Hope

Lake Amistad is a large lake that in some places straddles the Mexico and United States boarders.  The dam that stopped and controlled the flow of the Rio Grande River and subsequently created the lake was a joint effort of the two governments. Both countries knew that hundreds of acres of land and property would be consumed by the waters that would rise and cover the area when the flow of the Rio Grande was halted.  The purpose was to help supply the ever-increasing water needs of Mexico and neighboring Texas.

  When mapping out the proposed site it was realized that a small town would be lost to the lake. No matter how they planned or what precautions they might take that little hamlet would soon be under water.  Much discussion went back and forth and finally the decision was made to go ahead with the project and to relocate the people.  It would be several years before the move would take place and much had to be done before the reservoir would become a reality.  A major dam had to be built and thousands of tons of earth had to be moved. Land had to be purchased and deeds transferred.  The paper work alone would take years. 

            But something unusual took place during the interim.  What was once a nice, neat and pretty little town began to deteriorate.  The yards were no longer kept and weeds and debris accumulated everywhere.  The houses went unprepared, broken windows remained open to the elements and badly needed paint was never applied.  Trash was strewn about carelessly and potholes in the roads became craters.   Automobiles were abandoned and left to rust where they stopped.  Even though the community was full of people carrying on their daily lives the town deteriorated and began to fall in around them.

            When the leader of the community was asked why the people had allowed this to take place even though they had several more years to live there he said, "When people have no hope for the future, then they just don't care about the present."

            How true that is!  Just look at our society today.  If deep down in our very souls we don't have a hope for the future then our very lives will fall down around us.  Without hope there is no present and no future.  Without hope, life has no meaning.  Without hope nothing really matters.  

            Many will question why the inner cities of our great metropolitan areas are such deplorable places.  They wonder why the people of the ghettos and slums just don’t seem to care. Bony fingers of accusation are pointed at these blighted people accompanied with statements like, “They are just lazy.  That is just their culture. Those kind of people will never be any different.”

It is my contention that those kinds of people will never be any different if they have no hope for the future.  If there is no better tomorrow then why care about today?

That kind of sentiment is not only reflected in our decaying inner cities but it is reflected in our entire society and especially in our youth and young adults. As Believers it is our responsibility to share the Hope that we know and have.  It is our job to give the world a reason for tomorrow. 

Hope for tomorrow and for eternity is not only a good thing but also essential.

I Peter 3:15  ¹⁵But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Tuff Day

I have one of those tuff days a pastor has on occasion. The brother of a young lady in our church took his life this week and I was asked to officiate at the funeral. He was just 27 years old. Just 27! To say the least, his family was crushed and broken. I could not help but grieve with them. He was a professing Believer in the Lord Jesus so I was able to proclaim the hope we have in Him and the fact that all Christians will be united in Heaven one day.
Another sad thing happened on the way to the graveside. One of the motorcycle escorts was hit by an impatient motorist that cut through the procession and now he is in critical condition in a local hospital.
Please pray for both of the families that the peace and comfort of the Father will meet their need today.

The Land of Beginning Again

Tears ran down her cheeks making crevasses in her make up and leaving tracts of mascara that ended in black pools on her blouse.  Her body shook like a blade of grass in the wind as she lamented her condition. Between heaving sobs she repeated the phrase, "If I could just start all over, I know things would be different now!"

It was one of those times as a pastor and counselor that you feel totally helpless.  No amount of "good counsel" or encouraging words would take away the pain and hurt. Nothing could be done to change the events of the past. The ominous cloud of guilt and shame that seemed to hover over her would nourish its fruits in the soil of her wounded soul for seasons to come.    

This scenario has taken place at many different times and in thousands of places, with the only difference being that the names and faces change.  The age-old axiom remains the same from generation to generation, "What we plant, we shall reap."  As one sage has said, "Many sow their wild oats, then pray for crop failures!"  How mankind refuses to believe the principle of The Law of the Harvest. But nonetheless, it is true and we suffer for our deeds. 

We cannot undo what is done.  We cannot avoid the consequences of past actions.  They will track us down and find us like a bloodhound on the trail of a varmint.  "Be sure your sins will find you out."  That is just a fact of life, though unpleasant it might be.  But if this were the only fact of life then indeed we should have just reason for continued despair and grief.     

God, through His infinite wisdom, mercy, and love has looked upon mankind in his dilemma and provided a means by which he can find relief.  I call this provision "the land of beginning again." 

It is that beautiful place of grace where we can start all over again.  It is that place surrounded by the walls of forgiveness that refuse to let the enemies of past failures enter in.  It is that place of peace, contentment, and joy.  It is that place where a King keeps careful watch over His subjects.  But only those who are willing to enter in by the one and only gate can enjoy the benefits of this blessed land. 

This gate can only be opened by using two special keys.  The key of forgiveness and the key of forgetting.  Both must be used to open the locks that bar us entrance.  The keys are not difficult to obtain.  In fact, all that is required is to request them of the King who will freely give them to all who ask. And once you receive His gift you become a Child of the King and an Heir to the Kingdom. But sadly, few ask and few receive.    

Many of us will on a daily basis make resolutions and promises of change.  Some for the better and others for worse.  Maybe you have blown it in the past or possibly you have made such a mess of your life that you see absolutely no hope.  I am not going to tell you that your past will change nor that you will not suffer the consequences of past actions.  I am telling you that you can start afresh and new. 

You can enter into a land of beginning again.  But you must be willing to receive forgiveness and forgive yourself and you must choose to forget the past.  You must throw it out like yesterday's garbage. 

Yes, it will be difficult.  Sure there will be painful times of relapse and of course, it will be frightening as well.  But if you want to start all over again, you can.  Is that what you want?  Or do you want to continue to wallow in your past failures?     Today can be a new day. A time for a new start. The keys are in your hands.  Will you open the gate and enter in? It's a beautiful land, this land of beginning again.      Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who are burdened and heavy laden and I will give you rest."

Amateur

I was reading this morning when the word “amateur” came up in a particular sentence. I have read the word hundreds, if not thousands of times but rarely have I stopped to think about its etymology. It finds its origins in ancient Latin, amātor, and means “lover”. Hence a modern day amateur is one who does something solely from the motivation of love. They are not motivated by monetary remuneration as a professional might be but they do what they do as an overflow of passion from their heart. They do it because they love it.

As I contemplated the roots of these seven letters I kept thinking of how we as Believers should always seek to be “amateur Christians” and never fall into the trap of being a “professional Christian”. It is my opinion that too many today predicate their living for Christ based upon the benefits or blessings they will receive. (What’s the pay back?) Please understand, I am not saying that there are no blessings or benefits in serving our Savior but those should not be the motivating factors that direct and drive us. We should serve Him because we love Him. We should worship Him because we love Him. We should live for Him because we love Him.

To be called an amateur Christian is not derogatory or negative but a very positive compliment.

Oh, how we need more amateurs in a world of professionals.