Coffee With The Lord

Forfeited blessing!  Forfeited treasure!  Few things in life are more tragic!

I have a picture in my mind this morning of an individual who is invited on an expedition to discover and share treasure of incredible proportions.  Everything points to its authenticity!  By every assessment it really exists!  There is a reliable map and it appears to be genuine.  The guide is reliable – he has led other expeditions.  The challenge?  It is a long journey, the terrain is difficult and the map is detailed.

The journey begins and the trip is arduous.  Nothing comes easy here… The search is difficult and long – twists and turns, steep and difficult terrain, and months of travel with terrible weather.  Weariness sets in, discouragement dogs those on the expedition.  The guide seeks to encourage those on the journey with the expectation of treasure.  One traveler especially is critical of the guide’s leadership, at every turn he questions the map, on more than one occasion he threatens to go his own way… Finally he does… He strikes out on his own and refuses to follow the guide…

Days later… The guide leads the obedient and faithful followers into a cave and there it is… Incredible treasure!  Untold blessing to be shared by all!  And the pilgrim who struck out on his own?  Where is he?  Forfeited blessing!  Forfeited treasure!  A tragedy!!

I know… It’s just a parable!  But behind it is something of a reality that came to mind as I thought about the truth presented in Jeremiah 17:5-8 this morning during “coffee with the Lord”…

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.  He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.  But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.’”

Don’t know about you, but I intend to keep on trusting my Heavenly Guide and the map to untold treasure He has provided (the Bible).  I know the trip is arduous and filled with temptation and danger.  There are times you just would like to give up and perhaps strike out on your own… but I’m not going to do it!  I intend to keep trusting in the Lord!  At the end of this journey is untold blessing – incredible treasure!

Evangelical Christians that hold fast to the hope of a “rapture” (a resurrection and catching away to be with the Lord) as prophesied in Scripture are sometimes accused of being “escapists” (individuals who are too preoccupied with “getting out of here” and escaping world problems and the realities of living in a world like ours).

Well, let me report… the Bible does teach a “catching away” (i.e. the “rapture”) and the resurrection – but, on the other hand it does not support irresponsible “escapism!” I just read the balanced teaching of Scripture on the issue this morning (and I fully embrace it as true!).

“Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed! For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’” (1 Corinthians 15:50–55 the NET Bible)

In the very next verses Apostle Paul makes very clear this doctrine – this clear teaching of Scripture – should not be construed as irresponsible “escapism!” This is what he says… “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm! Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is NOT in vain in the Lord!” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NET)

So, based upon the teaching of this passage, here is what I want… I want the sounds of my redemptive efforts on behalf of the Kingdom of Heaven to blend in a beautiful duet with the sound of the “last trumpet” heralding the Lord’s return and our “catching away” to be with Him forever! Isn’t that what you want as well?

Ever fail the Lord and foul up! I have… I failed the Lord and sinned! I fell flat on my face and did it again! You, like me, may have promised yourself (and God) you wouldn’t… but you did! And this wasn’t the first time this had happened! You feel awful… you feel condemned! You know you don’t deserve forgiveness, but you need it… You need it big time! Those were some of my thoughts today as I read Psalm 51.

Listen to some of David’s prayer for forgiveness after his terrible failure and sin with Bathsheba…

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your loyal love! Because of your great compassion, wipe away my rebellious acts! Wash away my wrongdoing! Cleanse me of my sin! For I am aware of my rebellious acts; I am forever conscious of my sin… You desire integrity in the inner man; you want me to possess wisdom… Grant me the ultimate joy of being forgiven! … Hide your face from my sins! Wipe away all my guilt! Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me! Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me! Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey! … Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. The sacrifices you desire are a humble spirit— O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject!” (from Psalm 51 the NET Bible)

You know what? God hears prayers like that and he honors them!

Here’s what Apostle John had to say about it… 1 John 1:8–9 (NIV)   “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness!” And to that I say, “Whew! Praise the Lord!