Unstoppable

Think of what he went through; how he put up with so much hatred from sinners! So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up.

-- Hebrews 12:3

It was one of the most remarkable spectacles in Olympic history.   

The year was 1992, and 65,000 cheering fans packed the stadium in Barcelona, Spain, for the Men's 400-meter race. This was Derek Redmond's second attempt for a medal. Four years earlier at the Seoul, Korea, games, an Achilles tendon injury forced him to drop out only minutes before the contest.

The race started well this time, with Derek -- the British record holder --

quickly taking the lead. But only 175 meters from the finish line, his right hamstring gave way. Derek began to hop and then slowed down before finally collapsing to the track. Medical personnel rushed to his aid to remove him on a stretcher. But with tears in his eyes, Derek refused to let his dream die.

"No," Derek told them. "I'm going to finish my race."

The injured athlete slowly rose from the track and hobbled in pain toward his goal. Jim Redmond, Derek's father, began pushing his way through the crowded stands as soon as he saw his son pull up lame.

"That's my son," the elder Redmond yelled to the bewildered security guards. "And I'm going to help him."

With 65,000 fans giving the pair a tremendous standing ovation, Jim Redmond did just that. He helped his son -- painful step by painful step -- round the track and cross the finish line.

Is it hard to relate to so much drama? In the spiritual realm, at least, it's easier than you might think. After all, Jesus never said that our faith-journeys would be smooth and pain-free. We should expect conflicts. What’s more, he told his listeners that following the crowd and taking the easy way out means guaranteed disaster.

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it," Jesus explained. "But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Jesus is this narrow gate. And there's no other way to victory over pain, sorrow and death except by placing our faith and walking with him.

The Christ-follower's faith-journey is full of the twists and turns of life -- some pleasant and surprising -- but others painful and sad. And at the end is the finish line of our existence here on earth. But unlike the finish line on that Olympic racetrack in Barcelona, ours is the beginning to a joyous, eternal existence with our Creator.

In this race called life, some are just completing the first lap while others are on the home stretch. Wherever you are, ask God to help you cross the finish line to victory. The reward will be far greater and last much longer than a gold-plated medal and a standing ovation.

The Show-Me State

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

-- Hebrews 11:1

Hawaii’s Aloha State nickname makes sense. The Sunshine State (Florida) is self-explanatory. But how did Missouri become the Show-Me State?

The best-known legend attributes the phrase to Missouri Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver. While a member of the U.S. House Committee on Naval Affairs, Vandiver gave a speech at a banquet in Philadelphia. That’s where he declared, "I come from a state that raises corn and cotton and cockleburs and Democrats, and frothy eloquence neither convinces nor satisfies me. I am from Missouri. You have got to show me."

The saying goes that seeing is believing. And the Bible records that many

people believed in Jesus after they witnessed his miracles and heard him speak. But we also read in the Gospel of John about a government official who apparently wasn’t from Missouri. No one had to show him to believe:

At Capernaum there was an official whose son was very ill. When he heard that Jesus had left Judea and had arrived in Galilee, he went off to see him and begged him to come down and heal his son, who was by this time at the point of death.

Jesus said to him, “I suppose you will never believe unless you see signs and wonders!”

“Sir,” returned the official, “please come down before my boy dies!”

“You can go home,” returned Jesus, “your son is alive and well.” And the man believed what Jesus had said to him and went on his way.

On the journey back his servants met him with the report, “Your son is alive and well.” So he asked them at what time he had begun to recover, and they replied: “The fever left him yesterday at one o’clock in the afternoon”. Then the father knew that this must have happened at the very moment when Jesus had said to him, “Your son is alive and well.” And he and his whole household believed in Jesus. 

Today more than 2,000 years after that incident, there’s no one alive who’s an eye-witness to Jesus’ recorded miracles. But that doesn’t mean we have to check our minds at the church door to believe he’s indeed the Son of God and the Savior of the world. Not only did Jesus fulfill dozens of Old Testament prophesies recorded centuries before his birth in a tiny village called Bethlehem (which itself fulfilled ancient prophecy to the letter), countless people also witnessed his miracles. Likewise, we read in 1 Corinthians that Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after his crucifixion and burial. And the Apostle Peter, who was one Jesus’ earliest and closest followers, also offered this reliable testimony:

When we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not telling just clever stories that someone invented. But we saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes. Jesus heard the voice of God, the Greatest Glory, when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice said, “This is my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with him.” We heard that voice from heaven while we were with Jesus on the holy mountain.

Whether you’re from Missouri — or anywhere else for that matter, the mountain of evidence is plain to see. But what’s most important is that it’s evidence that demands your response.

Choosing Hope

But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more.

-- Psalm 71:14

One of the great things about the English language is that a single word can mean so many different things. For example, we might say that we love going to church, we love our children and we’d love for our favorite football team to win the Super Bowl.

The same holds true for the word hope. We say that we hope it will rain in California. We hope we’ll make it to the office on time. And we also put our hope for eternal salvation in Jesus. But why should we hope for that? Isn’t Jesus just one of many religious figures out there?

During his brief time on earth, Jesus cured the sick, raised the dead, forgave

sins and became a living sacrifice to pay the price for all the wrongs of the world -- just as God had planned it at the foundation of the world. His resurrection from the grave -- just as Jesus had predicted it -- proved his power over death. He fulfilled prophecies written centuries before his birth. And 2,000 years later, Jesus' words continue to change lives and deliver hope.

Jesus is literally hope personified. And he’s also the only way to God. In John 14:6, Jesus proclaims that no one can come to the Father (God) except through him. And when his disciple, Philip, asked to see the Creator, Jesus reassured him that God was much closer than he suspected. In fact, very close:

  

"Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?" asked Jesus. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?'"

This claim, of course, makes billions of people uncomfortable. It’s a claim of exclusivity. And it’s also much more than a politically incorrect notion. Popular culture condemns it -- and anyone who dares to declare it -- as intolerant.

But the truth in which Christ-followers hope is anything but exclusive. After all, Jesus' death and resurrection make eternal life available for EVERYONE who puts their faith in him! Christ won’t close the door on those who seek and ask. And unlike man-made religions, the true way to God isn't about keeping certain rules, saying special prayers or eating (or not eating) particular foods. Instead, it’s about having a personal relationship with Jesus, accepting what he's already accomplished and letting him live within. Religions are about doing. But our hope in Jesus is about what’s already done.

To borrow the title of an old-time Gospel song, this news is nothing less than Blessed Assurance. We know without a doubt that Jesus has taken care of our past, present and future through his sacrifice on the cross. And in a world dominated by tragedy, sorrow and uncertainty, he's the only reason that we can choose hope.  

Exclusive Offer

When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.

-- Ephesians 1:13

There’s power in the principle of exclusivity.

For example, odds are that your interest is piqued when you receive a letter or an email marked Exclusive Offer. Nightclubs, restaurants and vacation resorts build their reputations on catering to an exclusive clientele of movie stars, politicians and power brokers. Reporters seek exclusive interviews with popular celebrities. And you might feel that you’ve made it to the top if you wear a certain brand of clothing, live in a high-brow community or drive a particular automobile.

Marketers understand that our attraction to exclusivity starts early. When

you were growing up, were you one of the popular kids in school who was always picked first for the kickball team? Or were you the odd-man-out nearly every time?

Some things don’t change, whether it’s on the playground or in the office park. How many times have you been looked over for that big promotion -- or lost out to another job candidate? 

Here's some good news -- particularly for those of us who were never crowned king or queen of the high school prom. And it covers something much more important and lasting:

God -- the most powerful and loving Presence in the universe -- has chosen you and me as his heirs. Once we accept Jesus Christ’s offer of salvation, we become an adopted son or daughter of the Creator. And as God’s children, we’ll all have an amazing inheritance to enjoy for eternity. 

That's a remarkable, eternal truth. And we don’t have to wait until we die to enjoy some of these special family benefits. One of them is the privilege of knowing God within a personal relationship. Through prayer, we can come to him directly with our joys, needs and sorrows. It’s this close bond that helps us overcome the rough spots that we’re guaranteed to face throughout life.

Jesus told his disciples that God isn’t a strict, unknowable taskmaster who waits to zap us when we do wrong. He instead revealed that God is a warm, reassuring and loving Father in the best sense of the word. And to the amazement of all who heard him, Christ even referred to God as “Abba” -- a child’s word that translates into English as Daddy.

God has chosen you and me as his adopted children. And what’s even more incredible is that it’s not an exclusive offer for just a certain few. As we read in Acts 2:21, “Then whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 

Many will be asked, but few will accept. Jesus just wants us to respond, “Yes, Abba!”

Transformed

"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

Early followers of Jesus were called "Little Christs" because their new-found faith had changed their lives for all to see. This odd group of people from all walks of life--rich and poor, male and female, and slave and free--were utterly different from the rest of society. They had somehow grown more generous and caring to both neighbors and strangers alike. And they willingly sacrificed their time and resources for others to ease sorrow and correct injustice.

In a word, they were transformed.

This says much for the effectiveness of their leader, an obscure rabbi from

a distant corner of the Roman Empire who just happened to be God's own Son. Few recognized it at the time. But because some did follow Jesus in faith, millions in future generations would help change the world for the better.

Modern-day Christ-followers must also be transformed and live out Jesus' actions and principles through their daily interactions with society. Christ's disciples used this very strategy to guide their own lives. They recognized that Jesus the Leader was also Jesus the Follower. That’s because Christ spoke constantly with his Father (God) in prayer and always sought his guidance. 

"I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing," explained Jesus, "because whatever the Father does the Son also does."

Throughout his ministry, Jesus acted with a sense of urgency. He knew from the foundation of the world that he had only a few brief years to save mankind. And it was in this brief period that Christ preached God's word, healed the sick, raised the dead and forgave all those who asked him. He even asked God to forgive his own executioners because they didn't realize what they were doing. It was the ultimate act of generosity.

Jesus changed the world 2,000 years ago. But can his Church--that's everyone who claims him as their Lord and Savior--still make a difference in the 21st century? It certainly can if the past is any indication. In fact, it's because of the Church that the world has benefited from the rise of science, hospitals, universities and agriculture. The Church also led the call to abolish slavery. And as modern-day Christ-followers, we're still to follow his admonition to be salt and light to a dying world in need of guidance, truth and character.

A skeptical world is watching. May the Church continue to show its transforming love in action.

Why Not?

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

-- John 9:3

Why?

It’s a simple three-letter word. But it’s also the big question that people have been asking for centuries.

Why did I lose my job? Why does my neighbor’s child have cancer?
Why is my nation at war? And why did that hurricane have to devastate the community?

There are often no easy answers. But one thing is clear: we live in a deeply flawed world where terrible things can and do happen to the wrong people. Jesus -- who lived a perfect, sin-free life -- was unjustly tried and executed for a crime he didn’t commit. The good news is that our God is One who specializes in turning the tragic into the miraculous. Through him, the seemingly pointless, random or even cruel can emerge as testimonies to his power and grace.

Several years ago, a young marketing executive lost her high-paying job at a Silicon Valley high tech firm. How could anything good come from an unexpected layoff? With her position eliminated, she no longer had to represent her company at an industry trade show near Washington, DC. And the flight she would have taken was aboard the plane that crashed into the Pentagon on 9-11.

That’s an example of a “why” that only becomes clear in retrospect. But other

reasons for adversity are more evident. Sometimes, it’s a simple matter of us getting what we deserve. If we commit a crime, live dishonestly or mistreat others, we shouldn’t be surprised when we face the consequences. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked,” the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians. “A man reaps what he sows.”

We can also become victims of other people’s sins. According to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk-driving crashes claim more than 10,000 lives each year in America. That's almost 30 per day. Bad things can also happen -- particularly to Christ-followers -- because of satanic attack. That’s because the more faithful we are to Jesus and his purposes, the more of a threat we become to the devil. 

There is a price for us to pay, and being a Christ-follower doesn’t exempt us from life’s sorrows. But our faith does give us the power to overcome them and grow stronger in the process. The Apostle Peter -- the one Jesus nicknamed “The Rock” and who eventually died for his faith -- knew all about it:

“Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire,” he wrote in 1 Peter. “Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return.”

Yes, God can even use satanic attacks to do his will in the world. When the early church was persecuted, the faith actually spread across the Roman Empire as Christ-followers fled and settled in areas that had never heard the Good News of Jesus.

Trouble has been an unpleasant fact of life since the earliest chapters of the Bible. Because of our fallen nature, the human experience will always involve disaster, crime, disease and injustice. So until Christ's return, maybe we shouldn’t ask why bad things happen. The more relevant question is why not.

Daredevil

I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

-- Joshua 1:9

Are you the type who shies away from scary or dangerous situations? Or are you more of a thrill-seeker who actually seeks excitement and adventure? 

If you don’t mind taking a few risks, there’s always skydiving. And you might be surprised by the sport's relative harmlessness. The United States Parachute Association reports that there were just 24 fatalities out of the estimated 3.2 million skydiving jumps made by its members in 2017. On the other hand there’s BASE jumping, which stands for Bridge, Antenna, Span, Earth. Considered by many to be the world’s most dangerous sport, BASE jumping involves parachuting off of objects--like buildings, cliffs and towers--at heights lower than 1,000 feet. 

It’s probably hard for most people to relate to such fear-inducing

daredevil activities. But every day, Christ-followers like you and me face intimidating challenges. And they’re obstacles that we have no hope of conquering on our own. Poverty, hunger, crime and disease are just a few examples. Since we’re to serve as God’s hands and feet on Earth, is it any surprise that Satan uses fear as his primary weapon against us? It’s the Devil who plants the seeds of doubt that cause us to ask ourselves, “What if...” That’s the two-word question that leads many to seek the safety found in procrastination and delay.

Christ-followers, however, are called by their Creator to be bold and courageous. But what does courage really mean? First, it’s not the absence of fear. Instead, it’s more about moving forward in spite of fear. Our God stands with his people. And we can be encouraged by the everyday people he’s enabled to accomplish extraordinary things. We read in the Scriptures that David--an obscure shepherd boy--killed the fierce giant Goliath with a single well-aimed stone from a slingshot. This is the same shepherd boy who eventually became the King of Israel and the one God called “a man after My own heart.” Likewise, the Apostle Peter literally dove into the deep end when he accepted Jesus’ call to walk on water. Although he would one day deny even knowing Jesus when the going got tough, Peter ultimately became a bold preacher who led many to faith in Christ. Two books of the New Testament also bear his name.

“With God with us, who can be against us?” wrote the Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Romans. And this is more than a rhetorical question. Christ-followers can take heart that our Creator is preparing us now for what will be required of us later. Whatever we fear in life, we can rest assured that we don’t face it alone. In fact, it’s when we’re in God’s presence that we’re the most protected. We just need to come to our Father in prayer, listen for his response and guidance, and then obey accordingly in faith.

That’s how we’ll find the boldness and courage to make a world of difference--even if it’s making that difference one person at a time.