PERSECUTION: The ascending cry of their hearts!

"For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me."

1 Corinthians 14:8-11

A hawk has entered the area and a crow is fleeing a diving attack … suddenly a cry goes up and his brethren come to the endangered brother’s defense. Within a matter of seconds, dozens have responded; the noise and the flood of moral support is awesome and wonderful.

Oh how I wish the cry of a wounded brother would bring about such a result from the Body of Christ … sadly the landscape is littered with the carcasses of the wounded and dying. What effort there is to reach out seems woefully weak and distinctly indistinct. Clearly the troops are not prepared for battle.

Christianity, Illustrations,
Persecution, Religion

ILLUMINATION: The fruit of prolonged consecration!

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ."

1 Corinthians 2:12-3:1

One Fall we planted bulbs … Daffodils, Narcissus, Tulips! They had to be planted in the Fall in order for them to bloom in the Spring … they remained hidden until March and April.

Planting bulbs in Southern California isn’t like planting bulbs in the Northeastern United States. Bulbs, if expected to bloom as desired, require a freeze or at least several days of a very cold weather. We don’t have many cold days in Southern California, let alone freezes. Many of our precious bulbs didn’t bloom.

It’s certainly true that many things of God are hidden for a season, like bulbs, only to be revealed at the proper time. His hidden things, like bulbs, don’t bloom in their planting season, rather, like bulbs, they bloom in due time.

Notice also the bulbs the gardener plants bloom where they are planted, they do not bloom where not planted.

God provides illumination for His people. But the gift does not come unwrapped. In fact a great deal of quiet energy must be spent in order to acquire the illumination offered. As was said by another, “Illumination sprouts from the soil of prolonged consecration.”

Jehovah has been planting His hidden things since the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Many have bloomed and provided His creation with glorious bouquets. Others have not bloomed; not because their time hasn’t come, but rather because they were not acquainted with the difficulties of a hard winter.

Christianity, Illumination,
Illustrations, Religion

RENEWAL: A Permanent-Fresh!

“but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”

1 Corinthians 6:11

Not too long ago, we were fascinated with the development of “permanent-press” fabrics; now, thanks to a major advance in textile technology, we will soon have “permanent-fresh” fabrics.

While this sounds like more frills on an already materialistic and pampered society, it is in fact quite an advance. Gang Sun, the developer, said, “Anti-microbial fabrics have great potential for … hospitals to prevent the spread of drug-resistant diseases ….” Hospital gowns, bedding and dressings will be adapted to reduce the spread of disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

Consumers would “charge” the permanently-fresh apparel by laundering it in a mild mixer of chlorine bleach. The garments would then be periodically “recharged” (much like rechargeable batteries) through rewashing.

This new technology solves the single greatest problem facing anti-microbial materials – durability. Scientists found it easy to attach the new chemicals to the fabric’s fibers; but keeping it there had been another matter. Typically, the chemicals were thrown out with the bath water.

In contrast, the new N-halamine coating thrives on laundering, being recharged with fresh chlorine atoms at each washing, recharging the garments to 100% of original potency. [“A new idea that doesn’t stink,” The Washington Times; August 30 - September 5, 1999, p. 2]

Because man has the Law written in his heart [Romans 2:14-16], most feel a strong need to do well; he’s tried every avenue he can think of to save himself. Yet the world assaults him, washing away whatever righteousness he has developed on his own. Doing what they believe is good is not the problem, the problem has been to get it to stick unto salvation [Romans 3:23 (see also 3:10-18)].

Those who are washed in the Blood of Christ have been made permanently-new [Romans 11:29; 2 Corinthians 5:17]. Not only is the original washing good for all eternity, it’s recharged to 110% with each washing [1 John 1:8-2:2].

Christianity, Illustrations,
Religion, Renewal

BURDENS: Bearing Burdens and Turn of Events!

"No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it."

1 Corinthians 10:13

Wrestling was not my favorite sport in Middle School, but I was blessed with considerable athletic ability and did quite well in it. However, just about the time my little old heart got all puffed up with self-importance, I had the chance to wrestle a boy I did not like. I couldn’t tell you today why I didn’t like him, but I remember his name, Larry Hutchins.

Well, I had just about “whupped” on this boy when there was a sudden turn of events. As I was taking him down for the third time and for the win, our weights shifted and I ended up falling with him on top of me. I threw my left arm out to catch us and my elbow locked as my hand hit the floor; my elbow did not appreciate our combined weight and it dislocated miserably. I suffer from that injury to this day.

God will not ask us to bear more than He has prepared for us to bear; and He will always equip us for the task. However, we are quite capable of loading upon ourselves much more than we are capable of holding up. God is not to blame for times like these.

Burdens, Christianity,
Illustrations, Religion

TRADITIONALISM: We've always done it that way here!

PROTECTION OR PREVENTION: [Colossians 2:8]

"The Williams Fire" caught us by surprise. Small fires in the San Gabriel Mountains are common for September in years of drought; but 24 hours after it started, what began as a 20-acre brush fire had quickly become a full-fledged problem … an out of control forest fire, consuming hundreds of acres at a gulp.

On the first day, I arrived home at dusk and went to an area to join neighbors watch the flames consume our beautiful mountains. We watched together for about an hour, waxing eloquently on our knowledge of fires, and trading lies about "the fire of '83." When the sun began to set over the Los Angeles skyline, we all commented on how the smoke had turned the sun burning red. I made a big deal about how beautiful it was.

As the sun began to slide behind the horizon, I began to have difficulty focusing on anything but the biggest flames. I turned to the lady on the right to mention this, only to see a dark grey face staring back at me. I then realized I was still wearing my sunglasses.

The old King James translators had a way with words; in 1 Corinthians 13:12 they have Paul informing the folks in Corinth that "now we see through a glass darkly." Their choice of words came alive for me when I realized I was still wearing my shades after dark.

There is another truth hidden in this experience: tradition, when used correctly, will prevent churches and denominations from moving critical boundaries, destroying key foundations, and distracting members from mission; tradition, when used incorrectly, obliterates boundaries, weakens structures, and obscures vision. Slowly, the Son-light slips below the collective horizon, what is supposed to be seen “dimly” is now seen not at all. So too with my cool shades.

GOD-KNOWLEDGE OF: Knowing the Unknowable by Faith!

JUST THE TIP! [1 Corinthians 13:12]

We are told, by those who know, that the visible tip of an iceberg is less than one-third of its total mass.

Our relationship with God is like that: what we see is very little compared to what is available.

We ought to be grateful for the privilege of being able to stand on what we can see, after all God was under no obligation to reveal Himself at all. O' the joy of knowing that our God, in all His glory, is far more than we can imagine or grasp.

ILLUMINATION (Progressive) - A wonderful work of the Holy Spirit!

BOUNDING HOMEWARD! [2 Timothy 2:15, 1 Corinthians 2:12, 13]

In the movie Homeward Bound, “Shadow,” (a dog; Golden Retriever) leads “Sassy” (a cat; Persian Bi-Color) and “Chance” (a dog; American Staffordshire Bull Terrier) up a mountain to find their way home (they thought they’d been abandoned by their owners).

Shadow, the older dog, truly believes the mountain is the only thing in between them and home. When they reach the top they discover several more mountains ahead.

That’s how I feel as I study the things of God: no sooner do I mount one peak than I discover so much more remains to be learned. Unlike Shadow and his friends, I’m not disappointed or overwhelmed … I count it a blessing and a delightful challenge.