MAN: Not many pure hearts in that group!

"The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain."

Deuteronomy 1:6

As the end of the last century approached, I was reminded of something D. L. Moody said at the end of the previous,

“I believe … four-fifths of the church is wandering around in the wilderness, far away from the cross of Calvary and the Promised Land.” Moody was commenting on the lives and character of Caleb and Joshua. Specifically he said, “… these two men … looked up yonder.” [Bible Characters: “Caleb”; Thos. W. Jackson Publishing Co., Chicago; 1902, pp.34-36]

George W. Truett added, their report was a “full-of-grace” report. [“Jewels From Past Giants.” Pulpit Helps, January 1995, 6-7]

When I think of men of the bible, I do what others do (right after I think of Jesus): I think of Paul, David, Moses, etc. But when I take serious inventory of biblical men, four stand out: Joseph, Joshua, Caleb, and Stephen.

One reason I admire them [the same reason Moody gave] is, there’s nothing special about them. Basically, they were men like other men, who simply stood out; but they were additionally “can do” men. It seems our world lacks men of this caliber today.

Just a few years ago, the world fantasized at the character of Mel Gibson in Brave Heart; but the fact remains, his history was written by men and embellished by men. Men of Pure Heart, like Caleb and Joshua, are men of all heart; their stories written by the hand of God, through a man of God.

Look around today. Look at the devastation brought on by supposed men-of-conviction, who are not men-of-resolve. Look at the horrible decisions made in this world as the result of men who fear popular opinion.

Luther fanned the flames of revolution when he pointed the way to reformation; he swam against a huge tide of popular opinion. Our own American revolutionaries sacrificed virtually everything to secure this land for us. And what of Jesus? What did He secure for the Church? Political correctness?

Praise God some Christian men are recognize a higher standard of manhood than that foists upon us by our culture! Consider: In 1960 only 5% of American children went to bed without a father in the house; today the number exceeds 25%.

Recently a woman discovered she couldn’t obtain enough “Mother’s Day” cards to give to male inmates in her state’s prison system; on the other hand, she couldn’t give away the “Father’s Day” cards.

In a study of 11,000 crimes, no link was found between the crimes and poverty or race; a link was found, however, between the crimes and “father-absent households.”

And men continue to get women pregnant and remain strangely silent as they continue to abort their babies in record numbers.

Men who fearlessly face the bogeymen of life are invaluable to their nations, their neighbors, their families, and their churches.

Christianity, Illustrations,
Mankind, Religion

TRUST: In God We Should!

BRIDGES OVER TROUBLED WATERS! [James 3:1; other topics - Ethics, fidelity, fiduciary honor]

May 26, 2002, was a beautiful Oklahoma morning, the sun rising in the East as his 18-wheeler ascended the rise to the bridge spanning the Arkansas River. At 60 mph, there just was not enough time to react as he realized the bridge was gone.

In the words of an eyewitness, “It was just like watching one of those movies where the truck is just hanging there in the air.” That was before it plunged into the maw of the bridge collapse.

What happened? For some reason a barge captain lost control of his fully loaded barges, allowing them to drift into the dual concrete supports under the Western end of the bridge. Without warning, the bridge groaned and fell to the water some forty feet below. The 18-wheeler and its driver disappeared into the depth.

An obvious parallel exists with Adam’s failure in the Garden of Eden, but I see a more contemporary analogy.

Everyday, all day, the citizens of this “third rock from the sun,” cross bridges spanning the common dangers of life. At any moment, a vessel traveling beneath one of those bridges could veer out of control and destroy the supports they take for granted.

For example: a disease might smash a column out from under one of life’s travelers; an accident might swerve into a support pillar on another of life’s voyagers, perhaps causing the loss of a loved one; or unemployment might yank the entire support structure out from under a whole family of life-trekkers.

However, these are random, unintentional events. If, as some suggest, the barge captain failed in his fiduciary responsibilities, that’s a horse of another color.

Unfortunately, we have amongst us, in the spiritual community, those whose intentional behaviors and philosophies are not only dangerous but are abject violations of community or public trust.

We have godless theologies (Unitarians), materialistic spiritual communities (Binny Hinn, "name-it, claim-it"), murdering pro-lifers, insurgent supporting organizations (NCC), subversive doctrine (Liberation Theology), pedophilic youth pastors, predatory priests, shepherd abusing sheep, adulterous pastors, and Enron-like denominational leaders (Arizona Baptist Foundation).

These perpetrators of wrong are not only wrecking havoc on the bridges of life but are destroying the foundations of the ages, bringing down the Bridge of Life, which leads to eternal life. God help us!

CHARACTER - What you are when no one is looking!

WATCHMEN ON THE WALL! [Ezekiel 33:1-6; Ambition, Bribery, Loyalty, Selfishness, Treachery]

I’m told the Great Wall of China was breached only three times; each time it was by bribing the gatekeepers.

Did the wall fail? No! The human failed! Why? The character of the gatekeepers hadn’t developed sufficiently to withstand the temptations placed at their feet. Gold’s gleam and a moment’s profit held more attraction for them than the lives of others, including their neighbors.