On Beginning Strong!

Most of us pilgrims reading this today have experienced an extraordinary privilege, living to see not only a few decades (almost 5 in my case), but the turn of a century; even the turn of another millennia. Of the eleven or so that have elapsed since the dawn of time there have been no doubt countless new beginnings. When one stops to imagine the people that have experienced such a phenomenal event as a new “thousand”, and put that through the grid of our current technological era our generation perhaps is treading in places only experienced by a very few to have lived top-side of the earth.

As I begin a new decade I cannot help but hearken back to the edge of the Jordan River as the Jewish peoples surveyed across, looking into the Promised Land. Most of those of the age of reason had passed on some previous 40 years, having ignored the pleas of Joshua and Caleb to throw off the testimony of the ten for the Promises of God; to taste of the fruit of Eschol; to take God at his Word that they would no longer have to feast on Manna. Now, a new multitude stood at the threshold of the river and peered across at the place of giants.

Now I tell you, the land of giants in the future may cause some trepidation, but it does not have to. The decade beginning here is the year 2010 may hold some seeming obstacles, but our Lord said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid“, John 14:27. I don’t know about you, but I like having the Lord on my side; I cherish the Peace of Christ. Now frankly, lets admit it, being in the right fellowship with God means ridding myself of those things that will introduce enmity with Him; right? That is what James 4:4 teaches. Let us put the fellowship with the world behind us; let us understand that we must put away the leeks of Egypt, the fine Babylonian garments, the foreign snares that entangle us and make us unfit and cause friction of fellowship with Christ.

Join me to resolve right now through genuine repentance of un-confessed sins, through the power of the Holy Spirit and the fellowship of His sufferings to press into 2010! Let’s start strong! Press towards the mark of the high calling! Look, Joshua is standing! The priests are standing in the Jordan! Let’s move out!! I am Sherrell……blessings for a new year!

ON THE NEWNESS OF LIFE

A. R. Bernard said, If you don’t have a vision for the future, then your future is threatened to be a repeat of the past.

There is a maxim that advises that it is lunacy to expect a different outcome when we continue the same behavior. In Alabama speak that is, “if you keep doin’ what you’re always a doin’, you’ll keep a gettin’ what you always get’.” While this may be amusing, it rings true for many Christians. We live a life that is incongruous with the portrait that is resoundingly clear in Scripture then we fail to understand how we are not appreciating the blessings of God. We cannot understand why we are depressed or unfulfilled. Comparing ourselves to the unsaved around us, our lives are not really contrasted. Something is wrong, and we know it.

Yes, we are sinners for it says so in Romans 3:23. Yes our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked according to Jeremiah 17:9, but if we are saved it is different. How? Because according to God’s Word we are changed: “If any man be in Christ he is a new creation, old things have passed away, behold all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17. Why does God provide us with normative truth in the Bible? Why does He provide us a path for righteous living? Why does He provide us the Holy Spirit? Why, because He expects us to live a victorious life. He expects us to move towards progressive sanctification to maturity.

Let me unpack this. In Romans 6:4 it says: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life”. You see this? At salvation we are freed from death and sin and its power, and by so are enabled to walk in righteousness. Paul goes on to say in 6:18, “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness”. Are you saved? Yes, then live righteously by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Humbly, Sherrell

Thoughts on Culmination

I just lost my only brother. Due to some unforeseen events, there were several weeks that passed between his death and our family's memorializing him. There are some things that you can learn by waiting...by pause after such a shocking event; you learn to be still and listen to quiet voice of God. Ronnie was 45; seemingly healthy, but cancer and fatal circumstances can be larger than all of us. In our frailness we can only grasp that it is decisively the sovereignty of God that can transcend all science and healing. Life is paper thin, and our veneer it shredded away and stripped when we face the mortality of those close to us. Whether your earthly life amounts to fame or not means nothing in the grand scene of eternity.

When faced with the planning of Ronnie's memorial service details seemed to materialize somewhat on their own. My work right now is unforgiving and overwhelming. God just works things out. In eulogizing Ronnie, I attempted to cast an image of long ago. You see in the twenty-five years since we had been apart we had scarcely seen one another, talked to one another or even had a glance at our mutual lives. It was at our mother's funeral in 2005 when it became clear to me and I realized that my brother had become a total stranger. At his memorial service, I could only muster up some childhood stories...could only cast out some faint memories....could only offer glimpses of what he once was.

The only message of hope that I could offer those listening that night was the message of eternal life; the Gospel. For twenty minutes I unashamedly shared a timeless message of God's Plan for Salvation for the lost and the dying. Paul said in Romans 1:16 that the Gospel "is the power of God unto Salvation..." I am wondering how many reading this post right now are ready for death? You can know for sure that you are indeed ready. Jesus said in John 10:10b, "I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly". But also listen to John 3:36: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Friend, you are faced with the choice of everlasting life or the wrath of God. Read more at http://www.fbtministries.org/heaven.htm with love and encouragement...I am Sherrell