The Only Life Worth Living For

And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: Merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.' Revelation 18:11-13

Have you ever lost something?

Sure you have. We all have. But some people care so much about their things that when they lose them, it's really like they lose themselves, too. Our verses today give us some powerful perspective that can help us make sure that we're not lost today.

Now let me set the scene just a little, because these verses say that the merchants are mourning over someone. The someone is Babylon, the great city and world system of commerce that leads the entire world into deception. And the reason they're mourning is because Babylon was destroyed, very quickly in fact. Suddenly, all these merchants are looking from afar at their mistress, who is now brutally destroyed to the point of never rising again.

Who are the merchants? They are the ones who sell us our countertops and jewelry, our perfume and clothes, our building material and food. Even our musicians and movie makers fall into this category.

And one more group that we can't allow ourselves to miss: those who are merchants of the bodies and souls of men. Do you know what that group is? Slave traders. Do not forget for a moment the multi-billion dollar industry this is in the world, including both the pornography and the sex-slavery industries. We cannot turn a blind eye to these industries that sell the very bodies and souls of men, women, and children.

You probably noticed that these merchants of Babylon sold basically everything that can be sold. So here's what I'm not saying: I'm not saying it's wrong to buy things (though obviously some things are wrong to buy-like prostitutes). But here's what I am saying: It is wrong to live for the things you can buy.

Instead, live for what you could never buy, not with all the wealth of the world: A relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything else will end one day and the world will mourn its loss, but those who put their hope in Jesus will never be disappointed.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thanks for giving me perspective on how valuable the things of this world are compared with knowing You! I could never buy the relationship I have with You, and I refuse to be bought away from You by the things of this world.

Amen

Project Mission

Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, let us go over to the Philistines' garrison that is on the other side,' but he did not tell his father. And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron...But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 1 Samuel 14:1-3

What's your favorite story from the Bible? David and Goliath? Daniel and the lion's den? Jesus walking on the water?

Let me add one more good one to the list, one of my favorites-Jonathan and the Philistine garrison. Do you know that one?

It's an amazing story, with Jonathan, one of my favorite guys in all of scripture, going on an adventure with a buddy of his, an armor bearer. See, the two of them decide to go up to the Philistine garrison that was occupying Israeli territory. And by going up, I mean that they were going to pick a fight. By themselves. Because they didn't tell anyone they were going, not even Jonathan's dad, the king.

This was like an extreme mission trip headed to the bad part of town. They knew they had a mission from God, so they accepted the challenge. This is one option we have; we could choose to be like Jonathan.

Or here's your other option. I don't know what you're planning to do with the rest of your life, but here's a lame thing you could do. You could be like Saul, just camping out under a tree. It's like, how long can you sit in the beach chair without saying, There's got to be something we can do today. There's got to be more to this life.

And Saul's just sort of like lounging, laying out. Now listen, I have no problem with that, okay? I mean just don't do that every day for the rest of your life, like absolutely no meaning or purpose to the whole deal. Don't sit around so lost in your own little world that you forget that there's a mission to do. Don't sit there so self-absorbed that your kids could wander off and you don't even notice.

I mean, really, there were only six hundred men in the camp, but when Jonathan leaves, not a single one notices. It's like Saul's apathy was contagious.

How about this? How about we vaccinate ourselves from catching Saul's apathy and instead choose to follow Jonathan's example? God's given us a mission to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ and they're not going to get saved by themselves.

Are you on the mission of God today?

Prayer Lord Jesus,

Thank You for reminding me about the people around me who need to know You! Put in me today a heart like Jonathan's, a heart that will follow You anywhere no matter what.

Amen

Lost In Passion

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 1 Corinthians 6:17-18

Some of you, in reading this passage, are convicted by choices you have made. You have regrets. And I want to say to you right away, don't stop reading. Don't let the shame you're feeling drive you away from words that can set you free.

Here's the deal-the world knows the Church as a sort of moral compass for society, and this is a good thing. And even though people seem to be listening to the voice of their conscience less and less, most people still know when they're doing things they aren't supposed to do. Oftentimes, their awareness of their sin comes through the Church.

So then these people who have sin in their lives-and that's been all of us, let's be clearcome to a church, but why? Are they coming to be further convicted of the sin that already has them feeling ashamed? Hopefully not.

Hopefully, they find the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ, extended through His Church, leading them to be free from their sin and be forgiven of it.

Listen, don't get me wrong. I stand in the pulpit every Sunday, and usually several other times during the week, and I decry sin, calling it out for what it is. I preach the Word of God without a filter. I am hoping that people leave feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit so that they can grow in godliness.

The question is, what do we do with those regrets? What do we do with those failures?

I'll tell you what we do with them, church. We give them over to God. We bring them to the cross.

Let those regrets finally be the deciding factor that you're not perfect. You need a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Let those regrets now draw you closer to a God who loves you. And there, in His presence, let Him wash you clean not just from your sin, but from the shame that came with it.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

I need Your help! I feel consumed with regret and shame, and I want to be free. I confess my sin to You now and ask for Your forgiveness. Please wipe away my sin and shame!

Amen

What Nothing Tells Us About God

And He said, Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nations; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.' Exodus 34:10

Let me tell you something about nothing. Now, I don't mean that I'm talking about meaningless things. What I'm saying is that nothing tells us something very important about God.

Maybe you think I've finally lost it. Well, I haven't, but before I lose you, let's dig into our verse for today.

God is faithfully telling Moses what He's about to do for the people of Israel. In the preceding verses, He has revealed His core attributes and now says, Here's how I'm going to come to your defense. Here is the contract or covenant that I'm going to put in place. And what I desperately need for you and for myself to realize is that the people have done nothing to deserve that covenant. Nothing.

In fact they have done plenty to not deserve this covenant. They have done plenty that should have led to God saying, Forget it. Deal's off. And yet, out of nothing comes something.

Out of nothing, absolutely nothing, God says, You are going to see things you have never seen before. Oh, you don't deserve it. You don't deserve a stinking wink of this. But you're going to see awesome things that I'm going to do for you. I'm going to make an everlasting covenant with you, and I'm going to drive out from you all of your enemies.

Think you're deserving of that? Absolutely not. Not a single one of us are. What we're deserving of is death. What we're deserving of is Hell. What we're deserving of is not even being forgiven of our iniquities or our transgressions or our sins or seeing even the smallest glimpse of God's mercy and grace and abounding goodness and truth.

And yet, here is a God who, out of nothing being offered, provides for us everything we could ever hope for or imagine.

This is the nature of our God who never changes. This is the God who is calling to you right now, wanting to do more for you than you could ever deserve. Will you come and follow this God today?

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for being so faithful, even though I don't deserve it! I come to You today and bow my heart before You. I want to belong to You!

Amen

Miracle of All Miracles

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18

It's not what you know, it's who you know. Do you have connections?

In our world today, everything is about being connected. We're getting the 4G connection technology on our phones now, making it easier than ever. But it won't stay there. It'll be 5G, 6G, and 7G soon.

I want to flip that around to give us a G7 connection today-a God-given connection. First of all, this is a glorious connection, like going from dial-up to high-speed. We want a connection that's not just with a human, but with God.

Second, we want a generational connection. Christianity is always just one generation away from either covering the world or going extinct. It just depends on how connected the faith of the generations is.

Third and fourth, we have a glad and grateful connection. Just think about it-you are connected to God! No matter what is happening in your life right now, being connected to God is something to be glad and grateful about.

Fifth, this is a growing connection. I mean, healthy things grow. We cannot be content with where we are with God or in our effectiveness in reaching the lost, but instead, we must be continually learning to grow more.

Sixth, as excited as we might get about the growth, we never outgrow a gracious connection. We should always be known for grace, giving God all the glory for everything He's given us.

Seventh, this connection has to be generous. I know many of you have this connection today, but don't let your hearts grow cold in giving. Also, know that generosity cannot be learned by osmosis. If you want your kids to be generous, you will have to teach them on purpose.

God is calling us to get connected to Him. Can you hear Him now?

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for calling me to be connected with You! There is so much to this connection with You that I will need help to live it. Please help me to live out every aspect of being connected to You!

Amen

Wise-Up

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.' 1 Corinthians 1:30-31

Here is the key to making the right decision every time a big one comes up. Are you ready? The key is wisdom, and it is so important that the book of Proverbs tells us that God needed it in creating the world. Certainly, if God needs wisdom, then we need it, too.

Here are four characteristics of godly wisdom to help you activate it in your life:

First, godly wisdom honors God in all that it lives for. This is where godly wisdom starts. We are fooling ourselves if we think we are wise, yet have no honor for God in our hearts. He has to be our first love, our first thought, our first motivation, so that in everything we do, we seek to honor Him and do His will.

Second, it takes sin seriously. The truly wise person will move themselves out of the sin of the world, placing it on the cross, and begin living by faith in Jesus Christ. We need to honor the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, who came as the wisdom of God to set us free from sin. Wisdom and sin do not mix.

Third, wisdom rejects the futile thinking of the world that life is about us and recognizes that life is about God. Life is not about what I want, whether it's wrong or not, whether it hurts anybody or not, whether God is brokenhearted about it or not. Wisdom rejects these lies and lives to honor God's heart.

Fourth, godly wisdom reminds us that God is for us and not against us. It reminds us that we are not fighting some losing battle and somehow in the end the world is going to win. You might think I'm crazy, but I truly believe that this could be the Church's greatest hour on earth. In the greatest darkness, God's light shines all the brighter.

These four characteristics of wisdom will help you learn wisdom for your own life. Pursue these things, seek them, and you will find God through them. You will grow in wisdom, and your life will grow stronger in God.

Then, no matter what you face, you will have a foundation for all your decisions, a foundation of true godly wisdom.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for showing me characteristics of wisdom so that I can become truly wise! Please help me as I pursue wisdom, and teach me. Let me be filled with wisdom so that I may honor You in everything I do.

Amen

One Trumpet, One Throne, and Two Amazing Witnesses

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.' Revelation 11:1

When you notice something happen over and over again, it's good to pay attention. One of those things that we see in the Bible has to do with temples. If you do a word study in the Bible on temples, you'll see a pattern developing.

First, you'll see the Tabernacle built by Moses in the Wilderness as the first temple. This is the first place where God came to dwell with man since the Fall. The Tabernacle was set up and taken down everywhere Israel went until David wanted to do something new.

David said it was wrong for him to live in a fancy house while God lived in a tent, but God said that David wasn't allowed to build a temple, giving the job to his son Solomon. Solomon built a temple like the world had never seen, but this temple would eventually be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and all its treasures carried off by him.

Zerubbabel rebuilt Solomon's temple, though it was much smaller and humbler. Herod the Great added to this temple, and this was the temple during Jesus' days. But this temple, too, was destroyed, in AD 70 when Titus besieged Jerusalem and completely destroyed it, which fulfilled Jesus' prophecy.

Now we are in between literal temples, but we are figurative ones. There is no building that is the temple, but each one of us is the temple of God. Yet our bodies don't last forever. Even these temples will be destroyed one day.

Finally, there will be the End Times temple. And this temple is where the anti-Christ will sit on the throne and declare himself God.

Which brings us to our point-that there have been and are many temples, but there is only one throne, a throne in which Jesus Christ triumphantly has been invited to rule and reign in and over our hearts.

Whether you believe in Jesus yet or not, there is a throne that rules over your life. Is Jesus sitting in it, or has some form of the anti-Christ come in and taken His place?

Answer carefully-what happens to your soul when your temple is destroyed depends on it.

Prayer Lord Jesus,

You are God and King above all else! I choose to worship You alone and I invite You to come and rule over the throne of my life!

Amen