Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He enjoyed the territory, always most content when he rode alone in new country, given time to enjoy the solitude with his Lord and all of His creation.”

                    –B.N. Rundell  (Last Chance Gulch)

       “Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not see him now, yet by believing in him, you are filled with a joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”
                    –1 Peter 1:8 (ESV)
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               “It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
               Oh, the half has never yet been told.”
                         –B.E. Warren

What a tremendous Easter song!  But wait, this is a solemn, sorrowful time.  We read the words of Isaiah, “He was despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” (53:3, NKJV)  He was a man of sorrows, He knew and experienced grief, more than any man who ever lived, for He saw sin in its reality and fullness, and in fact, felt it firsthand.  Yes, it was agony, shame, and the cross was real, the pain was real, but there was more.  Jesus was a man full of joy!
     I cannot remember in my long years a message of the joy of the Holy Week.  Yes, there are songs of triumph, of victory, of overcoming, but joy?  Those last few weeks before the crucifixion Jesus did much teaching about what was to come and what to expect.  One of the aspects He told His disciples was that of joy.  John tells us, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (15:11, NKJV).  The cross is looming before Him, the intense agony of physical torture and of spiritual torture waits only days away, and Jesus is speaking of joy.
     We tend to dwell and stay only on the intenseness of the cross and that whole week of ordeal.  But there is more, so I want to just take a few moments and in this week of Jesus moving towards Calvary and think of His joy.  George Morrison tells us that “Jesus’ joy was an intense reality.”  While many dwell on the sorrow, and walk around with a lower lip hanging on the ground, Jesus was speaking of joy.  Look at His life and often we see His joy.  It was the times of joy that the Pharisees could not understand and caused them consternation.  They could understand sorrow, grief coming from the Messiah, but joy?
     Jesus living in the fullness of life.  The fruit of the Spirit burst forth from His very being.  “Morally, He was in perfect poise with heaven.  Spiritually, He had the fullness of the Spirit.” (Morrison)  He had life, and He came so others could have life, and that they might have it abundantly. (John 10:10)  Morrison says, “He came to give what He Himself possessed.  And that abundant life, rooted in His sinlessness and continually enriched by new obedience, was one of the splendid secrets of His joy.”
     The source of Jesus’ joy was in the relationship with the Father.  Jesus’ joy was rooted in the love and fellowship with the Father.  The source of Jesus’ joy was complete surrender to His purpose in life.  His vocation, His calling and surrendering to it brought joy.  He was completely surrendered to the will of the Father.  As Morrison reminds us, “Neglect your work and you are never glad.  Do it half-heartedly, and gloom is everywhere.  But give yourself to it, with heart and soul and strength, and all the birds are singing in the trees.”  
     The source of Jesus’ joy was the fulfillment of His purpose.  He looked forward to the reward of His suffering, agony, and death.  We read in Hebrew 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (NKJV)  J.B. Phillips translates it this way, “For he himself endured a cross and thought nothing of its shame because of the joy he knew would follow his suffering…”  I have to take some inventory here on my own life.  The cross I am told to pick up, do I do it with joy knowing that there is a reward waiting?  Do I moan and groan, whine and complain, or do I see the results and thus pick it up and carry it joyfully, rejoicing on my way?
     Easter, a glorious time!  Take time to reflect, to contemplate, to meditate.  Take time with family, enJOY them.  Take some time to be alone with the Lord.  However, in all of this know that the joy of the Lord is your strength, and that we should have joy unspeakable as we travel this often troublesome road to glory.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

I judge a man by the way he handles himself, and you’ve been ridin’ for the brand. I ain’t interested in anything else.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (“Riding for the Brand”)

       “The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.”
                    –John 10:13 (NKJV)
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One assignment for you in regards to April Fools Day.  The Book of Proverbs, which we are studying each Wednesday, is loaded with the definition and actions of a fool.  Take time to read them on this day designed to remember “fools.”  Now on to today’s study:
          “The labor of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.”  –Proverbs 10:16(NKJV)
The first thing to remember is that there are two paths to travel.  The righteous are on the way of life, but the wicked wander from it.  There is the way of the Lord, and there is the way of the world.  When I look at the above verse the first thing that comes to my mind is Romans 6:23, “But the wages of sin is death,” however, the wages of the righteous bring them life, abundantly in this life and full abundance in eternity.  The question that must be answered is, who do you work for?  There are two “bosses” in this world.  One is the Creator, the Lord, the other the prince of darkness, the enemy of our soul.  One represents the kingdom of God, the other the wickedness of the system of this world.  
     In my experiences I have found that most people are simply hirelings.  And the shame of it is that many Christians fall into this category as well.  Oh, they are sure enough believers, but they do not recognize that all they do should be unto the Lord, so they work nominally, haphazardly, only wanting a paycheck and what it can get them.  They haven’t tapped into the great truth that God is their Lord and their work, no matter what it is, should be done unto Him.  The hireling works for a paycheck, benefits, and the weekend.  The non-Christian labors for sure for themselves; their minds are lost to the things of God and they do not submit to righteousness.  Bob Beasley says, they are “Lured by the glamour and glitter of the ‘good life,’ he receives instead the wages of the ‘bad death.'”  As Christians this should not be our attitude nor our actions.  “We work in and through Him.  Our labours, therefore, is His work–wrought in dependence on Him; not for life, but to life.” (Charles Bridges)
     Romans 8:6, is a sobering verse, “For to be carnally minded is death…” (NKJV)  It is important that we realize, as J. Vernon McGee states, “God is not going to fellowship with a carnally-minded person.”  People crave fellowship, in fact some clamor for it.  Isn’t it ironic that many of those who say they desire for fellowship with God and will dance a jig on Sunday will not work for Him in their career, workplace, or studies?  Those that want fellowship, do not consider the things that bring true fellowship with the Lord–“the labor of the righteous leads to life,” is being in fellowship with God.  Charles Bridges tells us that “Labor, not idleness, is the stamp of a servant of God.”
     What about the righteous then?  J.L. Flores gives us some thoughts regarding the righteous.  First, there can be no true life without righteousness.  Secondly, righteousness must show that it exists by honest labor.  Thirdly, the honest labor of a righteous man shall bless his existence.  I shall ask the question again, Who do you work for?
     As you consider that you must then ask the next question, for what do we labor?  To be honest there are hard workers among the godless, but they toil for worldly gain, to get ahead in this life.  That’s all they have–this life.  Spend it now–you can’t take it with you.  Be wise in your perspective of those who work, or do not.  “The whole subject teaches us not to make poverty and riches the standard by which to measure a man’s blessedness or misfortune.” (Flores)  Again we are reminded that, “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15, NKJV)
     Read again the verse from Proverbs then add to it the words of Paul, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, NKJV)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A man shares his days with hunger, thirst and cold, with the good times and the bad, and the first part of being a man is to understand that.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Galloway)

       “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”
                    –Psalm 42:1 (NIV)
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          “God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink.  They will be given what they want!”  –Matthew 5:6 (CEV)

     Are you hungry?  Are you thirsty?  Ah, then the question must be, how hungry? how thirsty are you?  One more thing that should be brought into consideration is what is it that you are currently eating?  We all thirst and hunger for something, but not everything is good for us.  Someone wrote, “Your diet is not only what you eat.  It is what you watch, what you listen to, what you read, and the people you hang around.  Pay attention to what you feed your soul, not just your stomach.”  Stuffing your mouth with the wrong stuff will curb your spiritual appetite.
     As Christians we should be hungry for the things of God and that includes righteousness.  The sinner is destitute of righteousness, but Christ is the perfect righteousness for all His people.  Why then do we linger at the table of the devil?  Why do we thirst after the forbidden and the things that would hinder our walk and our relationship with God?  I am not speaking of “legal righteousness” which is imparted when we are justified.  But what about implanted righteousness?  We are now alive in Christ and dead men do not hunger.  Hunger proceeds from life.  Hunger is a sense of lack.  When we are born again, we have the spiritual hunger that follows the new birth.  Thomas Watson declares, “The appetite is as well from God, as the food.”
     We should be hungry for the things of God.  Our hunger shows the character of a godly man, so now another question:  are you hungering?  Watson tells us, “Desire is the best evidence of a Christian.”  Let that sink in.  If you are not hungry for the things of God, not thirsty for the fountain that flows from the inner spring of the Spirit, then it might be good to check your position.  As we eat food daily for nourishment so should hunger daily for spiritual food.  Get this, unless we hunger after righteousness we cannot obtain it.
     Take a moment to consider the reasons why people do not hunger and thirst after righteousness.  One reason might be that they have never felt any emptiness.  They are full of self-righteousness like the Pharisees, they have bloated stomachs.  Others, in a similar fashion, think they are well enough without it.  “I’m saved” they say, and that is enough.  They complain about the lack of this or that, the lack of answered prayers, the lack of God meeting their needs, but never about the lack of righteousness.  They would rather sleep than eat as Peter states in 2 Peter 2:3.  They refuse good food when placed in front of them and would rather run to the calorie counter of useless or false teachings.  Some may come for the garnishing, the entertainment, the fellowship and not partake of the food.  While others, I would have to call them pseudo-Christians, would rather play in the streets of the world, or they prefer vain things rather than the things of God, and then, you’ve seen them even in church, they prefer their phone to the food offered from the pulpit.  There is one more group, those who prefer disputes rather than the practice of piety.  They will argue over the leftovers; they would rather pick bones that eat of the heavenly manna presented to them.  
     Oh that we would have that deep hunger for the things of God.  Oh that we could just have one more bite of His presence, His food, His water, His righteousness.  We have the opportunity to have our hunger filled.  Do not be like those the psalmist mentions, “They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.” (Psalm 107:5, NIV)  What happened, they missed the feast for one reason or another.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

God never said believing in him would ensure your life didn’t have struggles. He never guaranteed that you’d be without pain or suffering. All he guaranteed you was that during those times, he would be there with you.”
                    –G. Michael Hopf  (The Last Ride)

       “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
                    –Hebrews 12:3 (NIV)
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               “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through…and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”
                          –unknown (often attributed to Jim Reeves, claimed by A.P. Carter)

Look at the world around you, in the news, on social media, while you drive, in the stores…  What in the world is going on?  Voices, hundreds of them, most of them are foolish.  Sounds…where is the quietness?  What is happening to you on life’s journey, and remember it is a journey, not a settling place.  Times of rest and relaxation are good and needed, but the travel must continue.  Comfort or character?  Ease or the Lord’s will?  Step out, time to move on, back out into the wilderness.  The wilderness of the world.
     Watch out, for it seems that with each step a jumping cholla leaps out to claw at you.  But is it really cholla?  Dust abounds, the mouth again is dry, the lips parched.  You’re not long out of the time of rest, and yet, it seems that weariness is already seeping into your body again.  Why continue?  It’s the same over and over:  failure, weariness, despondency, blahs, the voice in your mind whispering, “stop, it’s no use, quit!”  The whisperer continues, “Quit, quit…”  But somehow, with strength from the Holy Spirit you take another step.  The bone-weary body moves, the tired aching feet lift and another step is taken, then another, then another.  One more, then one more–that is the means of survival–one more step.  Reach out, the Spirit will grasp your hand—one more, another step.
     You have been facing the physical, mental, and emotional struggles of the journey.  You have been refreshed at the oasis or at the wells along the way, but now you find yourself, again, in the midst of struggle.  The struggle of mind and spirit.  Remember that the world and the enemy of your soul wants to bring desolation and then death.  The fangs of the enemy lash out at us; the thorns along the way grip and tear at the flesh.  We are strangers in this land, struggling through, often bleeding and torn.  The sights and sounds seek to tear the life from the soul.  This world, this enemy, is cruel; bringing desolation, and yes, you’ve seen them along the way, the bleached bones of the many that have given up and quit.  They become snatched up, entangled in the clutches of its thorns, and listen…in the distance, the devil laughs with glee.
     Hear his cackle?  He laughs when the children of God are pricked by a thorn, or when the hidden serpent strikes at one of God’s own.  The sting of the scorpion brings a snarling grin to his face, and he sits back in the shadows with a smirk.  Another fallen?  Many get caught up with the things Satan sends our way–the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, the snares and obstacles along the way.  One more step…  Don’t get snared, trapped, or caught up with the things on the journey, but look to your Guide for help–the wonderful Holy Spirit.  He will warn us of danger, put salve on our cuts, pull thorns from our flesh, and will direct us to the next tank of water.  One more step…
     The devil, that enemy of our souls, wants to see our bones bleached white in the sands of desolation like so many he had snared before.  He wants to gloat that another has dropped along the way.  Take one more step…  Look up, keep your focus on Christ, faith and hope will see us through.  The reason the Lord sent us to the wilderness was not for us to succumb to the devil, but to develop character and as Forrest Johnson said, “Everyday the wilderness shared some new experience.”  Don’t worry, don’t be anxious, for the Master, at the right time, will bring relief and strength to the weary soul.  Don’t listen to the many voices along the way; don’t listen to the voice of the devil.  Just take one more step…one more step.
          “I have a loving Savior up in glory-land,
          I don’t expect to stop until I with Him stand…
          He’s waiting now for me in heaven’s open door,
          And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”
One more step…