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!

Draft Pick

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." -- John 1:12 When you were in grade school, did your classmates tend to pick you for kickball or other playground sports? And as you got older, did you ever try out--and make--your high school football, baseball or basketball team? While missing the cut can be demoralizing, there's something special about being chosen. And this unique recognition extends beyond school and sports. For example, when you've gone through that lengthy interview process and the Human Resources representative finally calls to offer you a job with the company, there's nothing quite like it. After all, you were picked over the competition to join their team. Kurt Warner knows that wonderful feeling that accompanies acceptance and success, But he also understands failure and rejection. The now-retired NFL quarterback excelled in football, basketball and baseball in high school, and even led his gridiron team to victory in Iowa's Shrine Bowl. This success, however, didn't translate into a big-name college scholarship. So for the next three seasons, Warner rode the bench at the University of Northern Iowa. It wasn't until his senior year that he guided the Panthers to an 8-3 record while garnering honors as Offensive Player of the Year. As good as Warner was in college, no NFL team picked him in the draft. He stayed in shaped and supported himself financially by stocking shelves in a supermarket. And before long, he joined an Arena Football team. NFL scouts eventually noticed his talent, but he was cut during tryouts with the Green Bay Packers. Warner finally broke through by starring in the NFL's now defunct European League, and he later signed a contract as the Los Angeles Rams' third-string quarterback. The next season, when the starting quarterback suffered a serious injury, Warner got his chance. And he responded by leading the team to a 13-3 record and an unlikely victory in the Super Bowl. "People think this season is the first time I touched the football; they don't realize I've been doing this for years--just not on this level--because I never got the chance," Warner told reporters. "Sure, I had my tough times, but you don't sit there and say, 'Wow, I was stocking groceries 5 years ago, and look at me now.' You don't think about it, and when you do achieve something, you know luck had nothing to do with it." Although he was finally a champion quarterback, Warner still faced obstacles in his career. For a short time, he accepted a stop-gap assignment with the New York Giants as they groomed another future Super Bowl quarterback, Eli Manning. Eventually traded to the Arizona Cardinals, Warner played in his second Super Bowl, where he threw for an impressive 377 yards and three touchdowns in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Kurt Warner is an unabashed Christ-follower who's quick to give God the credit for his successes--both on and off the field. He wasn't always picked first for his sports teams. And he wasn't immune from failure and disappointment. But his gifts and talents always showed through. And the scouts and coaches noticed. If you've ever been overlooked or experienced failure on the playground, the office--or even in your own home--never forget that God notices and loves every Christ-follower. That's no promise that you'll ever lead your team to the Super Bowl. But you're still guaranteed to be His first-round draft pick.

The Gospel of Wealth

A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

-- Proverbs 13:22

  

We think of the Wright Brothers for their history-making contributions to aeronautics, Alexander Graham Bell for telecommunications and Henry Ford for transportation. Their names and the genius of their work influence the world to this day. On the other hand, our nation's third president —also a great man—wished only to be remembered for what's inscribed on his tombstone:

Here was buried

Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of American Independence

of the Statute of Virginia for religious freedom

& Father of the University of Virginia

Andrew Carnegie left a much different legacy. Born into poverty in 1835, he leveraged

his thirst for knowledge to become a successful industrialist and eventually the world's richest man. Carnegie sold his steel company in 1901 for what's today $13 billion. And for the rest of his life, he became known as the Father of Modern Philanthropy for giving away most of his vast wealth to benefit others. Carnegie underwrote the construction of 2,811 libraries, established a retirement pension for teachers and founded what’s today known as Carnegie-Mellon University.

By the time of his death in 1919, Carnegie was the primary financier of half of America's public libraries. The premise of his essay The Gospel of Wealth speaks volumes about what drove him to spread his riches:

"The man who dies rich dies disgraced."

Millions of people still benefit from Andrew Carnegie's legacy a century after his death. What's more, there are biblical parallels to Carnegie's example of generosity for the betterment of others. Our bank accounts might be modest when compared to his. But as Christ-followers, we have enormous wealth to share by living out the key messages of The Gospel--the Good News of Jesus. We can tell others about Christ paying the price for our sins and theirs (past, present and future) when he died on the cross in our place. Then, just as predicted centuries before in the Old Testament, God resurrected him to life to forever defeat the power of sin and death in our lives. It's this same power that will one day raise all believers to eternal life and joy with our Creator.

Whether you're 19 or 99, rich or poor and famous or obscure, it's not too late to establish your legacy. A skeptical world is watching to see how Christ-followers live out their faith each day. Let's respond by freely sharing the riches of Christ's transforming power.

Built to Last

Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come. -- 1 Timothy 4:8 Long before Lexus, Acura and Infiniti began to dominate America's highways, Mercedes-Benz was the leading brand of imported luxury automobiles. They were--and still are--expensive when compared with your run-of-the-mill Toyota or Hyundai. And with some Mercedes sedans starting at around $90,000, these expertly-engineered vehicles are out of reach for most consumers. But for those who can afford them, their technological excellence is just the point. They do cost a lot. And they're built to last. Mercedes-Benz also builds a reputation for excellence through its High Mileage Award. First introduced in the 1960s, this citation recognizes those vehicles that have literally gone the extra mile by reaching the 250,000, 500,000, 750,000 or 1 million-kilometer mark. Proud owners are quick to attach the award's iconic Star and Laurel badge to their car's grill. According to the company's website, the current High Mileage champ is a 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D that's been driven more than 2.8 million miles by a Greek taxi driver. Like an expensive, well-engineered automobile, Christ-followers are also built to endure long journeys--and often on roads that are winding and rough. But ours are designed to test and grow our faith--and ultimately take us to our eternal destination. The Bible tells us that those who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior can expect their fair share of bumpy roads and unsettling hairpin turns. In fact, they can count on it. Maybe it's due to a layoff at work, an illness in the family or an unanticipated budget-busting expense. Whatever it is, we can respond by either giving up or by turning to God to see us through. Real faith will carry us past the finish line. But whatever is false is bound to stall us by the side of the road. Thankfully, life's not always about dodging potholes and head-on traffic. So while we're on our faith-journeys, we should take time to enjoy the ride God gives us and ask him for the wisdom to do his will along the way. And of course, we must also focus on the prize that lies ahead. It's not a shiny radiator badge, but an eternal crown of life.  Are you spiritually built to last for the long haul? If so, "Well done, good and faithful servant" are the incredible words you can expect to hear from our Creator.