How Far is the East from the West?

I was talking with a young man recently and he repeatedly used the word "Christian" in his conversation.

For instance:

"He is a Christian."

"She grew up in a Christian home."

So, I thought to myself, "Hmmm? I wonder what he means by that." I had a sneaking suspicion what he meant so I asked him, "What do you mean when you say the word 'Christian'? I then gave him a scenario. "If a friend, who happened to be an atheist, came up to you and told you that he was interested in Christianity and asked you 'What does it mean to be a Christian?', what would you tell him?"

The young man began to tell me that it meant having integrity, honesty, and doing the things Jesus did. So I pressed just a little farther. "So, do you mean that to become a Christian you just start to do good things, use Jesus as a role model, and then just go to a 'Christian' church on Sunday and WALLA you're a Christian?" He thought for a moment and then wasn't sure what to say. "No", I said. You aren't a Christian because you were raised in a "Christian " home. You aren't a Christian because you signed a membership card at the Church on the corner. You aren't a Christian because you listen to "Christian" music. You aren't a Christian because you do good things and wear a WWJD bracelet.

So off we went to the Scriptures and looked at what Jesus said and what his disciples said. We saw that becoming a Christian is a real transaction that occurs in the Spirit realm when a person who was separated from God by their sin and is "dead in their trespasses and sins" is forgiven, reconciled (To reestablish a close relationship) to God, and are "Born Again". This happens as a result of repentance and faith in the One who paid the penalty, who gave his life, and who was raised from the dead. I helped him to see that becoming a Christian is something that God does in us through our faith and not something we become by "signing up for" or "joining" like we would the Rotary Club or the fraternity house. We saw that integrity, honesty, love, peace, patience, and our good deeds are the fruits of that rekindled relationship not the prerequisite to it.

With that said, I want to share a few really awesome promises that the Bible gives us regarding the amazing work that occurs in those who trust Jesus Christ as Lord. I want to focus mainly on sin and what happens to all that ugly junk in our lives when that transaction takes place. It's instantaneous and it's permanent.

1) Psalm 103:11-13

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him."

2) Isaiah 1:18

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

3) 2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

4) Romans 8:1

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

So, let me ask you a geography question. Exactly how far is the East from the West? OK, so you might not have the answer on the tip of your tongue so I'll give you an experiment that might help. Go out to the garage and find the tape measure in the tool box (It's probably under a pile of work gloves, a hammer, and two saws.) Now use a compass to find East. Start walking until you get to the beginning of East, nail down the end of the tape measure, then begin walking towards the West. Keep going until you get to the end of West. (You might need a few more tape measures.) Alright, I know that was ridiculous but the reality is that the distance is infinite and so is the distance from a Born Again believer to his or her sins. Will you sin again after you are saved? Likely, but two things are true about that: The Holy Spirit in you will "convict" (To make aware of one's sinfulness or guilt) you of that sin and the Bible says that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. How much cleansing? All of it!! Last thing to notice. Were all of these promises unconditional? Nope. Go back and look again but this time notice these words, "Those who fear him", "Let us reason together", "If anyone is in Christ", "For those who are in Christ Jesus"

So I hope and pray that if you consider yourself a Christian that you look an see if this actual transaction has occurred. The offer is open to all who call on the name of Jesus but without it you might just be wearing the label. The label is not good enough but the grace that comes through faith is all sufficient!

Peace,

David

A Time to Rest

Well, after 48 weeks of writing this Blog I finally missed a Saturday post. This past weekend I found myself in a little cabin in the open fields of North Dakota and guess what? No Internet. I think God knew that it was time for a Sabbath, not from the writing, the teaching, the worshiping, or any of that but from the busyness of the world. God's Word reminds us that we need to rest. It reminds us that God has designed us to be with him and to bask in his goodness. I realize now, more than ever, how much noise there is in our lives. Noise that keeps us from hearing God even as we seek to serve him.

As I laid back in the grass, in the darkness of early morning, looking over an old pinto bean field strewn with a couple dozen goose decoys, I realized that I didn't hear anything except the slight cold breeze whisking past my ears. The eastern horizon was beginning to glow a light blue when I began to hear the sound of thousands of snow geese coming off the water of the nearby lake. They were heading off to feed in the fields before making they're way south for the winter. It was good. God is so good. Then I looked south and could see the constellation Orion which has always been like a trusted old friend that faithfully comes to visit me every winter. There was a small part of me that was unsettled because I knew that the Blog wouldn't go out as it had for the past 48 weeks then I thought, "Maybe no one will notice. Maybe no one will care." I hoped that they would, not because I needed to feel appreciated but because I hoped that what I felt God had called me to do mattered. I think in that moment I understood that it matters most to God. He doesn't really need me per se (after all he is God) but he loves me and he wants me and as given me the opportunity to share in his Kingdom work. Now he was saying, "Rest David." Wow, it was good to rest! Thanks God!

I hope and pray that you will stop for a moment and rest as well. Turn off the TV, the Ipod, the Xbox 360, the cell phone, the computer (after you finish reading this of course), and then just rest. Talk to God. Listen to God. Enjoy God's presence. You'll probably have to go out of the house to get away from the stuff. Maybe you can get away for the weekend or maybe just for a couple hours in a nearby park. But you need to rest.

Psalm 62:5 says, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him."

Thanks again for following as we seek to know God and to draw nearer to him and thanks for listening to the babblings of a sentimental guy who loves God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, and who loves you as well.

I look forward to being back in the swing on Saturday morning, God willing.

Peace,

David