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“Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Jeremiah 18:3–6

God frequently used captivating images from everyday life to illustrate deep spiritual truths to His people. That was the case when He sent the prophet Jeremiah to visit a craftsman making clay pots. Jeremiah was called to minister to a nation that did not want to hear from God. They were perfectly happy to join the worship of Jehovah in small measure with the false religions of their neighbors, but they had no interest in obeying His commandments.

The culture of Jeremiah’s day was very much like our own. Today many people claim to follow some form of Christianity, but it is mixed with all sorts of false religion. Calling for obedience to divine commands is considered to be at least old fashioned, if not outright bigotry. Yet God is the Potter, and we are the clay. He made us, He owns us, and He has the absolute and complete right to dictate to us how we should live and act.

As long as we insist on our rights and our way, we will not obey God’s command. We must remember that we are not in charge of our lives and live according to the precepts of the Word of God. “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

James 1:19–21

The story goes that in a small English village many years ago, a young man was told that he had been insulted by someone he thought was a friend. He rushed out indignantly, planning to demand an apology or have a fight. An elderly man sitting nearby stopped him and asked what his rush was. When the young man explained his purpose, the older man offered him some wise counsel. “My dear boy, take a word of advice from an old man who loves peace. An insult is like mud; it will brush off much better when it is dry. Wait a little, till he and you are both cool, and the thing will be easily mended. If you go now it will only be to quarrel.” The angry young man listened, and waited rather than confronting the one who had offended him, and soon the friend who had given the insult came and asked forgiveness.

While there may be times when we need to make sure our testimony is not damaged by false accusations, we do not have to fly off the handle and try to insist on speaking our minds immediately. It is far better to wait until we know for sure exactly what happened or what was said, for many times the early reports are not correct in some or even all of their details. And it is better to wait until our temper has cooled before confronting someone who has offended us. This is not to say that we should nurse a grudge, but the passage of a few hours or days may make dealing with a conflict much easier.

“And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house. And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.”

1 Samuel 10:24–26

When the Israelites insisted on having a king, God instructed Samuel to choose Saul to rule over His people. Though Saul did not end his life well, he was chosen by God as the best available candidate. And for a time he followed God faithfully. At the beginning of his reign, Saul was supported by a group of people who had caught the vision for what God intended and wanted to be a part of it. At a time when the people were scattering back across Israel, these men stayed with Saul so they could join him in the work.

Every great work for God is made possible, at least humanly speaking, because some of God’s people are not content with the status quo. Instead they see the vision of what could be done if believers acted in faith and courage. Most people do not catch such visions, and as a result, God’s work often struggles without sufficient laborers. It is sad but true that vision is a rare thing. At one of her public events, Helen Keller was asked what would be worse than being born without being able to see. She replied, “Being born with sight but having no vision.” There should be something in our hearts that longs to see God work and to be part of it.

“Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, Even three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses withal: The gold for things of gold, and the silver for things of silver, and for all manner of work to be made by the hands of artificers. And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?”

1 Chronicles 29:3–5

When God sent Nathan the prophet to tell David that He wanted Solomon to build the Temple rather than allowing David to do so, David set out to prepare for his son to complete the task that was in his own heart. He began gathering materials and resources for Solomon to use. In his position as king over Israel, David had access and ultimate control over all the nation’s wealth. And he used that power to begin the preparations. But David was not just generous with other people’s money. Instead, he made a massive contribution from his own wealth so that there would be plenty of gold and silver for the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. David loved God, and as a result, his affection determined how he spent his resources.

There is nothing that is more revealing regarding what we really value than the uses to which we put our money. When we invest in the eternal, it speaks volumes concerning the state of our hearts. Jesus said, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:20–21). Generosity toward God’s work shows where our affections are set.

“For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:16–18

When David Livingstone went to Africa, he left behind most of the comforts he could have enjoyed. A medical doctor’s salary would have provided him a lovely home, and many luxuries and comforts. Instead, he spent most of his adult life in harsh and primitive conditions. After some time passed, he constructed a house with a lovely garden at the mission station in Mabotsa. But when Livingstone heard that some other missionaries were criticizing the expense, he gave the house away and moved further into the jungle to ensure that the work was not hindered. Later Livingstone wrote, “I do like a garden, but Paradise will make amends for all our privations here.”

The devil tries to get us to focus on the things of this world. He encourages us to strive to accumulate possessions, and he tempts us to judge our value by what we have and do not have. God, instead, provides things that are lasting and eternal—that do not lose value or fade away. When we value what matters to Him, we will not hold tightly to our earthly possessions. While we should be grateful for every material blessing we receive, we must never forget that this world is not our home. “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). Our hearts must be fixed on the things that truly matter.

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

2 Corinthians 5:19–21

Dr. H. A. Ironside told of a church business meeting where a bitter dispute arose between members of the board. Ironside said, “I can remember one man springing to his feet and with clenched fists saying, ‘I will put up with a good deal, but one thing I will not put up with, I will not allow you to put anything over on me; I will have my rights !’ An old Christian responded, ‘You did not mean that; did you? If you had your rights, you would be in Hell. And you are forgetting that Jesus did not come to get His rights; He came to get His wrongs, and He got them.’ I can still see that man standing there for a moment like one transfixed, and then the tears broke from his eyes and he said, ‘Brethren, I have been all wrong. Handle the matter however you think best.’”

Before we insist on getting what we deserve, we would be wise to stop and reflect on exactly what that would mean. So often we insist on getting our own way, forgetting that Jesus did exactly the opposite. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God” (Philippians 2:5–6). If Jesus had insisted on clinging to and receiving His rights, we would have no hope of salvation.

“And Joab fell to the ground on his face, and bowed himself, and thanked the king: and Joab said, To day thy servant knoweth that I have found grace in thy sight, my lord, O king, in that the king hath fulfilled the request of his servant. So Joab arose and went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. And the king said, Let him turn to his own house, and let him not see my face. So Absalom returned to his own house, and saw not the king’s face.”

2 Samuel 14:22–24

David’s failure to correct his children when they did wrong brought great trouble to his family. Absalom killed his own brother, Amnon, when David refused to deal with his horrible sin, then fled for his life, fearing that David would kill him for taking the life of the heir to the throne. Years passed, and it took a trick by Joab to get David to extend permission for Absalom to return to Israel. But even then, David did not really forgive his son, and refused to allow Absalom into his presence. It was not right for Absalom to later lead a rebellion against his father, but we can certainly see that David’s lack of forgiveness made Absalom vulnerable to temptation.

When we do not forgive others, it does not just damage our relationship with them, but it hinders our relationship with God as well. Evangelist R. A. Torrey said, “That is the trouble with some of you. Someone has done you an injury, or you think he has, and you will not come [close to God] because you want to cherish this bitter grudge in your heart.” Too many people are still in bondage to hurts of the past because they simply will not let things go. But we cannot be right with God or with others unless we are willing to forgive those who wrong us, just as God forgives us.

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:”

1 Corinthians 2:1–4

On a mission trip to India, Dr. George Truett was invited to address the students at a university. Before he spoke, he was warned to expect a hostile response because of the strong influence of Hinduism among the students. One official warned him, “When you are through preaching, people in the audience will ask you questions that are difficult to answer. They will contradict everything that you say.” Dr. Truett prayed earnestly, and then stood and preached a clear gospel message about salvation through faith in Jesus alone. When he finished, there was a long silence. Finally one of the leading Hindu students stood and said, “Sir, we have nothing against the Christ this man has preached.”

The lost world around us wants many things, but what it needs most of all is a clear presentation of Jesus Christ, the only hope of salvation. Just as those foreigners from Greece who came to Jerusalem during the ministry of the Lord, the people around us have a pressing need. “The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). It is not our eloquence or our gifting that makes a difference to people, but the Jesus we talk about and reflect in our actions. His name and His righteousness must be lifted up and presented to the world. This is our purpose and calling.

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:3–6

Perhaps the best-known and most widely-distributed gospel tract of the 1800s was called “Come to Jesus.” Written by a British pastor named Newman Hall, the tract was handed out to hundreds of thousands of soldiers during the American Civil War. After the war, Hall became embroiled in a theological dispute that grew quite heated. He used his literary ability to write a response which dissected, not just the opposing point of view, but those who held and promoted it.

After he was done writing, Hall asked a friend to read it before he had it printed and distributed. The friend agreed that it was a powerful and pointed piece, and asked if he had a title for it yet. When Hall replied that he did not and was looking for ideas, the friend said, “Why don’t you call it ‘Go to the Devil’ by the author of ‘Come to Jesus’?”

The way that we act and talk to and treat other people should be a reflection of the grace that God extended to us in allowing us to become part of His family. We have a responsibility as His children to not bring dishonor on the family name. One of the reasons the world is not being reached is because of the failure of Christians to live up to their faith.

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:15–17

Evangelist Harry Rimmer told the story of a man who was saved on a Sunday night in one of his meetings. On Tuesday, the man came to the church and asked for his help. Rimmer said, “He had some trouble starting, but finally informed me that he had deserted his wife and baby daughter six months before. The poor fellow wept like a child as he unfolded his tale. He offered no excuses, asked for no favor, just begged for forgiveness. I somehow phrased his pitiful pleas, and we mailed it together. Two weeks later he came in accompanied by his wife and wee daughter. I never saw a happier man in all my life. When his wife got his letter she wasted no time writing; she answered it in person!”

Those of us who have been saved for a number of years must be careful not to forget the transformation that the new birth brought to our lives. We must continue to walk according to the new nature we have been given. “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). God’s plan is not for our conversion to be an event that takes place in the past and left behind. We are to be living in the new nature in the present as well.

“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

John 5:16–18

In 1852, an engineer named John Augustus Roebling began promoting the idea of a suspension bridge to cross the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn. It took him nearly fifteen years to convince government leaders of the practicality of his design and secure the funding. Not long before the work was to begin, Roebling died from complications and infection after an accident during his survey work. Before he died, he placed the project in the hands of his son, Washington Roebling, who supervised the construction. After fourteen years of labor, the Brooklyn Bridge opened and has been in use ever since. The work continued because someone was willing to carry it on.

Jesus returned to Heaven almost two thousand years ago, but the work that He began must continue. The only way that can happen is if we as His followers take up the mission and carry out the tasks that He left for us to do. This is the purpose and plan of God for reaching the world. We were not just saved to allow us entry into Heaven. We have a calling and a mission to fulfill in this life. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). We do not need a new plan for our age, but rather a new commitment from God’s people to obey His command to live and work as Jesus did.

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Ephesians 5:11–14

When Hurricane Katrina flooded much of New Orleans, Coast Guard helicopter pilot, Lt. Iain McConnell, was sent from his base in Florida to help rescue those who had been stranded in their homes by the rising water. He and his crew were able to save dozens of people, but the thing he remembers most is not the people they rescued, but those who refused help. McConnell later wrote about one mission he will never forget.

“On the fourth mission, to our great frustration, we saved no one—but not for lack of trying. The dozens we attempted to rescue refused pickup! Some people told us to simply bring them food and water. ‘You are trying to live in unhealthy conditions and the [flood]water will stay high for a long time,’ we warned them. Still, they refused. I felt frustrated and angry, since we had used up precious time and fuel, and put ourselves at risk during each rescue attempt. I felt like they were ungrateful. But, in truth, they did not know how desperate their situation was.”

The world around us is filled with dangers, although most of them are not as visible as quickly rising floodwaters. Yet too many people, including Christians, are living carelessly, without an appreciation for the peril they face. We have an enemy trying to destroy our lives every day. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8).

“And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”

John 6:4–7

Almost every day something happens that we do not expect. It may be large or small, and the surprise may be pleasant or unpleasant, but events occur that are not on our schedules or part of our plans. That never happens to God. The problem that seems to us to be overwhelming, like a crowd of thousands of people who need food when there is nowhere to buy it and no money to buy it with, already has a solution in the mind and plan of God. He wants us to trust Him, no matter what circumstances we may face.

The miracle we call the feeding of the five thousand (although that is just the number of men and the actual crowd was much larger) is recorded in all four Gospels. It is not filler or repetition—it is an important story designed to strengthen our faith. We must remember who God is and what He is willing and able to do when we are tested by the unexpected.

Charles Spurgeon said, “Alterations and afterthoughts belong to short-sighted beings who meet with unexpected events which operate upon them to change their minds, but the Lord who sees everything from the beginning has no such reason for shifting his ground.” Our faith cannot be in ourselves, for we have neither the wisdom nor the resources to respond to the unexpected. When things catch us off guard, we must remember to run to God and seek His help.

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”

Mark 4:37–40

After a long day of ministry, Jesus got into a boat with His disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee. Because of the cliff formations that surround much of that small body of water, it is subject to violent storms. The winds sweep down and stir the water, creating massive waves. Such a storm hit their boat that night, and in fear and despair the disciples woke Jesus with a form of the question many of us have asked of God at one time or another: “Do you care about my trouble?”

It is always a mistake to evaluate how God feels about us by how we feel about our circumstances. His love is unfailing and never changes. That does not mean we will never experience storms. And while some of the hardships we undergo are a result of the consequences of our choices and actions, many times we are suffering because we are right where God wants us to be. The storm the disciples experienced led them to doubt whether Jesus cared about their needs.

Yet, by this time they had seen ample evidence of both the power of God and the love Jesus had for them. The storm caused them to forget that truth, and as a result their faith failed in the moment of challenge. God loves you, no matter what you are facing.

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.”

Job 23:8–11

Very few people have suffered the number and intensity of the trials that Job faced. His story is so familiar that even the secular world uses it as a reference guide for struggles. Yet for all its familiarity, too many times the point of the story gets lost. All of us endure hardship and affliction from time to time. Thankfully most of these trials are not on such a life-altering scale, but that does not mean that they are not painful and difficult to endure. The underlying truth we must remember is the one that Job kept coming back to: God is always faithful, and we can trust His purposes even when we cannot see what He is doing.

Alan Redpath wrote, “There is nothing—no circumstance, no trouble, no testing—that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no trial will ever disarm me, no circumstance will cause me to fret—for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is! That is the rest of victory!”

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

Revelation 21:3–5

We live in a world of sorrows. Serious medical issues, financial reversals, the death of loved ones, shattered dreams, having wayward children or grandchildren—we all know some or even many of these pains. Many times people try to bring us comfort and hope, but their efforts can sometimes make things worse rather than better. Most of God’s children have looked around and wondered if anyone cared about what they were experiencing. The good news is that even if we find no earthly help or comfort, God cares.

When God called Moses and commissioned him to lead the Children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt, one of the first things He pointed out was His level of awareness and sympathy for the sufferings the people endured. “And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;” (Exodus 3:7).

We are blessed to have a God who both knows and feels the hurts that we endure. He is not distant and uncaring. Though there are times when He allows things to come into our lives that are painful, it is not because of a lack of love for us, but rather part of His overall plan.

“Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

Galatians 4:13–16

In a quiet corner of Washington DC near the Interior Department building sits Rawlins Park. Today, few remember John Rawlins, though he served as chief of staff to General Ulysses S. Grant and later filled the post of Secretary of War. The thing most worthy of note in Rawlins’ life was not his military career or service to his country. Rawlins was the man who cared enough for General Grant to confront him when Grant broke his pledge to stop drinking. Rawlins was willing to risk his position and his career to speak up, even though he knew his message would be painful to hear. Grant was touched by his friend’s plea, and returned to a life of sobriety.

Many people around us are on the wrong path. We should certainly not be proud, critical, or condescending toward them, but we should still speak the truth that they need to hear. This is not a matter of holding ourselves to be better, and to be well received it must be done with love and kindness. But it must be done. “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Most people do not recover from sin or error without the influence of a loving voice to remind them of truth.

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Romans 10:10–13

So many people today believe there are multiple ways to Heaven—that all faiths and beliefs lead to the same God in the end. Yet the Bible teaches that there is only one way to God, and that is through Jesus Christ. But it is not enough to simply believe that Jesus was real, or that He is God’s son, or even that He is the Saviour. We must go beyond belief in the mind to faith in the heart. Salvation only comes by accepting the free offer provided by the death of Jesus on the cross.

Dr. John Rice said, “No matter what you believe about a ferryboat, it will not take you across the river until you get on it. And no matter what you believe about Jesus Christ, He cannot be your Saviour until you trust Him. Saving faith means that you must depend upon Jesus personally; that you risk Him, rely upon Him, commit yourself to Him.”

There is no “Plan B” when it comes to salvation. God is the One who provides it, and we either come to Him on His terms or not at all. Our reception of salvation hinges on our belief in Jesus alone to provide it, just as God planned before the world was created. In his sermon on the Day of Pentecost Peter said of Jesus, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23).

“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Matthew 24:42–44

Few men in history have had a greater impact for the cause of Christ than the 19th century evangelist D. L. Moody. With little formal education, Moody became one of the most noted preachers of his era, reaching huge numbers of people with the gospel. On one of his trips to England, to hold revival meetings, Moody was asked about the secret to the success of his ministry. Moody replied, “For many years I have never given an address without the consciousness that the Lord may come before I have finished.”

We often speak of the Lord’s return as a source of hope and comfort, and it is. Paul ended his great teaching on the Rapture with this instruction: “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). But while our recognition of the truth that the Lord could come at any moment comforts us, it should also stir our hearts as we consider those who are not ready to meet Him.

The grace of God has given us the assurance that we will spend eternity with Him, but that gift is not meant to be hoarded and kept to ourselves. Instead, we are called and commanded to go forth with the good news and share it with others. And there is no greater motivation for obedience to that command than the realization that time is short. We do not know when Jesus will appear, and therefore the work that we do for Him must be done without delay.

“Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”

Zechariah 14:3–4

On July 11, 1927, a large earthquake centered near Jericho shook much of the land of Israel. Known as the Jericho Earthquake, it is estimated to have been more than a six on the Richter Scale. Damage across the entire region was widespread. In Jerusalem the effects were particularly severe, with hundreds of homes destroyed, and more than one hundred people killed. Parts of the ancient city walls fell, and there was severe damage to churches, synagogues, and mosques which had stood for hundreds of years. It took many years for all of the landmarks to be restored. Yet as serious as that earthquake was, it pales in comparison to what will happen when Jesus returns.

The Second Coming of the Lord will be very different from the first. The first time Jesus emptied Himself of His glory and lived humbly among men. When He returns, He is going to transform everything. This change will begin with the earth being reshaped, but it will extend across the globe. Jesus is not returning to negotiate and persuade—He is coming to rule. “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7).

“And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:”

Genesis 14:21–23

The noted poet and author Edgar A. Guest said, “We were discussing a certain man the other day—a man rich and almost friendless. Men who once tried to like him gave him up as a hopeless case. He is now old and has more money than he will ever need. To one with whom he quarreled bitterly more than twenty years ago, he said recently: ‘I don’t understand it. You have hundreds of friends about you, and I have almost no one outside of my own family to whom I can turn.’ And the man replied simply: ‘I was making friends years ago, while you were busy making money.’ It’s all in that one sentence. We carry into old age only the things we have thought to bring along the way.”

Every day we make choices that will impact our future, both in this world and in eternity. Many people live only for the temporal and material benefits that can be gained in this life, without any thought of the impact it will have on their own lives and on others. But some people rise above the fixation on money and things, and live for what is truly important. That is why Abraham declined to take the legitimate spoils of war after he rescued Lot and the other residents of Sodom who had been captured by enemy armies. He valued his testimony above financial gain because he knew what mattered most.

“But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.”

Isaiah 49:14–16

In the late 1800s a British doctor named A. T. Schofield was called to see an elderly lady in London. Maria Vincent lived alone, and had no one to help care for her. Her feeble body was wrapped in a single blanket, and she had no wood or coal for her fireplace to warm her tiny room for the coming winter. Dr. Schofield asked if she had any friends at all who could help. Maria said the only friend she could think of would probably not remember her—it was Queen Victoria.

Dr. Schofield heard the story of how before Victoria became Queen of England one of her staff had fallen ill and Maria had cared for him until he died. Schofield wondered if the story could be true, so he wrote a letter to Victoria, detailing Maria’s account and her current situation. In a few days, he received a reply from the queen along with a generous gift. When he took it to Maria Vincent she cried, “Oh, she has not forgotten me!”

There may be times when it feels like no one knows or cares about our troubles. Though it is rare, there may even be times when no one does. There will never be a time when God forgets or does not care. He allows hardship, difficulty, and trials in our lives, but that is part of His plan, not evidence of His lack of love. We need never fear that He will not faithfully answer those who cry out to Him in faith for help and comfort.

“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”

2 Corinthians 2:14–16

It was June 5, 1944, the day before the Allied forces launched the Normandy invasion to begin the liberation of Western Europe from the Nazis. All the plans were in place. Thousands of ships and planes were ready to carry tens of thousands of men into battle. It would be the largest sea invasion in human history. No one knew whether it would be possible to dislodge the heavy German defenses, and the direction of the war was hanging in the balance. The Allied troops were under the command of General Dwight Eisenhower. He spent some of the last hours before the invasion started with the men of the 101st Airborne, who would be parachuting behind enemy lines to create diversions and undermine Germany’s ability to respond to the attack. Facing these courageous young men, Eisenhower simply said, “Full victory—nothing else.”

Scripture frequently refers to and pictures the Christian life as a battle. But our war is different from the wars of this world. The ultimate outcome has already been determined for us. And while we face a vicious and powerful foe in Satan, one we cannot overcome in our own strength, we do not have to fight him alone. We lack sufficient power to defeat him, but Jesus has already overthrown his kingdom through His death and resurrection. And with the power of the Holy Spirit living and working in us, we can be victorious.

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Ephesians 2:19–22

Every church is made up of people from many different backgrounds, experiences, economic strata, educational levels, and personalities. Yet God calls the church to unity in both purpose and belief, as well as in daily life. This is the model that was set in the book of Acts as we read of the early church. “And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart” (Acts 2:46). Yet despite those commands and examples, all of us know of churches that are riven with discord and division. Indeed church splits are sadly common. Where does the problem lie?

While there are many reasons churches have trouble, often it comes down to people being unwilling to play their role in the body of Christ. Rather than viewing themselves as part of something great and glorious, they fail to see that God has a purpose and a place for them. Each of us brings something unique to the body of Christ, but we must be willing to be shaped and molded by Him to fit into place, just as the stones of Solomon’s Temple: “And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building” (1 Kings 6:7).

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.”

Philippians 2:14–16

Many people bring home souvenirs from the trips they take. A German man named Rainer Wechert has taken that to an unusual level. His particular hobby involves collecting “Do Not Disturb” signs. His collection includes items from more than 180 different countries, and at last count numbered more than 11,500 pieces. Some of his signs are more than 100 years old. It is believed to be the largest such collection in the world.

While there is nothing wrong with having a hobby, it is important to make sure that the bulk of our time, energy, and resources are put to use in things that truly matter. If a man who had accomplished as much for Christ as the Apostle Paul was intent on ensuring that his labor was not wasted, it is wise for us to take stock of how we are spending our lives. Every person has different resources and abilities but we all have the same number of hours and minutes each day. How we use the time determines whether our work will have value.

The reality is that we will one day stand before God to have our service for Him measured and weighed. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Realizing that, we should endeavor to focus on the things that truly matter so that our lives will not be wasted.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:7–9

Frederick Booth-Tucker, son-in-law of the founder of the Salvation Army, was a powerful preacher, but not everyone responded to his message. After preaching a sermon on God’s grace in Chicago, a man came to Booth-Tucker and told him that if he had experienced the same kind of losses the man had, he would not continue preaching. A few days later, his wife, Emma, was killed in a train accident while on her way to join her husband. The funeral was held at the Salvation Army headquarters in Chicago.

After all the other speakers were finished, Frederick Booth-Tucker rose and said, “The other day when I was here, a man said, I could not say Christ was sufficient, if my wife were dead, and my children were crying for their mother. My heart is all broken, my heart is all crushed, my heart is all bleeding, but there is a song in my heart and Christ put it there; and if that man is here, I tell him that, though my wife is gone and my children are motherless, Christ comforts me today.”

There are moments of great trial in every life, but there is never a moment for which God’s grace is not provided. Our task is to accept that grace in faith and patience, trusting God to work all things according to His purpose in and through us.

“Now it came to pass, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?”

Nehemiah 6:1–3

As the world around us moves further and further from the truth, the voices calling the church to make accommodation to that downward trend grow louder as well. So many people think that by joining hands with the world and becoming more and more like them, we will be more effective in reaching them. But the notion that the problem of ineffective outreach is too much commitment to truth is folly. There never has been a society that welcomed the gospel with open arms—it has always been an offensive message to those who reject God’s grace.

Charles Spurgeon said, “There are some, in these apostate days, who think that the church cannot do better than to come down to the world to learn her ways, follow her maxims, and acquire her ‘culture.’ In fact, the notion is that the world is to be conquered by our conformity to it. This is as contrary to Scripture as the light is to the darkness.” The message that we must become more like the world appeals to our carnal nature, but a worldly church holds no appeal for the lost. The need of our day is people who will hold the truth firmly and kindly, and refuse to compromise their convictions.

“The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.”

John 4:28-30

Though Jewish people in Jesus’ day would avoid going through Samaria if at all possible, His Father’s will took Jesus through that despised region, and brought Him face to face with a woman drawing water at a well. She had not lived an upstanding moral life by any means. The fact that she was getting her water at noon, the hottest time of day, is a good indication that she was not welcomed by others in her town. Yet when she met Jesus everything changed. Not only did she accept Him as the Messiah and Saviour, but she wanted everyone else to know about Jesus as well.

Each child of God has a responsibility to share the good news with others, and yet many Christians have no involvement in reaching the lost. According to one recent study, nearly half (48 percent) of regular churchgoers have never even invited someone to go to church with them for a service or special program, let alone present the plan of salvation. Almost two thirds said they had not shared Christ with a non-Christian in the past six months.

The lack of a burning desire to reach the lost is crippling the church. When Jesus selected the men who would spend three years with Him in intensive training and ministry, He knew that He would teach them many things. But there was one thing laid out clearly at the beginning that was His primary objective. “And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). He has the same purpose and plan for our lives today.

“But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?”

2 Kings 5:20–21

After Namaan was cleansed of his leprosy by following Elisha’s instruction to dip in the Jordan River seven times, he wanted to reward the prophet. But Elisha refused to take any gifts from the Syrian general. Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, did not share the prophet’s attitude toward money. Instead, he lied to Namaan to get financial gain and tried to hide it. As a result, the leprosy of which Namaan had been cured rested on Gehazi instead. His greed cost him greatly.

The story goes that many years ago a prominent doctor performed a difficult and lengthy operation to save the life of a sick child. A few days later, the grateful mother was in his office. She told the doctor that while she recognized the gift of her child’s life was beyond repayment, she wanted him to take a small purse which she had embroidered as her expression of thanks. The doctor was quite offended, and insisted on being paid in cash—$200 was his fee. Without a word, the woman opened the purse, took out just two of the hundred dollar bills inside, and put the rest back.

There is nothing wrong with money and possessions, unless we allow them to control us. But when gain becomes our goal, we are headed for defeat and disaster. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:12–14

The famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in Ireland, but moved to the United States at a young age. His artistic ability manifested itself early, and after an extensive period of training, he became one of the most noted designers and sculptors of the day. His $20 “double eagle” gold coin design done for the United States Mint in the early 1900s is still considered to be one of the most beautiful coins ever made. After the unveiling of one of his Civil War monuments in Chicago, Saint-Gaudens was asked by a reporter covering the event if he considered it to be his masterpiece. “Indeed I do not,” he replied. “My next sculpture is always my masterpiece.”

While we should be grateful and give credit to God for all that we have done in His work, we should never be satisfied with it. Instead, we should be looking forward to new challenges and new opportunities, realizing that God’s plan for our lives will never be completed until we see Him face to face. There will never be a day when we do not need to lay aside weights and sins and run the race set before us. There will never be a day when we have completely finished our growing in grace and can sit back and relax. Instead, we must work to accomplish more for the Lord, and constantly walk in His Spirit so that we will become more like Jesus.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”

John 15:1–4

In our day, it is common for Christians to declare that because of grace they have freedom to do things that believers through years of history have regarded as wrong. Tradition is not our guide, but the Bible is, and it has not changed. Things that were wrong fifty or one hundred years ago are still wrong today. When it comes to the subject of questionable things, we must have an unchanging standard by which to decide, and that standard must be the Word of God.

We must never forget that God’s plan involves removing things from our lives—the process of purging—to make us more fruitful and productive for Him. His intention is not for us to see how much we can get away with, but to see how much we can do that is right and helpful. If that is our standard, then we will make the right decisions when questions arise.

The great evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman said, “The rule that governs my life is this: anything that dims my vision of Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me, and I must, as a Christian, turn away from it.” The desire of our hearts should be to serve Jesus effectively, and we should be willing to give up whatever that requires in order to fulfill His calling.

“And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

John 14:4–7

The noted Bible commentator Matthew Henry grew up in a pastor’s home. Later in his life he recounted the story of his parents’ courtship. Henry’s mother came from a wealthy family, and her father was somewhat doubtful of the financial prospects of a young minister just starting out and his lack of a respected family pedigree. He objected, “He may be a perfect gentleman, a brilliant scholar, and an excellent preacher; but he is a stranger, and we do not even know where he comes from!” “True,” replied the girl, “but we know where he is going, and I should like to go with him.”

There are so many decisions that we must make day after day as we go through life. And the destination we reach is determined by the path that we take. We do our best to seek God’s path, searching the Scriptures, listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and seeking wise counsel and advice. It is not given to us to see the future, and there are times when the decisions and choices we make do not take us to the result for which we hoped.

But those who follow Jesus are never disappointed in their ultimate destination. He is both the way for us to walk, and the source of the power that allows us to walk as God commands. When we submit to His leading and do our best to follow Him, we are never off course.

“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

2 Peter 3:5–7

All around us are evidences that God created the world, yet many people refuse to accept that evidence and instead choose to believe a lie because they do not want to confront the truth. “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). The belief in evolution has become something of a religion in its own right, demanding faith in things that cannot be found or proven.

Yet no matter how ridiculous some of the theories put forward to explain how our world came to be, while leaving God out of the picture, are people still choose to be “willingly ignorant.” They are not uneducated or unintelligent, they simply do not want to face the logical consequences. If there is a Creator, then He has the right to tell us how to live. And if we do not follow His commands, then there will be a judgment.

The problem is not a lack of proof or evidence of God, but an unwillingness to believe what He has said. “Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25). God has no obligation to reveal further truth to those who reject the truth they have already been given. Until faith enters the picture, no amount of evidence will convince someone God is real.

“Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”

Luke 3:12–14

In 1893, the Old Farmer’s Almanac published a poem by John Hay entitled “The Enchanted Shirt.” It is based on an ancient Persian story about a king who had a disease that no doctor could identify or cure. Finally, an elderly physician told the king that his problems would be solved if he would simply sleep one night in the shirt of a truly happy man. The king sent his courtiers and soldiers throughout the kingdom. They looked long and hard, but failed to find anyone who seemed to be genuinely happy. Finally, they met an old beggar sitting near the palace gates. Despite his extreme poverty, his happiness was obvious. They offered him a great sum of money to let them take his shirt so that the king could sleep in it. The beggar said, “I would do it, but I haven’t a shirt to my back!”

So many times people think they would be happy if they just had a little more. But real happiness is the product of contentment, not possessions. When we are content with what we have, we do not compare ourselves with others, or covet what they have. Instead, when we are content we rejoice and give thanks for what God has provided, recognizing that He is the source of all the good things we enjoy. Contentment is not produced by a large quantity of possessions but by appreciating what we already have. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

“I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

2 Corinthians 8:8–9

On a cold winter day, an elderly man stood by the Tower Bridge in London, playing a violin in hopes that those who passed by would place money in his hat. He played poorly, and no one seemed interested in helping him. After some time had passed, a well-dressed man appeared. He listened to the violin player for a moment and then walked over. Rather than giving the man money, the visitor asked for his violin. He took a few moments to tune it and then began to play.

Now as a stunning melody filled the air, a crowd began to gather. Word began to spread across the city and soon hundreds of people were standing in rapt attention as the beautiful music continued. When he had finished playing, the most famous violinist in the world, Niccolo Paganini, returned the violin to its owner. One person after another came by and dropped coins into the beggar’s hat until it was overflowing. He owed it all to the one who took his place.

I have been saved for many years, but I never want to lose the sense of gratitude and wonder for what Jesus did for me. He owed me nothing, but in love and grace gave me everything. It cost Paganini only a few minutes of time to help the beggar, but it cost Jesus everything to save me. To not be thankful for all I have received is a horrible offense against God. “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9).

“If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.”

Ecclesiastes 11:3–4

I read this story that illustrates the way some people approach life. A neighbor came by a nearby farm and asked the farmer, “How is the corn crop this year?” “Well,” he said, “I didn’t plant no corn. I was afraid of the drought.” “Well how’s your cotton crop this year?” The farmer replied, “I never planted any cotton this year. I was afraid of the boll weevil.” The neighbor tried again, “How is your wheat crop this year?” “Well, I didn’t plant no wheat—I was afraid of the blight.” The neighbor asked one more time, “How’s your potato crop this year?” The farmer said, “I didn’t plant no taters, because I was afraid of the tater bug.” Then he added, “Friend, to tell you the truth, I didn’t plant nothing this year because I was playing it safe.”

There will always be reasons and excuses available for those who are looking for them, but those who allow fear to prevail will never accomplish anything of real value. Instead, we have to accept the risks and dangers that come with making an effort to move ahead. God takes a very dim view of those who bury what they have because of fear or laziness rather than taking a risk to produce a reward. “And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed” (Matthew 25:25–26).

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.”

Colossians 1:27–29

Not long after the guns fell silent following the Battle of Shiloh, D. L. Moody made his way among the wounded soldiers in the hospital tent. He went from bed to bed, providing water to those who wanted a drink, and telling them about the Water of Life as was his habit. He reached the bedside of a seriously wounded young man, and the doctor told Moody that there was no hope for him to recover. When the injured solider regained consciousness, Moody said, “William, do you know where you’re going?” After a moment the young man said, “Home to mother.” Moody and the doctor explained that he would not recover, and then Moody asked if he had a message to send to his mother. “Tell her that I died trusting in Jesus,” the soldier replied.

Though we cannot see the future, we do know what eternity holds because God has promised us in His Word that we who have become part of His family by faith in Jesus Christ will spend it with Him in Heaven. Our destiny is not something that is still in question—it has been settled forever already. We are just as sure of reaching Heaven as if we were already there. That hope does not come from anything we have done. Like our salvation, it rests completely on God. We can be confident that He will keep His promise regarding eternity just as He has kept every promise He has made. Jesus is a hope that never fails or disappoints.

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.”

Revelation 21:1–3

After Dr. Charles Fuller announced that he would be preaching a message on Heaven the following Sunday, he received a letter from an elderly member of his church. She wrote, “Next Sunday you are to talk about Heaven. I am interested in that land, because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over fifty-five years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at tremendous sacrifice. I am ready to go, and I may not be here while you are talking next Sunday evening, but I shall meet you there someday.”

The door to Heaven is only open to those who have trusted Christ as their personal Saviour, but all of them will surely enter there and spend eternity with Him. Though we do not know or even have the ability to understand all of the glories of that blessed place, we do know that God will be there and that we will be able to enter His presence. This is a privilege that not even the greatest of God’s servants here on Earth have had. “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live” (Exodus 33:20). But in Heaven we will enjoy fellowship with God forever.

“For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

2 Corinthians 5:13–15

When we read the story of the life of the Apostle Paul in the Bible, it is a nearly constant record of persecution, opposition, distress, and suffering. He was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and, according to church history, eventually executed for his fearless gospel witness. This man who had once been a bitter enemy of the church, doing everything in his power to persecute and even kill Christians for their faith, was now willing to endure any hardship for the cause of the gospel. What changed? Paul had an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, and he never got over it.

There are many motives for serving God. Some people serve out of a desire for rewards. Some serve for fear of disappointing or failing Him or others. But the greatest motive for serving God is a recognition of His love for us and our corresponding love for Him. Vance Havener said, “The primary qualification for a missionary is not love for souls, as we so often hear, but love for Christ.” The same is true for any work that we do for the Lord.

There is nothing more important we can do than to love God above all else. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37–38). We cannot love God as we should without an understanding and appreciation of His amazing love for us.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

Philippians 1:21–24

The story is told that during the early days of the establishment of the British colony in Australia, a herd of sheep was sent from Scotland to provide the basis for feeding and clothing the residents. A large quantity of hay was loaded on board to feed the sheep during the long sailing voyage. After many weeks passed, the ship was trapped in dense fog and forced to anchor to avoid being driven aground against hidden rocks. While the ship was anchored, the sheep began refusing to eat their hay. The owners weren’t sure what the problem was, but they feared the sheep would die. When the fog lifted after two days, the reason became clear. The green coast of Australia was in sight. Smelling the sweet grass that lay before them, even though they could not see it, the sheep lost all interest in the dry hay.

The reason the things of Earth are so appealing to us is that too often we have lost sight of what is waiting for us. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). The best that this world has to offer is empty and meaningless compared to the true and lasting riches of glory that await us. It is our duty to keep our affections fixed on what is in Heaven, rather than seeking the things of this world. The more we focus on what waits for us beyond the fog, the less power temptation will have.

“And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.”

Joshua 14:10–11

When Moses sent twelve spies into the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb brought back a good report. The other ten discouraged the people so much that they refused to obey God and claim the victory He promised to provide. When the Israelites finally entered the land, Caleb was not only still part of the army fighting the enemies, but he was a leader. He came to Joshua and requested that he be allowed to take the mountain he had claimed more than four decades earlier. Even in his later years, Caleb wanted to do great things for God.

Our culture has a “coasting” mindset—that we work for a while and then relax. While retirement from employment is not wrong, retirement from God’s service is not an option for the committed Christian. Instead, we need to view our life and our resources as His to use as He sees fit. We also need to realize that time is short. None of us knows how long we have to serve God, but what we do for Him must be done while there is still time. The great missionary pioneer Robert Moffatt said, “We’ll have all eternity to celebrate the victories won for Christ, but only one short hour before sunset to win them.” Life is given to us not to be wasted on coasting but to be invested in eternal things.

“And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out. And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again. And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well.”

2 Kings 4:21–23

Elisha’s work and ministry was greatly helped by a godly couple who lived in Shunem. They prepared a special room in their home for the prophet to use as he traveled, and cared for him. In return, Elisha prayed, and God gave them a child, even though the husband was very old. But when the boy began to grow, he went out to the harvest fields with his father and suffered something like a sunstroke and died. The woman’s heart was broken, but she still believed that if she presented her case to Elisha, God would work through him. Thus she said to her husband, “It shall be well.”

This was a declaration of faith. Elisha’s predecessor, Elijah, had raised the son of the widow who fed him during the famine back to life, but we are not told whether she knew of that miracle or not. In either case, she believed God even on the worst day of her life. Her faith was not shaken by difficulty and trials. Charles Spurgeon said, “The richest blessing falls to the share of those simple minds who believe the word of God, even when surrounded with difficulty and unsupported by signs and evidences. The more childlike the faith the happier the heart.” Our faith in God is not built on circumstances but on His unchanging and unfailing Word.

“And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.”

Genesis 22:12–14

When God commanded Abraham to travel to Mt. Moriah and offer Isaac as a sacrifice, it was an ultimate test of faith. Isaac was the son of promise—a promise which Abraham waited decades to see fulfilled—and the hope that Abraham had for the future. Yet without hesitation or argument, he took his beloved son and made the trip to the place God told him to go. There he prepared the altar and was ready to take Isaac’s life when in a beautiful picture of Jesus and our salvation, God provided a ram to be the sacrifice in his place, and Isaac’s life was spared.

There the joyous Abraham used a new name for God, Jehovah-jireh. This compound word means not only that God sees our needs, but that He also provides for them. It would be little comfort to only have a God who was aware of our problems but either lacked the ability or the compassion to do something about them. Instead, we are blessed to have an all-powerful Father who loves us beyond our comprehension. That is why we can confidently expect God’s help when we face difficulties. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:”

Matthew 25:24–26

Many churches and ministries struggle financially when giving declines. It is undeniable that economic fluctuations greatly impact financial support. And certainly if someone loses a job, they will not be able to give as they did while they had a steady income. But the problem in giving is not always a lack of resources. Sometimes it is a lack of faith instead. Someone said, “Many Christians are giving less than they could, not because they are making less, but because they are worrying more.”

If our lives are governed by fear for the future, we will tend to hoard rather than give. While the Bible teaches the great value of wise planning for what lies ahead, and good financial management, it also teaches that it is more important for us to lay up treasures in Heaven than here on Earth. Either we believe what God said when He promised to meet and supply our needs, or we do not. And the clearest evidence of that faith (or the lack of it) is found in our attitude toward giving.

Everything we have belongs to God. We only hold it as stewards, and we will be held accountable for what we did with the resources left in our care. Just like the trustee of an estate, we must remember that the funds we have do not belong to us, and are not ours to disperse as we see fit.

“And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

Luke 22:17–20

The greatest demonstration of God’s love is without question the gift of His Son to be our Saviour. It seems that such an enormous sacrifice would compel all who have accepted His gracious offer of salvation to daily outpouring of gratitude and praise. Yet in reality that is not the case. Even as He prepared to die, Jesus established with the disciples a pattern we still follow to this day with the observance of the Lord’s Supper in our churches.

God commands this practice because we need the reminder of what He has done for us. Acknowledging the truth that our salvation is completely a work of God’s grace, apart from any merit we have in ourselves, strikes at the very roots of our pride. So it is easy for us to listen to Satan’s temptation to think more highly of ourselves than we should, and to diminish our appreciation and remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

There should never be a day that passes without us remembering and rejoicing in our salvation. This should not just take place when we participate in the Lord’s Supper. That special time should not have to serve as a reminder of something we have forgotten, but instead, a special occasion to celebrate and rejoice even more. Never lose sight of the cost of your salvation.

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:3–5

As the perfect Son of God, Jesus is worthy of all the glory and honor that He receives in Heaven. In eternity, we will join in singing His praises. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:13).

Yet the beautiful Lord of glory became not just a man, but a poor, despised, and rejected man. He was willing to suffer the humiliation and physical pain of the cross. Even more, He took on the filthy, disgusting, and repulsive sins of each of us, and paid our debt even though He did not owe it. He did all of this for our sake, and His sacrifice is beyond our comprehension.

Today I stand before God righteous, without any sin being laid to my account. That is only because of what Jesus did for me. He took my sins and replaced them with His perfection. He willingly paid the price even though it was far beyond our ability to understand. That is the measure of God’s love for us. And it is on the basis of that love and sacrifice that He calls us to joyfully serve Him all the days of our lives.

“How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy. How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan: And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.”

Psalm 78:40–44

We often speak of the unlimited power of God, and both the Bible and history are filled with examples of Him doing things that are impossible for people to accomplish. He is able to meet any need, answer any challenge, and defeat any foe. Yet this awesome power, which is infinite in its potential, can be limited by the actions of people. That is because God has given us the freedom to disobey Him if we choose. When we take that route, we limit not what He could do, but what He will do.

The Children of Israel saw God’s power in the plagues of Egypt, in the parting of the Red Sea, and in the faithful provision of manna six days every week. They were given victory over military foes, direction through the desert, and God’s presence both day and night. Yet despite all that they had witnessed and received, they refused to enter the Promised Land because ten of the twelve spies that Moses sent told them the enemy was too big for God to conquer.

The victory Joshua enjoyed was available forty years before, but the people limited what God provided by their lack of faith. They could have had so much more. The victory had been promised, and God stood ready to back up His promise with action. None of the limits are on God’s end. But His unlimited power is only available to those who obey in faith.

“Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all. But ye have a custom, that I should release unto you one at the passover: will ye therefore that I release unto you the King of the Jews? Then cried they all again, saying, Not this man, but Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber.”

John 18:38–40

Pilate knew that there were no legal or moral grounds for executing Jesus, but he also was desperate to avoid a riot by letting Him go free. So he devised what he thought would be the perfect solution. By offering to release one prisoner, as was customary during the Passover observance, Pilate figured that Jesus would be that one, and he would be off the hook for the decision. Instead, at the urging of the Pharisees, the people demanded that Pilate release Barabbas—and crucify Jesus.

Many people had suffered loss at the hands of Barabbas. He was enough of an offender to have come to the attention of the Roman authorities. No one suffered at the hands of Jesus. Instead, they were healed and blessed and fed by the Lord. Yet despite that enormous disparity, the people still chose for Barabbas to go free instead of Jesus. We rightly condemn the wavering Pilate for not doing what He knew to be right. And we rightly condemn the selection of the criminal over the spotless Lamb of God for release.

Yet in our daily lives, too often, we choose something else over obedience to God’s command. Rather than putting Him first, we seek some Barabbas—material wealth, promotion and fame, temporary pleasure in sin—over following Jesus. As believers indwelt by the Holy Spirit and given victory over sin, we are no longer compelled to do evil. Instead, it is a result of our own will exercised in defiance of God.

“And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:”

Joshua 4:21–23

In his well-known fanciful poem The Hunting of the Snark, Lewis Carroll described the voyage of a group of ten misfits hoping to find a mythical creature known as a snark. Their captain, the Bellman has procured a special map to guide their sailing adventure.

“What’s the good of Mercator’s North Poles and Equators,
Tropics, Zones, and Meridian Lines?”
So the Bellman would cry: and the crew would reply
“They are merely conventional signs!
Other maps are such shapes, with their islands and capes!
But we’ve got our brave Captain to thank
(So the crew would protest) that he’s bought us the best—
A perfect and absolute blank!”

Of course a map without any marks for land can neither guide nor protect a sailing ship. It offers no help at all. Yet in many ways such a map is in keeping with our age when people deny even the existence of truth. The problem is that such an unguided life is certain to end in disaster.

That is why God instructs us in the way in which we should go. He clearly marks the dangers of sin, placing them off limits to the obedient. He clearly directs us to safe passage if we are willing to follow His Word. And He instructs us to take steps to remind ourselves of what He has spoken. These landmarks are meant for our protection and guidance.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”

Isaiah 64:6–8

In Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan clearly describes the path of a man trying to be saved by his own goodness in the character Hopeful. During a conversation, Hopeful recounts the results of his attempt to attain salvation through moral reform and good works. “If I look narrowly into the best of what I do now, I still see sin, new sin, mixing itself with the best of that I do; so that now I am forced to conclude, that notwithstanding my former fond conceits of myself and duties, I have committed sin enough in one day to send me to hell, though my former life had been faultless.”

The best that we are able to accomplish falls so far short of God’s standard of holy perfection that there is simply no hope for us to achieve our own salvation. That does not stop people from trying. Again and again through history new religious teachings arise that focus on what we can do or not do in order to be justified before God. The desire for that justification is a good thing, but every human effort to achieve it is doomed to failure. The best of our righteousness is still contaminated with sin. Our only hope is the sacrifice of the sinless Son of God made on our behalf. Only in Him can we find salvation.