Harvest

Labor Day is gone and so is summer. Air conditioners have been turned off as windows are opened to let in the crisp, fresh autumn air. In North America the fall season officially begins. Boxes of holiday decorations will be brought down from storage in anticipation of the festivities that are right around the corner. Thoughts of pumpkin pie, rhubarb tarts and young children trick or treating are beginning to materialize in our minds as school buses once again begin hauling our kids back to school. Hard working mothers rejoice, thanking God for answered prayers of peace and quiet as a long deserved vacation begins.

Fall happens to be my favorite season of the year. I love to sit in my front yard at twilight when cool evening breezes begin to make their appearance. These old friends gently blow my hair back, bring fallen leaves back to life, while pushing them across the canvass that is stretched out directly in front of my swinging lounge chair.  I’m always thrilled to watch as orange light begins to dance upon the rock faces of the mountains. Soon, even the clouds join in the choreography as their soft textures are illuminated in hues of orange, pink, red finally settling down into shades of purple. A myriad of song birds begin to praise the Creator as the star of the show, our sun, disappears behind the night’s curtain unwilling to return for a final encore.

It’s important to take the time to relax and just sit and soak it all in. Our lives can be so busy, full of many trips up and down the hill that many times we arrive back at home dragging ourselves through the door, spent like a worn out shoe. If we are not careful to enjoy every minute connected to God, family and friends, we will suddenly find life has become only a meaningless schedule full of unimportant events. Then one day we wake up and realize we are ten years older, weak and exhausted. As the dust settles and another sunset disappears we discover our lives evaporating like a vapor. Abiding in Jesus Christ, staying connected to God and remaining as a supple branch connected to the vine is the only way to draw up all the spiritual nutrients we need to flourish and produce lasting fruit in our lives and the life of others.

Take a moment to sit down, unwind, grab a warm cup of coffee or tea and listen to Jesus tell a story about staying connected to the “True Vine”.

 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” John 15:1-8.

While many use this text to engage in endless, useless debates about the issue of eternal security, I prefer to just simply stay connected to the vine abiding in Christ. If we willingly choose to yield our lives to the Vinedresser, then He is more than able and willing to prune the dead wood off of our branches. As we surrender to the leadership of God’s Spirit, then He is able to guide us into all righteousness. God is the source of all life. Jesus Christ is the True Vine and source of all the spiritual fruit that we bear for the Kingdom of God.

   

There is a great battle that rages inside every person who is a believer in Jesus Christ. We must recognize the works of the flesh; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and allow God to remove them from our lives. Taking every thought captive we allow God to produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Doomsday

Worrying is an activity that wastes precious time and energy. In the big picture there are many things out of our control that will eventually come to pass. The sun will one day run low on hydrogen causing it to cool and at the same time expand out to the earth’s orbit.  Flying around through the earth’s orbit are rouge asteroids, pieces of rock and metal, that will eventually impact the earth causing dramatic climate changes and extinctions. Did I mention that the earth’s ice caps are melting which will raise the ocean water temperature fueling catastrophic hurricanes and typhoons? 

There is a mountain of trash that continues to be dumped into our oceans. This debris has birthed a floating island of plastic out in the western Pacific Ocean that is already the size of the state of Texas! All over the world coral reefs are dying which is causing a cascade effect on the ocean’s food chain. A chain of consumers that eventually leads to us.

The fact of life is everything born will eventually die. It’s not a question of “if” but more of a question of “when”.

On a less dramatic note, it’s very likely that you will at sometime in the near future misplace or lose your car keys and or wallet, get a speeding ticket, pay excess taxes and keep many unwanted dental appointments.

Doom and gloom is waiting for us, it is perched like a giant vulture ready to scavenge the remnants of any joy we might have had remaining. Let us watch diligently as the latest blood moon gives rise to the ides of September. While it’s entirely possible that the world could end on September 16^th 2015 the truth is the sun will continue to rise and give its light to a new day.

So what are we to do? We are not to live in fear but we are told by the Lord to be prepared and use every twist and turn in the road as an opportunity to encourage, help, save and minister to someone in need.  Preparation is good! David was prepared as he went out to face Goliath. He had used his sling many times before to protect his father’s flock from the lion and bear. David’s preparation included picking up five smooth stones as he came out to face the giant on the battlefield.

Jesus told many stories about being prepared. “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened unto ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five of them were foolish. Those that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard; ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go and meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered saying ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25.

Are you ready and prepared for the return of Jesus Christ to the earth? Being prepared for a possible earthly disaster is one thing; however, being prepared for eternity and where your soul will spend it is an entirely different matter! 

If you have never asked God for forgiveness why don’t you ask to receive His Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior? It’s really simple just admit to Him that you have lived life your way but now you want to turn and walk with Him through life. Just confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved!

If you are already a follower of Jesus Christ then re-examine your life. Do you love others the way Jesus did? Are you kind to other people and seek to encourage and help whenever God calls on you or do you have a hard heart? Ask God to soften your heart by filling your lamp with the oil which is the Holy Spirit!

More than Conquerors

What would it be like to have accurate information on the outcome of a battle before it even begins? As the battle commander you stand on a rocky outcropping overlooking the battlefield with binoculars in hand, stretching out your arm you survey the landscape. Your enemy resembles an immense swarm of locusts as they begin getting into position. Huge guns and tanks are being driven, and then pulled into place while foot soldiers sharpen swords and clean rifles. The floor of an enormous valley is being filled with row after row with soldiers who are more than ready for the first shell to be launched. You can feel your enemy’s presence as well as their tension; tension so thick you could almost cut it with a knife. 

Both sides have devised a battle plan which has been repeatedly rehearsed for a very long time. Every man has been given his orders, knows his specific job and is ready to submit to the officer in charge. Trenches have been dug and supplies stockpiled as the men take up their positions for what is surely to be a bloodbath. Troop morale is flying high as each side truly believes that they will be the ones to emerge as conquerors. 

The sun is being partially blocked out by passing clouds which cast long eerie shadows of darkness onto the battle field. Suddenly, as you stand weighing all possibilities an unfamiliar aid appears with new intelligence. As you open the communiqué, you are informed that you have already won the battle and that your enemy has already been defeated. Your orders go on to instruct you to engage the enemy and continue to fight to the death and not to let up during the heat of battle.

Does this story sound farfetched? Read what God inspired Paul to write in Romans 8:35,37 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written ‘For your sakes we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

 What a blessing we have been given, victory over this great cosmic battle before it even commences. Not gambling on who’s going to emerge victorious, but rather we are told that followers of Christ are more than conquerors! To be more than a conqueror is to go into battle knowing that the battle has already been won! It’s important to note that we are not being withheld from the battle just because of the outcome. We are being told that we will be victorious no matter how dismal the day to day battle looks. Jesus encouraged us that in this world we will have trials and tribulation, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world!

From the cross, Jesus uttered these final words, “It is finished”. The work of redemption was absolutely completely finished on the cross forever. The blood of Jesus coupled with His willingness to lay down His life is the strongest binding force in the universe. The entire satanic rebellion was defeated with one final breath as The Lamb of God gave up His spirit. No greater love has any man that would lay down his life for a friend, however while we were yet sinners, enemies of the cross, Jesus died for us!

So now what? Well, we need to engage in the battle on a daily basis. Our chief weapon is the word of God, which is both living and active and sharp as a double edged sword. Out in front we hold our shield of faith which is able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. Our helmet of salvation protects our head and mind as we remember that we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ! Our feet are firmly planted on the foundation of the gospel where Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone.

Always remember that we are engaged in a battle that has already been won. And even though the sky may look dark for the moment, let us keep producing the fruit of the Spirit which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and continue the fight until we cross the veil that separates us from our eternal victory.