The Rescue

Christine Loughead’s last trip to the grocery store was anything but routine.  It started out as it always did (bread, milk, cereal, etc.)  but at the back of the store by the meat section, Christine noticed a lone lobster sitting in a tank filled with cold brine water waiting to be sold, cooked, and eaten.  She decided to do something about it.   Moving quickly, she purchased the solo crustacean, wrapped him in wet newspaper, put him in a cooler, and drove six hours to a shipping location to send him to a friend who lived beside the Atlantic Ocean.  She was determined to return the lobster to his/her home.

The lobster who was bound for eventual death was spared.

When I read that story, it reminded me that all of us are a lot like that lobster.  We are born into a broken world where one day we will run out of heartbeats.  We sit hoping that someone will intervene and allow us to live a life of freedom...a life where we are unbound and able to become who we were created to be.  Not held to a small tank... but released to a boundless ocean of possibilities, strength, and hope. 

If you’re reading this today... I have good news for you.  You are free.  Truly free.  Not because of anything you’ve done, said, or logically figured out.   Your rescuer?  Jesus Christ.  He willingly sacrificed Himself on the cross over two thousand years ago so you don’t have to spend your life scared of the future...staring through the glass of life worrying about your eventual fate.   When you enter into a relationship with Him you are released from the bounds of infinite separation from God and ushered into a family that lives together eternally with Christ in Heaven.    

Think about that a minute... we have nothing to offer Christ but He rescues us anyway.  Scripture puts it this way in Psalm 8:4 “what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”  David asks the big question... who are we that God Himself would come down to save us?   But then we read John’s beloved explanation in verse 16 of the third chapter... “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

If you’re looking for an explanation as to why God would go through all the trouble to save us... it’s simple. 

Love.

He loves you so much that you were worth the sacrifice of His Son on your behalf.

He loves you so much that He gave up His perfect child for an imperfect you.

He loves you so much that He would rather lose Jesus than spend forever separated from you. 

You are worth infinitely more than a lobster in a tank.  Your life has a purpose... it has meaning... and the One who started your heart beating wants you to live a life free of the fear of “what if.”  Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?  If so, live like it.  Head up... shoulders back... stand boldly for Him and share your faith with others.  If not, I encourage you to make today the day you break free.  Read the prayer below and commit your life to Him.  It is the most important (and liberating) decision you’ll ever make.  The words you say aren’t as important as the condition of your heart as you meditate on and repeat the passage below:

Jesus... I admit that I’m a sinner.  I make mistakes and I realize that I can’t do life alone.  Please come into my heart... lead me... guide me... and become the Lord, Master, the CEO of my life.  I believe that you came to earth, died on the cross for my sins, and resurrected three days later so that anyone who believes can spend forever with you.  Today, I commit everything I understand about myself to everything I understand about You.   Thank you for loving me the way you do... and thank you for salvaging me... saving me... and making it possible for me to be truly free and live eternally.  In Jesus name, Amen. 

If you prayed that prayer above... welcome to the family.  You’ll never make a better choice.  I pray that your first steps with Christ will grow into a lifetime of seeking Him in all things.  Blessings to you today and always!

Two Seconds?

I read of an interesting case in Rhode Island involving parking rules.  It seems that Sarah had permission to park in her spot... but not between the hours of 8am and 10am.  Problem is, she slipped quietly to a stop in her parking place at 9:59 and 58 seconds.  The clock on her dash said it was already 10am... but the parking enforcement watch disagreed and Sarah was fined for her discrepancy. 

Two seconds. 

To many (including the judge who threw out the case)... two seconds is nothing.  It’s close enough.  It’s almost.  Problem is 9:59 and 58 seconds is not 10AM.  

But it’s close.

Living together without a commitment isn’t marriage... but it’s close.   

Loving most of the people we come into contact with isn’t what God asks... but it’s close.

Putting God second on our priority list isn’t what we’re told to do... but it’s close.

Close to the bullseye isn’t the bullseye... and anything outside of perfection is what the Bible calls sin.  What we deserve as a result of that sin is far worse than a parking fine.  Let’s look at that punishment as stated in Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What we deserve for our imperfection is death. 

But the scripture doesn’t stop there... it tells us that because of Christ, we can achieve eternal life.  Live forever with Him.  Get our tickets torn up and our handcuffs taken off... free to live knowing that our eternity is secure.  It just takes a decision.  In fact, it’s the most important decision you’ll ever make. 

Have you been living a life that’s “close”?   Are you thinking that you are too far gone to be accepted by God?  You aren’t.  God hasn’t given up on you and never will.  He wants a relationship with you more than you could ever know.  You are His child and you matter.  And no matter how many times you’ve missed the bullseye, there’s still hope and forgiveness waiting for you on the other side of this most important choice.   Are you ready to ask Jesus into your life?  Tired of trying to do it all on your own and struggling?  He’s ready to hear from your heart today.   How do we make God the Master, the Lord, the CEO of our life?  Three simple steps:

1)  Admit that you make mistakes

           

First, you must admit where you are with God.  We can't make excuses or blame others and our circumstances for our actions. "For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God" (Romans 3:23).   We all sin and none of us can get to Heaven on our own.

2)  Believe that Christ died on the cross for you.

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God..." (I Peter 3:18).   It was through Christ's sinless life and willingness to sacrifice Himself on our behalf that we can spend eternity with God.

The Apostle Paul said, "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

3)  Commit your life to God

The word "repent" means "to change your direction.  God commands us to repent. You must be willing to turn away from the things that miss the mark with God.  Jesus said, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). It is essential that you come to Jesus as you are... receive Him and allow Him to do the "cleansing." Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).

If you are ready to admit, believe, and commit your life to Jesus Christ, say a prayer today right where you are like this one to Him. 

"God, I know that I have missed the mark and that my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past mistakes and come to you.  Please forgive me. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayers. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule in my heart, and to guide my steps.  I give everything I understand about myself to everything I understand about You.  Salvage me.  Save me.  Thank you God.... Amen.”

My sincerest hope is that you prayed that prayer today... or shared it with someone who needed it.  It’s time to stop living “close” to what God wants and instead establish a relationship with Him and allow Him to guide our steps.   Blessings to you today and always.    

Eternity

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor 

      and gave him the name above all other names, 

 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

      in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

      to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11

There is a place that was never designed for human inhabitants... where there is no joy... no light... and no friends.  It’s name?  Gehenna.  Hell.   What’s there?  Separation of Creator from creation... A division between humanity and hope... an eternity where all is lost forever. 

If you are reading this post today... there’s still hope.  And that hope has a name.  Look at today’s passage.  Paul tells us that God called His Son Jesus... “name above all other names” and that when we hear it... “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”   Scripture tells us in Romans 10 that all who call out this Name and believe that He is Lord will be spared the eternal separation and pain of hell.  When we call out and confess Jesus Christ as Lord... name above all names... we are saved forever.

What does eternity look like for you?  Take some time to think about that.  We have a lot riding on what side we take.   I urge you to investigate the claims of Jesus... and it is my prayer that one day you might confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and spend eternity with Him.  

It’s the best and most important decision you will ever make

Our Most Important Decision

“Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor 

      and gave him the name above all other names, 

 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

      in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

      to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:9-11

There is a place that was never designed for human inhabitants... where there is no joy... no light... and no friends.  It’s name?  Gehenna.  Hell.   What’s there?  Separation of Creator from creation... A division between humanity and hope... an eternity where all is lost forever. 

If you are reading this post today... there’s still hope.  And that hope has a name.  Look at today’s passage.  Paul tells us that God called His Son Jesus... “name above all other names” and that when we hear it... “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”   Scripture tells us in Romans 10 that all who call out this Name and believe that He is Lord will be spared the eternal separation and pain of hell.  When we call out and confess Jesus Christ as Lord... name above all names... we are saved forever.

What does eternity look like for you?  Take some time to think about that.  We have a lot riding on what side we take.   I urge you to investigate the claims of Jesus... and it is my prayer that one day you might confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and spend eternity with Him.  

It’s the best and most important decision you will ever make.

One Way

Most people think of Thomas Edison as an immediate success.  However, what many don’t realize is that some of his experiments didn’t work... in fact they failed hundreds of times.  As he struggled to perfect the storage battery... a friend sympathized with him over his failures. Edison said, 'But I haven't failed. I've found 10 thousand ways that don't work!”

10,000 may seem like an incredibly large number of attempts... but so many do the exact same thing with their eternity.  They try to be good people... and that doesn’t work.  They give money... and that’s not it.  They make deals with God... and that doesn’t do it.  They follow rules... and that doesn’t get them there.  So how can someone get to Heaven?  Jesus made it clear in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”   Why waste your life trying 10,000 ways that won’t work... Follow the One Way that does... Allow Christ into your heart as Lord and Savior... it’s the most important decision you’ll ever make.

Gain the World?

I read of a man in England who spent seven years on a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle.  Eighty-six year old retiree Jack Harris started the five foot tall puzzle just after Christmas of 2002 and for many years meticulously worked at putting it together.  Sadly, at the end of his journey... after 4999 pieces were placed in their exact spots... the puzzle could not be completed.  The tiny hole in the middle of the puzzle revealed that a piece was missing.

This brought a powerful scripture to mind... Mark 8:36 “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?”  So many people live their whole life building wealth... putting together success... acquiring possessions... and come to the end of it without the most important piece:  a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Their picture is incomplete... and as a result they spend eternity separated from Him.   Maybe you know someone who’s working on their puzzle and needs that missing part... be bold!  Share the amazing news of salvation with them... and turn what could be tragic into something triumphant.  

Rescue Team

I know what the pit looks like.  I’ve been fired by a former church employer, been in and out of the hospital for various serious reasons, and seen my share of challenges that seemed insurmountable.   While I was going through the trials, I couldn’t help but wonder when they would be over...  Ever felt that way?  Ever wonder if you’d ever see the light again?  Ever been in a hole so deep that you just felt like you were doomed to stay there?  You aren’t the only one in that pit... but it sure feels like it.  Foreclosure... divorce... bullying... failure... illness... pride... shame...  

I don’t know what shape your pit is... but I completely understand the feeling of being in one.  

More importantly... so does Jesus.  The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords knows what the bottom of the pit feels like.  The smoothness of the walls... unable to be climbed. The dark so thick that your eyes feel closed even when wide open.  And the bottom of the pit?  Thick and filled with hopeless sludge... guaranteed to grab your feet and slow you down if you have any ideas about trying to climb out.  One step forward... 3 steps back.  Felt that?  

Death is a pit....  and Jesus experienced it for a brief time over 2000 years ago.  The enemy did everything he could to keep Christ in that deep darkness forever.   But Jesus knew His stay was short.  He had a mission and there was nothing that would keep Him away from rolling back that stone and flooding the pit of death with the light from the sun His Father put there.   Jesus would overcome death’s perfect record and emerge victorious.  

It’s because of Christ’s escape from His pit that we have hope.  

And hope is a powerful thing.  

In his book Think on These Things, author and former-Pastor John Maxwell says this about hope:

Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest.
Hope motivates when discouragement comes.
Hope energizes when the body is tired.
Hope sweetens while bitterness bites.
Hope sings when all melodies are gone.
Hope believes when evidence is eliminated.
Hope listens for answers when no one is talking.
Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping.
Hope endures hardship when no on is caring.
Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing.
Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking.
Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging.
Hope dares to give when no one is sharing.
Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.

Hope is powerful.  And maybe you’ve been looking for it for a long time.  Day after day you’ve searched above your head for light... even a pinhole of light that simply hasn’t come.   You’ve struggled at the bottom of your pit... but I’ve got great news... Jesus has a VERY long arm.  Today He’s reaching for you and wants to pull you out... to step into a new light for the first time in a long time.   Jesus is hope.  

Romans 8:24-25 “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

You may not see Jesus today... but rest assured, He’s there.  I know it’s hard to see that beautiful arm in the blackness of the pit... but it’s there.   Ready to pull you up to the light.  Never give up that hope.  Christ hears you calling out in the darkness... and I don’t know what lesson you’ll need to learn in the trial that you are enduring... but cling to the hope and promise that His resurrection was powerful enough to get you through it.  

He’s reaching for you.

And when you finally feel that nail-pierced hand... grab onto it tightly and allow Him to rescue you.  Give your life to Him... read His word... serve in His church... grow by being more like Him.  Never give up hope in the One who promises to always be there.  Hope reminds you that things will get better.  But you know the greatest thing about hope?  It changes.  Jesus never changes... but the hope that got us out of that first pit...  becomes faith. We don’t just hope we’ll be rescued... we begin to know and have faith it will happen if we ever slip in again. 

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hope keeps you going... It keeps you from not giving up looking for light in the bottom of the pit... 

Faith reminds you that you aren’t alone down there.. and won’t stay there for long.  

Never give up hope... 

live a life of faith...  

And when you are pulled out of that hole (and you will be).... give the credit to God who sent the rescue team of One.