Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The hills have done it. Look at them! See how calm and strong they are; how they lift their heads above the gloom.”
                    –Harold Bell Wright  (The Shepherd of the Hills)

       “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

                    –Luke 21:28 (NASB)
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               “On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
               The emblem of stuff’ring and shame;
               And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
               For a world of lost sinners was slain.”
                         –George Bennard

I mentioned yesterday that we are not to mourn for the Person on the cross.  It may bring sorrow to you, but put that aside–do not mourn for Him.  However, it is not wrong for you to mourn if you are in a sinful state.  If you have not gone to see that the cross is empty; that Jesus paid the price and rose again.  Too many times we get caught up with seeing Jesus on the cross, still there, but He is not!  He, Himself declared it–It is finished!  Yes, look upon the cross, but look at it as what took place there.
       I invite you to read the following taken from Lois A. Cheney, God Is No Fool.

               I stand before the cross
                  and wonder.
               I stand before the cross
                  and fear.
               I kneel before the cross
                  and weep.
               I pray before the cross
                  and rejoice.
               To know the cross
                   Is to know Christ.
               To feel the cross
                   Is to feel Christ.
               To gaze at the cross
                   Is to gaze at Christ.
               To carry the cross
                   Is to be a Christian,
                  And not until then.
               God forgive us.

The cross was a place of sorrow, now it is a place of rejoicing.  No longer are we bound by the shackles of sin because of the sacrifice of the Lord.  The cross was the place where the devil thought he had won, but it was the place of his demise.
       Now, since we are redeemed.  Now, since we are bought with a price–He tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him.  Look at that verse, contemplate it.  “And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].”  (Luke 9:23, Amplified)

               “To the old rugged cross I will ever be true,
               Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
               Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
               Where His glory forever I’ll share.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
It wasn’t his words, but the faith within the words to hand his troubles over to Jesus and trust that the Lord held the outcome in his hands.”
                         –Kenneth Pratt  (A Love to Die For)

       “Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.”
                         –Galatians 4:28(NKJV)
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Isaac–the son of promise.  I would like to take another look at the event that confirmed the faith of Abraham.  By this time Abraham was relatively old, and notice that he placed the wood for the sacrifice upon the back of the one who was to be sacrificed.  Isaac was to carry the burden, yet while they were walking up the mount the heart of Abraham, the father, must have been tremendously burdened.
       Isaac was somewhat confused because he asked his father, “‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’  And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’  So the two of them went together.” (Genesis 22:7-8, NKJV)  Isaac was to be the “lamb” that was provided.  He did not fight against his father, he did not struggle.  It seemed that he completely trusted his father and willingly allowed himself to be bound and laid down upon the altar.  “He bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.” (Genesis 22:9, NKJV).  Such faith!  Such trust!  Not only on the part of Abraham, but also with Isaac.
       There is so much symbolism and types in this story.  Now, let’s look at another one.  “God will provide for Himself the lamb…”  The Father, from before the foundation of the world knew that He would provide the “Lamb” for the ultimate sacrifice.  The one that would redeem mankind.  We know that “without shedding of blood there is no remission” of sin.  There was to be a Lamb provided for this sacrifice.
       Abraham and the child of promise were together all the time.  They had a special bond; they had developed a deep trust in each other.  To see one was to see the other.  Jesus said that He always does those things that please the Father (John 8:29) as did the earthly Isaac with his father.  Jesus sought to please the Father just as Isaac sought to please his father.
       The sacrifice had to be made.  Abraham understood that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), but, oh what faith.  But look again.  The knife was in the air, the heart of the father was breaking; he began to lower the knife to make the blood flow when the voice from heaven came.  “Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.  So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.” (Genesis 22:13, NKJV)
Isaac, the son of promise, was spared.  However, it was not so with Jesus, the Son of promise.  God gave His only begotten Son to be the sacrifice, the propitiation for our sins.  His blood flowed down upon that wooden altar that we call the old rugged cross.  There was to be no reprieve for the Father, the sacrifice had to be made, blood must be shed for the redemption of mankind and to appease the justice and wrath of God.
       We do not read it, but I’m sure that both Isaac and Abraham rejoiced around the burnt offering on the altar.  I wonder what they talked about as they went back down the mountain to meet up with the servants?  When Jesus was placed upon the altar of sacrifice, the earth shook, the sun darkened; it was not a time and place of rejoicing.  The Father turned His back on the sacrifice–and, the Child of promise died, alone, with ALL the sins of humanity now touching His being.
       But wait!  We no longer mourn, we do rejoice.  We might tremble with the awesomeness of it all, but now we can lift our heart with thanksgiving.  The Lamb has come to redeem the world, and though once dead, He broke the chains of death and overcame sin and the grave rising victoriously.  Yes, this Friday, do not get caught up in the mourning, the emotion of the Lamb dying, but look deeper to realize that His death brought life.  Do not mourn for Him–He is risen, and through Him we are too.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Hard and perilous life in a barren and wild country developed great principles in men. Living close to earth, under the cold, bleak peaks, on the dust-veiled desert, men grew like the nature that developed them—hard, fierce, terrible, perhaps, but big—big with elemental force.”

                    –Zane Grey  (The Light of the Western Stars)

       “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
                    –Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)
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What is the focal point of your life?  Don’t rush, but seriously take inventory.  Many will respond, “God,” simply because that is the right answer, but if so, what about God?  I knew of a man whose focus was his career and money.  He made $50,000 a week, but lost his family.  I ask was it worth it?  It all depends on your focal point, on what is important in and to your life.  Everyone, whether they realize it or not, has something or someone at the very core, the center of their lives.  Psalm 112 helps us with this for the psalmist shows us what should be our focus.

          1 — Praise the LORD!  Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who delights greatly in His commandments.
          2 — His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
          3 — Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
          4 — Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
          5 — A good man deals graciously and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion.  (NKJV)

       “The fear of God is the soul of godliness,” states Charles H. Spurgeon.  That is where we should start with our focus.  Yet, how many, including Christians have a shallow life, one without the knowledge of the Lord?  As Christians our lives should have one dominant pursuit–God Himself.  How do we respond to the Word of the Lord?  How do we respond when the Spirit attempts to guide us?  Are we like the Israelites of old when they left Egypt–complainers, murmurers, angry?  Many want to pick and choose what they want from the Bible, but we should delight in all of His commands.
       Let me share a story from George O. Wood.  He speaks of a “Montana sheepherder who became enormously rich when oil was discovered on his ranch.  He promptly bought a Rolls Royce limousine, the kind where the driver sits in front of a glass partition.  A friend asked, ‘What do you like best about it?’  ‘Well,’ he drawled,’ I can take my sheep to market now without having them lick my neck.'”  The moral of the story is, what would you do if you came into wealth?  Where would your focal point be?
       This psalm is about “what it looks like for a believer to live a God-centered life, one in which God is the sum and substance of life.” (Steven Lawson)  Look at the priorities:  reverence, obedience, and then blessings.  Lawson states, “You cannot fear God without delighting in His Word.”  When that happens, there is a wonderful legacy to be left behind.  The person who fears God will have His blessings, both materially and spiritually.
       This person is able to see in the darkness because a light is given to him.  People around you may be groping in the darkness; they may not be able to see what is actually going on around them, but to the person who is upright and fears the Lord there will be a light to see things that others cannot.  He will have spiritual eyes.  Then he will respond justly:  gracious, compassion, and righteousness will be seen in their lives.  Then conform to the standards of God.
       What happens if you lose your material possessions?  Will you change?  It is entirely possible if your focus is not right.  “It is a small thing to lose the gifts as long as you possess the Giver; the supreme tragedy lies in losing the Giver and retaining only the gifts.” (F. W. Boreham)  Again I would say, take serious inventory of your focus.  What is important to you?  Check it against the Word of God.

               “And must I part with all I have,
               My dearest Lord, for thee?
               It is but right, since thou hast done
               Much more than that for me.”
                      –Benjamin Beddome

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I had to fight my first battle to conquer my own stubborn soul.”
                    –Max Brand  (Riders of the Silences)

       “But I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

                    –1 Corinthians 9:27 (NASB)
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               “The cross upon which Jesus died
               Is a shelter in which we can hide.
               And its grace so free is sufficient for me,
               And deep is its fountain; as wide as the sea.”
                        –Ira Stanphill

I have thought for years that far too many take this time of the year very flippantly.  Even in the church we see more ado about egg hunts, peeps, and chocolate bunnies.  These can be fun, if kept in proper perspective and not the focal point of Easter.  It is like so many things today.  The terms, the events seem to get thrown around and it becomes just another fun day of the year.
       Listen, “there is no real love without the cross.” (Jack Graham)  Perhaps we ought to sober up and get serious over what took place.  Yes, we have films to draw us to the cross, and they do a good job of getting hold of our emotions, but as Graham says, “it wasn’t just an emotion that put Christ on the cross…it was an act of God who loves the world…”.  Look deeper at what took place.  Look beyond the emotions and let the Spirit speak to your mind and your heart.  
       Perhaps one reason why we are not somber as we should be in regard to Easter is because of the cross and all it means.  I’m speaking now, of beyond the cross.  J.B. Phillips translates Luke 9:23 this way, “…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.”  That cross, though it is not the same as the Lord’s it has some of the same purposes–crucifying the self.  Harbuck, in his translation, put is more succinctly, “…If anyone chooses to be My disciple, he/she must refuse to follow a path of self-interests, and pick up his/her cross and carry it–(that is, take on the responsibility and burdens of strict discipleship) daily, and unwaveringly follow Me [with the full awareness of what I command]…”.  Let that sink in for a few moments.  

               The ancient Hebrews were so tied by tradition they couldn’t recognize the Messiah when he was right there in front of them, and he was crucified.
               The disciples, who walked and worked with the Christ, were very afraid of him; they hoped, but they also doubted, and they ran that night, and he was crucified.
               The common people mobbed him, showed him their sicknesses and sores, and they threw down an aisle of palms for him and sang to him, and he was crucified.
               His family was embarrassed, and stood outside, and wished he’d come home, and he was crucified.
               Would we crucify Jesus today?  It’s not a rhetorical question for the mind to play with.
                    I believe, We are each born with a body, a mind, a soul, and a handful of nails.
                    I believe, When a man dies, no one has ever found any nails left–clutched in his hands, or stuffed in his pockets.
                                          (Lois A Cheney, God Is No Fool. Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1969.)

       Perhaps, we don’t drive the nails today, instead we are frivolous with the cross.  We make overtures to it, but overall we neglect it.  The bunnies and baby chicks along with the colorful eggs gain our attention more readily.  It is not so painful, and there is not a cross for us to pick up.  But for those who do, sing the final stanza of Room At the Cross, with me.

               “The hand of my Savior is strong
               And the love of my Savior is long.
               Through sunshine or rain Through loss or in gain,
               The blood flows from Calv’ry to cleanse ev’ry stain.”