WILL WAR EVER STOP?

  We fought and conquered our forefathers in the Revolutionary War. We fought and conquered our brothers in the Civil War.  We fought and conquered our neighbors in World War I, and World War 11, and Korea, and Vietnam, and a few small wars, if any war is small.   When will war ever stop?

  William Tecumseh Sherman said, “War is Hell.”  This came in a speech made to the graduating class of Michigan Military Academy, June 19, 1879.  Some one else has put it, “War is not an act of God but a crime of man.”  When will we ever stop hating and fighting each other? 

  I want to contend that the message from the letter to Philemon in the Bible holds the answer for us.
This private letter of intercession by the Apostle Paul to Philemon concerning a runaway slave, Onesimus, is very revealing.  The primary concern of this letter was for reconciliation between two people, a Christian slave owner and a run away slave, who has become a Christian.  The issue is that Paul has a converted slave on his hands.  What should he do with him?  Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon. Why?  How could he do that?  Onesimus is an illegal fugitive.  Legally he belonged to Philemon.  So, according to law this was the thing for Paul to do.  But, the circumstances have changed as Onesimus is no longer just a slave, he is a Christian.  Philemon, his master, is no longer just his master, he is a brother to Onesimus since they both are Christians. There is now a relationship that is greater than any other in this world.  We as Christians still have different roles to play but we are ONE as children of God.  We are kin, with Jesus as our brother and God as our Father.  Christians are brothers and sister in Christ.  It does not matter the color of our skin, or our nationality,  or any other differences.  We are one.

  Paul lovingly is asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus, to restore him and to receive him as a brother in Christ.  There is still master – slave relationship but there is a higher, greater relationship because of Christ.  Paul did not call for a revolution,  revolt against slavery, because the Roman Empire was build on slavery.  Social issues, in this case slavery, are corrected when the heart is corrected.  Christian brotherhood does away with all class, race distinctions and social barriers.  External differences are abolished in Christ.   Isn’t that the meaning of Galatians 3:26-29 “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus., for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  
Not violence or force, but changed lives is the true way to peace and harmony. 

  Abraham Lincoln was asked what he was going to do with the Southerners when they were defeated in the Civil War.  He answered, “I will treat them as if they had never been away.”
That is the way God treats us.    We were all runaways from God.  Jesus found us, paid the bill for our sins, gave us forgiveness and made us a part of His family.

“NO ONE EVER CARED FOR ME LIKE JESUS”

Charles Frederick Weigle was born November 20, 1871 in LaFayette, Indiana. As he grew up, his keen interest in music led him to attend the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he received training that later helped him in his ministry.  Not only did Charles become an inspiring preacher, but he was also a gifted songwriter, having written more than 1,000 songs. Charles Weigle’s most famous song, “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus,” was the product of one of the darkest periods of his life.  He spent most of his life as an itinerant evangelist and gospel songwriter.  One day after returning home from an evangelistic crusade, he found a note left by his wife of many years.  The note said: “Charlie, I’ve been a fool. I’ve done without a lot of things long enough.  From here on out, I’m getting all I can of what the world owes me.  I know you’ll continue to be a fool for Jesus, but for me—it’s good-bye.” She had had enough of an evangelist’s life and was leaving him. He later said that he became so despondent during the next several years that there were times when he contemplated suicide.  He even wondered if anyone really cared for him, but after a time, his faith was again restored and he became active for the Lord again.  Soon he felt compelled to write a song that would be a summary of his past tragic experience. From a heart that had been broken came these words that God gave to comfort him:  “No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus”      (Selected)

“I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus, since I found in Him a friend so strong and true. I would tell you how He changed my life completely. He did something that no other friend could do.

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me. All my heart was full of misery and woe. Jesus placed His strong and loving arms about me, and He led me in the way I ought to go.  

   

Every day He comes to me with new assurance.  More and more I understand His words of love.  But I’ll never know just why He came to save me, till some day I see His blessed face above. 
 

No one ever cared for me like Jesus. There’s no friend so kind as He.  No one else could take the sin and darkness from me.  O how much He cared for me.”    

         I Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DON’T LOOK BACK

  Leroy Paige had a special philosophy by which he lived.  Who was Leroy Paige?  He was better known as “Satchel.”  He was an outstanding black baseball pitcher. Even as a young man, he was a living legend in Negro baseball.  His success primarily came before the days of Jackie Robinson.  At that time, nobody was willing to risk breaking the color line, even for one of the greatest pitchers baseball has ever seen.  At an age when most players are washed up, “Satchel” received his opportunity to play in the big leagues.  His age was uncertain, but it was an age which should have rendered him ineffective to play ball.  He astounded the baseball world, not just by pitching at his age, but winning.  A newsman asked him to sum up his philosophy of life.  Without hesitation he replied, “Don’t look back, somethin’ may be gainin’ on you.”    
It seemed he lived and played one day, one game at a time.  How appropriate that “Satchel” refused to “look back” with anger or resentment at those who abused him and resented his accomplishments.  How eloquent that this unsophisticated man could say something so profound in simple, common language and give us a living example that the philosophy works. 

  It isn’t clear whether or not “Satchel” himself recognized that he was trusting in the teachings of Jesus by his philosophy.  Jesus teaching is found in Luke 9:62 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” 
Plowing a straight furrow requires keeping the eyes focused on a point out ahead.  What Jesus is saying is,
“If you do not know how to keep an undivided mind on your plowing – you can’t farm in my field.”

  The baseball world was shocked the morning of January 28, 1958, when Roy Campanella’s car turned over on an ice streaked Long Island road and left him paralysed.  Up to this time, Roy Campanella had the world in his powerful palms, riding high as the best catcher by far in the National League.  He was living one of the great American dreams but how swiftly this all changed.  The once robust athlete was imprisoned in a mummy like world. He could turn his head, slowly and stiffly, he could raise and lower his arms, limply. Otherwise, he was totally paralyzed.  Roy was forcefully removed from the game of baseball so quickly.  Roy Campanella died June 26, 1993.   

  Yet, I wonder, in the game of life how many of us permit the slow death of paralysis to over take us and we become inactive, indifferent in the game of life.  Maybe we meant well, maybe even there was a time when we really tried to live right, but now, we are on the sidelines. 
We don’t have to stay there, get back into the game of life.  Read His word, the Bible. Talk to Him in prayer. Fellowship with His people, the Church.  Get involved in living His life.   This call to undivided loyalty, singleness of purpose,  has always been God’s challenge.  He has never asked less than that man be totally committed to Him.

AM I A JUDAS?

  The very name Judas Iscariot strikes terror and chill into our lives.  Judas is the one soul among all the multitudes of men whoever lived, of whom we can say and by the authority of Jesus, that he is a lost soul. Jesus said of Judas, “none has been lost (speaking of the Apostles) except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.”  John 17:12  Again Jesus said of Judas, “But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man.  It would be better for him if he had not been born.”  Mark 14:21
There is much mystery about the life of Judas which God alone knows the answer.

  I would like to make some explanations of Judas.  Let me share three views:
1. The traditional view which is that Judas was predestined to be the betrayer. That Judas was a puppet to do this terrible deed of betrayal.  Someone had to do it.    
2. The more rational view is that Judas was good at the beginning of his ministry with Jesus but his selfishness got the better of him.  His greed caused him to sell Jesus out for money.
3. A newer view is that Judas was a nationalist, a Zealot.  He believed that the Jewish Messiah would come as a conqueror to overthrow Rome and establish an earthly kingdom. Might it be that Judas thought by betraying Jesus, forcing His hand, that He would then establish His kingdom?  If he pushed Jesus against the wall, backed Him into a corner, Jesus would have to come out fighting. Judas believed that no one could hurt the Messiah.  But, when he saw Jesus taken prisoner and crucified, Judas said, “I’ve betrayed innocent blood” meaning, I’ve got the wrong man. He can’t be the Messiah. 

No matter what we think of Judas, this I believe is true, that Judas was totally responsible for his actions. He could have repented and been forgiven. The cry of Jesus from the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”  would have included Judas too. 

  If I could paint a picture of the greatest tragedy of Calvary, this would be it.
A dark, black sky as background with thunder and lighting shooting through the sky.  The flashes of lighting reveal a bleak plot of ground outside the city of Jerusalem. There stands a twisted, small tree with a man’s sash dangling from a limb.  At the foot of the tree is the broken body of Judas. The ground is soaked with his blood.  He has committed suicide – unforgiven.  But, he could have been forgiven.  He commits the greatest tragedy of Calvary.  

  O Judas, Judas, may your life be a lesson to the sin sick world today, to throw back the pieces of silver for which we have bartered our salvation.  We must turn back from materialism and humanism and worldliness and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and our Savior.

  We need to come to Jesus; believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.  God will fill us with His Spirit to guide and comfort us, as we seek to live for Him.
To refuse such love and forgiveness is to join Judas in committing the greatest tragedy of Calvary, refusing forgiveness in Christ. 

  NO, I AM NOT A JUDAS, I HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN AND SAVED THROUGH JESUS.

SOMEONE SPECIAL

  “The greatest word is God.  The deepest word is soul.  The longest word is eternity. The swiftest word is time. The nearest word is now. The darkest word is sin. The meanest word is hypocrisy.  The broadest word is truth. The strongest word is right. The tenderest word is love. The sweetest word is home. The dearest word is MOTHER.”   

  Sometime ago I bought a book entitled, “Someone Special” by Marilee Zdenek.  I thought the title referred to Mary, the mother of Jesus but that “Someone Special” turned out to be her Son, Jesus.  Of course, that’s right, He is the One who is special.  Yet, I still dare believe that the mother of Jesus was very special.  What was this young Jewish girl, Mary of Nazareth, really like?  May I refresh your minds with these few Biblical scenes of Mary to show that she indeed was “Someone Special.”

Birth of Jesus.
  The angel Gabriel, sent from God, told Mary, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. …Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”  Luke 1: 28-31  
Mary asks the intimate question. “How can this be?” – seeing I have never been intimate with a man.  The angel told her that the conception would be by the Holy Spirit.  With supreme loyalty, Mary submits herself to be used by God.  She said, “I am the Lord’s servant.”  Luke 1:38

In the temple. 
  At the age of 12, Jesus shared with Mary and Joseph the Passover Feast in Jerusalem.   It was on the return trip that Mary and Joseph missed Jesus and returned to Jerusalem.  They found Him in the temple. His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this?  Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”  Luke 2:48  This was the natural reaction of a concerned mother. She cared about Him.

The Cross. 
  What a heartbreak, Mary experienced in the death of her son. Mary, gathered with a small group of women, was there at the foot of His cross.  Mary’s silent endurance, of what she could not change, is a great lesson to all of us.  She watched her son die.

In the Upper Room.
  We finally see Mary gathered with the Apostles and some of Jesus’ disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem. Here she is in the midst of the believers, engaged in prayer, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

  So it was, that God used the miraculous conception and the natural birth process to bring His Son into the world. Through this special someone, Mary, God came in the flesh in human history.  Mary placed her whole womanhood at the disposal of her Creator and became mother of the very Son of God. 
The specialty of Mary was that she loved Jesus.  Her whole life declared it: “Oh, He’s someone special, someone special, that is so easy to see…He’s someone special, someone special,, that much is certain to me.” 
  Christian mothers, you are very special to God and to your family.  You women set the moral standard of our country.  Your example, your inspiration, is a heavy responsibility.  But, God can use Christian Mothers, as no one else, to influence the men and children to walk with God.