There...In the Darkness

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him.  But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.  And the judgment is based on this fact:  God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.  All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”  John 3:18-21

I should have known better.  It was this past Saturday evening that I stood in front of my wife’s new dresser, my hand full of the pills I take each day.  I’ve never had the best aim, but, good grief, how can you miss a preacher’s mouth from one inch away?  One of those little white pills bounced off my chin, hit my shoe, and devilishly-rolled under the dresser.  I got down on my knees in the dimly-lit room, and regretted it immediately, knowing I’d have to get up, get the flashlight, and ease those aging bones down on all fours a second time.  I laid my aching body level to the ground, right in front of the dresser, praying the bones would let me get up again without calling 911.  The flashlight found the pill…just out of reach! 

It was no surprise about the painful relocation of bones, joints, and marrow, or that I’d have to stretch those arm-bones to lengths they’d never known to retrieve that wayward pill.  What shocked me was the floor under that recently arrived dresser; it was covered in more dust bunnies than you’d see chocolate bunnies at Easter.  Now you need to know one thing – my wife’s middle name is White Tornado.  Our kids dubbed her that, because she does pre-emptive strikes on dirt 32-days in the average week.  She moves furniture every time she dusts to clean the unseen (this despite my theory that bugs unseen are not problematic!).

Call it her blind side, but Elizabeth cannot move that dresser…and the malicious dust-bunnies know it; they go there to hide, reproduce, and plot.  I am convinced the dust bunnies have finally unionized and targeted our home because of my bride’s unflinching commitment to dusticide…defined as the systematic, relentless effort to eliminate all that dusty-particle-scourge from the face of the earth. 

Apostle John holds that we humans know about light and darkness, but we more often choose darkness over the light.  A quick glance at our world’s moral/ethical state, and you have little problem agreeing with John.  We are in a darkness stronghold, more than the dust-bunny situation under the dresser.  (Yeah…get that picture of Elizabeth’s dresser out of your mind; yours ain’t any better!)  But here we’re talking about our moral dresser.  For us, it’s a whole lot easier to live with that puppy in the darkness.  Why is that, preacher?  (For the second day in a row…I’m glad you asked).  We like the darkness, because we really don’t want to find anything…and we know there are those things down there. 

·       Attitudes we should have stifled

·       People we wanted to stifle instead of love

·       Good advice we stifled all too often in favor of the bad stuff we craved

·       Things we shouldn’t have done, including the bad stuff we wanted to do, but never had the time…and the list goes on.

We like darkness…full-stop!  And it’s because that spot under cover of the dresser-bottom’s darkness hides a multitude of stuff you can’t see if you don’t look closely.  That is precisely why Apostle Paul, giving advice about how to come to God in worship says we should examine our lives…use a flashlight if necessary to find that bitter pill among the dust bunnies, and bring it out in the light of confession….and then watch God’s light of grace shrivel it up and blow it away!

For You Today 

The old time Gospel-preaching evangelist, Vance Havner used to put it this way:  

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,600 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road library.

Title Image Russell Brownworth (own “dusty” work) Images without citation are in public domain or cited via weblinks.  

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from NLT^©   

The Cost of Rejected Forgiveness

Monday, August 28, 2023

Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you?  Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?  But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself.  For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.  He will judge everyone according to what they have done.  He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.  But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.  But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.  For God does not show favoritism.  Romans 2:4-11

Paul’s message to the believers at Rome is that of a story as old as Adam and Eve’s first two sons; it’s a story of jealousy and choices ^{(see Genesis 4)}.  Cain was the firstborn, and he despised his younger brother, Abel.  God had instructed them what to bring as an offering, but Cain stubbornly brought what he wanted, while Abel obeyed God.  When God rejected Cain’s “innovated worship” and accepted Abel’s obedience, anger raised-up in Cain like a volcano of jealousy; he killed his brother.  That was a momentary wrong decision fueled by bad judgment and independence.  Unfortunately for Cain (as his parents before him), when he sinned, he persisted in defending his petulance.  When God judged him for it, he whined, claiming God was being too hard on him.  This was resoundingly-odd, considering it was Abel rotting in a shallow grave.  Cain spent the rest of his days wandering like a lost soul.  Indeed, he was lost, and judged. 

We’re still playing “Cain and Abel” these days.  There has been war someplace on this planet without fail since the first killing.  As Paul wrote, God’s kindness and patience with humanity is an offering of forgiveness.  Sadly, human stubbornness is in abundant supply.  In the spirit of independence, alive and thriving today, we don’t need some Jew from the antiquities to die on a cross for us.  We are good enough, thank you…we’ll meet any challenge head-on.  Thanks, God, for the offer, but no thanks…we’re good.

Only we’re not!

Even in the short space of my lifetime I have witnessed the diminishing sense of kindness and compassion that human beings have for each other.  (You have only to observe Interstate road-rage for a half-mile to validate that statement).  The value of human life plummets in the murder statistics.  Porch-pirates, sales of home security systems, with weapons to back them up are at an all-time high.  As was the case with Cain and Abel, killing (with weapons or words) is how we deal with the anger of a lost soul.  And we seem to get better (darker) at it every year.

Many people reject God’s kindness, simply ignoring what a magnificent, precious gift of forgiveness they refuse….choosing instead an eternity of separation from their Creator.  That is the sad reality of evil…thinking we stay strong by holding God at arms-length, we condemn ourselves to eternal punishment.

Placing all that in perspective requires us to turn and look at Calvary’s Lamb, Jesus, nailed to a rough-hewn cross, beaten within an inch of life’s endurance,  spat-upon, alone, abandoned, yet crying-out:  Father, forgive them! 

This is the kindness of God; it is the offer of healing and hope. 

For You Today 

The choice is always there…reject His forgiveness, or receive His goodness,

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,600 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road library. 

Title Image:  Pixabay.com   Images without citation are in public domain.  

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from NLT^©   

When the Sheriff Arrives

 

Monday, July 24, 2023

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town.  One was rich, and one was poor.  The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.  The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought.  He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children.  It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup.  He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.  One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man.  But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”  David was furious.  “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!  He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”  Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man!  2 Samuel 12:1-7a

King David had messed-up; sinned bigtime!  He used the position and authority God had given him to  steal another man’s wife.  When she became pregnant with David’s child, the king engineered the husband’s death to cover his sin.  He then married the widow, Bathsheba.  God sent his fearless prophet Nathan to uncover what David thought was behind him.  Like a sheriff setting-up the bad guy, Nathan told a story about a rich man taking a poor man’s sheep.  David arrogantly judged the heartless rich man.  Nathan’s response:  YOU are that man!

It was a Monday afternoon at school.  The previous Saturday our football team had fought hard and won the game.  Monday afternoon’s practices were for viewing the game films.  Coach Weitz started with a lecture about playing the game hard, but fair…like mature gentlemen.  He said we didn’t do that on at least one play.  He then snapped-on the projector to show the end of that play, where our team had tackled the runner with the ball.  It was a real pile-up!  A split-second later, another of our team’s players jumped in the pile…a late hit!

It was wrong by any standards…it was unnecessary roughness.  But for some unknown reason our guy then threw a punch at the middle of the pile.  And the referee’s penalty flags flew like a red storm, and they all landed on #80....me!  What I thought was going to be a celebration of our team’s victory turned out to be the hot spotlight on Russell’s sin.  The Sheriff had arrived, and the bad guy exposed like a sore thumb. Coach Weitz must have been descended from the prophetic line of Nathan!

That was fifty-nine years ago, and, to this day, I still don’t have a reason why I did such a thing.  It’s the signature-memory in my Can’t Believe I Did That Moments.  But I do have a conclusion about that moment; it proves that I was just as guilty as King David.  I hit that guy when he was already down!  And therein lies the rub; we are all capable of any sin, and we all participate…we are all guilty.  Apostle Paul said it clearly:

As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one.  No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.  All have turned away; all have become useless.  No one does good, not a single one.”  Romans 3:10-12

For You Today 

I have shown you a darker side of me without hiding or softening any part of it.  I had no excuse for what I did, and it squares with what God says about all of us.  That is confession; and that’s the only way to be forgiven, as we trust what God has said about it (again, through Apostle Paul):

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.  This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.  Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?  Thank God!  The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans 7:21-25

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

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There are about 2,600 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  

 

Title Image:  via Pixabay.com   Images without citation are in public domain.   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from NLT^©   

 

An HONEST Prayer

 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word.  I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands.  I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees.  I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us.                  I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches.  I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways.  I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Psalm 119:9-16

There are some images that stay with you for life.  Some are because they were dramatic, or explosive, like a tragic accident, or first experience with death, or birth.  There are other lifetime moments that insidiously sneak up on you. 

One of those sneaky images I have is something I heard in a pastor’s sermon many years ago about why some people don’t believe in God.  A child prays for a pony…his family lives in a city apartment, so we know how that turns out.  Later he prays that big kid in his third grade class who’s been bullying him all year will catch the fever and die.  We know God rarely grants that one.  By the time he’s a freshman in college he’s about had it with God, but he’s got a big math test coming up, so he decides to give the man upstairs (ugh…how I hate that)…just One. Last. Chance.  He stands in the field next to his college dorm and lifts the challenge:  God, if you’re really there, I need a ‘B’ on this test…no, make it an ‘A’.  With that base covered he runs to the bar where he and his fraternity buddies drink the night away.  The next day, he flunks the math test because he didn’t study at all.  His sulking thought:  I knew it; I now have proof:  there is no God!

In comparison to our young friend with the tried that praying to God thing, and it doesn’t work, attitude chip on his shoulder, the Psalmist paints a different picture, of a young person trusting God, not challenging God. 

Notice what he does:

·       He recognizes his weakness, and the need to stay close to God, so he studies God’s ways and commands. 

·       He memorizes those parts that speak warning to his heart so those will be second-nature when the temptations come.

·       He is teachable, even rejoicing while asking God to fix His Word deep in his soul.

The bottom line for this young man is open and honest with his prayers before God.

For You Today  

How’s your prayer life lately?  Is there openness with being honest, teachable, and willing to change as God directs you through His word?

If not, today’s a good day to begin.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

When Words & Deeds Collide  and  Finding Wisdom 

Images:  Title Pixabay.com   Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©   

 

So Much Anger

Monday, January 30, 2023

Stop being angry!  Turn from your rage!  Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.  Psalm 37:8

The story of Adam and Eve’s sons, Cain and Abel[1], is such a familiar story.  I believe many of us miss some very important lessons in that tragedy because we imagine there’s nothing we haven’t read before.  Big mistake!

Just consider how many Hollywood movies should footnote the Bible in their credits.  Their storylines come right from the brother’s struggle which revolved around money and sibling jealousy.  And don’t forget the issue was church stewardship – bringing gifts of offering to worship God!  And when Cain’s disobedience and pride were confronted he got ANGRY!  And he stayed angry while he plotted against his brother.  How many families have been destroyed by anger’s ugliness?

Why So Much Anger?

I would be hard-pressed to recount all the ways anger evidences itself in our world.  Let these words open the door in your memory; let them relocate some images for you:

·       Columbine, 9-11, Iraq, Jihad, Afghanistan, Ukraine

·       Stores at Christmas-time, shoppers are trampled in the name of baby Jesus

·       Drunk drivers, IRS, Insurance companies, Covid, Insurance companies

·       Boxer Mike Tyson’s teeth biting-off Evander Holyfield’s right ear!

·       Every show Jerry Springer ever made.

Now, I’d like to be able to say our human family’s anger problem is someone’s fault – blame it on the Republicans or Democrats!  It would be convenient to blame society and the economy – my next-door neighbor.  It would be really easy to simply say “well, it’s my nature; I can’t help how God made us.” 

It would be easy, indeed; it would also be wrong.  Anger is not in the genes; anger resides in the spirit.  Anger is a desire for revenge.  With Cain it was the fact that he brought an offering and God rejected it (because it was not what God had required).  Cain got even with God by striking God’s creation.  That’s anger!

When I was six or seven my mother and aunt took the kids to the lake to swim.  My younger cousin Gary spent half the afternoon building a magnificent sand castle.  I was envious and wanted to play with it; he told me to get lost!  Mom got tired of our ruckus, and told me to leave Gary alone.  I looked at Gary like Cain looked at Abel.  I left, but as I walked away, I stepped right on Gary’s sand castle! 

Anger is part of our existence because deep down in the spirit, if we want something and can’t have it, or someone says something and we don’t like it, or she’s prettier than most and we can’t stand it, we get angry, and we want to get even.  It is born of an arrogance that demands our own way – and plots revenge if we don’t get it!  Anger is one human’s attempt to punish another. 

For You Today  

Understanding where anger begins is the first step in truly confessing it as sin.  This becomes the first step towards leaving anger in the rearview mirror.  Without understanding and repentance, there is no chance of forgiveness and healing.

You chew on that as you hit the Rocky Road; have a blessed day!

Go to VIDEO (read by author)

There are about 2,000 devotional posts and 400 sermons in the Rocky Road Devotions library.  To dig deeper on today’s topic, explore some of these: 

When "Saying Nothing" Isn't an Option  and  When God Laughs  and  Short Fuse

This is an updated version of “So Much Anger” published on Rocky Road Devotions January 16, 2014

Images:  Title Pixabay.com   Images without citation are either personal property of the author, or in public domain.

Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation^©  

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[1] Read the story here:  Genesis 4:3-7