Pull the Trigger

Three years ago a friend asked me about my hobbies and I told him about things that I do to stay busy but none are really "hobbies" - in reality, they sounded more like chores when I listed them. He said, "We're gonna have to take you deer hunting this season."  I said, "OK".
So, we went out and shot his gun - I found I could hit a target relatively accurately.
I found some cold weather gear to try to stay warm. I certainly did not "look" the part but I would be warm.
We set up a tree stand - never saw one before until then... We talked forever about deer...
Then... firearm season began and so we went hunting.

Sidebar: The term "hunting" is to men as the term "shopping" is to women.  Think about it.

Firearm season lasted two weeks and a day.  We went out several times and did not see anything to shoot at until the last day and almost the last possible minute.  The sun had set and we had another 30 minutes to see something.  Suddenly, out of the woods walks a large doe and she just walks right into view and presents us with a broadside shot!  The adrenaline began to flow. My friend whispered, "get ready"... so I did - I raised my gun, sighted down the barrel, watched her walk behind a tree and then out again.
I was about to pull the trigger as she walked and my friend (sitting next to me in the stand) grunted a noise that I had never ever heard come from his mouth before and I just about jumped out of my skin... however, I held still and as he grunted the deer came to a halt and looked around.
BANG!  I pulled the trigger and down she went.
He whispered again, "Hold still, wait and watch.  She is gonna get up and you may have to take another shot."  So I held... and held... and held... finally he said, "Well, she must not be going anywhere."
We sat a little longer and then went down to field dress her. (another story for another time)
Later, sitting at his house drinking a cup of coffee he says to me, "I am proud of you."  I was puzzled by that so I asked him why he was proud of me.  Was it that I had actually hit something?  Was it that I had dropped it in place with one shot?  I was truly curious.
His answer, "That you actually pulled the trigger."   Really?  What were we doing all this time?  We practiced, we talked about where to shoot them, what to aim at, how quiet we had to be, how still I was going to have to sit, etc.   We talked about deer walking patterns, herding habits, eating habits, what to look for in placing a tree stand, shooting lanes, etiquette (yes, there is hunting etiquette), what to wear, etc.
I asked, "Why were we doing all of this if I was not supposed to pull the trigger?"
His answer (wildly profound), "Greg, you would be shocked at the number of people that do all that we did and invest lots of money to look the part and when it gets down to it - they cannot and will not pull the trigger."
When it gets down to it - do you know what you are supposed to be doing as a professed "follower" of Jesus and yet you do not seem to have what it takes to "pull the trigger"?  It takes courage and a step of faith to live out what we know in our head and want to live with our hearts and lives.
When it comes to your spiritual life - stop thinking and PULL the TRIGGER!  

I Know I Was But So Were You

A friend shared this passage with me not too long ago and it struck me to the core.  I realized that this was a very harsh statement by the Apostle Paul and I thought... "whoa... that is about as clear as it can be and yet it hurts to read."

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV) 
"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

It amazes me that when we "rank" the levels of sin and try to decide which things are worse than others yet this passage clearly puts us all on the same level... If the end result is heaven or hell.  If the end result is eternity WITH God or eternity APART from God then someone that places anything in his heart before God   [idolater] or someone that is habitually drunk or even lives a greedy lifestyle or someone that says something mean against someone else are all going to lose!  I may think one is worse than the other but ultimately they all result in the SAME negative reward.
So I read this and wonder.  How am I doing at being a part of planting seeds and watering seeds that allow for God to cause the gospel message to come alive in the hearts of these type of people that I know?  Secondly, I ask myself, How many of these people do I know?
Am I avoiding these types of people because I do not like being around them?

Maybe - just maybe - I see them and am reminded of myself... before... and I do not like being reminded of who I once was....

In fact, the very next verse in that passage smacks me upside the head with a 2 x 4 statement!

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NIV)
"And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

I was an idolater, I was sexually immoral in my thoughts, I was a thief. I was greedy. I was a slanderer.
I was many more things, too.  All of which were focused on myself and my desires and not focused upon pleasing God with my life.

But PRAISE THE GOD OF THE UNIVERSE AND HIS ONLY SON, JESUS!  By His name, I now am:

• washed - my sin was not just covered over or hidden or overlooked - It was washed away!
• sanctified - my life is now set apart to serve God and Him alone!  
• justified - my standing before God was made right through the name of Jesus and now I am seen as innocent  - my guilt has been removed!

I know that I was a lot of bad things (and so are you or so were you) but in the name of the Lamb of God and through the blood of that Lamb that was shed for me, I was made clean when I  made the decision to surrender myself to the Only One who can wash it all away and change me.  

I know I WAS but so were you.  

Do you want a change?  Ask, in the name of Jesus Christ, to be changed today.  So you, too, can say "I WAS... but I no longer am. Now I am washed, set apart and made right before God."

A Better Life

It seems like we are always looking for something better than what we have.

I got a smart phone a while back... 16 months ago or so.  I loved it and now it is slow and takes forever to do what I "need" it to do. I want something better. 

I had a great vehicle - it was totaled in an accident and so I had to go looking for a different vehicle and knew that I could not do a "new" car so I looked for something comparable.  Instead, I spent more than I had to get something that I convinced myself was better and needed.  It was better than what I had. Truly, I like it and it really is better but I question how necessary it was.

I had a Starbucks gift card that I found out I could register and then track the drinks I bought and eventually get something better with which to purchase my Starbucks - a GOLD CARD.  What is better?  I can get a free drink every 15 drinks I buy. I get all kinds of little perks that make my Starbucks status better than other average non-Gold Card holders.  (problem: I have to keep it loaded with money - it does not load itself!)

We always want something better.  So, I was reading Hebrews yesterday (yes, I read the whole book at one sitting - I like to do that sometimes because it helps me see the broader perspective of the writer) and I began to notice the word "better" time and time again.  (this is in the NIV 1984 version)
The writer is challenging the readers (the Hebrews) to avoid "settling" for what they had, what they used to treasure, what they used to measure themselves by, and how they lived.  He continually compares what was to what will be and notes that what will be is always better!

• Better things - fruit of our salvation (Heb. 6:9)
• Better hope than the hope that was in the works of the law (Heb. 7:19)
• Better covenant - the covenant of grace through Christ's work (Heb. 7:22 )
• Better promises - resulting from the ministry of Jesus (Heb. 8:6)
• Better sacrifices - to accomplish the purification of the heavenly elements of the temple (Heb. 9:23)
• Better possessions  - the treasures in heaven awaiting you compared to what you have lost or have given up on earth (Heb. 10:34)
• Better sacrifice  - Abel's sacrifice was better than Cain's - due to faith and heart condition (Heb. 11:4)
• Better country - the "promised land" of Israel vs. the "promised land" of the presence of God (Heb. 11:16)
• Better resurrection -  result of torture and suffering on behalf of their faith (Heb. 11:35)
• Something better - as a part of the reward which is a part of God's plan for a faithful life (Heb. 11:40)
• Better word -  The truth of the value of Christ's blood over the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:24)

 All of these comparisons to what we value here on earth to what we receive as the hope of heaven really do not compare.  The troubles of this life are all worth it when compared to the glory of heaven and living in the presence of our Savior. It brings home these words of Jesus in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 6:19-21 - Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 13:44  - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew 19:21 -  Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 

 Never settle for what is here... the earthly "better" things.  Never let your heart get attached to them.  Guard your heart because it is the spring of life! Only settle for the "better" life of eternity!