Monday, August 18, 2008

Change Your Destination

I had the privledge this weekend of serving at the Harvest Crusades in Anaheim as a follow up decision counselor for those who were publicly coming forward to make a decision, a choice, a commitment and a covenant to follow Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Of the 15 people I met on the field, prayed with, encouraged and handed bibles to, 13 of them were returning to the Lord. One woman was 80 years old and she was asking Jesus into her life for the very first time. My heart rejoiced as I witnessed the thousands upon thousands making a decision to change their eternal destination.

Pastor Greg spoke to over 100,000 people about God's love for them, God's provision of redemption, salvation and reconciliation through his Son Jesus Christ, who suffered and died for all of humanities sins. Greg spoke of life, blessings and Heaven as well as the curses, death and Hell. As I look around the stadium filled with believers, unbelievers, seekers, and prodigals the Lord is reminding me that this is the same Harvest Crusade that Moses had for His people in the desert on the plains of Moab. A decision has to be made in the hearts of those listening.

In Deuteronomy 29-30 we discover Moses calling all of Israel (millions of people) to gather around in a great assembly to listen to what God told Moses to tell His people. You'll find the message is the same today.



Moses first reminds them of all the miraculous and merciful acts God did for them before their very eyes. God had set them free from their bondage of slavery in Egypt, He defeated Pharaoh and his armies at the Red Sea, God provided safe passage as he led them throught the wilderness, He showered them with food and water sustaining them as they walked through the valleys, God guided and supported His people as He led them toward the Promised land conquering enemies along the way.

Now it was their turn to respond to all that God had done for them, providing a way of escape, they could now be reconciled back to God. The purpose of Moses' message was for each individual to enter into a covenant with the Lord their God that very day. Moses emphasized the importance of today in his message 6 times in 8 sentences. This covenant was to bind God and His people together setting them apart for His purposes. Each person had to make a decision for themselves, God would not force himself upon them. However, they were warned that there would be blessings for them to claim or curses that would follow their disobedience either way the choice was theirs.

The Bible tells us it is no mystery or difficulty of understanding that the choice to follow and obey God would bring life and prosperity while turning away and worshipping other gods (anything that takes the place of God) would bring death. But if you return to the Lord our God and obey His voice today with all your heart and with all your soul, the Lord our God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you again. Sin holds us captive along with bad choices but there is great hope and peace for when we return to God he is faithful to fogive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The command issued before us today is the same in the day of Moses. Set before us today is a choice of life and good, death and evil therefore, choose life that you may live. Love God, obey his commands, cling to Him for He is your life and the length of your days.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Reflections From The Heart


The picture you see is our view from the balcony of our little one bedroom cabin at the Double Eagle Resort in June Lake. The boys rose up early this morning to take a boat out onto the lake for some fishing. I decided to drink in the beauty of my surroundings and journal my time with the Lord. As I was looking out at the little fly fishing pond below, the reflection of the trees surrounding the banks was mirrored perfectly in the water. The scene was a picture of God's glory. But, I noticed as the water rippled from any movement the image was blurred until the water became still again.




I reflected on 2Corinthians 3:18, "But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as the Spirit of the Lord."

It is true, the moment you put your faith in Christ a veil is removed, the light is turned on and the truth of Jesus Christ is revealed to you in a personal way. 2Corinthians 4:6 says that "God commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

As we really begin to walk in obedience and seek to know God more by applying His truths to our daily lives, the Spirit of God does something miraculous. 2Corinthians 13:5, "As we examine ourselves to see if we are truly being obedient, yielding to God we will be transformed into his likeness." It is God's Spirit that does the transforming and it's a lifelong process.

Sure the ripples will come, especially in our attitudes and actions, the image of his likeness becomes blurred. The way in which the reflection becomes clear again is when the water becomes still. "So our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us." Psalm 123:2b
For now I look at my own relfection in a mirror and see only dimly the image of his likeness for the perfection of His glory in our lives is still being transformed. But one day I'll see face to face.