My son goes to college in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  In order to get there we have to drive over the mountain.  On both sides of the mountain are valleys.  We spend more time in the valley than we do on the mountain.

I was reminded this morning in the story of the widow at Nain, that pain and suffering are pervasive in this life.  I know this comes as no news to most people.  However, we often think about our Christian life as reaching the top of a mountain.  We create our own little mountain of success and we think that the peak of the mountain is the place to be. More often than not people are in the valley rather than at the top of the mountain.

In a Friday morning men’s Bible study that I lead, we are reading a book called Mighty to Save, by Richard Phillips.  In it he writes concerning this story in Luke 7:11-17, “One thing you will notice if you study the Bible is that there is a great deal of weeping going on…With few exceptions all the major figures of the Bible are seen weeping, and in all sorts of situations.”  The truth about life is that sin has caused a great deal of pain, heartache, suffering and ultimately death.  Like the widow of Nain who had previously lost her husband now she has lost her only son.  She is in a desperate and confusing state.  All her earthly hope is gone, it has literally died.  But approaching her is Jesus, who can not only bring hope but life to her situation. The text tells us that “Jesus saw her and had compassion on her” (v.13).  Jesus “sees” the agonizing situation of this woman and walks into the valley with her.  Jesus then literally speaks life back into her son and raises him from the dead.  The woman now has hope and has been given her life back.  Jesus, who is the life and the resurrection, has the power and authority over death.  Jesus, our Savior, empathizes with us, and He walks through the darkest valleys with His people.

There is nothing wrong with looking forward to the mountain top.  Joy and hope and encouragement should always characterize us.  But we have to realize that most of life is lived in the valley.  Yes, one Day all things will be made new; no more tears, no more suffering, no more death.  But for now, we face those trials with the presence of Christ.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”  Psalm 23:1

May we walk confidently through the valley, knowing Christ is at our side and may we go into the valley with others showing them the hope and life that is found in Christ.

All for Jesus,

Fletch

I am always being dragged away and enticed by the world and Satan, that dog who won’t go away but hounds me constantly.  I feel like I am constantly fighting with hardly any relief.  However, the best relief that I have found always comes from the Scriptures.  God’s Word is the best anti-venom for counter-acting the poison of sin and lusting after worldly things.  The writer of Hebrews says this about temptation:

“For because He [Jesus] himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”  Hebrews 2:18. 

I don’t  always think of “suffering” through temptation.  I usually think of temptation as annoying and bothersome, like being outside when the mosquitoes are really bad.  But this verse says that Jesus “suffered” through temptation.  He had to endure it and it was not pleasant.  But we don’t like pain, we crave pleasure, we avoid pain at all costs.  So we give in to temptation because it is more pleasurable (at least in the short run) than suffering and enduring through and not giving into temptation.  But we must see the reality of life in a fallen world, where the battle rages for our souls.  The reality that temptation will always be present (until Jesus comes back) and so we will always be in a constant state of suffering, of enduring and fighting off temptation.  Suffering in this life is inescapable, but thanks be to God who has given us a Savior who not only can empathize with our suffering but gives us the grace and strength to endure it and fight it off.

I John 2:15-17 shows us the Truth:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For everything in the world– the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does– comes not from the Father but from the world. ¹⁷ The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”

Ask the Lord to give you strength and grace to suffer and not give into sin just because it seems more pleasurable – for ultimately sin kills and destroys us – only holiness and purity bring life and this is what Jesus has clothed us with.  Pray that God will satisfy you with Jesus and His overwhelming love rather than the passing things of this world.

“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” John Piper

All for Jesus,

Fletch

Is it better to live here on earth or is it better to be in heaven with Jesus?  To live here on earth means that we experience pain, suffering, difficulty and sorrow.  We have to live in a wretched world full of sin and misery.  Disease, sickness, depression, hatred and selfishness characterize our daily lives.  But in heaven none of this exists.  There is no sorrow, pain or sin.  Heaven is a holy place.  So is there really a question as to which is better?  Of course we will be better off in heaven.  Then the question follows…why don’t we just go to heaven once we become a Christian and skip the pain and misery of living here on earth?

The answer comes from the Scriptures;

²¹ “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” Philippians 1:21-26

Paul says that it is better to be with Christ but to remain here on earth means fruit labor.  He says “it is necessary on your account.”  Don’t miss this.  For Paul, it is better to be in heaven with Christ.  But Paul is not looking at his life according to what is best for him.  Paul is looking at life from the perspective of what God thinks is best.  God wants Paul here on the earth for the progress and joy of the Philippians.  So Paul’s life here on earth has nothing to do with himself, at least not directly.  Paul’s life is to be lived for others for the glory of God. 

The problem is that most of us go through life living for ourselves.  So we live life exactly the opposite of how God wants us to live it.  We must understand the Biblical concept of not living life for ourselves but for God and for others.  Jesus makes this clear when He is asked what is the first and greatest commandment in Matthew 22:34-40.  Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and the second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself.  Neither commandment says that we should live for ourselves.  There should be no confusion.  Except that our sinful nature constantly and consistently puts ourselves at the heart and center of everything.

Somehow we have to lose sight of ourselves and get caught up in loving God and loving others.  Joel Osteen has a bestseller called “Your Best Life Now”.  Where’s the focus? It’s on YOU.  I think a title of a more Biblical book would be called, “Life is not about you!”  It probably wouldn’t be a bestseller.  But it would be glorifying to God, whereas Olsteen’s book is a stench to God.