When You're Against the Wall, Will You Stick?

They say you can tell when spaghetti is ready to serve by one simple test. Boil the pasta noodles for maybe eight to twelve minutes. Test the spaghetti by throwing it against a wall. If it sticks, it’s ready.

So, my question for you is this: When you find yourself against the wall, do you stick?

All of us face adversity and trials in life – no matter who we are; rich or poor, dark or light, male or female, young or old, educated or illiterate, brainy or mentally challenged, strong or weak.

We all face challenges, difficulties and heartache. All of us have, or will at some point, find ourselves, like cooked spaghetti, with our backs against the wall.

There is a Mexican phrase which can be translated. “between the sword and the wall” or as they say, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea.” There are times in our lives when it doesn’t feel safe to move forward nor safe to retreat.

Christians especially should expect this. Jesus said; “in the world ye shall have tribulation.” (We’ll come back later for the rest of that bible verse.)

He also stated:

If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.[i]

Peter, the Apostle of Jesus, said:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:[ii]

The question is not “if” but “when” will I experience such trouble? At what point any of us may find our backs against the wall, we cannot say.

How will we respond when such hardship comes our way?

We can respond with panic, anger, hostility, or bitterness. We can be like a dog that has been cornered – not a pretty sight.

We can cow down and curl up into a fetal position – that is – just give up.

Or – we can respond in faith. The rest of the verse I started above reads:

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.[iii]

This is the only way you will be able to “stick.” Many of us have seen those who started the race but never finished it.

We have seen soldiers of the faith who have gone AWOL whenever the battle ensued with great heat. Will we be a conqueror or a casualty when the going gets rough? Maybe you have lost some battles, but will you continue to fight the fight?

May we, like the Apostle Paul, be able to say in the end:

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.[iv]

Trust in Jesus. Stay in his word. Be filled with God’s Spirit. Walk in truth. Walk in love. Be faithful. Be steadfast. Love God. Love one another. Exercise your faith. Pray daily.

By doing so, you will be one who sticks when you’re up against the wall.

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[i]   John 15.19.20

[ii]  1 Peter 4.12

[iii] John 16.33

[iv] 2 Timothy 4.7-8

Want to live in Outer Space?

How would you like to travel through space to live on another planet somewhere? We are told that Earth is “overpopulated and fragile,” and that human population should not remain confined to one single planet.

A planet was discovered several years ago in the constellation Libra called Gliese 581 C. It is considered by scientists to be “habitable”.

 They say the earth is about 8,000 miles in diameter pole to pole. This planet is about 12,000 miles across.

Our Sun is calculated to be approximately 93 million miles away. Gliese 581 C, they say, is only six million miles from the star it orbits. However that star is a “red dwarf,” which is much smaller and colder than the sun. Therefore we are told the temperatures there probably range from 32 to 104 degrees F. That sounds a lot like Texas to me!

It is thought this “super earth” is perhaps made mostly of rock, but may even be covered in water. Scientists say this would allow a climate where water would not be so cold that it freezes or so hot that it boils. Water there would be liquid, which is a necessity for life as we know it. Right now though, we don’t even know whether there is one drop of water there.

This is certainly the kind of stuff to cause a scientific mind go wild with imagination!

A radio beam was aimed at this planet in 2008 to send 501 text messages that were thought important to any being out there which might be able to receive the signal. That signal should arrive there in the year 2029.

But before you get ready to take the next flight to Gliese 581 C, consider some realities first.

Astrobiologists have calculated that the planet has about double Earth’s gravity. Any creatures living on this Utopia would therefore be twice as heavy as they would be on Earth. So much for that Weight Watcher’s plan you’ve been thinking about!

It has been said that the planet we are considering completes a full orbit in 13 days. The upside is that you will be receiving a birthday card from Grandma about every two weeks. The downer is that some of you reading this would already be over 1,000 years old!

We are told that “super-earth” is located only 20.5 light-years away. It sounds like a trip to the mall, but since light travels at 186,000 miles per second, that means the newly found planet is in fact 120,000,000,000 (120 trillion) miles from where you live. I bet you don’t even have that many miles on your old Chevrolet!

The fastest that man has ever travelled in space, I think, is 25,000 MPH. at that rate it would take about 547,945 years to reach our destination. That’s about 10 times the history of the human race. Keep in mind that this is one of the “closer” heavenly bodies outside our solar system. Let’s say a society wanted to try to reproduce itself on the way to this planet. It would take 14,000 generations to reach their new home. What if you arrived and found the place uninhabitable? What if you returned to earth and it was gone? What if you got back and someone by then had learned to travel at the speed of light?

But wait? There is a better plan! Jesus said,

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know."

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?"

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.[i]

Wow! Talk about space travel! We are told in the bible that believers in Jesus Christ will be “caught up, to meet the Lord in the air.”[ii] It also says it will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”[iii]

How about this scripture?

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

I’m planning on travelling through space to a habitable place, to be suddenly in the presence of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ to dwell in a place he has prepared for me. How about you?

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[i]  John 14.1-6

[ii] 1 Thessalonians 4.17

[iii] 1 Corinthians 15.52

God's Promise for His Provision

God's word says: "But my God shall supply all your need according
to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." – Philippians 4.19

1. The Promise of Provision is Conditional:
   
   
   It is not a blanket statement but is written to those who believe in Jesus. It is also written to those who practice giving. The verse begins with the word "But." This refers us back to the previous verses that say, "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again... you shared in my distress ... Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you." This was a giving church, and God will give to a giving people. Jesus said, “Give and it shall be given unto you.” (Luke 6.38)
   
   
2. The Promise of Provision is Personal: 
   
   
   The servant of God writes,      "my God shall supply." He had a personal relationship with him. Once we experience the awesome provision of God, he becomes very real and personal to us.
   
   
3. The Promise of God is Supernatural
   
   
   It is God who provides. We must thank God who gives to us every good gift and every perfect gift which “is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1.17)
   
   
4. The Promise of Provision is Instrumental:
   
   
   The interesting thing about God's supply is that he often uses others. When we receive a check in the mail, we don't give the praise to the mailman, but to the one who sent it. When God provides, he will usually send it by someone else.
   
   
5. The Promise of Provision is Eventual:
   
   
   Notice the words "shall supply." It won't all arrive at once, but it will all arrive. We must take each day at a time. God will provide – sometimes bit by bit.
   
   
6. The Promise of Provision is Total:
   
   
   He said he would provide "all" our needs. Not one thing will be left out. They are "according to his riches in glory." God has an endless supply of which he will never run out. His blessings are not just material things, but Spiritual blessings as well. In the book of Ephesians we read that God has "blessed us with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1.3)
   
   
7. The Promise of Provision is for the Essential:
   
   
   He didn't say he'd give us everything we want, but everything we need. There may be some things we think we need, but only God really knows and understands our true needs.
   
   
8. The Promise of Provision is Instrumental:
   
   
   It comes from the Father to us "by Christ Jesus." Jesus is the channel of everything that God provides for those who believe in him.

Silent Night?

When we think of Messiah’s birth we often get a picturesque image in our minds that is anything but true. Mary had to travel close to one hundred miles by foot or beast while fully pregnant. They had to pay taxes that could have been spent on other needs. They must have arrived later than expected because by the time they did, there were no rooms left and it was time! It was time for the baby to be born. The only accommodations they could find for this was a stable. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a silent night and it’s very possible that the little Lord Jesus really did cry.

When the wise men came to inquire as to "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him" they stirred up a hornet's nest.

They were speaking to Herod, who had been appointed “King of the Jews” by the Roman Senate. He and all of Jerusalem were troubled. Herod deceitfully said to the wise men that he wanted them to come back by Jerusalem when they found this King so he could come and worship him too.

Joseph and Mary were “warned of God in a dream” they started to return to their home in Nazareth by another route – avoiding Jerusalem. But God further warned them to go into Egypt for awhile so this threat against Jesus died down.

This was not the end of the story though. The story grows darker and bleaker, for Herod in his madness had all the children two and under killed to prevent this “King of the Jews” from coming to usurp his place.

Matthew quotes Jeremiah the prophet;

A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.

We don’t know how many children died at that time but it was a source of great bitterness. Why was this allowed? What happened to our beautiful Christmas story that this tragedy had to be thrown into the mix?

I think God wants us to know that there are many things in life we will never understand. There is suffering and pain and death. There is such heartache that we will never be able to grasp. Why? How could God allow such things?

The big picture tells us how. For Jesus Christ is the light who entered into this world of darkness. He would himself suffer for us.

An old man later prophesied to Mary; "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."[i]

Each time we suffer, if we’ve lost a child, a parent, a spouse or a dream – whatever we may have endured, remember that Jesus did not enter the world of tinsel, trees and terrific times; he came to be our suffering Savior and to die for our sins.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.[ii]

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[i] Luke 2.34-35

[ii] Psalm 30.5

The Extra-Celestial

When God created and placed Adam in the garden of Eden and then made Eve from Adam's side, they were brand new. There is no indication from the bible that they had any previous existence nor is there any indication that any of the rest of us did.

There is one person, however, who did exist before coming to earth. Jesus (the second Adam), came down from heaven.

The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second man is the Lord from heaven.[i]

Jesus said;

And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.[ii]

Jesus is called the Creator:

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.[iii]

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.[iv]

So, you see, Jesus is not, nor ever was, an extraterrestrial being. He is the extra-celestial being. He came to earth from another realm. He came from the presence of the Father, God.

Jesus is a man, but he is not merely a man. He is God who has become flesh.

Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.[v]

As we think upon Jesus’ birth, let us remember that he was born to die. Consistently, in the scriptures, we see the connection between his birth and his death.

The wise men[vi] brought gifts from the east for the child who was King. Those gifts they brought were gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The gold was a gift fitting for a King, one who was of royal ancestry. As a descendant of David, the King of Israel Jesus is fully qualified to inherit that throne, but he was also the King of Glory.[vii] He sits now at the right hand of the Father in heaven. When he returns, he will be called “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”[viii]

The perfume frankincense was, I believe, a gift which speaks of the fragrant aroma of his life. He was without sin. He was holy, harmless, undefiled and separate from sinners and made higher than the heavens. [ix] He did no violence nor was there any deceit in his mouth.[x] All things are for him and by him.[xi] When he spoke, he spoke the words of eternal life.[xii] He showed love and compassion to the downtrodden and outcast and was no respecter of persons.

The myrrh was an oil of incense for one’s burial. Jesus said of himself:

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.[xiii]

Here’s what the Extra-Celestial Jesus did. He left heaven’s praise and glory to step down into this sinful cesspool of humanity as one of us and then to die for all of us –  sorry sin stained creatures that we are. That, my friend, is love.

Merry Christmas.

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[i]     1 Corinthians 15.47

[ii]    John 17.5

[iii]    Colossians 1.16-17

[iv]    John 1.3

[v]     Philippians 2.5-7

[vi]    Matthew chapter 2

[vii]   See Psalm 24

[viii] Revelation 17.4 and 19.6

[ix]    Hebrews 4.15; 7.26

[x]     Isaiah 53.9

[xi]    Romans 11.36

[xii]   John 6.68

[xiii] Matthew 20.28

Have You Received Your Gift?

"I don't accept no charity from nobody." 

"I've never accepted handouts from anyone in my life and I ain't going to start now." 

Each of us has heard a lot of things like this. Maybe you've said such things yourself. 

You may want to believe – and want others to believe – that you are a  "self-made man." You may think that you have been able to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.

But the truth is that none of us manufactured all of the oxygen we breathe. God has given it to us freely. None of us has created the life we live. "For the Lord giveth," Job said. We didn't mix the water (H2O) that we drink. This was done for us. We didn't create a brain for ourselves with which to think. We didn't form a heart in our chest that pumps our blood throughout our bodies. We didn't pay for our own feet or hands with which we move and work.

As we look around and within, we see that just about everything we have has been given to us. 

It is pride which says, "I must pay for everything." In pride, I may not allow anyone else to pay for my meal. I think that I must be the one who pays for everything.

You may have worked for the money with which you pay for your food, but the food itself came from amazing plants and animals that God placed here on our planet. If you don't believe me, try going somewhere like Mars or any other planet in the universe and see what kind of food you can scare up for yourself. The bible says:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights... – James 1.17

It also tells us to trust "in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6.17)

The greatest gift God ever gave you is his Son. This means that Jesus was God come down to us in flesh. We read in John 3.16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

God gave us his Son. He did not bargain with us to require something of us in return. He gave him to us and for us. Isaiah wrote:

For unto us, a child is born. Unto us a Son is given

Eternal life is a gift:

But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6.23).

It is free, gratis, without charge, irrevocable, without stipulation and priceless. If you try to work to pay for God's favor, you will never get it paid. The debt is too great, but it was paid for by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by grace.

Have you received your free gift?

...But God

Jesus will make all the difference in your life. I don’t claim you will be without trouble nor do I pretend that you’ll be without problems. You will still make mistakes and will sometimes sin.

The apostle Paul, a Christian, had his share of problems but God has a way of taking our problems and making them profitable. He can take our troubles and do something tremendous.

Paul wrote:

I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.[i]

God took all his trouble, conflict and trepidation and turned it into joy. This is what God can do for those who trust him.

There are two little words in the bible which have great meaning and glorious consequences. Those words are these: “But God.”

Jesus was falsely accused, bogusly tried, unjustly condemned and crucified unto his death,
-but God raised him from the dead.[ii]

There will be those who deceive and defraud and there will be those who might seek to destroy or kill
-but God will be there to protect his children. [iii]

There will be those who seek to tear you down
-but God will lift you up.[iv]

We may have to let go of our loved ones when death comes calling, leaving us feeling so desolate,
-but God will be ever present.[v]

There will be people with evil intentions against you
-but God will use their plans to bring about something good in your behalf and in behalf of many others. [vi]

Your flesh and heart may fail,
-but God is the strength of your heart and your eternal portion.[vii]

You may not be getting noticed for the work you do and thus no promotion,
-but God is the one who can bring down those who are too high and lift up those who are stuck underneath.[viii]

We face every trial and temptation that all humans commonly face,
-but God keeps, protects and provides an escape for us through them all.[ix]

We were sinners and powerless to do anything about it,
-but God exhibited his great love for us through the death of Christ.[x]

At one time we had so given ourselves over to sin to the point that we had become sin’s slaves --but God intervened through his word and the working of his Spirit, set us free from sin’s bondage and converted us over to become servants of righteousness.[xi]

At one time we had no given sense of God’s love for us
-but God, by his Spirit, opened up the eyes of our understanding to know the things that have been freely given to us by God.[xii]

We were once dead in our trespasses and sins – dead to God and the things of God. We all walked on the devil’s treadmill, going nowhere but reaping the consequences. Our conduct was just like that of every other sinner in this world – evil. Our only goal was to fulfill our own sinful desires. By our depraved nature, we were deserving of God’s just punishment
-but God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, made us alive together with Christ.[xiii]

You may be lost in your sins and without God – but God!
You may be on your way to hell – but God!
You may be addicted to things that will harm you – but God!
You may be hurting and discouraged – but God!
You may be without a friend in this world – but God!
You may feel unloved and shunned – but God!

He saves sinners and brings them out of darkness into his marvelous light.
He provides eternal life freely to all who believe in his Son.
He sets free and will set you free indeed.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He is a friend to sinners – the friend who sticks closer than a brother.
He loves you and gave his Son

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[i] 2 Corinthians 7.5-6

[ii] Acts 13:30  

[iii] Genesis 31:7; 1 Samuel 23.14

[iv] Genesis 45:8

[v] Genesis 48:21 

[vi] Genesis 50:20 

[vii] Psalm 73.26

[viii] Psalm 75.6-7

[ix] 1 Corinthians 10.13

[x] Romans 5.6-8

[xi] Romans 6:16-18 

[xii] 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

[xiii] Ephesians 2:1-5