Life is a marathon

...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,.. Hebrews 12:1

I remember well my first day of basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. All the new recruits we "chauffeured" in an air-conditioned bus to hear a welcome from the commanding general. After we heard what to expect in the next eight weeks, we were ushered back to the parking lot where we expected our bus to be waiting. Instead, we were introduced to our drill sergeant who informed us that there would be no bus, but we would have to run the two miles back to our barracks. And to make sure we didn't get lost; he would lead us lead - in his jeep. Needless to say, most of us didn't make it in the allotted time. 

Running became a regular routine each morning. We were started with a two-mile run, which was increased gradually. At the end of our eight weeks, we were running eight miles! To my surprise, I actually enjoyed those runs! (Truth) In the military, running was never about sprinting but endurance. 

Endurance implies that the Christian life is better compared to a marathon than a sprint. It is something that takes work, commitment, and fortitude. It can't be completed without preparation or practice—otherwise we will burn out in no time at all. Think about it: you would not run a marathon without any preparation. You don’t just show up the day of the race and expect to do well. Rather, you sign up months ahead, sometimes a year ahead.

Peter and John both exhort us: “do not be surprised” or "do not be caught off guard" at the race we must run 1Peter4:12 1 John 3:3

When we see the course that is set before us, we will not be surprised. We will be ready to run, come what may.

The Impossible Made Possible

 Nothing is impossible for God! Luke 1:37

The seemingly impossible happened when hurricane-force winds changed the flow of the mighty Mississippi River. Hurricane Ida came ashore on the coast of Louisiana causing a "negative flow", meaning water acutally flowed upriver for several hours.

Experts estimate that over its life cycle a hurricane can expend energy equal to ten thousand nuclear bombs! This "negative flow" might explain Israel's experience at the Red Sea. While fleeing the Egyptians who'd enslaved them for centuries, the Israelites came to the edge of the Red Sea. In front of them was a wide body of water and behind them was the Egyptian army. In that seemingly impossible situation, "the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wide and turned it into dry land...and the Israelites went through the sea." Exodus 14:21-22.

Responding with awe is natural after experiencing the immensity of God's power. The result was Israel "put their trust" in Him. (vs 31) When we experience God's power in creation, we too can place our trust in Him.

One Is Powerful

 Only one life will soon be past, only what is done for Christ will last...C T Studd

You would think that in such a big world with so many people; one person would have very little influence, wouldn't you? Well, you couldn't be more wrong.

Just one man voting the right way saved the United States from having Aaron Burr as President of the United States.

Just one United States Senator, voting according to his conscience, saved President Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Abraham Lincoln, from being cast out of office.

Just one man, John Wilkes Booth, changed the course of history when he assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.

Because we hear so much of brave, great, and brilliant people, we start thinking that such persons as ourselves don't count.

Nothing is further from the truth. God depends on us—on you and me—for some specific task. Nobody else can or will do this one job. Our nation needs many thousands of high-school teachers, especially men teachers. Boys are actually going to jail because of a lack of good, interesting men teachers who can inspire and lead them to good lives instead of bad.

God depends on us—each one of us, not all of us at once. When Jesus called his disciples, he made each one feel as if much depended on him. Of the twelve only Judas failed. The other eleven were faithful to death.

Today, nearly two thousand years later, Jesus depends on us as he did on his twelve. Never forget—you are important. Just one person, but still one. A very wise man said, "I am just one person, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I will do."

Fear of Death

 He will swallow up death forever. Isaiah 25:8

Is the fear of death robbing your joy of life? It can. At the age of 37, Florence told her friends her life hung by a thread. So, she went to bed and stayed there for 53 years! She did die but at the age of ninety! Except for three years, Florence cowered before the giant of death. But during those 3 years, she made a name for herself, not as one who suffered but as a friend to those who did. Florence Nightingale lived as a slave of death.

What about you? Jesus Christ came to deliver us from the fear of dying. He has destroyed the power of death. 2 Timothy 2:10 says,: "But now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,"

For those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior, there is no need to fear death. 

What Does God Look Like?

  No one has ever seen God.... John 1:18

Mrs. Johnson, the Sunday School teacher, had given her class free time to create something of their own. She could not help but notice that 6-year-old Billy was very occupied with a picture he was drawing. She carefully looked over his shoulder and inquired what he was drawing.   Billy replied he was drawing a picture of God. Somewhat amused and yet not wanting to discourage him; she said, "But Billy no one knows what God looks like." Without looking up from his paper, replied, "They will when I am finished." 

No matter your age, we all have an idea of God. Maybe you don't have a mental picture of Him, but we all have a concept of God. Hollywood has come up with some interesting characters to depict God.  There's Morgan Freeman in Bruce Almighty.  There's George Burns in Oh God. Entertaining but not accurate. 

The theologian, Karl Barth, said that the true God is "wholly other" meanings far above all earthly deities and every concept that man can envision. 

one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.   Ephesians 4:6

Relationship not Rules!

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 NKJ

Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost. Proverbs 22:6 MGS

As a Christian parent, my biggest concern was that my two children would grow up to be mature disciples of Jesus Christ. My heart has been broken many times to see children that have been raised in Christian homes and have attended Bible-teaching churches only to forsake the faith and desert the church.

Many have interpreted the above verse as a promise to parents that if they do their job right their children will never abandon the faith. However, this has resulted in many parents feeling as if God has broken His promise to them when their child turns from the faith.

This verse is a proverb and not a promise. Proverbs are sayings about how life normally works. But, there are plenty of exceptions to proverbs, because life is complicated by many factors. Proverbs are principles, not promises.

Bible teacher, Peter Goeman has an interesting insight into this verse. "In addition to the fact that a proverb is a principle, not a promise, Proverbs 22:6 is likely a negative warning rather than a positive promise. If we break down the verse we see some interesting details which support the view this is not a promise...The context in Proverbs speaks very negatively about the way of the youth. Thus, “his way” likely refers to the sinful disposition of the youth. If true, this particular proverb functions as a warning, not a promise. If parents affirm a child in his or her own way, that child will embrace that lifestyle throughout life..."

"By way of application, the main point of the proverb is clear. Whether it is positive or negative, Proverbs 22:6 cannot be viewed as a promise. Rather, it is a principle that highlights the importance of parenting. Further, it also highlights the tendency of the child to hold to the patterns of his youth. However, we should avoid using such a proverb as a promise that has no exceptions.

Parents often think that if they have a set of rules for their child to follow, they won't stray from the faithh. Keeping a set of rules will never lead a child into saving faith in Jesus Christ. But if a parent lives a consistent Christ-like life where they exhibit a rewarding relationship with Christ, their is a good chance they will follow in their steps.

RULES WITHOUT A RELATIONSHIP LEADS TO REBELLION. (Josh McDowell)

The God Hunt

 

"Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." Genesis 28:16 

 

The context for the above verse is found in the Old Testament Book of Genesis when Jacob is fleeing his vengeful brother. He stops for the night and while sleeping, God reveals Himself to Jacob in a dream.  Jacob awakes and it dawns on him that God was in the place that he stopped for the night, and he was totally unaware of it.  

The thought occurred to me; how many times is God is present in OUR lives and we are totally unaware of it. We mark it up as being “lucky” or just a favorable circumstance, but Psalms 37:23 says A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. Personally, I do not believe in ‘coincidences’ in a Christ-followers' life. There may be events where we are totally unaware of God’s Presence, but He is there all the same.  

This week let’s go on a God Hunt. Let’s look for God as He intersects on lives. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” If you are consciously, actively looking for Him, you will find Him.   Look for Him in... 

• An unexpected phone call 

• An opportunity that presents itself 

• A prayer that is answered in a way that was unexpected 

• A monetary gift or job advancement 

• 
  

God is predictable in His unpredictability. God delights in surprising us, in revealing the ways in which he is not like us. One of the most common deceptions of humanity is to believe God acts, thinks, and believes exactly like us. Rarely does God do what we expect. If humanity should be certain of anything it is that we never know what God might do next. The Bible is full of God’s unpredictability: 

• David kills Goliath. 

• When choosing disciples, He came to the least qualified. 

• When choosing a people, He came to the smallest. 

• When choosing a king, He came to the youngest. 

• People were expecting a military Messiah, God sent a baby.

•  

God shows up in unexpected places. It’s the pattern of God to shock and surprise in the place that we least expect.