Dangerous Liaisons

Jesus is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:11-12).

Interfaith devotional was the subject of the email beckoning all its readers to participate. With warm greetings the writer asked members of all beliefs to share meditations, spiritual thoughts, devotionals, and words that uplifted and guided them when they needed it. Casting the net wide would surely not offend anyone as the writer declared we all have something to learn from each other. Seriously? Count me out of that circle for it's nothing but a dangerous liaison disguised as your new best friend.

While I have friends of all different faiths (include atheists and agnostics) that I share life with, one thing I won't compromise on is the Word of God in the Holy Bible. I love my friends but don't ask non-believers and those not surrendered to Christ to give me any spiritual guidance. Why not you ask? Because they can't! Sadly, their gods are idols and cannot save anyone. Deuteronomy 27:15 warns us, "Cursed is anyone who makes an idol--a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands--and sets it up in secret."

Sharing the Gospel and Scriptures is a regular habit of mine along with praying for them, but pretending that interfaith messages are good for all of us is to do my unsaved loved ones a disservice. The Bible clearly teaches us that salvation is by grace alone and in Christ alone. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). No room for interfaith messages there, the Son of God is the final authority!

Although it may sound nice and tolerant to proclaim that all beliefs are valid, have you ever thought how wrong that is? We should love and welcome all people to hear the truth of the Holy Scriptures, but to embrace their antichrist beliefs as valid is deadly to perishing souls! It's often stated when discussing life after death that there are many paths to the road home. Clearly if you are talking about sending people to hell that is an accurate statement--any road apart from Christ will take you there. As it was in the Old Testament days so it goes with the world today--everyone does as they see fit (Judges 17:5). Very few are testing the latest preaching messages against God's Word in the Bible, and so we are too easily deceived.

Participation in the interfaith devotional email was not an option I chose, but praying for those distributing it is. Christ's outstretched arms on the cross was not a symbol that all roads will take you to heaven. There was nothing interfaith about His horrific death, His burial, and His triumphant resurrection after three days! If someone has shared this Good News with you it is because they love you too much to let you walk away from the one Person who died so you could live in heaven, your Savior Jesus Christ our Lord. Why would you follow a dangerous liaison when you can follow the King of kings? Jesus is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:11-12).

Your fellow herald for Christ,

Mary  

   

To It and Through It

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

Hiking through the lush forest covered in dew I'm lost to all that is around. Lost in thoughts that entangle my spirit and smother my soul with distress. Lost to the beauty in my midst because I'm blinded by trials I'm mulling over in my head. Lost to the reality of God's presence on this crisp early morning as my feet hustle through the rustling leaves beneath me. The sound of a twig snapping breaks my concentration forcing my gaze to the left. In a small meadow my eyes behold a previously invisible wonder that captivates me and stops me right in my tracks.

As the mist clears and the sunbeams appear, I'm treated to a field of silk saucers suspended in air between the brush. Beckoning my husband near to view this pretty scene our curiosity moves us closer to these objects. They are hundreds of spider webs in the shape of cups about the size of our hands! They sparkled like tiny angels for a few minutes before disappearing behind the cloudy light. What a beautiful reminder of all the things God sees that escape our sight each day!

That memory revisits me every time I walk in the woods. It's a reminder to me that we who walk with Jesus are never alone. If He brings us to a wilderness life experience He not only brings us through it, but He'll give us glimpses of beauty along the rough path. We just have to call out to Him and be on the watch for His reply. Miracles and the splendor of God's glory become visible when we humbly seek His face daily. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know" (Jeremiah 33:3).

Your fellow herald for Jesus,

Mary

Signage

"Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).

Frustration set in on a recent road-trip with my husband.  "Why can't the signs be clearer?", I blurted out after carefully following the route that led us in the opposite direction. This is a common dilemma for us. We venture out on our carefully planned excursion only to be derailed by bad information. Without warning the signs disappear or street names change leaving us wandering aimlessly. If anything gets us off track its poor signage.

The same is true of our spiritual lives if we are not following the Holy Spirit. God is not confusing, man is. There are thousands of voicing clamoring for our attention; fighting for our souls, but many are false prophets. It was never meant to be so hard. God wants to have a personal relationship with us and He has made a way through faith in His Son, Jesus. You cannot get to heaven by any other route.

What signs and voices are you listening to? Who is giving you directions for your life? Are you arrogantly turning from God believing you or any other human being knows more than God? People are either pointing you closer to Jesus or leading you astray. There is no middle ground. How can you discern what is truth? Read your Bible and ask Jesus to forgive your sins. Offer your life to Him and pray for Him to speak to you through the Scriptures. Follow where Christ leads you.

Don't you want to go to heaven? The Father has provided the right signage for you if only you follow His path. "Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way; walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).

Your fellow herald for Christ,

Mary 

Healing Thorns

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me" (2 Corinthians 12:7).

It was 4:00 AM when a searing pain in my foot roused me from my restless slumber. Six days post surgery things were worsening instead of improving. The pain medication did little to dull what felt like a stake driven through my foot. Exhausted and scared that something was seriously misaligned I poured out my fears and begged God for relief. Three years I struggled on and off with foot pain praying God would heal me without surgery, but He didn't. Now that I had succumbed to the surgeon's hand I wanted no part of suffering. But the Lord had allowed this thorn to show me a great revelation that humbled my proud heart.

As tears streamed down my face I felt a stirring in my soul as the Holy Spirit brought to mind this profound truth--Jesus Christ understands. My prayers for a pain-free life suddenly turned to praises that Jesus knows what horrific pain feels like. I thanked my Savior that He endured much worse when a nail was driven through His perfect feet on the cross. I blessed Jesus for His willingness to suffer and that He comforts me in my pain whether it is physical or emotional. He gets it because He experienced it too!   

The Bible records the prophecy given to Isaiah about the Messiah hundreds of years before Jesus was born. "But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5). Still think God doesn't care or relate to your pain? No other earthly king ever suffered out of love for his people as our heavenly King Jesus did. Knowing that Jesus cares and understands comforted me while my foot continued to throb.

Most days I live under the illusion that I can control events in my life until God allows suffering to remove conceit from my heart. My thorns have taken many forms over the years: financial hardship, devastating loss of a loved one, a barren womb and empty arms that longed for my own children. Even Jesus had His own thorns to bear as He prepared to be crucified for us sinners. "The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on His head" (John 19:2). As the Father weaves together thorns for our lives they can be transformed from a crown of shame to one of glory as we humbly submit to His will in thanksgiving.

The Apostle Paul also beckoned the Lord three times for relief from his thorn only to be told that God's grace was sufficient for him (2 Corinthians 12:9). The power of Almighty God was more visible in the sustaining of Paul under torment than if He had removed what tortured Paul. God's grace and strength enabled Paul to praise God while he was in pain. Recalling those Scriptures in my hour of need carried me through my own suffering as I praised God for His mercy and love.

Life is messy and it hurts. For some it's more painful than it is for others, but the challenge is always the same. When we reach a crossroad will we look to the cross and follow Jesus who heals the brokenhearted, or will we let the thorns that pierce our hearts drive a bitter wedge between us and God? I was fortunate. A doctor visit revealed my foot pain was caused by friction between the bandage and my wound. It had rubbed the skin raw. Applying balm and getting rest healed me within a few days. While I'm still recovering from surgery I am no longer experiencing intense pain.

What about you? Are you making regular appointments with the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, who can help you find relief and insight regarding the thorns in your life? Suffering hasn't been fun or easy but it led to my salvation and gave me compassion toward others in pain. Will you trust God to use your thorns to heal you spiritually if not physically? "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me" (2 Corinthians 12:7).

Your fellow herald for Christ,

Mary