Fasting

In college was the first time I learned about the Spiritual Discipline of fasting. Throughout the Old Testament the nation of Israel was called to fast and seek God’s face. We also see many other examples through Scripture.

The beauty of fasting from food is that when hunger calls, we can call upon God and associate the feeling with our need for Him not just physically but most importantly spiritual.  

True Joy

As I said in my post yesterday, I went to visit a Super Max Federal Prison last night with my senior pastor and a fellow pastor to ministry to inmates. I’ve never been in that environment before. It was exactly as though I imagined. We walked into the front door, were searched, then identity checked, hand stamped and followed a very systematic process of moving to the room where religious services are held. As we were walking to the room, an alarm sounded. We stood against the wall as dozens of guards ran past us to what we assume to have been a fight. We continued on and eventually arrived at the room.

The room was decked out with a great sound system, drum set, guitars and guitar amps as well as theatrical lights. It was pretty impressive. There were some men there when we arrived, so we met them and spent some time getting to know them.

One of the men I met had been in prison for several years and would be for many many years to come. He had a bigger smile than you can imagine. As we talked he explained that he lived horribly on the streets, and when he was put in prison, he continued to act the same which led to him being placed in the super max. He then realized that he had violated the commands of a Holy God and that Christ was his only hope for salvation. Now he had joy. He has other inmates ask him all the time if he’s having visitors because he is so happy.

Why shouldn’t he be happy? He’s found his advocate before God.

One Chance

A disturbing about life is that we only get one chance. Any decision one makes and acts upon is final. There is no way to go back in time and redo it. Often times, I don’t take thins into consideration. More recently though, I’ve been strangely aware of this truth. Tonight I go to the prison to minister with my pastor to inmates. I’m very excited about this opportunity.

These men made choices at some point that had an end result of separation from society. The prison we’re going to is an incredibly large, maximum security prison. The men here didn’t just get caught busting a window. They have committed murder, rape and other horrid acts possibly more than once. The people I will see tonight never get an opportunity to redo the life they lost. Truth is that we’re the same way. I never get another chance at time. I could very well be there myself.

Even more wild than all of the things above is that I’m no better than those men. I’ve flaunted my sin in the face of a Holy God who in His love had to reject me because of my wickedness. It doesn’t matter how bad the things I’ve done are. It’s that I’ve offended Him by going against Him. My best righteousness is like filthy rags compared to Him.

 We get one chance at life and in turn one chance at eternity. If one never comes to the understanding that they, just like me and everyone else, have violated God’s law and will stand before Him in judgement and that they must have the atoning blood of Christ applied to their life, then they will spend eternity separated from God in His wrath.

This is not politically correct, but it’s not about whether people are offended. It is about people seeing the truth of who they are in comparison to a Holy God. 

Conversion

One of the most frustrating things is when I see an organization wander from its roots in an attempt to become something it isn’t. I’m afraid that the evangelical church has done exactly this. We often try to market Jesus to people as a solution to all of their problems when they don’t even realize that they have a problem. People need to understand that Jesus never promised He would fix all our problems and make our issues disappear. He came because we were condemned in our sins before a Holy and Just God, and we needed a Savior. We’ve cultivated a personal fear of offending people while sharing with them their true need for Christ, because for them to understand their true need for Christ, they must understand that their sin has flown in the face of God. Ephesians 2 supports this and clearly tell us that we “were dead in our trespasses and sins.” 

This thought process was inspired as I recently listened to Ray Comfort’s first message of “Hell’s Best Kept Secret.” I agree wholeheartedly with what he teaches in this message. It is supported by Scripture. I encourage you to listen to it. 

Hell’s Best Kept Secret Audio Download 

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Thanks for viewing the page. My goal for this venture into blogging is to communicate regularly on my life and how it is entirely influenced by my faith in God.