storiesofvalue

Kingdom Property

When earthly kingdoms pass to new owners, something becomes of their treasure.  In wartime, a retreating army might take valuable possessions with it, or destroy the infrastructure of its own community to prevent the enemy from using the spoils of war as an advantage.

Throughout history, enlightened conquerors have spared great cultural centers and negotiated truces to avoid the needless decimation of art and architecture.  There is even a famous story about Pope Leo I, who is credited with convincing Attila the Hun to spare Rome in 452.  As a result, the Romans were able to keep their city and their treasures.

The nature of kingdom wealth leads us to consider what happens when God’s kingdom comes to earth in the form of His church.  By “church”, I am referring literally to members of the body of Christ, in whom, and through whom the kingdom is expanding.  Is God in the business of confiscating people’s property when they declare citizenship in His kingdom, and if so, what is the process?

A short, simple answer to this last question is “no.”  While some religious groups or “orders” ask their adherents to give their personal wealth to a common purse, this is certainly not a biblical concept.  However, the answer “no” doesn’t tell the whole story.

The reason the answer is “no” is really because it is illogical to give someone something he already possesses.  In the case of the kingdom, we cannot give God what is already His.  Since everything belongs to God to begin with, anything we share for the cause of the kingdom is more of a return, or at the very least a “re-purposing” of something that was never really ours.

How did the title to our wealth become contorted?  There is also a simple answer to this question: We gave away what wasn’t ours to give.  If everything we possess comes from God, and we recklessly invest it in worldly pursuits, we should not be surprised if we end up feeling empty.

Please don’t misunderstand.  I am not saying it is a sin to spend our wealth on worldly goods.  Even Jesus relied on the generosity of others who were willing to provide shelter and food for His ministry.  And perhaps I should add, had it not been for a wealthy believer by the name of Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus’ body might not have been made secure in a family tomb, and we might not have so great an apologetic rationale for our belief in His resurrection.

On the other hand, God always intended that we first ask, “How can I please Him with the blessings He has given me?”  This is why He told Abraham, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)

The place of wealth in the kingdom of God can be summed up this way: “As citizens of the kingdom we want to manage what has always belonged to God in a way that best accomplishes what God wants to do through us.”  If this means we must buy an expensive vehicle so we can be successful in business, and in turn have more time or resources for God’s mission, then that is how we should use our blessings.  If we can drive a clunker and use our wealth to pursue an education in a field where we believe God has called us, then that is what we should do.  What we don’t want to do is see our blessings as a means of buying more “stuff” when we already have what we need.  Not only is this poor kingdom stewardship, but it is also a recipe for a hollow existence.  In addition, we don’t want to invest what we have in sinful activities, where God’s resources can be used to work directly in opposition to His purposes.

It all belongs to God.  It always has, and it always will.  Where “it” is used until God takes back what is His, is mostly up to us.

Kingdom Competition

The Kingdom of God, of course, is not the only kingdom; or so it seems.  Throughout human history nations have emerged with a variety of governments, each devoted to its own survival.  Some of these have elevated the rights of its citizens and others have sought to crush the notion of personal achievement in the common class.  The “kingdoms of this world”, as the seventh angel in Revelation calls them (Rev. 11:15), are a mixed bag, and most of us who are born into a free society realize we are among the most fortunate.

I cannot deny that there are such things as “kingdoms of this world” since they are referenced in the scriptures.  But I believe it is important that we not see the competition as “league play”.  In other words, the kingdoms of this world are not equal in scope, power or significance to the Kingdom of God.  They only exist because of God’s permissive will, and He has clearly employed even pagan nations as instruments to carry out His plans.

What is the “permissive will of God?”  It is the freedom He has given mankind to choose its own way, and the limited influence He has permitted Satan to have to test our hearts.  This helps us make sense of Romans 13:1 where Paul writes, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God (Romans 13:1).  God doesn’t form governments, for surely He would weed out those with evil intent in the process.  But He allows them to develop, and works through them all for His purposes.

All of this is to say, one could make the case for the position that the kingdoms of this world have never been, nor will ever be autonomous.  They are by design subject to God’s wisdom, and on that day He brings human history to an end, every system on earth will bow to His wishes.

Therefore, the competition is fundamentally submissive to a higher authority, but strong at present.  While God’s ultimate preeminence is assured, the tension that now exists between good and evil troubles us greatly.

The kingdoms of this world are Satan’s tool as he competes for control of our hearts.  He knows once he has these he can also claim our time, energy and finances.  The gifts and ambitions God has put in us can be swallowed up by our selfish human nature and our potential by regret.

Is it any wonder Jesus prayed for His Father’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?  In His limited time on earth, Jesus encountered spiritual misery everywhere He turned.  The kingdoms of this world had done a poor job answering the deepest needs of God most prized created beings.  Perhaps you will agree with my assessment that not much has changed.

Closer Than You Think

My awareness of God’s kingdom, and its relevance in my life has grown.  “Grown” is probably an understatement.  In ways, what I now know about the kingdom, or presume to know, has turned my spiritual journey upside down.

I am still attempting to connect the dots on my transformation, and have yet to reach any firm conclusions, except to say there is no single cause.  As a child growing up in a bible-believing church, I viewed the kingdom of God as otherworldly: as if anything related to it had to be outsourced from heaven.  When Jesus prayed, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done” (The King James Version was still in wide use at the time), I believed He was calling on God to intervene in human affairs.  But I did not see the kingdom of God as something any of us actually participated in.

Later, I fell in love with Jesus’ parables and realized, while God’s kingdom might be in heaven, its principles were translatable to life.  Then I discovered the church is Christ incarnate in the world, which could only mean the kingdom itself had come to earth.  This explained why Jesus gave Peter the “keys of the kingdom of heaven.”  The church was soon to be born, and Peter would deliver the first gospel sermon, unleashing sins’ captives and declaring them citizens of a new and lasting kingdom.

This was my understanding for much of my life.  The church was “heaven-on-earth”, infusing a lost planet with spiritual power, and spreading grace where possible.

Finally, as it became popular for the church to reach out to the most broken parts of our culture, I learned the kingdom resides in Christ-followers.  If the church is a body, and Christ its head, then members of the church have an inheritance that makes them kingdom embodiments.  Everywhere they go, the kingdom of God goes, and as the Lord inhabits more and more people, the kingdom expands.

Whether or not this present awareness is an indication of my personal awakening, a reflection of a spiritual revival in the church at-large, or the mainstreaming of a sleeping belief; it has taken root in my heart.  I am more excited than ever about the kingdom and its hope for the decay I see around me.

Christmas Lights – Eternal Flame

Most eternal flames are more symbolic than actual.  Several years ago a group of Catholic school children was visiting John F. Kennedy’s grave in Arlington Cemetery.  One of the children was preparing to sprinkle holy water on the grave when the cap fell off of her bottle and a gush of water extinguished the flame.  It was quickly relit by a member of the cemetery maintenance crew.

Eternal flames are man’s best attempt to create an everlasting reality, and they do suggest the existence of an ultimate and more perfect light.  God’s is this light.  His reality stands in stark contrast to man’s efforts.  Leaders can motivate, but God provides lasting hope.  The world’s love infatuates, but God’s love never fails.  Peace here provides temporary inspiration, but the peace that comes from heaven cannot be shaken.  Similarly, earthly joy thrills for a moment, but heaven’s joy bubbles up forever.

On the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem an angel appeared to a group of shepherds watching their sheep by night.  His message is recorded in Luke 2:10: “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”  The news that was to bring such joy was the birth of the Savior, “Christ the Lord!”  He was the promised Messiah, and He was coming to redeem the world.

This joy was truly eternal.  Its source and essence was God, and its goal was to restore sinners forever.  Satan has tried to extinguish it ever since, but has been unsuccessful.  Heaven’s joy can be temporarily obscured by sin, but continues to rise, and invades our darkness to reveal God’s glory.

I think the very idea of an eternal man-made flame indicates our quest for a permanent source of joy in our lives.  We hear people say, “It seems like everything good in my life is always followed by something bad.”  This is more than a perception.  Evil has rooted itself in our world, and God’s creation is decaying before our eyes.

Yet, the power of God over sin and Satan is evidenced in the joy He puts in us.  His joy isn’t subject to circumstances, or sin and its consequences.  The God of joy lifted the heart of His servant David when he fell to temptation.  He comforted the prophets who were hounded by evildoers.  And He filled His apostles with joy in spite of daily hardships.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul recounted his suffering for the sake of Christ.  But he concluded, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

The joy that came to the shepherds was “great” and “for all people”.  Its greatness rested in its content, but also its nature.  God’s joy is eternal.  It provides strength within when everything is falling apart without.

And the best news of all is we don’t have to wait until the end of our temporary lives to receive eternal joy.  Christ has come, and will come into our hearts if we accept Him.  His light, His eternal flame will never go out.  His joy is forever.

Christmas Lights – Vacancy

If you look very closely at vintage hotels still sprinkled along old highways in America, you should see neon “No Vacancy” signs, or what’s left of them.  At the risk of seeming too simplistic, allow me to explain how these ancient artifacts worked for those who are too young to remember.  When rooms were available at a roadside hotel, the word “Vacancy” appeared.  After the last room was rented the word “No” was added.

Unfortunately, a few hotel owners throughout history used the term “No Vacancy” to discriminate against people they didn’t like.  Customers were told there were no vacancies, even though the sign outside indicated otherwise.  It is human nature to open doors to those we accept, and close them to those we don’t.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem for a census, all accommodations were taken.  Or were they?  Someone might possibly have been able to squeeze in a couple of late-comers.  But a pregnant woman ready to give birth was another story.

Some have suggested, since Bethlehem was Joseph and Mary’s ancestral town, there might have been family members there who were aware of their unusual circumstances.  Mary had become pregnant prior to her wedding day, and upon hearing the news Joseph almost dismissed her.  An angel appeared and convinced him otherwise, but it is possible there were people in Bethlehem who were not so understanding.

All we are told in the Bible is that Jesus was born in close proximity to a manger, and that there was no room in the inn.  The nature of the inn or the conversations that took place as Joseph tried to secure lodging is a matter of silence.  We don’t have enough information to say an official innkeeper turned Jesus away, or that the manger was in an active stable.  It is also possible Jesus was born in an addition to a home where people were known to keep their animals.

What we can say for certain is the town of Bethlehem as a whole failed to embrace Jesus, either because they had little choice, or because of personal prejudice.  God’s Peace had entered the world, but the hectic vibe of a community in census mode missed Him.

The reception Bethlehem gave Jesus offers several parallels for our modern culture.  Even today, some acknowledge His Messianic claims, but reject Him.  Others ignore Him as a religious relic.  But the end result is the same: those who fail to embrace Jesus live and sometimes die without peace; without The Peace.

Please don’t misunderstand.  Even followers of Jesus experience anxiety.  If you don’t believe me, ask a store clerk working overtime during the Christmas seasons, or parents who have to figure out how to be at three of their children’s Christmas events at the same time.  Talk to a patient whose doctor just delivered some bad news or a breadwinner who has just lost his job.  Peace does not make us immune from anxiety.

But it does put life in perspective.  Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33b)  The peace Jesus offers removes our sin and restores our fellowship with God.  His victory over Satan proves we have nothing to fear in this world.  And as The Peace of God, He transforms our hearts and helps us heal relationships with others on earth.

When we have God’s peace within, we can face the world’s chaos without.  We should embrace Jesus, and put aside anything that suggests our lives are too full to make room for His presence.  Peace must always have a place in our hearts.  Maybe there was an official innkeeper in Bethlehem.  Maybe there wasn’t.  But we can all decide now whether or not we have a place for Jesus.

What was that?  Did anyone hear a knock at the door?  Let’s move some things around to make room.  There’s still time!

Northside Christmas Lights Readers: If this is your first visit to this blog be sure to scroll down to Devotion 1 to begin your study.

Christmas Lights – Home Light

In 1914, the British patriotic song, “Keep the Home-Fires Burning” was composed by Ivor Novello (music) and Lena Gilbert Ford (words).  It appeared as loved ones in the United Kingdom were leaving home to fight in World War I.  The last lines of the song sum up the feelings of those left behind:

“Keep the home fires burning, while your hearts are yearning.  Though your lads are far away they dream of home.  There’s a silver lining through the dark clouds shining.  Turn the dark cloud inside out, ’til the boys come home.”

When we are separated from the people we love for extended periods of time, “home-fires” always mean more.  On a normal day, we might not even remember walking through the front door.  But absence transforms the mundane into magnificence, and we can’t wait to be home.

Do you think Jesus was ever homesick during His earthly ministry?  I know this raises some serious theological points.  For starters, how could He experience homesickness when the universe was His home, and being God in the flesh, was never really separated from the Father and the Spirit?

Yet, the Bible tells us Jesus was tempted in every way as we are (Hebrews 4:15).  This is why His Father sent angels to care for Him after His wilderness temptation (Matthew 4:11).  Surely the presence of Mary at the foot of the cross comforted Jesus, even as He spoke to John who was at her side: “Here is your mother” (John 19:27).

Whether or not we are comfortable saying Jesus experienced homesickness, we know He walked a pathway of incredible pain and sorrow.  He left “equality with God” to come in “human likeness” and suffer death on the cross for us (Philippians 2:6-8).  Then, after He had suffered, “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Have you ever thought about why God chose to bring Jesus into the world through a family?  The One who created the first Adam could have just as easily created an adult body for His incarnation (Jesus was, after all, the second Adam – 1 Corinthians 15:45-47).  Could it be, for compassion’s sake, God wanted Jesus to have an earthly family to love and encourage Him?  While it is true His family didn’t always understand Him, they cared for His welfare, and provided a home away from home.

Mary and Joseph created the “home-fire” that gave Jesus the earthly roots He needed to survive His ministry.  His earthly home wasn’t the only thing that sustained Him, but it was vital to His time here.

A “home-fire” is important to everyone.  Just as Jesus had a family on earth who loved Him, we all need to know there are others in our lives that care.  Do you know someone who is homesick?  Is there a person in your life who doesn’t know they are loved?  What would it mean if they knew they had a home…a home with God…a home with God’s people?

The church is God’s home away from home on earth.  It is the place where people come home.  It is where the “home-fire” burns as it lights the way to the Father.  Mary and Joseph had a big job, as do we.  They created a place for the Son of God.  We provide a place where people can come to know Him.

It is good to have a place to call home!  Pray that God will use you to help others find their place.

Kingdom People – Small Change

I have a habit.  Whether it is a good or bad habit is a matter of perspective.  I pick up pennies.

Alright, I don’t just pick up pennies.  I scavenge in parking lots where cars are pulling in and out.  And I do well.  Hardly a day goes by I don’t pick up a penny during my morning minute mart stop.  Occasionally, I find a dime or a nickel, and once in a blue moon, a quarter.

Several years ago I was running near my in-laws home in the heat of summer.  I was well into my run when I developed some signs of minor dehydration.  Unfortunately, I had no money, but I did have a strategy.  Five minutes later, after two passes through a local car wash and a few loops around a gas station, I had enough change to buy a bottle of water.  Please know that finding money on the ground isn’t a very good plan for avoiding dehydration.  But that day, it worked for me.

Small change adds up, especially when it is all we have.

One day, Jesus did a little people watching near the treasury in the temple.  The temple treasury, presumably in the Court of Women, consisted of 13 trumpet-shaped receptacles where people placed offerings for ministry.  As Jesus watched, a poor widow came and placed two small coins, all that she had, in the treasury.  Then Jesus shared this truth with His disciples: “This poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:3-4)

I used to hold this event in Jesus’ ministry at arm’s length.  While it is true it teaches a critical stewardship principle in dramatic fashion, I failed to grasp its full significance.  If the widow was already poor, what were two small coins?  How could such a meager amount make any difference in her life had she kept it?  I know this perspective seems cold, and do I appreciate the widow’s heart.  But the amount of her gift, the “all she had” of it, seemed less important than her motivation.  In fact, most lessons and sermons I have heard about her have said as much.

Then I travelled to India.  I discovered just how hard it is for poor people to acquire the smallest resources. Drawing water and gathering wood involves a half-day’s journey, if it can be found.  It literally takes everything one has to survive.

This helped me realize the widow Jesus saw didn’t just give all she had.  She likely gave all she had after she worked her fingers to the bone for little to nothing.  Her two coins weren’t from a pension check or a government program.  There were no such things in Jesus’ day.  The coins represented the widow’s blood, sweat and tears, and she would have to work even harder after her contribution to the treasury to keep from starving.  Had she lived in our affluent society I could have shown her where to pick up some coins, but people in her day didn’t drop money on the ground and leave it there.

I don’t believe the widow’s gift was a spontaneous, last-minute act.  I think she calculated how much she could give, how much she could make, and how long she could go without her next meal.  She must have known there were people who gave much more, and was probably also aware some of those who had more to give gave a smaller percentage.  But I doubt she was the kind of person who spent much time thinking about such things.  She wanted to support the work of the temple, and she had a plan.  She also had an unsinkable trust in God.

Trusting God is the lesson.

Those who give out of their abundance without sacrifice, rob themselves of the opportunity to grow in trust.  There are two ways of calculating what we share for the work of the kingdom.  One way is to decide how much we need to maintain our lifestyles, and give God the rest.  The other way is to decide how we can give more to the work of the Lord and adjust our lifestyle accordingly.  The first method is philanthropy.  The second is sacrifice.  And sacrifice always requires trust.

Aside from the standard principle of the tithe (giving 10% of our income to the Lord’s work), the bible doesn’t command us to give everything we have away.  There was one occasion where Jesus challenged a rich young ruler to do so to save him from himself.   But we have great latitude, for the most part, when it comes to what we keep and what we give.

Yet, the command of scripture isn’t the issue.  Trust is the issue.  Do we trust God can do more with our resources than the department store down the street?  Do we believe He has blessed us so we can bless others?  And do we believe God will bring us to a place of fulfillment if we put Him first?

Our perspective changes when we trust God.  Do you think the widow shuffled into the Court of Women with her head down and quickly dropped her coins in the treasury so no one would see?  I wasn’t there, so I don’t know.  But is it possible she walked in with joy on her face, carrying herself with a confident countenance?  I know this isn’t the image we have of her, but who can say for certain?  Sure, she might have looked a little worn down by life.  I am only saying I wish I had been there to see her expression.  I think she smiled.  Seeing what God does with the small change in our lives always makes us smile.

Kingdom People – Crumb Eaters

If you think our family pets hang out around the dinner table at mealtime because they love us, I need to pose a reality check. While they love us, they have one thing in mind: food.  They know food is bound to fall from the table, by accident or design, and they are more than willing to help us keep the floor clean.

It does not appear pets were regarded as highly in Jesus day as they are in our contemporary culture. There is some debate as to whether Jewish families would have allowed animals to roam freely in their homes, since they placed a high premium on cleanliness. Dogs would have been suspect since they often scavenged town dumps and would not have had access to modern veterinarian care.  This doesn’t mean we know for certain there were no pets in Jewish homes, but certainly they did not have the status we give them today.

Yet, it has been suggested this would not be as big a problem in a Gentile home, since Gentiles families didn’t practice rigid rules that defined clean and unclean practices. This possibility could play into a conversation Jesus had with a Syrian woman.

The “Syrophoenician Woman” as we call her (Mark 7:4-30), found Jesus in the vicinity of the city Tyre. Jesus had entered a house there and was attempting to hide from the crowds for a while when the woman appeared.  She fell as His feet and shared the heart-wrenching story of her demon-possessed daughter.

We may not be able to fully appreciate this awkward scene, unless we remember how much Jews and Gentiles in Jesus’ day hated one another. Jews believed Gentiles to be unclean heathens, and Gentiles saw Jews as self-righteous oppressors.  The sight of a Gentile woman clinging to the feet of a popular Jewish rabbi would certainly raise some eyebrows.

In a symbolic turn of phrase, Jesus answered the woman’s request: “First let the children eat all they want. For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”  In other words, “Why should I help a Gentile when my people have needs?”

Jesus’s reply sounds profoundly cold, but it was clearly a test. He was speaking through the cultural filters the Syrophoenician Woman would know well.  Would she turn and walk away or grow bolder?  It didn’t take long to find out.  She answered, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

I love this interchange. At the risk of understating the tense nature of this conversation, it almost seems playful.  Jesus knew the Jews and Gentiles had issues with one another, as did the woman.  Both of them must have been well versed in all of the stereotypes and misperceptions associated with both groups.  But they refused to play.  The woman wasn’t about to back down and Jesus gave her what she wanted.  Meanwhile, those who saw the whole thing unfold must have stood in disbelief at the outcome.

The Syrophoenician Woman was a “kingdom person” because she understood the reign of Jesus trumps the prejudices of men. Of course, she was also emboldened by her daughter’s condition, but this still doesn’t entirely explain why she argued with Jesus.  She must have perceived Him to be reasonable, and perhaps had heard He was kind to all people groups.  Jesus heard her plea and met her need.

Kingdom people know the King. They don’t let the world tell them what God wants to hear, or what God will do.  This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be discerning about the will of God, or attempt to understand the nature of God.  And we certainly shouldn’t be upset if God doesn’t give us something He never promised.  On the other hand, God can do as He pleases, as long as He is consistent with the things He has already revealed about Himself in scripture.

I don’t mind eating crumbs, as long as they are from the King’s table. They taste good, no matter where I find them.

Kingdom People – Code Compliant

In the mid-80s, my wife Jane and I planted a new church in a rapidly growing town near Tulsa, Oklahoma. Due to an oil boom, houses were springing up everywhere, and it seemed as though there was no stopping the economic impact of rising oil prices.  Then, prices dropped dramatically, and the boom went bust.

As people started losing their jobs, homes were left in the hands of banks, and optimism began to fade. But a more serious challenge lurked below the surface.  During the time homes were being built quickly, some unethical builders perpetrated a scam.  They placed the proper metal reinforcements within the stem walls of homes, but when the inspectors left they removed them before pouring the concrete foundations.  Then they reused the same reinforcements for the next home, and the next, and the next.  As banks started taking possession of homes, they realized many of them had developed serious cracks, turning an economic crisis into a community disaster.

The Bible is filled with good advice on the importance of good foundations.  Most local governments have some sort of codes and compliance department that attempts to identify illegal construction before it becomes systematic.  God knows, just as some unscrupulous builders may try to get around good practices to make a fast buck, it is human nature to build spiritual towers on weak foundations.

In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave the following lesson: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)

When it comes to codes and compliance, the spiritual code for believers is “the Word of God”, and the sign of compliance is “application.” We hear God’s Word and put it into practice.  Only then can we guarantee our foundation is firm enough to withstand the forces of life.

Just like the builders in our Oklahoma town, it is tempting to circumvent a good spiritual foundation. The possibilities are endless.  We can brush over God’s Word and fail to establish a sustainable study plan.  We can shun the local church body in favor of a Christian organization where we have no accountability or responsibility to others – a decision that can stunt our emotional growth and produce an inflated view of our role in the kingdom.  And we can resist the investment of our personal resources in kingdom work, which plays into our culture’s tendency toward self-absorption.

What do you think happens when the storms of life start pounding against a life that is unfamiliar with God’s truth, has an immature attitude toward the Lord church, and fails to see present circumstances in light of eternity? That’s right.  In the words of a children’s song I learned many years ago, “the house on the sand goes splat!”

I think, perhaps, the Holy Spirit is our Codes and Compliance Officer. Surely, He is one with the Father and Son, but His role in scripture does appear to be one of convicting, prodding and transforming.  I sense the Spirit calling me out when I try to circumvent good building practices: “Hey Larry, are you sure you want to do that?  You’ll be sorry!”

Of course, the Bible doesn’t call the Holy Spirit an Officer, but I do believe He constantly reminds us to build our lives on a firm spiritual foundation. Then we will produce a bumper crop for Jesus, our Fruit Inspector.  But that’s another metaphor for another time.

The important thing is to be compliant. The Lord wants His kingdom to be filled with mature believers, and we know maturity is something that can’t be rushed, or cheated.  If we try, we are only cheating ourselves, and when the rains come, we might go “splat!”  We don’t want to go “splat!”