Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Sometimes a man has got to stand up for what’s right, no matter what the consequences might be. Doing right by others was a code I could understand and was a staple in the way I lived my life.”

                    –Chris Mullen (Rowdy:  Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen)

       “That in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable.”
                    –Jude 18 (NLT)
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What virus is affecting America?  There is hatred abounding as we saw another attack on the President.  The ways of the world, and of the devil I will add for they are one and the same, are poisoning society.  Whose truth are we to believe?  Are we to make up our own truth, in other words, is truth relative?  Have you noticed the things of the world creeping into the church, or in some places actually being invited in?  One minister (?) has stated that a third testament should be written, the other two are obsolete, archaic.  No wonder the world is crazy, full of hate, bitterness–they have left out God, forgotten Him.  
     But what about Christians, full-fledged believers in the Lord?  God’s call is clear to His people:

          “Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.”  — Philippians 2:15-16 (NASB)

The NLT translates the last phrase thusly, “Hold tightly to the word of life.”  A “crooked and perverse generation,” my, doesn’t that describe the world in which we are living?  “Hold tightly, don’t give in to the ways of the world–don’t compromise, don’t be complacent, don’t be curious about evil.  Our society is one of confusion, of broken and torn down ethical codes.  It spurns and sneers the name of Jesus Christ, so God’s calling is very clear.  We are to stay blameless, we are not to be involved in the works of the world, and we are still to be lights to an ever darkening world.  The problem seems to be among so many so-called or pseudo-believers is what Gary Inrig describes, “Much more than I want to admit, many Christians live, act, and choose as if God’s Word has never been written.”
     There are four key ideas I want us to keep in mind.  We will look at one of them this morning.  First of all, God is righteous!  One can almost hear the warning of the Holy Spirit, “Beware lest you also fall into temptation and a similar fate befall you.”  When a nation has lost its first love there is an unmistakable picture of a righteous God.  We read in Revelation, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deed you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp stand out of its place–unless you repent.” (2:4-5, NASB)
     This nation, so blessed, so guided by God to be a “city on a hill” a beacon of righteousness to the world by spreading the Gospel has become enthralled with perversity, with moral and ethical collapse.  It is confused and in the throes of misery.  This nation is forsaking the foundations upon which it was built; it is forsaking a holy God.  Sin was, and is, not an insignificant thing, to be passed over lightly; it was an affront to God’s righteous being and as such, in the past was visited by stern and painful judgment, so it will be again.  A nation, any nation, that forsakes the Lord, or lowers and compromises His standards, cannot hope to prosper in any ultimate sense.
     Instead of compromise we are to be holding forth the standard.  Not shunning the Word of God, but lifting it up for others to see.  We are to be a witness for Him, in our words, actions, and life.  Don’t cry legalism, when we are called to be separate from the world.  Don’t hunger and thirst for the things of the world, but hunger and thirst for His righteousness.  Where is your passion?  Where is your honor?  Where is your loyalty?  My friend, in this day of confusion and perversity hold tightly to the word of life!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If there’s no struggle, there’s no progress.”
                    –Zachary McCrae  (Warriors Never Sleep)

          “And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me.”
                     –Luke 14:27 (NLT)
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          “Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.'”
                        –Luke 9:23 (NKJV)

This is one Scripture that people tend to push aside in their buffet-style Christianity.  It is too hard, or too legalistic, or it costs too much.  What must I give up to follow Jesus?  Everything!  I like the way the CEV translates this verse and the Phillips as well.

          “…If any of you want to be my followers, you must forget about yourself.  You must take up your cross every day and follow me.” (CEV)
          “…If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, carry his cross every day, and keep close behind me.” (Phillips)

Take a few moments to ponder what is being said.  This is part of working out your own salvation, growing in grace, reaching down, picking up your cross, everyday, and following the way that Jesus has for you.  Not easy, not fun, but needed, and it is dutiful, and it is a requirement of a disciple.  I would remind you that this is not justification, this is discipleship, being a soldier of the cross.  It is not a one time event, but a decision that is made everyday from the time you open your eyes in the morning until sleep overtakes you at night.
     First of all–deny yourself!  Ouch, oh me, do I really have to?  It is to ignore the very existence of self; to treat self as if it does not exist.  We, most of the time, treat self as the most important thing that exists, and Jesus tells us that we must deny ourselves.  It is a daily duty, a daily discipline to say no to personal and selfish desires.  To realize that God’s will is the most important thing and that involves reaching down, purposely, and picking up the cross and what it means for that day and following Jesus.
     To pick up your cross means to be prepared to face things as you are loyal to Jesus.  It means to be ready to endure the worst that man can possibly do to you, for the cause of Christ.  It means the willingness to suffer, if need be, to lose things or give them up for Christ.  I am reminded of the oath of office I took when I went into the military.  Self was to be put aside, I now belonged to Uncle Sam.  Duty and mission became paramount.  Follow orders, remember civilian life is over.  Even spare time was taken up with study, or polishing boots.
     The cross, what does it entail?  It means giving all for Christ.  It means spending your life, not for selfish desires, but for the cause of Christ.  No longer are we living in and for the world’s system, but now for the kingdom of God.  As Barclay says, it is not the minimum possible that I should do, but rather, what is the maximum possible?  “The Christian must realize that he is given life, not to keep for himself but to spend for others; not to husband its flame but to burn it out for Christ and for men.” (Barclay)
     Worldly possessions, what are they in comparison to the reward waiting for us in heaven for picking up the cross?  It may seem contradictory, but picking up the cross is actually living the abundant life.    Don’t look to the left, for there you will see the cares of the world.  Don’t look to the right for there you will see the idea of suffering and pain.  Follow in the Master’s footsteps and stay close to Him.  Don’t waver, don’t fret, don’t be anxious because you think the cross is too heavy to lift and bear.  Jesus is there, He will help you lift it, for He said His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).  Onward is the way, onward we go, carrying our cross along the way.

          “The consecrated cross I’ll bear
          till death shall set me free;
          And then go home my crown to wear,
          for there’s a crown for me.”
                    –Thomas Shepherd

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The world since Eden fell—cutthroat, crooked, cursed.”

                    –Jeremy TK Farley  (The Gospel According to Texas)
 
       “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.  The poison of vipers is on their lips.  Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
                    –Romans 3:13-14 (NIV)
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          “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little.
          The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.”
                     –Proverbs 10:20-21(NKJV)

     Here we have another Proverb dealing with the tongue and the fool.  “Choice silver,” does that describe the words that come from your mouth?  We should be speaking properly and bringing “spiritual nourishment” to our listeners.  Bob Beasley says, “Our tongues should be of choice silver in speaking of the eternal nourishment He gives through His body and His blood.”  Dan Dick adds to this, “When words of truth are spoken from the heart, they reach out to people to give them a rich blessing.”
     Cursings, taking the Lord’s name in vain, yes and that includes “Oh my God,” babblings, profanity, these words should never be found coming from the Christian.  Yet, so many just laugh it off as if it is normal.  If we are born again, cursing is not normal!  Truly we should be speaking words of silver that encourage, edify, and comfort others.  When we speak it should be out of sincerity, not cursing, mocking, sarcastic, or being snide.
     Sincerity–it is one of those character traits that is being seen less and less.  To be sincere means to be honest, genuine, free of deceit or pretense.  Barnabas was known as the Son of Encouragement, when he spoke the words were filled with encouragement and sincerity.  The world looks at what is said to gain something, or in other words use the Machiavellian thought, “the end justifies the means.”  Say what you want, as long as you get what you want.  This is a false practice and it is for selfish gain or vindictive purposes.  “The due and proper use of any natural faculty or power is to be judged of the end and design for which it was given us,” (Joseph Butler) not to fulfill our lusts and passions.  
     We can either exhort or tear down; encourage or slander.  Know that we are to be Christ’s Ambassadors as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” (NIV)  As an ambassador we speak the words of the One who sent us.  We are His representatives on earth, our words are to be His words, to uplight, to speak truth, to reach the lost.  William Arnot proclaims, “The bread of life which the disciples distribute is not like common bread.  The more you give of it to the needy, the more remains for your own use.”  
     One day, the tongues of the peoples of the world will be cleansed.  One day they will speak only the truth, and will be uplifting.  Zephaniah states, “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.” (3:9, NIV).  Until that day, we will continue to see the fool die for his lack of wisdom.  Mouths will run, shame will flow from them, mockery will sneer in the face of good.  Now, there will be the Kimmels who mock the wife of the President saying that she has the glow of a widow.  I will say, mock now, for there is a day when the mocking will cease.  Someone has translated verse 21 this way, “A good person’s words will benefit many people, but you can kill yourself with stupidity.”  The fool is heading down a dark path, and know this, the speech of a person marks them.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Out here we set store by neighbors. Count them a blessing… Anybody who was in need was a neighbor.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Quick and the Dead)

       “Once you were less than nothing; now you are God’s own. Once you knew very little of God’s kindness; now your very lives have been changed by it.”
                    –1 Peter 2:10 (TLB)
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Oh, the wonderful mysterious work of God in mercy.  The words of the song often associated with Jimmy Swaggart come to my mind.
 
          “Mercy rewrote my life,
          Mercy rewrote my life,
          I could have fallen, my soul, cast down,
          But mercy rewrote my life.”
               –Mike Murdock

Think of the great mercy that God has shown you.  Think that when you show mercy to someone that it is a source of satisfaction to God.  When we show mercy by just giving a cup of cold water to some thirsty soul God smiles.  Micah tells us that the Lord requires us to love mercy (6:8).  Mercy, thank the Lord that “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)  New mercies–every morning!  Just think of that!
     As image-bearers of Christ, mercy should be a way of life for us.  Our lives should reflect that of Jesus, therefore mercy is a norm.  Where we go, blessings should go with us to others and in return we will be in favor with God.  We will be known and remembered by God (Psalm 112:6), and as we show mercy to others we can rest assured that our children will receive mercy when needed (Psalm 37:26).  Mercy indeed, in itself, is merciful then.  With proper attitude are we to show mercy.  In Deuteronomy we read, “You shall give to him freely and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake” (15:10, ESV)  All!  Think of that–works, career, negotiations, life, building, planting, journeying will be blessed by the Lord.  Thomas Watson says that “The honeycomb of a blessing shall be still dripping.”  Its sweetness never stops.
     Interesting that mercy shows many benefits for the person today.  As we bless others, we are blessed.  Oh, it is not just a feel-good, mushy type of emotion, but something deep in the soul.  Yes, and even greater for we will find our greater reward in heaven.  

          “I could have fallen, my soul, cast down,
          But mercy rewrote my life.”

Now what?  Since you have been shown mercy, what will you do with it?  Look closely at the way William Barclay translates this verse in its fullness:  “O the bliss of the man who gets right inside other people, until he can see with their eyes, think with their thoughts, feel with their feelings, for he who does that will find others do the same for him, and will know that that is what God in Jesus Christ has done!”  Mercy!  What a thought!