Little children, you are from God, and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

I John 4:4, ESV

 

Do you ever get discouraged?

 

I have to confess that I do sometimes. I have watched with great sadness the names of all the great and important people who are accused of abusing minors, but who have yet to be held accountable for doing so, and I get discouraged. I see the statistics on those who prefer a nation where it is legal to have an abortion, and I get discouraged, I read the polls and see that fewer and fewer people believe that the Bible is God's word, that Jesus is God's Son, and that there even is a God, and I get discouraged. I see what is profane being honored among men, while that which is holy is mocked, and I become discouraged.

 

But then I see passages like the one we read above. and the discouragement begins to fade. 

 

And then I look around me and I still see so many good people. People who do believe in God, and who do hold themselves and others to higher standards. I see the innocence of my sweet grandchildren, and the joy that my brothers and sisters in Christ have when we gather for worship, and I take heart. And I read passages such as this:

 

I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world!

John 16:33, ESV

 

It is only when I take my focus off of Christ that discouragement sets in. But when I remember His love for me, and when I see the good and innocent and sweet things that still remain in the world, and in abundance, that I realize that all is not lost. It is true that there are some very serious issues that we come face to face with in the wicked world that is still ruled by the evil one, and we must do our best to rectify these evils, but we are not without hope. The wicked are often powerful, but they are nothing when compared to the One who is within us. 

 

We are Christians, and that means that we are sons and daughters of the Most High. And God is above all and is more powerful than all. Therefore, though we do sometimes have to walk through that ancient valley of the shadow of death, we do not need to fear evil for God is greater! 

 

Since this is the case, we should take heart. And when we become discouraged, maybe we should be reminded that the One who is in us is more powerful than the one who is in the world. That being the case, we should all have a renewed determination to take our righteous stands no matter how formidable the obstacles or how powerful the foe may be. Jesus told us to take heart, and that is exactly what we should do.

Burning indignation has seized me, because of the wicked who forsake Your law. 

Psalms 119:53 (NASB)

 

Does wickedness even bother us anymore? Some of the most recent events in the news have caused me to wonder about this. The FBI released three million pages of documents, pictures and videos of some of the most outrageous crimes against children that have ever been committed. And while it is true that some of the information is little more than gossip and anonymous tips without any evidence that are unworthy of prosecution, much of the documentation is quite supported by evidence and corroboration from multiple witnesses. The FBI says that they released the information to provide full transparency, but they have no plans to go after these serial child abusers.

 

Our own President, a man whom I have voted for three times, has said that this is old news and it is time to move on.

 

Does wickedness, even bother us anymore.

 

At the halftime "performance" of yesterday's Superbowl was a singer who self-identifies as something called "gender fluid". He likes to wear dresses and engage in vulgarities that used to offend people. Today, such activity is so celebrated that the heads of the NFL and television stations thought this was the best of the best when it comes to entertainment and decided to spend millions of dollars to make sure that you and your children could enjoy it.

 

It might even be appropriate to mention that our own nation casually disposes of its unwanted babies at a rate of more than a million a year - but I guess that's old news too.

 

These types of activities occur on a daily basis in the world in which we live, and I guess you would have to conclude that wickedness no longer bothers us - it entertains us. It's not the first time such a wickedness has descended upon the masses of the population. Read Jeremiah 3:3, Jeremiah 6:15, and Jermiah 8:12, when you get a chance. There is much to read within each context and space does not permit that it all be shared, but it can be summed up in this way: Israel, God's chosen people, have become so wicked that God tells them they have the "brazen look of a prostitute". In each passage He has Jermiah point out that the people no longer blush at such wicked behavior. Indeed, they have forgotten how to blush!

 

Because of this, and because the people refused to punish those who were involved in wicked activity, God decided to punish the entire nation.

 

Jesus pointed out something along a similar vein: He said it would be better to have a millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the sea than to sin against or cause a little one to sin. Yet in our world, we glorify sin and put it on display. Or, because the people who are harming children are giving us what we want in other areas, we turn a blind eye to their horrific crimes. And make no mistake; these crimes against children are so evil that in just about every society in the history of this world, when people were caught harming children - they were killed!

 

Yet we, in our society are not gripped with indignation - we don't even particularly want justice. We just want to be left alone - they can have our children, as long as these children are not our own flesh and blood.

 

In Jeremiah's time the people were given an ultimatum: Repent or die. It was the same in Sodom and Gomorrah. It was the same with the world before the flood. And whether we like to be confronted with the reality of God or not, it is the same now.

 

Does wickedness even bother us anymore? I believe it is time for those who wear the name of Christ to answer that question. Until we do, the innocent will continue to suffer, those who deserve punishment will continue to go unpunished, and our own punishment, that is so richly deserved because of our inactivity and refusal to protect the innocent, will be waiting for us at the Judgment Day.

 

Perhaps we should learn from God's Word what it means to have righteous indignation before it is too late... does wickedness even bother us anymore? I think it is time that it did, don't you?

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 

I Timothy 5:8, NKJV

 

Do you love your family?

 

Of course, we all do. When we look upon our newborn children, there is a feeling that comes over us that is hard to describe. For we men, it is an absolutely new experience, for at that moment we realize for the first time that we have a responsibility to one who is completely helpless without us and that there is nothing that we won't do to ensure their safety and well-being. Now, I'm not suggesting that the mamas feel any different, but it's likely not the first time they had such a feeling.

 

So, how does this relate to the passage above? After all, this verse is talking about our duty to take care of the older members of our family who do not have anyone else to turn to and who can no longer be reasonably expected to provide for all of their own physical needs. And while it is very true that this is the context of this verse, it is also important to realize that there is a basic truth contained within the passage the speaks to our duty to all of our family that we have the privilege of responsibility.

 

It is that responsibility that I want to talk about today.

 

We just had four of our eight grandchildren stay with us for a few days. The other four live a few blocks away from us, so we are constantly in contact with them, but the other half live an hour and a half away, so our time is more limited. But when we do get together, i am reminded of how important these sweet children are to me. It is akin to the feelings that I had when their parents were born - when all of our children were born for that matter. And there is nothing that I will not do to make sure that they are safe and well-cared for.

 

I think we all see this with our families. This is why we go to work to provide food and shelter for them. This is why we go to their games and cheer for them, why we take them to the doctor when they are ill, why we are vitally concerned with their getting a proper education, and so on - anything to make sure that they are okay. The question is, do we see that in the most important area of their lives? Are we providing for them in that area... or are we worse than an unbeliever when it comes to their immortal souls? 

 

It's an important question to answer, because when it comes down to it there will be a day - a moment where they kneel before God and find out if they were indeed living up to the purpose for which they were created. And what is that purpose. you may ask? It is to serve God!

 

This life is a test in many ways, but the reason for the test always comes back to the same basic truth: We are put here on earth for a short time to demonstrate our love for God and Christ by serving them in the way they have commanded. Jesus said in the 14th chapter of John that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments. Now, we may live in any way we choose and still claim our love for Him, but that doesn't change the immutable nature of His statement. If we love Him, we will obey His commandments and if we do not obey, it's because we do not love Him. 

 

This life, then, is a test of that love. It is not an arbitrary test from a cruel master as some might suspect, because God and Christ love us more than we could possibly understand, and because of that love they want ius to be with them to serve them for all eternity. You can deny this truth if you wish, either verbally or by your actions, but that doesn't change a thing. God wants servants for eternity, and He has provided an opportunity for each one of us to experience Heaven itself if we will just love He and Christ enough to want to serve them for eternity.

 

Which gets us back to the start - do you love your family? Do you love them enough to not only provide for their physical needs, but for their spiritual ones as well? Will we love them enough to teach them about the love that God and Jesus have for us? Will we love them enough to pray for them every day? Will we read from and talk about the Bible with them every day? Will we love them enough to make sure that they have every opportunity to worship with the church and attend Bible classes with the church? And I don't just mean taking them to some functions of the church - you wouldn't let them only go to school on special occasions, and if they were playing a sport you cared about, you wouldn't let them attend practices only when they wanted to. 

 

And you wouldn't feed them only when it was convenient for you to do so or provide them with a place to stay at night only on certain occasions. If you did these things, you would not only be worse than an unbeliever, but you would be subject to legal penalties from the authorities. Yet how often do we give our families the things that last unto eternity? How often are we too tired to feed them spiritually, too busy to talk to them about their responsibility to God, and too lazy to take them (with us) to the worship and to Bible classes?

 

Do we truly love our families? Do we love them enough to do the hard and inconvenient things that will give them the best chance to serve God both here and in eternity? Or are we worse than an unbeliever in the most important responsibility there is when it comes to caring for our families?

 

These are the things I have been thinking about more and more, and our getting to be with our grandchildren has really brought these thoughts into crystal clear focus that I don't always have for them. The most important thing for me is that my children and grandchildren and my wife and all of the family that God has blessed me with a certain responsibility towards is taken care of. We know that on the Day of Judgment nothing else will matter. Since that is true, what does that tell us about the things we should be doing right now to make sure that our families are taken care of? Those who concern themselves with such questions will sure do well. However, those who do not take care of their families in the spiritual areas of life may just one day find out that in God's eyes they are worse than an unbeliever. 

 

So, what is the most important thing to you when it comes to your family? The answer to that will very likely determine whether your family, whom you love, will spend a pleasant eternity with our Lord and Savior, or an unbearable eternity apart from them. The wonderful thing is that it is not too late for us to begin this very day. If we truly believe, I think we will do just that.

 

Do you love your family?

It is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast...

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Ephesians 2:8-10, NIV (1978)

 

Do you consider yourself a Christian, yet are proud? By that I mean do you think it is because you are so good that God will save you. If so, that's a problem.

 

On the other hand, do you consider yourself a Christian, yet are lazy? By that I mean do you think because God is so good that He will save you with no effort on your part. If so, that's a problem.

 

The fact is that none are worthy of eternal life - that has always been reserved for those who believe in the Father and the Son, and who have accepted their grace. It is also a fact that those who bury their talents and refuse to put them to work will someday hear, "Thou wicked, lazy servant" and be cast outside of the Kingdom where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

Anyone with even a causal relationship with the Word of God is aware of these things, but many are guilty of not really believing them. They either get mad when someone speaks of grace and faith, thinking that they are somehow suggesting that we are not required to obey our Lord and Savior, or they get mad when someone talks about works, because they think they are somehow denying grace and faith.

 

How did we ever get to this point? One way, I believe, is that we stopped reading the Bible and started trusting in the words of men. So, when some guy with a title and nice suit says that we only need to accept God's grace and there will be nothing further that you need, many will accept that. They like the idea of being hired for a job at which they don't have to show up but still get a check and benefits. Such a doctrine is an easy sale to those who want something for nothing, so you can see why grace and faith only is such a popular teaching. On the other hand, you have the guy with a title and a nice suit who pounds the pulpit and shames you into believing that no one is going to Heaven but me and thee, and he is not so sure about thee. And this doctrine, though much less appealing than the something for nothing crowd, still has more than its share of fervent and dogmatic adherents.

 

The odd thing is that the two sides then go to war with each other. It's like that sorry old beer commercial where the "tastes great" side goes to war with the "less filling" side. And while I am no advocate of beer, it's marketers do make a brilliant point: Two things can be true at the same time. Since this is an undeniable fact, we don't have to assume that just because one side has truth, that the other side doesn't.

 

Now, for the point of all this. There are far too many people who are convinced that they are Christians because the follow the belief system of "Gentleman A" who clearly gets his doctrine directly from part of the Bible. On the other side are the followers of "Gentleman B" who also clearly gets his doctrine directly from part of the Bible. Armed with such obvious truths, the religious world then divides itself into following the most persuasive speaker - usually the same one that their moms and dads followed.

 

I wonder sometimes if Satan just sits back and laughs at us.

 

What other group of people would argue over a BLT sandwich's composition? "It's the bacon" one side will insist, "that you need for such a splendid sandwich!" "No, no" others will cry, "it is the tomato!" The green-loving people will quickly interject, "You fools! You clearly must have lettuce for such a meal." Back and forth these intellectual pygmies will rage, until finally they are no longer speaking to one another and they divide to go their separate ways, each taking their favorite ingredient with them. No one stops to think that all three are needed, they are just so caught up in the rightness of their side that they fail to see the necessity of the other. 

 

And none can enjoy a BLT sandwich anymore, because they have banned forever two of the three ingredients. How dumb would that be?

 

Now, back to the point (you thought I had forgotten, didn't you?) The Bible - that holy, inspired and infallible Word of God, teaches us that we are saved by grace and faith. Don't get mad, for it really does! The Bible - that same holy, inspired and infallible Word of God, also teaches that we are servants, and that servants (oddly enough) are expected to serve. Those that don't are branded for what they are - wicked and lazy - and are cast outside into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Again, don't get mad because the Bible really does teach that very thing. Both are true, you see, two things really can be true at the same time!

 

And truth is not mutually exclusive - it is complimentary! A partial truth very often turns into a lie, if we are not on our guard.

 

In fact, the Bible teaches much more than that, does it not? It also teaches us about love and compassion and forgiveness. It teaches us every nuance that is needed to serve God properly, and when we mess up - well then it teaches us about the saving grace of God and the salvation that comes for those who are in Christ. If that's not enough, it even teaches us how to get into Christ. 

 

I think we all know these things - at least those who are more than just casual followers of Christ. It's just that we sometimes get so caught up in our fervor to defend one part of the truth, that we leave another part of the truth behind. We cannot do this and hope to be saved - God has never allowed us to reject any part of His way and still be acceptable. 

 

So, what does all of this mean? It means that each one of us have a responsibility to be searching the Word (I would recommend on a daily basis) in order to make sure that we have all of the truth, and not just a cheap and dangerous partial truth. After all, God so loved us that He gave His only begotten Son for our sins. Jesus so loved us that He laid down His life in that perfect sacrifice. Such love and sacrifice demand our loyalty, our obedience, and a love that involves all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. 

 

We have got to leave behind these silly arguments over whether it is peanut butter or jelly that makes the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. A child of three understands that fact that both are needed. In a like manner, we adults who desire to be pleasing followers of Jesus are going to have to leave behind our silly arguments over whether it is grace or service that is needed. The only question is, can we see it?