90-year-old Fran Goldman of Seattle had an appointment to get her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine recently. The fact that there was a huge snowfall might have been problematic for some people. It turns out that it was no problem at all for Fran. She walked almost 6 miles round trip in nearly a foot of snow to keep her appointment! Her story has spread all over the country. In an age when many Americans seem to be content to consider themselves helpless victims of life’s unfortunate circumstances, this spunky senior citizen has shown us all what true grit is all about. Our nation could use more people like her.
This story reminds me of one of my favorite senior citizens in the Bible, Caleb. When the Israelites were receiving their allotment of land in Canaan, Caleb said, “…So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.”—Joshua 14:10-11.
Yesterday I wrote about how the left is trying to demonize the late Rush Limbaugh, but largely failing in their efforts. I pointed out that this reminds us of how we need to live our lives in such a way that no one who wants to oppose Christians can make a logical case against us.
I want to use Rush as an example again today. One of El Rushbo’s favorite ways to describe himself was, “Talent on loan from God.” Long-time listeners often heard him use this phrase on the radio. Only those who are blinded by their hatred for Limbaugh could fail to see that he had his tongue placed firmly in cheek as he uttered those words. However, Rush had a healthy confidence in his abilities and showed a willingness to give God credit where credit was due.
We need to be aware that whatever talents we have are given to us by God, and they are to be used for his glory to build up his kingdom.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”—1 Peter 4:10-11.
Out of curiosity, I read a couple of articles written by left-leaning media members about the life of the recently deceased conservative icon, Rush Limbaugh. Needless to say, these articles were somewhat less than flattering. They tried to portray Limbaugh as a racist, woman-hating liar.
I noticed that these articles were suspiciously lacking in quotes from Rush that would have helped make their case. You would think that a man who talked on the radio three hours a day, five days a week for decades would have left an abundance of condemning evidence if he were indeed the bad actor he was made out to be.
This is a reminder that those who are in the right will always be scrutinized by those who are in the wrong. Therefore, it is important that we don’t give them any ammunition that they can use against us in a logical, honest debate.
“Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”—1 Peter 2:12.
Yesterday I wrote about a preacher who corresponded with an atheist. Some would question whether Christians ought to even try to engage such people in conversation. After all, it is the fool who says in his heart that there is no God (Psalm 14:1), so why try to converse with a fool? And then there’s Proverbs 26:4, which says, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.”
However, the very next verse, Proverbs 26:5 says, “Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.” These two verses might seem to clash with each other, but it just means that you need to use discernment. Sometimes you can win over a non-believer. Other times you are just casting your pearls before swine.
Try to use your best judgment in answering an atheist. You may have a fruitful conversation. Or you might just be wasting your time.
I found the following in Collected Christian Convictions, by Don Nash:
In answer to an atheist who had mailed him some infidel literature attacking the Christian faith, one preacher wrote the following rebuttal:
“My dear sir, if you have anything better than the Sermon on the Mount, the stories of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan; or if you have a better moral code than the Ten Commandments; or if you can suggest anything more consoling and beautiful than the Twenty-third Psalm; or if you can supply anything that will throw more light on the future and reveal to me a Father more merciful and kind than the New Testament does; more meaningful than John 3:16, please send it to me.”
Jerry and Sandy Tucker founded and operated the Galilean Home in Casey County, Kentucky. They took care of people, mostly children, who had some of the greatest physical needs and mental disabilities that you can imagine. Jerry and Sandy wrote a book based on 1 Corinthians 13:13—“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” The title of their book is Faith, Hope and Room for One More. Maybe that’s a good definition of love: making room for one more person in your life. After all, that’s what Jesus did for you. An old song says, “There’s room at the cross for you. There’s room at the cross for you. Though millions have come, there’s still room for one. Yes, there’s room at the cross for you.” By making room for you at Calvary, Jesus shows you his great love. That’s the kind of love we all need!
Nicole Kidman worked hard to give an accurate portrayal of Virginia Woolf in the movie The Hours. The left-handed Kidman learned how to write with her right hand. You might think that it was a lot of needless work, but Kidman disagrees. She said, “I learned to write with my right hand for it. People look at me, like, that’s crazy, and I’m like, no, it was necessary.”
All of her hard work paid off. Her authenticity and lack of a hand double resulted in a lot of recognition, including the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2003. Who says the details aren’t important?
“…Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”—Matthew 25:21.
A long, long time ago a small, timid man made a bold move and decided to sell everything he owned in order to move from his home in the east and seek his fortune on the wild American frontier. He traveled west until he found a town that seemed to be to his liking. He bought a saloon there and his business venture soon began to thrive. His establishment was frequently filled with thirsty cowboys and other men from the town.
One day a man rushed into the saloon and shouted, “Big John’s comin’ to town!” Everyone immediately bolted for the door, and, in an instant, the saloon was empty. Curious about the nature of the announcement and the fearful response it brought, the saloonkeeper tentatively made his way outside to see if he could figure out what on earth was happening.
Off to the east he could see a cloud of dust that kept getting bigger. Eventually he could hear the thunderous beat of hooves and could see what it was that was quickly approaching town. He could scarcely believe his eyes! It was the biggest, meanest-looking man he had ever seen! This man must have been 7 feet tall and probably weighed a muscular 350 pounds. He was riding a large buffalo and using a rattlesnake for a whip! And yes, he was headed straight for the saloon!
Terrified, the saloonkeeper dashed back indoors and crouched behind the bar. It was too late to try to run. His only option was to hide and hope that he would somehow survive.
The huge man stopped in front of the saloon and tore the swinging doors off their hinges as he made his dramatic entrance. The timid man hiding behind the bar was not sure whether it was the sound of his heart beating or his knees knocking or the whimpers that he was unable to stifle that gave him away, but the big intruder was aware of his presence. The gigantic man strode toward him, shaking the floor with every step he took. He brought his fist down on the bar with such force that it cracked the boards, and shouted, “Whiskey!”
The small bartender tentatively pushed a bottle of whiskey toward the huge man, who used his bare hands to break the neck off the bottle and downed its contents without stopping for a breath. The drink seemed to calm the man down, and the smaller man thought that perhaps he would be allowed to live. With a newfound hope, he asked, “Sir, would you like another drink?” The big man stared at him with amazement and shouted, “Are you crazy? I’m gettin’ outta here! Big John’s comin’ to town!”
Some people have misplaced fears. Jesus says, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear; Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”—Luke 12:4-5.
A recent cold spell in southern Florida prompted the National Weather Service in Miami to issue a “falling iguana alert”. I did a double-take when I read that, because this is something that I had never heard of. Apparently a “falling iguana alert” is nothing new for south Florida. The weather service explained, “Iguanas are cold blooded. They slow down or become immobile when temps drop into the 40s. They may fall from trees, but they are not dead.” This is good information to have for your next trip to Miami in the winter!
Unlike iguanas, we Christians have the ability to control our temperature, spiritually, at least. We need to maintain a warm love for God and people, or, like the poor iguana, we might suffer a painful fall! We must heed the warning of Jesus in Matthew 24:12-13– “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
When it comes time to assess the viability of the flowers, bushes and trees that we have planted around our house, my wife is much more merciful than I am. Whenever I suggest that some puny-looking plant ought to be pulled up or cut down, Karen almost always says, “Let’s give it another chance. It might grow out of it.” No matter how dead a plant might look, she is usually right. They often turn green once again and produce the flowers or leaves that we expect from them.
This reminds me of a story Jesus tells in the gospels: “Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9).
Jesus tells us this story to make sure we understand that God expects us to be productive. Even God’s abundant patience has its limits. If we are going to be soaking up all of God’s blessings, then we need to be producing the fruit of a Christian life.
First, we need to be showing the evidence of a Christian life in our behavior. The fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). If we aren’t showing these characteristics in our lives, how can we truly say that we are living for Jesus? Every Christian should strive to make sure that others can observe these qualities in our lives, and that we practice these actions more and more as we mature spiritually.
Secondly, we must understand that Jesus wants us to produce more Christians. Just as plants reproduce their own kind, so we followers of Jesus must work toward getting others to decide to follow Jesus as well. This is what we have been commissioned to do, to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8) and to baptize people and teach them to obey the Lord (Matthew 28:18-20). Who are you trying to bring to the Lord? In what ways are you working to influence people for Jesus?
All throughout Scripture, there are dire warnings to people who do not produce what the Lord desires in their lives. Anyone who is not living such a life needs to repent. Just before he tells the story about the fig tree that was given another chance, Jesus says, not once, but twice, “Unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5). No one who is living an unproductive life has any reason to think that they will be saved.
For those who are not living fruitful lives for the Lord, the time to repent is now. God is giving you another chance. Who knows how many more chances you will get? Don’t delay! Today is the day of salvation for anyone who wants to turn their life around and really begin to live for Jesus a life that is producing the kind of fruit that the Lord desires!
Jesustrek 