Real Life: Your kingdom or His!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Your kingdom or His!

The righteous shall be faith. Romans 1:17

So what exactly is faith? Hebrews give a definition:

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things unseen. Hebrews 11:1 (emphasis added).

So let me ask you: when was the last time that you used faith in your life?

Let me first address a few things that faith is not:

faith in not a feeling
faith is not a gamble
faith is not what someone else has more of
faith is not dependant upon circumstances
faith is not god; it is not omni-potent or any of the other omni's
faith is not only given to the "more righteous".
faith is not confidence in yourself or your own abilities

No faith is a gift of God. Jesus is the author and the perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2

So if Jesus is the source of our faith why do we not have more than we do?

The short answer is: we have exactly as much faith as we currently need.

Jesus is faithful; the answer could not be anything else.

Christians, for the most part, have fallen into the original trap of the garden of Eden. We have been given a far reaching invitation to extend our lives by faith but we have chosen to stay and eat from the forbidden tree. (Genesis chapters 2 and 3)

We have chosen to remain the king of our own "kingdom". Our desire is to control our own world. If we have a good job with a good income, a good spouse and obedient and respectful children, a beautiful home, pretty cars, a certain retirement fund and health we are content!

The problem with that scenario is that little of that is ever even possible one at a time much less all at once. These things never were purposed for our satisfaction or our security.

The result is that Christians today live lives of quite desperation; filled with stress, pressures and conflict. We are as likely as the non-christian world to be on some type of medication, legal or otherwise, just as likely to divorce, just as likely to escape into entertainment, pornography or alcohol.

But that doesn't stop us from changing jobs to find the next promise, buying the bigger television, the newer car or the next toy or dress, always looking to find our joy and security in things rather that turning around to see the gracious God waiting patiently to provide all of our souls desires with a new infusion of faith!

Joshua chapter 3 paints a picture of what faith is about. The short story is that the Nation of Israel had been up tot the point of entrance of Gods' promised land once before and balked. That generation had now died off and the nation was again at the same entry point. As Joshua addressed the people just before entering he said:

Now take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel; one man for each tribe. And it shall come about that when the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the Lord. the Lord of all the earth, shall rest on the waters of the Jordan. the waters will be shut off and the waters which are flowing down from above shall stand in one heap. Joshua 3:12&13

The point of faith is when the bottom of the feet touched to water; until that point nothing was promised and nothing was done.

Isn't it past time for you to give up your kingdom? It is an uneven trade but God doesn't mind; He will trade His kingdom for yours anytime you are ready!

Continue to live in the captivity of Egypt or step your foot in the water and enter, on dry ground, the promised land!

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My Story

I grew up a Mormon. For the first 25 years of my life Mormonism was my life.

Here is the rest of my story:

At the birth on our firstborn, I began to grasp a hint of a love that was unearned and unconditional. The long awaited event took some unusual turns which resulted in our son being born cesarean. As the hours moved on my joy and anticipation changed to deepening concern. With no one to talk to or no where to turn I hung in until our son was born early the next morning. As I left the hospital with both my wife and my new son doing well I was very weary but unsettled in my mind. As I arrived home, I walked out into our back yard and looked up at the billions of stars in the infinite universe and was overwhelmed with my smallness and insignificance. I can’t remember what I said or even what I thought but I know that was a beginning.

When I say “beginning” I mean that it was a beginning of a sort of “quickening”. As I look back I can see God’s hand in different people and events throughout my life. For example, a junior high school friend of mine happened to choose the University of Utah, also my school, and got heavily involved in Campus Crusade For Christ. He never preached to me; at least not in words, but his life showed me much. Further, my wife's extended family were strong Mennonites. When they found our that she was marrying a Mormon I have no doubts that they prayed a lot for me and us, even at and during our wedding itself.

My wife's sister had had a resurgence in her spiritual life and shared books with my wife like books by Keith Miller and Ann Kimmel Anderson and Chuck Colson’s “Born Again”. I would often pick them up a read a little very critically when my wife wasn’t around. I could go on and on about all that God has done to get my attention.

Back to the “beginning”. Having a new child my wife and I increased our attendance at a local Presbyterian church from attending on the big holiday’s to attending semi-regularly. We had gotten into a habit of going pretty regularly. While there each time, I would sit and silently critique to services. Pompous was my attitude; gracious was God’s. While I sat there silently critical, God’s word was being planted.

After several months I received a job opportunity to move to a small town in Utah (Moab) to further my career. The small town atmosphere appealed to us because we thought it would be a better place to raise a family.

When we moved to Moab, we discovered that there was no Presbyterian church in the town. That required us to look around a bit. I didn’t much care but as often happens in small towns, my wife happened upon a few people who went to a local Community Baptist Church.

The people were friendly so my wife suggested we try it out. The first service that we attended was most notable for what it wasn’t than what it was. The building was big, the membership was small. The pastor was from Romania and spoke in a very rough English, a significant change form the polished Presbyterian sermons.

Unknown to me at that time, God had moved us to city where He could remove the “her church” mindset and where He could show me the sincerity of heart through a humble servant who would not allow words to get in his way of communicating God’s love.

This kind pastor visited my wife and me shortly after our first attending the church. I was prepared to graciously accept his ignorance and give him a few minutes to make his appeal. I was completely taken off guard by his demeanor. Tenderness and care flowed with that pastor. As he talked with us he was completely accommodating. Knowing my Mormon background did not alarm nor disconcert him. He kindly invited me to attend or participate to any degree that I chose and offered himself to us in any manner of our need.

The new job that I had moved to Moab for was a mining facility 10 miles south of town. During my half hour lunch I would generally sit in my office and eat my lunch while reading a book or magazine. As God opened my heart a sliver more, I decided to fall back what I “knew” so I picked up a bible decided to would walk out in the woods around the mining compound every lunch time and ask God to show me the truth. As I read in the Bible, I resolved to find some of the mistakes that Mormonism had taught me were there. As I discovered what I perceived to be mistakes and questions, God used my ignorance to encourage me to read in search of more.

At this same perios of time, my wife and son left me alone for a week to visit her parents in another town. One evening I decided to do a little work on our car. When I say “a little” I mean a very little. My skills end a bit past putting gas in the tank. Anyway, I turned on the TV just to have some company while I struggled with the car just outside the front door. As the evening wore I would walk in and out of our apartment for different things. As I walked through one time I picked up on what was being said on TV. Not having any idea what I was watching, I heard to words, “Three Keys to Better Health and Miracle Living” followed by an offer for a free book by calling the 800 number on the screen.

The words “better health” and “miracle living” were an invitation specifically designed for me. There is nothing that could have assured my attention more completely. I called the number and ordered the free book from Oral Roberts Ministries. I cannot tell you today what the book said but it was one more tool in God’s arsenal.

As God continued to work on me, He opened a discussion between the Company’s receptionist and me about spiritual things. She was searching and we talked a lot about questions and issues. God used her to help define some of the many issues in my theology.

There are just so many things! God is so good. How could I ever begin to explain His working, even in my own life?

He opened up another career opportunity which required a move back to the Denver area. When we came back we were no longer comfortable “her” church and we thought we were suited to the Baptist church since that was in the name of the one we had been going to. We search for several weeks to find a church that “fit”. We found THE church that was the perfect fit for us at that moment, a non denominational Christian church. What a blessing those people were to us!

Obviously, this is the brief version of my story. I will end this brief history here with the hope that it has given you a flavor for what God has done to get this hard headed, stiff necked, obstinate, never gets it right but always thinks he is, guy.

Real Life

Monday, July 13, 2009

Your kingdom or His!

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