Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a mans sows, that he will also reap.

Galatians 6:7, RSV

 

Perhaps you have seen the results of some of the recent studies, comparing our use of technology and social media to drug addiction. There have been recent studies showing that many people feel withdrawal symptoms similar to that of a drug addict needing a fix, when they have not checked their cell phones for several minutes. Many of our young people are receiving similar dopamine "hits" from the number of views or likes they have received on their social media accounts. Some who study the patterns and effects of addiction have compared this phenomenon to the use of heavy drugs such as meth and heroin.

 

Now, I doubt many of you are in that dire of a situation, but most of us can admit that we spend far too much time on our computers, our phones, and other devices that let us scan the web and "keep up" with the latest news on our friends. Add that to the addiction that many have towards video games and television, and we can see that we spend too much time in a play world than in the real world.

 

Do you think that there will be electronics in Heaven?

 

Now, please don't get me wrong on the direction of today's article. I don't think there is anything wrong with a expending a proper amount of down time to relax for a bit and recharge our batteries. But if we find ourselves waking up in the middle of the night to check our cell phones or fantasizing during our work day of video games and other electronic activities, or if we panic like a meth addict who can't find his needle when we think that we may have misplaced our cell phones, then maybe we would have to consider that we might have a problem.

 

So, what is the answer? I have found one in my own life that helps me, and maybe it will help you. It's an old remedy that our forefathers used and, though it is ancient, it is quite effective. What is this "miracle" cure, you might be wondering? Simply this: Read a good book!

 

Now, I realize that we can read on our phones and computers, and while there are some things that you can only access in this way, I would strongly recommend that you reserve your quality reading time for real books. That way you won't be tempted to check your most recent texts or e-mails or favorite websites for "just a second" only to find yourself sucked into the vortex that is modern days electronics for hours on end.

 

Here is what I have discovered to be profitable for my own situation: First, read the Bible every day. I don't mean just check off a few chapters from your daily Bible reading list, or open the Bible at random to see what you might be inspired by. I'm not knocking doing these things, they can be useful at times, but my encouragement to you is to read, with intention, God's Word each day for the specific purpose of finding out what his will is for you, His servant. Find out what He expects of you, what He desires for you to accomplish - in short, how He wants you to live. Take some serious time, at least half an hour a day, to really dig into His Word and discover the true meaning of life. He has very specific expectations for you - do you know what they are?

 

Second, after having taken the time to read the Bible, may I recommend you find some excellent books to read? Perhaps you can remember from way, way back, when you used to read for information, and for self-improvement. There are excellent books out there that you will find far more valuable than a "quick" two hour session with social media, a questionable television program, or favorite video game. Again, I don't believe that there is anything wrong with relaxing after a hard day, or taking a break for a reward from time to time. As a matter of fact, I believe we should take several hours each day for rest and relaxation, but this needs to be with wholesome things that befit one who claims to be a servant of God. So, if you are watching T.V., playing a video game, or surfing the web, make sure that it is something that God would approve of. I don't think this is too heavy a burden for anyone, but it will take a conscious retraining of the mind for some of us.

 

Getting back to the books we read after having taken care of the most important responsibility of reading God's word: Read something excellent! Find a self-help book. There are thousands of great ones out there from Norman Vincent Peale's "power of Positive Thinking" to Dale Carnegie's "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living", and innumerable books in between. While there is nothing wrong with reading a good work of fiction, save those books for dessert, but don't get too carried away with them. And, should you find a good book that is filled with bad language and suggestive content, maybe you should re-think your definition of a good book.

 

I know you may be wondering why I am spending so much time on this subject, but it has been something that I have been more and more concerned about for a long time. I believe our society has slipped into an electronics based coma, and is drifting towards a fantasy land filled with so many distractions that they have crowded out the time we have remaining to be effective servants of God. For you see, the sole reason that we exist is because God created us, and the main focus of our existence is a pleasing service to both He and Christ.

 

Think about this: Do you think that God is pleased with the way you are using your time? Are we living as true servants, or are we "stealing" the time that He has given us here on earth? The reason it is important to ask such questions is that we will all kneel before Him on that final day and give an answer for the things we have done while here on earth. While there can be no question that it is acceptable and necessary to relax from time to time, we could all do a better job getting our use of time in proper perspective. This is how God inspired King Solomon to sum up this very matter:

 

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12"13-14, (1978 NIV)

 

There was a story a few years ago about a couple who let their kids wander around without adult supervision. I don't want to be judgmental since I don't know the particulars about their exact circumstances, and I was allowed to go different places by myself at a young age when I was growing up some 50 years ago during a much different time. But in this case, the authorities were threatening the couple with all sorts of things if they didn't start keeping a better eye on them. The couple defended themselves by saying they were raising "free-range" children.

 

I mentioned yesterday that my youngest child was in the process of giving birth to her and my son-in-law's youngest child. I am delighted to announce that everything went very well indeed, and we now have a perfect new granddaughter, Amelia! God is great and He has so graciously answered in a most favorable way the many prayers that have been given for both mother and daughter these past nine months! 

 

But what now? Will our daughter and son-in-law just leave Amelia to raise her self? Is their job finished and is it now all up to Amelia to fend for herself? Of course not, for that would be a child abuse of the worse type. Their job now is to give their precious new daughter everything they can to help her grow properly. This includes everything she will need physically, spiritually, and emotionally. It will include going beyond merely taking care of her basic physical needs, for they have a duty (and privilege) to raise up Amelia in the fear and admonition of the Lord. This will include teaching, example, discipline and a great deal of love. It's a big responsibility, but I believe these two godly parents are up to the task.

 

But now, consider this: Have you ever noticed in the religious realm how often we will seek out new converts, only to ignore them shortly after they have been born again? It's almost as if we had just been looking for new recruits and, once having gotten them, treat them as if they are on their own...

 

As if they had been born again to become "free-range" Christians. But this should never be:

 

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-15, NASB

 

Just as God has given parents to raise us up to be prepared to live in this physical world, He has given us numerous men and women tasked with the responsibility to help babes in Christ grow up to maturity. In the writing of the Bible, He gave us the prophets and the apostles. While these men are long since passed, the Holy Word of God that they were inspired to write remains. Since the founding of the church, he has placed teachers and preachers and pastors (the shepherds, also referred to as overseers and elders within Scripture) in the position of helping to train those who are born again.

 

And, while it is clear from God's Word that each individual has his own responsibility in furthering their studies to find out their duties after they become Christians, it is still a process that is enhanced and guided by those whom God has entrusted to the task. This is why our men and women who serve as Bible class teachers are so important, as well as our men who serve in the capacity of preachers and elders. Scripture reveals that a child left to themselves becomes a disgrace, and this is no less true than when a newborn child of God is left to flounder on their own.

 

Again, I want to stress the absolute and critical requirement of the individual to find out for themselves what God's Word reveals, for there are many false teachers, preachers and pastors loose in the religious world. Having said that, these teachers (including parents) and preachers and shepherds that take their responsibility seriously, and who correctly handle the word of truth, must do their part in helping to raise the newly born again soul to maturity.

 

We are not looking for members or new recruits and we are not "counting coup" like a warrior in battle. We are helping to raise the born again Christian into a self-sustaining servant of God who will someday do their part in helping to do the same for others. We are not raising "free range" Christians! Our duty is to help these babes in Christ to truly and properly grow up in their salvation. 

 

 

 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

John 3:2-4, NASB

 

As I write this article, it is about 7:15 AM on Tuesday, the 24th of October in the year 2023. Our third child is in labor with our seventh grandchild. We won't know if it is a boy or girl until it is born, but Carolyn and I cannot wait to find out. The time of labor is a bit daunting, is it not? It is an uncertain and frightening time, until that moment the baby comes into this world and we hear the news that all is well with mama and child, but we know that God is with us and that He has everything under control. It is a comforting thought to keep while we wait.

 

New births are exciting! The anticipation we have and the longing to see what the child will become is as wonderful as it is scary. Will the child be healthy? Will it have what it needs to mature and grow? Will they accomplish great things? There is so much to look forward to - just think about it: A new life! What will become of this brand new human? I cannot wait to find out!

 

As exciting as the entrance of a newborn baby into this world can be, it must be nothing compared to what God sees when one of His beloved children is born again. It is such an important event that our very eternity will rest on whether this new birth takes place or it doesn't. Parents, one of your most important functions is to make sure that your child can mature to the point that they will choose to follow Christ and that they, therefore, will choose to be born again. But, how does this new birth take place? This was the very question that Nicodemus had, and its answer is just as critical today as it was 2,000 years ago, The command to be born of water and Spirit was made while Jesus still walked this earth, but the method was not given until after he was crucified for our sins and then raised from the dead to walk again. Here is how the Apostle Paul described this new birth:

 

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,

we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection.

Romans 6:3-5, NASB

 

So, there it is! We know that there is so much more to salvation than baptism. The Scriptures tell us that we are saved by grace, by the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Further, we are told that we are saved through faith, by our repentance, and by confessing our belief in Christ. And, when all of these things come together, combined with baptism, we are born again! Even better, those who have died to sin, who have been buried in the holy waters of baptism, and who have been raised up out of those waters will rise to walk a newness of life with Christ at the resurrection - they are born again!

 

Can there be anything that is as precious as a newborn baby in the eyes of their parents? Perhaps the only thing that can compare, and even exceed this joyous occasion, is what is seen through the eyes of the Father, when he sees one of His beloved children raise to walk a newness of life.

 

Born again!

 

Have you... been born of water and Spirit?

The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.

G. K. Chesterson

 

We looked at a familiar passage, yesterday, about the easy and hard paths from which we are to choose in life. In that example from Matthew 7, Jesus pointed out that most would choose the easy way. I think we can all see why, because that is the path we would most likely choose, given the choice between hard and easy, but the easy path can be quite deceptive. Experience shows that most of the times we have gone for the shortcut, we ended up off track and very often, lost.

 

There is a splendid book that was written a few years back entitled, " Do Hard Things". It was a book by two exceptional brothers by the name of Alex and Brett Harris. It became a smashing best seller, and has promoted all sorts of programs and efforts to intentionally avoid doing things the easy way and instead seek the path that from the outside looks to have the most resistance. The remarkable thing is that these young men began this quest when they were but boys, and wrote this best seller when they were only teens. In fact, their book is subtitled, "A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations", and is specifically aimed at encouraging people to challenge themselves while they are still young.

 

These two young men must have had remarkable parents to get to this point, but the drive and determination of these twin brothers has far exceeded that exceptional environment in which they were raised. Whether you have teens or not, I believe you will find this book to be a motivation to go beyond the childish expectations that so many of us hold, both parent and teens alike.

 

This idea of doing hard things is nothing new, however. It is as old as this world, for God has always demanded maximum effort from His servants. But, men being men, we have so often bristled at the idea of expending more effort than the bare minimum. It is that attitude which has led to society being weakened, and great nations to rot from the inside out. We could use a resurgence of the attitude towards maximum effort in a drive towards excellence, rather than the settling for mediocrity that has plagued so many in our modern times.

 

And, when it comes to following Jesus, the easy way has never been an option. Consider the following incident from the ministry of Christ:

 

As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." To another He said, "Follow Me" but he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." And Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Yet another said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to those at my home."

Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Luke 9:57-62, ESV

 

When we first look at this passage, we might think that Jesus is being unusually harsh, but that is not the case. The requests to bury one's father and say goodbye to family before heading out are not unreasonable, so there must have been something else that Jesus saw. Perhaps He saw in them the natural human reluctance to really commit to a worthy, but difficult cause. Whatever the situation was, Jesus made it crystal clear that following Him would not be easy. He was not attempting to discourage anyone from the noble task of following Him, but He does appear to make us count the costs prior to our commitment to serve.

 

How about you? Have you counted the costs and found them a bit too high? Are you like me in that you would like to do great and noble things, but they do appear to be a lot of trouble? If so, consider this: The invitation to become a child of God and to serve the Son is the greatest honor that could be given to any man. If we are going to have the nerve to actually accept this great honor that has been extended to us, then we are going to have to put our laziness and selfish preferences towards ease aside, and thrown ourselves into the hardest and most satisfying work that has ever been afforded to mankind.

 

Are you ready to do hard things for God? Then, let's get to work and be determined to never look back!

 

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