Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

He knew it would take some time and considerable experience before his confidence would become competence.”
                    –B.N. Rundell  (Journey to Jeopardy)

       “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.”
                    –Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV)
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     We turn our attention again this morning to Proverbs 3:21-26.  Our attention, our focus, our minds must continually be on the Word of God.  I like the words of J. Vernon McGee, “How wonderful it is to discover that the truth of God will hold us–it is not that you and I hold the truth, but the truth will hold us.”  No matter what life throws at us, no matter the darts the devil hurls our way, we can be confident that we are in God’s hands and we live in confidence and assurance of His truth.  F.B. Meyer wrote, “Learn the security of life which is built on the eternal principles of this book.”  The Word of God–the Bible–shows us the way to live and gives us the hope of His keeping power.  God is there, with us, never fear or dread the walk the path of faith.  Life can be a burden, especially without the Lord.  However, “Life is less of a burden when we realize that God will be there.” (Dan Dick)
     When we walk in the way that the Lord has for us we can be assured that He is there with us.  In fact, we have the assurance that He is also walking in front of us.  His Word lights our path, and His wisdom takes away our blindness.  We can see the way to go, the obstacles on the path, the problems that may come our way and then meet them in confidence.  Bob Beasley says, “Our confidence in God’s providence should take away our sleepless nights of worry anxiety because during waking hours we are confident of His tender care.”  Michael Jermin gives us some light on this assurance, “Surely the way to sleep quietly in this world is to be asleep to the world.”  I recall the following story of Peter:

            And when Herod was about to bring him [Peter] out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.  Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!”
                     –Acts 12:6-7 (NKJV)

Look at this.  Peter is sound asleep.  Perhaps he remembered how Jesus slept in the boat when the storm was raging on the Sea of Galilee.  He may have learned that lesson well.  He was sleeping so soundly that the angel had to strike him on the side.  “Get up!”
     Verse 25 tells us not to be afraid of any sudden disaster or terror that may arise.  In other words, don’t be afraid of the next minute.  God is there.  God is there to see us through any and all crises.  I can remember several times when sudden disaster was averted by the Lord.  He, whether by angels or His outstretched arm, kept us many times when there seemed to be no way out.  F.B. Meyer wrote, “Life has no fear.  Its repose is unbroken by alarm.  It is at peace with itself, with man, and with God.”
     A ship, when it enters a harbor, must have a pilot to guide it.  The captain of the vessel does not know all the dangers that lie in the harbor.  A pilot must take over the ship to steer it through the channel.  Along with that, there are the additional tugboats to make sure the large vessel does not vary its course.  It is not “full speed ahead” but a slow maneuvering through the channel.  When we find ourselves along the way and it seems that we can no longer trust ourselves to guide us through, we have the confidence of the great Pilot standing at the helm, taking over in our lack of knowledge, and we trust Him to guide us through.  We have the general knowledge of navigating the ship, but we need the wisdom of the Spirit, the Pilot, to guide us through the narrow channel to safely dock.
     Friend in all of this, have confidence and hope in the Lord.  Listen!  None of our actions go unnoticed by God.  He is there to see us through to safety.  On this way that we travel there are all kinds of snares and traps laid by the enemy, there are the forces of nature to tend, and yet, we can go through life with the assurance and peace that God is there–always there–to guide us.  Therefore, I say again–Trust Him!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

They found that they were able to trust the promise of the future.”
                    –Zachary McCrae  (Christmas Under Siege)

       “We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ.  It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves.  Our only power and success come from God.”
                    –2 Corinthians 3:4-5 (NLT)
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     God takes care of us in the ordinary events of life, as well as when adversity enters the picture.  He not only directs our path, He protects our path.  We see this as we continue studying Proverbs 3.

          21 — My son, let them not depart from your eyes–keep sound wisdom and discretion;
          22 — So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck.
          23 — Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble.
          24 — When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
          25 — Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
          26 — For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.  (NKJV)
(ESV)
          21 — My son, do not lose sight of these–keep sound wisdom and discretion,
          22 — and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.
          23 — Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble.
          24 — If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

     Sound wisdom, something that is greatly lacking in our world today.  It conveys the idea of “something stable,” something that will stand the storms of adversity.  Going our own way is dangerous; to do our own thing is actually tempting God.  It implies that we are greater, wiser, smarter, and more knowledgeable than He is.  Rejecting God’s wisdom is perilous; therefore, we must not let selfish plans impede our progress.  Yet at the same time, when we are directed by God we should be thinking His thoughts.  F.B. Meyer said, “We are made in the image of God, our minds are able to appreciate His mind, and we think over again the thoughts of God.”  We are to think His thoughts, remind ourselves of them, focus on them, and then think them again.
     To think the thoughts of God we must know them.  Life and grace come through studying the Word of God.  We are to cleave unto the Lord–hang on to the promises of God; live in obedience to His Word.  Again, to do this we must know His Word.  We are reminded of this in the Book of Revelation, where John writes, “But hold fast what you have till I come.” (2:25, NKJV)  Hold fast–to the truth of God’s Word; do not give in to any and every whim of doctrine that floats your way–and there are many.
     I am reminded of a ship’s captain out on the open sea.  He does not go by his feelings or by what he thinks is the right way.  No, he consults a compass to keep him on course.  His travel must always align with the compass with no deviation.  He doesn’t consult it just once on the voyage, but is continually looking at it to make sure that he is on course.  My uncle used to fly for a weather company, and they would fly into hurricanes to record data.  He told me that when in the midst of the storm, the only thing they could trust was their instruments–the compass.  Without that they would get lost in the swirling, howling winds.
     This goes back to trust.  I am so thankful that I was taught to simply trust in the Lord.  It was something we did, not something we had to stop and think about.  I often think that perhaps I take the protection and guidance of the Lord for granted, then I have to remind myself–no, that’s the way of life.  We are to trust that God is with us, always and everywhere, then we trust that He will help us make good choices that are according to His will; and finally, we trust that even if we make a mistake, He will bring good from it.
     Tomorrow, we will finish looking at this portion of Proverbs–hang on, and Trust in the Lord!

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

If a man is something and somebody, he doesn’t have to show off.”

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Tucker)

       “And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?'”
                    –Luke 24:38 (NKJV)
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     The poor, the downtrodden, the despised they are all around us.  The homeless, the persecuted, those in the midst of despair for one reason or another, they are there, some of them only God knows where.  However, that is the truth of the matter, He does know and He is with them, waiting for them to turn to Him.  This morning we finish with Psalm 140 and instead of doom and gloom, David prays for deliverance, not only for himself, but for those who are the down and out of society.

          9 — As for the head of those who surround me, let the evil of their lips cover them;
        10 — Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
        11 — Let not a slanderer be established in the earth; let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
        12 — I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.
        13 — Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence.  (NKJV)

     We live in a sin-sick society, and there is no human way out.  No matter the programs and the money that man puts into projects of all sorts, they will ultimately fail because there is not a heart change.  David wants the wrongdoers to have a taste of their own medicine, which eventually will happen.  Paul tells us, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” (Galatians 6:7-8, NKJV)  There is a time coming.
     God will restore and take care of His own.  He will deal harshly with those who persecute His loved ones.  Zephaniah writes, “Behold, at that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, And gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame In every land where they were put to shame.” (3:19, NKJV)  Focus for a minute on verse 12, from the NIV:  “I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”  God is watching; He is watching that men do right by others.  We can rest in the assurance that God does all things well.  
     It is the duty and obligation for the righteous to live upright lives and to continually give thanks unto the Lord.  We call upon God to deliver, yet we thank Him in all situations for we know that He is in control and cares for us.  Don’t doubt, know that God is there; there in the midst of trials, troubles, and afflictions.

               “Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!
               E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me;
               Still all my song shalt be,
               Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee.”
                     –Sarah F. Adams

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The prime duty of a man was to live in such a manner that dyin’ would come easy to him.”
                    –Ernest Haycox  (Trail Smoke)


       “…And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”
                    –Colossians 2:14-15(NKJV)
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     Perhaps I should have saved this for next week sometime, but the thoughts were in my mind, and I didn’t want to lose them.  Maybe, just maybe it is for someone today.  I know that Sunday is Resurrection Day–Easter.  Forty days after the resurrection Jesus ascends back to heaven, to His throne.  I don’t know what the disciples thought.  They didn’t think He would die the horrible death He did by hanging on the cross, and now that He was with them again, He is now again gone.  Did they think He would remain on earth with them?  Ponder the following verses from Acts 1:

          9 — Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
        10 — And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them, in white apparel,
        11 — who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (NKJV)

     There are some important things that Jesus said in Acts 1, but I want to focus on the words of the men in white apparel (angels), “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?”  They were gawking up into the sky instead of following Jesus’ instructions.  I’m sure in the next ten days their thoughts went back to the cross, the empty tomb, and the ascension, as would be expected, but here there was an admonition pointed at them.
     “Why stand gazing?”  It is important that we celebrate this season, but don’t get too caught up in the symbols, and how important they are, and forget the meaning, the purpose, and the results.  Why stand gazing at the cross?  Jesus declared the work was finished.  Yes, it is because of the work at the cross that we are redeemed, reconciled, and in fellowship with God, but often the splinters from the cross become relics and idols to us.  Jesus declared that the work was finished; God, the Father had given His only Son.  Some wear what is called a crucifix that shows Christ still on the cross–No!  It is finished, the work is complete, He is no longer on the cross.  God’s wrath and justice was appeased and His mercy and grace poured out.  Why stand gazing at the empty tomb?  The victory over death, hell, and the grave is complete, over, finished.  
     One more thought for this Good Friday:  John records the following words of Jesus, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” (12:23, NKJV).  Jesus, not long before the cross prayed these words, “Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.” (John 17:1, NKJV)  Jesus used this phrase, “the hour has come” several times in the book of John.  Someone rightly wrote, “It is more than just a time period; it’s a turning point in history.”  We remember the words of Paul in writing to the Galatians, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son…”. (4:4, NKJV)
     This “fullness of time” was one particular, specific time in history.  A time appointed, a time when it was just right for the event to occur, the only time it could occur.  Jesus was born in the “fullness of time.”  He was crucified for the sins of man and on the third day rose from the grave victorious–if I may say, in the “fullness of time.”  Hang on, go back to the words of the men in white apparel in Acts, “in the fullness of time” this same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
     There is a plan for man and the world.  It is not a haphazardly thrown together series of events.  It is a plan in the “time schedule” of God.  Jesus, in the fullness of times, when it is just right, will come back to earth.  Why stand gazing, get on with the work of the kingdom?  William Barclay writes, “The Second Coming is not a matter for speculation and for illegitimate curiosity; it is a summons to make ourselves ready for that day when it comes.”
     So celebrate this wondrous weekend in all that it includes.  Remember, however, to keep it godly, stay away from idols and the frivolity that the world offers.  Have fun, but do not let them deter you from the mighty event that took place in the fullness of times for our salvation and reconciliation to God.  Joyfully sing:
               “At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
               And the burden of my heart rolled away,
               It was there by faith I received my sight,
               And now I am happy all the day!”
                        –Isaac Watts