Breaking the Barrier

The sound barrier, also known as the sonic barrier, is the sudden sharp increase in aerodynamic drag experienced by an aircraft approaching the speed of sound. Pilots are familiar with the sonic wave. It is when an aircraft or missile reaches a speed of 738 miles per hour at sea level. The resulting sonic boom is a loud transient explosive sound caused by the shock wave preceding an aircraft traveling at supersonic speeds. An aircraft traveling at that speed or greater “breaks through” the sound barrier.

There is currently a conundrum among church leaders and those attending mega-churches about how prayer travels. The matter should have been settled nearly 2600 years ago when the old prophets Daniel was praying in his room and God saw fit to deliver His answer before Daniel even finished his prayer! Daniel’s prayer and God’s immediate answer was recorded in Daniel chapter 9. It seems impossible to understand how one man’s prayer can reach heaven so fast without even a sonic boom. To students of the Bible, that should come as no surprise. What should come as a surprise is what God said He will do if a certain prayer reached his ears!

Before Jesus walked this earth, before the prophet Daniel went to Babylon, even before Isaiah, God gave a challenge that would shatter all barriers. Do you recall God’s challenge? May we refresh your memory? The nation of Israel was dabbling with idols and showing disobedience to the Mosaic Law. Solomon had just finished the Temple and God had something to say to him.

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

This well-known verse shows God’s requirements for breaking the barrier: humility, prayer, devotion, and repentance.

Detour Ahead

Some people’s lives are mapped out in detail. Some parents carefully select the right preschool, the right friends, the right college, the right marriage partner, and the right occupation. The only flaw is that they’re perfect! This kind of oversight isn’t necessarily a bad thing; carefully planning with an eye to detail can produce some highly productive, highly motivated individuals. So what’s the problem? Myopia? No! The problem is—detours. Life is ultimately chaotic and indefinitely disorganized with unexpected detours aplenty.

Hard to believe? Do you think Adam and Eve anticipated the serpent asking such a simple question with such nefarious intent? (Genesis 3) Do you think Noah anticipated spending over a century working to build an ark to save his family from the coming wrath? (Genesis 6) Do you think Noah’s son Ham anticipated his children being cursed by his father? (Genesis 9) Do you think Abraham anticipated the changes in his life and his children when God asked him to move to Canaan? (Genesis 12) Could you anticipate all the changes that happened in all these centuries from just these four examples in these four chapters? The Bible has nearly 1,200 chapters and a cast of thousands! Who could possibly anticipate the detours caused in 2,000 years?

Detours are everywhere. Life is unpredictable. There will be pain and suffering, and there will be joy and happiness. There will be unexpected twists and turns, and there will be mountain tops and valleys. Should that cause us to panic and avoid all detours? No! ALL—OF—LIFE—IS--DETOURS! What did God say about those detours? “I am with you always, to the very end of the ages.” Matthew 28

How is Jesus with us? Jesus was with the disciples physically until he ascended into heaven, and then spiritually through the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). The Holy Spirit would be Jesus’ presence that would never leave them (John 14:26). Jesus continues to be with us today through the Spirit. The Old Testament prophecies and genealogies in the book of Matthew present Jesus’ credentials for being King of the world—not a military leader or political leader, as the disciples had originally hoped, but a spiritual King who can overcome all evil and rule in the heart of every person. If we refuse to serve the King faithfully, we are disloyal subjects, fit only to be banished from the kingdom. We must make Jesus King of our lives and worship him as Savior, King, and Lord. Still some ask, ‘where does he get this power?’ That’s simple; “All authority in heaven on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18

Your shepherd knows that you’re not made for this place—earth. Jesus has come to guide us out—to restore our souls. Be careful! Do not let these orange cones confuse and detour you. Don’t follow the maddening crowd—they’ll lead you astray, into trouble, sin and even death. Remember what Jesus, himself, said in Matthew 7:14, “… small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life…”

The Word is Good

The Old Testament writers were inspired to write what would become the Holy Bible, inspired, inerrant, and infallible. Many people call the Bible, the "Good Book". There is one writer who recorded that the Word is indeed good. Good to the taste!

Ezekiel, an Old Testament prophet from a priestly family, spent his early years in Jerusalem. He was taken along with other hostages by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon in 597 B.C. He prophesied for at least 22 years. Ezekiel's ministry was directed to the Jews, who were exiled in Babylon. He was instructed to remind the exiles of the sins that brought God's judgment on them in the first place, and to assure them of God's future blessings in keeping with His covenant.

The early chapters were written before the fall of Jerusalem to remind the Jews in captivity that God's judgment on the city and Temple were surely coming. Before the Babylonian empire assimilated Judah, the prophet Ezekiel was given some peculiar marching orders. In Ezekiel 3, God tells Ezekiel to eat a scroll containing Holy Writ, and then go speak to His people and tell them what the Lord says. The words on the scroll were words of lament, mourning, and woe. Although the scroll tasted sweet, the prophet's task was somewhat bitter. Like Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel's ministry to a rebellious people would have discouraging results, but Ezekiel found it sweet to do God's will.

"How sweet are your words to my taste." Psalm 119:103

Crunch Time

Those familiar with college know that there are usually two tests a semester. At the middle of the semester, the teacher usually gives a mid-term exam, which usually accounts for 40-50% of your final grade. The second test is given at the end of the semester, known as the “final”. This test makes up the remainder of your grade. It’s important to attend class regularly and make notes from the teacher’s lectures and any examples covered from the textbook. Most college students display a disturbing habit. They wait until a few days before each test and try and cram into a short time what they could have been preparing for all along. It’s known on campus as “Crunch Time”.

Crunch Time; because it’s difficult to familiarize yourself with two months, or four months of material in the span of a few days and be prepared to prove it by taking an examination showing that you are familiar with the material and can show a certain level of mastery of its content. Throughout the entire semester, the student is given every opportunity to ask questions and clarify any uncertainty regarding the material covered. It’s dangerous and risky to wait until the last moment to show you know the material.

Would you be surprised to learn that when you die, God may prepare an exam for you to take? It may cover the material you’ve been exposed to all your life.

What if the exam asked you to?

(1.) Tell something about every book of the Bible.

(2.) Compare and contrast Law and Grace.

(3.) Pick 25 influential people from the Bible and tell about their lives.

(4.) What happened between the Old Testament and the New Testament? 

These questions would be 1% of your grade. A final question would be 99%. 

What if God asks—Why should I let you into heaven: what have you done with my only begotten Son; Jesus Christ? Wouldn’t it be better to avoid “Crunch Time” and be prepared in advance? 

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Timothy 4:2

We are to remain ready and prepared to serve God in any situation, whether convenient or not. The imminent return of Christ should motivate us to live for him.

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

1 Peter 1:13

Are you ready to meet Christ? Are you prepared? Could you pass the exam?

On A Tightrope

Please hold up your hand if you’ve ever been in a tough spot and desperate. It’s not that you held your hand up that matters, everyone should’ve held their hand up, it’s how high you held it up. Everyone that’s more than half human should recognize we don’t need help getting into trouble; most of us can get in over our head without any professional help. Getting into trouble is no problem, getting out is where the mental acuity goes into overdrive causing multifaceted compound double-jointed stress.

In the New Testament people were constantly getting into trouble. Not the kind of trouble normally associated with breaking the law or offending the Romans who happened to be the occupying army de jour. The kind of trouble people were getting into was an esoteric belief in a traveling evangelist; thereby creating a maelstrom of anger by one man, one very religious man commonly known as Saul of Tarsus. Saul was persecuting the people who chose to follow this upstart evangelist named Jesus. Saul was a first rate Pharisee, a first rate Bible scholar, and a first rate hunter of newly minted Christians. Saul was intense and sincere. Saul genuinely believed that this new Christian movement was dangerous to Judaism. Saul took it upon himself to tip the scales and persecuted Christians without mercy.

Saul received permission from the authorities to travel to Damascus to capture Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem for questioning and trial. God intervened! Saul met Jesus Christ on the Damascus road and his life changed forever. Saul was walking a tightrope persecuting Christians. He could have very easily been assassinated by someone had God not stopped him in his tracks on the Damascus road. When he met Jesus, no other person had to change so much so fast. God had great plans for Saul. Saul worked tirelessly to convince the Jews that Gentiles were loved by God. He spent just as much time convincing Gentiles that they were loved by God. This person walking a tightrope was to become the ultimate example of change and obedience and transformation.

No person, apart from Jesus himself, shaped the history of Christianity like the apostle Paul. Paul’s personal encounter with Jesus changed his entire life. God did not waste any part of Paul—his background, his training, his citizenship, his mind, or his fierce intensity to preach the gospel. Are you willing to let God do the same for you? You will never know all he can do with you until you allow him to have all that you are! 1 John 3:16 says it this way, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” In Philippians 1:21-24 Paul says confidently that dying would be better than living because in death he would be removed from worldly troubles, and he would see Christ face-to-face.

Bottom line

If you’re not ready to die, then perhaps you’re not ready to live.

Hunting Season Started Yesterday?

Ever been too busy and let something important slip by? Let’s face it, not everybody has a personal assistant to remind us about that contract that needed signing, about making that airline reservation before the flight booked up solid, about the option to buy the Brooklyn bridge before noon. When things slip through the cracks, the domino effect begins to be set in motion. Oh my, my, my—your life is soooo busy.

Even before that alarm clock rings, anxiety starts building. You’ve got a million things to do and only time to accomplish half of them, but you’re determined to finish them anyway. Let the emergency room personnel help anyone who gets in your way! The day belongs to you; everyone else who crosses your path is merely a player on Shakespeare’s stage in costume. There’s places to go, people to see, things to do, restaurants to visit, hair appointments, massage appointments, nail appointments, pedicure flashbacks, shopping to catch up on, grocery shopping, prescriptions to pick up, baby sitters to contact, dry cleaning to drop off, doctor appointments to keep, car maintenance updated, veterinary medicine to pick up, see cousin’ what’s-their name in the hospital, address that IRS letter concerning your tax filings, your son’s SAT scores from the university are way overdue or destroyed, read and return all those e-mails and Facebooking and all stuff that’s left on the barn floor! And surely that letter you picked up from the post office didn’t have the acronym FBI on it—surely not!

The world knows you’re busy, you know the world’s busy, but your ‘busy’ is far and away more important than all the other’s busy combined—squared! Your worries are far greater. So where is all this going you might ask? What are you supposed to glean from this brief McMinute lesson? Nothing much! I just wanted someone who reads this {and dies before me} to tell God that once upon a time, some guys wrote devotionals begging people to slow down; read the Bible, and meditate on its message before the clutter of life declared open season and killed them. Recriminations are a poor substitute for preparing for eternity.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 “He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10