Carrying God's torch takes commitment

In John 14:15, Jesus said, “If you love me, obey what I command”.   And in Luke 6:46, Jesus said, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”   These two short statements have enormous meaning when it comes to our commitment to Christ.  We have all been guilty of knowing what is right, but refusing to actually do what is right.  We all want to experience great joy on the day we see God face to face.  But are we taking the necessary steps to make that happen, or in other words, accept His grace, and prove it by our actions.  Jesus is a God of action.  He did His part.  Now, we must also do ours by choosing the right path and keep in step with His Spirit by producing the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-25).

            Route 76, AKA “76 Country Boulevard”, is the most famous highway in Branson.  It runs from one end of town to the other, and has dozens of music shows, hotels,  and attractions the entire length.  But in order to enjoy any of these entertainment venues or hotels that border Route 76, you must take Route 76.  Jesus is our Route 76.  In order for us to experience the joys of heaven someday, we must take His path, wrap ourselves in him (Romans 6:1-11, Galatians 3:26-27) just like those shows are there for us to enjoy, even though we must take Route 76 to get there.

            In John 14:2, Jesus said that His Father’s house has many mansions or rooms, and that He has gone there to prepare a place for us.  But He follows that with John 14:6 which explains how we get to put our claim on some of that heavenly real estate, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

            Our society has strayed so far away from the truth.  Just a few minutes on Facebook, TV, or noticing attitudes at just about any sporting event will confirm that fact.  I wonder just how far mankind will let it go?  And what are WE as a generation doing, to carry the torch of truth forward as a remnant of believers.  You see, it only takes ONE generation to give up on God, to change the future for the worst… instead of for the better. 

            It happened in the days of Josiah the King of Judah. In 2 Kings 22, we are told that when Josiah ordered the Lord’s temple to be repaired, one of his servants found a book containing God’s law that had been lost and its teachings ignored for generations.  The temple had become anything but a holy place, even housing altars to false gods.   So, Josiah destroyed the pagan altars and vowed to do his best to bring the people back to a state of obedience to God.  He was not completely successful.  But he was successful at doing his best.   Today, God also expects our best effort.  Hebrews 11:6 says that faith in God is necessary, but so is earnestly seeking him if we are to be rewarded.  The writer says that it was “by faith” that men and women accomplished great things for God.  By faith, Moses led the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery, and by faith Abraham agreed to go to a foreign land.  You see, true faith or belief is always accompanied by action. 

            It was that way for King Josiah, and it was that way for the apostle Paul who near the end of his life was able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…”

(2 Timothy 4:6-8).”

            Let us all strive to be committed to God, let it show by our love, faith, and obedience.  Faith and works together will carry God’s torch forward, not one or the other (James 2:17, 26).  God bless you, and have a great week!

Your children’s souls need more than earthly accolades

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 1, 2013

            There are not many things that bring me more fulfillment and excitement than watching my kids do pretty much anything.  Parents, you know what I am talking about.  We will travel to the ends of the earth to see our children march in the band, play a game, or make an appearance on any stage.

            And while it is important to support our children in those things they find meaningful, and share in their happiness, there are some things involving our children that should bring us even more joy.  After all, when our children grow up, it would be comforting to know that they understand there are more important things in life besides games and performances. 

            Solomon says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6).”

            Sadly, many parents forget this Biblical truth until it is too late.  I have spoken with a lot of my fellow ministers about this issue, and their stories are almost identical.  Parents get caught up in praising their children for their talents and abilities, teaching them that trophies, applause, high-fives, and fist bumps are to be coveted.  But then, when the child’s talent hits a roadblock with an injury, or maybe the child, now a teenager, or even early twenties, has grown up, their attitude changes and parents are horrified that their child is headed down the wrong path spiritually.  That is often the time that parents will finally ask a youth minister or a preacher to help them do something about it.  But it is usually too late for a quick fix.  The parent has “trained up” the child, but in the wrong way. In many cases, the parent tells their child how to live righteously, but refuses to model it in their own life.  And so guiding a child onto the right track often proves to be a great challenge, since the teen was trained improperly from the start.

            We know from the Old Testament writings of Moses in Deuteronomy 11 that it is necessary to teach our children to love and serve God only, and to study and talk about God’s commands throughout the day with our children, every day.  In the New Testament, the apostle Paul emphasized to a young Timothy the value of training in godliness over physical training since godliness holds the superior promise both now and in the future (ref: 1 Timothy 4:8).

            There are a lot of great things that can come out of the extra-curricular activities our children are involved in such as physical health and lessons in unity, teamwork, and loyalty.  But the Bible makes it clear that it will be all for nothing if parents forget to teach their children by word and deed how to apply and share the most important lesson of all, the good news of Jesus Christ.  Have a great week!

Christ’s love for you is more important than you realize

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 24, 2013

            Have you ever had a day when you wondered whether anybody loved you?  Satan is pretty good at setting those kinds of traps as often as possible.  Don’t fall for it.  I have some very good and encouraging news for you.  Not only does somebody love you very much, but the most important somebody who has ever been, loves you.  It is not only love proven in the past, but love that continues today, every minute, every hour, every day!

            Two-thousand years ago, Jesus was much more than a man during his short stay on earth.  He was 100-percent man AND 100-percent God.  He was Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Creator, and in fact, God himself.  Yes, it’s true!  Just take a look at Hebrews 1:8 and John 1:1-3 and John 14:9-11 and Colossians 1:15-20.

            Please, don’t ask me how this can possibly be that Jesus is God (and by the way, so is the Holy Spirit).  That is WAY beyond my pay grade of understanding.  My point in bringing this up is to simply reassure you that Jesus not only “loved” you.  He, in fact, “loves” you very much. This is very important because Jesus knows exactly how you feel at your best, and at your worst moments, and he STILL loves you.

            It is important for us to try to understand Christ’s love because the apostle Paul says, “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).”

            In short, Christ’s love should compel us to love as he loves us.  It is a deep and unconditional love, even when so many in this world are only interested in advancing their own agendas.  A Godly love means taking on the heart of a servant. 

            Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

            I think part of the reason Jesus can love us the way he does is because he understands us so well, and he understands what sacrifice really means.  He has been where we are (Heb. 4:14-16).  One of these days when we stand before God, we can be confident if we have shown our love to Him by obeying his commands.  So do not believe the devil’s lies.  You are loved. Jesus went the extra mile (major understatement) to make sure Judgment Day is an amazing experience for you, even though we all must endure hardships now.  Just remember they are temporary, but eternity is forever.  Stay faithful.  Have a great week!

Purity goes way beyond the surface

by Barrett Vanlandingham

September 17, 2013

            Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt 12:34).”

            Have you ever been surprised when you looked at someone and thought they were one way, but when they opened their mouth and began to speak, they turned out to be something else?  In some cases it’s a pleasant surprise, while in other instances very disappointing.

            This scenario crossed my mind the other day when I turned on the faucet, and filled up my glass with nice clear drinking water.  But then I discovered that what I thought was going to be a much needed thirst quencher turned out to be… well… something that left a very bad taste in my mouth!

            You may have noticed that Fort Gibson’s water has tasted like dirt lately.  And when you ask, “What’s the deal?”  Someone usually responds, “Oh, the lake turned over.”   It happens at least once a year in many lakes as cooler water sinks to the bottom, and warmer water rises to the surface.  The impurities become stirred up, and the end result is that our water tastes bad even when it looks clean.

            So, I called the water department and spoke to a nice lady who informed me that they actually have a technology to solve this problem.  It’s called Powdered Activated Carbon Treatment.  But in order for PACT to work, the plant has to add it to the water before it comes to your house.  When done correctly, PACT gets rid of any foul odor or bad taste in the water.

            Christians have a “pact” with God.  The question is whether we will allow Him to treat our heart and mind so that the sweet aroma we present to God and others in a public way, may be an extension of the true joy and real inner beauty that God desires for us. 

            In the Old Testament, God told a rebellious group of worshippers that He was sick of their worship because they continued to do wrong (Isaiah 1).  In the New Testament, Jesus had stern words for teachers of the law and the Pharisees.  “You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness (Matthew 23:27-28).”

            Overcoming the image of hypocrisy has always been one of the most difficult challenges for Christians.  May God bless us all as we strive to reflect the heart of Jesus inside and out.  Have a great week!

Satan has a plan for you

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 10, 2013

            Thank goodness Satan is not omnipresent, like God. In other words, the devil cannot be in two places at once, like our heavenly Father can.  However, Satan has a definite plan for causing God’s people to sin.  It started long ago, and it has been highly effective.

            In the New Testament book of Revelation 12:4-9, John uses a seven headed red dragon to symbolize the devil.  John says, “His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth.”   John then describes a war of angels.  The good side is led by Michael.  The evil side is led by Satan.  The good side wins.  The devil is hurled to earth along with his angels.

            The defeated Satan knew he didn’t stand a chance in beating Jesus.  So, he became the great deceiver.  He still wants to be the one “who leads the whole world astray (v.9).”  Jesus referred to him as “a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).”

            One of his strategies is to isolate people so they will accept the lies of the devil as normal, sort of like the blind leading the blind (Matthew 15:14).  We see it all the time in various forms of media, and in many other walks of life.  It is troubling, to say the least, to hear two people discussing morality who have not read what the Bible has to say.  It is both frustrating and even scary when one or both of those people are in positions of influence in public policy. 

            Another trick the “accuser” uses is to convince people that they are not good enough to be Christians.  Guilt can not only stop a Christian from participating in worship, but also from telling someone else about Jesus, or even from holding a Christian brother or sister accountable for their decisions.   It is a good thing that Jesus did not wait until He found perfect people to choose as apostles.  He might still be waiting!  We must remember Paul’s words, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).”   You see, forgiveness of sin is possible because of the perfect sacrifice of God’s only Son.

            And finally, if Satan cannot convince Christians that we are unworthy of salvation and that we should just quietly back down, he tries persecution.  Verbal or even physical attacks are common in spiritual warfare.  If you ever want to feel alone, just try taking a Biblical stance on any of today’s moral or doctrinal issues, especially in any public forum such as the internet where there is such a diverse spectrum of opinions on everything!

            Yes, cultural norms are subject to change.  But God’s truth never changes no matter how hard Satan tries to deceive us into thinking otherwise.  The devil has a plan for us, but God’s plan definitely has the better outcome.  God bless you, and have a great week!

Don’t get burned while doing the Lord’s work

by Barrett Vanlandingham
September 3, 2013

            Most of us have stubbed a toe, or bumped into a door, or a kitchen counter, or hit your head on something hard because you were not thinking about what you were doing.

            While sitting at the breakfast table the other morning daydreaming about this and that, I noticed that the coffee in my cup had cooled off and reached a dangerously low level.  So I shuffled across the kitchen, poured myself a re-fill, sat back down, and continued to think about the day.  But only a split-second after I turned my cup up for another swallow, it occurred to me that my coffee was no longer cool, and that I had just taken a nice big swig of HOT coffee!  Yee-owe!!

            My thoughts were quickly jolted out of auto-pilot as the shock and pain slowly wore off.  The ordeal reminded me of the Bible passage that warns about those “I wish I had a do over” moments.  No, not a “do over” to improve on my failed non-strategy of gulping coffee without evaluating its temperature first, but something similar that has to do with keeping our wits about us in spiritual war.

            In Galatians 6, Paul reminds Christians to be careful when we support each other in our struggles.  Yes, within a Christian family we are to restore that brother or sister gently (see also 2 Cor. 2:5-8).  But Galatians 6:1 says, “Watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (v.1).”

            You probably know of several instances in which well-meaning Christians have tried to spend time with a weaker Christian or non-Christian to win them over or make them feel included.  But in the end, the stronger Christian winds up falling off the path of righteousness and landing on the road to destruction.  The dark side entangled them by surprise because they thought they had everything under control, and didn’t need to be cautious as they mingled too close to danger, forgetting that the coffee they were about to gulp was HOT, and would HURT.  They had put their spiritual thinking skills on auto-pilot and were not guarding their heart (Proverbs 4:23).  And then at some point their evil desires took over, leading to sin (James 1:14).  You’ve probably seen this result in failed relationships, and falling into sinful lifestyles.

            Yes, Paul tells us to help others with their spiritual burdens or challenges (Gal. 6:2).  But he also says each of us should continue to carry our own load or responsibilities as Christians (Gal. 6:5).  In a letter to the Corinthian church, Paul said, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (1 Cor. 9:22).”  If taken out of context, this passage could spell disaster for your spiritual life.  I once knew two young married ladies who left their husbands at home while the ladies went on a beach vacation, since once of them needed some girl time to deal with her struggling marriage.  Both ladies returned with new tattoos, new attitudes, and shortly thereafter divorced their husbands.

            Paul was obviously not condoning scenarios like this, nor was he saying to take drugs, or become a gossiper, or look at pornography in order to save a friend. He simply meant he would meet a person where they are in life, try to understand them, and use their own beliefs and ways to show them the truth.  It can be a tricky line to walk without getting burned if you forget to “watch yourself”. 

            May God bless your efforts to get out of your comfort zone, “Go into all the world (Matthew 28:19)”, and strive “to win as many as possible (1 Cor. 9:19).”  Have a great week!

The Lord’s Church is an upside down kingdom

by Barrett Vanlandingham

August 27, 2013

            First off, let me say thank you to all of the new readers of my Fort Faith column.  I have actually been writing this column since early 2007, just after the big ice storm hit.  But until the last few weeks, it has only been seen by subscribers of the Fort Gibson Times and online.  Your response in the form of calls and e-mails has been very encouraging to me. Please pray that my writings continue to spread God’s word, and encourage our readers to trust and obey the Lord’s will. Please let me know if there is a topic you would like me to write about.  In the meantime, here is my column for this week.

            By the world’s standards, Christianity does not make a lot of sense. The reason is that most people view success in a completely different way than Jesus taught.  This is why we sometimes use the phrase “upside down kingdom” to describe all things Jesus.

            There is no teaching that illustrates this more than the Sermon on the Mount, which took place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry just after Satan tested Him in the wilderness for forty days.  Word spread quickly about the miraculous healings Jesus had performed throughout the region of Galilee.  I can only imagine the excitement in the crowd that gathered to hear what he had to say.  When Jesus began to speak, many people were no doubt shocked and amazed by his message that began with what we call the beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-10.

            ³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

            You see, up until Jesus’ ministry, people only knew of the Old Testament writings and its 600-plus rules that the Jews tried (unsuccessfully) to keep. The world was desperately in need of a Savior, a perfect sacrifice, superior to that of bulls and goats required under the Old Covenant.

            So, when Jesus came preaching a message of loving God, loving others, practicing humility and dependence on God instead of a system based on works, this really gave people something to think about.  It was not only different from the Old Law, but it was drastically different from the world’s way of thinking that the more power and money you have, the better off you are.  Yes, Christians are part of a kingdom. But it is unlike any earthly kingdom in history.  In fact, the Bible says most people do not want any part of it.  That opinion will change one day.  But it may be too late.  This week, tell someone about the love of Jesus by your words, actions, and attitude.  Have a great week!