jesus’ earliest followers, witnessed his Master’s miracles and even walked on water (until his faith ran out), this bold individual known as The Rock failed the test more than once. For example, we can read in Matthew 26 about Peter’s declaration that he would stand by Jesus — and even die, if necessary — no matter what. But only hours after the Savior’s betrayal and arrest, Peter denied even knowing him. And not just once, but three times!

That’s pretty sobering stuff. But the good news is that God understands our human limitations. What’s more, we can find his solution to this universal problem throughout the Bible.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness,” we read in 1 John. And this passage from Proverbs delivers additional reassurance: “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

That message on a popular bumper sticker sums it all up: Christians aren’t perfect, they’re just forgiven. It’s when we desperately need a mulligan to erase our failures — whether we’re on or off the golf course — that we can always count on God’s undeserved kindness. We just need to confess our shortfalls to Jesus in faith. The result is a clean scorecard: a complete and total do-over.

“How far has the Lord taken our sins from us?” the Psalmist asks. “Farther than the distance from east to west!”

Liberty or Death

Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

-- 1 Corinthians 9:19

What better symbolizes America and its ideals of justice and freedom than the Statue of Liberty? 

Constructed in France, disassembled and then shipped to New York in 214 crates, “Lady Liberty” was re-assembled and later officially dedicated in October 1886. Since then, the iconic statue has inspired millions around the world to experience freedom by immigrating to the United States and escaping the hardships or persecutions they faced in their mother countries. Today, Americans enjoy countless rights and privileges protected through federal, state and local laws. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution even guarantees our freedom to worship God as we see fit. But if we look at things through the upside-down way of Jesus, no one (of any nationality) has any real freedom. The truth is that we’re all slaves! 

Regardless of what’s written in our Bill of Rights or the

Declaration of Independence, everyone without exception is a slave to someone or something. They might not have literal chains around their ankles. But they still lack God’s perspective of true freedom. As Jesus put it so bluntly, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

This sin represents bondage to the world’s values, and it comes in many forms. It might be slavery to money and possessions, pleasure, fame, a career--or even religion. But however it appears, sin boils down to substituting false, man-made gods for the One and Only True Creator.

Christ-followers are also slaves. But the big difference is that they willingly choose to give up the temporary things of this world for the true freedom gained from an eternal relationship with Jesus.

“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey,” asked the Apostle Paul, “whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Paul’s question reveals that our choice is one of liberty or death: following Jesus or following sin.

Is this a difficult decision? Let’s remember that our earthly possessions aren’t really our own, and we certainly can't expect them to last. We can lose our jobs at any time through layoffs or so-called downsizing, and our homes and property can be ruined through a natural or man-made disaster. Serious health issues can arise at any time. And let’s face it: the mortality rate for everyone is 100 percent. No one gets out of here alive.

The fact is that one day we WILL lose it all, in one way or another. And unfortunately, most people will choose to do it through their slavery to sin. But there’s a far better and more satisfying choice: becoming a lifelong slave of a very kind master by accepting Jesus’ generous offer of salvation.

"Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever," Christ assures us. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." 

Take it or leave it, the choice is ours: Liberty or Death.

Rest Assured

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

 

-- Matthew 11:28

Maybe it's a co-worker, neighbor or even your uncle. They're the ones who always seem to come through for you in impossible situations. Like the time you needed a pair of sold-out concert tickets or a reliable plumber. And how about that iPhone they found for you last year--just when you were sure it was out of stock?

It's smart to keep these special people on your Christmas card list. Because rest assured, they're connected and have you covered. Likewise, if you're a Christ-follower, you're also covered in a more significant way. That's because Believers are in a close parent/child relationship with God. It's a bond made possible through Jesus' death on the cross--a punishment we all rightly deserve for our lifetimes of personal failures and shortcomings (also known as "sin"). But since we're connected through our faith in the right person (Jesus), he's already paid the enormous price to cover us.

Is this remarkable news hard to believe?

Some people think that their lives are already good enough to earn God's

acceptance, while others believe that they can somehow do enough good deeds to outweigh their sins. But what does the Bible say? On one hand, the Apostle Paul made it clear that salvation is a free gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ. We can never work hard enough to earn it. Let's consider one of Paul's most famous passages from the Book of Romans:

"If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved."

That seems straightforward. But what about these words from James, the brother of Jesus:

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

So is it our faith that will bring us into God's Kingdom, or do we have to work for it? And if so, for how long?

Maybe there's no conflict between Paul and James after all. On multiple occasions, Jesus' miracles revealed the incredible power of a seeker's faith. For example, we read in Luke's Gospel that a Roman soldier's faith actually "amazed" the Savior. "I tell you," Jesus told the crowds that were following him, "I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

This means we can relax--it really is through our faith in Jesus and his work on the cross that we're saved. But that's not to say that works shouldn't be evident in our lives. Rather than being saved BY doing good, our faith in Jesus leads us to being saved FOR doing good. Rest assured, the author of the Old Testament book of Micah puts it this way:

"And what does the LORD require of you? "To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

Without a Doubt

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

-- Matthew 14:21

It's been said that if you have enough faith to believe the first four words of the Bible ("In the beginning, God..."), the rest of Scripture is easy. Still, even the most veteran Christ-followers can have their moments of doubt--particularly in times of crisis such as a job loss, a serious illness or the death of a loved one. 

However, trusting in God's promises extends well beyond our relationships,

employment status and health. His guarantees found throughout the Bible are eternal. And we can take them all to the bank because of God's proven track record of reliability. For example, God promised through the Old Testament's Book of Amos that the city of Tyre would be destroyed because of its harsh treatment of Israel. And a few centuries later, the armies of Alexander the Great indeed leveled Tyre's impregnable fortress walls. God also promised to reunite his scattered chosen people from around the globe. About 2,500 years later, God did just that through the birth of the State of Israel in 1948.

It doesn't stop there. J. Barton Payne's Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy lists more than 1,800 other promises from God. And no doubt his greatest was fulfilled--once again, as predicted centuries earlier--through the birth of the world's Savior (Jesus) in an obscure outpost of the Roman Empire called Bethlehem. It was then that God came to Earth to personally experience the human condition.

This fulfillment of God's promise was much more than a mere footnote in a history book. Through Jesus, the devil was defeated and Christ-followers were given the power to enjoy victorious, Spirit-filled lives. Let's also consider these words of assurance that are still relevant 20 centuries after Christ's death and Resurrection.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny," Jesus asked some of his earliest followers. "Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

That's our Creator's promise to you and me: that he cares deeply for us. He also knows each of us intimately--even before the foundation of the earth. In fact, the Book of Isaiah tells us that our very names are written on the palms of his hands!

As Christ-followers, uncertainties about our faith will come and go. But we should be reassured that we worship a God who loves us and has wondrous plans for our future. 

There's no doubt about it!