Thinking Long Term I keep hearing many people on social media and in the news concluding that we must be on the precipice of the worst time in the history of the world. Of course, these people are seeing that we are coming off of two years of a pandemic such as none of us have ever experienced and staring down the barrel of possible world war. However, a hundred years ago they were also on the heels of a global pandemic and had recently fought WW1 so maybe our time is not as unique or cataclysmic as we may think. My intention with this post is not to paint a rosy picture of unrealistic optimism, but instead to point us to a less polarized point of view. The best of times and the worst of times are not the only two options. In light of God sovereign rule over this world and this age we should remember that this time is purposeful and that he will accomplish His providential purposes. I don’t have any idea if tomorrow will be from a temporal perspective for better or worse. I only know, as the old hymn goes, “the One who holds tomorrow.” The Shoulders of Giants Every generation seems to believe themselves to be the most progressive and advanced that has ever existed. In some sense this is probably true, however, we rarely recognize that there will be another generation which will inevitably go beyond our point of progressive. This advancement could be that of revival and reformation or regression and rebellion but either way each new group seems to think that they are cutting edge trail blazers. Oftentimes, this is probably because we are rather self focused and ignorant of the historic realities from which we have come. As the old saying goes, we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Those generations of the past are currently serving as the foundation from which we can individually and collectively serve and honor Christ our King or demonstrate our hatred and rejection of Christ as our King (Luke 19:14,27). This also means that later generations will most likely be standing on our shoulders. It seems like so many, if not all, generations think that they will be the last one. I once saw a skit that imagined our lives like a meal in a restaurant. What was so interesting was that at the end of the meal (end of their lives) the characters seemed shocked that others were just ordering appetizers. Sometimes, we become so focused on our time that we neither learn the lessons of history nor consider the consequences in the future. Wicked & Evil One thing that we should probably notice is that the generations in the Bible are called wicked and evil for seeking signs. They are encouraged to remember what God had done in the former times for His people (Hebrews 11). The people of God are expected to reflect on God's blessing and deliverance as tangible evidence of His steadfast covenant love for His people (Psalm 136). God’s people are also called to instruct and educate their children and grandchildren about the greatness of God and His commands for His people (Duet. 6:4-9). As Christian parents we are the primary gospel influence in our children’s lives. We have the opportunity and privilege of bringing them to Lord through saturting their lives with the gospel (2 Timothy 1:5-7). Forward Thinking Our hope is in the fact that our God is in control of the future. This includes both the future of this present age for however long that may be and the future of the age to come. Because we know this to be true we can rest in God’s promises and work hard for His purposes knowing that none of our toil for the Lord is wasted or in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). This means that I need not wring my hands in anxious fretting over the last catastrophe in my news feed, because Christ will reign till all His enemies are brought under His sovereign feet (Ephesians 1:15-23). And beloved this is the ground of all our hope, Jesus is Lord & Christ is King!
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Why? What gets you out of bed in the morning? We need motivation so that we can accomplish difficult tasks and do the hard things that are necessary in life. But often our “why” for the things that we are doing goes deeper than just the direct production of our action. For example, we clean our house not just for the purpose of having a clean home but for the physical and psychological benefits of having a clean living environment. Another example is that we go to work not only to receive a paycheck but so that we can use the money to provide for our needs and those of our families. Humans are creatures of habit, and for us to make big (or even small) changes to our normal patterns and routines we need substantial reasons. We know that a healthy diet, more exercise, an intentional schedule, and better sleep routine will be good for us but we still have to be motivated to make those changes. Knowledge can help but we also need to believe that the changes are going to result in the benefits that we desire. We have to have a real “why” to lead to real changes in our lives. Urgency One thing that often leads us to make changes (however not always good ones) is urgency. A deadline can be a powerful motivator. Some of us (the current author) are plagued by the plight of procrastination. This means that tasks seem to find a way of avoiding completion until the last moment. The danger in urgency being the prime motivator in our lives is two fold. First, we are forced by the tyranny of our urgent tasks into a regular mode of leaving responsively rather than proactively. This creates more pressure and stress and reduces our ability to enjoy even work that we otherwise would like doing. The second reason that urgency can be a problem is that we can end up prioritizing things that are not as important simply because they are time sensitive. This can drive us to exhaust ourselves and waste our energy on things that don’t really matter. However, urgency can also be a positive motivator. If there were a child playing on a train track with a locomotive coming, of course we ought to be motivated by the moment of necessity. Also, due dates and deadlines help us to proactively make schedules and devise a plan of action. Urgency is a necessary motive but it should not be our predominant motive. Success A second predominant motivating factor in our world is the drive to achieve or succeed. Of course all people are of differing levels of competitive nature but at some level everyone wants to achieve something or be successful in some way. While success can be a motivating factor in our lives, how we define success can also be a helpful window into our priorities. If our understanding of success is all about capitol and careers then that surely does tell us something about our heart. If our understanding of success is oriented around a sport or a hobby then again our true love is showing. In the same way if our concept of success is greater repentance from sin and growing in conformity to the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-30) then our passion and devotion is clear. Glory But what is the great motivating factor for God? The scriptures seem clear that God is ultimately seeking His own glory. This is not a selfish pursuit. As the best of all beings it would actually be sin if God didn’t seek His own glory for that is the point for which He made the world. Behold, the scene around the throne of God (Isaiah 6:1-6) is Seraphim crying out about God’s Holiness that fills the earth with His glory. Again, this is not selfish. The triune God is giving as well as receiving. The Son and Holy Spirit are giving glory to the Father just as the Father is giving glory to the Son and so on it goes the persons of the Godhead in this perfect, perpetual state of giving and receiving. The Scripture is also clear that we are made for His glory (Isaiah 43:4-7). We exist to give glory to God. As His image bearers it is our job and purpose to reflect His glory to all of creation that He would be seen as holy, gracious, merciful, kind, abounding in steadfast love, just, good, and glorious beyond measure! Fellowship God has so fashioned humanity that we long for human connection and companionship. This is a feature of our being, made in the image of the triune God, who has enjoyed the eternal communion of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Since we are made in the image of God, who is community, we also are made for relationships. For example, when God made man, His good and complete creation was in making them both male and female. People were made to be communal, complementary, and compatible. Of course, some people require more time together and others need more alone time, but no one is really okay with total isolation. As a matter of fact, solitairy confinement is a genuine form of punishment and even torture. The point is that we are made to be together. The way that society and civilization function is dependent on human interaction. It is not good for humans to be alone (Genesis 2:18). Since this is the case, God has given us particular spheres of connection as gifts for our flourishing. Consider these in an ascending order of importance: the global community, your own national citizenship, your state identification, your local county, your city or town of residence, your church, your family, and your marriage. Notice that the importance gets greater as the groups get smaller and more intimately connected to your life. Comradery But what is it that really forms the bonds of these relationships? Especially the closer and deeper ones? Many different factors probably contribute to how these connections are made. I’m sure psychologists and sociologists have spent countless hours and resources on this very question, but I would like to posit some possible contributions to the answer. First, many times close and enduring bonds come from some shared experience or challenge. You can see this on a macro level when the citizens of a large city or even a country are unified after a major disaster or calamity. However, this is also true in closer relationships. Families experience these kinds of bonds in the shared functioning of the home. Everything from family meals and annual vacations to dealing with serious illness and struggles can form connections between siblings and parents with their children. Second, we form close connections with others with whom we share important identification. In the more intimate relationships this is seen in that we as families share a name. As church members we also share the reality that we belong to Christ and to one another. We are covenant people! To belong to others in a covenant relationship means that we really do have privileges and responsibility to one another that are different from those who are not in the covenant group. The final point of comradery that I would like to emphasize in this post is the point of belief. We tend to build strong relationships with those with whom we share important beliefs. I do not mean that we should not be able to have friendships, even deep relationships, with people who have different beliefs than us. However, at the point of worldview and the basic understanding of what is true, we must have some agreement. Oftentimes we refer to this as being with like minded people. My point is that if my true conviction is that the Bible really is the Word of God and the greatest revelation of truth then I am going to be able to build strong relationships with other people who believe that also. If we genuinely believe that Jesus is God and that He really did rise from the dead then that really should set us apart from those who do not believe in Christ. Pals God has called us to be holy (1 Peter 1:13-16). But we must realize that holy means “set apart”. This means that holiness will often mean being estranged from the majority group or from the popular people. But God has not called us to be totally alone. Rather He has made for us a people, it could be a relatively small group, but this group consists of the others who have been set apart because they also have experienced God’s grace. Likewise they have been and are identified with Christ and His people. These are the ones who share both the mind (1 Corinthians 2:16) and heart of Christ (Ephesians 3:14-19). Jesus Himself told His disciples they were not merely servants but His friends (John 15:12-17). If you are reading this and you don’t yet have Jesus as your closest friend then I would invite you to enter into the covenant relationship that Christ has for you. The Bible is clear that Jesus has promised that everyone who comes to Him He will not cast out (John 6:37). If you will turn from your sin and yourself and trust in Christ He will receive you into His covenant family forever! Out Front Leadership requires visibility. This can both deter many people who do not want the scrutiny that comes with leadership and encourage some who simply want the attention. In reality, leadership is far more about accepting responsibility than many people realize. When things are going well in an organization or group it can often seem like little to no effort is actually being exerted by the leaders. When things are more turbulent the leaders may be seen as inept or incompetent. This last Sunday our text from Luke 22 dealt with the need for leaders to be servants. Leaders need to be dedicated to the welfare of those they are leading and oriented toward the goal. If leaders are unconcerned about the followers they might lose them. I once knew a man who was a good cowboy, but when he was given the task of leading a group of people on a trail ride he would often just ride off and leave them. He expected them to just keep up. Leadership means taking responsibility for the production and welfare of others even while they still get the credit. A good lead must also be focused on the goal. If the leader is lost and aimless the followers will be hopeless and in danger. I have noticed in recent weeks a couple of examples of leadership. One example is of a weak and fearful leader just trying to keep his fragile sense of control. This is not unlike the religious leaders of Jesus day. This negative example will serve as a cautionary tale for all of us. The second example is to be an amazing portrait of someone dedicated to his responsibility and to his people. Canada The negative example comes from our (USA) neighbor to the north. I am not an expert on world affairs and I do not claim to have any special insight into what is happening in Canada. But the narrative that I have heard has implied that when the convoy of Canada truckers reached Ottawa that Justin Trudeau the Canadian Prime Minister fled. It has been widely speculated that he used Covid 19 as a cover to escape the protests. These protests have been, by most accounts, peaceful, but Trudeau responded with all the backbone of a jellyfish. My point here is not the politics of Trudeau or the truckers, only that in leadership terms it is evident that Trudeau acted in cowardice and self protection. I'll be honest I haven't really given Trudeau’s leadership foibles much thought until the last couple of days, when on the world stage, another leader has risen in stark contrast to the weak example of Justin Trudeau. Ukraine I must admit one week ago I didn’t know who Volodymyr Zelenskyy was. Once again I’m not an expert in global political science. But I do know that, at least in the public eye, President Zelenskyy has demonstrated great resolve in not looking to escape the fast approaching Russian military. The President is quoted as saying, “I need ammunition not a ride.” Once again I want to acknowledge my ignorance about the details and the reality on the ground in Ukraine, however, the stark contrast between Trudeau and Zelenskyy at least in the public perception is shocking. Church In Hebrews 13 we are told to remember our leaders, specifically those who have spoken the word of God to us (Hebrews 13:7). In the context of this passage it is clear that the author does not mean just anyone from whom you have heard a sermon or teaching but rather the elders and pastors of your local church who have and continue to teach you the word of God. The verse goes on to instruct us to consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith. We as God’s people are called to join in with God’s people (local church) and follow the elders who are teaching God’s word. I want to state emphatically that this does not mean blind allegiance but rather a noble study which carefully considers the life and the doctrine of the leaders against the standard of the Bible (Acts 17:11). Later in verse 17, The Hebrew writer tells us to obey and submit to these leaders because they have taken on the responsibility and accountability of our souls. We ought to desire to make this work easier through our faithfulness (Hebrews 13:17). Ultimately, we must seek out good leadership, but once we find it we must also submit to it for it to be of any advantage for us. Heaven But there is a leader who far exceeds all others. This leader was willing to come into the trenches of the warfare between good and evil, light and darkness, even life and death, to rescue His people. He laid aside His royal robes and took on the form of a servant (Philippians 2:4-8). Now the Lord Jesus is ruling from His throne at the right hand of the Father till all His enemies are defeated and brought under His feet (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). This is our King and our Lord who is above every king and every lord the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:4-8)! |
AuthorEddie Ragsdale Archives
May 2024
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