"Are We There Yet?"

 

“Are We There Yet?”

 

Not long ago I heard a speaker (I can’t recall who it was) say that the most common question during a family road trip was (and probably still is) “Are we there yet?” We heard this often when our kids were small and it still pops up occasionally in Karen’s and my travels. It was a seven hour drive from our first church to my parents’ home on Long Island so there were many repetitions of this inquiry from the back seat. Before one such journey when Dave was about three we told him he could only ask it three times, a quota which was reached in the first twelve miles.

A related question is “How long?” It’s one repeated numerous times in Scripture. For example (emphasis added in each case):

“How long will this man (Moses) be a snare to us?” (Exodus 10:7, spoken by Pharaoh).

“How long will you waver between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21, spoken by Elijah to Israel).

“How long will your journey take, and when will you get back?” (Nehemiah 2:6, spoken by King Artaxerxes to Nehemiah).

“How long will you torment me and crush me with words?” (Job 19:2, spoken by Job to his “friends”).

“How long will you keep us in suspense?” (John 10:24, spoken by the Jews to Jesus).

“How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10, asked by martyrs in Heaven).

 The Hebrew and Greek phrases suggest “When will the/my/our desired results be achieved?” or “When will the/my/our circumstances change?” I know these questions have been in my mind and on my lips many times—maybe you can say the same.

But when it comes to our growth in our faith the answer to “Are we/Am I there yet?” is a firm “no” until we’re with our Savior. The Apostle Paul states, “I feel sure that the one who has begun his good work in you will go on developing it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6, Phillips, emphasis added). So while we’re on this earth we’re works in progress which won’t be completed until we’re in Heaven. “How long” will this be? Only God knows. But until then Jesus admonishes us to “Do business till I come.” (Luke 19:13, NKJV). So let’s keep at it (whatever “it” is for each of us) until He calls us Home.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

 

"Cheap Crosses"

 

“Cheap Crosses”

 

Most Christian churches have crosses inside and/or outside their buildings. Many of these are beautifully crafted and some even ornate. But what about the cross on which Jesus died for my sin and yours? Chances are it wasn’t made of fine wood a craftsman would have used to build furniture for a wealthy client but constructed from lumber which wasn’t suitable for anything attractive. Evangelist and hymn-writer George Bennard had it right when he entitled his great 1912 hymn “The Old Rugged Cross” (emphasis added).

Pastor and author Warren Wiersbe told of a missionary in Brazil who went to a religious festival where he saw a sign over a booth advertising “Cheap Crosses”. The wood from which these symbols were made may not have been valuable or the workmanship first class but they remind us of a great event of inestimable worth: the price our Savior paid on that “cheap cross” so that we might be forgiven and be sure of our eternal Home in Heaven. The wood may have been of poor quality but its impact, to quote a credit card commercial, is “Priceless”.

Years ago I heard a fellow pastor claim that a ministry was promoting a “smooth cross” approach to the Christian life. While I questioned his assessment of this ministry (and still do) I can see where he may have had a valid point. Jesus never promised a trouble-free life (“In this world you will have trouble.”—John 16:33, emphasis added) and neither did Paul (“…Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted….”—2 Timothy 3:12, emphasis added) so why should I expect it? In the words of the missionary cited above, “My Lord’s cross was not cheap. Why should mine be?”

Jesus paid the ultimate price for the sin of humanity when He “…became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8). In light of this Paul pled with his readers (including 21^st century ones) to “…give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice…When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?” (Romans 12:1, NLT, emphasis added). Each of us must answer this question for ourselves—what will mine be?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Boundaries"

 

“Boundaries”

 

On the northern end of the town in which I grew up was Boundary Avenue, which I think defined the borders of school districts. In Idaho Boundary County abuts British Columbia, Canada. Dividing lines between nations, states/provinces and other geographical entities are called boundaries as they mark the limits of administrative authority. Sometimes they’re clearly designated; at other times they’re difficult to determine until the property tax bill arrives and we know who gets our check.

During my chaplaincy training we were required to write verbatims, a fancy term for a blow-by-blow description and analysis of patient encounters. One of my most memorable ones involved a lady whom we termed a “frequent flyer” (a patient who was admitted on multiple occasions). I was spending some time with her when the IV beeper went off. She called the nurse and asked that the bag be changed. After about two minutes she told (not asked) me to get the nurse to come immediately. I declined to do so and said the staff was likely attending to another patient and would be with her as soon as they could. When I presented the account to my colleagues it prompted a lively discussion on setting boundaries in our patient care. I pointed out that this was a biblical principle from Galatians 6:2,5: “Carry each other’s burdens…each shall carry (his or her) own load.” The difference is between helping and enabling.

When we carry another’s burdens we’re providing assistance to one who’s unable (not unwilling) to meet his or her own needs. But it’s enabling if we do what someone can and ought to do for themselves or run the risk of reinforcing unhealthy or inappropriate habits. 17^th century political philosopher Algernon Sidney is thought to have originated the saying, “God helps those who help themselves.” While not a biblical statement it has an element of truth. At times Jesus called for effort on the part of those He helped (“Stretch out your hand,”—Mark 3:5; “Go, show yourselves to the priests.”—Luke 17:14; “Pick up your mat and walk.”—John 5:8) before meeting their need. Often God’s power kicks in when our human strength and abilities reach their limit and He then sees us through.

God also sets boundaries for our behavior (note The Ten Commandments). We’re assured they’re “…not burdensome….” (1 John 5:3) but are given for our good and protection. (I shudder to think of the messes I’d get into without them!) Let’s pray that we’ll see them in this way and use them to His glory in our walk with Him.

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Willingness"

 

“Willingness”

 

(For some time Karen has been journaling her thoughts as she reads through God’s Word. She shared these insights from Matthew 8:1-4 with me in late January and with her permission I’m passing them along to you with the prayer that they’ll resonate with all who read them as they did with me.)

 

In reading David Guzick’s commentary on these verses it really got me to thinking about Jesus’ healing of the leprous man. First, lepers were to stay away from other people. They were mistreated, isolated, rejected and hopeless of ever being healed. But this man approached Jesus more closely than he should have. The Scriptures don’t say what the crowd’s reaction was but it couldn’t have been good.

This is the first time Jesus was called “Lord” in Matthew. Here were all these people following Jesus, watching Him heal and listening to Him teach. But had they made the connection that Jesus was God like the leper had? There’s no indication that any of them had. The crowd walked with Jesus and sat down to listen to Him, but the leper bowed down to Jesus in worship. He recognized that Jesus was Lord and deserved his act of worship.

And then Jesus touched the man, a man who was totally devoid of human touch because of his disease, not because Jesus couldn’t have healed him with just a word but perhaps because the kind touch of another would bring emotional healing to the man as well.

Jesus meets our needs individually. He knows us intimately and thoroughly. I recognize His healing power but I don’t demand that He heal me. I acknowledge His sovereignty and say, “If You want to, if it’s Your will, You will heal me”, just as the leper did. And regardless of my being healed or not, I worship Him, for He is worthy.

 

Grace and Blessing!

 

Karen McMillan