"Daddy, Are We There Yet?"

Not to long back my family was blessed with a wonderful vacation to Florida.  A beautiful Time Share on the beach was just waiting for us to come and enjoy.  A week of restful family time, warm sunshine, and great sea food.  The only problem, 21 hours in the car with a four year old and a one year old stood between us.  We had looked into plane tickets hoping to make the trip easier and shorter.  However the cost was to high.  So we packed the family into the Pontiac G3 and headed south.

The boys did pretty good.  We drove through the night, stopped for breakfast then pressed on.  I had spent several weeks prior trying to explain how long this trip was going to be.  I got out the map and I showed my son Truman where Michigan is and where Florida is.  I assured him over and over that it was going to be a long trip, but daddy knew where we were going and when we got there how great it was going to be.

After 20 hours the breaking point finally came.  From the back seat, pulling on his car seat straps and with a look of agony on his face Truman yells out, "daddy I just can't take it anymore, I gotta get out of here"  I tried to explain that I knew where we were going, and that we were almost there, he just needed to hang on a little bit longer.  His trust in me was wavering, his desire for the beach was gone, all he could think about was how bad it was at that moment.  Every hotel we passed he would say "we can stay there, let's stop there"  I would respond "no son, that hotel is nothing compared to where we are going, this is going to be great, be patient, we are almost there"

Can you relate to this story?  Not the kids in the car, but in your walk with God.  On our journey of spiritual growth we generally start out strong.  We are confident that God is in control and that He knows where He is taking us.  But as the trip continues and starts to get long we stop focusing on the end result and we start focusing on the immediate struggles.  We feel trapped and stuck, although God has explained in His Word how difficult the trip would be, how "long" it is going to take.  We quickly loose sight of the destination.

We reach a point where it just doesn't matter any more.  We cry out "I can't take it anymore, I gotta get out of here."  We start looking around and we think anywhere would be better then where we are now, every "hotel" along the way would provide immediate relief. 

We pressed through the tears and pain, and finally after 21 hours of travel we arrived at the Resort.  We rushed up to our room, slid open the sliding door on the balcony and my son for the first time saw beauty and greatness of the ocean.  All of a sudden the misery of the car ride was worth it.  The hotels along they way that once looked so inviting were forgotten.  The confidence and trust in his father was restored.  We spent a while jumping on the bed, then headed off to put our toes in the sand and feel the refreshing water splash against us.

The same is true for us.  God has a plan, He is in control, and although we don't really understand just how long it is going to take, He knows.  I pray you let this little story be an encouragement to you.  Press on, don't bail out, don't lose sight of the end, trust the one who knows the plan.  I promise you, well actually God promises you it will be worth it all when we see Jesus.

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

If it Looks like a Goat, Then it is Not a Sheep

Sometimes I am blown away at the silliness of "modern Christianity."  We love to take selected text from Scripture and separate them out individually so we can make then say all kinds of false teaching that fit better with our comfort level and society. 

For example Matthew 7:1 says "Judge not, that you be not judged."  This seems to be one of the favorite verses for non-believers and believers alike to twist, and all kinds of damage has been done in the name of "following" this text.  

For the purpose of a short post allow me to briefly attempt to explain what Jesus was saying.  Back in the day the religious leaders (Pharisees) had elevated themselves to a position of self righteousness.  They looked down and condemned all those who were not part of the elite.  They themselves made themselves the standard of holiness, and devotion to God.  As others looked to please God and serve God they were squashed by the pharisees, who declared "unless you be like us, you cannot know God" 

Now if you happen to be a non follower of The Way and you somehow got lost and landed on this post then you are probably thinking "well that sounds like most "Christians" I know."  Well you may be right.  Many who profess the name of Christ have elevated themselves to high positions of "religious glory."  They do this against God, and against His Word.  Pastors, evangelist, missionaries as well as other faithfull church attenders have declared themselves to be the standard of holiness as the pharisees did.

Others of you who may be followers of The Way and have accidentally stumbled  across this post while looking for tips on raising sheep or goats you may be thinking "but that is just a good rule to live by, if I don't judge, then no one will judge me.  What could go wrong with that."  To that I say nothing is wrong with it if you don't want to follow Christ!

The bottom line is we are not to judge in the way the pharisees of old, or the pharisees of today judge.  An elevating of self, making ourselves the measure of holiness.  However if we see someone who is clearly walking in the ways of the world, and are not lining up with God's Word (not our word) but "God's Word then we have an obligation, duty, and calling to lovingly confront their lifestyle.  Not with with an attitude of supremacy, but with love, compassion and grace knowing the great danger they are in, unless they repent, believe in the gospel and are made a new creation in Christ.

The danger that lies in the false teaching of this text is that many are marching happily down the broad path that leads to destruction, but think they are going to enter through the narrow gate that leads to life and no one is warning them.  If you believe we are not supposed to "judge" others even when they are openly living in sin your attitude will be an attitude of complacency and selfishness.  "Well who am I to say something, they say they are a Christian so that is between them and God" 

Do you see the difference in going to someone and saying "YOU WEREN'T IN CHURCH LAST SUNDAY, AND YOU DIDN'T GIVE IN THE OFFERING, AND YOUR KIDS ARE LITTLE DEVILS. YOU NEED TO BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN LIKE ME.  Or, "Friend looking at your life knowing that you profess to be a christian I am concerned that you may not be in the faith, please examine yourselff in the light of Scripture, test yourself and see if you are walking with Christ.  I am concerned by your actions that you are not walking in the light, but are still enjoying the dark.  Repent and turn to Christ."

My friends we don't hesitate to call someone who commits murder a murderer we don't hesitate to say that the sky is blue, or that a ball is round.  However when we see a herd of goats telling everyone they are sheep, we say "well who am I to say they are not really sheep."  My friends, if it looks like a goat, it is not a sheep.  Lovingly confront and spread the message of salvation to a world who believes themselves to be saved, but are lost.