Being a fool for Christ has its rewards!

by Barrett Vanlandingham
April 1, 2014

            Oddly enough, April Fool’s Day brings with it all kinds of interesting thoughts from God’s word.  Some of them stem from stories of Godless people, or from the foolish behavior of God’s children.  Both of whom learned over and over the hard way that God’s way is best.

            King David made some very foolish (and sinful) choices including adultery, lying, and even murder to cover up his sin.  But he is still listed in the Bible as a man after God’s own heart.  Why?  He ultimately he returned to God.  He grew in his understanding and love for God, meditating on His word, and honoring God as the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

            Many of us, me included, have acted foolishly, detouring from God’s righteous path at times. The good news is that God allows His children (just like David) to trade in our foolish and worldly ways, in exchange for His ways.   

            In 1 Corinthians 4:10 Paul says, “We are fools for Christ’s sake”.   He is speaking to Christians in Corinth regarding how the world views the apostles, those called personally by God to spread the Gospel message of Jesus Christ.  So in that sense, April Fool’s Day could also commemorate those Christians over the years who have sacrificed their personal comforts, social standing, and financial gain in exchange for imitating Christ, and living the humble life of a Christian.  Paul learned this firsthand, and wrote about it.

            “¹¹ To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. ¹² We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; ¹³ when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world—right up to this moment (1 Cor. 4:11-13).”

            Although some in this world understand that the life of a Christian is a worthy calling, many more think Christians along with our beliefs are nothing but foolishness.

            In the end, the Bible says most will experience eternal destruction, while those whose lives reflected the belief that Jesus is the Son of God will hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master (Matt. 25:23).” 

            Have a blessed week, and make it count!

Jesus brings joy to life and relationships!

by Barrett Vanlandingham

March 25, 2014

            We recently sat in the waiting room anticipating some good news from the surgeon.  It finally came.  The doctor walked in and said there is “no more disease” visible in my sister Patti who had just finished undergoing her second surgery related to her diagnosis of colon cancer.

            I went to go see her this past weekend just to give her a hug. Such a great time!   As we visited, I told her I had been trying to think of somewhere to take Lisa for our 25^th wedding anniversary.  She told me that if she has learned anything throughout the ordeal of being sick it is to seize the moment and enjoy life while you feel like it.  Seems like sound advice to me.  How many of us need to do a better job of taking words like those to heart? 

            Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:25-29 indicate he was a firm believer in living in the moment.  “²⁵Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these (NIV).”

            In all fairness, Jesus has personally experienced what it is like to be in the presence of God.  But hey, that’s what faith is all about, not worrying, and instead trusting in God to provide us with everything we need in this life and then bring us home to heaven. The time will come when we will no longer struggle with faith, since we will be able to see our Heavenly Father face to face.

            Until then, God has given us so many blessings to enjoy here on earth if we will only look around us and take the time to be amazed just like those first century disciples. They witnessed Jesus here on earth, saw him die, saw him laid in a tomb, saw him appear to hundreds of people over a forty day period after his resurrection, and saw him disappear again.  His creativity and power really are incredible.

            “¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:16-17, ESV).”

            I am still not sure where Lisa and I will spend our anniversary.  One thing is for sure, everyday of our marriage and everyday of life is a celebration because of our Creator and Savior, the One who gives us hope, Jesus Christ.  Have a blessed week!

Beating Temptation (part 2): Learning to Hate Sin

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 18, 2014

            It’s hard to keep from getting excited about the arrival of spring when I spot Easter flowers popping up in my neighborhood.  But as Lisa and I looked out our kitchen window the other day at what hopefully was final ice storm of the season blanketing our yard, we both groaned at the frosty setback that was occurring right before our eyes.

            How many times have you been encouraged to hear about a new Christian who was doing so well in their spiritual walk and then you find out their streak of perseverance seemed to have been jerked out from under them.  This scenario is played out way too often when a weaker brother or sister is so full of hope and a bright future in living for the Lord.  And then it’s almost as if the devil says, “Wait, not so fast! See if you can handle one more storm.”  We’ve all seen it happen.  In all likelihood, we’ve all actually been that person who fell back into a temptation that we couldn’t handle, at least on that particular day.  The fall is often especially hard for those who thought they were beyond Satan’s reach.  But the fact is, anytime we step off of God’s lighted path, we put ourselves at risk of going into spiritual battle unprepared.

            Last week, my Fort Faith column focused on trusting in God as the first step in overcoming temptation.  This week, I have one more point to make on this topic.  Hate sin!  We must learn to hate the consequences of sin more than we enjoy the benefits of it.  We must understand how temptation and sin are related.  Temptation is plain and simple a tool of the devil no matter what it looks like, feels like, smells like, or tastes like.  The devil plays dirty.  His lures are creative, deceptive and powerfully aimed at our weaknesses. 

            We would never think of asking to be locked up in a cell with a known serial killer, because we know what things such a person is capable of.  But Satan is capable of a lot worse things than any human can scheme. Spiritually, there are two sides of the fence. We as Christians MUST IDENTIFY the enemy, and KNOW which side he or she is on, and GET on the other side.  James 4:7 says, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

            James 1:13-15 reminds us that we can be our own worst enemy in overcoming temptation simply by letting our evil desires run rampant, leading us straight to sin, and ultimately spiritual death.  Matthew 12:43-45 reminds us that one strategy in preventing this is to replace all those temptations with good things.  You know, fill your life with things that will help you get to heaven instead of just stopping at saying no to the devil’s schemes.  If you only say no, but then fail to make any changes for the better, the devil will take advantage of your indecisiveness and less than committed attitude.  Overcoming temptation, it starts with trusting God, and then hating sin with everything you’ve got.  Have a great week!

Beating temptation starts with trusting God

by Barrett Vanlandingham
March 11, 2014

             It’s funny how God can know just what you need even when you thought you needed something else.  Trusting God can be difficult.  But it is a necessary first step in overcoming temptation.  God taught me a lesson on this recently.

            I was sitting in an auditorium of about 1200 people at the CHRISTeens Youth Rally in Russellville a few weeks ago.  It had been a fantastic weekend.  We were getting ready to start another worship session and the singing had been just terrific, and I was really looking forward to some great congregational singing.  The lights were dimmed so none of the teens felt self-conscious about singing their lungs out.  But when the singing started, there was a young lady behind me who I just can’t describe to you how bad she sang. 

            I know we’re supposed to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, but this young lady took the word “noise” and re-defined it to “horrifyingly-bad”, shrill, warbled, cuts-like-a-knife, and on top of that she knew every word to every song. She sang with joy, and began each verse about a split second before the song leader.  I was honestly tempted to move to another row, far away.  But having been through other similar, uncomfortable situations, I thought to myself, “I wonder what God has up His sleeve this time?” So, I decided to stay put and focus on the words of the songs, worship God the best I could, and just see what would happen.

            So I sat there in the dark looking at the words on the big screens, trying to sing in spite of the challenges. As I couldn’t help but hear the voice behind me, it became evident that this young girl was a special needs child who, even though she had not been blessed with a beautiful singing voice, she praised God with everything in her.  Suddenly the songs took on meaning like I had never experienced before. I started thinking about the fact that in this life, no one but God is going to give her the kinds of breaks that most people take for granted.

            And so she sang: “In Christ alone, my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song.  This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ, I stand.”

            Yes, I was uncomfortable. Yes, I was tempted to have a bad attitude. But as soon as I began trust God and focus on a Savior who is worthy of ALL of our praise, my perspective changed, and my heart changed, and I received a blessing that turned out to be the biggest God moment of the weekend for me.

            Trust God and just see where it leads.  Your temptation will fade. Your faith will grow, and God will be glorified. Have a great week!