"Staying On the Rails"

 

“Staying On the Rails”

 

Over the past several months the news has been filled with reports of train derailments across our nation, the most serious of which was in East Palestine, OH causing the release of harmful chemicals. As I listened to and read of these incidents my mind went back some 40 years when we were serving in New York’s southern tier. About 6:00 one morning we heard a loud noise, the ground shook and our power went out. The reason: a train had gone off the tracks a couple of blocks away. In my curiosity (read nosiness) I quickly got dressed and headed to the site. On the way I met up with the town’s funeral director so the first ones on the scene were the preacher and undertaker! (Thankfully neither of our services were needed.) As with most such happenings it took several days for the town and railroad to get back to normal.

When a train derails some cars and their cargo are destroyed. Others, however, are repaired and resume their life on the rails. But in the process there are delays and impact on people and commerce, showing that such circumstances can have far-reaching effects.

Sometimes we as God’s people get “off the rails” of God’s commands and desires for us, leading to troubles in our lives (“…the way of the unfaithful is hard.”—Proverbs 13:15) as well as those around us (“…a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”—1 Corinthians 5:6). But as we get back on the rails of God’s Word our positive influence can be restored. Remember John Mark? He bailed on his first ministry effort (Acts 13:13) which prompted a rift between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:36-41) but Paul later described him as “…helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:11). So God is not only our Savior but Restorer.

As rails keep trains going to their intended destination Scripture keeps us on the right path (“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”—Psalm 119:105). A line in a chorus from yesteryear says, “The road may be long but my Savior is strong!” And we can be sure of His promise: “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go….” (Genesis 28:15). So let’s remember His command in Isaiah 30:21 (modified to fit the theme of these thoughts): “These are God’s rails; stay on them.”

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Victims or Victors?"

 

“Victims or Victors?”

 

Dictionaries define victim as one who is harassed, tricked or injured by circumstances beyond their control. In contemporary culture, however, the term has had its meaning expanded to include those who have experienced misfortune due to their own poor planning, rash decisions or when events go against their wishes or the way they think things ought to be. This has created a “victim mentality” in which manipulation is used to get what they want (or feel entitled to have) or avoid accountability.

We as God’s people may sometimes feel like victims when our biblical values are ignored by legislators, judges and current societal “norms”. But should these trends take us by surprise? Listen to the words of Jesus: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18). A major theme in Acts is how those early believers suffered for Him (“The apostles…{rejoiced} that they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”—Acts 5:41). So they didn’t see themselves as victims but victors and lived out John’s later words: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4). (This is the basis of John Yates’ great 1882 hymn “Faith Is the Victory”—check it out in a hymnal.) A generation later Paul told his protégé, “…Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12). And this prospect is for us today as well.

In April we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection, the most important truth of our Christian faith. What the religious leaders, Romans and Satan thought was their greatest victory—that they’d gotten rid of Him through a series of kangaroo court hearings leading to His being condemned to a humiliating and excruciatingly painful death by crucifixion—ironically turned out to be their greatest defeat when our Savior emerged bodily from the tomb, (See the previous posting “Irony”.) Jesus, then, was the ultimate Victim who became the greatest Victor, leading Paul to cry out, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57, emphasis added). And with this victory comes a challenge: “Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

We may see and think of ourselves as victims but God sees us as victors. How do we see ourselves?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Irony"

 

“Irony”

 

Irony is a literary device in which what might be expected doesn’t happen and the unexpected does. Noted practitioners of this craft include Shakespeare, Ibsen and Dickens. Interestingly a number of biblical accounts reflect unexpected outcomes. Just today (March 29) Karen and I read the Exodus 2 story of Moses’ birth, how his life was saved when Egypt’s princess found him floating in the Nile and how his quick-thinking sister’s actions led to his mother’s caring for him at public expense. As a present-day example, a couple in one of our churches was the only bidder to transport their children to a Christian school in keeping with state education regulations so they were paid to drive them there, much to the annoyance of a humanistically-inclined School Board member. In both these cases God used civil law to accomplish His purposes. And don’t forget how Paul used his right as a Roman citizen to speak to a hostile crown (Acts 21:39-40).

What are some other ironical stories in Scripture? Perhaps the most familiar is David and Goliath in which a young shepherd-turned-soldier killed a 9+ foot warrior with a stone and sling (1 Samuel 17). Then there’s the often overlooked record of how a young Jewish woman named Esther saved her people from possible extinction at the hands of Haman whose pride led to his being hanged on the very gallows he built for her guardian Mordecai—read the book that bears her name. And how about a ragtag group who followed Jesus, ran away when the going got rough, saw him alive after His crucifixion and led in the establishment of His church which is still alive and well after 2000 years? How can all this be explained? Maybe William Cowper put it best in the1774 hymn:

“God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform…

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace…

His purposes will ripen fast, Upholding every hour…

Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.”

In my judgment, however, the most ironical truth is this: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, emphasis added). That includes me—and you! In the 1949 words of songwriter Beatrice Bush Bixler, “What mercy, what love and what grace!”

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan

"Playing or Watching?"

 

“Playing or Watching?”

 

In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s Yankee managers Casey Stengel and Ralph Houk would sometimes have veterans change positions to make way for upcoming younger players. Such was the case with Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra. For about three seasons (1960-1962) he often played in left field—I saw him there in a game at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1962—which led to one of his famous quotes. Left field was difficult to play in the daytime hours in the old Yankee Stadium because the sun came over the stands in such a way that it was hard to see the ball which prompted Yogi to observe, “It gets late early out there!” During another spring training the Yankees tried him out at third base. When a sportswriter asked him how he liked his new position Yogi reportedly replied, “Playing third ain’t so bad if they don’t hit nuttin’ to you!” (I could list a lot more “Yogiisms” but that’s for another time.)

As I recalled this bit of “Berra wisdom” I began thinking about how a baseball player may sit on the bench or stand on the field for an inning or two without touching the ball and feel he’s made a contribution to the team while all he’s done is occupy space. We might look at our Christian life in such a way. We may feel we’ve fulfilled our responsibility to God by showing up and sitting in a pew and that’s that! So are we playing (i.e. living) out our faith or just watching as a spectator? Which does God desire and expect of us?

From my reading and understanding of Scripture I see He wants you and me to be actively engaged in serving Him and those around us with our best Spirit-directed efforts. Let Him speak:

*”Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might….” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

*”Serve wholeheartedly….” (Ephesians 6:7).

*”Serve the Lord with gladness….” (Psalm 100:2).

*”Each one should use whatever gift (he or she) has received to serve others….” (1 Peter 4:10).

*”…Serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13).

Baseball, football, etc. are spectator sports in which fans watch gifted athletes demonstrate their skills. Not so with Christian faith—it’s a “participation sport” in which all are given something to do (note “Each one” in 1 Peter 4:10 above). So I need to ask: Am I playing in the game or merely watching others from the bench?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan