Saturday, July 5, 2025

Stay Faithful

Jesus gave his final sermon in Luke 21. It is also recorded in Matthew and Mark. Jesus’ talk covers many things, but his main point is —stay faithful! In the previous few days, Jesus had triumphantly entered Jerusalem and received the worship of those who recognized him as king. The next day, he cleansed the temple. He had given his last message in the temple, knowing the end was near. Jesus knew what lay ahead—the cross and his humiliating death, yet he walked in steadfast faithfulness to his Father’s will. 

Leaving the temple, Jesus and his disciples climbed Mt. of Olives. The context of this talk was his disciple’s admiration for the temple. The disciples were so impressed with the beauty of the temple, but Jesus told them not to be. He predicted the temple would be destroyed and every stone torn down. It was by the Romans in 70 AD.

Jesus told his disciples that there would be natural disasters, wars, and cosmic signs and people claiming to be the Messiah, but don’t believe them. The end is not yet. “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:27-28). Jesus predicted his Second Coming, as did Daniel and many of the other prophets. Jesus came the first time as a babe born in a stable. He entered Jerusalem as a king riding a humble donkey. But when he comes the second time, he will come in the clouds with his holy angels and all his saints.

My prayer is that we can keep our priorities straight: First God, then our families, and then our ministry and careers. If those priorities get out of alignment, we are in the enemy’s sights. A good analogy is the difference between thermometers and thermostats. Thermometer people react to mounting fear and uncertainty with a sudden surge in their emotional temperature. Their inner thoughts shout, “Danger, everything is going to be bad; there is no hope.” Fear drives the thoughts and words. Thermometers reflect their environment. Thermostats, on the other hand, control their environment. Thermostat people respond to the same signals with calm and trust in the Lord. They do not have knee-jerk reactions. Even in uncertainty, they know who is in charge and can remain faithful to God.

When we were living in Corrientes, Argentina, we purchased a property for planting our first church there. It was a property with just a roof and metal legs. We made a large payment in two installments. The second payment was due in 30 days, and a specific date was specified in the contract. However, as the day approached, the government announced that banks would be closed for several days. I contacted the owners and let them know payment on that day would not be possible because the banks were closed. I could have done it on the first day they opened. The sellers told me that I would forfeit the property and lose my first payment. I reviewed the contract, and it did indeed state that. I tried talking to them, telling them that it seemed unreasonable. They said they didn’t care what it appeared to me. Be there on that day with the money or lose the property and the first payment.

I contacted the only person who might have the money. He did, but no bank transfers were possible. I would have to go in person to get the money to a city 12 hours away. I couldn’t get a plane or a bus and be back in time. I would have to drive 12 hours there, stay for no more than an hour, and then drive back. I completed the task and arrived at the owner’s house before the deadline. I knocked on his door, and when he opened it, I was standing there with two briefcases full of money. I said, “Do you want to count it before you sign?” That is an example of an unfaithful and dishonest man. As I drove away from the man’s house, I knew that God had been faithful to me. I had every reason to stay faithful to God.

Experiences like this, which are not uncommon for us, make us yearn for a world without dishonesty and deception. That will never happen here, but it will one day be in God’s heaven. There will be no sin there because there will be no sinners. Our natures will be changed, and even our bodies will be transformed for heaven.

In the meantime, we are to stay Faithful! We are called to remain faithful, even though we will encounter unfaithfulness from this world and the people around us. None of that is a reason for us to be unfaithful. God calls us to be faithful in an unfaithful world.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Go Study The Ant

Solomon says there are three things for the sluggard to learn. He needs to know because his way is hard due to his procrastination.  What is a sluggard? Think of the way ketchup oozes slowly out of a bottle when it is cold. The sluggard cannot make decisions. It’s too much work. He doesn’t see a reason to do things promptly, even things that need to be done.  Solomon says, “As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed” (Proverbs 26:14). That is a picture of his unprofitable routine.

He is lazy, constantly making easy choices and stubbornly ignoring the good opportunities that come to him.  This is written to all us because there is a sluggard in each of us. The sluggard is a recurrent figure in the book of Proverbs, which means we should heed the warnings.

The sluggard will not make up his mind; “How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?” (Prov 6:9). He tells himself he will do it later, but later never comes. His second fault is that he never finishes anything. He starts many projects but finishes none; “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth” (Prov 26:15). The sluggard is good at making excuses, even though they sound ridiculous. Proverbs 22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!” or, “I will be murdered in the streets!” (Prov 22:13). His excuses have now become a habit he cannot break.

Proverbs suggest that the sluggard study the ant: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!” (Prov 6:6). We think about what we could learn from the ant—well, quite a bit. Ants are motivated; “It has no commander, no overseer or ruler” (Prov 6:7). Even though they don’t have someone directing their every move, they work. Secondly, they are not afraid of hard work, “yet it stores its provisions in summer” (Prov 6:8). Third, the ant prepares for the future; “yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest” (Prov 6:8).

The ant is prepared to face the hardships of the coming winter. The sluggard will face the winter unprepared, “and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man” (Prov 6:11). Are you getting ready right now on this day of harvest? It is our job to prepare for what is ahead, both materially and spiritually. Are you growing and maturing in your faith? Winter will come for all of us. We must make the necessary provisions to be prepared.