"Let God Have His Secrets"

“Let God Have His Secrets”

 

Years ago a missionary visited our New Hampshire church and left his Bible on the pulpit after the service. I called him the next day and asked for his address so I could return it. The street name was unusual so he spelled it. I asked him where the name came from and he replied with a sigh, “Only God knows!”

I remembered this incident recently while reading Ezekiel 37, “The Valley of Dry Bones” (the NIV chapter heading). God asked His prophet, “…Can these bones live?” to which Ezekiel answered, “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” (Verse 3). I pondered this statement and God brought to mind His words in Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God….” The only conclusion we can draw from this is that there are things He, for His own reasons, hasn’t chosen to let us know.

Abraham Lincoln is said to have observed that he wasn’t bothered by what he didn’t understand in the Bible as much as he was by the things he did understand but failed to practice. To this bit of wisdom I respond, “Guilty as charged.” In Revelation 10:4 the Apostle John was commanded not to write down what he’d just seen, but I sometimes wondered what it was until I realized God wouldn’t have withheld it if it was something He wanted me to know. Or how about setting dates for the events surrounding Christ’s return when He Himself said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36, emphasis added)? If Jesus in His humanity didn’t know this how can I be so arrogant as to think I can?

In His Word God has given us “…Everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him….” (2 Peter 1:3). He also reminds us, “…My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways….” (Isaiah 55:8). So, with Honest Abe, let’s act on what we know and let God have His secrets about the rest.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Preventative Praying"

“Preventative Praying”

 

I recently read a summary of the life of Dr. Sara Baker. She was born into a well-to-do family in the Hudson Valley region of New York in 1873. In 1889 her father and brother died of typhoid fever as a result of drinking tainted water from the Hudson River. This loss prompted her to go to medical school from which she graduated in 1898. The bulk of her career was spent working in the poorest sections of New York City, serving those society had all but forgotten. Due to the procedures she put in place as Chief of the Division of Child Hygiene, it has been estimated that 82,000 lives were saved in 15 years. Her goal was simple: Prevent disease rather than have to treat it after it struck.

As Dr. Baker dedicated her life to protecting the public, especially children, from the ravages of sicknesses, so we as God’s people are called upon to aid those in need (“Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless….”—Psalm 82:3). How can this be done? One way is through preventative praying and God-directed actions. We’ve all heard of people in the throes of serious illness who regretted not having had a medical check-up or immunizations. Similarly, we’ve been caught in the trap of prayerlessness and reaped the results (“You do not have, because you do not ask God.”—James 4:2).

At our former church in New Hampshire we provided a number of opportunities to get together with one another to practice preventative praying. None, however, was more crucial than the Heritage Groups, which God raised up to keep the groups’ members’ and others’ children before Him. The name comes from Psalm 127:3 (NKJV): “…Children are a heritage from the Lord…” Doesn’t it make more sense to pray for their protection rather than have to intercede for them when they get in a jam? If we think so, let’s commit to pray for our children (as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren) regularly (aka daily) and “stand in the gap” for the next generations.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Lists"

“Lists”

 

One of the features of “The Late Show with David Letterman” was his “Top Ten Lists, some of which bordered on the absurd to get laughs. A time or two I’ve been tempted to buy The Book of Lists when I’ve seen it while wandering around Barnes and Noble. And if you were to look at my desk you’d find lists of things to do for the day, week or month plus a bucket list for the future. Our lives sometimes seem to be controlled by lists. To take some liberties with Ecclesiastes 12:12: “Of making many lists there is no end, and many lists weary the body.”

Some of our lists probably serve important purposes but in the long run most aren’t too crucial. But what about lists we find in God’s Word? While some might seem pretty insignificant (like the genealogies in various books) and others vital (e.g. the Ten Commandments and the Beattitudes) we must remember that “…Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us….” (Romans 15:4, emphasis added). So no list in the Bible can be dismissed as irrelevant—each one is there for a reason.

Neither Scripture nor life is really about lists but primarily about relationships. In his stinging rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23 Jesus said they had all their lists in place but had ignored the things of which relationships are built, “…justice, mercy and faithfulness.” (Verse 23). Most importantly, though, God’s central message to us isn’t a list of dos and don’ts but how to have a relationship with him through His Son Jesus (“…Christ died for sins…to bring you to God.”—1 Peter 3:18).

Are you and I depending more on lists or the Lord to guide and give purpose to life?

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Never Say Never"

“Never Say Never”

 

For more than 60 years until his Homegoing in 2013 Dr. Howard Hendricks (known to hundreds of his seminary students as “Prof”) was a world-renowned teacher, author, conference speaker, and Christian leader. He is especially remembered for his use of humor in motivating his readers and listeners. In addressing resolution of family conflicts he uttered one of his most memorable sayings: “The two words we always ought to be careful never to use are always and never.” This is great advice for “fair fighting” and effective communication.

During our years in New Hampshire I once baptized a family of four. The wife’s sister and her husband attended the service despite the husband’s having previously said he’d never set foot in a Baptist church. A year or so later I baptized this couple as well. In giving his testimony this man would caution others, “Never say never when God is involved.”

There have been a few times in my life (maybe more than a few) when I said I’d never do something only to have to eat my words later. They were usually spoken out of frustration or anger, and once the smoke cleared God had a chance to get a few words in and bring correction, sometimes showing his “sense of humor.” And the godly wisdom of Dr. Hendricks has helped me to (usually) think before I speak.

One area in which it’s easy to fall into the “I’ll never do this” trap is prayer. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4 the Apostle Paul says, “I urge…that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority…This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all…to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (Emphasis added). I had, in effect, said I’d never pray for certain politicians, entertainers, and others to come to Christ because I didn’t like what they stood for and rationalized they’d never respond anyway. But God convicted me and I no longer knowingly refuse to pray for anyone.

In his pre-Christian days Saul of Tarsus may have been seen as a first-century terrorist. I wonder how many early believers asked God to save him—my guess is more wrote him off than prayed for him. Are we any different today when we hear about those seeking to destroy our faith or limit our right to practice it?

About whom are you and I saying, “I’ll always be careful never to pray for_____!” Take a moment right now to put him/her/them on your prayer list and keep them there! Never think that this won’t always please God! (I thank Karen for that final sentence.)

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan