In the light of God is a great place to walk
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 31, 2012

            As I went outside to start my car the other morning, I noticed my windshield was frosted over while the windshield of my wife’s car was clear. 

I was thinking how strange that was and then I realized her vehicle was parked on the side of the driveway closest to the sun, while mine was still in the shadow unable to receive any direct light.

I remember basically the same thing happening over the summer to three wisteria vines in my backyard that received varying levels of sun.  The one that received the most light grew and bloomed.  The others?  Not so much.

The first Biblical passage that came to mind was definitely 1 John 1:5-7 which says, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet we walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (NIV, 1984).”

John’s message here is simple.  Live your life in the light of God!  That’s where the blood of Jesus continually cleanses us from every sin.  And while those statements are true, the opposite is also true.  That if we do not walk in the light where God is, we should not expect the same reward as those who do.  And tragically, Christ’s blood will not cover our sins if we choose to walk on the world’s dark side, away from God’s light, and never asking forgiveness.

You see, there is willful sin, and unintentional sin.  Both can send someone to hell if not covered by Christ’s blood.  But scripture is very clear that we are not perfect.  In Romans 3:23 Paul says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  The word “fall” is present tense, which means we continue to make mistakes.  So, why can we still be saved even though we make mistakes?  After all, sin cannot enter heaven, right?  (right)  But there is a big difference between willful sin and unintentional sin.  A willful sin is a choice we make that puts us on the dark path.  When we choose to sin, we must repent and ask God’s forgiveness. 

On the other hand, unintentional sin just happens simply because we make mistakes even while walking in God’s light.  In other words, we all stumble and sin daily, even without knowing it, yes even without choosing to sin.  That is when the Bible teaches that a baptized believer (Romans 6:1-11) experiences a special kind of forgiveness only available to those who walk in the light.

Paul goes on to tell us the good news, that we “...are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood… (Rom. 3:24-25)”

During winter, sometimes the sun is hard to find.  But when you do see its light and feel its warmth, just remember the blessing of Jesus Christ can only be found in the light of God.  Have a blessed week!

Faith can be strengthened through trials
by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 24, 2012

            Friday at about noon I was on my way to the church building to write this column you are now reading.  I had barely pulled out of my driveway when I spotted my neighbor, Ramona, walking her two dogs with the aid of her powered wheelchair.  I’m so glad I stopped to visit, because what she had to tell me was nothing short of amazing!

            She told me she wanted my prayers and here’s why.  After sixteen years of not being able to walk without some sort of aid, Ramona says there’s a chance she will be able to walk again on her own! 

For all this time, she says the many different medical specialists she has gone to all across the country have led her to believe she had multiple sclerosis, although they said the MRI’s would not confirm such a diagnosis.  At one point, she even took chemotherapy and steroids for three years.  She had gone from being a swim and lifeguard instructor, and later a mental health counselor, to being wheelchair bound, and still not having a firm diagnosis.  

But a few days ago, another doctor and another MRI revealed a swollen pituitary gland that may actually be pinching nerves and causing her problem.  Ramona says her doctor said there may be a surgery that can get Ramona back up on her feet.

So now, Ramona is 59-years old.  And although there’s a chance she will no longer need a power chair to get around, this could also mean she will no longer be eligible for the disability check she has received for all these years.  And she worries about what kind of job she will be able to get at her age to support herself.  She would appreciate your prayers on this matter.

Ramona says before she was afflicted with this disability, she just thought she had a good relationship with God.  She says she felt good about her spiritual walk because she showed up at the church building on a regular basis for worship.  Later, she realized that good church attendance doesn’t always mean you’re a good Christian.  She now considers her wheelchair “an old friend that brought me to my knees and brought me to the Lord.” 

Ramona says her faith has strengthened over the years because of her disability, and because she has spent more time in the word and more time in prayer.  She finds inspiration from the apostle Paul who prayed three times for his thorn in the flesh to be removed, and yet God’s answer was simply, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:8).”

Even Jesus prayed in the garden for there to be another way to save mankind other than the cross.  But Jesus was the only perfect sacrifice.  So let us all be joyful in our trials (James 1:2), knowing that God loves us (John 3:16) more than we can imagine.  Have a great week!

Training children for spiritual success is most important

by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 17, 2012

If you haven’t said, “Thank you” to a school teacher lately, please find one and thank them. Our teachers in Fort Gibson are among the hardest working educators I’ve ever heard of.

The demands on our teachers to bring about academic success for this generation of students are at an all time high.

We should all appreciate the extra effort put into our children, especially in today’s world, when simply put, good help is hard to find. And as it becomes more difficult for students to find decent paying jobs after their education is complete, the role of a good teacher becomes even more important in instilling a good work ethic. Of course, the best education comes when there is a partnership with dedicated parents who are also willing to do what it takes at home for their children to succeed.

As Christians, we need to make sure we are putting at least as much effort into preparing our kids for spiritual success. Academics and extra-curriculars are very important for grooming well-rounded people. But we must remember that if all we do as a community is to generate sharp kids who grow into impressive wage earners, we have failed them and failed our country. Washington DC is full of rich people who have climbed the worldly ladder of success. Yet, that fact does not seem to have benefitted us recently as a nation in the ways that really matter.

Remember what the apostle Paul said in 1 Timothy 4:8, “for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

As much respect as I have for school teachers (and my wife is one), coaches, and even moral mentors, Christians have an even greater teaching responsibility. In some of Jesus’ final words on earth he told his followers to go and make more followers (or disciples). He not only said to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, he also said, “…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt. 28:20).”

Whether we are teaching in a Bible class, or teaching our own children, or someone else, Christians must take seriously our responsibility to teach God’s inspired word as He intended. It would be a tragedy to have to explain to God on that final day why we taught something different. May we all pray for greater knowledge of God’s will, and the wisdom to use it to His glory. Have a blessed week!

Spiritual hazards can be avoided with practice

by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 10, 2012

Riding in a car traveling 65 miles an hour seems like an average task, that is, unless your teenage daughter is the one in the driver’s seat, training in a parent-taught driver’s education course! On this day, it became a white-knuckle experience, for both of us!

There we were cruising on Highway 62 from Muskogee back to Fort Gibson last Thursday, when three cars in front of us threw on their brakes. My daughter quickly checked over her left shoulder, signaled, and pulled into the passing lane to avoid hitting a man standing in our lane, waving people into the passing lane. He was trying to keep traffic from getting too close to someone’s car on the shoulder that was having a tire changed. But he had no bright orange warning signs, cones, or anything else to get drivers’ attention. He was just standing there waving his arms!

My first thought was “That man just about got himself killed!” My second thought was “He was trying to save someone else from getting killed.” And my third thought was “Wow! My daughter just maneuvered a very tricky driving situation with absolutely no advice from me!” The only words I got out were “They’re stopping!” She did the rest.

Spiritually speaking, that is exactly what you want out of your child, isn’t it? We try to train our children to do what is right. But until they are faced with real adversity, we never really know for sure how they will respond. Proverbs 22:6 says that children will eventually come back to the good teaching they heard as a child. Still, we never know how much time will pass and how many consequences will have to be endured before our children will begin to put good advice into action.

After all was said and done (in this instance), I can honestly say it was a thrill to see my daughter in action. She instinctively did exactly as she was taught when it came down to avoiding a very dangerous traffic situation. As a Christian dad, of course I was proud to see each of my daughters put on Christ in baptism. But it makes me even more proud when I see them avoid sin by instinctively putting into practice those Biblical principles which Lisa and I taught them as children.

We all know that raising kids is one of the hardest things we will ever do. And I don’t know anyone who has done it flawlessly. May God bless all of our families as we strive to live holy lives, putting God absolutely first, letting His Spirit guide us in all ways.

Commit your life to Christ in 2012

by Barrett Vanlandingham
January 3, 2012

Sunday morning, our church family had the pleasure of getting to witness three people follow through on their Bible study by putting on Christ in baptism. What a thrill!

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (NIV, Galatians 3:26-27).”

We all feel great joy when anyone becomes a Christian. But, I must admit, to see three adults give their lives over to Jesus is special in a different way from when a young person makes this decision. Our culture today wants us to believe that we can all exist and find fulfillment on our own merits, abilities, and achievements.

I failed many times as a youngster in making Godly decisions, even after my dad baptized me at age nine. And I continue to make mistakes, though hopefully not as many and not usually the same ones. But at least I was fortunate enough to grow up in a family where I learned early on the importance of living a life of faith in Christ and repentance as I strive to walk in the light (1 John 1:7).

This is not the case for everyone. There are still many adults, yes even here in Fort Gibson, who have not heard the Gospel story. Many have grown into adulthood not understanding what a difference a good relationship with God can mean for their life. In the parable of the Good Shepherd and his sheep, Jesus explains our relationship with him in this way.

“I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly (NASB, John 10:9-10).”

Sheep who do not have a shepherd to watch out for them may find temporary happiness outside on their own, grazing wherever they choose. They may even think, at least for a while, that their ability to roam is the ultimate freedom. But when the wolf comes, they soon find out it would have been nice to have had a shepherd fight for them, and provide safety found only inside the gate. A truly full life comes with the joy of knowing that God recognizes you as one of his own. God accepts us no matter what hour of the night we may knock on his door, provided it’s not too late.

May God bless your New Year with many opportunities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ with anyone who will listen (Matthew 28:18-20), and to be a Christian example to those who are outside Christ, and to be an encouragement to those who are already fighting the good fight. Have a blessed week!