Precious SeedPreaching the word, in season and out of season; reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience and teaching.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Mark 10:14-16

This week I began looking over the curriculum for this coming school year. I have a hard time getting my mind around to it. With each and every year, new challenges arise spiritually and academically. We want to be like Jesus in the verse above. Each child needs the love that we can give. They need the hugs, the positive feedback, the ear for listening.

I always look forward to a new year. What will the Lord have for me this year in the class? I know this group of kids well. I have had them the last couple of years in first and second grades, so I know a little of what to expect. Even given that new adventures will certainly arise. The seeds were planted last year. This year we have a chance to work the soil a little more, water those seeds a little more, and cultivate the ground again.

It is neat to see growth in these students from year to year. It is a great responsibility for us to help these students grow in the Lord. We also want to be excellent in teaching the students academically as well. John 6:51 says “I am the living bread which comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.” Jesus says in John 8, “I am the light of the world.” We won’t walk in darkness, but have the light of life. This my hope for each and every student we have the privilege to disciple; that they would come to a saving faith in Christ and that they would be bold and share His love with others.

Please pray for our school, staff, and students during this upcoming school year.

Jim Hunt

For You have been a shelter for me; a strong tower from the enemy.

Psalm 61:3

As I was looking over this Psalm, it reminded me of a song I heard many years ago. I was probably 12 or 13 when I was listening to an 8 track tape in my future brother-in-law’s car. I had never heard this kind of Christian music before. The singing was incredible; two sisters and a brother singing three part harmony. The guitar player was fantastic! I had never heard sounds like that before. At first I was just listening to the music. Later I went back and concentrated on the lyrics. The tape was, “How the West was One” with the 2nd Chapter of Acts and Phil Keaggy.

Hearing Phil play made me want to learn to play guitar. I also wanted to sound like Matthew Ward singing. (Dream On!) Matthew sang a beautiful worship song called Psalm 61. Verse three stuck out for me. “Hear my cry O God, and heed to my prayer from the end of the earth I will cry to thee.” How God is our shelter from the enemy. He is our shelter through life’s road.

I’m a very anxious person. I worry about things that I can’t control. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you and not as the world gives.” Jesus give us His peace, not as Oprah or Dr. Phil give, or as the world gives. I constantly go back and reread this verse many times. I need assurance of God’s peace and protection. We all struggle with various areas of our lives. But it is great to know that we can take shelter under the wings of our Lord. Don’t we have an awesome God? Find peace and enter his shelter today.

Jim Hunt

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32

Sorry for the extra long posting this week, but I’m a little wound up.  See, I’m pretty sure someone is yanking my chain.

The other day I found a book anonymously left outside my office. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love books. First I checked the authors’ names. They were familiar, but I couldn’t remember reading anything by them or about them. Next, I turned to the back cover to see which “famous people” were endorsing the book. This usually gives you a pretty good idea of the book’s theology. When I saw that both Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church) and Robert Schuller (Crystal Cathedral) both had nice things to say about this book my initial thought was, “more seeker-friendly, purpose-driven, feel-good, consumer-minded Christianity”. Just what we need… not!

I’m only two chapters into the book and I’m already a little disturbed.

The authors ask what comes to mind when you think about the following list: (1) go to church, (2) study the Bible, (3) pray, (4) give money to the church, and (5) avoid worldly pleasure. They say,

“Did you think ‘Christian’? Not so exciting. If that’s what being a Christian is about, then a lot of other options will seem more appealing.”

Do they mean to imply that not going to church, not studying the Bible, not praying, not giving money to the church, and not avoiding worldly pleasure should somehow be appealing to Christians? I certainly hope not! I’d like to give the authors the benefit of the doubt, but they go on to imply that the above list actually describes a disciple – but not as Jesus would describe a disciple, but rather as the Pharisees would describe one.

Let’s be clear. To be a “Christian” means to be a follower (or disciple) of Christ. “Disciple” (’mathetes’ in Greek) literally means “learner”, but not in the sense of someone who just learns facts. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testaments states that, “a ‘disciple’ was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.” Jesus Himself confirms this view in John 8:31-32. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” I might learn the facts of Algebra, but they won’t change the way I live my everyday life. However, I have learned some simple facts about gravity. (1) It hurts when I fall down. (2) It hurts every time. (3) The further I fall, the more it hurts. These facts have changed the way I live my life. In a real way I “hold” to the teaching of gravity more intensely than I “hold” to the teaching of Algebra and people can see the difference in the way I live my life (by not jumping off tall buildings).

So, according to Jesus, a ‘true’ disciple is one that holds to his teaching (i.e. follows it in such a way that it changes the way they live their life). It would seem logical that a true disciple of Jesus would live a life consistent with the teachings of Jesus and the men He specifically commissioned as His Apostles. Let’s see what they have to say about the items in the authors’ list.

Going to Church?

He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. (Luke 4:14, emphasis mine)

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2, emphasis mine)

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Studying the Bible?

Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? (Mark 12:24)

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Pray?

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matt 5:44, emphasis mine)

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:6, emphasis mine)

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16, emphasis mine)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18, emphasis mine)

Give Money to the Church?

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)

“But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. (Luke 11:42)

The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. (Acts 11:29)

After an absence of several years, I [Paul] came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. (Acts 24:17)

Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. ?On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Cor 16:1-2)

Avoid Worldly Pleasure

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Phillipians 3:17-19)

Obviously, just because someone does these things does not mean that they are a Christian. However, it is irresponsible for any teacher (or author) to imply that Jesus is not concerned with our behavior. Jesus wants us to be holy, just as He is holy. We desire to live holy lives not because we’re trying to earn our salvation with good deeds, but because we love Jesus and want to be just like Him.

Let’s live our lives according to the scriptures and according to the example of our Master.

Pastor Jim Stowe

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Romans 12:2

Hot, hazy, and humid – a typical August day and perfect for our annual inner tube float down the beautiful Allegheny River. Close to eighty of us shoved off from the Buckaloons campground in the early afternoon. The next few hours promised to be filled with laughter, fun, and a lot of horsing around. One highlight of the float was a particular place in the river where the current picked up and rushed by the bank of one of the islands we would pass. After being pulled through by the current, we would stop and enjoy swinging and dropping into the river from a rope swing.

As we approached the spot where the current picked up, I moved my inner tube over to get into the current. My wife followed on her tube and my three children followed in a small rubber raft. Very quickly, without warning, our afternoon fun turned life-threatening. The river had changed from the year before! Halfway through the area where the current picked up, a tree had fallen into the river. The current was pulling us into the tree. The water was pulling down and rushing under the tree. We tried to paddle out but could not. I reached the tree first. It was all I could do to stay on top of the water. My wife was next and her tube went under. She managed to grab my arm and a limb of the tree. She clung to that limb. My kids were already crying as they rushed toward us. I managed to kick their raft away from the tree. They floated to safety. Some twenty minutes later, a number of men from the church were able to reach Kim and me. We were all safe.

In the day and age we live in, it is easy to get caught in the current of what is popular. Paul wrote in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

The current of the world says, “do for yourself”, “get ahead”, “be first”. Jesus said, “If you want to be first, be last. If you want to be on top, be the servant of all.” The world says, “If it feels good, do it.” Being caught by a ‘current’ like that can be deadly.

As the church, we are the ‘called out ones’ (‘ekklesia’ in Greek). We are to be in the world but not of the world. We don’t follow the flow, current, or pattern of the world. We follow Jesus.

I encourage you to be different, love, be radical, forgive, be transformed, forget about yourself and serve others.

Pastor Jeff York

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

James 1:2-4

I’m sure we’ve all read this verse many times. How many of us really consider it “joy” when we face a trial? I realize we are all going to face them but I don’t enjoy them. My wife reminded me of this verse Monday morning. I got up to go golfing with a friend at 6:00 a.m. Thunder was rumbling so we decided we would not be golfing. The rains kept coming. The stream behind our house was already high from the day before. In the back of my mind I thought, “Just don’t let the power go out.”

The water was rising quickly and the garden was soon under water. It didn’t take long for the whole house to be surrounded by water. My two youngest were very frightened (especially when the swing set started to float away!). We eventually had to move the car to higher ground and also needed to move things off the shed floor because water was up to the door of the shed. My wife said, “consider it joy” reminding me of James, chapter one. “Yes, dear, I’m so happy we got flooded and lost the garden, your flowers. The basement was flooded because the sump pump got plugged and we lost our hot water tank. The smell also leaves a bit to be desired.”

The whole time (and even today) in my mind I was thinking, “Lord what am I learning from this? Why did you allow this to happen?” I know there are always lessons to learn. It reminded me of the disciples in the boat when the storm came. They became frightened like my kids. They awoke Jesus and he calmed the storm. I know I’m like the disciples a lot when things like this happen.

Tuesday morning, my wife shared with me Psalm 29:3, “The Lord is over many waters.” The Lord is in control of everything. We spend so much time in our lifestyles, cutting the lawn, working in the garden, keeping things nice and in a second or a minute it’s gone. Maybe my time should be spent in other things that glorify Him. These possessions that we spend so much time on are all going to burn in the end (Rev 21:1).

Jim Hunt

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5

Our family has taken several trips to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania over the last several years. As my oldest son has grown, he has taken many hikes with me along the battlefields. There were regiments that would sustain 80% casualties. Men would walk a mile over open fields to a point in the middle of the Union line. Men would climb a rocky slope to try to take the high ground. My son’s question would always be, “Why would men do that?”

My dad has shared with me his experience on June 6, 1944. As a 16 or 17 year old boy driving an LCD transporting infantry on the beaches of Normandy. I asked if he was afraid. His response was, “You didn’t have time to think about it.” These men paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice for each and every one of us. John 10:11 says, “I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” Mark 15:17 & 19 says He had a crown of thorns on His head; they beat Him and spit on Him; they mocked Him; they would take Him to the cross and crucify Him. Jesus would take on the sins of the world and take our punishment for us. Why? as my son would ask. Because He loves each and every one of us. He wants us to spend eternity with Him.

Jim Hunt

Every Wednesday we invite a different “guest” to contribute to our blog. This week’s guest blogger is Caleb Albright.

Somewhere around the end of your sophomore year and beginning of your junior year of high school you start to think about what you want to do after graduating. When your senior year starts it seems almost mandatory to know what you want to do. While talking with people the question always comes up, “What are you doing after high school?” All your friends are talking about their plans and very few seem unsure.

I was one of the ones who was unsure. To be honest, I still am. When you answer that question with, “I don’t know” it is almost as if that was the end of the conversation and you’re just a troubled youth who will probably work at McDonalds the rest of your life and have no dreams or aspirations. (By the way, I have many dreams and goals in life I intend to accomplish.) It is also discouraging to see everyone around you going on with life and tackling their dreams full on. Now granted, most times this scenario is more “accepted” in the church, but even there you tend to feel looked down upon. People can unintentionally make it seem like maybe you’re not saved and you’re definitely not living right.

Ever since my junior year (2005) I have been praying and seeking the Lord on what His plan for my life is and what He wants me to do with all my passions and talents. Up until today (2009) I am still praying for that. To most of you reading this, four years probably doesn’t really seem like that long, but to me, a 21 year old kid ready to travel the world and do a bunch of crazy stuff, it feels like an eternity. I’ve always struggled with the fact that I never seem to hear from God on this particular matter, while in other scenarios it doesn’t seem to be quite so difficult. People have told me that there’s probably sin in my life and that is why the Lord isn’t speaking. I can guarantee according to Romans 3:23 (For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.) that I have and do sin, but I’ve never thought that to be the cause of God not speaking. I’ve always wondered what is really going on and at times to some degree even questioned God a bit. It’s so hard when kids you’ve grown up in church with say things like, “God has called me into missions” or, “God has called me to be a pastor” and you sit there and think, “What am I missing?”

Now, why do I say all this? Not too long ago in our Wednesday night Bible study as we started into the book of 1 Samuel my eyes were opened to something that has crossed my mind before, but seemed like too simple of an answer at the time. In the first chapter it talks about how Hannah wasn’t able to have children and the way she felt because of things people said to her. In those days if you were weren’t able to have kids many people thought you had done something wrong and you weren’t right physically or spiritually. So as you can see there are some similarities between the two. It says in verse 7 that, year after year she went up to the house of the Lord… Now I think we can assume that this isn’t the only time she talked to God about this, with what she was going through I’m sure she was before the Lord several times a day and at times probably flat out begging for Him to answer her prayers. Year after year people looked down on her and she prayed to the Lord for an answer. Hannah says in verse 11 that if the Lord would answer her prayer and giver her a son that she would turn right around and give him back to God to serve Him the boy’s entire life…wow. Have you ever wanted something so bad and when you finally got it you turned right around and gave back to the person who gave it to you. This is no small task. When Hannah was finished praying I believe she heard from God, because it says in verse 18 that her face was no longer sad. The Lord spoke to her and Eli just confirmed what the Lord had told her.

The life decisions might vary slightly in the fact that you might already be dedicated and committed to doing and going wherever it is God wants you, whether it is third world Haiti or the neighborhood you grew up in. This isn’t what I take from this passage other than to make sure I am dedicated to doing what God wants and that I am committed to following Him where He leads me. What really spoke to me was the idea of perseverance in our prayer life no matter the time frame. There are several reasons why the Lord might simply be saying, “Caleb just wait a little bit.” or whatever it is. This doesn’t mean I sit in my closet till the Lord tells me it’s time. I need to be doing what we all as Christians are called to do in 2 Corinthians 5:20 and that is be an ambassador for the King of kings. I need to be living Jesus and representing the Kingdom of Heaven to everyone who comes in contact with me. We are all given the responsibility in the Great Commission to preach the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19), this wasn’t just a command for the eleven disciples standing there, it was for anyone who calls themselves a Christian and desires to follow Christ, I mean after all what did Jesus do while He was here on earth?

In conclusion, maybe you’ve been asking for an answer or praying that the Lord heal someone close to you, whatever the situation is, I would just encourage you to continue seeking God and have faith that you’re really NOT talking to the ceiling. John 9:31 says that God hears those who worship Him.

Caleb Albright

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

I Corinthians 3:12-14

Within 60 years, unless Jesus returns before then, I’ll probably be dead.

My friends and family will lower my body into the ground, cover me with soil, and place a simple stone marker engraved with my name at the head of my grave. The “tent” of my body which I inhabited for my brief stay on earth will begin to return to the dust from which we are all formed. Some may grieve my absence, but most will be comforted with the knowledge that my spirit will have gone to be with my Lord Jesus Christ, someday to be united to a new body formed just like His – a body that will never die or decay. But the fact remains that my time on Earth will be finished.

100 years from now few people will even know that I existed. Memories of my life may linger on in the minds of my children, grandchildren, and perhaps great-grandchildren, but those memories will be slowly crowded out by memories of their own lives. My tombstone will have faded as wind and rain gradually erase any trace of my name from the marble. The possessions that I spent a lifetime acquiring will have found new homes and new owners. Organizations that once relied on me will have filled my position with new people. If I’ve produced anything tangible, like authoring a book, or poem, or song, some copies may remain; forgotten or discarded in a library or someone’s attic or garage-sale box.

Within 200 years no one living will even remember my name. It may remain inscribed on some archaic legal document, like a property deed. But by then it will be only an anachronism, of no real interest or value to anyone – just a curiosity. None of the possessions that were once so precious to me will remain. They will all have been consumed by fire, lost, or simply worn out and discarded. Things that I have built with my own hands will have been torn down and new structures will stand in their places. Vistas and views that I once treasured will be changed by the inevitable forward march of time. Few of the organizations that consumed so much of my time will still exist, and those that do persist will certainly not remember my contributions.

If Jesus delays His return, within 1000 years I am confident that there will be not one single, solitary shred of physical evidence that I ever existed on this planet.

However, I will still exist.

And not only will I still exist, but I will be fully conscious and forever in the presence of Jesus. And not only I, but every human soul who has ever existed will continue to live forever for all eternity – either in Paradise with Jesus or in the eternal torment of Hell with Satan and his angels. Our destiny (eternal life) is certain.  Only our destination remains in question.

We spend so much of our lives concentrating on things that, with respect to eternity, are so trivial. We pour so much effort into our homes, careers, hobbies, possessions, crusades, agendas, etc. It’s as though we are frantically trying to do all that we can to leave our mark, to somehow say to those who will come after us, “Remember me, I was here. Look at all I did.” The grim reality is practically nothing that we do here on earth will survive for more than a few years after our death.

Our only hope for a true and lasting legacy lies in those things we do for our Lord Jesus which directly impact the lives and souls of the people who we encounter every day. Jesus cautioned his disciples to, “…store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20). When we impact another person’s life by sharing Jesus with them (either by word or action) we can know that we have done something that will last forever.

Because in the end, the only “things” that will last for eternity are people. Let’s invest wisely by ministering Jesus to them, and by doing so lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Pastor Jim Stowe

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

Galatians 6:7-8

Every spring, growing up on a farm, we would plant crops. Alfalfa, corn, and oats would be our main crops. Each summer and fall we would reap a harvest. Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that when alfalfa was sown, alfalfa would be reaped. When corn was sown, corn would be harvested and when oats were sown, oats would be reaped in harvest. The principle in nature simply stated is that you will reap what you have sown. But this principle is also true in our own lives as well and can be found throughout the scriptures.

Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” As I think on these verses, a couple of examples come to mind from the scriptures.

In Exodus we read the story of Pharaoh and his dealings with the people of God, the Israelites. I find it interesting that Pharaoh ordered every Israelite boy born to be thrown and drowned in the Nile River. Pharaoh sowed hate, murder, and destruction. Some time later we know that Pharaoh’s own son died on the night of the Passover. Also, just as he had desired to destroy the nation of Israel by drowning their children, he and his army were destroyed as God closed the waters of the Red Sea over them.

In the Old Testament book of Esther, a man named Haman despised and hated the people of God. He made a plan to exterminate them. He went so far as to have a great gallows built on which he planned to hang his enemies – especially a man named Mordecai who had been faithful to the Lord.

Would you believe that Haman ended up being hanged on his own gallows! It’s true. He reaped what he had sown.

All of us have a choice in how we sow in life. If we choose to sow “weeds” (hate, discord, gossip, unforgiveness, bitterness, criticism) we are certain to reap the same. But if we choose to sow love, forgiveness, peace, encouragement, goodness, kindness, and the like, we stand to reap such unto eternal life.

Let me encourage all who read this with the words of Paul, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

Day after day, opportunity after opportunity comes our way. Let us do good to all people. Not only will their life see some encouragement, but you will know the blessing of reaping the fruit of the Spirit.

Pastor Jeff York

“He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’ “

Ezekiel 8:12

Ezekiel was enduring captivity in Babylon. The nation of Judah had been defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar. Their king, Jehoiachin, had been made a prisoner and Jehoiachin’s uncle had been installed in Jerusalem as a puppet king who ruled at Nebuchadnezzar’s whim. Long ago God had brought His people out of slavery in Egypt and given them a land of their own, just as He had promised to Abraham. However, because of the people’s unfaithfulness to Yahweh and their worship of other gods they were once again enslaved by a foreign power. This judgment on Judah had come only after a similar judgment had fallen on the northern kingdom of Israel, when that kingdom was overthrown by the Assyrians. Anyone would think that God’s people would have learned the consequences of worshipping idols.

In Chapter eight, Ezekiel is taken in a vision to the temple in Jerusalem. There he is shown a horrible sight – an idol has been set up at the very entrance to the inner court of the temple. Ezekiel must have been horrified. In this holy place where God has promised His people that He would dwell with them in a special way, they had broken the first two of God’s most sacred laws – worshipping anything but the one true God by setting up an idol. Ezekiel’s heart must have been broken. Clearly the remnant that God had graciously allowed to remain in Jerusalem had not learned the foolishness of idol worship. Imagine Ezekiel’s shock when he was told by his guide, “…you will see things that are even more detestable.” (verse 6)

Ezekiel is then shown a hole in the wall and told to dig. He uncovers a door and is told to, “…go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing [there].” Inside Ezekiel finds the walls covered with images of crawling things, detestable animals, and all the idols of Israel. As he presses further in he sees 70 of the elders of Israel, the very people who should be leading the people in repentance and righteousness, each one offering incense and worshipping at the shrine of their own idol. God then reveals to Ezekiel what these wicked leaders are saying in their hearts, “The LORD does not see us: the LORD has forsaken the land.”

How often do we attempt to hide our sin, not only from those around us, but from God Himself? What foolishness! The same God that we rely on to be by our side when we need Him most is surely right there when we sin. How could be possibly think to hide anything from Him? How many times do we put on a “righteous face” for our Christian brothers and sisters when we know that deep in our hearts we’re harboring secret sin? In James 5:16 we’re commanded to “…confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” I have discovered that there is great freedom in confessing my sins and asking for prayer from my Christian brothers. It frees to live a life without pretense. I no longer need to put up a false front so that others think I’m better than I really am. Like Paul, I want my life to be a “letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.” (2 Cor. 3:2). Our lives should be open books.

I urge you, if you have sin in your life, turn to God in repentance and allow the blood of Jesus to wash you inside and out. He wants to restore you and He already knows what you’ve done. Believe me; you won’t be taking God by surprise.

Pastor Jim Stowe