Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Love your fellow man, but don’t stoop to the ways of evil for any reason!”

                    –B.N. Rundell  (High Country)

       “Little children, let no one deceive you.  He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
                    –1 John 3:7 (NKJV)
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The last part of 1 John 3:8 says, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (NKJV)  If this is so, and it is, then why do so many Christians celebrate Halloween, and other days of evil?  There is something wrong when believers want to go back to “Egypt” and enjoy the pleasures of that land.  The old man was supposed to be removed, and yes, I know the fight with the flesh.  But there is a difference between a fight and the purposeful returning to the way of the world.  Paul writes, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Colossians 1:13, NKJV)  We are in a darkened world, but we are to be light to that world.  Darkness does try to overcome us, but we should not extinguish our light to join it.
     Know this–there is a real war going on for the hearts and souls of men.  Christians are not immune from that fight, in fact, they are more involved than before.  It is almost shameful that more believers do not recognize the fight that they are in, for the devil “seeks to do everything in his power to prevent us from living as true heirs of our Father’s eternal kingdom.  He is totally committed to disrupting and destroying what is means for us to be ‘imitators of God.'” (Alistair Begg)  Recognize and commit to the way of light, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8, NKJV)  Get that into your being–we are to walk as children of light.
     Listen!  Satan is a real and vicious enemy.  “He trades in doubt, division, and destruction.  He comes at us both morally and intellectually.  With the ferocity of a supernaturally empowered beast, he seeks to maul us and shred our faith to pieces.” (Begg)  Know this–Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil!  Yes he may prowl, he may roar, he may threaten, but we are secure in Christ.  We have the power to resist him (James 4:7).  
     Therefore, in this day of evil do not give into the whims of the devil.  As you walk the road to glory be aware of his schemes and traps.  Keep the light shining brightly on your path.  With that being said, do not long for Egypt.  Do not celebrate the things of the world.  Keep a standard that is higher than that of the world and do not get caught up in its pleasures.  “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:  Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10, NKJV)  Did you get that?  Do not practice unrighteousness.  Enough said!  Stand firm in this evil day and hour.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

But the way must be long, and as there were the thorns and rocks for his feet, so must there be bruises to his spirit.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Wanderer of the Wasteland)

       “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

                    –Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
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Paul wrote what he did following his conversion, “But I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.  Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem.” (Galatians 1:17-18, NIV)  Most view this as Paul’s personal instruction time from the Lord.  Three years in the wilderness, and many of us cannot handle three hours.  As I have mentioned there are several kinds of wilderness experiences.  Some just happen, a storm comes your way; something that is beyond your control.  Then there is the wilderness that men face, such as Job, inflicted by the devil himself.  There are some wildernesses that we enter because we want the challenge, or we want to lose ourselves, or we want to learn.  These can come from within our being or they can be led by the Lord, such as Paul living in Arabia for three years to be instructed by Him.  Lord, have mercy, you could even be like John the Baptist and live your life in the wilderness.
     The wilderness can be a scary ordeal; do you dare take the first step?  Will you enter your personal Arabia, or go to the backside of the desert to find what God has for you?  The wilderness beckons, enter it at your own peril, but enter it you must.  You must also realize that when you enter and come out on the other side you will be a different person.  You will have added to your character, and gained knowledge and that valuable attribute–endurance.  Be forewarned, there are some that enter who will not survive the ordeal, or will attempt to renege and go back from when they came, back to the land of Egypt.
     Look at the definition of “wilderness.”
               1)  An unsettled, uncultivated region left in its natural condition.
                    a)  a large, wild tract of land covered with dense vegetation or forests;
                    b) an extensive area, such as a desert or ocean, that is barren, or empty, a waste;
                    c) a piece of land set aside to grow wild.
               2)  Something characterized by bewildering vastness, perilousness, or unchecked profusion.
Also, keep in mind that much of what we see, feel and experience in a natural wilderness or wasteland experience can be applied mentally and most importantly, spiritually.  It is important to realize that the wilderness beckons to all.  However, many do not heed the call, or even realize that the call is there.  Do not take the call or the journey lightly.  Jesus, when in the wilderness, was tempted by the devil; there were also wild beasts with which He had to contend, so much so, that the angel came and ministered unto Him.  Moses spent forty years learning the ways of the wilderness; then he had an encounter with “I AM,” and delivered the Israelites from bondage while taking them through another wilderness.
     Some enter the wilderness singing and dancing, celebrating, but soon find that it was not what they were expecting; that the conditions are not conducive to their wanting style of life.  It does not produce pogo-stick Christianity, but it does produce Christ-like results.  See, the wilderness is a place of trial, a place of learning.  It is a place of suffering and of bruising, whether it be the sole of your foot or the heart of your soul.  Some enter the wilderness because of a lark, a dare, or maybe even as part of an extreme sport experience.  Dangers, if they are mentioned are scoffed at; the warnings are considered foolish.  Later, you or others may come upon their sun-bleached bones (whether physical or spiritual) and all you can do is shake your head in pity.
     Notice the definition:  it is perilous, bewildering.  Do not become beguiled by the beauty, or the freedom, or the distances; for they can be illusionary.  There is often havoc and confusion in the wilderness; people may lose their way.  The unprepared, the naive, the scoffer and the mocker will find themselves in danger that often leads to death–the death of the old man.
     Ahhh, but the value of the wilderness experience is without compare.  Perhaps the shrinking wilderness is a cause for the lack of character in people today.  Dare talk of a spiritual wilderness and people will scowl at you, for they want excitement, frivolity, and ease.  That is not the way of the wilderness.  Some will cry out, “For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.” (Exodus 14:12)  Know this, without the cross, there can be no crown.  Others may become a voice, like John, crying out from the wilderness, “Prepare you the way of the Lord.”  Dare to follow the beckoning of the Spirit and enter.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

The answer was romance, adventure, the call of the unknown, the unconquerable spirit of man to roam, to seek, to find, and never to yield.”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Great Trek)

       “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
                    –Matthew 6:33(Amplified)
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Proverbs 8:17, such a wonderful verse.  Notice that it again comes from the first person.  We can easily see Jesus speaking here.  

          “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” (KJV)

Paul certainly understood those words when he wrote in Galatians, “The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (2:20, NIV)  Here we see the grace of God.  He loved me; He gave Himself for me; He died on the cross for my sins.  The fool does not seek wisdom, that is one reason the road he travels leads to perdition.  We read in Psalm 14 that the Lord looked down from heaven to see if there were any who sought Him.  The same is seen in Psalm 53.  He is the desire of our heart, and as Dan Dick states, “When something is the desire of our heart, it should possess us totally.”  When I first started dating Annie I wanted to be with her, in fact, the first semester we dated there were only three days that I was not in her presence.  There was no way she was going to get out of the loop I tossed over her, and you know what, she wanted to be with me as well.
     Notice the last phrase of the KJV, “those that seek me early shall find me.”  Woe is me, do I have to get up?  That’s what so many think of the new day.  But they fail to realize that it is a day that the Lord has given them; not only that, it is a day to come to be in His presence again.  We break our fast at breakfast time, but we also break away from the sleep that has kept us away from Him as well.  To get up early tells how much an individual, or a thing means to you.  One of the greatest memories I have, one that is etched deep in my heart and mind is the fact that when she was not working, Annie would always get up and prepare breakfast for me.  There was a desire to be with me; a desire to please me.  Charles Bridges writes, “Take care that God is the first person we speak to; that we see His face first before any other; else will our lamp be untrimmed, our soul estranged from His presence, our heart unready for His service.”
     Wait a minute!  I hear you say it.  The KJV translates it wrongly.  Let’s look at a few translations of that verse.

                “I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me.”  (NKJV)
                “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.” (NASB)
                “I love everyone who loves me, and I will be found by all who honestly search.” (CEV)

This is not a contradiction or necessarily a poor translation.  To get up early is to be diligent about what you are going to do.  To get up early means that you are serious about what is going to take place that day.  But I like the term “diligent”.  It shows perseverance, audacity, industriousness, conscientiousness and working towards a goal or outcome.  To get up early shows discipline on your part and the hunger that you have to be with the Lord.  It could be translated “earnestly.”  We are to earnestly seek Him and that is determination.  Are we determined to know the Lord more?
     One more thought.  We see in this verse the idea of mutual love.  Parents love their children–the children love their parents.  There is mutual love between husband and wife.  Christ loves us–we love Him.  There is the mutual idea of love and to do that we must come to know the person toward whom our love is directed.  It is not just a whim, not just a fancy moment, but a dedicated, diligent time seeking the good of one another.  Know that!  The Lord seeks good for us, and we serve a loving heavenly Father.
     James tells us “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (1:5, NKJV)  In other words, if you lack wisdom, ask for it.  If you lack wisdom, get up early and earnestly seek His face.

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Death sometimes had a majesty.”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Border Legion)

       “Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
                    –Psalm 44:22  (NKJV)
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Here we see in 2 Timothy 2:11-13 another little hymn of the Church that some call the “Hymn of Christian Commitment.”  Paul gives us a little introduction to this hymn telling us to remember.

          8 — Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
          9 — for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
        10 — Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  (NKJV)

Going into this holiday season I would encourage you to look at these words of Paul.  Remember, Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.  Barclay reminds us that this is not just a one time event, a single day in history, “but a continued state which lasts for ever.”  It is more of do not just remember the day He rose from the dead, but be more mindful that He is our risen and ever-present Lord.  “We do not depend on a memory, however great.  We enjoy the power of a presence.” (Barclay)  
     We are to remember that Jesus was born of the seed of David.  He was a man, He lived the same life that we do.  He saw the problems of life and lived them.  He faces the struggles that this life brings, and He even died to end His life.  He was “the Christ who knew the desperate struggle of being a man and followed to the bitter end the will of God.” (Barclay)  Finally, we are to remember the gospel.  Hold firm to it, guard the truth presented.  Follow the direction that it gives.
     Now to the hymn–contemplate these verses for there is much in them:

        11 — This is a faithful saying:
                For if we died with Him, We shall live with Him.
        12 — If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
        13 — If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.  (NKJV)

     William Petersen relates the story of newlyweds James Calvert and his wife that were sailing from England to the Fiji Islands.  The inhabitants of those islands are not like they are today; back in 1838 they were fierce cannibals.  What a honeymoon!  Calvert, his wife, along with others were going to the natives with the gospel of Christ.  The captain of the ship tried to warn them when he learned of their proposed endeavor.  “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages!”  Calvert responded boldly, “We died before we came here!”
     Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).  To live is Christ.  We need to understand that this world holds nothing for us.  Upon accepting Christ and picking up His cross we affirm our death to this world.  As Barclay puts it, “The Christian inherits Christ’s Cross, but he also inherits Christ’s Resurrection.”  If we endure, we shall reign.  In other words we are to remain loyal no matter the cost.  “Endure” according to Gordon Fee means, “holding one’s ground patiently in trouble or affliction.”  We read in Mark 13:13, “…But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (NKJV)
     There is a negative thrown in here.  “If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”  What did Jesus say in Matthew?  “But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (12:33, NKJV)  Barclay puts it this way, “Jesus Christ cannot vouch in eternity for a man who has refused to have anything to do with him in time; but He is forever true to the man who, however much he has failed, has tried to be true to Him.”  Now, is the day of salvation.  Live for Christ, now, today and He will be with you through eternity.  “God will never fail the man who has tried to be true to Him, but not even He cannot help the man who has refused to have anything to do with Him.” (Barclay)
     God’s character is firm, there is not a shadow of turning with Him.  He is Who He is!  He is the I AM!  We have hope and assurance because “He cannot deny Himself.”  It is impossible for Him to do so; we have that wonderful, calm assurance that He is with us.  Jonathan Edwards said one time, “I go out to preach with two propositions in mind.  First, every person ought to give his life to Christ.  Second, whether or not anyone else gives Him his life, I will give Him mine.”
     So go out this week singing the song of the early Church.  What a doctrinal statement!  What a testimony!  What a promise!

               “‘Take up thy cross,’ the Savior said,
               ‘If thou wouldst my disciple be;
               Take up thy cross with willing heart,
               And humbly follow after Me.'”
                    –Charles W. Everest