Above the Sun: Hard work does not have to be discouraging

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 6, 2020 

            “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matthew 11:28-30).

            While Labor Day weekend celebrates the American worker, it does not celebrate job satisfaction. Surveys show more than half of those employed are not happy with their jobs. It is easy to become complacent, disengaged, or bored with a job if your reason for working is solely to live, pay bills, and invest. Those are all attached to worldly ways of thinking.

            Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, wrote a lot about the multitude of dead ends that can be found under the sun, as he described it about 30 times in Ecclesiastes. It is no wonder that people who have an under the sun worldview on the job are not as happy as people who think above the sun.

            One of the job descriptions of being human is that we work. It was that way from the time God created Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:15), and the work only got harder after sin entered the world (Genesis 3:17-19). But that did nothing to diminish one of the main purposes for the creation of mankind. The apostle Paul told local church members “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

            So, it should be no surprise that we just feel better when we are active. Beyond that, the attitude we have on the job is not only a blessing to our co-workers, but it also brings honor to God. Our attitude does not go unnoticed on earth or in heaven.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.  (Colossians 3:23-24).

            Jesus told the parable of a rich man who was successful in a worldly way, and even had to tear down his barns and build bigger ones just to keep up with his crops. But because he was not rich toward God, everything including his life was taken from him (Luke 12:16-22).

            When we carry our Christian attitude into our job, people notice. This opens the door for conversations to be had about the joy and peace that can be found through Jesus Christ.  Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Don’t let yourself be bugged to death

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 30, 2020

            Lisa and I are trying our hand at growing pumpkins this summer, but we noticed lately that some of the leaves and stems are wilting. So, after some research, Lisa determined our pumpkin vines may be doubling as a hotel and restaurant for destructive  squash bugs. They are good hiders and they often lay eggs on the underside of the leaves of squash, pumpkins, gourds, melons, and cucumbers.

            Squash bugs and the devil have a lot in common. Just like bugs hide eggs that later hatch and destroy by piercing tender leaves and stems and sucking out the plant’s sap, Satan quietly sets traps in places you don’t even suspect.

            The apostle Paul warned us about being lax in watching out for the devil’s schemes. “And do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:27).

            Why? Because if steps are not taken to get rid of the devil’s plan for your life, he’s ready to pounce, and not like Winnie the Pooh’s overly friendly buddy, Tigger. When Satan pounces, it’s for real, and the consequences can be eternal. In the book of James, the writer reminds us that God does not tempt us. We have a free will to say yes or no to Satan’s traps.

            “14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:14-15).

            So, off to the store she goes to purchase Sevin spray. I said, “Do you mean Sevin dust?  No, her source said the spray version is better at killing squash bugs because it gets up under the leaves better where they are hiding. That’s important because if you only look on the surface, you see what looks to be a healthy plant. By the time you find out otherwise it’s too late.

            For Christians who are trying to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ it is important to understand His will for us. This helps us spot things below the surface that bug us spiritually and are a danger to our souls (Hebrews 12:1-3). Prayer and Bible study help us target sin and temptation and replace them with good things.

            “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

            God’s word tells Christians to put to death our earthly nature such as sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, greed, filthy language and lying in exchange for true love, peace, and forgiving one another. “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience (Colossians 3).

            While I am not sure whether our experiment with squash bugs and Sevin spray will be successful, I do know following God’s word will grow our faith (Romans 10:17). Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Your forever home is not here

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 23, 2020 

            If you come into my house and the TV is on, there is a pretty good chance it will be on HGTV where someone is building or renovating what they hope will be their “forever home” or a home that is so perfect, they hope to stay there as long as they are living.

            I understand “forever home” so there is no judgment at all from me towards anyone who uses the term. We all say things we do not really mean when we think about it.

After a recent Bible study on the topic of control, it occurred to me that any notion of me or anyone else being able to control my earthly future would be misplaced. “Forever home” fits in that category since life itself is so unpredictable. People change jobs. People change goals. People change their minds. So, at the risk of sounding like a “Debbie downer” I just do not see how calling an earthly structure a “forever home” is realistic or even desirable.

The good news is that those who follow and put their hope in Jesus Christ do have a real “forever home” and the Bible says Jesus himself is the One building it for us. In a conversation Jesus was having with some of his closest followers just hours before the crucifixion, he said these words:

            “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).

            Two of my favorite songs are Jesus, You’re My Firm Foundation and This World Is Not My Home.  Hymnals and Christian radio are full of songs that encourage us to keep our eyes on Jesus because of the temporary nature of life on earth. Another song that comes to mind is Temporary Home co-written by Carrie Underwood. The chorus talks about “Windows and rooms that I'm passing through.”

            It is our knowledge of the fact that life is short in this broken world that is one of our motivations to stay connected to the only One who can help us get to a better place, heaven, our real “forever home.” The apostle Paul told Christians in Ephesus that believers, no matter who they once were, are already part of something special and permanent.   

“You are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit“ (Ephesians 2:19-22).

We cannot ask for a better “forever home” than one that includes eternal fellowship with Jesus and all the saved. Have a great week!

Above the Sun: Temptation flies in the face of righteousness

by Barrett Vanlandingham
August 16, 2020 

            As Lisa and I sat down to eat on the patio of a restaurant the other day, we couldn’t help but notice the high-powered oscillating fans almost blowing the food off our plates. I didn’t think things could get any worse. But after we asked the waiter turn off the fans so we could enjoy our meal, things did get worse, unless you like flies with your food. The longer we sat there with no fan to push them away, the more flies that seemed to find their way to my plate!

            This summer, we decided to declare war on flies and mosquitoes, and in the process, I noticed there are similarities in the way flying insects are attracted to things that will kill them, and the way humans are attracted to sin. Our most recent attempt has been a small plastic bag we purchased that comes with a horrible smelling object inside that smells even worse when you fill the bag with water.  Flies are attracted to the odor and find their way into the bag via a little trap-door in the top. Once the fly is inside, it cannot get back out. It dies a very slow death.  Very effective.

Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death."

We are attracted to sin because it looks pleasurable and even harmless on the surface. We misjudge how far is too far, and how much is too much. We ignore the Bible’s advice on steering clear of questionable influences, and next thing you know, we have fallen into sin along with lasting consequences. Temptation is patient with us. Temptation can work on us slowly, little by little. Even when we are in over our heads, we deny there is a problem until it is too late.

Some sins take a more direct approach like the purple zapper light or a fly swatter. Flying insects get too close and are either incinerated or swatted into oblivion. Other sins are almost invisible, kind of like bug spray or mosquito mist. We assume Satan is asleep or is no longer interested in stealing our soul. We become careless and begin to take part in things we used to avoid when we thought the devil was chasing us. Again, sin is patient. Satan sets the trap and waits for us to veer into an area that we have been warned about. But we become confident in ourselves and stop trusting in God’s warnings. Then just like a fly, well, you get the idea.

For me, the oscillating patio fan represents God and my church family. The fan had a noticeable presence that I thought I could live without until it was gone. I didn’t fully understand its purpose. Then, I realized just how important it was, just like we need to realize that being left alone in spiritual battle is a losing proposition. We need God and good Christian friends, so we do not become stagnant, and to encourage us to live pure lives as we influence others for Christ.  Have a great week!