Imitators

Satan was the most beautiful creature ever to come from the hand of God and, of all God’s creatures he was given the most.  Yet, it wasn’t enough.  There came a day when Satan questioned needing God and, instead, sought to be his own god to live free under his own authority.
Well, what sort of a god does Satan make?  As he seeks his self-sufficient existence away from God, he depends on God to uphold the universe.  He demands God deal with him honestly and fairly, yet he himself deals in deceit.  As he seeks freedom from God, he enslaves those around him.  As he seeks his independent power, he steals power from others.  While he intends never again to bow before God, he demands that everyone else bow to him. 

Of all the illustrations that can be used to illustrate mankind, sadly, Satan is the best.  Let us not fool ourselves; before we are born-again (saved) we are all imitators of Satan.  Happily, this status-quo doesn’t have to remain that way.  As we advance in the Christian life, we hopefully shed the old ways for something much, much better.  Ever so slowly, as we progress by keeping our focus on Christ, we stop imitating Satan and start exhibiting the perfect qualities of our Lord. (Isaiah 14:12-14, John 8:44)

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Spiritual Batteries

The purpose of a battery is to transfer stored energy into something else.  When a battery goes flat it serves no functional purpose unless it can be recharged from another power source to be used over and over again.

As Christians, we are like batteries.  We may have a little power stored but if we are not recharged regularly we will soon be drained.  Christians are ‘energy dependant’ – God recharges our spiritual batteries so we have the power to continue our daily walk with extra energy to pass on to the discouraged or the ‘spiritually dead’.  God brings many ‘spiritually flat’ people into our lives to recharge.  Often, these people need a lot of attention and encouragement.  They are frequently rude, demanding, obnoxious and ungrateful.  They take much of our energy and give little or none back in return. 
If we rely on our own (human) power, it won’t be long before people completely drain us.  Then, just like the flat battery, we will no longer serve any functional purpose.
The only way we can stop everyday life from exhausting us is to continually recharge our batteries from the all-powerful Energy Giver (God).  If we tap into the divine spring, we will have an endless supply of encouragement and grace for those who have not yet plugged into that omnipotent source of power.

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Living Signposts

When travelers become lost, they generally look out for a signpost that can point them in the right direction.

As Christians, God has asked that we be Living Signposts in a lost world – for our lives to be a beacon to life’s lost travelers desperately seeking the way to the glorious place of Salvation.  By our gracious conduct, our confidence in God and our higher sense of purpose, the lost traveler will deduce that we are citizens of Salvation who can point them to the right path.
However, if we are walking through life without compassion and grace, looking lost and bewildered, we shouldn’t wonder why no one is asking us for directions.

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Caretakers

A caretaker is someone employed to look after, administer and protect the property belonging to another.

God is the sovereign Creator of all things – everything belongs to Him.  Most of us like to think our property belongs to us – that’s why we find it difficult (and even rebel at the idea) that we own nothing.  (Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.  Job 1:21).
The truth is our property, our time, our talents, our health, our spouse, our children and even ourselves belong to God (We were bought at a price: 1 Corinthians 6:20, 7:23).  We are simply caretakers of all we possess.  We are employed by God to look after, administer and protect that which He has entrusted to our care.  If we acquire anything, it’s simply on loan. 
So, what sort of caretaker do we make? Do people and property prosper under our care?  How are we using our God-given time, health, talents and possessions?  If we suddenly lose them like Job, can we say: ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’?
If we are a faithful caretaker of God’s possessions in this life, He has promised in Matthew 25:21, 23: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things’

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Climbing the Spiritual Mountain

Life is a journey and the goal is to climb the Spiritual Mountain.  We all start at the bottom and Christ waits at the top beckoning all who would believe in him to make the climb.  Sadly, not many accept the invitation. 
The Spiritual Mountain has a very large base made up of numerous valleys.  Few people begin their journey from the same place.  Some must climb out from the Valley of Drunkenness, Crime or Licentiousness - others from the opposite side of the mountain in the Valley of Self-righteousness, Legalism or Judging.  As we ascend the Spiritual Mountain, step by step we will leave behind the old ways as we travel the path towards Christ. 
However, when we begin to climb there will be many calls from people in the valleys below urging us to stay.  These calls can sometimes drown out and distract attention from Christ’s encouraging call from the top of the mountain.  But we must persevere - if we keep following the upward call the downward calls will soon fade away.   
There are many paths on the Spiritual Mountain.  Thus it is essential to quickly find a guide (teacher of God’s Word) or we will soon become disorientated and find ourselves back in the valleys.  We must choose a competent guide who takes directions from a reliable map (Bible).  Remember, too, guides can only take you as far as they personally have traveled.  The object is to find a guide who can take you right to the mountain’s pinnacle (to be by the side of Christ himself).

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The Evidence

In a Court of Law, evidence is only admitted if it exists.  It is not admitted because someone says it exists.  A court needs proof.  It needs to see, verify and test all evidence before it can be admitted. 

We, as Christians, tell the unbelieving world that Christianity is a life of joy, strength, courage, forgiveness, love and grace.  But we are often guilty of not exhibiting any evidence.  We should question where is the evidence of Christ in my life?  If I am Christ’s representative, how will Christ be judged on earth through my actions?  What am I really proving to the unbelieving world about God, Christ and Christianity?
For reasons known only to God, He has chosen Christians to represent Him in an unbelieving world.  Through well-lived Christian lives, people will see undisputed evidence of a Higher Power working as the Christian exhibits God’s grace in a graceless world.

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Treasure Hunters

For thousands of years there have been stories of man’s adventurous quest for fabled treasure.  Few things capture the imagination like the daring hunt for a magic lamp, a golden fleece, a legendary sword, a holy grail, a dragon’s hoard, a mummy’s tomb or pirates’ treasure.  We love to see a hero find a dusty old map that promises great riches.  We love to see them challenge all odds to find it.  If a dastardly villain, a few traps and a romance are thrown in, there is a story that will transcend the ages.

Too many of us think this sort of adventure is only reserved for movie heroes.  Yet God has called us to be the heroes in our own lives.  He has given us a spiritual adventure unrivaled in all of Hollywood.  God has even included an old map (the Bible) to guide us through insurmountable obstacles across the terrain of life.  This map points out the way to the greatest treasure the world has ever known (salvation) and ‘X’ does mark the spot.  If we start digging at the Cross (believe in Christ), God has guaranteed we will find the most extraordinary treasures (salvation and eternal rewards).
We must have an adventurous spirit and go after these ultimate treasures, letting no odds stand in our way. But our spiritual-weapons must be kept ‘at the ready’, for there is a dastardly villain (Satan) who plots our demise and plans to bring us down – deep down.

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Super Heroes

In comics, super heroes are usually ordinary people who have been granted supernatural powers through an extraordinary circumstance.  No matter the odds stacked against them, everyone knows they will eventually overcome all obstacles and beat the bad guy.  

A Christian is an ordinary person who has been granted supernatural powers through an extraordinary circumstance (the Cross). As Christians, we may seem like mild-mannered nobodies on the outside, but within is a potential super-hero waiting to be revealed.  Sadly, too many of us are not using our God-given supernatural power, choosing instead to rely on our own inadequate human power.
 As soon as we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we have at our disposal God’s omnipotence just waiting to be used.  Potentially, we have spiritual strength, endurance and a divine force-field of protection to overcome any adversity.  We can move mountains with our faith and stop armies with a divine appeal.  We can end tragedies with a single prayer.  We can stop fear, worry and depression by claiming a promise.  When others are panicking, the Christian (utilizing divine power), is relaxed, confident, compassionate and courageous – for if God is for us, who can stand against us.
But with great powers come great responsibilities - also great enemies (Satan).  As with all super-heroes, we will be knocked around.  But remember - no matter what the odds, if we endure, victory has been assured and the bad guys will eventually be brought to justice.  

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Making Waves

A boat at anchor doesn’t disturb the water.  Only after leaving the mooring does it break the water and send out ripples.  A boat makes waves when it is under full sail or powered by motor.  Though the waves may disturb other vessels, the boat also creates a wake which makes sailing easier for the vessels that follow.

Many Christians play it safe and don’t move forward spiritually in case they disturb the water.  Instead, they float through life keeping Christianity a secret because they don’t want to rock the boat or cause a ripple.  However, an anchored boat takes people nowhere - it has no purpose apart from looking nice (until it gets too old and sinks).  Christianity is a voyage.  When we are motivated to leave our mooring (declare to the world we are Christians) it may break friendships or even separate families.  If we continue to follow Christ through the Sea-of-Life, we will make ripples.  As we rev-up our spiritual life, drawing upon God’s power, we will certainly cause waves in the devil’s kingdom.
We shouldn’t deliberately ‘rock the boat’, but we can’t expect to go on a voyage without making waves.  When Christ is in our sights we should never adjust our course.  The waves caused by our voyage may upset some, but remember that we also cause a wake.  With our course firmly set on God, we won’t know who decides to follow in our wake until we arrive at our destination (Heaven).

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The Insignificant Snail

A snail moves slowly through life leaving a slimy trail in its wake which dissolves within 24 hours. Soon, it is very hard to see any evidence of its passing.  When a snail moves along slowly, its sensitive body retracts into its shell whenever provoked.  When a snail dies, the only evidence of its past existence is an empty shell.  To us a snail is very insignificant - its existence hardly worth noticing.

On a universal scale, we are even more insignificant than a snail.  We move through life desperately trying to leave a trail that will be remembered, but usually our trail disappears as soon as we pass.  We also have very sensitive souls, which retract from life when provoked.  Finally, when our life’s journey ends, all we leave behind is an empty shell.
As insignificant as we are, it is truly amazing that God includes us in His plan.  So we must conclude: If we are not doing God’s will in our lives, all we are creating is a worthless, slimy snail trail that will quickly fade away forever.  

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Spiritual Lawyers

A lawyer is a member of the legal profession educated in matters of law.  It is not a lawyer’s job to judge people but, rather, to advise their clients on the issues of law and represent them without bias before a judge.

As Christians, we are members of the ‘Royal Family of God’.  As we become educated in spiritual matters, God will bring people (clients) into our lives to advise them on spiritual matters and speak (pray) on their behalf. 
Just as lawyers may feel repulsed by the character of some of their clients, so could we with certain people God has directed into our daily circumstances (be it at home, work or school).  Nevertheless we must be professional - God has not made a mistake by allowing them into our lives.  Our job is not to judge (God is the Judge) but to give impartial representation before the Throne of Grace, just as our Lord Jesus Christ is doing on our behalf at this very moment. 

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The Monkey that Presses the Button

In years past, NASA has used monkeys to advance space travel.  Whilst these monkeys were chosen for their special abilities and trained for certain functions, NASA provided the rockets, supplied all the resources and employed a large team of experts to administer its space program.  The monkeys were only required to push certain buttons on cue.

As Christians, we have a fantastic opportunity to play a part in God’s plan.   When we choose to serve, God provides all our needs.  He works tirelessly controlling circumstances behind the scenes.  He supplies all the resources and the environment necessary to accomplish our ministries.  He provides the ‘filling of the Spirit’ for guidance, plus a large team of experts (elect angels) to administer numerous unknown requirements and keep us safe.
No matter how great our individual Christian ministries seem to be or how much glory is directed toward God, we should always be remember we are totally dependent on Him in everything we do.  Even when we manage things God intends exactly on cue, the fact is – we are simply the monkey that presses the button. 

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The Fish

For nearly two thousand years, the fish has been a symbol of Christianity.  It is interesting to note the fish is an aquatic creature designed for underwater life.  Fish come in all shapes, sizes, colours and characteristics and are a great source of sustenance for many other creatures.  They can lay millions of tiny eggs, most of which end up as food for others.  Thus it appears the main purpose of a fish is to sustain and strengthen other creatures. 

Christians are Heavenly creatures designed for a spiritual life.  We, too, come in all shapes, sizes, colours and personalities.  Christians have many purposes – one of the highest being a source of nourishment to the needy.  In an intolerant world, we are to be tolerant.  In a world of hatred, we are to love.  In a world of despair, we are to give hope.  Many people will feed from our Christian attributes as, we in turn, feed from the teaching of Jesus Christ. 
Just as fish lay many eggs, we hopefully produce many acts of kindness, love, self-control and compassion to be digested and turned to energy by the hungry souls in our community.  Just like the fish, we are unlikely to see the results of our eggs (spiritual works).  We will never really know who was led to Christ and salvation through our labour, until we reach Heaven. (John 21: 15-17)

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Christian Temples

Temples are supposedly dwellings of worship, contemplation, devotion, harmony, learning, peace and joy.  They are also sanctuaries for anyone in times of need.

As Christians, the Bible tells us that our body is a living temple.  Thus we should each take stock of what our temple is like.  Is it filled with thoughts of worship, contemplation, devotion, harmony, learning, peace and joy – or are we defiling our temple with thoughts of bitterness, jealousy, pride, revenge, greed, hatred, lust and hypocrisy?  Who we are is what we think.  Before we do something – we think it.
Jesus Christ will not have bad thoughts corrupting his temples.  He waits patiently, knocking on the door of our soul.  When we let Him enter, He will help us upturn these thoughts and cleanse our temple.  Only then are we as God intended – a living temple filled with inner peace and joy that proclaims God’s glory to all passers-by, and a sanctuary for anyone in times of need. (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20)

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Defined by a Meaning

A word only has meaning when it is defined.  Without definition a word is simply a meaningless sound.

Our life only has meaning when it is defined, and we define ourselves by what we believe.  If we believe in unproved ‘theories’ of evolution, we believe our life is merely the result of many miraculous mishaps.  We define ourselves and our children as cosmic accidents with no high purpose – born simply to reproduce and then to die.  If we believe in ‘nothing’ sadly we are defined by our belief (ironically, evolutionists spend their life trying to prove that life is meaningless).  As a word is a meaningless sound without definition – a life defined by ‘nothing’ is sadly a meaningless existence.
On the flip side, God has stated in the Bible, we are not ‘nothings’.  We are actually so important that the Creator of the universe took on the form of a man (Jesus Christ) and paid the complete penalty for all transgressions (sins) that any who believe on Him (Christ) will have everlasting life.  God defines us as His sons and daughters, much beloved by Him.
Furthermore, God has given us a higher purpose in life which to define ourselves.  When we identify with His purpose, our life is filled with meaning and we become motivated to run the race that God has set before us. 

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Making Our Mark

When we make a mark in sand, it will last only a few days before being blown or washed away.  Carve a mark on a tree and it may last decades, and if we chisel a mark on a rock it could last centuries.  In time, however, when the marked object is defaced or destroyed, so too is any evidence of what we did.  

Many of us want to leave our mark on the world, be it in business, arts, sports or the military.  Even though some are extremely successful and leave behind a giant mark, when the world eventually ends so will all evidence of the things done upon it.  If we invest time and effort marking temporal things, when they are destroyed, so too is that investment.
If we really want to leave a lasting impression, we should leave our mark on something permanent – GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN.  God has given us all the tools and a role model (Jesus Christ) to show us how.  Things our Lord did in His life were in accordance to God’s plan and will be talked about and glorified forever.  If we follow Christ’s example and use the resources Grace provides, God guarantees our mark will never be erased, destroyed or fade. We should all remember - personal glory in life is fleeting; the glory of God’s plan lasts forever.  Life is but a drop in the ocean compared to eternity. 

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Accountable to Whom?

As two convicts were being escorted to trial, one turned to the other and pleaded: ‘I’m a good bloke! I’ve helped so many people! I’m a respectable citizen! Ya gotta believe me!’
The fellow convict replied: ‘Why you telling me? Even if I believe you’re the “Humanitarian of the Year”, it ain’t gonna help one bit with the judge.’

Why do we feel compelled to justify our spiritual lives to fellow believers?  When we die, we give an account to God alone.  Most Christians know this, yet still vainly justify their actions to peers in an attempt to be respectable. 
The truth is people will think what they want – no matter what we do or say. Just because people think the worst of us, doesn’t mean God does.  Alternatively, just because we have convinced many people we’re saints – doesn’t mean God agrees.  Being right with people isn’t the same as being right with God.  We are all sinners, God judges us on the basis of the Cross, grace and His perfect works, not on our relative righteousness.  (Isaiah 64:6)
A great burden is lifted when we stop trying to justify ourselves and hold ourselves accountable solely to God.  There is no need to worry about Him misunderstanding us. He knows the truth – and that very fact should ‘set us free’. (John 8:32)

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Not Many Mighty

When a person is strong, healthy and full of vitality he seldom gives a passing thought to hospitals.  Hospitals tend to be filled with people in need.   

Some of life’s most unappealing people are Christians.  When I say unappealing, this is based on how the world judges appealing: rich, powerful, physically attractive and socially witty.  Many who attend church are weak, frail, needy people - often lonely social outcasts with many personality hang-ups.  The truth is few church attendees would be ideal adverts to swell the ranks of Christendom. 
So where are the outgoing, successful men and the glamorous women whose mere presence could draw a crowd to fill gaps in the pews? The Bible states: Not many mighty are called! (Mark 2:17).  Just as healthy people don’t check into a hospital - powerful, self reliant people see no need to depend on God.  Their ‘earthly’ blessings such as riches, fame, attractiveness or personality are often the greatest stumbling block to seeking God and salvation.
When Jesus Christ walked the earth, those who sort Him were not the elite or the in-crowd.  Generally, they were society’s outcasts.  Christ invited everyone, yet only those in need came to His call. 
Often, impressive people need life to bring them low before they seek God asking for a hand up.  It can take adversity before many will accept Christ’s substitutionary work on their behalf.  Ironically, when we are weak, then we become strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:10)

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