It is as Clear as Mud

In the last two weeks the world has been glued to the TV and media outlets waiting with anticipation for the latest information about the disappearance of the Malaysian flight 370 and the 239 souls aboard. From one day to the next more information is brought to light. It has been amazing to see the media embrace theory after theory as the information is learned. At one point the world seemed sure the plane was in the Indian Ocean. Moments later the world believed the plane was hijacked and possibly by the pilots. Then moments later the theory was a fire on the plane led to heroic efforts on the place which also was a short lived theory. Now the media is back on the pilot with the flight simulator saying he deleted some files on his computer (haven’t we all). At this moment, they have found something in the Indian Ocean southwest of Australia that appears to be a debris field. But there is nothing certain as of this moment. On and on the pulse of the media and the world changed based on partial information from a variety of sources. In truth, we don’t know much more today than we knew 12 days ago. It is as clear as mud. However, what amazes me most is how people have been tossed and turned and carried about with every wind of doctrine or every theory under the sun.

Sadly, the spiritual world isn’t much better. While we should have grown to maturity in the word of God so that we are thoroughly furnished unto every good work and are able to rightly divide the word (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2:15), far too many people follow every whim and philosophy that comes down the pipe of “Christendom.” Far too many of us jump from theory to theory and philosophy to new philosophy with the coming of a “new” book, plan, idea or program. While there is nothing wrong with learning new systems or ways to accomplish God’s will and in fact we ought to try to grow in our pursuit of a greater spiritual life in Christ, we must not follow the ways of the world to flip flop from idea to idea about what is right and wrong or about how one is saved, how to worship God, or what it means to be a Christian. God’s plan for the Christian has been laid out for almost 2000 years.

Paul told the church at Ephesus to grow and be strong and not to be people that flip flop or be carried about by the philosophies of men. After laying out different roles in reaching the lost, Paul said the purpose would be “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:11-16). If we want to grow, develop, mature and be unified, it doesn’t come from chasing one theory after another. It comes by being unified in the word of God as the body of Christ.

I applaud those who want to read, study and learn about ways to apply Christianity to their daily lives. It is a great blessing to know people want to be better parents, better spouses, better employees/employers, better students, or better in their health: financially or physically. Even so, let me encourage you to learn what God would have you do in each of these roles rather than to chase after the ways of this world or the newest, latest, greatest idea or philosophy of men (even well-meaning men). Let us turn to the gospel on how to live in this present world. Peter wrote, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Pet. 1:2,3). We must not chase after the ways of the world. We must not be tossed about by the ideas and plans of men. We must turn to God’s word for the directions for Christian living. 

In the Blink of an Eye

Have you heard someone describe a very frightening moment in their lives by saying “It all happened so fast?” Often in life, we realize that very serious things happen very quickly. More than once I have had a conversation with someone only to find out they passed away that night. Friends have commented on car accidents how someone or something just appeared out of nowhere before they could blink. At other times, we think about our kids growing up and it seems like just yesterday when they were born saying, “they grew up so fast.” On other occasions we hear the couple celebrating 50 years of marriage saying how it has flown by.

Biblically, we often think of the brevity of life. James said that life is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Job said it is like the speed of a weaver’s shuttle. The point of thinking about the brevity of life is to take care of our spiritual needs quickly while we have the opportunity because our time will pass quickly. We need to hear and obey the gospel and live faithfully while we can. Our soul is too important to risk missing out on eternal life, especially when we realize how precious and temporary life really is in this realm.

Additionally, we think of the judgment when it comes to something happening very quickly. Paul said that in a moment, in the twinkling of time, we shall all be changed. We will put on a new body that will be incorruptible as opposed to the frail body we now have. In a moment, we will enter into a new spiritual realm where we will spend eternity with the Lord. We want to be ready for that day. We want to live in such a way that we hear the “well done,” good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.

Accidents, changes in life, the passing of our lives, the time we live, and the time between this world and eternal life all happen in the blink of an eye.

Even so, I want encourage you to consider something else that we can do in the blink of an eye. There are some things we can do quickly, with little effort, which can make a huge difference in the lives of others while helping us prepare for eternity.

In a moment, in the blink of an eye, we can…

· Lend a helping hand to those in need

· Speak an encouraging word to someone suffering in this world or dealing with health issues

· Hold a hand of someone hurting

· Preach the gospel to the lost

· Love someone who needs love (all of us)

· Show kindness and mercy to someone who is not used to being treated with Christian love

· Show compassion on the one suffering loss

· Give to the needy

· Visit the sick

· Visit the person in prison

· Provide a meal to the hungry

· Listen to someone who needs to talk

· Cry with someone who is weeping

· Celebrate with someone who is rejoicing

· Read your Bible to gain knowledge and strength

· Pray to receive God’s help

· Tell someone you love them

· Tell someone you will pray with and for them

· Sing with joy

· Play with a child

· Tell someone you appreciate them

· Hug someone who needs your love

· Give blood to help those in need

· Support the preacher

· Praise the elders

· Help the deacons

There are many things we can do in the blink of an eye to make a difference in this world. Things that happen quickly aren’t always negative. You can make a difference in a matter of seconds. What will you do this week?