Seth Durham, Author at A Kingdom Seeker

A God Too Small.

The God of the Old Testament is arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction: jealous and proud of it; a petty, unjust, unforgiving control freak; a vindictive, bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser; a misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, filicidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully.
Richard Dawkins

It’s utterly, utterly evil. Why should I respect a capricious, mean-minded, stupid God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?
Stephen Fry

Either God wants to abolish evil, and cannot; or he can, but does not want to. If he wants to, but cannot, he is impotent. If he can, but does not want to, he is wicked. If God can abolish evil, and God really wants to do it, why is there evil in the world?
Epicurus

I’m fascinated when men who do not believe in God attack Him with such great passion and ferocity. “God doesn’t exist!” they proclaim, “But if he does, he’s an immoral psychopath because he allows or even perpetrates [insert atrocity here].”

Theologians and apologists have wrestled with “the problem of evil” for centuries. It’s often presented as evidence that God does not exist, but the quotes above assert something more. There’s an audaciousness to them, an attitude of superiority. They imply that if God exists, man possesses the knowledge, wisdom, and authority to sit in judgement of His actions. How foolish!

An incomplete picture.

Can you rightly judge the quality of a painting if you can see only one square inch of it? Can you read the first word of a book and determine the worth of its message? If you taste only one ingredient, can you fairly critique the whole meal?

In like manner, none of us has sufficient knowledge to criticize God’s actions. We see one speck of one piece of the puzzle, and dare to imagine that we are in a position to pass judgement on the whole. We don’t even know how much we don’t know!

Given our limitations, isn’t it possible that God has good reasons for allowing pain, suffering, and evil to exist? Reasons that we know nothing about? Reasons that are beyond our comprehension? Only pride would dare answer, “no!”

When a parent takes their small child to the doctor and allows the doctor to give the child a shot, what does that look like from the child’s point of view? The child doesn’t understand the purpose of the shot. They don’t know that it is ultimately for their good. All they know is that the needle hurts, and the parent let the doctor stab them with it! Would the child be right to call the parent evil based on what they experienced?

Obviously, the knowledge-gap between us and God is infinitely greater than the gap between a parent and their child. It’s fair to say that we are in no position to accurately judge the decisions of The Almighty.

Where were you?

You are probably familiar with the story of Job. He was a man who had it all… health, wealth, family, and fame. In an instant, God took it all away.

Job was flabbergasted. Why had God allowed all this evil to happen to him? Job’s friends came and basically said, “Wow! Job, you must have sinned pretty bad for God to do all of this to you.” Job insisted he was innocent; that he did not deserve what God was dishing out.

In the book of Job, chapter 31, Job boasts to his friends of his righteousness. Near the end of the chapter he states:

“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown.

For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince.”
Job 31:35-37

Bold words. He’s basically saying, “God, You messed up! You got this one wrong!” But his friend, Elihu, reminds Job who God is (Job chapters 32 – 37), and then God Himself responds to Job (Job chapters 38 – 41).

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:

“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?

Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
Job 38:1-4

God asks Job a series of rhetorical questions to remind him of his place in the universe. Such questions apply to anyone who wishes to challenge God. Where were you when God created the universe out of nothing? Where were you when God brought order out of chaos and light into darkness? When did you become omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent? Who do you think you are?

Job, to his credit, responds in the only appropriate way:

Then Job replied to the LORD:

“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.

You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.

You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’

I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”
Job 42:1-6

No limits.

I don’t know why God allows evil, pain, and suffering to exist, but I don’t need to. The Bible tells me that God is good, that He has a plan, and that He is without limits. God is not bound by time or space. He is not constrained by the laws of nature, physics, or mathematics. If He chooses, He can instantly right every wrong, and mete out His perfect justice to every human soul… past, present, and future. He can do this because He is Almighty God, and with Him nothing is impossible.

If you look at the current state of the world, and believe that evil, pain, and suffering are incompatible with a perfect and holy God, you simply believe in a god too small.

Cause And Effect.

There is an inescapable law at work in the universe known as the law of cause and effect. Every effect has a cause, and conversely, every cause produces an effect. Some effects are easy to predict. Place your hand into a fire, and you will get burned; drop a ceramic mug on concrete, and it will shatter. Other effects are more subtle and harder to spot because they accumulate over time, like what happens inside your cells when you eat chocolate cake, or the damage done to your liver when you drink alcohol.

This law is important to understand because your life is a series of causes and effects. Your choices in life cause things to happen. In general, good choices lead to good outcomes, poor choices lead to bad ones. For example, if you choose to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly, you are likely to see great benefits to your health. If you choose to smoke, drink, overeat, and live a sedentary life, your body will suffer as a result.

My point is, your choices generate causes, and whether the results are immediate or delayed, every cause has an effect. There’s no getting around it.

Three words.

The law of cause and effect may seem obvious, but it’s something that has to be taught. Children need to learn it early on, and if they don’t, they pay dearly for it later in life. As soon as our daughter was old enough to understand, my wife and I used three words to teach her about this law: Actions have consequences.

It’s up to you to demonstrate this. When you tell your child that if they do (a) that you will do (b), you must follow through with (b). If you don’t, you’ll wind up with a child that has no respect for you, and who will wrongly think they can disregard authority without repercussions. If you let that happen, they will learn the hard way that actions have consequences.

The consequences of sin.

The original sin, Adam and Eve’s decision to rebel against God in the Garden of Eden, was a choice that had grave consequences. It brought a curse that still affects all of creation to this day:

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.
Romans 5:12

The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away.

The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted God’s instructions, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant.

Therefore, a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price for their sin. They are destroyed by fire, and only a few are left alive.
Isiah 24:4-6

We all suffer because of that original sin. Then we compound the problem because we are all sinners ourselves. There is none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10 / Psalm 53:3). Our own sin has consequences. It negatively affects us and those around us, whether we realize it or not.

In Romans:6 we learn about the ultimate consequence of sin. The wages of sin is death. Here death refers to an eternal separation from God. It means to be cut off, forever, from Goodness, Light, Justice, Mercy, Love … all that God is.

A way out.

If the law of cause and effect is certain, and sin leads to death, and all have sinned, then what hope is there? Can you escape the consequences of your sin? Can you cheat death? No. Not in and of yourself. But God, in His mercy, provided a miracle. He came to Earth in human flesh and died in your place. Jesus took the consequences of your sin upon Himself. Your debt has been paid. You are free! All you have to do is accept His free gift.

Cause and effect: Sin leads to death, separation from God; Jesus leads to life and a restored relationship with God!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

For 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.
Ephesians 2:8-9

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Acts 16:31

If you are not a Christian, choose today to accept Christ as your Savior. If you are a Christian, choose to seek after Him more fervently. Both choices will have a positive effect on your life.

Freedom.

We recently celebrated the 4th of July here in the U.S.A. One of the main things we celebrate on this day is the concept of freedom. This got me thinking about what freedom is… and what it is not.

Free from… / Freedom to…

Total freedom (the ability to do whatever one wants without consequences) is actually a bad idea. For example, no one should have the freedom to commit acts of evil. When we talk about freedom, what we’re really talking about are individual freedoms (plural). These fall into two broad categories: freedom to do something, and freedom from something.

Our founding fathers believed in freedom from oppression. They risked everything, including their lives, to throw off the yoke of a tyrannical government. They also believed we had certain God-given rights, and they enshrined specific freedoms in the Constitution. Among these are freedom to peaceably assemble, freedom to worship God, and freedom to speak our minds.

Spiritual freedom.

Spiritually speaking, we are all born slaves. Slaves to sin. And sin is a cruel master, promising pleasure but delivering death. Have you ever seen a meth addict? Sin is like spiritual meth. It feels good for a while, but eventually it owns you, and you cannot escape its destructive effects.

A slave to sin puts “self” above all else. He is his own idol, his own god. He chases wealth, fame, and pleasure, believing these things will bring him happiness. But satisfaction is always just out of his reach, he becomes a prisoner of his passions, and sin slowly eats away at his soul.

Jesus talks about spiritual slavery in the book of John:

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.“

They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.“
John 8:31-34

There is only one way to be free from the tyranny of sin, and that is through Jesus Christ.

because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:36

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
Romans 5:8-9

One master or another.

Spiritual freedom is a bit of a paradox, because the Bible makes it clear that we have to serve something. Here are a few verses that illustrate what I mean:

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Romans 6:16

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Romans 6:18

Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.
I Peter 2:16

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
Romans 6:22

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
I Corinthians 6:19-20

Why trade one master for another? What’s the difference? The difference is, God is a loving and kind master who wants what is best for us. We serve Him willingly because we owe Him everything, and to serve Him is to serve absolute Goodness, Truth, Love, Righteousness, and Peace. There is nothing higher or nobler one could dedicate themselves to.

We serve because His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and we enjoy rest for our souls (Mathew 11: 29-30).

True spiritual freedom is both freedom from sin and freedom to serve.

More than slaves.

As Christians, even though God is our Master, it’s not accurate to say that we are His slaves, at least not in the common understanding of the word. God could enslave all of humanity if He wanted to, force us to do His bidding, and there would be nothing we could do about it. But He wants us to come to Him and submit willingly.

Amazingly, scripture teaches that when we accept Christ as savior and are freed from sin, when we pledge our loyalty to our new Master, He goes far beyond anything we have a right to ask of Him: He elevates us to the position of sons and daughters, joint heirs with Christ!

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.

And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:14-17

The process of moving from a slave to sin to a child of God is something I have experienced personally. It feels like a crushing burden lifted off your back; like cruel, iron shackles falling away from your wrists and ankles. I pray you find the same relief that I have. Call out to Jesus and experience true freedom!

Is Faith Foolish?

faith; noun

“firm belief in something for which there is no proof“.
Merriam-Webster

Many people today are confused about the meaning of the word faith. They think it means believing in something ridiculous or absurd without any evidence. But that’s not what faith is, and what they don’t realize is that most of what they believe requires a measure of faith. Why? Because it’s extremely difficult to actually prove anything.

True faith is not about believing in things that are fanciful or unreasonable, rather it is a firm belief based on logic, evidence, experience, and inference when proof is not available.

For example, I have faith that the Earth is spherical. I can’t prove it, but I’m convinced the earth is shaped like a ball, spins on its axis, and rotates around the sun. Since I’ve never personally circumnavigated the globe, or viewed our planet from outer space, my belief in a globe-shaped Earth requires a bit of faith.

So it is with faith in God. I can’t prove His existence, but I’ve seen ample evidence to justify belief in Him. If you’re an atheist or agnostic, I encourage you to seek out the evidence for yourself. If you’ll read the works of Stephen Meyer, C.S. Lewis, and William Lane Craig with an open mind, you will find a wide range of scientific and philosophical reasons to believe that God is real.

Christian faith.

The Bible is the foundation of Christian faith. The Bible says that we are all doomed sinners. It says that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, died in our place; that He rose from the grave on the third day; that all who repent and call upon His name will be saved.

This good news, passed down for thousands of years, has been the hope and joy of countless people. It takes faith to believe it. Christians have faith that the Bible is true, faith that Jesus is who He claimed to be, and faith that salvation is ours because of what Jesus did on Calvary.

But I want to know!

It was either Paulo Bitencourt or Carl Sagan who said, “I don’t want to believe, I want to know!” (Ironically, I’ve seen this quote attributed to both men, so I don’t know who said it, but I believe it was Bitencourt). I get it. Faith, by definition, means to believe without knowing; to believe without proof. Isn’t it better to know? To have proof and no room for doubt?

Why doesn’t God just provide us with definitive proof and render faith unnecessary? I don’t know, but God’s ways are higher than my ways; His thoughts higher than my thoughts. In lieu of proof, He has given us sufficient evidence, and He asks us to walk by faith, not by sight… for now.

There will come a day when faith will no longer be necessary. The day Jesus returns as King and Judge. On that day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. For those who know Him as Savior it will be a glorious day; for those who do not, it will be terrifying.

Until that day comes, I will hold fast to my faith, and to the hope I have in Him.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

Clear Instructions.

Ever had to deal with bad instructions? Like when someone gives you bad directions and you wind up lost. Or when you’re trying to put together a new piece of furniture and the steps are poorly explained. We’ve all been there. It’s incredibly frustrating!

Thankfully, when it comes to living the Christian life, the Bible instructs us in clear, plain language. There are many passages that spell things out for us, but I’d like to draw your attention to Romans, chapter 12. That single chapter contains the essence of what it means to live a Christ-like life. If every Christian lived out what’s written there, it would change the world.

And so, for today’s post, I will simply post the chapter in its entirety and leave you with a challenge: Read Romans: 12 every day for the next 30 days. Meditate on it, and really try to live it. Let me know how it impacts you and those around you when you do.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans : 12

Satanism Today.

Suppose I invite you to join an organization. We’re 700,000+ members and growing.

“What’s your organization stand for?”

“I’m glad you asked! Here’s what we’re all about:”

Our motto: “Empathy. Reason. Advocacy.”

Our mission: “To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits.”

We have seven fundamental tenets:

I. One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason.

II. The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.

III. One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.

IV. The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one’s own.

V. Beliefs should conform to one’s best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one’s beliefs.

VI. People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one’s best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.

VII. Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word.

What do you think? Sounds pretty good, right? I copied and pasted all of this directly from The Satanic Temple website. Surprised? Here’s why you shouldn’t be.

Satanism isn’t what most people think.

The word “Satanism” conjures up all kinds of dark images. Shadowy figures in black robes, performing ritual sacrifices. Candle-lit rooms with blood-stained walls and upside-down pentagrams scrawled on the floor. People summoning demons, worshipping the devil, and doing evil deeds for the dark lord.

Movies, books, and television shows have popularized this version of Satanism. There may be a small number of people who fit this description, but they are of little concern. That kind of blatant evil is easy to spot and condemned by virtually everyone. True Satanism is far more subtle, and infinitely more destructive.

A Biblical understanding of Satan.

Who is Satan, and what is his goal?

Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
Revelation 12: 7-9

Satan is a fallen angel who wants to usurp God. He is real, he is powerful, and he has great authority in this world… for now (Ephesians 2:2 ; I John 5:19 ; Luke 4: 5-6). But it’s a mistake to think of Satan as God’s opposite. Satan is nothing compared to God. He is a created being, and whatever power he has was granted to him by God. One day, in God’s time, Satan will face judgement.

Satan is a liar and a deceiver (Genesis 3 ; John 8:44). He hates God and he hates human beings because we are made in His image. Satan doesn’t really care if people worship him, he wants to destroy people (I Peter 5:8).

Satan’s goal is to lead people away from God any way that he can so that they will suffer the same fate as him (Mathew 25:41).

Master of deceit.

Let’s revisit the mission statement of The Satanic Temple:

“To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits.”

All these things seem good. In fact, they are good. Moses and Jesus did these things! So what’s going on? To understand, you have to look closer at the actions of this Satanic group and the stances they take on the important issues of our day.

For example, when members gleefully rip up a Bible and toss its pages to the floor, it’s clear that by “Reject Tyrannical Authority” they mean: reject God and Christianity. When they tear a thin-blue-line flag in half, we can be sure that “Oppose Injustice” means: oppose the police. Visit their website and you will see that “Undertake Noble Pursuits” means: fund abortion clinics, and “Encourage Benevolence And Empathy” means: embrace all things LGBTQIA+.

Satan is a master at disguising evil. He takes what is good and twists it until it becomes corrupted. He can make sin look sweet; make it seem right. Beware! His counterfeits are well made, and easily fool those who aren’t grounded in Truth and on their guard.

Nothing new.

Satan’s been pushing the same garbage since the dawn of creation: He whispers to us, “God is a liar and a tyrant. He’s trying to keep you under his thumb and deny you what is good. Disobey! Rebel! and you can be like God.” It’s not a new lie, but it’s being packaged in new ways, and it seems to be gaining in popularity. We must equip ourselves with the Truth, and be ready to stand against it.

The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
II Corinthians 4:4

God, I pray for those around me who are being deceived by Satan’s lies. Let your light shine through me that they may see the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Our Father…

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He replied:

“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.”
Mathew 6:9-13

This is probably the most well known prayer in history. Even non-believer’s know it, or have at the very least heard it. It’s so familiar, in fact, that many people recite the words without contemplating their power and importance. This prayer was given to us by Jesus Himself, so we ought to pay special attention to it. We should meditate on these words.

My original plan for this post was to go through The Lord’s Prayer, line by line, and share my thoughts. I didn’t get very far. In fact, I only made it through the first two words, “Our Father.”

What does the word “father” mean to you?

What’s your dad like? Perhaps you have a great dad, and the word father elicits warm feelings and puts a smile on your face. Maybe your dad was never a part of your life, and the word feels hollow. Or maybe your dad is a horrible monster, and the word brings out nothing but anger and pain.

Set aside your father for a moment, and think about what constitutes a good father. A good father is a protector, provider, and mentor. He doesn’t give his kids everything they want, but he tries to give them everything they need. He sets boundaries, and he disciplines his children when they wander outside them. He’s quick to encourage, and careful with criticism. He does everything in his power to help his kids develop their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. A good father wants what is best for his kids.

Whatever attributes make up a good father, God possesses them to the infinite degree. He’s not just a good father, He’s the perfect father.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
Mathew 7:9-11

An unbelievable privilege.

It’s impossible to fathom just how far beneath God we really are. Think about the difference between yourself and an amoeba, then scale that up… that might put us in the ballpark. Amazingly, God raises us up and lowers Himself to the point that we can have a parent/child relationship with Him.

The Lord’s Prayer could easily have begun, “Our Creator…” or “Our King…”. Either of those would have been true and appropriate. Instead, Jesus invites us to address God in an intimate and personal way: as Father.

Consider this passage in I John:

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
I John 3:1_a

As a Christian, you are a child of God. It didn’t have to be that way, but God made it so because He loves you. What an incredible honor!

Our responsibility.

Along with our awesome privilege comes an awesome responsibility. As God’s children, we are ambassadors of His Kingdom, and we should act the part. Jesus showed us how. He is the example of how we are to conduct ourselves in this world.

This is no easy task. In fact, it’s impossible in and of ourselves. When Jesus walked this earth, He was humble, forgiving, loving, and selfless. He loved even his enemies. He did the Father’s will, no matter what. His heart was a servant’s heart. Everything that Jesus did runs counter to our selfish, sinful nature.

And yet, as God’s children, we are called to be like Jesus. This requires complete surrender to His will. We have to die to self, daily, and let Christ live in and through us. None of us gets it right all the time. We stumble, we fall, but our Father helps us to our feet again.

So don’t give up the struggle. Take your privilege and responsibility as a child of God seriously. And never forget that our Father loves you, He is with you, and He wants the very best for you.

Fear, Failure, and Faith.

Mathew, chapter 14, records the well-known story of Jesus walking on water. Jesus had instructed His disciples to get in their boat and cross the Sea of Galilee. He then dismissed the large crowd He had been preaching to, and went up on a mountainside to pray.

The disciples were half-way across sea when the weather turned nasty. They found themselves at the mercy of a storm, unable to progress toward the shore.

Then, in Mathew 14: 25 – 32:

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to [His disciples], walking on the lake.

When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

“Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The storm.

How different might this story have played out without the storm? Imagine that the sky is clear, the sun is shining, and the disciples are chatting about the great miracles they have witnessed Jesus perform. Then they see Jesus walking across the calm surface of the lake. They smile at yet another demonstration of His power. Imagine all of the disciples asking Jesus if they could join Him out there on the water. Imagine them walking the rest of the way across the lake together, effortlessly pulling the boat behind them.

But that’s not how it happens. The disciples are in the midst of a storm, and, no doubt, they are feeling frustrated, tense, and fearful as the wind and waves assault their boat. Their focus is on their dire situation, not on Jesus. So, when they see Jesus out there on the water, their rattled minds jump immediately to, “ghost!” and they become even more terrified.

The storms of life certainly have a way of taking our focus off of Jesus, do they not? When that happens, we find ourselves anxious and afraid.

Fear.

The first thing Jesus does is reassure His disciples, and He tells them not to be afraid. Fear is debilitating. It is self-focused. It is not of God. Here’s a small sample of what the Bible says about fear:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
II Timothy 1:7

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.
Proverbs 3: 25-26

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10

Fear is powerful, but God is greater than our fear. He wants us to trust Him, even in the midst of the storm.

Failure.

I have to give Peter credit for stepping out of the boat. None of the other disciples did, and I doubt very much that I would have been bold enough to attempt such a thing.

While Peter’s eyes were fixed on Jesus, he was able to do the impossible. But as soon as he turned his attention to the wind and waves, he began to sink. Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus, without hesitation, reached out and saved him. The words Jesus said next explain what went wrong:

“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

I can relate. Sometimes, life begins to overwhelm me, and my faith begins to waver. I start to sink, and cry out, “Lord, save me!” God reaches down and pulls me up, the storm clears, and I hear the words: You of little faith, why did you doubt?

Thankfully, God doesn’t give up on us, even when we give up on Him. He knows that we are flawed creatures and he loves us anyway. It’s comforting to know that even the greatest men and women in the Bible had moments when their fear was greater than their faith.

Faith.

Faith is the antidote to fear, and faith is a choice. We have no control over the storms of life, but we always get to decide whether or not we will trust the Lord in the midst of them. What will you do when the next storm hits?

Does Your Life Have Meaning?

King Solomon was a man who had everything. Money, fame, women, power… you name it, he had it. All the comforts and pleasures of the world were at his fingertips. I Kings 11:3 tells us he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. I Kings 4:34 says that every king on earth knew of Solomon’s great wisdom. His wealth (in today’s dollars) is estimated to have been around 2.2 trillion (yes trillion, with a “t“).

Like all human beings, Solomon wanted to know, “What’s life all about? What am I doing here? What should I be doing during my time on Earth?” The book of Ecclesiastes documents Solomon’s search for meaning in his life.

…I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives.
Ecclesiastes 2:3

Solomon had the resources to live the kind of life we can only dream about. Yet, towards the end of his life, Solomon describes all that he owned and all that he accomplished with these words:

Meaningless! Meaningless! … Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.
Ecclesiastes 1:2

Keeping it real.

Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books of the Bible. Solomon smashes the rose-colored glasses, and describes life as it really is. Read Ecclesiastes when you have time. It’s short, and well worth your time. In the meantime, here’s a summary of what Solomon had to say:

Life is monotonous (Ecc. 1:5-11)
Life is a burden (Ecc. 1:13 / Ecc. 3:10)
Life is unjust (Ecc. 3:16 / Ecc. 4:1-3)
Life is unfair (Ecc. 2:21 / Ecc. 8:14 / Ecc. 9:11 / Ecc. 10:6-7)
Life is unpredictable (Ecc. 9:12 / Ecc. 8:7-8 / Ecc. 10:8-9)
Pleasure does not satisfy (Ecc. 2:1)
Success does not satisfy (Ecc. 2:4-11)
Wealth does not satisfy (Ecc. 5:10)
Knowledge/wisdom do not satisfy (Ecc. 1:18 / Ecc. 2:12-16)
Youth and vigor are fleeting (Ecc. 11:10)
Death gets us all in the end (Ecc. 9:3 / Ecc. 3:19 / Ecc. 2:14 / Ecc. 12: 6-7)

The hard truth is, nothing in this world can truly satisfy you. How many people have you known (or known of) that seem to “have it all” but are miserable and unfulfilled? What percentage of the rich and famous spend their days trying to numb their pain with sex, drugs, alcohol, or other vices?

If all this harsh reality bums you out, hang in there! The good news is coming.

Where is meaning to be found?

Solomon went down every road this world has to offer, and each was a dead end. However, sprinkled throughout Ecclesiastes are markers that show the path that leads to meaning and fulfillment. Here are two examples:

This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.
Ecclesiastes 5:18

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:15

There are several verses that have this theme of “it is good to eat, drink, and toil.” (For more examples, see: Ecc. 9:7-9 / Ecc. 2:24-25 / Ecc. 3:22 / Ecc. 5:12) The idea is this: The people who find meaning and satisfaction in life are those who whole-heartedly do what God put them on the Earth to do.

To the person who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness…
Ecclesiastes 2:26a

They [those who do God’s will] seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.
Ecclesiastes 5:20

God has a specific plan and purpose for your life, and the closer you follow His plan, the more satisfied you will be. To know his specific plan for you life, you must seek Him in prayer and study His Word, but if you’re looking for a place to start, Solomon offers that in his conclusion:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
Ecclesiastes 12:13

So, if you’re feeling unfulfilled; if everything seems “meaningless, meaningless, meaningless!” then seek out God’s plan for your life and follow it with all your might! Fear Him. Keep His commandments. This is how you will find purpose and meaning in your life.

Why Do People Believe In God?

I’ve always found the question, “why do you believe in God?” difficult to answer. When asked, my instinct is to provide intellectual reasons for my belief. For example:

I believe because…

…I find the philosophical arguments for God’s existence compelling (e.g. the cosmological, ontological, teleological, and moral arguments).
…the writings of men like Blaise Pascal, Gottfried Leibniz, René Descartes, and Sir Isaac Newton ring true to me.
…evidence put forth by scientists like Stephen Meyer, Michael Behe, and James Tour, points to a Creator.
…Christian apologists like Frank Turek and William Lane Craig present logically sound reasons for belief in God.

However, I read something recently that made me rethink my answer to the question. It was on the last page of a book called Symbolism and Belief by Edwyn Bevan.

The actual reason people believe.

To paraphrase Mr. Bevan, people don’t come to a belief in God because they are convinced by rational arguments, rather, belief in God comes first, and the arguments provide a justification for their belief. The final sentence of Symbolism and Belief reads as follows: “What actually causes anyone to believe in God is direct perception of the Divine.”(emphasis mine)

I’ve been pondering this statement for the last few weeks. Is it true? And if it is, what are the ramifications? I’ve been reflecting on my own belief, and thinking about the testimonies of other believers, and I think Mr. Bevan is correct.

What does it mean to perceive?

Merriam-Webster defines the word perceive as follows: to attain awareness or understanding of.

Awareness of something automatically creates a belief in that thing’s existence. For example, when I see the coffee mug sitting on the desk in front of me, based on that perception, I believe the mug exists. It would be difficult (not to mention irrational) for me to believe the mug does not exist. I can see it. I can touch it. My direct perception of the mug is strong evidence for its existence.

But how does one perceive the Divine? Does it require a supernatural experience? I personally have never witnessed a miracle, or received a visit from an angel. I’ve not seen God with my eyeballs. I’ve not heard Him with my ears. What then constitutes my direct perception of the Divine? Why do I believe?

Certainly, things that I have seen, heard, and felt have contributed to my awareness and understanding of God. In my mind’s-eye, I see countless experiences and memories, small slices of my life, as if they were photographs. Some of these “photos” are dark, while others have a powerful glow that hints at something beyond the material world. When all the pieces are viewed together, they form a mosaic. They create an unmistakable “image” of God.

That is the best way I can describe my personal perception of the Divine, and it’s as compelling a reason for me to believe in the existence of God, as seeing my coffee mug is reason to believe in the existence of the mug.

Lights in the darkness.

If belief in God comes from direct perception of the Divine, what then is our role in helping others come to belief? I believe Jesus spelled it out for us in the sermon on the mount.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Mathew 5: 14 -16

When Christ is at the center of our lives, we become like beacons that nonbelievers can see. When they see Christ in us, they perceive the Divine, and that is what leads them to believe.

The bottom line is, we’re not likely to change anyone’s mind about God by telling them the intellectual reasons for our belief. No doubt, they have already heard and rejected such arguments. As such, our focus ought to be on living out our faith so that others can perceive the Divine in us.