Made for Adversity

We think we are in unique times. We are, and we were last year, and the year before, and will be a year from now. The past twelve months have been the most unusual of my life of that which is both strange and familiar. It has been strange in that all the circumstances seem new, and familiar, perhaps, because nothing important has changed. 

All living things are in a constant state of change. We are getting stronger or weaker, older and wiser, or older and more foolish. Our choices can help direct the change, but they cannot stop change. It is the constant of life. 

As we want to stop change, we once again are confused, and eventually bewildered, because we are attempting to take on a characteristic of God that we cannot attain. He alone does not change as He is the same yesterday today and forever. 

His mercies may be new to me every morning because Dave, the finite one, is learning more about the infinite one. I can grow in stature, knowledge, and wisdom, and I should, whereas God cannot. I need to continually work at gaining a proper perspective, whereas God has no perspective. I need to continually align my opinions with truth, whereas God is truth. 

I need to plan for the future, whereas God is in the future. For some reason, I need to seek God, to look for Him, even though He is evident and is everywhere. 

Since I continually think that my times are unique, I usually live so much in the moment that the futures will neither be prepared for or anticipated.  I keep thinking that these unique times shall pass, and, one day I shall pass, my body will rot into the earth from which it came, and my life will be forgotten, as a fog that has cleared the harbor. 

Being mindful or being in the moment is like all good things in that it could be something that drives us to be who we should be, or it blinds us from being who we could be. 

Throughout the years, I have had several surgeries. Each of them demanded that I take recovery time. Each setback demanded attention, and if I would focus on the instructions of my doctors and therapists, I could look forward to a better and less painful future. I needed to focus on the moment because I was focused on the future. If I focus on the future alone, I miss what is happening in the moments. If I divorce the future from the moment, I have allowed my focus to fog my reason, and will be ill- prepared for what is to come. 

The “purists” who talk about always being mindful or always being focused on the future have missed the delicate balancing act that creates the “awe” in life. 

In reality, we who struggle with narcissism are continually focused on the moment, and how the moment benefits, honors, and pleases us. If we focus on the future, we focus on how the future will benefit us, and thereby have devolved a secret, yet erosive style that breeds disappointment and regret. 

When we live waiting for the circumstances to change, we will find that they will change, with or without us, and with or without our efforts. Positive change is surrounded by what does not change, and negative change is dependent upon what changes. My health, fortune, and even my freedom will one day change. The decisions I make during those tough transitional times will be based on my ability to be dual focused on both the world in which I live, and the world as it should be and one day will be. 

During the now infamous COVID19 national shutdown, I wanted to immediately make a video telling our supporters how this national shutdown is affecting the various ministries in which we have been privileged to invest our lives. Yet, after thought and prayer, I realized that all our friends knew what we were going through as they were going through the same. I thought more about how my thinking reflected the moment, a piece of the eternal pie, but not the whole, how I was mired in self-thinking, and, even though every situation was different, each was the same, and my concern needed to now as always be in honoring God and thinking of others, while preparing for the future we think we will have. 

Our rest in life comes from the object of our faith, not the circumstances. If the object of our faith is our government, medical professionals, teachers, or pastors, we will be disappointed. If our faith is in Him who does not change, we will be fine, and we will see that in the long run, nothing important has changed.

The adverse circumstances we face reveals what we believe, and about in whom we believe. If we do not like what has been revealed, we need to adjust both our thinking and our lives. 

In a strange way, we can recklessly alter the future by continually focusing on the crisis du jour, and waiting for it to pass, rather than using it to create the future. 

All that has happened, is happening, and will happen is under the controlling hand of God, and it has not taken Him by surprise. If we find ourselves in the middle of a crisis for which we were not prepared, then we were not listening during the “good” times when God was preparing us such as time as this. 

When we suffer a heart attack because of poor exercise and eating habits, it is too late to eat right and begin an exercise program, for the damage is already done. It was the good times that demanded us to think about the end times, yet we did not because we felt we could not, which is one of the ways we lie to ourselves. 

Healthy people, originally made from clay, live a faith rest life that has been formulated in the good times and fired in the kiln of adversity. Adversity happens to all, regardless of who they are and where they live, and it will either prove you right or destroy you. 

For now, the choice is ours. 

Societal Confusion

A confused society acts in accordance with its confusion, eroding the mortar of a culture and nation. 

Confusion is the fruit of each person doing what is right in his own eyes. We become so self-absorbed that we cannot comprehend how or why someone would not think like we think. Our world revolves around our thinking, our comfort, our likes, and our dislikes. How could others’ thinking be different? Why do they not understand my world? 

Those who are not confused realize that they are but a small and insignificant part of the universe. They are insignificant because of their place, not their position. If everyone holds the right position in their place, they have tremendous significance and security. Our position is tied to who we are associated with, and why, and not what we do and where, or how much we have and what we do with it. 

My position is that of a child of the King. It is the King, or God, who has demonstrated my significance in that He created and sustains me, and He has created the universe for me to inhabit. It is the King of Kings who is my Father, to whom I can go anytime, anywhere, and who has limitless power and authority in this world and the universe. The King does not need me but wants me, and He has made provision for me to enjoy Him now and forever. In this understanding, my significance and security grow, and my confusion melts away.

Apart from such a relationship, I must create my own truth, my own expectations, and my own world. As easy as it is for me to understand this world I created, it becomes impossible for others to grasp its meaning or my significance. It then becomes a world where the terms of good and bad replace right and wrong, and each person does what is right in his own eyes. 

In that make-believe world, violence is justified, hatred is authorized, and con men abound. In this make-believe world, men redefine critical terms to reflect their kingdom’s rules, and use whatever means they can to create a world they can control. 

In the make-believe world, one only needs to believe something for it to be right, and tolerance towards myself and my kingdom’s subjects is expected, and, in fact, demanded, as I place strict parameters on what is meant by tolerance. 

In the make-believe world, the obvious is no longer obvious, the logic no longer logical, and real power and authority is replaced by the appearance of power and authority. 

In the confusing world, the Emperor has no clothes, and even though the world recognizes that fact, they have begun to believe he is clothed, and that they are just not seeing things correctly. 

Part of the confusion comes from lies that have been wrapped in the shroud of science, equality, love and respect. It’s confusing because of the redefinition of these words. 

Science is no longer searching. They are trying to prove something. Equality is attempting to erase the uniqueness of the individual, love has been redefined as enabling, and respect simply means to be in agreement with another. 

Perhaps the most dangerous trend is thinking that logical people do not believe in God, when, in reality, all logic points to God. 

For example, the iPad on which I type obviously had a designer who designed the iPad with a specific purpose in mind. There is a right way and a wrong way to use this iPad. If I wanted to use it for a life preserver, it would not work, and I would be accused of being a fool. Anyone who would declare that this iPad was not designed and did not have a purpose would be foolish, by any and all standards, and by all people in all places. 

If logic dictates that the iPad had designers and purpose, then it also, and obviously, had to be created within the context of the design and purpose. Once again, for me to think any other thought would be universally illogical. 

The iPad is simple compared to the scope and grandeur of the universe. To know that this iPad had design, purpose, and creators, and to reject that the universe had design, purpose, and a creator is ludicrous as best. 

We must carefully reject wrong definitions because they will drive us to a confusing lifestyle void of real answers and purpose. 

Proximity

"For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”"   Mark 5:28-34 (ESV)

Proximity to God is always the path to acceptance, significance, and safety. Always. Regardless of the problem, the answer is found in our proximity to God.

Those who choose to remain a distance from Him want to endure life’s problems on their own. Those who choose to “touch” Him choose to allow Him to give them abundant life.

A meaningful and secure life.

“And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea."   Mark 5:9-13 (ESV)

There are two and only two groups. Some are in God’s family and some are not. Within God’s family, there are two groups. Some are walking with God and some are not.

The only way I will ever have a meaningful and secure life will be if I walk with God. Any contact with the evil one will end disastrously, for any and every time Satan gets involved, there is a disastrous ending.

Satan destroys life while pretending to enrich it. For now, the choice is mine.

Our Response Matters

"And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country."    Mark 5:6-10 (ESV)

The response of Satan and his demonic force is quite impressive. No matter where they are, no matter what is going on, they acknowledge God as God and realized His authority.

Often, the demons seem wiser than the Christian.

The demons realize they are subject to God, yet they realized it too late in that they are on a collision course with hell. All humanity will one day acknowledge God as God. It is tragic that some will realize this fact too late.

We need to make the right choices while we still have the opportunity.

Why am I afraid?

"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"”  Mark 4:35-40 (ESV)

I wonder how many times God would say to me, “Why are you so afraid?” My answer would be evident to me, yet silly to God.

When I am right where I belong, why would I be afraid? If I am not where I belong, then my fear is justified. Being where I belong or apart from where I belong is, for now, my choice.

The Little Things

"And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes more significant than all the garden plants and puts out large branches so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” With many such parables, he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. He did not talk to them without a parable, but privately to his disciples, he explained everything."   Mark 4:30-34 (ESV)

I must watch over the little details of life, for they determine the “issues” of the future. Small seeds placed in an environment that allows them to grow will grow, and will, one day, be beneficial or drain me of time and energy as I try to eliminate the effect they have caused.

Both the seeds and the environment in my life are critical, and I must pay close attention to both.  This does not make one a legalist, but it makes one wise.