Mirror

A recent study from the University of Glasgow revealed something quite surprising.  It seems that when photographed, the human eye reflects the person taking the photo very clearly.   Rob Jenkins from the University of New York says that “the pupil of the eye is like a black mirror” and reveals far more than what was first thought.   What usefulness does this have?  Imagine a hostage situation where the kidnapper takes a photo of the person they are holding… computers can digitally zoom into the eyes of the person being held and see a clear picture of the criminal.  

The pupils reflect an image of what’s in front of them.

Our hearts do the same.  So often we put ourselves around people that we shouldn’t… and their influence is reflected in our lives.  We begin to talk like they do… think like they do… and many times slide backwards… away from the life that God has called us to live.   The Bible warns us about staying amongst those that harm our hearts.  Proverbs 22:24-25 says “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.”  1 Corinthians 15:33 echoes this concept with “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.”   Find yourself angry?  Bitter?  Anxious?  Filled with gossip or jealousy?  Check your friends list.   Perhaps it is the reflected influence of a “friend” that is causing you to see the world differently.   Am I saying not to have friends that don’t believe like you do?  No.  You will (and should) hang out with people who are still investigating the claims of Christ.   But if you are a Christ-follower, your closest companions…those that have the greatest influence on your life… should follow and live out the values of Christ as you do.  

Drop Back In

It may seem hard to believe, but the United States average high-school dropout rate is 25%.  1 in 4 students decide to leave before they finish.   The question is… what is happening to stop this trend?  What are schools doing to pursue those that want to call it quits?

The church faces a similar situation.  People coming to the end of their faith and deciding that they just want to walk away from a God who seemingly doesn’t care.  So what’s being done?  What is the family of God supposed to do when one of their own drifts away?  Pursue.  Lovingly… and with great passion… go after those that have lost their way.  Scripture tells us in Matthew 18:12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?”  We are to go after the lost…the disillusioned…the confused…the broken…and the hurt.  They may be looking to drop out… and it’s that very time that God commands us to step in.  Sometimes all someone needs is the reassurance that things will get better…and that God still cares.  Know someone who’s walked away?  Today…without hesitation…start the process of leading them back.   Both of you will be better for it.  

Sweetness

The other day I read an interesting fact about honey.  Did you know that germs cannot live in honey because it’s too sweet?   It’s true.  The sugar in the honey causes the water part of the bacteria to evaporate… thus killing the bad germ.  Similarly, that’s why jellies can be put into jars and kept indefinitely without fear of contamination. It’s the sugar… the sweetness.. that makes all the difference.  

As we think about our world today,  many would tell you that the way to deal with the corruption and evil is to seek revenge.  After all, if we are wronged… they have it coming.  We hurt… they should hurt.  However, scripture tells us differently.  In fact, we are told in Luke 6 that we should “return good for evil”  and in Proverbs 16:24… that it is gracious words (like a honeycomb) that brings “healing to the bones”.  God says when the world wants to sour us… reply with kindness.  Turn the other cheek.  Extend the olive branch.  Allow God’s sweetness in our heart to drive out the bitterness of what the flesh might want us to do.   It may not be our first reaction…. but the more often we choose it… the closer to Christ we will be.  

On Board

I once read a story about a young naval ensign on his first assignment.   He was given the responsibility of preparing the ship for launch… and he was nervous.  Remembering everything he’d learned in training, the young sailor yelled commands and readied the vessel for the voyage.  He accomplished his tasks in record time… and with a proud voice… gave the order to leave the dock.  Soon after they were out into open water, the ensign received a message.  It was from the captain.  It read “My personal congratulations upon completing your underway preparation exercise according to the book and with amazing speed. But next time, you might wait until your captain is aboard before setting off.”

Oops… Ever make that mistake?  Have you ever been so anxious and excited that you forgot to put first things first?  Many do… In fact, many take off and do things in their lives without waiting for God to be a part of it.  Isaiah 40:31 says to do otherwise:  “But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.”   Is it ok to be excited?  Ready?  Prepared to set the direction for our lives?  Yes!  However, if we do so without making sure God is onboard first, we will grow tired and quickly drift off course.   Seek God first.  Wait on Him to answer.  And then proceed… and it will be smooth sailing the whole way. 

Knowing or Doing?

I read an ABC news report about a man who has spent his entire 71 years on the planet in school.  Michael Nicholson of Kalamazoo, Michigan has an interesting hobby:  he collects degrees.  So far he has 29 and is on course for his 30^th.  His accomplishments include one doctorate, three specialist degreees, one bachelor’s degree, two associate degrees, and 22 masters.  When asked about it, Michael says that he just loves to learn.   

And while we might at first celebrate his decision… it doesn’t take long before we realize the tragedy in this story.  Mr. Nicholson has spent his entire life learning disciplines without putting any of it to use.   He’s filled his head with knowledge and his walls with paperwork… but his legacy remains locked away in his briefcase.  Learning is important… but without utilizing the knowledge we receive… it’s practically useless.  The same goes for our study of the Bible.  James tells us in chapter 1 and verse 22 that we should not merely listen to the word… but we are to “Do what it says.”  Knowing who God is and doing what God wants are two different things… and one without the other is simply missing our purpose.   While it’s very important to study and memorize scripture… it’s equally as important to take the message out of the confines of the mind and into the world through our hands and heart.   

Focus

When I was first starting to learn how to drive, I was nervous.  Hands at 10 and 2 o’clock… feet on the brakes… mirrors adjusted to the right position.  I studied the handbook and knew the proper following distances and sign shapes.  Yes… I was ready… but one thing kept me uneasy… the speed limit.  After all, how was I supposed to look down at the speedometer and up at the traffic at the same time?  What if I wasn’t looking down and started to go too fast… and got pulled over for speeding… or I was looking down to check my speed and rammed into the car in front of me?  I couldn’t keep my eyes on BOTH places at the same time… so what was I to do?

So many times in our walk with Christ we get nervous for the same reason.  I want to keep my eyes on Him… but what if something needs my attention in life?  What if I’m looking to Him for guidance and bump right into a crisis?  The Bible tells us that our eyes are to be in one position only:  Hebrews 12:2 says, “"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith ..."  Unlike driving,  we only have to look in one place to stay safe… and that’s facing God.   Life swerving?  Look and pray to God.  A bad diagnosis?  High tax bill?  Failing in school?  Look up.  Marriage trouble?  Losing your authority over your kids?  Don’t stare at the dashboard of your life trying to figure out your speed… look to the One that knows how to steer through the danger!   It’s when we take our eyes off of Christ and put them on our troubles… that the real trouble begins.   

Too Much

It’s a sign of the times.  A hospital in Pennsylvania has launched a treatment center for people who have a serious addition to something that they can no longer control.  Only it’s not for what you might think…  This is a clinic for those that suffer from internet addiction!  According to doctors, this is becoming an epidemic in countries like China, Korea, and Taiwan… with the United States coming on strong.  In May of 2013, it was recognized as an official disorder in America… and one that needed to be dealt with through psychiatric counseling and extended medical intervention.

It’s hard to believe that something as seemingly useful as the internet could one day lead to serious and life-changing problems.   But remember, it’s not the occasional user or even the power user that ends up in therapy… it’s the over-the-top…stop at nothing to go online user that needs help.  Same goes for overuse of anything… food, television, the approval of others… anything that we crave incessantly.  The Bible tells us in Philippians 4…  ^“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”   God instructs us to live with boundaries… to maintain control over our behaviors so that we can honor Him with our lives.   The key to happiness isn’t too much of a good thing… it’s moderation… and without it, what God means to be helpful actually harms us mentally, physically, and spiritually.  You were meant for so much more.