“Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.” (Proverbs 24:17-18)
This is that magical time of the year called March Madness, and a more fitting name could not be found. Anyone who knows me knows that I bleed “Crimson and Blue” during basketball season for my beloved Kansas Jayhawks. Every year they seem to disappoint us with a mind-numbing loss to a team that they would beat 99 times out of 100, unless it is in the tournament. But this year, it happened to their greatest arch rival, the Missouri Tigers.
Norfolk State 86, Missouri 84. Who ever heard of Norfolk State?
With all the controversy and hype over this season, the drama of this loss is greatly intensified. These two bitter rivals fought it out for the Conference championship; Kansas winning the regular season and Missouri winning the Conference tournament. With Missouri leaving the Conference next season, the rivalry was even more pronounced. Basketball fans in this part of the country were licking their chops for a possible KU-MU showdown for the national title. But it is not to be with Missouri getting knocked out in the first round. This was an upset of epic proportions. Missouri was a #2 seed; Norfolk State a #15 seed. It had been eleven years since a #2 seed lost to a #15 seed, and the overall record of #15 seeds was 4-104. After the game, the trash talk went into warp drive as Kansas fans across the country rubbed salt in the wounds of their hated rivals.
We all need to lighten up a little. It’s just a basketball game. These kids are 19-21 years old. I actually feel bad for them. Imagine having to pull the jersey off for the final time under those circumstances. But our verse above leads us to a much bigger spiritual issue. Almost everyone on earth has people who are opposed to them. The term “enemy” in the verse may be a little strong, but the concept is nevertheless clear. When we see them take a “gut shot” like our friends across the state line did, the natural tendency is to gloat about it. We think, “Yeah, good enough for them. They are getting what they deserve.” Maybe they are. But that is never the issue.
God uses adversity and defeat in the lives of the lost to bring them to the knowledge of the Saviour. Sometimes when you are as far down as those young men feel, the only place to look is up. That is exactly where God steps in during times like that. When we gloat over the misfortune of others, God does not like that. He did not gloat over your misfortune; he sent his Son to the cross to pay for it. His anger is directed toward the lost every day (Psalm 7:11), but it is quickly tempered at the moment a heart begins to turn toward him. That often happens when the “upsets” of life beset the lost. When we taunt and trash talk them in the midst of their suffering, even when it is done in private (God sees our hearts), we actually frustrate his work in their lives. His anger turns to you because of your wicked arrogance and rejoicing at the calamity of another. For God to step up the pressure on them would result in you gloating even more, so he has to back off. Instead, we need to be ready with an answer (I Peter 3:15). In kindness and grace, pick up you fellow man, and walk him toward the Saviour whom he desperately needs. When you do, you will turn the enemy into a friend through the gospel.
Contrary to popular belief, the world does not revolve around you and your personal wants. I hate to be the one to break that news to you. The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus are in the same category. God’s number one purpose and mission is to “Rescue the Perishing” as the old hymn says. Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) He asks you to get in on that mission by proclaiming his word to those who need it. When the heart-wrenching losses of life befall those without Christ, be ready to love them into the kingdom. Go Jayhawks!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Missing...In Action
“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (II Timothy 2:4)
I’m BAAAACK!
It has actually been about two months since I have posted anything on this blog. Perhaps you have missed me, although that is a little self-serving to say. I get in these phases at times when the world seems to race by at warp speed, and I find myself gripping the edge, hair blowing behind me, feet and legs extended out at a 90 degree angle, knuckles white, and expecting any moment to be sucked into the vortex of oblivion. One of the biggest reasons this happens is because of my inability to utter one of the shortest words in the English language: “NO”. I always told my kids that those two letters were placed right next to each other in the middle of the alphabet for a reason, but then I refuse to apply it myself. I get behind the power curve where I can only attend to the immediate, and other things have to go “back burner” for a while. Such is the case over the last couple of months with this blog. There was a book written a while back that talked about what they termed “The tyranny of the urgent”. Sometimes we place ourselves there, and sometimes it is thrust upon us, but it seems we have a non-stop barrage of immediate issues. We have no time to work out ahead or deal with the bigger picture because right in front of our nose is something that is required in the next five minutes. I have lived there for about the last six months, but there seems to be a little lifting of the fog. Hopefully I can get back to some of the things I enjoy like this blog, and have a little better handle on things. I know… I’m dreaming!
There are a whole host of “alphabet soup” acronyms used in the military like MIA (missing in action) or POW (prisoner of war), and AWOL (absent without leave), and I am sure many dozens more I am not aware of. Having never been in the military, the lingo and jargon is unfamiliar. Every profession has its terminology. I have been “missing” over the last couple of months in this blog, but I can assure you it has been “in action”. Unfortunately, many of God’s people go “MIA” in the wrong way. I know way too many Christians who “used to go to church”, but life or circumstances took them away, and they never came back. They are missing from the spiritual battle, and they are totally inactive in their service for the one who died for their sins. They have defected to the other side. They are AWOL, because God never gives us leave to get out of the spiritual battle. Ecclesiastes 8:8 says “there is no discharge in that war”. Obviously, there are times of “liberty” or R&R where we as soldiers of the Lord go on family vacations or have hobbies, but there is never a time when we are to take a break from walking with him. Others are POW’s. We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us at every turn. He is not God, and not able to override God’s ultimate plans, but he is nonetheless very powerful and has perfected his craft over many centuries. Paul describes these people in II Timothy 2:26 as being “taken captive by him (Satan) at his will.” We can pray for them, and we can also send out teams to try to “recover them” as the verse says. These are believers who need to be reminded of the price that was paid on the cross for their sins, and then get back in the game.
There will be times when you just can’t do everything you want. In fact, that is most of life. But don’t ever be missing in action for your Lord. When the times come when things have to be put on hold, keep your daily walk intact. Time in the word and fellowship can never be sacrificed. Opportunities to share the gospel cannot be passed over. The good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ knows how to enjoy life and participate in all of its blessings and even its fun. But he does not allow himself to get out of the game. Jesus is coming again very soon to reward his servants and judge his enemies. Stay in action so you receive a full reward.
I’m BAAAACK!
It has actually been about two months since I have posted anything on this blog. Perhaps you have missed me, although that is a little self-serving to say. I get in these phases at times when the world seems to race by at warp speed, and I find myself gripping the edge, hair blowing behind me, feet and legs extended out at a 90 degree angle, knuckles white, and expecting any moment to be sucked into the vortex of oblivion. One of the biggest reasons this happens is because of my inability to utter one of the shortest words in the English language: “NO”. I always told my kids that those two letters were placed right next to each other in the middle of the alphabet for a reason, but then I refuse to apply it myself. I get behind the power curve where I can only attend to the immediate, and other things have to go “back burner” for a while. Such is the case over the last couple of months with this blog. There was a book written a while back that talked about what they termed “The tyranny of the urgent”. Sometimes we place ourselves there, and sometimes it is thrust upon us, but it seems we have a non-stop barrage of immediate issues. We have no time to work out ahead or deal with the bigger picture because right in front of our nose is something that is required in the next five minutes. I have lived there for about the last six months, but there seems to be a little lifting of the fog. Hopefully I can get back to some of the things I enjoy like this blog, and have a little better handle on things. I know… I’m dreaming!
There are a whole host of “alphabet soup” acronyms used in the military like MIA (missing in action) or POW (prisoner of war), and AWOL (absent without leave), and I am sure many dozens more I am not aware of. Having never been in the military, the lingo and jargon is unfamiliar. Every profession has its terminology. I have been “missing” over the last couple of months in this blog, but I can assure you it has been “in action”. Unfortunately, many of God’s people go “MIA” in the wrong way. I know way too many Christians who “used to go to church”, but life or circumstances took them away, and they never came back. They are missing from the spiritual battle, and they are totally inactive in their service for the one who died for their sins. They have defected to the other side. They are AWOL, because God never gives us leave to get out of the spiritual battle. Ecclesiastes 8:8 says “there is no discharge in that war”. Obviously, there are times of “liberty” or R&R where we as soldiers of the Lord go on family vacations or have hobbies, but there is never a time when we are to take a break from walking with him. Others are POW’s. We have an enemy who seeks to destroy us at every turn. He is not God, and not able to override God’s ultimate plans, but he is nonetheless very powerful and has perfected his craft over many centuries. Paul describes these people in II Timothy 2:26 as being “taken captive by him (Satan) at his will.” We can pray for them, and we can also send out teams to try to “recover them” as the verse says. These are believers who need to be reminded of the price that was paid on the cross for their sins, and then get back in the game.
There will be times when you just can’t do everything you want. In fact, that is most of life. But don’t ever be missing in action for your Lord. When the times come when things have to be put on hold, keep your daily walk intact. Time in the word and fellowship can never be sacrificed. Opportunities to share the gospel cannot be passed over. The good soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ knows how to enjoy life and participate in all of its blessings and even its fun. But he does not allow himself to get out of the game. Jesus is coming again very soon to reward his servants and judge his enemies. Stay in action so you receive a full reward.
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