Above the Sun: Heaven rejoices when we make good choices

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 10, 2019 (original version January 12, 2006)

          Hallelujah! There are well over 300 references to the words joy and rejoice in the Bible. And why wouldn’t there be? Galatians 5:22-23 says joy is a quality of the Holy Spirit. Luke says the gift of the Holy Spirit dwells inside every baptized believer (Acts 2:38). Joy is not only a blessing for those who walk with God on this side of eternity, but our actions can also cause joy in heaven.

          Luke 15 tells three parables that end in rejoicing when someone turns from the ways of the world, and instead chooses to walk with God. This process of turning to God is called repentance. It’s a lifestyle that absolutely matters, and brings joy on earth and in heaven. Even when we feel that no one cares if we make good choices, rejoicing takes place on a scale that we cannot imagine. Jesus said, “There is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). So who besides angels are the presence of angels?  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

          And as if that were not enough, the writer of Hebrews tells us we are surrounded by generations of faithful men and women. They act as a great cloud of witnesses to encourage us to throw off sin and run a strong race, imitating our Savior who experienced joy in spite of the cross (Hebrews 12:1-3).  

          In the song “How Great Thou Art” there is a line that says, “When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation.” The description is of the greatest joy-filled standing ovation of all time, when Christ comes to take us home. That will be a day to experience, when we get to express to Jesus, face to face, our gratitude for His grace. But for thousands of years now, Christians who say yes to God and no to the devil have already been receiving thunderous applause from all who dwell in heaven.

          Now, imagine God looking at Jesus and saying, “It’s time, let’s go bring’em home.” What a glorious day that will be!

          Let’s all make plans to rejoice on that day, along with all those who are called to our heavenly home.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Good to the Last Drop... Jesus

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 3, 2019 (original version Feb 22, 2007)

          Just about anybody can write a commercial. But the true test of a good commercial is whether people remember it years later.

          For instance, Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes: “They’re_____.”   Or how about the phrase that the De Beers jewelry company coined in 1947, “A diamond is________.”  Nike: “Just_____.”  Energizer: “It keeps _____ & _____ & ______.”  KFC: “It’s finger ____  _____.”  I will let you fill in the blanks.

          As a fan of all things coffee, one of my favorites is Maxwell House’s slogan: “Good to the last drop.”  This old jingle from 1915 wafts its way through my mind from time to time like the aroma from my never empty coffee cup I keep on a table near my desk (so I don’t spill it).

          Things that interest us filter-in to our lives and often have a single origin, or at least a common ground.  Coffee and Jesus are that for me.  My daughter owns a business called Landing Coffee Company. So, for me, a fresh pot of coffee made with beans that Gracie roasted means even more to me than Maxwell House, Cain’s, Folgers, and Starbucks combined.

          Spiritually speaking, Jesus is my favorite brew. In our world today, there are so many uncertainties. But no matter how confused our culture becomes, I know I can always depend on Jesus.

          You never have to wonder whether Jesus has changed his mind on anything. The answer is always no. He is the ultimate constant in the life of every Christian. He is an eternal compass because he always points us in the right direction. You never have to wonder whether he still loves us. The answer is always yes. His roast date is always fresh and He is always pulling for us. In coffee talk, Jesus is:
1) The most satisfying blend. He is the Savior to all kinds of people.
2) The perfect roast. He stayed on earth long enough to experience every temptation.
3) The richest aroma. Just one whiff and your eyes are opened to a whole new life.
4) The smoothest brew. He always pulls through, never changes, always tastes the same.
5) The boldest flavor. He lived with confidence and wants us to do the same.
6) The best ground. His word gives us everything we need. Not too much; not too little.

          If you’re not a coffee drinker, thanks anyway for indulging in this little press of words I have extracted to taste and savor the good good qualities of Jesus. No matter what any of us are pouring over this week in our daily grind, our cup never has to be less than half full. No matter if our days are light or dark, Jesus can help us press through one drip at a time.

          Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Hearing works best when followed by obedience

Above the Sun: Hearing works best when followed by obedience

by Barrett Vanlandingham

January 27, 2019 (originally March 29, 2007)

            Oklahoma has hundreds of small towns that serve as wonderful places to live and raise families. Still, as great as life is here, we are not exempt from the devil’s traps. This is why it will always be of greatest importance to pay close attention to what God is trying to tell us.

            In a lost and broken world where the prince of this world (aka: the prince of darkness) thrives on alcohol abuse, gambling addictions, marital unfaithfulness, dishonesty, the love of money, cultural peer pressure, or maybe spending too much time with our hobbies, God’s message to us is easy to ignore.

            Most of us have faced or currently face spiritual challenges and temptations that seem larger than life. Many times, it is difficult to answer the question of “Who do we listen to?” But getting the answer right is crucial to our quality of life here, as well as our eternal destiny.

            In Daniel 3, the prophet tells about an event that happened in about 607 B.C.

King Nebuchadnezzar set up an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide.

            The King’s order? Everyone in Babylon must worship the great image everytime the king’s royal music was played throughout the land. The king expected everyone, including Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who had been taken captive from Jerusalem to serve in the king’s palace, to bow down to the golden image.

            The consequences? For those who didn’t bow down, they would immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.

            The problem? (at least for those who were opposed to God) was that those three young men being held captive for service to the king, were dedicated to God. They would not bow down to the golden image when they heard the sounds of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other music.

            The outcome? As is always the case, God’s people won! Yes, the three were thrown into the fire, but God saved them because of their commitment.

            The message for us today? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would want us to know that no matter what our culture is telling us, siding with God is always best even when it seems everyone else is doing life another way. Haven’t we all been in situations where obeying God was difficult?

            In the New Testament, Jesus told the parable of the sower. He ended by saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:1-9).

            Having ears is a common thing. But Jesus was reminding his listeners that ears are only a benefit when we use them to help us in our spiritual journey.

            Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Learning to Trust God is a process

Above the Sun: Learning to trust God is a process
by Barrett Vanlandingham (orig. September 20, 2007)
January 20, 2019

          Even though social media is often a hotbed of conflict that can be very frustrating to read, it is also a treasure chest for those of us who try to keep our finger on the pulse of what people are thinking.

          One young person wrote: “I love God, I really do. I will never stop loving him. Do I trust him? That is where I am having a problem. I want to trust. I try so hard to not question. In the end I am only human.”

          Wow, you talk about an example of “out of the mouths of babes.”  Isn’t that something we all struggle with? Trusting in the Lord is difficult because just we don't understand everything like we will when we get to heaven. We know life on earth is nothing compared to the joys of heaven, but because we’re human we really cannot comprehend our reward in relation to our struggles.

          Solomon told us God will make our paths straight if we trust God and do things His way (Proverbs 3:5-6). That’s nice to know, but still hard to do.  Many great men and women of the Bible had the same problem: 
1) Esther was afraid the king would kill her if she stood up for God's chosen people. 
2) Gideon always wanted God to give him a sign that He was really with him.
3) Peter actually walked on water but then sank when he took his eyes off Jesus.
4) Sarah and Abraham laughed when God told them they would have a son at age 90 and 100.
5) Moses tried to talk God out of choosing him to lead the people out of Egypt.
6) Thomas knew Jesus, and still doubted the Lord’s identity.
          The list goes on. Don't you think Noah probably had some doubts as he built an ark for 100-years while people laughed at him? The people had never even experienced rain, and Noah was telling them the earth would be flooded.

          Stories like these are written to help grow our faith (John 20:30-32). To this day, God places a rainbow in the sky to remind us that He always keeps his promises (Genesis 9:16). God is glorified in our weaknesses. It is only when we acknowledge dependence on God that we are at our strongest, spiritually.

          Everyday, we should look for ways that God takes care of us, and thank Him. God is good and loyal to us, even when we're not. He is worthy to be praised. He is worthy of our respect and loyalty. The writer of 1 John 3:2 tells us that someday, everything will make sense.

          “What we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”

          Have a great week!