The Simple Truth

This is an excerpt from the eulogy/message I gave at my Uncle's funeral over the weekend. There is powerful truth here, because it comes from God. It speaks to me; I pray it may speak to you as well.

There is nothing wrong with being simple. In fact, God's Word tells us in Psalm 25:9, He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. God calls us to be simple. In fact, he tells us that we must come to him with simple faith, like that of a child, if we are to inherit the kingdom of God.

This is an area where so many struggle. All too often those of us who are workers and fixers, who are providers and doers, who see our role as taking care of things and others, struggle to see and accept that there is someone who is willing to take care of us.

We struggle to believe that there is a place prepared for us that was not prepared by our hands, by our efforts. We struggle to grasp that we have a Father who waits to welcome us to a place more magnificent than any we can imagine. A place where there will be forevermore no more suffering, no more pain. A place where God Himself will wipe every tear from our eye and wrap us in His loving, comforting arms. We struggle to accept that there is a way for even me to know eternal peace.

That way, and the only way, is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said this so simply in John 14:6 where we read His words: I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. This simple truth, that there is a way to God, a way to eternal life without fear, or pain, or suffering, is not easy for all to accept, but it is of utmost importance and eternal consequence that we do.

It is sometimes in the later part of our journey, that part that can be so hard, that these matters of God become more obvious. Thanks be to God that He is patient, that He waits for us, to meet us wherever we are. Thanks be to God for this simple, but vitally important reality: Jesus is our Good Shepherd.

It is sometimes in his last months, weeks, or even days that a man comes to peace with his Maker. In the face of a struggle he cannot overcome, a mess he cannot clean up, a time when he needs to be taken care of instead of taking care of others that he comes to God and God comes to him.

I believe a simple man can accept Christ with the simple faith of a child. We who live as or among farmers understand the role of the shepherd, and that gives us some greater clarity as to the role of God. The role of a father who is willing to take time to care.

This is the God of Psalm 23. Listen with me to a comforting word which is so familiar to many of us

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

he makes me lie down in green pastures

He leads me beside still waters;

he restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley

of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil;

for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff,

they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

thou anointest my head with oil,

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

for ever.

This is the word of a God who cares, who takes the time to care. Who's willing to work, 'til the darkest hour if needed, until the work is done.

Give Me What I Deserve?

Here's the attitude of the world:

I've earned it, now give it to me.

I've put in the work, the hours, the effort. I've shed blood, sweat, and tears. I've got the title, the position, the name. I deserve it because of who I am, or who I know, or whatever.

Give me what I deserve.

Here's the reality of God.

Psalm 103:10  

He (God) does not treat us as our sins deserve 
 or repay us according to our iniquities.

Do you really want what you deserve?

Do you really want to live in a truly "fair" reality?

Do you really want God to be only "fair?"

Let me show you what that looks like.

No more grace.

Grace is unearned favor. In a purely "fair" world, there would be no unearned anything. Everyone would get exactly what they deserve, and nothing more.

That means no more Ephesians 2:8, which reads, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

In your "fair" world, the second half of Romans 6:23, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, would not exist. There would be no gifts. No grace. No unearned favor.

We can't earn eternal life. It's given to us freely. Do you want God to start being "fair?"

No more mercy.

Mercy is the withholding of deserved punishment. In a "fair" world, everyone would get exactly what they deserve, and nothing less.

That means your sins, every single one of them, would count. And since Romans 3:23 tells us all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and Romans 6:23 tells us the wages of sin is (eternal) death, that's what we'd all get.

Game over.

God isn't fair.

I don't want Him to be. I don't want what I deserve. I want Him to be gracious. I need Him to be merciful. If He were fair apart from His mercy and His grace, I'd be doomed and damned. And so would you.

God isn't fair. He gives us more than we've earned, and punishes far less than we deserve.

Life isn't fair either.

Accept it, and be careful what you ask for.

If you start shouting for fairness, you just might get it.

 

Who Is Going To Save You?

Everybody needs saving.

Maybe you know this, maybe you don't. Or maybe you know it, but don't want to accept it. I know from the Bible that everyone needs salvation, and I believe from observation that everyone knows it. How can I say this? Because I see people every day looking for salvation. Sadly, too many are looking in all the wrong places.

The recent political upheaval is a good example. The way some people talk about the two political candidates, you'd think one was Christ incarnate and the other the Anti-Christ. The identities of each change depending on who you talk to.

Now I don't think either candidate is the Anti-Christ. I can say with absolute confidence, however, that neither is the Christ. There has only been one Christ, and He came over 2,000 years ago. When He returns, there will be no question of who He is.

The point is, people grab on to something--sometimes anything--to give them security. They know they need saving, even if they don't know what they need saved from. There is an insecurity within all of us causing a craving, a desire, a need for salvation. I call it the God-Sized Hole.

We all have it.

This God-Sized Hole is that desire within us to be safe and secure, to know without doubt that whatever happens, we are safe. It is the desire to be saved.

Since the beginning, people have tried to stuff this God-Sized Hole with everything but God. Money, power, sex, drugs--you name it. If those don't work, they try to shove another person in there to plug the dam. Father, mother, preacher, politician, children, spouse, or themselves. The problem is, none of them fit. Nothing will plug that hole but God. It's simply too big.

When that hole remains unfilled, the need to be saved remains. To find security, people run here and there, grabbing this and hoarding that, shoving more and more stuff into the seemingly bottomless pit deep in their gut. All to no avail. That hole isn't going anywhere, and it's not going to get filled up until you put the perfectly round peg in the perfectly round hole.

Only God can fill that hole, and save you.

Jesus Christ said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  What He is talking about is the hole we all have. Only He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Only He is salvation. Only He can grant access to eternity with the Father. That is what it means to be saved. That is the hole we all have deep within us. That's what we desperately want to fill.

Only God, through Jesus Christ, can do that.

Do you want saved? Do you want to be eternally safe and secure? Do you want that nagging, gnawing craving that makes you always want more and more to go away? Of course you do. We all do.

The only way to get there is through The Way. Jesus.

Here's what to do.

Talk to God. Yes, it really is that simple. Talk to God. Tell Him you want Him to fill that emptiness inside you. Tell Him you know that you need saved, that there are things in your life you need saved from. Confess or admit that Jesus is the only way for this to happen.

If you do this, and mean it. . . If you really believe that you are lost without Him, and you ask Him to save you, He will. It doesn't matter what you've done, who you are, or how many times you've rejected Him. All you have to do is accept Him now. Today.

Do you feel that hole inside you even now? Then fill it once and for all.

You need saved, and there's only One who can do it.

His name is Jesus. 

It's God's Breath In Our Lungs

I'm not a big singer.

When driving, I usually listen to talk radio. When I do listen to music, I rarely sing along. At birthday parties, I'm the guy mouthing the words. Even when working out I don't listen to music--I have an audio Bible I listen to, or I suffer in silence. I can't say that I don't like music; it just doesn't usually move me like it does other people.

There are days, however, when that's not true.  Yesterday happened to be one of those days.

In church we sang the song, Great Are You Lord.  I had to research the song in writing this to even find out who wrote it and found that it seems to have been originally written by a group called All Sons and Daughters. If that's in error, I apologize. My point isn't the song. My point comes from one line in the song that really grabbed me.

It's your breath in our lungs.

This isn't a new song for our church. I've heard it over and over, and yes, I realized what it was saying. This time, though, it really jumped out at me just how dependent we are on God. Our very breath comes from Him (Acts 17:25). That got me thinking about how we should act in response.

As the song goes, It's your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise.  Because we recognize that the breath in our lungs comes from and belongs to God, our response should be to pour out our praise to Him.

But do we?

Do we really recognize and acknowledge that our very breath is a gift from God? Do we take that understanding, accept it, and respond the only way we should--by pouring out our thanks and praise?

Not often enough.

God gives us everything we need.

Starting with that breath you just took. The food we eat, the water we drink, the clothes on our back, the roof over our heads and everything else. Some have these things in greater quantity or quality than others, but all comes from God. Whatever you have, even if it is no more than the breath in your lungs, comes from God.

That's enough to be thankful for.

But we get caught up in what else we want from God. We want warmer air to breathe, so we ask God to give us a vacation home down South. Or we want it cooler, so we ask God for a break in the weather. We don't want to share our air with anyone else, so we ask God for solitude, or we're lonely so we ask God for someone to share it with.

It's not wrong to ask God, but it is wrong to fail to recognize what we already have and to thank Him for it. He already gave us the breath of life, and each breath we take. That's everything. That's life! He's also given us life eternal through His Son Jesus Christ. We have life because Jesus sacrificed His breath for our sake.

What more can we ask for?

It's time we poured out a little praise.

Today, recognize that without the breath God gives us, we wouldn't be here. Recognize that whatever else you want, God has already given you that. Realize your next breath depends on Him as well. If He gives us nothing else (but He does!), that alone deserves all our praise and adoration.

As you take a breath today, thank God for it.

The change in our perspective will be good for us.

To A Veteran

Let me begin by saying thank you.

As I reflect on that eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, I am humbled. You don't know me, nor I you, and yet here I sit, in freedom and liberty, because of you. Thank you.

Your courage and strength, your determination and grit, your blood, sweat, and tears are not only the purchase price of my freedom and that of this great nation, but also beacons of hope and inspiration. If any person can reflect on what you have given and not draw near to tears with thankfulness, I care not to meet them.

I don't know what you've been through. I cannot pretend to understand either the heights nor the depths you've experienced and explored as you have served. The losses you may have suffered, the sacrifices you have made, the turmoil you knew, and perhaps know even today, are beyond my comprehension. I cannot relate. I can only extend my sincerest gratitude that you, my brother or sister in this great republic, have been willing to do so for me.

That Old Glory still flies, I owe to you. Though that mighty banner has been attacked and reviled, tattered and torn, you stood guard before our most precious symbol with resolve and purpose, and prevailed. That Lady Liberty stands tall, and that for which she stands, is because you rose and answered an honorable call. I can choose how to live because you chose to give your life.

Thank you.

Though it is unlikely that we will ever meet in this life, it is an honor for me to imagine that I may, one day, shake your hand, look you squarely in the eye, and tell you those two little words face to face. I mean them. I want you to know, whatever your role, that your service is so greatly appreciated. We, and I mean me, don't say that enough.

Wherever you are, and wherever you may have been, I pray Godspeed for the rest of your journey, and that His grace and mercy may follow you, wherever your path may lead.

With the deepest thanks and appreciation,

Bill Severt




 

Remind The People . . . (Titus 3:1)

My life isn't about politics.

 Neither should yours be. I'm not saying we should not be involved in the political process--we are indeed to use our voice and our vote according to how God directs us. What I mean is that politics should not, must not take the place of God. That means we should not, cannot look to politics or a particular politician for our deliverance or salvation. There is only one Deliverer, one Savior, and He is Jesus Christ.

That's what my life is about. Jesus. Doing what He says.

So does Jesus talk about politics?

You bet.

There are many verses in the Bible I could pull in here. I choose these because of the divisiveness, anger, and outright hatred I've seen and heard. Read these, and then act accordingly. Not because I say so. I have no authority. Do so because this is the word of God.

Titus 3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Romans 13:1, 2 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

I Timothy 2:1, 2 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone--for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

My life isn't about politics, but politics is part of life. As with all things, the Bible tells us how to deal with it. 

Why?

Why did Paul tell Titus to remind the people to be subject to rulers and so on? Because, in Titus 3:3-8, he explains that our old way of life was to be foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved but through Jesus Christ all that changed so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable to everyone. If we're focused on hate and division, we cannot do what is good. And that's what matters.

Paul tells the Romans to submit to the authorities because God put them there. Period, enough said.

And he urges Timothy to pray for those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. Because this is good, and pleases God. I want to please God. Do you?

God knows a house divided cannot stand.

Mark 3:24 and 25. If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

God knows that unless we submit to the authorities He has placed over us, we will divide and go our separate ways. If we as a nation are divided, we cannot stand. We cannot do what is good. We cannot live peaceful, quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Therefore, this bears repeating:

 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.

Who Is God?

We had a good discussion in our Sunday School class yesterday.

We were discussing the different names of God, and how we have experienced God by His different names. For example, many of us have experienced God as Provider, Comforter, our Strong Fortress, Prince of Peace, and Savior.

Some people have many gods. To them, their Provider is not the same as their Comforter, and their Strong Fortress is not their Prince of Peace. As in the times of Paul, these people have so many Gods they do not even know who they all are, or what they do. When Paul was in Athens, he commented on their tribute to AN UNKNOWN GOD (Acts 17:23).

For me as a Christian, there is only one God. He presents in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but He remains one God. This reality of the Trinity is difficult to understand, but I believe it to be true. I also believe it to be true that my God is the only God I need, and, in fact, is the only God there is.

But who is He?

Moses asked this question.

At the burning bush, when God told Moses to go to the Israelites with a message, Moses asked how he should respond when the people asked him what God's name was, God responded, "I AM WHO I AM" (Exodus 3:13, 14). That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it. Who is God? He is Who He Is.

So if God is I AM WHO I AM, what does that mean?

There are many titles for God in the Bible, and He is all of them. He is God Almighty; God Most High; Lord; God Everlasting; Father; Savior; Counselor; Provider . . . the list goes on and on. What sets God apart from idols is that He truly is who He says He is. God truly is our Father. He truly is our Provider. He truly is  Savior, and Prince of Peace.

We don't need anyone else. He is our All in All.

Who is God to you?

This is an important question, and one that only you can answer. What do you know about God's role in your life? Is He your Strong and Mighty Fortress, a place of rest in times of trouble? Is He your Lord of Provision, who gives all things? Is He your Master, your Lord?

It is one thing to say God is everything to you. It's quite another to live it.

Who God is to you is evident by how you live. If you say God is your Provider, but you really look to the world (money) for provision, who is your god? If you say God is your Strong Tower, but in times of trouble you count on yourself for protection, who do you trust in? If you say God is your Comforter, but in times of pain you turn to a substance, where is your trust?

All of this is to say God is the great I AM. He is all we need Him to be, and more.