A New Beginning

Do you ever feel like you are a failure and you would like to start over? You can’t, but you can begin now and make a wonderful new conclusion.

This journey to “becoming” begins with the first step. You don’t have to see the whole road to start, just take the first step, and that is putting your uncompromising faith in Jesus. You may be one of two people. One is a person who did trust Jesus as Savior, but you failed to grow spiritually and got on the wrong road. Repentance for you is not unto salvation, but to faithfulness.

Billy Sunday, former baseball player and later evangelist said, “Stopping at third adds no more to the score than striking out. It doesn’t matter how well you start if you fail to finish.” Start now and finish well. 

Perhaps the other you is an individual who never put your faith in Jesus, but now you know the potential He offers through salvation and living faith. The Greek word for repentance, “metanoeo,” means a change of mind, thought, or thinking so powerful that it changes one’s very way of life. In summary it means to turn. Make this the turning point in your life by asking Him to forgive your past and give you new life. The operative word is “new.”

Don’t say to yourself, “I have failed,” “I am broken,” “I have issues of trust.” Shout within, “I am a new creature in Christ,” “I am being renewed,” “I am being transformed.” Develop that new you in your thoughts. That was me, this IS me.

Every sunrise is God’s way of saying this is a new day, make it a great day. You can use them one by one to develop your wonderful conclusion. Every new day is your way to build your life like you wish it had always been. 

Keep in mind there is absolutely nothing that can keep you from living by your standard for the new you. Regardless of where you are on the development scale you can be and do better. Forget about past negatives, ponder the new possibilities. Create your new image and flood your mind with what can be.

There is a story of a great flood that drove people to desperate measures. Two persons awaiting a rescue sat on a rooftop and watched as an old hat floated by. To their amazement it reached a certain point where it turned and went back up stream. To their puzzlement this happened several times. Finally, one said, “I know what that is, grandad said he was going to mow the lawn today come hell or high water.” That is the kind of determination needed in becoming all you can be. Grandad had it and so can you.

Here is the empowering enablement: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)

Your heritage or legacy doesn’t matter. It isn’t important that you be remembered. It’s important that when you stand before the Lord, he says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Aspire to finish strong.

Make your new motto for life: “Semper Crescis,” “Always improving/growing.”

The Fear Factor Foiled

At a critical time in the life of Israel God made them a promise that typifies Him, and gives us hope and help.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41: 10)

“Fear not,” or “Don’t be afraid” appears 365 times in the Bible. God made His pont. Fear casts a foreboding shadow that is much larger than itself. It often freezes a person into inactivity and leads to defeat. Heed the advice of Babe Ruth, “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” It is based on “what-ifs.” 

He gives assurance of two things we have no need to do:

“Fear not,” and “be not dismayed.” These two attitudes capriciously rob us of the joy of life. When either or both impose themselves on you, remember the following.

From the middle east comes this fable indicating the power of fear. 

Pestilence met a caravan on its way to Baghdad and asked the Chief why he was going to Baghdad. “To take 5,000 lives” was the answer.

On the way back Pestilence said, “You fooled me, you took 50,000 lives.” “No, said the caravan Chief, “I killed only 5,000 lives. Fear killed the rest.”

When faced with fear may it be said of you, “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.” (Psalm 34:4-5)

When you do, then the winds of fear are abated and the clouds of dismay dispersed. 

Dismayed is a word meaning don’t give up, don’t quit. When you are inclined to give up, don’t. Perhaps you need to rethink your situation and immerse it in prayer. 

Reasons for not fearing or giving up are noted: “I am with you,” “I am your God, “I will strengthen you,” “I will help you,” and “I will uphold.” Those five factors, like giant reliable marble columns, support us.

Dr. David Livingstone (1813-1873) served as a medical missionary to Africa. For 30 years he suffered hunger, sickness and injuries. “Shall I tell you what sustained me amidst the toils, the hardships, and loneliness of my yielded life?” asked Dr. Livingstone. He continued, “It was the promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end.’” He knew what we each needed to realize, the God who created the Universe is your God.

The last words of an individual are often very important. Among those of Jesus are found these ones of comfort: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled.”

Commitment

Convictions can be costly. Standing by one’s convictions and/or keeping one’s word often offers an awkward opportunity to prove one’s sincerity.

I have a friend whose example of commitment to his convictions cost him dearly. He was the coach of a D1 football team. As he neared retirement he promised one of his assistant coaches that if he would stay with him five more years he would retire and recommend him as his successor. Five years later he won two successive national championships and had the best recruiting class he had ever had. He recounted this and said, “I didn’t want to retire, but I gave him my word so I did.” He then quoted. “If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” (Numbers 30:2)

Though he did not want to retire he kept his word and retired. 

Following is the story of another example of unrelenting commitment:

For months Eric Liddell trained with his heart set on winning the 100-meter race in the 1924 Olympics. Most sportswriters predicted he would win. At the games, however, Liddell learned that the 100-meter race was scheduled to be run on a Sunday. This posed a major problem for him, because he didn’t believe he could honor God by running on the Lord’s Day. He bowed out of the race, and his fans were stunned. Some who had praised him in the past, now called him a fool. He came under intense pressure to change his mind, but he stood firm. Then a runner dropped out of the 400-meter race, which was scheduled on a weekday, and Liddell was offered the opportunity to fill the slot. This was not really “his race.” The distance was four times as long as the one he’d diligently trained for. Even so, he crossed the finish line as victor and set a new record of 47.6 seconds in the process. He earned an Olympic gold medal and made an uncompromising stand for his faith, and his story was told in the Academy Award-winning movie Chariots of Fire. But Eric Liddell has an even greater claim to fame. He went on to become a missionary in China, where he died in a P.O.W. camp in 1945. He’s like Jephthah, who said, “I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it”. The lesson that comes through loud and clear from this man’s life is—stand by your convictions, and God will honor you.

Hope Beyond the Grave

It is said death is one of the most frequently thought of subjects, BUT one of the least talked about. It surely is not in the top 10 of cheery thoughts. Since we all know we will inevitably experience it, it is good to have a healthy understanding of it. First, this confirmation. The good news that follows is predicated on having invested one’s faith in Jesus Christ as savior and seeking to obey and follow Him. By the resurrection dawn’s early light the grave became a symbol of heaven’s triumph.

Death’s night sky would be starless and its day hopeless were it not for Jesus’ exaltation, “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.” (Revelation 1: 18)

Victor Hugo voiced the hope with which many approach the grave. “When I go down to the grave I can say, like so many others: I have finished my work, but I cannot say I have finished my life. My day’s work will begin the next morning. My tomb is not a blind alley. It is a thoroughfare. It closes in the twilight to open in the dawn.”

The light of the world now shines to guild the mountaintops of our achievements and light the valley of the shadow of death.

In a moment, in the twinkling of the eye, we are transported from one life to another. The two lives are really not comparable. The second is so superior to our present one there is no way to compare them. Some people want to know minute details regarding it. Comfort and confidence enough can be gained by the sublime factor Jesus is there. If it is good enough for Him, it will be glorious and fulfilling for us.

Before Columbus, maps of the world off the coasts of England and Europe had written across the unknown sea, “Ne Plus Ultra,” meaning “No more beyond.” Further out in the sea were such inscriptions as, “Here be dragons.” These hope defeating giants were replaced after the voyage of Columbus with “Plus Ultra,” meaning “Much more beyond.”

Jesus’ coming out of the grave proves there is much more in the after-life.

An infinite blessing is found in that it is antithetical to the alternative, hell. The hell of hell is not found in the gory details it embodies, but in the fact Jesus is not there and His love is not to be enjoyed. Heaven offers hope, hell means despair. The Lord leaves the choice to us.

Revel in this reality: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Grave, where is your victory… Thanks be to God, which gives us the victory through our Lord….”

This turns people unable to cope into people of hope.

Who Are You?

A person is who they are to you. The reverse is also true, you are who you are to an individual. For example, person “A” may be kind, gracious, and thoughtful to person “B.” Thus, when person “B” thinks of person “A” that is the image that comes to mind.

Then person “A” encounters person “C” and is curt, rude, and unkind. Thus, when person “C” thinks of person “A” that is the image that comes to mind.

This means we build our reputation person by person. That necessitates consistency. Socrates exclaimed, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Aristotle went further saying, “The highest good for a man is self-realization.” That is a bit of an overstatement, but it does indicate it is important. With this challenge in mind, think of what image you would like for people to have of you. Pause and frame that image clearly. When you have that image clearly in mind, resume reading.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5: 14 – 16) 

Be transparent, let Jesus showcase Himself through you.

We often say of an individual he or she is just like, and name someone we know. Live so that when you leave a person they muse over the likeness of Jesus. 

In using the imagery of a city on a hill Jesus is saying be public about your faith. Don’t be a spiritual chameleon. 

Let’s be realistic, there are times, places, and positions that demand harsh reprimands be given and authoritative commands expressed often with a loud and even stern voice, like a coach. It can be done in an affirming way.

The following text is as relevant as though written today. Read it observing the conditions prevailing and then consider the proper response in such a world.

“Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” (Philippians 2:14-16)

Let your theme song be that old classic, 

“This little light of mine I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.”

                                               Glow on!