When Panic Visits

We don’t need an engraved invitation to call our attention to abject fear! Examples of unchecked fear surround us every day. Driving along a highway and you tap the brakes to slow down and your brakes fail. You lose an envelope full of cash after cashing your check. Your child is playing in the grass and you spot a green snake coming closer and closer. You go to your mailbox and there’s an IRS audit letter. These examples would strike fear in anybody, but the circumstances aren’t life and death.

Life and death situations create a visceral reaction that reveals our real self.

The Hebrews had just witnessed ten devastating plagues sent by God to scare the Egyptians to release them from slavery. The Hebrews had just witnessed the Lord guiding them out of Egypt towards the Promised land by a Pillar of Fire at night and a Pillar of Cloud by daylight. The Hebrews had just witnessed the Lord providing food and water for them on their journey. They had witnessed his personal protection. With all this personal attention from God, one would be confidently safe.

“The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites. As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and called out to the Lord.” Exodus 14:9-10

After all the Lord does for us—when do we learn not to be afraid?

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6

Sibling Rivalry byTwins...Electrifying!

The Bible records the birth of two sets of twins. When the truth comes out, neither story is pretty. When we examine the case of Jacob and Esau, twin boys born to Isaac and Rebekah, we find a relationship that has such bizarre twists and turns it could only be found in the Bible!

When Rebekah was pregnant the babies inside of her jostled each other! When she asked the Lord what was happening, the Lord told her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Genesis 25:23

Well, ‘that’ explained a few things, but it raised a dozen more questions. When the boys were born the first boy was red all over and was like a hairy garment; so he was named Esau. The second boy came out of the womb with one hand holding onto Esau’s heel! He was named Jacob. When the boys grew up, Esau became an outdoorsman, a skillful hunter and a man of the open country. Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. ln short, one man was a redneck country boy, while the other was a mild mannered city boy. That would be the case for the rest of their lives. One man was fiercely independent with a quick temper and the other somewhat diplomatic.

lt was no secret the parents loved the boys, but each parent loved one more than the other. The father, lsaac, loved-the wild outdoorsman Esau, while Rebekah doted over Jacob. One boy was raised on the strings of a bow, while the other boy was raised on apron strings. Conflict was their destiny! The struggle within Rebekah 's womb was a foreshadow of what was to come. Each one of her twin boys became the father of a nation of people. The two peoples (the Edomites and the lsraelites) would shake the Earth ’s foundations even to this clay. The Arabs and the Jews still bicker!

U Taken Your Prescription?

Medicine must be prescribed at the correct time the diagnosis is made. Administering medicine too early or too late does not address the problem. Prescribing the right medicine is half the problem; the patient must take it! It doesn't help if the patient recognizes the problem and refuses the cure.

The apostle Paul was one of the most erudite men in history. Paul was a student of Gamaliel (Acts 22:3) a highly respected rabbi in the Jewish faith. Paul was comfortable speaking to an itinerant field worker or to a King.

Talking to those who were religious and those who were thoroughly pagan, Paul was direct and always focused on the atoning death of Jesus. Paul spread the gospel to everyone he engaged. Some listened, some responded.

Once in the city of Caesarea, Paul had the opportunity to speak to King Agrippa (great-grandson of Herod the Great), Festus, the governor of Judea, the high ranking officers of the city, and the leading men of the city. Paul preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ to his audience and most were enlightened by the speech Paul made. But Agrippa was not sure of Paul's motives. He said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28)

Paul diagnosed the problem and prescribed the remedy: but it was refused. Have you taken the remedy for sin?

Silhouette DeJour

From detective programs Dragnet to CSI, all those police shows have shown a chalk outline of a silhouette drawn on the floor or ground at one time. That lets you know that there has been a death, and the deceased was found in that exact location and position. A detective or team of experts and forensics specialists then attempt to figure out the who, how, and why of the crime—if there was one. The scene is then roped off with bright yellow plastic border tape with the words “Police line do no cross” signaling, stay away, this scene is off limits. Now, let’s move from Hollywood to Rome for a minute. In 1 Peter 5:8, Peter tells us, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. True? True!

If you see a ‘partial’ chalk outline, and it’s in your shape, in places you frequent, look around—a lion has been stalking you. At the first hint that you’re being “Chalked”, examine your defenses. Be on guard! Don’t be an easy target. Don’t go where there is danger. Don’t go where you shouldn’t. Don’t push deadly boundaries. Don’t let the lion get too close. Don’t think he won’t try again and again. He will. Take no chances. 1 Peter 5:9 gives us the winning formula if we’ll just follow it. It says, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith”. Don’t be the “Silhouette of the day”!

Satan uses our past to destroy our future. He steals our faith by stealing our joy. Prowling lions attack sick, young, or straggling animals that are defenseless: they choose victims who are alone, vulnerable, or not alert. Peter warns us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering or being persecuted. Feeling alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers, so focused on our troubles that we forget to watch for danger, we are especially susceptible to Satan’s attacks. During times of suffering, seek out other Christians for support and comfort—and prayer. Keep your eyes open and on Christ, and resist the devil. Then, says James, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you”. James 4:7-8 Don’t be the one they draw a “chalk line” around.

Who's In Charge of the Keys?

You can give a baby shiny car keys to play with, but are they in charge? They maybe ‘In possession’ of the keys, but they are not ‘In Charge’. Being “in charge” is more of a legal term signifying authority. You’ve seen crime dramas on TV, where an official looking person walks up, looks at the crime scene, and asks the question, “Who’s in charge here?” What they are asking exactly is: who is in “Possession of Authority” here.

At one point, in Matthew 10, Jesus gave the Apostles “authority”, to perform various miracles. He could not give them the authority, unless he had the “Authority” to dish it out. All four Gospel writers mention that Jesus, “Taught as one having authority”. Jesus was in possession of authority from the Heavenly realm.

Revelation 1:18 tells us Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades! Those keys show the authority of Christ over physical death and the place that temporarily holds the immaterial part of the unbeliever until judgment day! Revelation 21:1 tells us Jesus holds the key to the abyss; Satan’s resting place for a thousand years! To all who believe in Christ and obey him, the Kingdom doors are open.

Bottom line: For those who worry: don’t-- the keys to the Kingdom are in good hands.

Giving to Charity

You have been solicited by someone at sometime asking for something to help someone in need. The sales pitch is given in a straightforward manner with all the integrity and honesty the solicitor can deliver. The request may be to help the homeless, a children’s home, a pet’s shelter, a fundraiser for police or firefighters widows, a wounded veterans program, or it may be to fight some notorious disease that has claimed millions of lives. All causes, all deserving support. Your next decision is who’s using the money for the greatest good?

Doesn’t the Bible say that charity begins at home? Not in so many words, but it does say that we are to be discerning about who we support with our monies. Some charities spend 80 to 90% of the total money they raise to throw parties, hire staff, and send out promotional materials to…you guessed it, raise more money! Millions of dollars are raised, but only a small percentage goes to help the intended parties. Wasteful, deceitful, disgraceful—yes. Would you care to be in their shoes come Judgment Day?

How are we to help all those suffering people? Do we ignore their pleas? Do we sell everything we have and give it all away? Where is that happy middle ground? Giving away money and hoping it will be used wisely is irresponsible. There are questions to be asked and answered truthfully. A charity or foundation should strive to open their records/books for public scrutiny. They should be able to prove that the money you donate to help the needy in any/all areas do exactly that.

Churches used to help those in need. In this present day, the government helps those supposedly in need. One was helped by charitable giving. One is now helped by the tax you are forced to pay without accountability. God loves a cheerful giver, but God also demands an accounting of our time, our talents and our treasure. Maybe we could follow the teachings of the Bible. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you!