Well, the biblical concept of fearing God does not mean that we are scared of Him. It simply means that we show Him honor and respect. We do not treat God lightly nor do we ignore Him. We acknowledge His greatness and yield our lives to His discretion. Proverbs 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” In other words, when we show respect for God we put ourselves in a position to make better life choices. It is to be noted that living a life that honors God has tremendous benefits. Proverbs says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (9:10), prolongs life (10:27), gives strong confidence (14:26), is a fountain of life (14:27), and it brings satisfaction (19:23). Conversely, fools refuse to respect God and thus they forfeit the benefits. According to Proverbs 1:31-32, the fool refuses to listen to God’s instruction and consequently eats the fruit of his own ways. This fruit produces complacency and this complacency leads to destruction.

So, if you want to make better choices in life then fear God. Show Him respect and honor with the choices you make. In so doing, you will have a lot less “what ifs” and a lot more “Wows!”

Often times, when the girls would start talking among themselves or flirting with some of the boys, they would lose sight of what they were supposed to be doing. They were given the task of sorting out the tomatoes according to size. Also, they were supposed to throw out the rotten tomatoes. If a rotten tomato got packed in a box with good tomatoes, it would ruin the other tomatoes. One rotten tomato could ruin a whole box. For some reason it seems like every time I think about these tomatoes, I can hear little Michael singing, “Don’t let one bad apple spoil a whole barrel of fun.” His voice never changed. I digress. Back to the story.

One day we encountered a very upset boss. A whole truck load of tomatoes had been returned because many of the boxes contained rotten tomatoes. We had to unload the truck load of tomatoes and throw away the bad ones and try to salvage what we could. Those tomatoes were nasty and they stunk. It was a horrible undertaking but we had to undo the damage of the rotten tomatoes

Sin is like a rotten tomato. It corrupts what it touches. It ruins what is good. It spreads and it destroys. James 1:15 says that when sin is full grown it brings forth death. You can not build a life on sin. Sin will destroy. 1 Corinthians 5:6 compares the corrupting nature of immorality to the pervasiveness of leaven. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” Just like leaven (yeast) totally affects the whole lump of dough, sin spreads and affects everything it touches. Sin is all about collateral damage. It is the king of the unintended consequence. So the next time you want to dabble in a little bit of sin, don’t be surprise if you find yourself dealing with more than you anticipated.

We have been forever stamped with the image of God. Genesis 1:26-27 speaks of God creating man in His image and giving him stewardship over creation. Even the fall in the Garden of Eden could not obliterate this image. This creative act of God placed within man a uniqueness not given to any other part of creation. Man is made up of mind, will and emotions. He has a personality and because he is endowed with God’s communicable attributes man is able to have a relationship with God. Additionally, man is a moral agent capable of making moral decisions. Unlike animals who are driven by instinct, man has a will that can choose either right or wrong according to God’s standard. Furthermore, with his God given mental capabilities, man can reason and exercise creativity. This mental ability displays itself as humanity fulfills the creation mandate to subdue the earth. In fulfilling this mandate, knowledge is acquired and technology is employed to make life better. Contrary to some popular thought, man is not an intruder on planet earth. He is the chief resident serving as caretaker. 

On a practical level, the concept of the Image of God should affect how we treat others. James 3:8-10 says that out of respect for God we should respect others. Simply put, because our fellow man bears God’s image we should treat him or her with respect. The basis for this respect is the Image of God. Therefore, human life is to be respected and treated as precious because we bear God’s image. Our worth originates from God. The life of the unborn baby, the young lady caught up in sex trafficking, or the aids orphan in Africa all have value. They all bear the image of God. “Red or yellow, black or white they are precious in His sight.” The Image of God knows no racial or socio-economic barriers. 

The image of God should also affect how I live my life. When Jesus was questioned about paying taxes in Mark 12, he asked for a coin. When a coin was brought to him, he  asked whose inscription was on the coin. The answer was “Caesar’s.” Jesus then said, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” In other words, if Caesar’s image is on the coin then give it back to him and whatever has God’s image on it should also be given back to Him as well. Guess what? We have God’s image on our lives. Therefore, our responsibility is to give our lives back to God. I think that is called surrender. So, if I want the doctrine of the Image of God to impact my life then I must be willing to surrender my life back to God on a daily basis. In the Gospels, Jesus spoke of taking up the cross and following Him daily. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul spoke of presenting our lives as a living sacrifice to God. Surrender is our acknowledgement that we bear the image of God.  

The first part of surrendering to God is salvation. Salvation is made possible because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself human flesh. In His humanity, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the Word and the Will of the Father. In His human flesh, Jesus died a sacrificial death on our behalf. His death was sufficient payment for the penalty of sin. Because our sin debt has been paid we can be made right with God. The thought that the Son of God would die for our sins further illustrates the value that God has placed upon us. He didn’t have to do it, but He chose to make us in His image and to redeem us at His own expense. Knowing what God has done for us makes it easier to surrender to Him.

Knowing the origin of this phrase, I was intrigued to read an article with this same title in our local paper. In 2009, our area was hit by a catastrophic flood. We had something on the order of 20 inches of rain in 24 hours. As a result, several roads and bridges were washed out. Most of the bridges and roads have finally been repaired or replaced. However, there is one particular bridge that residents are pleading with the County Board of Commissioners not to replace. This particular bridge is a one lane wooden bridge. This bridge has a history of being used as a pathway to trouble. According to one resident, “We’ve seen people dumping trash, drinking or doing drugs. Teenagers or young adults with a tendency to speed would go through as well. There are a number of farms out here and one neighbor lost chickens to speeders.” (Douglas Sentinel Newspaper). Residents actually feel like a permanent closure of the bridge would increase their property value. It’s not everyday that residents ask for a bridge not to be rebuilt.

On a spiritual note, I believe that some Christians have bridges in their lives that need to be torn down. These bridges have served as pathways to trouble. These bridges may be destructive habits, immoral relationships or debilitating thought patterns to name a few. If these bridges were to be put out of commission then the quality of life like the values of these homes would increase.

As the day got closer, one of the items that I thought I especially needed for my hospital experience was a new pair of bed room shoes. There was this department store in Vidalia named Max Smith’s. They had a going out of business sale that seemed to last for years. One day when I went in there with my Momma, I noticed a pair of brown corduroy  bedroom shoes. They were marked at $5, so I bought them. It seems I was accessorizing myself for the hospital staff. I had no idea what was in front of me.

The day prior to my surgery my parents checked into the hospital for prep work. Sure enough, I got my own bed and tv with a remote control. So far so good. When I awoke the next morning, they came to get me for surgery. I should have known that it was going to be a disastrous day when the nurse looked at me and said, “My what a pretty little girl.” Sure, it was the late seventies and I had long hair and obviously I looked like a little girl. However, she should have read the chart.

I don’t remember anything after that point. My first recollection of consciousness was waking up with nausea and intense pain. Remember, this was the late seventies. They didn’t do laparoscopic surgery in Vidalia back then. They did the old-fashioned cut and stitch. So, I had this big long cut in my gut. It felt like they had sewn me in half and given me a stomach virus to top it off. I don’t know if I could have felt any worse.

Without a doubt, I had a very inaccurate view of the mission of the hospital. A hospital is not a place to relax. It definitely is not a spa. However, it is a place to get better and sometimes getting better involves pain. In relating this experience to the church, I think a lot of people are confused about the mission of the Church. Like a hospital, the church is a place that helps you get better, and sometimes pain is a part of that process. Lets face it, sometimes spiritual growth hurts. We can’t always see what is on the inside of us that needs fixing. God sees it, and He uses His Word empowered by His Spirit to bring change into our lives. This change is known as sanctification. It is the process of becoming more like Jesus while we are alive here on earth. Sanctification is not always glamorous. It is often brought about through painful experiences.

So, the next time you think that becoming like Jesus is like going to a spa and having all the amenities, you need to think again. Because the spa may actually be a hospital and instead of a massage you may be having surgery. But, the surgery will benefit you in the long run. Your life will bear fruit for God’s Kingdom and you will have a better grasp of what life is really all about!

Now, I am a pretty easy-going guy. I don’t yell and scream when I preach. I try to communicate in a reasonable conversational tone even when the subject matter is difficult. Consequently, I have no problem lovingly communicating what the Bible says about moral issues. It is my responsibility as a pastor. Also, I understand how easy it is to want to pipe down about issues that are culturally sensitive. Most everyone desires to be liked. Hey, I want to be liked. I don’t want to make people feel uncomfortable. However, there comes a time when standing for what is right results in a loss of popularity. It happened all throughout the Bible. Surprisingly, it really is tougher than you think it would be when the choice is between being a God pleaser or a man pleaser. It is a definite gut check experience.

Recently, President Obama weighed in on a moral issue. He came out in support of gay marriage. He even used the Golden Rule as part of his rationale. Please understand, I respect the office that President Obama occupies. However, his position on gay marriage is wrong. He says that his position has evolved over time and his decision is informed by his Christian faith. I can not judge his motives, but I can say without equivocation that his rationale is faulty. First of all, morality does not evolve. It is given to us by God. Secondly, even President Obama’s own spiritual advisor came out in protest of his decision. The Reverend Joel Hunter of Northland Church said, “The Golden Rule is in the Bible but it cannot be used to contradict God’s pattern reaffirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:4-5″ (Christian Post). In other words it is terribly wrong for the President to use the words of Jesus to justify a practice that the Bible condemns.

The President has entered into the fray of a very divisive moral issue. This decision perfectly illustrates that you can not separate someone’s politics from their morality. Laws are based upon someone’s system of morality. When the law is seen as being separate from morality then a huge void is created. This void will be filled by someone else’s morality or lack thereof. Therefore, Christians must stay engaged in the public arena of ideas. Without question, biblical morality will be offensive to some. However, God still holds people accountable according to His standard of morality. This standard gives us an understanding of how far we fall short of God’s glory and how much we need a Savior. When morality is minimized and seen as divisive then those who are without Christ have a harder time realizing how much they need a Savior. Our responsibility as Christians is to speak the truth with love and compassion. However, it is never loving nor is it compassionate to justify sin.

Growing up, I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to go dove hunting with my Daddy. Before I was able to have my own gun, Daddy would let me sit with him in the corn field while he decimated the bird population. Soon, it would be my turn to be the big hunter. I was going to become a corn field legend.

I was about ten years old when I got my first gun. It was a single shot 410. A 410 is basically the least powerful shotgun they make, but it is the ideal gun for the beginner. With the 410, you only get one shot and then you have to reload. For several years, I hunted with this gun until the day my Daddy gave me a brand new Remington 12 gauge automatic shotgun. Now, I had three shots, and these shells packed a much bigger punch than the 410. In spite of this increased fire power, the number of birds I killed remained abysmally low. I am almost ashamed to say that it would take me four boxes of shells to kill one bird. You have to understand, there are twenty-five shells in one box. So, I was shooting at 1%. It would take me one hundred shots to kill one bird. Jokingly, my C.P.A. Daddy would tell me how much each bird cost. However, my inefficiency never stopped him from providing me with more shells. I was good entertainment.

With this terrible track record, I came to think of myself as a lousy shot. It seemed that I just couldn’t shoot a gun. However, it wasn’t until a night baseball that I started to figure out the real problem. Usually, I played second base but for some reason the coach put me in the outfield. This was my first experience in the outfield and it was a disaster. I couldn’t see a thing. With every crack of the bat I would start running around trying to figure out where the ball was going. Then It dawned on me. I needed glasses. The reason I couldn’t see the baseball was the same reason I couldn’t shoot a shotgun. I simply couldn’t see what I was aiming at. My focus was all messed up. Once I got glasses my shooting percentage drastically improved. I became a respectable shot, not a great shot but a respectable one. So, it stands to reason that you have to see what you are shooting at or else you will probably miss it.

Many people are like me in the corn field. They can’t really make out what they are aiming at. Life is kind of fuzzy. They need clarity. Unfortunately, many Christians fall into this category. How sad! Of all people, believers are called to the highest purpose for living. Philippians 1:21 says, “For to me to live is Christ and to live is gain.” These words from the Apostle Paul have reverberated through the centuries. Paul knew his purpose. It was to live for Jesus Christ. As far as his aim was concerned, Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:9, ”Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” Paul’s focus was to live life to honor the character and the purpose of Jesus Christ. The practical out working of this focus was righteous living and making disciples. Our desire should be the same. We are not always given the particulars in Scripture concerning every situation that we may encounter, but we can have the mindset that our actions and reactions will honor the character and the purpose of Jesus Christ. So, put your spiritual glasses on then go out and live righteously and make disciples.

In exile, the Jews received a letter from Jeremiah the prophet telling them to build houses in Babylon and to plant vineyards because they were going to be in Babylon until the 70 years of Babylonians supremacy was complete. However, as a reminder of God’s purpose, he included the famous words from Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” In other words, make the best life you can where you are because your prayer to return to the promised land will not be answered until the time is complete.

God was having to reposition the Jews. His original design for the Jewish nation was for them to be a light to the surrounding Gentile nations. It would be through Israel that the Gentiles would see how God was to be worshiped. The children of Israel were to be God’s light to a dark world. When they ceased to fulfill His purpose then God had to discipline them in order to reposition them to impact the world.

Suddenly, in 539 BC with little warning the Medes and the Persians captured Babylon in a daring nighttime manuever. With this defeat, the time of the Babylonians came to a screeching halt. The new Persian King, Cyrus, issued a decree that allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. Furthermore, he commanded funds to be taken out of the king’s treasury in order to pay for them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This dramatic turn of events is why the Psalm speaks of the people being in utter amazement. Even the gentiles said, “The LORD has done great things for them.” (vs 2). The Jews agreed in verse three, “The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad.” What a tremendous testimony. Even the Gentile nations who did not worship the true God had to confess that the God of the Jews had done a great work on their behalf. Once again light shone through God’s people.

The Bible reminds us that God has a purpose for our lives. We are told in Scripture that we are God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10), His living epistles (2 Cor. 3:3), His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20), as well as His witnesses (Acts 1:8). God has a story that He wants to tell to the world through our lives. This story is about who He is and how He can be known. Therefore, we must be faithful to live life in a God honoring way even when we feel as though we are in exile. It is during these trying times that God is positioning our lives for greater impact for His Kingdom. Through the experiences of our lives, He is communicating who He is to the world. So, pray big and be patient. Ask God to do what only He can do and then be willing to work hard to do what God expects you to do. It is through this joining together of God’s sovereignty and our hard work that we experience the magnificence of God’s plan.

When we are able to recognize some of the short cuts to depression then we stand a better chance of experiencing victory. So if you feel cut off from purpose, buried in nostalgia or if you simply lack a circumstantial awareness of the presence of God in your life then you might want to listen to this message from Psalm 42 and 43.