By Mark Broughton
Introduction to Your 10-Day Journey During our lifetimes, most of us will have the opportunity to travel to many places and see many things. Such journeys, and the sights and sounds they bring, are as varied as the people who will read this booklet. When we evaluate why we like to take journeys, we realize that inside all of us is the spirit of adventure that needs to be stimulated and inspired as we go to new places, see new sights, and experience new things. Journey, adventure, exploration, and learning are all natural desires God has placed deep inside us. One could even say that our journeys are the most colorful part of the tapestry of our lives. Journeys give us our stories. Journeys give us perspective. Journeys provide us with memories and expose us to new relationships. Journeys may even inspire someone such as myself to write a booklet; but I invite you to think of it as your own personal travel guide. When we hear the word “journey” we usually think of things like; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Vacation getaways Business or family trips Discovering a new place Exploring hidden treasures Forging a new path or relationship with a friend
But journeys need not always be outward; that is, made up of experiences and ventures outside of me. Journeys can and should be inward as well; that is, made up of ventures and discoveries inside of me. In fact, taking a journey into the deep recesses of one’s own mind, heart and soul is, in my opinion, the most important journey anyone can take. Unfortunately, very few people ever take this inward journey, so they never discover the deep truths and treasures God has hidden there. As you follow this travel guide and take this inward journey for yourself, it is likely you will discover things that may shock and disturb you. But don’t stop short of the complete journey because I also predict you will experience a transformation that will change your life forever. Your travel guide contains ten chapters that have been designed to cover your 10-day journey. It is important that you maintain the pace of one chapter per day so that you can pray, ponder, and meditate on what you’ve read. This pace will also ensure you are fully prepared for the next day’s journey. So, if you are ready, take a firm hold of my hand and follow me as I take you on a journey to the center of your soul.
Your Travel Log
Day 1
When I Look in the Mirror I Can’t See Myself
1-3
Day 2
When I Look in the Mirror I Only See Myself
4-6
Day 3
Status Quo Christianity
7 - 10
Day 4
Learning to Fear My Wicked Heart
11 - 14
Day 5
What Does It Mean to Be Tempted
15 - 17
Day 6
Exchanging Counterfeit for Pure Gold
18 - 19
Day 7
Ouch – That Hurts
20 - 24
Day 8
Hey, Where Does This Leg Shackle Go
25 - 26
Day 9
What Does the Center of My Soul Look Like so I’ll Know When I’ve Arrived
27 - 29
Day 10
The Most Spectacular View is Saved for Last!
30 - 32
Day 1
When I Look in the Mirror I Can’t See Myself Men’s faults to themselves seldom appear. William Shakespeare
Not too many years ago I enjoyed 20/20 vision. What a wonderful life! Everything was always in focus 100% of the time. Read a book or the morning paper – no problem. Look at an object far away on the horizon – crystal clear. Follow assembly instructions for a new Christmas gift – no problem seeing the words (but always a challenge to assemble.) Everything was in focus all of the time and that allowed me to take clear eyesight for granted. But when my vision started to degrade I began to appreciate the little things in life. And some actually weren’t so little. For example, one time I was speaking to a large group of people and needed to read a passage of scripture. My eyes had been trained on the crowd for more than ten minutes when I looked down at my Bible to read several verses. But when I looked down to read I couldn’t see the words. They were all blurry and it just looked like the color gray smeared across the white pages. As I felt a twinge of panic set in, I remember thinking to myself, “Do I have a disease or is something going wrong with me?” I had never not seen clearly before, so I had no experience to draw upon. Was I quietly going blind right in front of all these people? Was something wrong with my brain and it wasn’t sending the right messages to my eyes? Would my brain also forget to tell my lungs to keep breathing? Well, it sure felt like it for a long ten seconds as I held my breath and felt my eyes slowly adjusting to the printed words just 12 inches from my face. Finally, after nervously rustling some pages and stalling by saying I had turned to the wrong scripture, the words on the page slowly came back into focus. “Thank you Lord,” I’m sure those in the front row could hear me whisper under my breath as I began to read aloud trying to act as if nothing had happened. The next day, while I was shopping for my first pair of reader glasses, I remember thinking how strange it was that I could see the entire world clearly, but not things that were right in front of my face. In fact, the closer things got to my eyes the more blurry and indiscernible they became. Ophthalmologists call this eyesight condition “hyperopia,” or more commonly, far-sightedness, because objects that are afar are in focus, while objects that are near are not. I cannot see things closest to myself. Unfortunately, this hyperopic condition is also true of most people when it comes to seeing themselves. They cannot clearly see matters of the heart that are
closest to their own soul. The most significant spiritual issues in life are internal, so it is very unfortunate that they are too close to focus for most people. Blurry at best, or unseen altogether at worst. So, what’s the best way to illustrate the hyperopic condition of our souls? Well, I’d like to suggest that you just take a short trip around town with me in my car. There is no better place to demonstrate how I see others clearly from afar, but not myself up close. Come join me in the front seat of my car and observe my day-to-day driving habits. Justice for Others (with my fist clenched tight!) Yes, we all say we are for justice, but when it comes to justice for ourselves we are often blind. We are, however, quite interested and actively engaged when it comes to justice for others. “Hey, that guy just ran a red light. I sure wish the police had been sitting at that intersection so he would get what he deserved.” Or, “Wow, did you see how fast those crazy motorcyclists were going who just passed us? Where are the state troopers when you need them most?” Or, “Who does she think she is anyway? My blinker was on first for that parking space!” Do you hear yourself in any of these phrases? Notice how clearly and quickly we see the faults of others, and even desire immediate justice, but so easily overlook or can’t even see our own shortcomings. Perhaps we rationalize our behavior until it deserves no justice at all. That’s hyperopia of the soul, and we ALL suffer from it. We cannot see ourselves clearly because we have never taken the time to explore and evaluate our innermost condition. We have never taken a journey to the center of our soul. Moreover, we are simply unwilling, unable, or unmotivated to want to see ourselves clearly and to deal with the resulting justice and change it will surely require. In Luke 6:41-42 Jesus teaches the importance of dealing with the “beam” that is in our own eye rather than dealing with the “speck” in someone else’s. But have you ever stopped to consider that the size of the beam and the size of the speck may be exactly the same? How is that possible? Remember our earlier example of the red-light runner for whom we wanted immediate justice? Well the “speck” we so quickly noticed in the other driver’s eye is actually the exact same issue in our own eye – the inclination to run certain red lights under certain conditions when we can rationalize it away with pious sounding excuses. If I raise the same “speck” up to my own eye, viola – at close range it suddenly becomes the size of a “beam.” So, while running red lights is the same size issue for both parties, it’s a huge issue and a beam in my own eye that I must deal with first before noticing it as a speck in the eyes of others. If I don’t judge myself first, Jesus says in verse 42 that I am a hypocrite and unable to see issues clearly in anyone else’s life.
When faced with the stark reality of his own sin by the prophet Nathan, David wrote these words in Psalm 51, “Behold, You desire truth in my innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom . . . Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore in me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing heart.” Before proceeding to the next day of this travel guide, I would ask that you bow your head and take a moment to pray these same words to God, and mean them sincerely. If your prayer is sincere, you are prepared to continue your journey to the center of your soul. But if you will not or cannot pray this prayer with sincerity, then please set this booklet aside until you can. Trying to take this journey without first having an honest desire to see the truth about one’s self – your own heart and soul up close and personal – can be more damaging than not taking the journey at all. This booklet is not designed to satisfy your curiosity for more knowledge or provide interesting points for discussion or debate. It is about gaining wisdom and having a clean heart as an anchor for your very soul.
Day 2
When I Look in the Mirror I Only See Myself Selfishness is that detestable vice, which no one will forgive in others, and no one is without in himself. Henry Ward Beecher
It’s understandable if you are a bit confused after reading the title of this chapter. After all, Day 1 of your journey just finished explaining the hyperopic condition of our soul and how we can’t see or evaluate ourselves clearly. Now Day 2 introduces the juxtaposition that we can only see ourselves, and in turn so often fail to notice others, because we are by nature selfish and selfcentered creatures. If hyperopia is farsightedness, the term myopia describes the opposite condition of nearsightedness. Near-sightedness, as its name implies, is when someone can see things clearly up close, but needs corrective lenses to see things far away. So, why is it important to establish that spiritually we are both hyperopic and myopic by nature? Because if you are going to successfully complete this journey, you must first be aware that these two forces are always at work. If you find yourself saying, “I want to learn what’s involved in taking a journey to the center of one’s soul, but I’m not fully committed to taking the journey right now myself,” or, “How I wish (fill-in-the-blank-with-someone-else’s-name) would read this travel guide because they really need it!” (Beware, hyperopia at work). Or, perhaps you will find yourself saying, “I thank God for all He’s done for me and the blessings I enjoy. Life is very good and I’m satisfied with the status quo,” or, “Compared with so many people I know I seem to have my life under control, so I really have no need to take such a journey or explore the depths of my own soul at this time.” (Beware, myopia at work). Both conditions are natural enemies to a successful self-evaluation, so be on guard and treat them as such. When it comes to the rewards of life, health, prosperity, and the blessings of God, we all tend to think of ourselves as somewhat deserving. Most Christians quickly agree that God wants to bless and prosper His children, and that attitude is reflected both in our prayer life as well as in our selective reading of scriptures. This is a phenomenon I call the “top line / bottom line” principle. The Top Line / Bottom Line Principle In business, companies are required to produce financial statements. These reports provide an overview of the company’s financial condition, both for the short term as well as the long term.
One type of financial statement is called an income statement. Income statements reflect how a company’s revenue (money received for the sale of products and services before expenses are taken out – also known as the “top line”) is transformed into net income (the result after all the expenses have been deducted from revenue – also known as the “bottom line”). The purpose of the income statement is of course to show managers and investors whether the company made or lost money during any specific period of time. Well is doesn’t take an MBA to conclude that focusing on the top line (all the money coming in) is more enjoyable than talking about the bottom line (the money left over, if any, after paying all the expenses). Likewise, when it comes to our prayer life and the reading of God’s word, we also tend to focus on the more enjoyable top line benefits, blessings, and “income” from God, rather than on the more challenging bottom line character, obedience, discipline and “expenses” required of me. And I would submit this tendency is a direct by-product of our selfish, myopic, it’s-all-about-me nature, and its overwhelming gravitational pull on our lives. Take a look at the following examples that will help you evaluate if you may be praying top line prayers: 1. Do you ever pray and ask for God’s blessing on you (vs. asking God to bless you in proportion to how much blessing you bring Him through your obedience)? 2. Do you ever ask the Lord to make Himself more personal or reveal Himself to you (vs. asking the Lord to help you have a greater hunger, thirst, and discipline to seek Him through studying His written word)? 3. Do you ever pray, “Lord, make me more effective for you” (vs. praying, “Lord, help me have eyes to see, and take advantage of, the opportunities to share the gospel You bring into my path every single day)? 4. Do you ever ask God to strengthen your family (vs. asking God to help you be the righteous father and husband, or mother and wife, you should be for your family’s sake)? Can you see the subtleties of praying top line prayers? They sound quite right, but underneath there lurks an unhealthy me-centered focus. Here are some examples to help you evaluate if you tend to read top line scripture passages: 1. Do you read Ps 67:1-2 and stop at the top line – God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause Your face to shine upon us; or do you complete the overall passage with the bottom line personal responsibility found in verses 3-4 – That Your way may be made known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations?
2. Do you read the story of Daniel in the lion’s den with the top line emphasis of trusting God and He will take care of you; or do you balance it with the bottom line emphasis of Daniel’s unwavering obedience and worship of God, even though it could have cost him his own life? 3. Do you stop at the top line promise when you read Ps 103:17 – But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting . . . and His righteousness to children’s children; or do you also include the bottom line responsibility found in verse 18 – to those who keep His covenant and remember His precepts to do them? And here’s one last example involving a bumper sticker of all things . . . We’ve all seen a bumper sticker or tee-shirt that reads, “God Bless America” and perhaps quietly pumped our fist in happy agreement. Well that’s not wrong, but my point is did it ever occur to you that perhaps a more bottom line bumper sticker would read, “America, Bless God?” After all, it’s the citizens and government of America that are failing to bless God in oh so many ways, not God who has failed to bless America. My point in this brief exercise is to help you see just how easy it is to slip into living top line Christianity because it is more enjoyable, less taxing, and includes more benefits, rather than striving to balance it with bottom line Christian discipline that requires more effort, personal responsibilities and obedience to God’s word. There is no sugar coating the fact that it requires more work to be a bottom line Christian. Are you willing to put in the work? So, before we proceed on our journey together, take a moment to tell God you know you are naturally selfish and ask Him to help you identify pride and self-centeredness in your life today, as well as throughout the journey ahead. The ultimate bottom line-oriented prayer would even go so far as to ask God to teach you how to have the same level of pride – as a dead man.
Day 3
Status Quo Christianity Status quo, you know, that is Latin for “the mess we’re in.” Ronald Reagan
It is my opinion that this travel guide will be read by more Americans than by any other group of people, but if this chapter were read by persecuted Christians in Sudan, N. Korea, the Middle East, or the underground church in China, they would find it quite strange indeed. Why? Because our status quo and their status quo couldn’t be further apart. In fact, there is little to no resemblance between our respective status quos, yet we both make up the Body of Christ, the church. And that, in a nutshell, summarizes this entire chapter (but please don’t stop reading here.) Exactly what is normal for a Christian; what should we expect when we come to Christ and make Him our Savior and Lord, regardless of where we live, our ethnicity, our social status, etc.? Well I find it very interesting that many evangelical services, large crusades, and so-called revival services expect very little from people beyond an initial public profession of faith. If you raise your hand, or come to the front of the auditorium upon invitation, someone will help you find Christ as your Savior. You will be led in the sinner’s prayer and perhaps receive some literature to take home and read. You may even receive a follow-up phone call or email to help you connect with a good local church. Please don’t misunderstand me. These are important steps and represent a necessary starting point, but unfortunately, they end up becoming the main events in too many Christians’ lives, especially here in western culture. But the bible reveals that genuine New Testament Christianity demands so much more! The Great Commission found in Matt. 28:19-20 provides us with four specific commands related to the conversion of others, and as you will see, these commands go far beyond the initial act of salvation. These commands are: • •
•
Share the gospel with the goal of leading others to Christ (implied) Make disciples of all nations (in Luke 14:27 Jesus says, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” Making disciples, therefore, means training others to die with Christ – dying to old attitudes and pride; dying to old habits and sin; dying to wrong relationships and friends – and turning to follow Jesus wholly in newness of life.) Baptize them (we are to teach and encourage new converts to obey Christ in baptism, and thus, identify with His death and resurrection as they mark themselves publicly as belonging to Him.)
•
Teach them to observe God’s word (this implies spending significant time helping new Christians understand and properly apply God’s word to their everyday life. It also implies accountability and an ongoing relationship so you can help them identify any misapplication or misunderstanding of God’s word as well.)
The goal of this chapter, pure and simple, is to get you to look in the mirror of your Christian life and honestly evaluate what you see. Are you coasting along as the days and weeks click off the calendar, but all the while telling yourself you will get around to living a more intense and more disciplined Christian life – soon? Does time seem like it’s always at a premium and life seem more like a treadmill? Has this caused you to lower, or drop altogether, the priority of spending time in prayer and reading/meditating on God’s word? Have the specific details of the Great Commission faded into a blurry set of yesterday’s knowledge? Do you have a backyard full of so-called leisure items (e.g., recliner, hammock, lounge chair, parked boat, bench swing, deck, pool, etc.), but just can’t seem to find the time to enjoy them? Life is busy for nearly everyone, but this fact isn’t a surprise to God. When I read the gospels, I find a very busy Jesus whose week-in-and-week-out schedule would make any of our heads spin. (And Luke 9:58 tells us that Jesus had nowhere to lay His head – no pillow or bed, much less a lounge chair.) Yet during His amazingly busy schedule, Jesus always made time to spend with His Father. In fact, in addition to setting aside specific times to be with God, Jesus also incorporated acts of communing with Him and the Holy Spirit into His everyday (busy) activities. It was natural for Him to do so because, after all, Jesus relied on the Godhead so He could be, as John describes Him in John 1:14, “full of grace and truth.” If we could visit with persecuted Christians in one of the countries mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, we would undoubtedly be moved by their utter reliance on the Godhead to get them through each day – and often through each hour – and by the quantity and quality of the time they spend with God on a regular basis. This kind of reliance on Christ is simply not possible if we; 1. See ourselves as self-sufficient and perceive we don’t have needs 2. Allow busy schedules and unending activities to take up all our time 3. Have deluded ourselves into thinking, “Tomorrow I will start making the necessary changes in my spiritual life.” 4. Have been neutralized by bitterness, past failures, or perhaps some secret sin we refuse to surrender 5. Do not really KNOW God intimately and personally
Satan is the Master Impersonator You must give Satan credit for being incredibly crafty, creative, and cunning. It’s a shame he uses these characteristics to accomplish only evil. And have you ever stopped to consider that Satan has had millenniums to work on his impersonation of God’s voice? In John 10:4 and John 10:27 Jesus says that His sheep – that is, we who are Christians – know His voice and respond to it by following Him. Well if Satan has been working diligently on impersonating Christ’s voice, and we know he is always cunning and crafty in an evil way, how easy would it be for Christians to be tricked by Satan’s voice? Very easy – unless of course that same Christian had been walking and talking with Christ on a regular basis and had developed a keen ear for the true Shepherd’s voice. Sheep don’t know their shepherd’s voice on day one or day two, but only after spending much time and experiencing many things together. Are you spending enough time with God to really know His voice? Are you relying on God with enough experiences to really know His character? If not, then unfortunately you have become an easy prey for Satan’s attacks as the great impersonator. Satan Cunningly Asks for Only an Inch Satan has also studied us from afar – our habits, our tendencies, our weaknesses, and our daily routines – so he has a decided advantage of knowing when and how best to attack us. But I find it interesting that he typically only makes small incremental requests of me, and not giant ones. For example, Satan would never come and ask me to stop reading God’s word for an entire year. That would be ridiculous and he knows I would reject it forthright. Instead, Satan tries to get me to agree that because of my incredibly busy day, I deserve to relax for a while, then watch TV and just “veg out” for the evening. In comparison to the one-mile suggestion of not reading God’s word for a year, this small, seemingly benign request sounds more like giving just an inch instead. So, I accept it. After all, everyone deserves to relax a little don’t they? And the small inch I give on Monday is followed by a few more inches later in the week; and those inches turn into many yards over several months; and the yards turn into miles over the span of my ineffective, busy, status quo Christian lifetime. Quite literally they add up to miles of lethargy and wasted opportunities for Christ. And amazingly, when we look back we often can see clearly that every mile we surrendered to Satan was relinquished in tiny one-inch increments with decisions we made after listening to his bad advice. Satan is not your shepherd and cares nothing for the sheep. He will never come looking for you when you are lost. He did not spill one drop of blood for your soul. And he is never satisfied with the inch you give him, but only demands more. He is like a raging fire that consumes more and more wood. He must not be trifled with in your own strength because he is far too strong and cunning a foe. Remember, he has had millenniums to hone his evil ways.
Have you been lulled into status quo Christianity, a place filled with lounge chairs where Christians lead overly busy lives that leave no time to spend with their Shepherd? A place where Christians can’t discern whose voice they are actually hearing? A place where Christians surrender territory to Satan one inch at a time and never feel a thing? A place where Christians wake up late in life, if God is so merciful, and realize they’ve lived years, or maybe decades, ineffectively for Christ? If you can say ‘yes’ to any of these questions then you are at a perfect state-of-heart to complete this journey to the center of your soul, because this journey, as laid out in the first three chapters, requires that you first take a long sobering look at who you really are. And if you are like me, you probably don’t like what you’ve seen in the mirror so far – not one little bit. On Day 1, if you concluded you have a difficult time inspecting your own heart but readily see faults and seek justice for others; that’s good, Step 1 is done. On Day 2, if you concluded you are selfish or prideful, and perhaps even pray and read God’s word with a me-centered focus; that’s good, Step 2 is also done. On Day 3, if you saw yourself slipping into a mediocre, half asleep, status quo Christian life; that’s good, Step 3 is now complete. Now let’s continue the inward journey to even deeper places. It would be a good idea to pause and pray for extra energy for tomorrow’s trip because it will be a challenging one, and we still have a long way to go.
Day 4
Learning to Fear My Wicked Heart “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
There is no way to sugarcoat the sobering subject of this chapter. To sum it up in just a few words, our hearts are utterly wicked. Fortunately, I did not originate this thought so there is no debate with me. It is God Himself who said we have a wicked heart. In fact, He said we have a desperately wicked heart to be exact. God says our heart is deceitful; that is, it can’t be trusted or predicted. God says our heart is desperately wicked; that is, it is steeped in sinfulness. God also says our heart is unknowable; that is, we cannot comprehend nor understand the depths and the secrets of our own heart. Not surprisingly, God’s very sobering evaluation of the heart sounds just the opposite of the world’s assessment of the heart. Think about it. The world tells me to follow my heart. Humanitarians and philanthropists tell me there is intrinsic goodness and the desire to help others in my heart. Poets tell me that true love and other beautiful emotions spring from my heart. So, who is right? That’s your decision to make, but I know my vote is with God based on my own personal journey to the center of my soul. Also, not surprisingly, most Christians are uncomfortable confronting the wickedness of their own heart. Why? Because this thought is an affront to our dignity and the false sense of goodness we have about ourselves. After all, I do good things. I say good things. I listen to good things. I’m involved in good activities. I associate with good people. I am a good son/daughter; brother/sister; dad/mom; etc. I try to live a good life. So why does God declare that I have a desperately wicked heart? Because, despite all my seemingly good external actions and attitudes, I have a wicked internal heart that no one, except God Himself, can clearly see. Oh, I can see my wicked heart too if I am willing to successfully complete the journey to the center of my soul, and only there can my wicked heart can be seen in all its unglory. Only there can my wicked heart be dealt with as the enemy it is on the battlefield of my life. Notice how I said you will be able to see your wicked heart if you complete this journey. I did not say you will know it, and that is where the fearful part comes in for Christians. No matter how real and honest you are with yourself, or how deeply you journey into your own soul, you and I and all people, according to God’s word, can never know our own wicked heart. That is frightening when you consider the implications and that is why this chapter is entitled, “Learning to Fear My Wicked Heart.” Let’s look together at why fear is such an important characteristic for us to have concerning our hearts.
First, the word “fear” can be used in many ways, so let’s define it carefully in relation to our wicked hearts: • • • • •
We should be afraid to trust the natural inclinations of our heart We should be fearful and sobered by how easily our heart can be led astray We should be apprehensive about our heart’s natural instinct to make wrong choices, choose wrong friends, etc. We should be aware that the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life are all fueled by the natural proneness of our hearts to be sinful It should greatly trouble us that our hearts are so easily tilted towards doing what we know we should not do, and away from doing what we know we should do
Paul described this same condition as a civil war within his own heart when he wrote, “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but am doing the very thing I hate . . . for I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” Romans 7:15, 18 These are sobering words, from the Apostle Paul himself no less, and they should create a healthy fear in all of us regarding the unruly civil war that rages within. Our heart – who can know it? Who can control it? Who can predict it? The Bible is full of examples of the wicked nature of our hearts. Think of King David for a moment. From all appearances, he was walking in harmony with God, when in a single moment everything changed. And for all of history we read of the venture and consequences of David’s wicked heart in his sin with Bathsheba. How could anyone go from “a man after God’s own heart” to “a man acting upon the lusts of his own desperately wicked heart?” It doesn’t seem possible, but then again, that is exactly why we need to fear our wicked heart. Any sin committed in the Bible; any atrocity committed in history; any evil reported in the daily news – my desperately wicked heart is fully capable of committing the same, and yes, even worse! It took only a single moment for David’s heart to reveal its wickedness, and so too it takes but a single moment for our hearts to do the same. Have you ever stopped to think about how long a single moment is? Well, consider that the actual distance between sanity and insanity is sometimes razor thin. The time required to fall from righteousness into wickedness is but a split second. The effort it takes to let down our guard and obey the lusts of our heart happens in the blink of an eye. Commit yourself to recognize and fear those single moments as an important step to fearing your wicked heart. It all goes hand-in-hand as we will see together. Being willing to learn how to fear your wicked heart is pivotal to completing the rest of the journey at hand. It’s our sheer wickedness that we don’t want to face, just as we don’t want to acknowledge that this same sheer wickedness is what held Jesus to the cross, not spikes. And according to Hebrews 6:4-6, when my willful sinful wickedness causes me to fall away from the
righteous things of Christ, I publicly crucify Him yet again and put Him to open shame. Could this be said of your life? I was in a discussion once with a close friend who was making the point that the forgiving nature of Christ is unlimited, so it really didn’t matter what he did or what he said because he was confident Christ would always forgive him. In many ways, this person was choosing the freedom to sin because he presumed the guarantee of God’s forgiveness. Then I asked him if he thought Christ would still forgive him if he was the one who drove the spikes that held Jesus to the cross? After a long pause and no eye contact, my friend quietly said, “Yes, I believe He would still forgive me.” I then asked him if he was aware that his open willful sinning was publicly crucifying Christ again (AKA driving the spikes), and putting Him to open shame according to Hebrew 6:4-6. Now my friend had a choice. Did he want to continue aiming the spotlight on the amazing grace and unlimited forgiveness of God, or did he want to redirect it onto his own sinful behavior that was crucifying Christ all over again? Pause and ask yourself in your own life, do you want to continue driving the spikes? Our wicked heart does not only affect us and those who are closest to us, but more importantly, it denigrates and shames the very Savior who was willing to die for these sins. The writer of Hebrews could not have said it more clearly. When my sinful wicked heart causes me to fall away from righteousness, I publicly crucify Jesus yet again and put Him to open shame. God forbid! Please let these serious words sink in. Our Wicked Heart is no Surprise to God Remember, it is God who said through the prophet Jeremiah, “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, who can know it?”, so it is no secret or surprise to God that I am so wicked. And it is God, knowing all along that my wickedness would be so deep and so pervasive that I could never earn reconciliation with Him, who predetermined that I would require a supernatural pathway to Himself through the substitutionary blood of His own son Jesus. And according to Ephesians 1:4 and II Timothy 1:9, among other scriptures, God predetermined Jesus would be my pathway to salvation before the foundation of the world, so we can conclude He has always been quite sure my wicked heart is wholly irreconcilable, regardless of what I may try to do to fix it. God’s words transcend time when He said my heart is deceitful above all things, desperately wicked, and who can know it? It’s always been true and always will be true. There is no escape. And God has gone even further to deal with the wicked tendencies of my heart. Even after salvation, scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit carries on a unique and vital role in our lives, as does Jesus. Take a look at the following two passages to get a glimpse into the heart of God
Himself – His kindnesses; His mercy and grace; His tender compassion; and His enduring, eternal, undeserved love for you and me (this is bound up in the Hebrew word “hesed”). Romans 8:26-35 tells us that in addition to salvation itself, both the Holy Spirit and Jesus actively search our hearts and intercede on our behalf according to the will of God. Paul tells us the goal of their intercession is for God to work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Have you ever taken the time to specifically thank the Holy Spirit and Jesus for interceding for you, and for translating your prayers into acceptable prayers aligned with God’s will? It would have been enough for God to send His only begotten son to endure the penalty of our sins, but He didn’t stop there. Hebrews 2:16-18 tells us that after our salvation Jesus fulfills the role of merciful, faithful, and sympathetic high priest who comes before God on my behalf. These verses go on to say that Jesus personally comes to my aid when I am tempted. Wow! So, what makes Jesus so understanding of me and how prone I am to follow my wicked heart? David says in Psalm 103:14 that God knows our frame and remembers we are but dust. And in Hebrews 5:7-8, the writer tells us that Jesus experienced agonizing times of prayer and learned obedience from the things He suffered while here on earth. In other words, Jesus has walked in our shoes and lived in our skin, quite literally, so He is uniquely aware of our frailties, weaknesses, shortcomings, and emotions. And this makes Him the perfect high priest on our behalf before God. Again, it would have been more than enough for God to have merely provided a way of salvation through His son’s death, burial and resurrection, but He lovingly went much further by providing me with a personal High Priest in Jesus. This means that in addition to my initial salvation, my purpose is to walk in newness of life and demonstrate victorious Christian living in Christ, coming regularly to my personal High Priest, Jesus, who will give me everything pertaining to life and godliness. Take a moment and thank God for providing the ongoing ministries of Jesus and the Holy Spirit on your behalf. Thank Him as well for equipping you to combat the ongoing wicked condition of your heart with the full spiritual firepower of the Godhead. Indeed, you and I are FULLY armed!
Day 5
What Does it Mean to be Tempted? “Most people would like to be delivered from temptation, but would also like it to keep in touch.” Robert Orben
Let’s take a short rest stop on our journey and park here for a while on the topic of temptation. Temptation is one of those words that Christians often use, and think they understand, but in fact may not grasp its fuller meaning. In the last chapter, you read the section on David’s sudden turn from righteousness to wickedness with Bathsheba and perhaps you thought to yourself, “I’ve never experienced being tempted at that level.” While that may be true, temptation is not necessarily a big opportunity to sin that presents itself on center stage. It can take on hundreds of forms, and many times these forms are smaller and more benign in nature. Think of a temptation as anything, large or small, that diverts you away from the truth of God’s word. Anything. Before I list some examples to help you better understand what I am talking about, keep this verse in the back of your mind (italics added for emphasis): I Corinthians 10:13; No temptation (large or small) has overtaken you (even incrementally) but such as is common to man; and God is faithful (every time, regardless of the size of the temptation), who will not allow you to be tempted (on a one-time basis or on an ongoing basis) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also (Heb. 2:18 says Jesus Himself comes to our aid when we are tempted), so that you will be able to endure it. So, when it comes to temptations, here is a list of less dramatic examples that may hit closer to home than David’s temptation to sin with Bathsheba: • •
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Temptation to sin privately (a cover-up or lie; harboring private lust in my heart; fudging financial figures on my tax return; secret failures with pornography, etc.) Temptation to lose faith (just giving up in despair; quit praying for someone or something; throw in the towel on a recurring/besetting sin or a difficult circumstance of life that’s taken its toll) Temptation to be lazy (lack of spiritual discipline; no desire to study God’s word; casual non-specific prayer life; enjoying the leisure’s of life rather than spending time with the Lord) Temptation to gossip (saying or repeating things about others I would not otherwise say if they were standing right there; not leaving the scene when gossip starts to occur)
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Temptation to complain or grumble (seeing situations, or life in general, as a glass half empty; using energy to let others know I’m not happy inside; allowing a complaining spirit to overrule God-given joy) Temptation to return parity to my spouse (well they don’t show affection towards me, or do nice things for me, or make me feel special – so why should I?) Temptation to take short cuts (not being a spiritual leader in my home; not volunteering my service at church; not seeking opportunities to show hospitality to others) Temptation to overindulge my appetites (not seeing my body as the temple of the Lord and maintaining it accordingly; eating and drinking what I want, when I want, and how much I want; damaging my testimony for Christ by making a top priority of satisfying my physical desires and cravings) Temptation to overemphasize my body (over-prioritizing exercise and health-related matters; making my body a beacon of my pride; equating physical health to spiritual health; sending the message “I want to live forever” instead of “My citizenship is not on this earth, but in heaven”) Temptation to not reconcile with God (listening to Satan’s lie, “God doesn’t want to hear another insincere confession from you”; loving a habit or secret sin more than God; having a woe-is-me attitude and convincing myself I’m not worthy to talk with God; concluding “I deserve this for what I did” so you choose to endure it rather than reconciling with God) Temptation to procrastinate (thinking more disciplined times of witnessing, prayer, and time in God’s word will come easier tomorrow . . . or the next day . . . or perhaps the next day) Temptation to not meet together with other Christians (sleeping in rather than fellowshipping at church; not desiring smaller group sessions for fellowship and/or study of God’s word) Temptation to slowly conform to the world (over time, the way I dress, the places I go, and the things I do look conspicuously like the world; watching things on TV, at the movies, or on the Internet that I formerly found offensive; allowing my children to slide further and further towards the activities, attitudes, and dress of their unsaved friends) Temptation to be local, not global, in my thinking (drawing a Christian ring tightly around my neighborhood or my town and overlooking the broader world that is on God’s heart) Temptation to let my senses wander into unrighteousness (seeing, hearing or thinking in an unrighteous manner by not disciplining my senses to be fully controlled by Christ; thinking that “looking” is not the same as the sin of “doing;” failing to adequately filter my computers and/or TV shows/movies to eliminate unwholesomeness) Temptation to go on cruise control (thinking that my life is going fine so why rock the boat; thinking yesterday’s spiritual truths will somehow produce tomorrow’s spiritual growth;
clocking in and clocking out of Christian events like church services, choir rehearsals, Sunday School classes, and the like, without seeing any real change in my life) So, if Chapter 4 convinced you of your wicked heart, my desire in Chapter 5 is to convince you that you face real temptations every day, and you may not have recognized them as temptations. The more subtle, unobvious, or private the temptation, the more likely we are to not take advantage of God’s way of escape. Why? Because we see no imminent danger nor need to escape, or we assume the issue is so small we can handle it on our own. This is a natural tendency brought on by the blindness of not recognizing and fearing our desperately wicked heart and the dangerous vulnerability this brings upon us. So, this is the mindset you must have for the rest of our journey; 1) You are constantly being tempted by people, issues, thoughts, opportunities, and things whether large or small, that divert you away from God Himself; 2) Since your heart is desperately wicked, it has a natural tendency to succumb to these temptations, even when you don’t perceive it; 3) Jesus promised to personally come to your aid when you are tempted (Heb. 2:18), so recognize such times and reach for your Life Preserver. This mindset is required to arrive at our destiny of soul-center because for the rest of this journey you will undoubtedly be tempted to stop or turn back. The journey may get harder, but the rewards are worth it. Our short rest stop break is now over, so let’s pack up and get moving again. We still have quite a long way to go on our journey.
Day 6
Exchanging Counterfeit for Pure Gold “There wouldn’t be such a thing as counterfeit gold if there were no real gold somewhere.” Sufi Proverb
Tim Keller, Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, said, "The Bible's purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible's purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness you would otherwise never be able to overcome ... religion is 'if you obey, then you will be accepted.' But the Gospel is, 'if you are absolutely accepted, and are sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey.' Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference." My assumption is that if you have kept reading to this point, you are indeed a born-again Christian who is keenly interested in seeing your inmost soul, perhaps for the very first time. So, the Gospel is effectively doing its work to bring you into a right relationship with God, in addition to making you aware of your responsibility to obey His word and demonstrate that He is Lord. You acknowledge this principle has been etched deeply upon your heart. Now I ask, what will it take to get you to obey the Lord fully with your whole heart? Well reread the quote from Pastor Keller above and notice these words again, “if you are absolutely accepted, and are sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey.” Most Christians find it hard to believe that God completely accepts them because they know inside they are so unworthy. Well that’s true – we are SO unworthy. But that’s where human reasoning falls short. If I view my relationship with God from my perspective and from my value system, I will never conclude that God fully accepts me because it just doesn’t make sense. How could God ever accept someone who has a deceitful, desperately wicked heart? How could He ever accept someone who knows what is right, yet chooses to do what is wrong? How could He ever accept someone who is so prone to trip or fall on all manner of temptations that may come their way? Well, the great news is He doesn’t overlook all my deficiencies and pretend that I am worthy. Instead, He covers my unworthiness in the entirely worthy righteous garb of Christ, and then chooses to see His Son’s righteousness alone. But to say God “covers” my unworthiness is not expressive enough, so here are some more words and phrases to help us understand the deeper meaning: God replaced my unrighteousness with Christ’s righteousness God substituted Christ’s righteousness in place of my unrighteousness God purchased/redeemed my unrighteousness with Christ’s blood and righteousness God eliminated the presence of my unrighteousness by flooding me with Christ’s righteousness
God withdrew unrighteousness from my account, and then deposited all of Christ’s righteousness in its place Ah, the last of these phrases gets much closer to the heart of the matter because it emphasizes the undeserved riches I now enjoy because of God’s gracious deposit. (Notice His deposit has nothing to do with my worthiness or anything I deserve.) To strengthen the banking analogy further, God withdrew my meager collection of ratty, worthless counterfeit bills, and replaced them with incalculable riches of purest gold – all made payable in full to my account. I am rich! Now can you believe God has absolutely accepted you, and remain sure He has accepted you, based on the righteousness of Jesus that God deposited into your account? His acceptance of you is equal to His acceptance of Jesus. You are a joint account holder with Christ. You share the same eternal inheritance with Christ. The last will and testament indicates you are joint heirs with Christ. Hallelujah, what a Savior! But, to not believe that you are fully accepted is to devalue the righteousness of Christ in your account and continue clutching your meager collection of ratty, worthless counterfeit bills. It’s your choice. Until you and I accept our position in Christ – His righteousness credited entirely to our account – we cannot begin to know Him as we ought, to love Him as we should, to obey Him as we must, and to serve Him as He deserves. Nor can we see clearly our own destitute nature as we should. Oh, but as joint account holders and joint heirs with Christ for eternity, we can walk on high places with no fear. Won’t you please join me? The view is spectacular up here! Are you ready to commit yourself to obey the Lord in ALL things? Are you ready to give Christ ALL areas of your life, both seen as well as private? Are you ready to present ALL the members of your body as a living sacrifice to God as your act of reasonable worship to Him? I ask you, is it reasonable to expect a joint account holder to say “YES!” Then as the old Nike commercial says, Just Do It.
Day 7
Ouch – That Hurts! “Must is a hard nut to crack, but it has a sweet kernel.” Charles Haddon Spurgeon
God blessed me with a wonderful wife, and together we produced a family of three boys and three girls. Most have gotten married at this point and we’ve now been blessed with grandchildren. I always knew boys and girls would be quite different to raise, but I had no idea HOW different. There are amazing differences between all the children, and life’s script for one would never work for another, regardless of whether they were boy or girl. Each child is totally unique – as though God tore up their blueprint at conception – in the way they learn, interact with others, show creativity, respond to discipline, and so much more. So too we stand as unique children before our Heavenly Father. The way He deals with each of us is not based on some preexisting script, but rather, on a wholly personal relationship He has formed with us, combined with His intimate knowledge of what’s best for us. As earthly parents, we dimly reflect this same approach with our own children, so keep this parallel in mind as you read the rest of this chapter. We know our children personally, and we have their best interest in mind as we teach them and discipline them to go in the way they should go. The same is true concerning Christ with us. There are four terms, all found in Hebrews 12:5-6, that relate to how God deals with His children to guide us in the way we should go. These terms are interrelated but have slightly different meanings. I’ve listed them below with their meanings from least severe to most severe so you can refer back to them as you read this chapter. They are: Discipline – to instruct; educative training in a God-ward direction; disciplinary correction to realign rightly Reproving – to find fault with; to expose, bring to light, and convict; to admonish or reprehend Chastening – to train or cause to learn; to censure severely; to prune of excess; to cause to be humbler or restrained Scourging – to whip; to plague; God-originated calamity, misfortune, or punishment with the goal of disciplinary correction And here’s what Hebrews 12:5-6 says, “And have you entirely forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you, his children? He said, ‘My child, don’t ignore it when the Lord disciplines you,
and don’t be discouraged when He reproves you. For the Lord chastens those He loves, and He scourges those He accepts as His children.’” So right about now you’ve likely connected the dots between the title of this chapter – “Ouch, That Hurts!” – with the list of disciplines defined above, and may have concluded this chapter will not be a lot of fun. Well, before you shut your travel guide to go do something more pleasant, let me ask you to reread the first sentence in the verses above. Do you see the word “encouraging?” The content of this section may be the most encouraging in this entire travel guide. It was for me as I took my own personal journey to the center of my soul. So, stay with me through the end of this section and see if you too don’t find it to be a great encouragement as well. To my knowledge, my six children have never wondered if I am really their dad or if they are really my child. They’ve had no reason to doubt because we are a healthy functioning family. Our children know they belong to us because we have done so many things together as a family, we’ve spent time together, we’ve experienced victories and defeats together, we’ve worked out our differences together, we’ve communicated with one another, and we’re aware (usually!) of how one another feel. When our children were younger, my wife and I also taught them in the lessons and character they would need for life, and we disciplined them as needed to help them stay on the path God intended. It is common for children to know the most about their parents, and for parents to know the most about their children. This is what makes the family unit the most intimate group on earth. In such a family setting it is hard to imagine one of my children wondering if I am really their dad, or for me to wonder if they are really my child. It just makes no sense and would never enter our minds. Yet, a disturbingly high percentage of Christians experience doubts, real doubts, regarding their salvation. They question if they are really a child of God or if He is really their heavenly Father. (Note, the kind of doubts I’m talking about here should not be confused with the merit-based doubts some people have when their life doesn’t reflect or produce Christian “fruit.” In such cases I believe it is healthy for them to evaluate the validity of their own Christianity based on the lack of evidences in their life. Making Christ Savior and Lord requires a clear commitment, and this commitment will have tangible evidences that confirm its sincerity.) Why do Some Christians – Perhaps Even You – Doubt Their Salvation? Think back to our human family description above. Notice the things that help children know they are legitimate children; 1) Doing things together; 2) Getting to know one another; 3) Frequent communication; 4) Periodic discipline/teaching; 5) Working closely together on issues, projects, and the like
So, if you find yourself occasionally doubting your Christianity, my first question is, “Are you doing these same kinds of things with Christ?” Are you in the kind of relationship with Christ that is characteristic of a family? If not, then let’s start right here in taking corrective action. But, if you are doing these kinds of things with Christ, there are at least two more ways in scripture we are told we can be sure we are a child of God, so let’s look at both. Being Led by the Spirit In Romans 8:14-16, Paul provides us with a wonderful way we can be assured of our salvation, and it’s just so simple. The Holy Spirit will lead us, and He will tell us that we are God’s child. In verse 16 Paul says the Holy Spirit will bear witness with our spirit confirming we are a child of God, but notice how this assurance follows the main theme of this chapter. The main theme of Romans 8 is that a genuine salvation experience will be evidenced by three things; 1. Our mind will no longer be set on satisfying the flesh (because it’s hostile to God) 2. Our mind will be set on following, obeying, and satisfying the Spirit of God 3. God’s Spirit directs us, helps our weaknesses, and leads us, and we in turn must follow Does this mean we will be perfect? No, but it does mean our overall progress, like the stock graph of an increasingly valuable company, will trend upwards over time. Sure, there will be periodic dips in performance, but over the long run we should be rising towards the goal of Christ-like perfection. That’s God’s design. And it’s also one of the ways we can be assured of our salvation. What does the long-term stock chart of your pilgrimage with Christ look like? Being Disciplined by God The second way we can be assured we have genuine salvation is if God disciplines us. Earlier in this chapter we discussed how discipline is a natural part of a normal family. Parents who don’t discipline their children show they really don’t care. Children who are not disciplined by parents often feel they are not loved. Discipline is a strategic ingredient for a healthy, functional family. And so it is with God and His children. The presence of discipline in a Christian’s life validates his sonship with God. In contrast, the absence of discipline from God reveals we are illegitimate children and not sons according to Hebrews. Here’s how the writer puts it in Hebrews 12:7-8: “It is discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” So how does being disciplined by God show we are genuine Christians? Because it is evidence God considers me to be a legitimate child of His, and it also shows God is interested in my holiness and in seeing the peaceable fruit of righteousness in my life. Hebrews 12:10b-11 tells me so.
This means that God demonstrates His love for me as a son through discipline, and such discipline validates I am a legitimate son or daughter of His. Therefore, it is highly important we take a moment to ensure we understand the varieties and forms of discipline that may come our way as Christians, and identify the significance of each. Before you read the list below, however, first stop and think back on your own experience regarding discipline within your human family. Typically, the level of severity of discipline you received matched the severity of your offense. In short, mom and/or dad were willing to apply whatever level of pressure and discipline it took to get you to change. Keep this principle in mind as you review the various kinds of discipline shown below. What do each mean, and what is the significance in the degree to which God will go in order to discipline His own children? Below are some practical applications of each: Discipline* – God may discipline me in a variety of ways such as exposing me to truth through His Word, bringing unique challenges into my path, testing my priorities, or bringing specific difficulties or disappointments into my life to help me conform to Him. Some examples of such discipline might include; 1) Facing new challenges at work or at home that are too big for me to handle alone, 2) Confronting unexpected physical or health-related issues, 3) Experiencing a sudden change in my economic or social status, 4) Rebellion by my children (as a direct result of my lack), or, 5) God strongly convicting me about a secret sin or perhaps unresolved bitterness in my life. Reproving* – Reproving is a deeper level of discipline that usually carries stiffer consequences. Some examples of reproving might include; 1) God revealing my secret sin to someone else (AKA caught red-handed), 2) My offense against another believer is brought to my church leadership’s attention, 3) I am confronted about an issue involving the lack of honesty/integrity or, 4) I am admonished by my spiritual leaders (pastor, elders, deacons, etc.). Chastening* – Chastening typically involves longer term implications that are more severe. God is interested in doing whatever it takes to get me to learn. The thicker my head, the deeper the chastening. Some examples of chastening might include; 1) Long-term health consequences, 2) Loss of job or loss of command/authority, 3) Financial upheaval, 4) Dysfunctional family, or, 5) Severe censuring or public church disciplinary action. Scourging* – Scourging is the most severe level of discipline God applies to His children, and like a human parent, He uses it sparingly and only when needed. Scourging carries with it the concept of whipping, calamity, and misfortune. Yes, these are severe in nature, but God is more interested in the outcome of scourging me – my holiness and the peaceful fruit of righteousness – than in the means He must use. May we as Christians have a healthy fear of the scourging of God and live in such a way as to not require it. But if scourging comes into our life, may we recognize the severity of our waywardness and disobedience and quickly take appropriate corrective action. *It should be noted that all these disciplines, including the more severe chastening and scourging, may be applied by God in our lives for purposes other than corrective action. God, in His infinite wisdom, may choose to use such means to bring about further purification and refinement in my life just as He did in His own dear Son’s life. This concept is also clearly seen in scripture in the lives of men like Job and Paul among others. Over and over we see such men enduring suffering for the
sake of suffering, and not as a consequence of sin in their lives. Why would God do this? Well there are a number of reasons, but I want to mention two in particular. First, Hebrews 12:10 confirms that God disciplines me for my own good. And since only God really knows what is for my own good, I must trust Him wholly on this. After all, He made me and knows me completely. Second, scripture teaches that suffering is a means to experience greater fellowship with, and knowledge of, Christ Who suffered most ultimately for us. Here are a few verses that support this concept: “. . . that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” Philippians 3:10-11. “But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.” 1 Peter 4:13. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him.” Romans 8:17. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps…” 1 Peter 2:21. “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18. So, in summary, disciplines and sufferings may be present in my life because God is taking corrective action and desires repentance on my part, or because He wants me to know Jesus more sweetly and more intimately through my suffering. Either way, God has chosen it for my own good, and I should be encouraged because it shows firm evidence of my sonship with Him. May we be trained by the disciplines and sufferings God brings to our lives, and may we discern why He has brought them into our lives. To summarize, if you have genuinely accepted Christ as your Savior and Lord, then there will be distinct evidences in your life including; 1) An overall trend of being led by the Spirit, and, 2) The presence of God-directed disciplines and sufferings. When these evidences are present in your life, take confidence and joy in the fact you are a child of God. Never doubt your salvation again. And recognize that the God of the universe is at work in your heart and in the process of renovating your soul to bring Him glory. Revel in your heavenly father. You are His child!
Day 8
Hey, Where Does This Leg Shackle Go? “Deficit ambobus qui vult servire duobus” (Latin – He who tries to serve two masters will serve neither)
It isn’t often we see leg shackles, but when we do, we are reminded how ugly and barbaric they are. They often conjure up visions of medieval torture and enslavement. But scripture uses a similar picture of being shackled and chained when it speaks about our bondage to sin. Romans 6:6-7 says, “We know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” Remember chapter 2’s description of top-line and bottom-line scriptures? Well, many Christians treat the above verses from Romans, and others like it, as top-line scriptures only, reveling in the thought that our old selves were crucified with Christ and subsequently our enslavement to sin – our chains and shackles – have been broken. We have been set free! And indeed, we have been set free, and that is well worth celebrating. But verses 6-7 of Romans chapter 6 don’t describe the whole picture. There is also a bottom-line principle in chapter 6 and it’s found in verses 16-18 where Paul says, “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Unfortunately, the leg shackles and chains do not disappear altogether as in some spiritual magic trick as many Christians seem to believe. Instead, verses 16-18 make it clear that they still exist in purpose and reality, but Paul instructs us to reattach them to Christ, obedience, and righteousness. Whether we like it or not, or admit it or not, our human nature requires us to be attached to something. Verses 16-18 of Romans chapter 6 make it clear that we are attached to that which we obey, follow, and practice. When you gaze deeply into the mirror of truthful selfinspection, what do you see that you are choosing to obey, follow, and practice? If you are tracking with me on the top-line/bottom-line theme, you can see that a dangling chain and empty leg shackle are not something to be proud of or something over which we should proclaim victory. Rather, I submit, they should be feared greatly. Unless that chain and empty
shackle are reattached securely to Christ, we will never know what true victory over sin is like and experience what verse 17 describes as “obedience from the heart to the standard of teaching to which we were committed.” What an awesome picture it is when I see myself chained, bound, and shackled tightly to Christ, having made my decision clear to Satan and the rest of the world that I choose to be enslaved to Christ and to an obedience that leads to righteousness. Likewise, what a disturbing picture it should be when I see myself standing there with a chain and empty shackle beside me still available to be attached. Satan roams the whole earth seeking empty, unattached leg shackles just waiting to be filled. These belong to those whom he devours. If someone approached you and called you a slave chances are you would be offended, perhaps even enraged. But for a Christian who has given himself or herself completely to Christ, there could be no sweeter words than to be called a slave (doulos) of Jesus Christ. Various translations of I Corinthians 7:22 name such a Christian as a slave, doulos (Greek), bondservant, and servant. Chained, shackled, and bound tightly to the Messiah – what could be any more secure and safe in my life than to be chained to such a Master, the Lord of Lords and king of kings? So, take a careful evaluation of your own life and see if maybe, just maybe, you’ve been satisfied with the top-line principle only of being set free from sin, but have never concerned yourself with the bottom-line principle of reattaching your allegiance and your obedience to Christ alone. Perhaps that could explain the lack of spiritual growth, victory and maturity in your own life? A life spent dragging around the excessive weight of chains and empty shackles is a lot of needless work. Reattach them to the living Savior, Jesus Himself, who said, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Day 9
What Does the Center of My Soul Look Like so I’ll Know When I’ve Arrived? “All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination.” Earl Nightingale
There is nothing worse than being a child strapped in the back seat of a car on an infinitely long family trip – AND HAVING NO IDEA HOW MUCH LONGER THE TRIP IS GOING TO LAST! “When will we be there,” is their familiar battle cry. The next logical question you should ask is how will you know when you have successfully journeyed to the center of your soul, and what should you expect when you arrive there? Well, first the good news is that you have carefully followed this travel guide to get you to this point, so you must want to see what the center of your soul looks like. And if that’s not entirely true, I suggest you go back and re-read the chapter(s) you found the most difficult to accept. Everyone’s journey can be different and no one’s pace is the same, but everyone must acknowledge certain fundamentals before they can claim to have reached the center of their soul. These fundamentals are summarized in the admissions and resolutions shown below. I invite you to ponder each and claim them as your own to validate your journey.
My Admissions 1. I admit that I am more interested in justice for others than I am for myself. I readily recognize the faults in others, but struggle to see my own. I tend to play God. 2. I admit that I am selfish in nature and desire to receive the benefits from God without investing the required responsibilities. I want to focus on the easier top line promises of God. 3. I admit that living a mediocre status-quo Christian life hasn’t bothered me very much, and in my state of ineffectiveness, I have become tone deaf to my Shepherd’s voice. 4. I admit that I have a desperately wicked heart and do not fear it as I should. I acknowledge that my desperately wicked heart held Jesus to the cross, not spikes. 5. I admit that I am tempted in far more ways than I can stand against. I now see that I have not regarded these temptations as the perilous dangers they are to my soul. 6. I admit that my past disobedience, at least in part, was because I wasn’t fully convinced I was accepted by God. I now understand that without such certainty I cannot begin to obey Him.
7. I admit that the disciplines of God are for my own good, bring me into closer fellowship with Him, and are positive proof that I am indeed His child. 8. I admit that I have been too casual about the need to shackle myself to Christ and to make Him my total Master, and me His total slave – for the sake of righteousness.
My Resolutions Self-Assessment I am a sinner saved by grace and only know two things to be sure; 1) My very best is like filthy rags to Christ; and, 2) Christ’s righteousness is my only hope and the only thing on which I can depend. My heart is desperately wicked above all things so I will learn to fear it. I will strive to put others and their needs ahead of mine and to view myself humbly in the sight of all men. Self-Directive I will strive to see each day as a gift from God and purpose to make a difference for eternity with the time that I have been given on this earth. I will prioritize spending quality time with the Lord to ensure I know the voice of my Shepherd so I can obey Him. I will not be tossed about by the seas of politically correct thinking or be buffeted by the winds of worldly doctrines and opinions. I will build my life on the solid foundation of God’s Word alone. Self-Awareness I now see myself as a genuine son of a loving adopting Father who has accepted me into His family based solely on the righteousness of His dear son Jesus. I will live in this reality based on the Holy Spirit confirming in my heart that it is true, and I will measure the sincerity of my belief by the resulting obedience I show to God and His Word. My awareness of Satan’s cunning makes me more determined to be safely shackled to my Savior/Master as His slave.
CONCLUSION: If these admissions and resolutions are true in your life, and you can claim them without reservation as true to the Lord, to your family, to your friends, and to the world, then you have successfully journeyed to the center of your soul. It’s not exactly the most pleasant place to discover, is it? But, it’s the most important place you’ll ever venture, so long, that is, as you remain committed to the admissions and resolutions you learned along the way. And if ever your memory of this journey grows dull, revisit the admissions and resolutions in this chapter so you can remain committed to grace and truth. As your tour guide, I encourage you to relax and take in the sights and sounds of the center of your soul as you read the last chapter ahead. May the Lord be pleased and heaven rejoice because of the time we’ve spent together on this journey. Enjoy the view.
Day 10
The Most Spectacular View is Saved for Last! “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
Before closing this travel guide, I want you to experience some very good news. To be more accurate, it’s spectacular news. And the news is this – when you arrive at Grand Central Soul and realize it’s not so grand after all, lift up your eyes. After seeing yourself, perhaps for the very first time in all your unglory, lift up your eyes and see the King of glory in all His splendor! The journey to the center of our soul not only reveals the depravity and helplessness of ourselves, but more importantly, allows us to see the majesty, lovingkindness, and compassion of our God like never before. Only in my greatest state of brokenness can Christ and His lordship be seen in its greatest state of clarity. Lift up your eyes! A purified soul and a purified heart are integrated concepts that cannot be separated. The constant battle by Satan for my soul is no less waged by Satan for my heart. They are of equal value to him because my heart and my soul represent my central inmost being, and if Satan can win them, he has conquered ME humanly speaking. Scripture makes it clear that Satan cannot conquer my spirit (the Holy Spirit of God), so my salvation is secure. But that’s why he focuses so intently on my susceptible heart and soul. After all, these represent great prizes to Satan because they define ME humanly speaking. And by causing damage to my heart and soul, Satan publicly mocks Christ’s death and resurrection; the ultimate sacrifice that has the power to eternally rescue the wicked hearts and souls of all who believe. Do you want to restore the original joy of your salvation? Then lift up your eyes and see your King who can give you truth in your innermost being and make you know wisdom. Cry out to the only One who can wash you and make you whiter than snow. Desire God because He is the only One who can make the bones He has broken rejoice. He alone can create a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in you. And He alone can sustain you with a willing heart. Lift up your eyes just as David did in Psalm 51 (in life’s rough seas you can always cling to Psalm 51 as an all-sufficient Life Preserver), and praise God that the broken and contrite heart you have achieved during this journey to the center of your soul PLEASES GOD GREATLY! Never forget that in your greatest state of brokenness you are most pleasing to God. Why? Because only when you are least can He be most. David wrote, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps 51:17)
What is the most spectacular view you have ever witnessed? Well, the more spectacular news of this final chapter is that it is actually possible to see God, the most resplendent view of all. Scripture states in many places that no man has ever seen God, and that is true. Such a sight is not physically possible for mere mortals. In fact, seeing God would cause us to die according to Exodus 33:20. But scripture, from the lips of Jesus Himself, also declares that it is possible to see God. It’s found in Matthew chapter 5 where Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Spiritually seeing God in all His glory must first be preceded by me seeing myself in all my unglory. The view of God is indeed spectacular, but it is made possible only when my view of myself is clear related to purity, truth, and integrity. Here’s what I mean: Purity – I must see myself clearly without any fog or dilution of pretenses, excuses and rationalizations, and I must “work out my salvation” in order to maintain this undiluted view of myself. (Phil 2:12) Truth – I must see myself considering the truth of the whole of scripture, and not pick and choose only certain scriptures I deem relevant. I will not include the opinions of men when taking inventory of truth in my life. Integrity – I must not take the journey to the center of my soul once, and then forget what I saw in the mirror. I will face myself with 20/20 integrity over the trajectory of my life and cry out to God to never let me forget the lessons I learned on this journey and the dreadful person I saw in the mirror of my soul. ________________________________________________________________________
“So, lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates, and lift them up O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory.” Psalm 24: 7-10 Welcome to the most spectacular view in all of heaven and earth – the Lord of hosts Himself. He is the King of glory! Yes, He is always in our midst, but only when we have a pure heart can we see Him right beside us. And you’ll know that the journey to the center of your soul has been a success when you’re never satisfied gazing upon anything less. Lift up your eyes!