Stuck in the Moment

I look around and there is nothing but a vast empty chasm open before me. I look as far as my eyes can see and just beyond the horizon I see a faint piercing light. Something inside of me jumps at the sight, as if this sudden deep immeasurable desire of something more has finally been found. I look again the faintness of the light puts me in a bit of despair as if maybe there is no hope of reaching it, especially as I look dejectedly down at the abyss thousands of miles deep near my feet. What am I supposed to do? For miles around me a hopeless landscape covers acre upon acre of my view. There is not even anyone around me to help. As I stand there unable to move, stuck in the moment waiting, for what I myself am not sure? 

It seems that millions across this world are searching, uncertain if they could ever cross that rift between them and that faint hope across the horizon. There are so many who feel they have no business even stepping into the Church as their lives have been so messed up and the preacher is bound to look straight into their eyes and know every one of their sins. The distance and differences they feel between them and ‘cradle’ Christians are too vast and deep that they do not want to try too hard to know the source of the light and hope they can see ever so faintly. 

How did we become disoriented so much so that we have forgotten God’s grace and mercy which was generously poured out on our lives, we easily judge the ‘greater’ sins of those new in faith? We forget from where and how far we ourselves have come. Jesus came to save the sick, poor, needy, disenfranchised, the sinners. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, yet because we’ve been raised in the Church we forget that being saved is more than the prayer we prayed when we were six years old. This new life we live is about knowing God’s saving grace which has taken us across that deep chasm and abyss of fears and sins to that light across the horizon. It is a life that we live forever grateful for His love and forgiveness. Crossing over that gulf of emptiness is not defined by the number or intensity of our sins, it is about us realizing our fragility and allowing ourselves to trust in something greater than anything our minds can comprehend. 

The sins of our past are forgiven and forgotten but let us continue to live accountable and responsible for every breath we breathe. The great divide has been crossed, our lives and backgrounds may differ, and our ethnicities diverse. Yet our humanness brings us together in humility. Our thirst for that something greater than ourselves drives us to the level ground at the foot of the cross. 

Acts 10:15, 33 “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean…Now we are all here in the presence of God…”

*I wrote this a few years ago for IPF 

R. C. Sproul writes, “Men are never duly touched and impressed with a conviction of their insignificance, until they have contrasted themselves with the majesty of God

I wonder how Joseph felt in prison, innocent. I wonder how he felt when his own brothers rejected him. I wonder how David felt when his brothers laughed at him when he said he was going to kill the giant that dared to defy the God of Israel. How did he feel when he spent 13 years hiding in caves, running for his life when he had every right to sit on the throne in his own Kingdom. How did Moses feel while shepherding sheep knowing he gave up a life of palace luxury. 

I see a backdrop of colors, light, and darkness melting into one in an asian jungle sunset. 

A tiny seemingly insignificant creature buzzes around a field of colors sprouting, waving in the breeze.

As the cold air starts to frost and freeze a picturesque scene of woods and sky, a water's reflection, frozen in time.

Changes occurring every second of everyday, constantly moving, ever revolving seemingly leaving us behind.

Seasons come and go.

Waves crash upon the shores of time washing away what was, slowly dragging away what is to come. 

Because He Lives

The fact that someone would die for you is sometimes a hard thing to process. The fact that someone who is God and man would not only die for you but rise again makes it even harder to believe. Isn't it unbelievable that someone would be crucified for you, bear such shame, be beaten, whipped and mocked just for you? Isn't it amazing that someone could say because I died and rose again your sins are forgiven, your burdens are mine, your sickness and diseases, your shame, your guilt is gone. Is it hard to believe that someone would say I love you, I did all this for you and all you have to do is simply believe. Amazing isn't it, just believe. Jesus came so you can have life and life more abundantly. It's not an easy life but one that despite life's difficulties we find hope, we find joy, we find peace through Jesus. It is hard to believe that this can be true. Yet, my life will never be the same because I believe and I'm sure yours won't be either.