Question: How does God protect His people?

The question has been asked, in light of the destruction in Haiti, and lots of other calamities, How does God protect His people? This is a difficult question to answer, but there is an answer in God's Word. Let's start in the beginning.

Each of us must decide on these things for ourselves. Here is my thought process:

First, is there a God? My conclusion, and I'm sure yours, is that there has to be. The evidence is too obvious. And next, is Jesus really the Son of God? Yes, He really is; the evidence is simply too great. And is the Bible the actual Word of God? Again, yes, it has to be. The Bible proves itself over and over. So if all these are true, then I have no choice but to follow; follow whatever and where ever the Lord sends. But where does that leave us as His people?

Here are a few basic Bible facts:

One thing that is perfectly clear to me is that we aren't guaranteed comfort and protection and ease and success in this life. Job didn't have that. Abraham didn't have that. God told him to leave home and comforts and spend the rest of his life in tents in a foreign land. Paul didn't have that. He left a comfortable and successful career as a leading Jew to suffer hardship as a Christian.

Hebrews 11 tells us that there were many great heroes of faith in the Old Testament, but many suffered greatly. Then the end of the chapter says that God has "provided something better for us.." So what is that?

The answer is spiritual. Spiritual. God has made great provision for us; but He hasn't promised it to us in this life. But it is promised. He had His Son die for us, suffer for us. But now we must endure, take up our cross, suffer persecution, or heartbreak, or whatever comes; but endure we must. Now that takes faith. Hebrews 11 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The doubter might say, "But there is no substance to that at all; if one cannot see it, or know it, how can we be sure?" But God says, have "faith." And we must. 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise..." He keeps His promises. There is a vast spiritual world that exists. We cannot see it, but it is there. And we need to be thinking "spiritual."

The Bible does give us over and over the basic principle that if we follow God, things will be better for us. But it may occur on God's time and not ours. Romans 8:28 says, "...all things work together for good to those who love God.." It may come later instead of sooner, so we must wait in patience and faith. And remember: Spiritual. We must think in spiritual terms. One day soon we will all be spiritual beings, no longer on this difficult earth. And trust that God will protect and deliver ultimately.....in His time. Keep the faith!

Question: What does the Bible say about calamity?

I received a question regarding the calamity in Haiti, as to what the Bible says about God's involvement in such matters. The questioner referenced an article in the New York Times by James Wood who takes on the theology of Pat Robertson, comparing it to that of Barack Obama, and what the writer considers historical record. We'll get the politics and theology out of the way in this paragraph, then go to the Bible where this blog belongs. In summary, Pat Robertson made a recent statement that indicated that God was involved in the destruction in Haiti. That, of course, created a good deal of angry rebuttal. In regards to the writer of the NY Times article, I read this and marveled at the brilliant intelligence of the piece, but concluded that the writer has no sense whatsoever, even though he feels that he is quite cerebral! 1 Corinthians 1:20 says, "Where is the disputer of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of this world?" If I understand James Wood's position, this quote describes him well.

Now to the point. It is true that throughout the Bible, we see that many times God used natural calamity to effect His will. This happened so much that I won't try to cite specific cases except to mention the flood, where He was so upset with people that He flooded the whole world. But I think it is safe to say that He didn't always do that. It seems that plenty of things happened throughout history that God didn't direct, they just happened naturally. Note this:

Luke 13:4 "....those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem. I tell you, 'no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.'" Jesus was pointing out that this calamity just happened and had nothing to do with sin.

Matthew 5:45 "....He makes the sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." This is taken out of context. He is talking about loving all people just as God loves all people.

In conclusion, I agree with the questioner when he said, "There are things in our lives that we will not be able to understand until we get to heaven. Not everything that happens in our lives is simply a battle between God and Satan and the free will of man." Not one of us has the answers to these kind of questions. We will know the answers in heaven. In the meantime, we should heed the warning of Jesus, "..unless you repent you will all likewise perish." The real calamity is if we miss heaven. Let's do His will.....and go there!

The Lord's Prayer

Jesus was teaching His disciples in Matthew 6 how to pray. He said, "In this manner, therefore, pray." He didn't say that we have to say the exact words, but He gave us an example of a prayer that would be good for us to follow. It is interesting that in this prayer He starts with praise to the Father, then gives 3 requests, then concludes with praise to the Father. This is the outline of this particular prayer. To me, this is a powerful outline to follow, one that we can use effectively in our prayers.

He starts with praise: "Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The beginning is all about God; none about us.

Then the three requests:
"Give us this day our daily bread." Not tomorrow's bread, or next week's, just today, Lord.
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtor's."
"And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." God can do this; He
can help keep us out of trouble. We must truly want that and ask Him.

Then the prayer concludes with praise again. "For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

The more I think about this simple outline, the more I start, and end, my prayers with praise to God, with nothing about me; just Him! The more that we can make our lives about Him, and less about us, the better. Let us make Him the emphasis. Praise God!

Thank you for reading. See you next week!

Mt. Sinai

In our trip to the middle east recently, we spent a good deal of time and energy climbing what is thought by some to be the Mt Sinai of Exodus. God led the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, across the Red Sea and into the Sinai Peninsula. This passage is recorded in Exodus 19:2-6, "Israel camped there before the mountain. And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, 'Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel. You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people, for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' " During this great and repeated exchange between Moses and God, Moses was going up and down the mountain to converse with the Lord.

I can't be sure that we were in the exact spot, but these pictures will give you a good idea of what the mountain looked like. The people shown are Christians dressed up in Jewish garb for the hike. We found many places on the mountain where Jews had stopped and set up stones for worship over the centuries. It is a barren and fascinating place!

Thanks for reading. See you next week. May the Lord bless you this week.

Question: Once saved always saved

I want to let the Bible answer a question on the matter of "Once saved, always saved." This is a common doctrine today and one on which the Bible is clear. First, let me say that we are saved only by God's grace, by the blood of Jesus, by His sacrifice. It is not by our works or our perfection, because we don't have that. Romans 3 says that "all have sinned" and certainly that is all of us; thus we cannot earn salvation.
But the question is, once we have accepted our Lord and become a true follower, is it possible to fall away. Consider these passages that I will briefly summarize and feel free to go to the Bible to examine the context. Note that all of these passages come from the letters to the various churches, all written to Christians who have become followers.
1Corinthians 10:12 "let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall."
Hebrews 6:6 "if they fall away."
Hebrews 2:1 "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away."
Galatians 5:4 "Your have become estranged from Christ....you have fallen from grace."
2Peter 2:20 "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them....."
Colossians 1:21,22 "if indeed you continue in the faith...."
Try to read the context on these, especially the last one in Colossians. These verses all tell me that a Christian, a true follower, can fall. And don't we see it all the time, even in some of ourselves, speaking about me, for one.
I realize that this is a controversial subject. Yet, this is just a small portion of the 100's of verses that warn Christians against falling prey to false teachers, to the work of the devil.
Thanks for reading. See you next week, and may the Lord bless you this week!