Future

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It is written somewhere that “Every saint has a past and every sinner a future.” Undoubtedly, each of us has a few dark spots somewhere in the past. There might even be a few skeletons hidden in closets that we’d preferably leave right there. Hopefully such things are yesterday’s old news. Hopefully none of us live two different lives in one and the same breath. We need to be careful of operating under two sets of values — one for church and one for the rest of our lives. Such a lifestyle is simply hypocritical. It’s inauthentic in any language. When you’re one person when you’re with friends and another when you’re alone, warning signals are sounding. No, then you’re already in the danger zone. Then you’re on a slippery downhill slope.

What a shock for others when they need to face up to the fact that you’re not “the real deal”. Worse still: it grieves God who knows these things from the start. A life of integrity before Him is about living authentically before Christ and others. It implies being that unique person who God meant you to be when you saw the light after a heavenly planning session. That’s why you shouldn’t leave any room for mistakes, sins and other shortcomings. Take these to Christ. He’s the only atonement for these, like 1 John 2 says. Leave these right there with Him. Don’t strengthen your bad habits through repetition. Start every day over and new with the Lord. Then you have a guaranteed present and future.

 

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The reason: God-need!

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Why did Jesus so desperately want to come to us? Why couldn’t he remain in heaven for a few seconds longer? Well, because of that storm! A terrible storm raged over all the earth with no help in sight. The name of the storm? God-need! Sadly, the religious professionals of the day on earth did not have the answer, nor the rescue equipment to save the victims. How could they when they were part and parcel of the problem… when they were the main reason for the terrible storm?

God-need?! Well, God-need…

  • …is to stand alone in the wind and tempestuous weather outside God’s art gallery.
  • …is the worst form of alienation, even when you are surrounded by throngs of people.
  • …leaves you God-less and alone, isolated all on your own.
  • …is the greatest hunger and thirst, even if you indulge your physical appetites every day.
  • …is to be cut off from your heavenly umbilical cord. It means missing your only route home because you missed out on Jesus.
  • …is to be a lifelong prisoner within the “safe harbor” of religious environments. God-need is to live in spiritual arrogance because you believe you have all the answers locked up in your well-preserved belief systems.

 

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Breaking news: Holy chaos in heaven!

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From: THE CHURCH OF THE PERFECT STORM, LEN SWEET (ED) 2008 an excerpt from a chapter by Stephan Joubert: “In Sync with Jesus and the Perfect Stormers”

One day unexpected chaos broke out in heaven… holy chaos! This happened just after the news broke that Jesus would soon be going to earth. Moments of stunned silence deafened the beautiful sights and sounds of heaven’s praise and worship. Then, everybody started talking aloud at the same time. Amidst this holy chaos, the archangel Michael, spoke out: “My Lord, why? The earth is definitely not worthy of your personal presence. Let me go in your place. With my sword I will subdue the nations in a divine instant.”

Jesus refused his offer, as well as an equally tempting offer by all the other angels for a swift heavenly coup d’etat on earth. He would personally undertake the dangerous journey into the terrible storm that raged on earth.

The angels in charge of heaven’s garderobe, realizing the futility of their efforts to stop Jesus, then said: “Dear Lord, at least allow us to pack your suitcase for the journey. We will prepare a beautiful golden halo and fine kingly robes for you.”

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No “S” on his chest

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The cartoon character Superman always boasts an S-sign on his chest. When he is in his normal clothes and he suddenly needs to handle a crisis, he first tears open his shirt to show his super-clothes! How different to the Hero from heaven! Jesus didn’t arrive among us clothed in a special uniform. Also, He didn’t carry heavenly laser-guns. Jesus’ earthly dress was discrete, because it was the clothes of slaves, like Paul reminds in Philippians 2. Jesus’ friends were the vulnerable, the sinners and the normal people. His only ‘weapons’ were his life-giving words and deeds.

Sinners got a fresh start with Him every time. In his presence the sick could expect a healing touch. How different is that from today’s heroes who want to crash, shoot or bomb everything from their path with power and violence. Jesus walked after people to carry their burdens. He’s the Good Sheppard. He’s the Light of the world. He shares living bread and normal bread. He’s the Bridegroom who gives joy to anyone who walks close to Him.

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The time-field is equal

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When the word “time” is involved, you often hear that time flies, time is scarce, time is valuable, or that time shouldn’t be wasted. That’s why I had to laugh when I read somewhere about a letter Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote on 6 June 1825 to Zelter, his friend and fellow composer, in Berlin. In this letter, Goethe complained bitterly about the tremendous speed of everything at that time. According to him, everyone was hurrying after money and fast things. To Goethe’s frustration trains, steam ships and the ability to send letters further encouraged this flurry! To think that within a few days a letter could be sent right across Germany, he murmured at some point!

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I wear the sticker on my forehead proudly

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I pay a high price for my naivety. I trust people with my eyes closed. Sometimes it costs me. Anything from financial loss to loss of integrity because people twist my words and spin their own stories afterwards. That’s why my wife once told me that people are reading the little sticker on my forehead. “Which one?” I asked. “The little one that says ‘sucker for punishment’ honey.” True words. Still I think the sticker should stay right there.

Somewhere I read the following line: “It’s happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.” Paul takes it even further in 1 Corinthians 13 when he writes that we should always believe the best about one another. These are not sentimental words that we agree to piously while we still affirm recent international research about South Africa. The researchers found that less than 20% of people trust each other. I don’t want to live like this. I want to expect the best from other people because the Lord also expects it from me. From when he saved me, I wasn’t treated as a sinner. He really doesn’t think that I’m unable to do good and tend to do bad. No, God treats me like a temple of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). He looks at me as part of his new holy nation (1 Peter 2:9-11) and as a child of our Heavenly Father (1 John 3:1).

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Confession time, or what?

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The following story was published in the London Telegraph on 27 April, 2009. Read it. Then ask yourself what you would have advised him to do, had you been at his bedside. Did he follow the route of Christ?

Man recovers after ‘deathbed’ murder confession

When James Brewer suffered a stroke and realized he was dying, the church-going Oklahoma factory worker decided it was time for an extraordinary death-bed confession.

Brewer is alleged to have then told them he shot dead a man he believed was trying to seduce his wife more than 30 years ago.

Detectives said Brewer, 58, told them he wanted to “cleanse his soul” and go to meet his maker with a clear conscience.

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Beware of snakes

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“Don’t worry, it’s not a poisonous snake,” my friend called out when his wife spotted a snake in the house. “I don’t care what make it is, just get it out of the house.” Sometimes the “make” or manufacture doesn’t count for much when a dangerous creature makes its appearance. The average person doesn’t need to be a snake expert when one appears on the scene. Yet, we have become domesticated and tame when the snake of Revelation 12 makes its appearance.

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Three lines to transform us from worship warehouses to worshipping followers

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The third line in the call of Our Lord would be something like: “Bring in and send out.” But the very first line that you’ll always hear from Jesus would be just two words: “Follow Me!” This is the ABC and the XYZ of the call to discipleship. Just this. “Follow Me.” Not: “Build me a church.” Or: “Change the world.” Nope! “Follow Me!” That’s it. Only in line three of the call would you hear the words of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) where Jesus said: “Go into All the World and Make Disciples…” By the way, He did not say “Raise up professional religious personnel to fulfil this call on behalf of all those part-time followers (as many people interpret it today).” Neither did he say: “Make good church members; create loyal cell group attendees; host large youth gatherings; hold numerous religious meetings; etc.” Nothing of the sort. Only that we must follow Him out there on the road intentionally and purposefully so that others would gladly join our little band or tribe of Jesus followers.

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Hearing new music

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In his great book Summoned to Lead, Len Sweet tells the story of Yousouf Karsh a well-known portrait photographer, who took pictures of some of the most famous people on the planet during the 20th century. Only once did he take a picture of someone’s back. It was that of Pablo Casals. While Casals was practicing Bach on his cello in a small French abbey in 1954 Karsh was so moved that he instantly took a picture of Casals bent over his cello right against the old chapel wall.

Years later some of Karsh’s portraits were on exhibition in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. There the curator noticed an elderly man who came to see the exhibition day after day. Every time he stopped in front of the photograph of Casals and stood there for what seemed to be ages. One day the curator walked up to this gentleman and kindly tapped him on the shoulder to find out why he came to see this picture every single day. Irritated the man frowned at the curator and said: “Hush, young man! Can’t you see I’m listening to the music?”

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