Pep Talk Time

 

Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

—Joshua 10:25

I’m no athlete. In fact, I’m the poster boy for non-athleticism. But, I know barely enough about sports to know that a key moment occurs just before the game begins when the coach offers the team words of encouragement. The coach will give specific instructions to the team. The coach hopes that these words of challenge and enthusiasm will ring in the ears of the athletes as they go out to “battle.”

This is what Joshua does when he prepares to lead the soldiers of Israel into battle for the Promised Land. Joshua knows that God has called His chosen ones to take the land as their own. So, Joshua shares these words of encouragement and instruction, as found in Joshua 10:25:

Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.”

“No matter what happens in the days ahead,” Joshua intones, “do not let fear bind you, nor fear assail you. Instead, grab ahold of strength and courage. God will defeat our enemies and hand this land He has promised us into our control.”

Each new day presents those of us who follow Christ with a new challenge. Satan desires to fill us with fear and discouragement. Satan wants us to keep silent about what God means to us. But, God wants us to sense His support. He gives us His strength. He dispels our fear. He imbues us with courage. He will defeat our enemy and protect us, as we follow the path He has laid out for us.

God gives the very best pep talk. It’s just what we need to hear. It contains the words that need to ring in our spiritual ears, as we begin yet one more day of serving Him.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Tasty

 

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

—Psalm 34:8

Of all the foods that you eat, which one creates on your palate, and within your mind, the most delicious taste? Is it some entrée? Some dessert? Some appetizer? Or maybe, it’s something you drink?

Just now, as you thought about how to answer my question, your mouth began to water a little bit, didn’t it? Just the imagining of that delightful taste sensation caused you to feel a positive and enjoyable reaction.

My father used to delight in telling other adults how he made the biggest mistake of his life as a dad when he allowed me, at age eleven, to order my first real steak in a restaurant in Baltimore, Maryland. It was a T-bone steak that gave me the opportunity to taste both the tenderloin and strip steak all in one setting.

Based on my memory of the size of that steak, it likely was actually a Porterhouse cut. But, as with many steak restaurants—so as not to confuse their customers—this steakhouse called it a T-bone on the menu. Whatever it should have been called, it was absolutely delicious! From that time forward, I have always preferred steak and eventually gravitated to filet mignon as my preferred cut of beef.

There are people, of course, who care less about food. My wife is one of those people. She eats because she has to do so. She doesn’t really enjoy eating. In contrast, I do not eat to live, I live to eat!

In writing one of his more famous Psalms, King David expressed his love for God in a way that should relate well to anyone like me who has a favorite food. Notice his words, found in Psalm 34:8:

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

“Experience the fullness of God on the palate of your life,” declares this man whom God had called to His service. “He will fill you full of His mercy, grace, and overwhelming love. He will protect you and keep you. You will be blessed because you have crawled up into his lap and found refuge in His strong Presence.”

Today, we can experience this same delight that David declares. By tasting of the Lord, enjoying the flavor of our relationship with Him, we can truly find ourselves blessed beyond our ability to comprehend. We will surely find God “tasty”!

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

From Out of His Glorious Riches

 

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…”

—Ephesians 3:16

Have you ever met someone who seemed so unbelievably generous that you could almost not process how generous this person was? In my life, I have met two men who were truly wealthy—what my dad would have called “filthy rich” although there was nothing “filthy” about these two men’s wealth.

In both cases, these business men extended great generosity in such a shy and unpretentious manner that I couldn’t help but watch them in amazement. Each man was a multi-millionaire. Each one had earned his riches through very hard work and clever investments. Each man lived in a way that many people would never have known the extent of his wealth.

On occasion after occasion, I observed each of these men reach out with kindness, empathy, compassion, and generosity. They did so without any fanfare. They never called attention to themselves. In fact, they both did everything possible to avoid others knowing what they had done. The only reason I knew was that I had become a close friend to each of them and had inside knowledge of their kindnesses.

The God we serve is One who has enormous wealth and power. Out of His storehouse He gives freely to those He loves. The Apostle Paul affirms this when he writes these words found in Ephesians 3:16:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being…

Paul’s prayer comes from his knowledge that God has unlimited resources that He will gladly make available to His dearly loved children. That’s why we can begin this new day in confidence knowing that God will provide the strength and resources we need to serve Him effectively and faithfully.

If we struggle with a lack of resources, let’s devote ourselves to prayer this day. God will hear and answer in ways we cannot comprehend.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

The Gift of Strength

 

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

—Isaiah 40:29

During my years in junior high school, I had many embarrassing experiences. One of the most troubling events occurred when the huge folding doorway that separated the gymnasium into two equal parts jammed and would not close. For one miserable day, the boy’s gym class had to share the entire open space with the girl’s gym class. While most of the boys absolutely loved the opportunity to show off for the girls, I was mortified.

I had already painfully learned how disliked I was by most girls. Now, I had to be even more exposed to their disdain and ridicule. You see, the boy’s gym class was doing basic calisthenics. In particular, we were doing pull ups on an elevated bar. While most boys could jump up, grab the bar, and proceed to effortlessly pull themselves up a dozen or more times, I was unable to pull myself up even once.

Not content to allow me to hide in the back of the line, the gym teacher, who had already made it very clear on several occasions that he had a strong distaste for anyone like me who was so grossly overweight, insisted that I try over and over and over again to complete a pull up. He punctuated my humiliation by a running commentary, holding me up as an example of what would become of anyone who was lazy, foolish, and addicted to food.

While I excelled in academic pursuits, gym class was my daily time of torture, made all the more so by President John F. Kennedy’s “National Council on Physical Fitness” and the host of initiatives that it had pushed onto the local school systems. The phrase, “God give me strength!” had special meaning for me in those days.

In fact, God is our source of strength—physical strength, emotional strength, intellectual strength, and spiritual strength. The Prophet Isaiah reminded the Southern Kingdom of Judah of this fact, as recorded in Isaiah 40:29:

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

As we launch off into another day, let’s remember that all the strength we need is readily available from the God who loves us. We can ask Him to increase our strength and empower us when we need to overcome our own weaknesses. He will gladly supply strength and power from His inexhaustible supply.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

My Enabler

 

“I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.”

—Philippians 4:13

“I think I could really learn Microsoft Word^® if someone would just show me some of the more useful tips and tricks.”

The person saying that could be almost anyone. To long-time users of personal computers, MS Word seems quite simple. But, to someone just getting his or her feet wet in the art of personal computing, there are so many features, so many tricks, so many undisclosed shortcuts that make working with this software easier, most people really could use someone to enable them to use Word more effectively.

For example, when trying to format text in a way that makes it easier to read, people will do all kinds of work-arounds rather than learn how to properly set tabs and indents. The result is a mashup of confusing formatting that will easily drive someone over the edge who later tries to edit that document.

I have been a willing enabler for a number of individuals seeking to learn more about MS Word over the years. And, I am all the happier for having done it, especially when the person I’m helping shares information with me that I must use for some other purpose. It’s easier to help someone learn how to properly format a document in MS Word than to try to decipher their typical work-around formatting at a later time.

We all need enablers in our lives to learn the things we need to learn, to accomplish the things we need to accomplish, and to reach the goals we need to reach. I particularly appreciate it when someone knowledgeable sets aside some time to help me.

One of my very dear friends makes explanatory videos for the company where he works. He is a master at creating very useful and educational videos. He freely shares these videos on YouTube, so people who might need help understanding some of the very technical topics for which he is responsible can easily find the information. He is a natural teacher, a natural enabler. Some of the very significant success he has achieved in his chosen field comes from this gift that God has given him to enable others to use the products his company makes in the most efficient and most effective way.

In our spiritual lives, we need an enabler. And, God stands ready to enable us to will and to do the things He wants us to do. In fact, one of the roles that Jesus fills in our lives—through the in-dwelling Holy Spirit—is an enabler of our spiritual formation and an enabler of our ever-more-effective understanding of how to become an ever-maturing disciple.

The Apostle Paul acknowledges this when he writes these words found in Philippians 4:13:

I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.

As we begin another new day, let’s recognize that we have no limits in the spiritual realm. God has given us all the strength we need to do what He asks us to do for Him and for His Kingdom. Let’s willingly allow Christ to enable us to activate the strength in and through us that He so lovingly supplies.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Oh! Those Itching Ears!

 

“For the time will come, when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

—2 Timothy 4:3

Most people do not want to hear bad or unpleasant news. That’s why so many of our news outlets, particularly on network broadcast television, have shunned hard news stories in favor of fluffy, feel-good tales that will make the viewing audience smile in a self-satisfied way. “See,” the viewers say to themselves, “things aren’t so bad, after all. We’re really nice people doing good things to make everyone happy.”

Of late, of course, someone has come onto the political stage who so many people fear that they have steeped the news in hostile hyperbole. Please understand, I’m not a fan of politicians. I think it takes a particularly self-aggrandizing personality to seek political office. Oh, I’m sure there may be an occasional exception to the rule. Generally, politicians have to be willing to do whatever it takes to get elected and stay elected. That often does not put the interest of his or her constituents first. Nevertheless, I suspect that the current target of so much negative news is not nearly as bad as many believe, nor as good as others believe.

Even in the pulpit, many pastors today have turned their backs on a whole host of attributes that the Bible uses to help us understand who God is. Instead, they have emphasized God’s love to the near exclusion of all of His other many admirable qualities. While our understanding of God will always be like seeing through a dirt-darkened window, the Bible does give us the picture of Him that He wants us to have. As He has revealed Himself to us, sometimes who He is makes us feel the sheer terror at His holiness. And, at other times, we literally bask in the warmth of His amazingly deep love.

On those rare occasions when a particular pastor does preach a sermon that talks about God’s holiness, His hatred of sin, His willingness to punish those who will not repent, and other such less than happy subjects, congregation members grumble and complain. They did not get their “happy jolt” from the service that they expected. They did not feel better about themselves. They may have even sensed the Holy Spirit convicting them of something in their lives that needs correction. And, they don’t want to do what they know they must do.

So, woe to the pastor who presents the full counsel of God on the matter of who He is and how He wants us to live. There is increasingly little room for a broad spectrum of understanding that God is a perfect balance between holiness, judgment, and wrath on the one side, and His great mercy, grace, and love on the other side.

The Apostle Paul gave a warning to his “son in the faith” Timothy about this very matter, as recorded in 2 Timothy 4:3:

For the time will come, when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

As we begin a new day, we need to ask ourselves: “Do we have itching ears?” Yes, do we want to know God for who He is in all of His complexity? Or, do we want to fashion for ourselves an image of God based on our desire to shut out any of His scary qualities and focus only on those qualities that make us feel good? Those are questions worth asking. The answers give a good picture of where we are in our walk with the One who loves us the most.

God is to be both feared and loved. And, that takes a faith that surpasses a mere feel-good version. True faith recognizes that God is beyond our comprehension. True faith also embraces the reality that, in the Bible, we find plenty of evidence for who God is in all of His complexity. And that, dear ones, is a very good thing. As Richard of Chichester wrote:

Day by day, day by day,
O, dear Lord, three things I pray:
to see thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
follow thee more nearly, day by day.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Keep Yourselves in God's Love

 

“…keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.”

—Jude 1:21

These are tough times. I doubt if anyone would disagree with that assessment of where things are in our nation right at the moment. We have divided into two very vicious and contentious political, social, economic, even spiritual camps.

On the one hand, we have the forces of evil trying to drag our once great nation into the sewer of debauchery, discontent, envy, and strife. On the other hand, we have the power of God through the Holy Spirit—expressed through the lives of those devoted to the life-transforming gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ—holding back the total destruction of all that is holy and good.

In our state of battle weariness, we need to take heart from the words of the Apostle Jude, as found in Jude 1:17-21:

But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

As we begin another new day, let’s take comfort and also meet this day with new determination. God has chosen us to belong to Him. He is using us to further the advancement of His Kingdom here on earth. He has enabled us by the power of the in-dwelling Holy Spirit. So, let us claim this day for Jesus and allow His love to flow through us into the desperately needy world around us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Bring Your Offerings

 

“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

—Malachi 1:11

No, I’m not making this blog post a plea for your money. Instead, I am contemplating this verse of Scripture that records God’s own words through the pen of the Prophet Malachi, as recorded in Malachi 1:11:

“My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

The offering I’m soliciting from you, dear reader, on this particular day, is an offering of praise and thanksgiving to the God who loved us and sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place on the cross of Calvary. Truly, His name—God’s name—has been, is now, and will forever be, great among the nations of the earth.

He has revealed Himself in His creation. He has revealed Himself through His Son, Jesus. And, He continues to reveal Himself through the precious Holy Spirit.

Can you think of someone who, when you hear his or her name, you find yourself responding with a sense of deep respect, amazing awe, and even a deep love?

Certain national leaders from the distant past come to my mind: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Patrick Henry, Abigail Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony, and Jane Addams. I have similar feelings of respect for Marconi, Edison, Katharine Burr Blodgett, Stephanie Kwolek, and other inventors; for authors such as Louisa May Alcott, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, C. S. Lewis, and other great writers; for certain spiritual leaders such as Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitfield, John and Charles Wesley, Harriet Livermore, Phoebe Palmer, Charles G. Finney, Charles H. Spurgeon, Olive M. Winchester, D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, Donald Grey Barnhouse, Billy Graham, James Montgomery Boice, and others. In each case, these ones I hold dear had flaws and foibles, but still each one contributed significantly in some way to the sphere in which he or she held influence.

Imagine now having respect for One who is perfect in every way. This One has, in fact, created all things and caused all things to hold together. He is the creator and true embodiment of love. He is the giver of mercy and grace. He is the judge and justifier of all.

Is it any wonder that God declares through the Prophet Malachi: “My name will be great among the nations.” How fortunate we are that He has loved us and chosen us to belong to Himself. He is our God and we are His people.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Stay Close

 

“But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.”

—Psalm 22:19

Many times during a television police procedural drama, when the protagonist is attempting to protect someone under his or her care, the actor will say these words, “Stay close.” In other words, “If I’m going to protect you, I need you to stay close to me so I know where you are at all times.”

Just as easily, the person being protected could make the same request of his or her protector: “Stay close to me. I know you will protect me if you stay right by my side.”

King David understood this need for closeness in order to have the protection he needed to survive the attacks by his enemies. Notice what he wrote in Psalm 22:19:

But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

Each day, as we walk the pathway that God has laid out before us, we need to pray this prayer of David. It allows us to recognize anew our need for God to hold us safely in the hollow of His mighty hand. It gives ascent to the truth that if we try to walk alone, we will fall off the pathway. Our enemy, Satan, wants to do everything he can to poison our spiritual formation. But, with God alongside us, we will remain fully protected from whatever evil Satan sends our way.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

You Can't Harm Me

 

“When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

—Psalm 118:5-6

I have a dear friend who works in a major metropolitan city. As his locale has become more and more violent, he has decided to step up the protection he provides for himself. He has obtained a concealed carry permit so that he can have a firearm available in case he is assaulted. He also has scheduled a regular time at the shooting range twice each week to assure that he is well-trained in the use of his Glock handgun.

He asked for a unique Christmas gift and his family obliged by purchasing a custom-fit bullet resistant Kevlar vest. He now wears this under his work clothes. He admits that it is a bit uncomfortable. But, he feels the added protection this vest gives his chest and back is worth it.

He has also taken, and continues to take, Krav Maga, the Israeli Defense Forces-created self-defense system. He chose this most-difficult-to-master martial art because his research disclosed that it is the most deadly and most effective self-defense technique.

I guess you might say that my friend is ready for anything. But, of course, in saying that, you would be wrong. He can still be hit by a vehicle while crossing the street. He can succumb to a heart attack, or cancer, or some other deadly disease. He can have some object fall out of the sky and kill him. But, in his mind, he has done everything he can to prevent harm from others causing his injury or death.

As those who believe in the life-transforming power of the living Lord Jesus Christ, we Christians—or “Christ’s-ones”—have a source of protection that exceeds anything humans can devise. Our source of protection comes from the God who created all things.

The Psalmist declares the following in Psalm 118:5-6:

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

If we find ourselves lost in the “forest” of gloom and despair, of sin and destruction, we, too, can call on the Lord and He will bring us into a spacious place—a clearing in that “forest.” He will be with us. He will take our fear away. We will recognize with the Psalmist, “What can mere mortals do to me?”

As we begin a new day, let’s truly trust God to protect us and keep us safe in the hollow of His mighty hand. We can move confidently into the world knowing that “God is our refuge, our strength, and our present help in time of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 45: The Conclusion of the Matter

 

“The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd.”

—Ecclesiastes 12:11

In this last chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon has some final words of commentary to add to his analysis of life “under the sun”—that is, life without the Presence of God in a human’s life. Please note what Solomon wrote, as found in Ecclesiastes 12:9-14:

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.

The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

When all is said and done, King Solomon brings us back to the realization that life “under the sun”—life without God—is meaningless, a casting after the wind. But, in contrast, life with a relationship with God has inestimable value. To which each of us as believers, at the start of this new day, can voice a hearty, “Amen!”

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 44: Remember God

 

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come…”

—Ecclesiastes 12:1

We have finally reached the last chapter in the Book of Ecclesiastes. King Solomon has just a few more words of commentary to add to his analysis of life “under the sun”—that is, life without the Presence of God in a human’s life. Please read carefully his words found in Ecclesiastes 12:1-8:

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.

Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless!”

Here Solomon pleads with humans who intend to live their lives without God to change direction and remember it is God who created them, who loves them, and who longs to sustain them. It is God who makes a meaningless life meaningful. It is God who gives purpose and direction. It is God who binds all wounds and brings joy each new morning.

As we start out on the path that leads through another day, let us remember that it is our relationship with God that has the most meaning and the most purpose and the most value in our lives. Then, let us live our lives in gleeful service to the Great King who, when we were still sinners, died for us.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 43: Follow the Ways of Your Heart, But...

 

“Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.”

—Ecclesiastes 11:9b

King Solomon has written the Book of Ecclesiastes as an examination of life without God. It is also his confession of the sin that he allowed to creep into his life. In today’s passage, Solomon reflects on the attitudes he had as a young man, some of which led him off the pathway of righteousness. Take note of his words found in Ecclesiastes 11:7-10:

Light is sweet, and it pleases the eyes to see the sun. However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless.

You who are young, be happy while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart and whatever your eyes see, but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

So then, banish anxiety from your heart and cast off the troubles of your body, for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Why are youth and vigor meaningless? Because a life lived without God is meaningless. To his regret, Solomon realizes that he has made some serious mistakes in his life. In his unique poetic manner, he confesses those sins through this examination of life without God.

But Solomon also knows that God has remained faithful to him and has blessed him with overwhelming blessings. The shame that Solomon feels oozes out in his advice to young people. We do well to take note that life without God is not a real life. Rather, it is but a shadow of the glories of life with God.

As a new day begins, let’s recognize the calling we have to share the good news of God’s reconciling us to Himself, through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. That same good news should prompt us to share, in the most gentle and tender way, whenever the Holy Spirit opens up and opportunity for us to do so.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 42: As You Do Not Know...

 

“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.”

—Ecclesiastes 11:5

By now, we can all agree that King Solomon most obviously enjoyed sharing pithy sayings. In today’s passage, Solomon continues to immortalize certain proverbs that clearly relate to his examination of a life “under the sun” without a relationship with God. Here’s what Solomon wrote, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6:

Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land. If clouds are full of water, they pour rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there it will lie.

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.

In this passage, King Solomon places his tongue firmly in his cheek and wisely contrasts certain things that, “under the sun”—or, with a life without a relationship with God—humans can know with things that humans cannot possibly know. In so doing, Solomon heightens an awareness of his principal premise, namely that life without a relationship with God is meaningless, as casting into the wind.

We do well, as we begin another day, to clearly recognize how differently our worldview becomes once we have a relationship with the God who loves us and sent His precious Son to die in our place.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 41: No Prize for the Lazy

 

“Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.”

—Ecclesiastes 10:18

As I mentioned in last Friday’s blog post, we already know, from reading the Book of Proverbs, that King Solomon enjoyed sharing pithy sayings. In today’s passage, Solomon continues to share certain proverbs that clearly relate to his examination of a life “under the sun” without a relationship with God. Here’s what Solomon wrote, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 10:12-20:

Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious, but fools are consumed by their own lips. At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—and fools multiply words. No one knows what is coming—who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

The toil of fools wearies them; they do not know the way to town. Woe to the land whose king was a servant and whose princes feast in the morning. Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat at a proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness.

Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.

A feast is made for laughter, wine makes life merry, and money is the answer for everything. Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird in the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

The most effective motivation to do what’s right in life comes from a relationship with God. King Solomon had experienced this fact in his own life. When he had become deflected from doing what he knew God expected him to do, Solomon would experience a dissatisfaction with his own behavior. This dissatisfaction prompted Solomon to frame a form of confession in these very passages we have studied over the past blog posts.

As followers of Jesus, we experience the fullness of God’s blessing. It’s important for us to stay on the path that God has laid out before us. Doing so does not restrict us from enjoying life. Rather, it gives us the ultimate freedom to do so.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 40: Keep to the Right Side of the Road

 

“The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.”

—Ecclesiastes 10:2

We already know, from reading the Book of Proverbs, that King Solomon enjoyed sharing pithy sayings. In his examination of a life “under the sun” without a relationship with God, Solomon shares a number of proverbs with those reading his writings in the Book of Ecclesiastes. Note what Solomon has written, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 10:1-11:

As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.

If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest. There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.

Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them. If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.

If a snake bites before it is charmed, the charmer receives no fee.

If you examine each of these proverbs carefully, you will see some interesting parallels between humans living their lives without a relationship to God and those who live in harmony with God’s purposes because He has chosen them to belong to Himself. What often appears to us as the natural outcome of events in life—sometimes appearing more as chance than as purpose—really has the impetus of God behind them.

Of particular interest to me is the statement found in Ecclesiastes 10:2:

The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.

This is not a political statement. Though I have recently heard some of my Conservative friends use it as such. Rather, it is a reflection of common courtesy afforded all those who traveled on the roads of King Solomon’s day—and even later in history, the roads of the Roman Empire and beyond. Travelers kept to the right side of the road to assure that they could pass each other, in the opposite direction, with ease.

(My friends in the UK and other nations who drive on the left side of the road may object. I intend them no discourtesy.)

A wise person follows the “rules of the road” and keeps to the right. The foolish person, thinking himself or herself above the law, will purposefully move to the left side and run the risk of a head on collision.

As we begin a new day, we need to remember that God has laid out a pathway for our lives. We need to stay on that pathway, keeping to the “right” and avoiding the “wrong” side. If we do so, we will experience all that life has to offer because of our relationship with the God who loves us and gave Himself for us through His Son, Jesus.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 39: Impressive Wisdom

 

“The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.”

—Ecclesiastes 9:17

“When I look at life, what do I observe?” This might well be the question that prompted King Solomon’s quest to examine life “under the sun”—that is life on earth without any provision for the intervention of a holy God and for human beings to have a relationship with Him. We already know that Solomon assembled wise sayings in the book of the Bible we now call Proverbs. But, that propensity to make wise observations prevails in this Book of Ecclesiastes, as well.

For example, notice these words from Solomon, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 9:13-18:

I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siege works against it. Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

No matter what one may accomplish in life, with very rare exceptions, no one will remember that person or what he or she may have accomplished. Across the pages of history, we have a few notable figures about whom many writers have preserved that one’s accomplishments. But, there have also been numerous men and women who have accomplished just as much without anyone recording their deeds. Thus, they have passed off the pages of history and no one remembers who they are or what they have done.

Good works, as one possible narrative of an individual’s march toward holiness, may have some value. But, as markers of accomplishment, good works by themselves usually mean very little insofar as the reputation and remembrance of that person. No one who does good works with the intent to earn praise and reward will ever find a lasting place in history. Good works alone simply cannot sustain the memory of the person doing good works.

However, when a relationship with God marks a person’s life, that relationship leaves a lasting impression. As we begin another day, I suggest we consider C. T. Studd’s little poem, which I have quoted several times before on this blog. I think it summarizes the contrast between King Solomon’s “life under the sun” where human’s live without a relationship with God and the kind of life that true believers have on this earth.

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
Living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, “Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

Amen.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 38: God Gives Life Meaning and Worth

 

“The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong…”

—Ecclesiastes 9:11

King Solomon uses the phrase “under the sun” to describe life on this earth where there is no transcendent glory present. In other words, life “under the sun” is a life for humans without the Presence of a Holy God in their lives. Instead of allowing a relationship with God to define their lives, these ones are trapped in a godless world that has no boundaries, no defining purpose, and no hope.

Please take note of these words from Solomon, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12:

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net, or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.

Since God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, attempting to live life without acknowledging who He is and what He has done leaves humans adrift in an endless sea of meaninglessness. It is God who gives reason and purpose to human life. A relationship with Him is absolutely necessary to enjoy life to the fullest.

I suspect, and many Bible scholars believe as well, that Solomon wrote this somewhat disturbing book out of a sense of confession for the parts of His life that He realized did not follow God’s pathway. Here, at the end of his life, Solomon is attempting to help those around him see the folly of attempting to live without the driving force of life, namely God Himself.

As we begin a new day, let’s bow in prayer and thank God for His goodness to us who believe. Let’s allow Him to fill our lives full of His meaning and worth. Then, let’s willingly share, with great joy, how God’s Presence has given our lives the best possible meaning and worth.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 37: A Message to the Godless

 

“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.”

—Ecclesiastes 9:7

King Solomon, in imagining what life is like for those humans who do not have a relationship with God, concludes that only death awaits them. This, in turn, prompts him to offer advice to these ones without God, that is to say, the godless. Since death is all that awaits them, Solomon suggests they make the best they can of this life “under the sun” or here on earth.

Notice these words from Solomon, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 9:7-10:

Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Because to Solomon it seems as if these godless ones have not received God’s extended opportunity to form a relationship with Him, the King presumes that God has put his stamp of approval—or perhaps a better choice of words: hand of acceptance—on what they are doing. This is particularly true because Solomon seems to believe that death for them will be their complete end.

We, of course, know that their existence will not simply end at death. Rather, all those whom God has not reconciled to Himself will spend eternity in total separation from God. His image will no longer reside in them. His influence will no longer preserve them. They will be cutoff and utterly isolated from God.

We also know that those God has chosen will belong to Him forever. That security of His Presence intends to promote us toward works that will bring glory to Him and to His Kingdom. Our good works do not bring us our salvation. Salvation comes by God’s grace alone through faith alone. But, our good works do become an important component of our pathway toward holiness, or what is often called “sanctification.”

It seems as if the light is beginning to dawn within the heart and mind of Solomon. He is renewing the truth that he has learned from his father, King David. Life without God is, indeed, futile, a running after the wind.

How blessed we are, who have been chosen by God, to say with the Apostle Paul from 2 Timothy 1:12b:

…I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

At the beginning of another new day, the only response to this we can make is a hearty “Amen.”

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 36: Their Fate Is In God's Hands

 

“So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands…”

—Ecclesiastes 9:1

At this point in our study of the words from King Solomon, as he struggles with trying to imagine what life is like for those humans who do not have a relationship with God, we find Solomon trying to punctuate his analysis with these words, found in Ecclesiastes 9:1-6:

So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no one knows whether love or hate awaits them. All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not.

As it is with the good, so with the sinful; as it is with those who take oaths, so with those who are afraid to take them. This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of people, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. Anyone who is among the living has hope—even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.

Here Solomon paints a word picture of hopelessness. The fate of human beings rests in God’s hands. Yet by himself and herself, no human can know what God intends. Unless a person has a relationship with God, it is impossible to know what one’s ultimate fate might be.

In contrast, we who belong to God through His Son, Jesus, know who we are and whose we are. As the Apostle Paul states in 2 Timothy 1:8-12:

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

God has chosen us to belong to Himself. Therefore, we do not need to wonder about our ultimate future. We will spend eternity with Him in everlasting glory. But, for those who do not yet have a relationship with God, well, that’s another story.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 35: Getting What They Deserve

 

“There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.”

—Ecclesiastes 8:14

As we continue to follow the pathway King Solomon lays out before us at the end of his life, we take note of these words, recorded in Ecclesiastes 8:14-17:

There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: the righteous who get what the wicked deserve, and the wicked who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless.

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.

When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe the labor that is done on earth—people getting no sleep day or night— then I saw all that God has done.

No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all their efforts to search it out, no one can discover its meaning. Even if the wise claim they know, they cannot really comprehend it.

Reading King Solomon’s words, we must remember that he is leading us to consider what life must be like for those who do not have a relationship with God. As we consider this, I cannot help but think of these words from the first verse and refrain of the hymn “Satisfied,” written by Clara Teare Williams of Houghton, New York, the later site of my beloved Alma Mater, Houghton College:

All my life long I had panted
For a draught from some cool spring,
That I hoped would quench the burning
Of the thirst I felt within.

(Refrain:)
Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.

The late Donald Doig sings a remarkable version of this hymn, with a beautiful orchestral arrangement by the late Ronn Huff. Please take a moment to listen:

 

 

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 34: It Will Not Go Well With Them

 

“When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.”

—Ecclesiastes 9:11

Inevitably, as we follow along with King Solomon’s examination of humans living their lives without the presence of God in their lives, we must look at those who behave as criminals. Notice how Solomon treats this subject, as recorded in Ecclesiastes 8:9-13:

All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt. Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.

When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

Solomon makes three important points in this passage:

• First of all, there are those who, though they are evil, attend church (go from the holy place) and receive praise and recognition of others. We must guard ourselves when it comes to those individuals we choose to revere in this life. After all, we are all sinners. Putting one’s faith and trust in another human comes with a cost, especially if time proves that one is actually an evildoer.
  
  
• Secondly, a sentence for a crime must be swiftly carried out or the punishment will not deter others from committing that same crime. We clearly see this in our own nation every day. Just this week, a person in the city where I live who committed a murder three years ago was finally brought to trial. He was convicted by a jury of his peers of first degree murder. While I know nothing whatsoever about the details of this case, on the surface it appears to me that three years is far too long a time before this person came to trial. It will take many more months, even years, before his sentence will be implemented.
  
  
• Third, there is a contrast between the life of one who fears (reveres) God and a wicked person who does not fear God. Each may live a long life. But, the wicked person who does not fear God will have a miserable existence, no matter what the outward appearance may be. Why? Because life without God is a horrible existence.

As a new day begins, we do well to remain thankful that, in His mercy and grace, God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through His Holy Spirit, so that we might have a relationship with Him. Our lives with God are so much better than life without Him could ever possibly be.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}

 

Without God - Part 33: Obey the King

 

“Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God.”

—Ecclesiastes 8:2

We continue looking at what King Solomon wrote, as he examines the consequences of humans who choose to live their lives without a relationship with God. In some ways, the picture that Solomon paints gets darker and darker.

In today’s passage of Scripture, Solomon makes declarations regarding obedience to a king. On the surface, this may seem self-aggrandizing because Solomon is, after all, a king. But, upon a careful reading, we can properly suspect that the king to which Solomon refers is actually God Himself. Thus, these words of Solomon urge humans to obey the God of the Universe, the One who created them, and the One who sustains them.

Notice what Solomon wrote, as found in Ecclesiastes 8:1-8:

Who is like the wise? Who knows the explanation of things? A person’s wisdom brightens their face and changes its hard appearance.

Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery. Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come? As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

As we begin a new day, Solomon’s words are worth making a part of this day and every day: we should always—always—obey our King.

 

_{Copyright © 2019 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

_{More info at www.DeanKWilson.com}