DISAPPOINTMENTS

 Life has an innumerable number of ways to disappoint us. I can never count the times I have been disappointed in my life. Disappointment I have brought upon myself by bad choices, disappointments I have incurred by the actions of others, and disappointments because life does not treat us fairly. Why should we expect it to? We live among fallen men and women in a cursed world. Sinners will do what sinners do. Sometimes things go our way, but many times they do not. In  the course of  my pastoral ministry for 34 years I have seen the heartaches, the tears, the sorrows, and the death of dreams that disappointment brings. The career you wanted failed to materialize. The loving husband or wife you desired turned out to be someone other than you thought. The son or daughter you raised went their own way. The robust health you worked to obtain and maintain brought you cancer instead. The friends you thought you had for life, could not be found when you when you needed them the most. In times like these we can begin to feel that even God has disappointed us and forsaken us. He seems like a distant stranger. You are not alone. On the road to Emmaus two disciples of Jesus met someone who appeared to be a stranger. The encounter in Luke 24:13-21 goes like this:

"Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 

Did you pick up on the disappointment of the disciples?  They were hoping Jesus was going to redeem Israel and usher in the Kingdom of God they longed for. But that did not happen. Jesus had been crucified on a cross and a dead Messiah/deliverer does not offer any hope, or so they reasoned. After Jesus called them foolish ones and slow of heart, He explained that what had happened was all in the plan of God for a greater purpose and "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (27). This is the problem we all face in the midst of our disappointments. We cannot see what God can see. We do not know what only God can know. We fail to understand the greater purpose God is fulfilling in our lives. We know that all things work together for good to those who love God etc., but somehow in the midst of our disappointment, that Scripture in Romans 8 seems like a promise to others and not to us. What do we do in such times? What did Habakkuk do when he looked for answers?

“I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected (Habakkuk 2:1). 

God’s answer was write what I tell you, in the end it will not disappoint, wait for it - because it will surely come to pass. And while you are waiting to make sense of it all, remember that, “the just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Keep pressing on dear saints of God, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of your faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Our disappointments are God’s way of drawing us closer to Him. They are the fire that He uses to refine the gold and make us more like His Son.

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

 

SATAN'S SUBTLE WAY OF BRINGING YOU DOWN?

 The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is the fictional account of an older devil giving his advice to his nephew Wormwood, who is not yet worldly wise enough to secure the damnation of an ordinary young man named "the patient". Wormwood needs his devilish methods and tactics polished up if he is to useful in Satan's kingdom, because he is not skilled enough about the nature of temptation and how to take humans away from God. The Screwtape Letters is a classic on the subtle strategy of spiritual deception and warfare. One of the things that I read recently which caught my attention is Screwtape saying, "It is funny how mortals always picture us (devils) as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out." Life can easily make you busier and busier, and push the Word of God, fellowship with other believers, prayer, and other godly influences far from you. You become a very shallow Christian and the winds of the time cause you to drift away from the things that matter most in your spiritual life. Maybe it has already happened, or is happening to you now. The tragedy is that you may not even notice that it is occurring. Slow drifts tend to work that way. 

It is time to put on the full armor of God as described in Ephesians 6. Don’t be ignorant of Satan’s devices to neutralize your service to God, and keep you down in the spiritual ditch called "lukewarmness" (Revelation 3:15,16). Rise up, repent, and follow Jesus with your whole heart, mind, soul and strength (Matthew 22:37).

May God give us all the strength, wisdom, and courage we need to keep pressing on in our spiritual life to His glory.

Pastor Tom

THIS IS YOUR LIFE

 Proverbs 4:10 Listen, my son, and accept my sayings, And the years of your life will be many. ¹¹ I have instructed you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in upright paths. ¹² When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; And if you run, you will not stumble. ¹³ Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.

How many times has good advice been ignored in your life, and what was the outcome? Sometimes, a single bad decision has tragic consequences. Sometimes, it is a matter of life or death. As of 2023, every day, 37 people in the United States die in car crashes with an alcohol-impaired driver. This is one death every 39 minutes. Each of these deaths has a lifelong impact on many lives that could have been prevented by following the simple advice, “Don’t drink and drive”. Some drunken drivers perish by their own hand, as well as taking the lives of innocent people. DUI drivers who caused a fatality and survive must live with the guilt of what they have done and the legal consequences for their actions. Solomon instructed his son to “take hold of instruction and not let go.” In other words, hold onto it for dear life because it can be a matter of life and death. Moses gave the children of Israel the same admonition prior to their entering the promised land, “Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life” (Deuteronomy 32:46,47).

The Holy Scriptures are God’s instruction book to his children to show us the way we are to go, and the paths to avoid. Let all who name the name of Christ as Savior take heed to follow this “way of wisdom” so that we do have to live with many regrets and sorrows.

God bless,

Pastor Tom

THE DEPTH OF GOD'S LOVE

“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:14-19).

Fridtjof Nansen was a Norwegian explorer who led an expedition to the Arctic Ocean in a search for the North Pole. He took his ship into very deep water. As part of his studies, he would drop a sounding line to check the ocean's depth. When the line was too short to reach the bottom of the ocean, he would record the date, time, location, length of line, and a final note that read, "Deeper than that." He would then lower a longer line with the same result and notation, "Deeper than that." Then he would make another attempt with the same result and notation: "Deeper than that." Finally, after lowering his longest line, the logbook received the final notation of so and so length of line and "deeper than that."

This story illustrates in a very small way what we know, and do not know about the depth of God’s love. No matter how much we learn about it, there is always more to learn.  No matter how much we try to plum the depth of God’s love, there is always more to it. The love of God is an infinite love!  Psalm 147:5, reads, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”  Infinite means “cannot be counted or numbered.”  We might use the word “immeasurable” to describe it. “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). This “infinite forgiveness” is just one aspect of the love of God. Our sins, once forgiven by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will never be held against us. Gone, gone, gone, gone! Yes, my sins are gone. Now my soul is free, and in my heart's a song; Buried in the deepest sea, Yes that's good enough for me; I shall live eternally, Praise God! My sins are gone” (lyrics from a gospel chorus).  If you have experienced this wonderful love of God, take time to thank Him for it every day and share it with those around you. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Fredrick Lehman wrote:

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

 

 

BEHOLD, THY KING COMETH!

 Take a listen to a message on Christ's entry into Jerusalem fulfilling the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9

Listen at "Hear a Sermon" at faithsd.org

Shalom

ABOUNDING HOPE

 Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Abounding hope leaves no permanent room for depression, despair, or giving up. Abounding hope expects nothing less than great things from God! Abounding hope always points us in the direction of Christ. Abounding hope rest in Christ’s perfect love for us. Abounding hope overcomes the darkness with the light of Christ. Abounding hope sees beyond the present to the future which God has laid in store for his children. Abounding hope is the anchor for the soul, it is the balm of Gilead, it is the bright and morning star. Abounding hope is an expectation with certainty that God will do what he has said. It is based on the character of God who will never leave us or forsake us.

KINGDOM VIRTUES

 Romans 14 is one of the chapters in Scripture with great practical value for the local church. It deals with a division arising in the church over whether the Christian had the liberty to eat meat, or must he/she restrict themselves to vegetables. The two camps are described as the strong and the weak. Romans 14:2, “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.” This is a dispute over what we call “Christian liberty.” Although the exact issue Paul is dealing with is not a cause for division in the church today, there are plenty of issues that still pertain to Christin liberty. For instance, does the Christian have the liberty to get a tattoo? Does the Christian have the liberty to attend a movie theater, or watch questionable television programs?  What about dancing or drinking a little wine? You can probably come up with your own list of questionable matters, but the real issue at heart in Romans 14 is, “how will the choices I make as a believer effect another Christian who may be weak/immature in their faith? Am I willing to forgo my liberty for the sake of their spiritual growth?  In verses 16 and 17 Paul brings his spotlight to center stage, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” First of all, even if your action is right, it becomes wrong for you to do if another Christian is scandalized by it, and speaks evil of it. Secondly, Paul makes it clear that the citizens who will make up the future kingdom of God when Jesus rules upon this earth demonstrate kingdom virtues such as righteousness (godly living), peace (promote or harmony within the church), which brings them joy both inwardly and outwardly. These virtues on produced in them by their willing submission to the Holy Spirit, “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:” (Galatians 5;22,23). How then should we live in the present? As Christian's, our lives should be characterized by virtues which promote the things that foster peace and edify (build up) the church rather than tear it down, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another” (Romans 14:19). Are you a peacemaker in the church, or a troublemaker? Do you promote unity or cause division? Are you someone who insists on your own rights and liberties, even if they hurt other people who need time for their Christian conscience to be developed? May the Spirit if God lead us all to follow the example of Christ who gave up the glories of heaven and humbled Himself by becoming a man to suffer and die for our sins “… if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died (14,15)..

Walk in love,

Pastor Tom

BEGGARS ALL

Mark 10:46  And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. ⁴⁷ And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁸ And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. ⁴⁹ And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. ⁵⁰ And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. ⁵¹ And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. ⁵² And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

“Beggars all” described our plight,

Like Bartimaeus, we needed sight.

Lost in darkness, grief and sighs,

Till Jesus passed, and heard our cries.

Son of David, your mercy shower,

Upon us who need your heavenly power.

And it was done, healed and free,

Beggars no more, we will follow Thee.

Thankful for the grace that you have shown,

We now live to make thee known.

So all blind beggars, can hear the story,

And one day sit on thrones of glory.

Once beggars all, our praise we give,

For Jesus our Lord, our lives we live.

Beggars no more, we belong to Him,

Whose death has freed us from our sin.

Beggars nor more, we worship Him.

Beggars no more, we worship Him.

Tom Chesko

 

CELEBRATING SIN

In the time when there was no king in ancient Israel, the people were constantly subjected to attacks by their enemies as a result of their sin in breaking the covenant with God which they had promised to obey. This followed the victories of Joshua, the successor to Moses. We call the era “the time of the Judges” (Acts 13:21) which lasted from the entrance of Israel in the promised land until Samuel the prophet. The judges were not judges as we commonly understand the term; they were leaders whom God raised up to save Israel from their oppressors. Generally, the Israelites were free from oppression as long as the judge lived, then they resorted back to their sinful ways and the cycle repeats itself.The one verse of Scripture that tells the story of the time of the Judges is 21:25, “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Sin has always made its’ presence known in this world in some very horrific ways. Over the course of time mankind is becoming more and more immune to its’ deceptive influence and destructive power. Jesus said, “as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26,27).  In the New testament we read, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). We are certainly living in perilous times when people become lovers of their own selves (verse 2) and evil men get worse and worse (verse 13). 

Rather than repenting of sin and turning to God, the course of history reveals that sinners become more and more emboldened and defiant. Rather than being sorrowful over sin, it becomes a matter of celebration. 1 Timothy 4:2 says, “Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron”. This vivid description means their conscience is “dead to truth”. There is no better picture of this than “Pride Month”. Here in the United States it is the month of June. Everywhere you go you are reminded of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. You cannot escape it even if you go to a sporting event. Professional football teams, baseball teams, basketball teams, soccer teams etc. have all joined in the celebration of this sin. Disneyland, which one provided wholesome entertainment now joins in the party of wickedness. Hollywood is what Hollywood has always been. There is however nothing proud about sin. America has become like Sodom, “as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;  But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:28,29). 

Sodom was guilty of many different acts of evil, but their chief sin was their violation of the laws of God pertaining to human sexuality (Genesis 19:1-3; Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13: Romans 1:26,27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Yes, the LGBTQ etc. is sin. It is a sin against nature (what is normal) and a sin against God. What makes this sin even more grievous is the fact that it has become a “national celebration.” Not just one day of the year like President’s Day, or Martin Luther King Day, but an entire month. When sin like this becomes normalized and accepted it screams out for God’s judgment. “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination,” (Leviticus 18:22); Romans 1:26 describes same sex sin as a “vile affection”. The word vile means shameful or dishonorable. Proof that a man’s conscience is “dead to truth” is when what should be shameful becomes a matter of pride. The least of sins will separate a man from God and needs forgiveness which comes only through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). The grave danger of the LGBTQ sin, like the sin of abortion is that it has become our national sins. D. L. Moody the American evangelist once said, “Man is born with his back toward God. When he truly repents, he turns right around and faces God. Repentance is a change of mind. Repentance is the tear in the eye of faith.”

Rather than marching in parades, protesting against the sanctity of life and doing what is right in their own eyes, those bound in a sinful lifestyle need to turn to Jesus who promised to set them free, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

A true Christian does not hate the LQBTQ people, they actually love them and desire to see them come to know the love of God in Christ and have eternal life. A true Christian mourns when they see any sinner on a path of destruction and prays that they will heed the warnings of God’s Word and turn from their sin and live. The prophet Ezekiel wrote to a disobedient nation “Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live” (Ezekiel 18:30-32). 

America is too young to die, but we must understand that the wrath of God is abiding over this country and no one knows how long a holy God will continue to bear with us in our rebellion. Before God turns America to ashes our nation must repent in sackcloth and ashes, the Old Testament symbols of repentance. Jonah was God’s reluctant prophet who never applied for the job but ended up going to the wicked city of Nineveh and preached, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4). What followed is a remarkable example of true repentance. “For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is  in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:6-10). 

May the gospel (good news) of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus be preached as never before in our land, as the only hope for every man, woman and child. May every sinner beginning with our nation’s leaders many of whom are estranged from God, respond in repentant faith and turn from their sin to Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior. America needs a true spiritual revival whose hallmark is not pride, but humility.

Shalom!

Pastor Tom

   

CHOSEN IN HIM

 Chosen in Him, from darkness set free,

A child of God forever to be.

How precious the blood Immanuel gave,

How glorious His triumph over the grave.

Atonement for all, God’s wrath is appeased,

As soon as the guilty sinner believes.

No debt so great Jesus cannot forgive,

All that it takes is one look to live.

 

Look to Jesus, and Jesus alone.

The prodigal child is free to come home.

Back to the Father’s house far above,

Washed in the blood of redeeming love.

Salvation accomplished by unmerited grace,

Jesus has died for the whole human race.

Glorious love, freely given to all,

Chosen in Him, and cleansed from the fall.

The last Adam came and victory won,

How precious the gift of God’s dearest Son.

Wonderous love, glory Divine.

Once far from God, now Jesus is mine.

Tom Chesko

4/15/22

CHRIST'S GLORIOUS RESURRECTION

 Author Larry Moody wrote, “We are not in the land of the living going to the land of the dying. We are in the land of the dying going to the land of the living.” The Bible is clear that death does not end our existence. Death is the passage way to another life that is endless. Whether in heaven with God, or in hell separated from Him forever. Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28,29). This week Christian’s take time to reflect on the passion & death of Christ, climaxed by the His resurrection from the dead. Jesus demonstrated that death was impotent to hold Him in its’ grasp. Graves are often referred to as a man’s final resting place. Nothing could be further from the truth. The women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on Sunday found His tomb empty. “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.  And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus” (Luke 24:1-3). What was running through their minds at that moment?  We don’t have to guess at the answer; they didn’t know what to make of it as we are informed, “And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:  And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN:” (Luke 24:4-6a). Talk about shock and awe! Praise God for His power and victory over man’s greatest enemy. Our blessed Savior was “…declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4): 

Because Jesus was victorious over death and is alive now at the right hand of God (Hebrews 1:3), everyone who believes in Him will also live forever with Him. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1 Corinthians 15:52-55)?  As you celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Sunday take time to express your praise to God for the promise of eternal life because Jesus triumphantly rose from the dead. Also, be sure to thank God that your loved ones who “died in Christ” are with Him now and shall be with Him forever. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Christians who have died are indeed absent from their physical bodies and present with the Lord awaiting that grand resurrection day when their bodies will be resurrected and fashioned in the likeness of Christ’s glorious resurrected body.

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

KEEP ON TRUSTING THE LORD!

 I have lived as a Christian for over four decades now and God has never failed me. I can say that with all sincerity. That doesn't mean that I have never been disappointed with the outcome of things which have happened during the course of those years, nor does it mean that I have not been discouraged by what seems to be "unanswered prayer." What it means is that 'through it all' I have learned, and am still learning to lean upon Jesus, to trust in Him completely, and to run with patience the race that I have been called to run, as it says in Scripture, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). My race is not yet over, so I have yet to see how God will have worked in all things for my good (Romans 8:28). "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose". The words, "And we know" speaks to me of certainty and assurance. "... they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee" (Psalm 9:10).

When Corrie Ten Boom, a holocaust survivor would tell her life story, she would often hold up the back side of a blue cloth of embroidery with hundreds of tangled threads hanging down from it. Many have wondered if she was holding up the wrong side by mistake, but she wasn't. She would then turn the right side to the audience and say, "The wrong side is chaos, but look at the beautiful picture on the other side, which revealed a beautiful, detailed embroidered crown - symbolizing the crown of eternal life. The illustration was striking. In our lives we see the wrong side, but God sees His side all the time. One day we will see the embroidery from His side and thank Him for every trial and unanswered prayer. Friends, don't give up on God when the going gets tough. Keep pressing on!  Keep on trusting the Lord!

Pastor Tom

“My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.”

~Corrie ten Boom

 

 

 

 

A LIFE WHOLLY DEDICATED TO GOD

 D.L. Moody (1837-1899) was an American evangelist/revivalist who had only a fifth-grade education and poor grammar. He was hardly a candidate for success in Christian ministry, particularly one that involved public speaking. Moody once admitted, "I know perfectly well that, wherever I go and preach, there are many better preachers ... than I am; all that I can say about it is that the Lord uses me." Why did God use D. L. Moody to become the greatest evangelist of the late 19^th Century, leading hundreds of thousands of people to profess Christ as their Savior? What was the secret to Moody’s success? The answer is, "a life completely dedicated to God." Moody’s most famous saying was, “The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him. By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”  I was reminded of that saying when I read the words of a man named Caleb, one of Israel’s twelve men who went to spy on the land of Canaan, before Israel would enter the land. He was forty years old at that time. In Joshua 14:8 Caleb states, “Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-Barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God. At the age of eighty-five Caleb was still serving God with his whole heart. He “wholly followed the Lord.” Age did not lessen Caleb’s passion for God, nor his strength, “ I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in” (Joshua 14:11). God blessed Caleb’s commitment to God and he went into the land at an old age and drove out the son’s of Anakim, a giant, warlike people from the land", And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak  (Joshua 15:14). 

In the end, the Lord did not forget Caleb's dedication, just as He does not forget our labors of love in His name,  “And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance” (Joshua 14:8). In commenting on Joshua 14:9 and Caleb, “wholly following the Lord” Wayne Barber wrote, "literally in the Hebrew,  “He was fulfilled to walk behind Jehovah.” He was fulfilled. The word fulfilled means filled full—to the brim. Nothing else was needed in his life. That’s the most beautiful thing; he needed nothing else. No wonder Caleb was so successful! God was everything to Him and he gave his all for the Lord, just like D.L. Moody. What does God mean to you, and what are willing to give up and do to follow Him?

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

 

MAKE YOUR TIME COUNT FOR ETERNITY

 Greetings and welcome to 2022. One thing we know from Scripture and from our personal experiences in life is that no one is guaranteed to see tomorrow. James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote, "Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (James 4:13-15). While it is wise to plan for tomorrow, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:.6-8), the only moment we have is the present one. Dr. Benjamin Mays, the mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King wrote a short poem on the subject of redeeming the time (see Ephesians 5:15,16). To “redeem the time: means “to buy it back” or live with the awareness that once time is gone it is gone forever. So Mays penned,” I have only just a minute, only 60 seconds in it. Forced upon me, can’t refuse it, didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it, but it’s up to me to use it. I must suffer if I lose it; give account if I abuse it. Just a tiny minute, but eternity is in it.” How true that last thought is especially true for the Christian, “eternity is in every minute which God has given to us. This is why we must “set our sights on things above and not on the things of this earth” (Colossians 3:1,2). Think about how long it might take to hand a gospel tract to someone, or share “a word appropriately chosen” (Proverbs 25:11). A single minute of your life can make an eternal difference in the life of someone else. I would challenge everyone who names the name of Christ to make it your aim in 2022 to do away with everything that is robbing you of precious time which can be better spent in more important matters. That might mean turning off the TV, getting off social media, ridding your life of things (even possessions) which clutter it up, and shutting off the many voices which compete for your attention. You have been given 31,536,000 seconds to use this year. Some of those seconds have vanished away, how will you use the rest of them? 

Keep pressing on,

Pastor Tom

 

SAVED BY WORKS?

 “God will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,” (Romans 2:6-8). These verses sound like a person gets to heaven based on their good works, (trying the best they can). That is what the majority of professing Christians now believe. The problem is the words “patient continuance” mean “steadfastness or constancy”. That means your attempt at being good would have to be perfect all the time, which is impossible because “there is not one righteous person “ (Romans 3:12). Furthermore, Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. Jesus didn’t come to make good men better; Jesus came to save evil men who could not save themselves by trying to do the best they can. This is why the word gospel means “ good news”. This is why the word “grace” in the Bible means “gift or unmerited favor”. Eternal life comes only to those who put their complete hope in the work Jesus did on the cross for their salvation, “the just one, dying for the unjust ones to bring them to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVES in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

May God bless you with eternal life through Jesus Christ,

 Pastor Tom.

THE BRONZE SERPENT

After their exodus from Egypt the nation of Israel began a long history of disobeying God. Rather than showing gratitude for what God had done for them they soon began to become a nation of complainers which displeased God greatly.  “From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live” (Numbers 21:4-9). The bronze serpent was a symbol of God’s judgment and salvation. In John’s gospel we learn that the symbol became a reality when Jesus took the judgment in behalf of sinners. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-16). Look to Jesus as your Savior and you will be saved from the judgment of all your sins. “…. because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved”(Romans 10:9). 

Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

PREPARING FOR WORSHIP ON THE LORD'S DAY

 Alexander Mc Claren wrote: “Fruitful and acceptable worship begins before it begins”. How are you preparing to worship God before you go to church this coming Sunday to hear the Word of God proclaimed? That begins by worshipping Him every day (Monday through Saturday) in the sanctuary of your heart. “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:1-3). If praising God is continually in our hearts there is no room for complaints, and the joy of the Lord will be our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.

COME LORD JESUS

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10 ). Metaphorically speaking, the church made up of all believers is the bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:25-27). We await the return of our bridegroom, the Lord Jesus. What a wonderful and glorious day it will be when we see Jesus, who will rule and reign upon this earth as King of Kings. This is the hope of all those who know Jesus as Savior. Even so, come Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20). 

God bless, Pastor Tom.

SHOW THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO OTHERS

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:9-11). The love of Jesus for a world of sinners is a love that cannot be equaled. It was an amazing, matchless, wondrous love. As ambassadors of Christ in this world, the Christian has been commanded by Jesus to let His love shine through them.This is never easy because we are still very sinful, and selfish people. However, by the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, we can do it. The fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). This time of upheaval, fear, and uncertainty in our country is the perfect time to show that we are Christians by our love. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others (Philippians 2:4).

God bless you all, 

Pastor Tom.

ARE YOU LIVING FOR JESUS?

The prolific hymn writer, Fanny Crosby wrote, "One life to live will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last." I can hardly believe how fast my life is passing, and you probably feel the same way about yours. In the end what really matters? How many of our achievements will be remembered? The fact is that 100 years from now, every single person you personally know will be dead, and not one of them will be remembered. That's the sad reality of life. How many people can you name who lived in 1920? Who was the President of the United States in 1920?  Who was the last King of England? “Go to now, you that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas you know not what will be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:13,14). Consider these words as you consider the brevity of life: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). The apostle Paul was willing to die for Christ; are we willing to live for Him? It’s only by living for Christ that we find a purpose in life that transcends this world. May God receive glory from the short duration of our earthly existence!

Keep pressing on, Pastor Tom.