Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Many times he had found himself in the presence of death, and long ago it had ceased to frighten him.”
                    –James Oliver Curwood  (Back to God’s Country)

       “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”
                    –Matthew 5:8 (NKJV)
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No, I am not dwelling on death, but it does cross my mind now and again since my heart attack, and I’m almost six years past my allotted time.  Now mind you, I’ll take whatever time the Lord gives me, and no, I’m not morbid, wringing my hands as to when it’s going to happen.  Look at the news and ponder…  This is a world of death.  Death’s owner, the devil smiles whenever another one dies especially if they do not know the Lord.  General Harold Moore said this regarding the world and the battle we face, “This is perhaps the ultimate terror:  to be lost and alone in a hostile land where the next man you meet wants only to kill you.”  He was speaking, of course, of the war in Vietnam.  However, there is more truth in what he says in the spiritual sense as well.  
     Many of us as we journeyed through this life have faced many and myriad wilderness experiences.  Some have wandered in the dry and hot deserts of life.  Some were in the rugged mountains, or the dense jungles.  Some may have experienced them all at one time or another, but know this–no one survives the final wilderness journey of death.  Oh, in the bright days of life we may mock death.  We “tip our hat and take our last ride,” but in reality are we ready for it?  If you are a Christian it is but a last ride in this life, but oh, the rides that await us in eternity.  To the unbeliever death is a terror, an unknown, a mysterious, fearful phenomenon that, ready or not, must be faced.
     This wilderness may not be your own now, but surely one day it will be.  Right now it may be the loss of a dear loved one; that in itself is a special ordeal.  Sorrow is a wilderness all of its own and everyone who has faced the death of a loved one must deal with it.  As Christians we most certainly believe as Paul, “To die is gain”; however, facing it is another thing entirely.  Some call it “crossing the Divide,” others “crossing over Jordan”; those terms in themselves declare the struggle of crossing through the experiences that may be faced in the wilderness.
     People mockingly joke, “He is so heavenly-minded that he is no earthly-good”; but perhaps this is the answer or a help in the wilderness of death.  Since the road of the journey of life stops, the answer lies on the other side of the veil, the river, the divide.  To be properly prepared, we need to focus on eternity in heaven realizing the brevity oflife on this earth.
     Yes, it is a mystery, even for the Christian.  What is it that is needed to face this new journey?  I would say four essential things.  First, a pure heart, one that has been changed by the spiritual regeneration of the Holy Spirit.  Second, trust in the Word of God; God will do what He says.  Third, that great requirement of the Christian life and walk–faith; this coincides with knowing and trusting in the Word of God.  Fourth, hope, a wondrous hope in the promises of God, in heaven itself.  He has gone to prepare a place for us!  Someone once wrote, “An eternal hope is the oxygen of the soul.”  As we require oxygen to live this life on earth, perhaps it is that eternal hope that brings life to the soul enabling it to cross the wilderness of death.  And do not fear, the Lord will be there as He always has been holding your hand.

(much taken from Trails in the Wilderness)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
Neither of us is going to get out of this alive.  That’s the only thing a man knows about life.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Conagher)
 
       “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
                    –Romans 6:11 (NKJV)
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          “Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
          Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so.”
                    –John Donne
 
     We often think of “Death” as a person.  Images of the Grim Reaper go through our mind; an evil image of horror holding a scythe ready to cut down the living.  John writes in Revelation, “Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death.” (20:14, NKJV)  Notice that the first mention of Death is capitalized, a proper name, and it is part of our imagery.  We read in Paul’s writing, “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26, NKJV)  He continues the thought, “Death is swallowed up in victory.  O Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?” (15:54-55, NKJV)  One reason that we use this analogy is that death is so mysterious.  When you look at the body lying in the casket they are truly dead–dead to this life, dead to the physical, oh, but the spiritual body is eternal.
     One thing every person, male or female, has in common is that all come to meet this mysterious phenomenon we call “Death.”  We read in Hebrews, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (9:27, NKJV)   Philip Comfort writes in regards to Donne’s poem, “This was a reminder to all that the death of one person is not an isolated event.  All share the same fate.”  But know this!  “Man does not die as a body.  He dies as a man, in the totality of his being.  He dies as a spiritual and physical being…  Physical death, then, is a fit symbol of, and expression of, and unity with, the deeper death that sin inevitably brings.” (New Bible Dictionary)
     But know this!  Call it fate, call it ironic, but John Donne finishes his poem with this climatic statement, “Death, thou shalt die.”  Just as Paul proclaims, “Death is swallowed up in victory.”  The victory, of course, is Jesus Christ.  By His resurrection, death no longer has control; it has been defeated, overridden, and cast away.  “Death cannot be proud because it will suffer what it has done to all others.” (Comfort)  Notice what John writes in Revelation what happens to Death–it is cast into the lake of fire.  Jesus used death to deliver man from death.  He died that men may live.  Paul refers to the death of a believer as “sleep”.
     Without Christ, however death is indeed grim, there is no hope, no life beyond the grave, only that horrendous and terrible second death in the lake of fire awaits.  He is like the rich man who cried out “I am tormented in this flame”. (Luke 16:24)  However my friend, the Christian should not and need not be afraid of death.  Francis Schaeffer states, “To Christians there is a continuity of life on a straight horizontal line from this life on into the world to come.”  Christians because of the new birth do not go down into the pit to await judgment.  The chasm, the pit, is past at the new birth.  Death cannot separate the Christian from God, in fact, death brings them into the fullness of God.  “Death is not the chasm; we have already passed from death to life.” (Schaeffer)  As Death has been defeated by Christ, it no longer binds us, but we are free to enter the gloryland that is prepared for us.  Live in Christ–die in Christ…

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He’s a man with evil eyes, and I think they reflect what truly is in his heart.”
                    –Jim Taylor  (Ride into the Storm)

       “And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”

                    –2 Thessalonians 3:2 (KJV)
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Look closely at what the words of this Proverb says.  Then think of some of our so-called leaders…hmmmm.

          “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.”  –Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV)
          “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.”  –Proverbs 10:11 (NIV)

     Water is an element often used metaphorically or as an analogy in Scripture.  It speaks of everlasting rest and peace.  Ezekiel tells of a river coming forth from the Temple that becomes so wide and deep that no one can cross it (47:1-12).  Imagine for a moment that flowing stream from the heavenly throne.  We also see another side of water in the holy writ; it speaks of judgment.  Noah found grace while the earth and its inhabitants were destroyed as the water covered the earth.  Moses also saw water as judgment when the Red Sea destroyed Pharaoh’s army. (Beasley)
     Jesus tells us, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'” (John 7:37-38, NKJV)  We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit and He is the living water that is within us–filling us, cleansing us, purifying us.  Then as this is happening the fullness and goodness of God should be flowing out of us.  It brings hope and grace, but within the water there is also a hidden warning that the world will be cleansed one day.
     The second part of this verse reveals opposite characteristics that are seen in the speech of man.  When the righteous speak “it is as if the cover was removed from a pure, clean well of water.  He has no evil intentions to conceal:  his words are an index to his heart.” (J.L. Flores)  They are healing, refreshing, and uplifting to the hearts of men.  Truth is cleansing if only man will receive and let it flow into him.  However, the wicked person has other intentions–violence and evil.  Listen closely to some of our bureaucrats.  (One example is that a leader in the House said that a certain person should be “put on ice.”  That is evil, that depicts violence of the worst kind–murder).  The plans of the wicked are not devised for the good of his fellow-man.  J.L. Flores writes this, “His words are like a poisonous stream carrying moral death wherever they flow.”  
     Think of the world today–the evil that abounds, the terror that brings fear to the soul of man, the wickedness that destroys not only the body and mind, but also the soul and spirit of man.  The glee that comes from the “father of lies” when he sees what is happening.  Think of what will happen when those with the “fountain of life” are removed from this world.  When the Body of Christ is gone, think of the evil and terror that will happen.  Wickedness will abound; it will run amuck which means to behave uncontrollably.  No controls, lawlessness, anarchy.  Let me say this then in closing–today is the day of salvation!  Do not let it escape you.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

It is his first reaction, to build a fire, to give himself the security and comfort that a fire symbolizes.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (How the West Was Won)

       “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”
                    –2 Corinthians 1:3 (NLT)
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          “Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are those who mourn [over their sins and repent], for they will be comforted [when the burden of sin is lifted].”  –Matthew 5:4 (Amplified)

     For the last few weeks we have looked at what it means to mourn.  We all can relate to that, if not in the real sense, certainly in the spiritual.  If we have been born again, we have recognized the sorrow over our sins and the need of a Savior.  Cleansing of our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ is the first step to spiritual comfort.  That comfort comes from the free forgiveness of God when we confess our sins and our need for Him.  Then in turn, we feel the consolation and encouragement that makes our spirit smile.  The guilt and burden that we once carried, that heavy and convicted conscience that we had are now free and lifted.  We have the assurance that Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin.  We read in 1 John, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1:7, NKJV)  Get that!  “ALL sin” is removed, we are spotless in the sight of God.
     Yes, we have partaken of the justice and the holiness of God by accepting the death of Christ, and then we have received His mercy and grace as we come to Him asking for forgiveness of our sins.  But know this, that we should “Thank the Lord for His patient pursuit of you and for undeserved comfort of forgiveness.” (John Stott)  We didn’t deserve His forgiveness or His grace or His mercy, but He loved us so much that He accepted us because of the blood of Christ.  That should bring great comfort to our soul.
     Have you noticed the paradox?  Weeping brings comfort; forgiveness brings comfort, repentance brings comfort because the burden of guilt and our sin is lifted.  Paul writes, “as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” (2 Corinthians 6:10, NKJV)  We read in the Psalms, “Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” (30:5, NKJV)  Get it?  “Sorrow for sin ushers in joy.” (Thomas Watson)  I don’t understand, but I fully accept the plan of God and the work of Christ.  William Barclay said paraphrasing this verse, “O the bliss of the man whose heart is broken for the world’s suffering and for his own sin, for out of his sorrow he will find the joy of God!”
     There is great comfort in the knowledge of sins forgiven.  There is great comfort in knowing that He has a place reserved for us at the table and a home in heaven.  Let your soul be comforted, grasp the words from Isaiah 40:1, “‘Comfort, yes, comfort My people!’  Says your God.” (NKJV)  Charles Wesley, the great writer of hymns put it this way:

               “He speaks and listening to His voice
               New life the dead receive,
               The mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
               The humble poor believe.”

      In our rejoicing we must not forget the purpose of the Holy Spirit after we repent.  He is the “Parakletos” — the Comforter.  We read in John, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” (14:16, KJV)  Other versions use “Helper,” “Advocate,” “Counselor”, but I like the concept that when we mourn, when we groan those prayers that we don’t know what to utter and say, that we have the Spirit of God to intercede and to comfort us in those moments.

               “O spread the tidings ’round, wherever man is found,
               Wherever human hearts and human woes abound;
               Let ev’ry Christian tongue proclaim the joyful sound:
               The Comforter has come!”
                         –Francis Bottoms