Mist

Recently two groups I am involved with have been examining life, living in this world and true priorities. We discussed how difficult it is to walk with proper focus – without the world’s distractions. As we have discussed and studied we realize how temporary, yet what opportunities there are in life; how trying, yet how wonderful it can be; how limiting, yet such joy is possible. As such we came across James 4:13-14;

13Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

I recently stumbled upon the story of a young man named Clayton MacDonald and I had the opportunity to see a video where he discussed this same passage. What an amazing witness and example. His story is so tragic in emotional and temporary terms, but so victorious in spiritual and eternal terms. I was simply amazed at his courage, passion, focus and energy to help all that he could. Clayton was an extraordinary teen, student, champion diver, but more than that Clayton was a Christian. Clayton battled cancer from a young age, yet his priorities in life were so amazingly clear. His life must have been anything but easy yet he set such an example.

Clayton recently died of leukemia and I am confident that all is well with Clayton. I take comfort in Revelations 21;

3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." 5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Clayton knew his time was but a mist and he gave his all to ensure that everyone he came into contact with might have eternal hope. His focus was true and pure. Clayton was confident of his position; by the grace of God we all can be just as confident. One day I plan to shake Clayton’s hand; brothers in Christ. I highly recommend that anyone reading this take a few minutes out of their busy schedules and watch this short video about Clayton’s life.

Clayton’s Story

This video is so convicting, so encouraging, so true! Friends, I must ask, what is our life? God may our mist be a mist of faith, a mist of hope, a mist of truth, a mist of service, a mist spent glorifying you.

Grace and Peace!

Sweet Holy Spirit

Have you ever considered just how important and vital the Holy Spirit is? The whole subject of the Trinity can be so complicated yet there are great teachings on the nature and the character of God the Father, there are great teachings on the person and work of God the Son, but when did you last read a book devoted to God the Spirit?

In his book “Knowing God”, J. I. Packer states that “the average Christian, deep down, is in a complete fog as to what work the Holy Spirit does”. I must admit it is a little confusing to me as well. Packer goes on to show that without the spirit there would be “no gospel and no New Testament”. Packer points out you can see it so clearly in 1 Corinthians 2:9-13;

9However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

Packer surprisingly concludes that without the Holy Spirit there would be no Christians. You have to think about that for a few minutes… Examining 2 Corinthians 4:4 we can see;

4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

So clearly without the power of the Holy Spirit we would remain blinded. You know this is really amazing. Still it can be complex; hard to grasp. I did find a great description of the absolute necessity of the Holy Spirit and the link to the Father and the Son. It is from a sermon given by Spurgeon and in it he says;

“Christ’s blood and righteousness are like wine stored in the wine-vat; but we cannot get thereat. The Holy Spirit dips our vessel into this precious wine, and then we drink; but without the Spirit we must die and perish just as much, though the Father elect and the Son redeem, as though the Father had never elected, and though the Son had never bought us with his blood. The Spirit is absolutely necessary. Without him neither the works of the Father, nor of the Son, are of any avail to us.”

Remarkable! These intricate workings; so comforting; so necessary, so loving! I am reminded of the words of Christ in John 14;

25"All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

My friends do not be troubled and do not be afraid; for the Spirit is with you. Father, thank You so much for this majestic plan, thank You for Your Son; our Redeemer and thank You for Your Spirit; our Counselor.

Grace and Peace!

Passing the Torch

My wife and I have been through an emotional time; our youngest daughter graduated from High School. I am so thankful that our kids had the opportunity to attend a Christian School. As such there is a tradition of having a “senior breakfast” with parents, teachers, and students. It is a time of fellowship, food, fun and prayer.

During this breakfast the School Pastor gave a message from 2 Kings 2. It is the passage where Elijah “passes the torch” to Elisha. It is an amazing passage;

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied. 10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not." 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. 13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

This morning it was a message to the kids; a message that now they had been trained and instructed and were about to head out into the world and much like Elisha they must now pick up the “cloak” and with faith strike the water and cross over to independence, while also becoming a Christian light. It was a great message and challenge, but deep within was also a message to the parents.

Now the kids stayed to rehearse for graduation and the parents all left for home. It was kind of a quiet ride home for us. We were listening to our favorite radio station and the DJs had written letters to their kids that were about to graduate and there was such emotion. One wrote that he hoped he had done enough to help prepare their child, one wrote how much he enjoyed spending time with his child and then one wrote thanking God for choosing her to be the parent of her child. I don’t do it justice, but hopefully you get the point.

My wife and I are now driving down the road holding hands with tears in our eyes; our little girl all grown up.

God, thank you for this day! God, I hope and pray we did enough and thank you so much for allowing us to be the parents of such fine daughters. As the School Pastor prayed, we too pray for a double portion of your spirit to bless the class of 2009.

Grace and Peace!