The Return.3

"Do not believe those who tell you: "I have found one like Christ." For there will arise many deceitful imitators, and false prophets, exhibiting “signs” and “wonders,” so that even the elect will be deceived.

Some among you will say, "Behold, one like Christ is in the desert.” Do not hurry out looking for me. Or if they say, "Christ has come, and is in a secret location that I alone know of," do not believe it. " 

--Jesus

One Like Christ

In Escape From Reason, Francis Schaefer points out that the Anti-Christ is not the Anti-Non-Christ.  It is vitally important to understand that Jesus was and is the ultimate

expression of humanity, i.e., God's "logos" or idea of the qualities it takes to be fully human; a being in his image who is like God in nature. Therefore, any imitation, any being like Him, would have to have some of those qualities in order to attract other human beings.  

Thus, the disturbing trend in society of accepting ideas, "lifestyles", and practices that have been, historically, considered vile, obscene or worthless are esteemed and promoted because they are inoculated with terms like "tolerance", "love" and "civil rights" that let them pass through truth, reason and sensibility -- the guardians of civil behavior. 

Signs & Wonders

The movie, The Illusionist, gives a glimpse into the craft and effort it takes to deceive people into believing something that isn't.  The Prestige, demonstrates the awful means men will go to achieve their deceptive ends. In total they demonstrate the capacity humans have for deceiving and being deceived!

Deceitful Imitators

Jesus' words on the cost of discipleship sets a very high bar for commitment and obedience. Consider anew that we are to:

• take up our cross
• follow Him
• love him more than self
• be fit to plow
• decry earthly possessions
• obey all that He commanded us
• baptize and teach others to obey Him
• go the second mile
• pay the last penny
• give freely as we've received
• plant and sow His word
• seek the lost
• lay down our lives in love
• heal the sick
• feed the hungry
• clothe the naked
• visit the prisoner
• forgive as we've been forgiven

The only way to truly know a counterfeit is to truly know _
-- in intimate detail -- the Original.  The only way to know the True Jesus is to live our lives in absolute obedience to His commands.  He never asks us to do what He has not already done.  When we give ourselves to obedience we are giving ourselves to know His heart, the things that make it beat for the things He truly loves!

Militant love.

Sometimes I wonder if the Islamic "extremists" who live out their deadly beliefs are closer to the kind of passion Jesus requires of his followers then most of His followers are willing to live out?

Sometimes I wonder if any kind of passion for Christ that marks a person as peculiar is just too much for most of us.

Sometimes I wonder if our commitment to "bible study" is more important than our commitment to do all that Jesus said.

Sometimes I wonder if we understand that our "bible studies" are often no more than paper shuffling exercises that make us feel we are accomplishing something significant for the Kingdom of Heaven but have little productive value in changing lives; our own or others.

Sometimes I wonder if our struggle to live out our faith is because we know in our hearts that these paper shuffling activities can't really teach us His heart anywhere close what actually putting His words into practice will.  But due to fearfulness --whether to actually DO what He asks or fear of what others will think-- we don't even make baby steps of obedience.

Sometimes I wonder if we confuse obedience with perfection.  Obedience is not perfection, it is trying.  Trying then Trusting that the Perfect One will coach, strengthen, discipline, teach and help us eventually get it right!

The Return.2

"Beware that no man deceive you; 
for in the end times, 
many will come using my name, saying, 
"I am Christ," 
and will deceive many. 
False prophets will arise; 
and they too will lead many into
believing their lies."

--Jesus

Deceiving the masses, example #1:

One of the truly alarming trends in the USA's culture is the acceptance and promotion of fictionalized "reality". Whether "reality TV" or news reports that attempt to shape perception through clever selection and editing, a small number of people are attempting to recreate reality. Example: several St. Louis Rams football players came onto the playing field holding their arms up in a pose of surrender to "support" the protests of the death of a young black man, Michael Brown, at the hands of a young white police officer, Darren Wilson.  The facts of the case,however, proved Brown never raised his arms in surrender, but in fact posed a dangerous threat to Officer Wilson attempting to apprehend him for a crime he'd committed.  

Truth is our relationship to the facts.

In heeding Jesus' warning against deception our first commitment is to being True.  When an event happens, whether its having a cookie or what route I took to work this day, the test comes when challenged about our involvement in that event.  If I knew, for example, mom was saving the last cookie for a child-treat, and upon her investigation of its disappearance denied my part, the facts that belie my testimony don't change.  There are many factors that impact my relation to the facts: am I a chronic cookie-snatcher, do I battle diabetes, am I a coward, do I feel cheated that the kids always get the cookies?

Rather than seeing this as a small "white lie" that really has no consequence, I need to see each of those events as opportunity for my growth in righteousness, preparing me to resist deception in all its forms.
----------------------
Deceiving the masses, example #2:

Our state, Michigan, recently debated whether or not to allow a display honoring Satan in place of a Nativity scene at our state capital.

A local TV news outlet posted the story online and asked for opinions.  I gave mine and received what I consider chilling responses:

WNEM TV 5 news
"According to the Detroit Free Press, the Michigan State Capitol Commission has approved a Detroit Satanic group's plans to put up a "holiday display" at the statehouse in Lansing. Meanwhile, plans for a Christian Nativity have fallen through, because the out-of-state backer could not find someone to set up and take down the display.The State Capitol Commission said it authorized both displays to recognize everyone's First Amendment rights.Fast Feedback - We want to know what you think: What should be the policy for putting religious displays on state property?"

Charlie Lyon: Its another example that we as a society have abandoned our foundations, namely that all people are equal before the law and God, but not all ideas are equal. There are ideas that are superior to other ideas and ought to be esteemed and honored while the base and vile ought to be rejected and put to shame.

Michael R. Burhans: but of course, and isn't this a coincidence it is only YOUR ideas that should be allowed, right"?? LOL

Charlie Lyon: The problem, Michael, as I see it is that we seem to have lost the ability to discern what ideas are superior to others. That can't be good...

Tiera Worden-Byers: The 'Holy Bible' is pretty vile Charlie... start rejecting it...

Michael R. Burhans: Charlie Lyon, what is good in your eyes? In the bible your God killed millions over and over, while less than a dozen were killed by satan. Read history, hundreds of complete genocides of whole peoples by Christians, while Satanists have killed so few they don't even make the listings. So how then can you claim christianity (sic) is a better idea than Satanism?

Michael R. Burhans: Reading the Bible, the number one cause of atheism. LOL

Mike Serour: Start with our controlled country by Zionists. You'll find your answers there.

Charlie Lyon: that's a lot of stuff you have all lumped together. Forgive me if I don't want to even try to unpack it in this setting. And Michael, I'm sorry I don't see the humor in your lol's. ..

Michael R. Burhans: Of course not Charlie, you are too deep into the superstition. Enjoy your compatriots like Mike Seour here bashing the Jews in the name of your God.

Charlie Lyon: Not sure how you could determine what I am "deep into" by the few words I've posted here, Michael. But your assumptions make it difficult to have honest debate on what really are important issues for culture. Do we have inquiring minds left in society or just deeply entrenched opinions that we're more willing to cling to rather than strive for deeper love and understanding?

Jeny Ticar: Satan's blessings be upon you this holiday season, Charlie. Praise be to Him. Happy holidays

Charlie Lyon: Satan is a thief, liar, & the father of lies. His work is to steal, kill and destroy. That you use the words "blessing" & "happy" in the same sentence with "satan" demonstrates that you are either woefully deceived or so hardened in your heart that you fearlessly mock sacred things. I'll pray for your soul, Jeny...

Truth is our relation to The Reality revealed in Jesus Christ.

The world, that system of thought & action in open rebellion

image from 28nineteen.com

to the Creator, will continue to attempt to squeeze humanity into its mold through lies, illusion & deception.  Not only will human suffering increase as the pressure to conform increases, but there is a greater tragedy. The farther removed an individual is from,say,

• the truth of a flower or 
• the truth of water or 
• the truth of the sky or 
• the truth of their own existence, 

truth that began in the mind of God, the less likely he or she will reach their own potential!
---------------------
Deceiving the masses, example #3:

"Political correctness is communist propaganda writ small. In my study of communist societies, I came to the conclusion that the purpose of communist propaganda was not to persuade or convince, nor to inform, but to humiliate; and therefore, the less it corresponded to reality the better. When people are forced to remain silent when they are being told the most obvious lies, or even worse when they are forced to repeat the lies themselves, they lose once and for all their sense of probity [the quality of having strong moral principles; honesty and decency]. To assent to obvious lies is to co-operate with evil, and in some small way to become evil oneself. One's standing to resist anything is thus eroded, and even destroyed. A society of emasculated liars is easy to control. I think if you examine political correctness, it has the same effect and is intended to. 

Spectator contributor Theodore Dalrymple

Truth is our relation to the duties imposed by our understanding of what is required of us when we see the idea of the thing that God thought into existence! 

It is why Peter urges other followers of Jesus to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in us.  Sharpen your testimony as a way to battle the deception that is cloaking this world.  Find every appropriate opportunity to share it and live with confidence in the Truth God has revealed in His Scripture, through His Son, Jesus, and is revealing about Himself through you!

How great a breach is just this one sin, lying, to the human race?  What would the world look like if it were completely eradicated from the human experience?
  
Amazing breakthroughs have occurred throughout the last century to combat all kinds of illness from polio to smallpox and a variety of cancers.  But do you suppose there is a scientific remedy for lying? If there were, how many people would line up for that vaccination?

The cost of research and development of modern medicine can accrue in the billions of dollars.  What price would we be willing to pay for the eradication of falsehood, untruth, deception and lies?

Jesus description of the terrible upheaval on this planet in the days preceding His Return, I believe, is the price the world will pay to be rid of lying and deception!

In the end, a small price to pay to live in a world that knows the joy of the Truth!

(thoughts here adapted from The Truth, by George MacDonald)

The Return.1

"Watch therefore, 
for you know not the hour 
when your Lord will come."

--Jesus

When we were first married my wife and I lived in the college town of East Lansing, Michigan where Michigan State University is located.  There are tens of thousands of students who attend MSU.  Consequently, there are thousands of young attractive women among those students. 

As a newly married man and father I remember the challenge of keeping my mind, heart, and eyes focused on those responsibilities as I walked across campus from class to class.  What would it say of my devotion, integrity, promise to be faithful & true if I were distracted by an attractive coed as my wife and child were coming to meet me on my way home?  Imagine the insult if I walked right on pass them as my eyes gazed longingly at a prize I had no claim to or right to desire! An insult to the care & preparation my beautiful wife puts into making our home inviting and welcoming each day!

If happiness is wanting what we have, then surely the effort to stay focused on the return of the Son of God -in spite of the nearly limitless distractions this world offers- the One who went to prepare a place of unspeakable glory for us is well worth it!

How then shall we live?  In obedient love doing what He asks of us or not doing what He doesn't want us to do. Daily.

Here's to another day of un-distracted living!

The End Time.10

"Consider the fig tree, and learn from it. When its branches grow full of sap and produce new leaves, one knows that summer is drawing near.
Even so, no one knows the exact day, or the precise hour of Messiah's returning; not even the angels who are in heaven, but only my Father.
Yet seeing all of these events beginning to come to pass, know in your heart that the day of completion draws near."

--Jesus

The Giving Tree

Once there was a tree....
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday the boy would come

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alleghenymountainhardwoodflooring.com

and he would gather her leaves
and make them into crowns
and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk
and swing from her branches
and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired,
he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree....
very much.
And the tree was happy..."

- Sal Sylverstein

There is much to be learned from trees, as Mr. Sylverstein observed in his famous poem.

But as followers of Jesus we often forget this vital lesson we learn from trees: 

we are the branches connected to Him.  

His life must flow out of us if we would be fruitful. 

Fruitfulness shapes our lives. Fruitful lives shape His Kingdom!

We grow full of Him through love & obedience. "Leaves" are produced through this process and let us know we are nearing maturity and fullness. Just as in nature, Jesus knew our maturing would play a vital role in his Kingdom building:

Image from
www.wpclipart.com

The chief job of leaves is to make food for plants. This food-making activity, called photosynthesis, occurs mostly in fully grown leaves. But young leaves also are important. They wrap tightly around the tips of growing stems. They thus keep the delicate tips moist and help protect them from insects, cold, and other dangers.
Leaves are also vital to animals. Animals cannot make their own food. They depend on plants for their basic supply of food. Many animals eat leaves. For example, antelope, sheep, and other grazing animals eat grass leaves. People also eat leaves, such as those of cabbage, lettuce, and spinach plants. But even when people and animals eat the fruits, roots, seeds, and stems of plants, they are obtaining food made by leaves. (from http://forestry-learning.blogspot.com)

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?" --Jesus (Matthew 24:45)

How many times do we see in movies depicting world-wide calamity, those poignant moments when someone discovers a little plant growing in the midst of the carnage?  Is that not a wonderful mind picture that as evil increases and causes more difficulties, followers of Jesus are still at work finding, serving and feeding those of his household?

image from
readingtothecore.wordpress.com

Let us not focus on trying to guess when His second coming will occur or debate the proper eschatology.  Rather, let us keep our eyes on Him, the Author-Perfecter-Completer of faithful & wise servants!  Humble men and women who say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’  But are, in fact, the means by which He will usher in His Kingdom! As well as those who give His Kingdom it's shape!

The End Times.9

"You will be betrayed, 
and condemned to death, 
and hated by all nations for my name's sake. 
Remain watchful, 
and pray always 
that you may be counted worthy 
to escape these things 
that are coming to pass, 
and to stand, 
justified, 
before the Messiah, 
the Son of Man."

--Jesus

If I'm "praying always to be counted worthy" how will that impact the way I live?

Will it give me more or less confidence in what I believe?  
In what I do?  In how I love God and others? 

A rookie wide receiver for the Detroit Lions football team was

asked what he felt was the key to his continued improvement. He responded, "I just do whatever (All-Pro receiver) Calvin does.  If he runs extra sprints, I run extra sprints. If he spends more time catching balls, I spend more time catching balls!" Clearly the extra work is paying off as his quarterback and coaches have more confidence to throw him the ball.

He is counted worthy for more trust to be put in him!

Sometimes, I fear, we see no correspondence between the things of earth and the requirements of heaven.  Our trust is in the "works of Christ" rather than the Working Christ!

In his Revelation, John records an extraordinary encounter with the Living Savior, his Lord and close companion, the Son of Man, Jesus.  

"And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as one dead.  And he laid His right hand on me, saying, 'Fear not; I am the first and the last and the Living One.'" 

The One for whom John had toiled, sacrificed, loved and devoted himself for so many years after walking faithfully as few others had during those earthly years, knew the Perfect Way to reveal himself anew to his faithful friend.  But the blinding light of his heavenly majesty produced terror in John.  Why?

There are, no doubt, many factors that can account for the way he responded to this glorious revealing of his Master: his age, his exile, a lapse of memory recalling a similar moment on the mount of transfiguration.

But perhaps more importantly, he had not yet learned that glory itself is a part of our inheritance...a natural condition of our being made in the image of God, a glory of the most glorious heaven can show!*

Jesus laid his hand on his friend to remind him that the only way to overcome our fear of exposure to all that is not worthy in us is closest contact, Oneness, with Life.  For is it not true that we fearfully run away from suffering, the suffering & fear that exposes our lack:

• of character
• of love
• of faith
• of perseverance
• of obedience
• of self-denial

rather than running, confidently, to the Source of all that we desire to be?

For if it is not in our nature, at the first sign of fear, to draw closer to our source of strength and power -- for what is Strength & Power but what is Good? -- then how small is our strength, our faith, our endurance.  How much more training and perfecting in the suffering is necessary to make us worthy?

More importantly, how little can we be counted on to stand against Evil in all its forms?  The strength of Fearless Love in us is manifested and measured by betrayal and condemnation from a world system dominated by fearfulness.

Hold that thought...I have a few more laps to run!

*thoughts from MacDonald, The Fear of God, Unspoken Sermons II

The End Times.8

"When you hear of wars and the turmoil of destruction;
do not let your hearts fill with fear:
for these things must first come to pass;
the end is not yet.

Nation will rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom.
Fearful sights and great signs will appear in the heavens.
There will be signs in the sun,
and in the moon,
and in the stars.
On the earth will be great adversity between the nations,
and perplexity,
roaring like the sea's mighty waves.
Famines,
plagues,
and earthquakes will increase.
All these are the beginnings of sorrow.

Because evil will abound, 

the love of many will turn cold."

--Jesus

On a visit to relatives the summer of my 15th year, I experienced a prophetic vision of sorts.  In the early evening I was talking to a cousin and the conversation took a decidedly spiritual turn. As the Spirit of Jesus began to convict her of sin, righteous and judgment, I felt like I was re-living each word and movement that passed between us!  Call it premonition, if you will, but I knew what was going to occur before it happened.  When she reached into a drawer to discard the object of her repentance, I nearly exploded with joy - not only for her salvation but for the special privilege of knowing the Lord had chosen beforehand to show me this special moment!

The prophet Jeremiah was chosen to bring to the

image source: flikr.com

nation Israel very unpopular messages regarding their future captivity and oppression.  He exposed generational sins in the people that God could no longer tolerate.  But much of his message regarded the future and even Jeremiah realized the ultimate test of a prophet is whether the predicted events come true.  

A small event occurred that, I think, gave Jeremiah a moment of joy and a certain validation that God concerned himself with and used even the most incidental events in a magnificent way.  It was revealed to Jeremiah that a relative was going to offer him some property in the occupied city of Jerusalem and that he should purchase it.  Shortly thereafter the cousin showed up precisely as the Lord had revealed it to Jeremiah and the transaction became symbolic of God's future blessing to the nation that they would once again return and live in the land of God's promised prosperity.

There is coming a day when the work of rebellion among the inhabitants of this planet will be consummated, called to account and a final refining of the race results in the rule of righteousness revealed in the Son of Righteousness.  

The events leading up to that moment, make no mistake, are terrible and terrifying.  Even now  we see the wicked attempting to manipulate what they intuitively sense about these impending cataclysmic events into an opportunity to profit and control the masses for their own benefit.

This scaremongering over issues like "man-made global climate change," ebola and radical Islam is a reflection of the nature of their Master.  Not surprising, since the devil knows more about the Bible and its prophecies than most believers!  But in keeping with his nature, rather than bow his will, he will continue to deceive and take down as much of humanity as he can until the final day.

Jesus, the source of all wisdom and knowledge, foresaw all these events, and painted with broad strokes the trials coming upon this rebellious world. Let us reflect for a moment that, in the midst of these horrifying troubles, the one thing that brings Him most sorrow is:

"the love of many will grow cold," 

then let us realize that every transaction between you and another person, however seemingly insignificant in your own eyes, is an opportunity to grow strong in fearless love and symbolize the blessings yet to come for those who put their hope and trust in the Lord of Light, Life, and Love!

We don't need special prophetic gifts to know how we ought now to live! Keep loving and living without fear, always growing in His perfecting love!  Then will we be able to stand strong in the day of judgment, blameless with great joy!

The End Times.7

"Do you see standing these temple walls? Truly I say to you, not one stone will be left upright! Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled."

--Jesus

The Michigan State University football team played the Oregon Ducks in a battle of top ten teams recently.  That is a fact.  Before the game was concieved in the minds of each school's athletic directors there was a chance, with the development of their programs, they'd be top ranked teams.  But no certainty. As game day approached, oddsmakers made the Ducks 12 point favorites.  I scoffed and predicted the mighty Spartans would win by two touchdowns!


I still have my day job.

The Spartans fell by a lopsided 46-27 score. Another fact.

Predicting the future is tricky business.  When emotions become a factor all kinds of crazy can happen.  Bets made, plans prepared, dizzying expectations launched and, most notably, facts ignored.

Much of life is spent trying to predict the future.  

• If I take this job I can...
• If I buy this house we will...
• If I stick with this diet I'll have...
• If I vote this candidate we will...
• If I use this curriculum my kids will....
• If I invest in this company it will....
• This technology will...
• If I marry this person we'll....
• If I get my kids involved in this they'll...

How would you like to be the One Being in the Universe who can predict with absolute certainty the outcome of everything?!

Omniscience, by definition, means to hold all the facts of the entire universe and calculate in an instant of time the outcomes of every decision of every human being! 

 Dizzying...

Just think if I'd known --with certainty-- the final score of the Spartans/Ducks before the game was actually played how much emotional pain I could have saved myself.  Sad to know they'd lose but not emotionally crushed when they didn't live up to my expectations!

Although there were no Las Vegas oddsmakers around the time of 70 a.d., I'm quite sure the people of Israel, as tenuous as their position was with Rome, wouldn't have bet against themselves in keeping their nation together.  In fact, by handing the King of Truth over to Rome's quirky, malevolent judgment they bet on their own ability to escape condemnation!  

But God, himself, both warned and predicted that their collective decision to reject their King whose Kingdom is Love, would result in the very dispersion of their nation, scattered to the four winds of the world. Jerusalem has indeed been trampled under the foot of many nations for generations.  A historical certainty. 

All of this to say: our trust should not be in our ability to ascertain the future or understand all the predictions for this world.  Rather, our trust --and peace-- should be in the One who knows with certainty the final outcome of all that He's planned for every single person who is willing to know and love Him. 

You can bet on it!