For those of you who don't know, Fire Fall Down are lyrics to one of my favorite songs. Hopefully, I didn't just break some copyright law by naming my post that. To warn you, this post is kind of raw and I've not really dwelt on it a whole bunch. I'm more "shooting from the hip" as they say, but hopefully it will resonate with someone.
Yesterday I was reading 1 Chronicles 21 where David has committed the sin of numbering the people. God moves swiftly in his judgment and discipline of David. Soon David is instructed to build and altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan (how's that for a name). When David approaches Ornan, the man is very quick to offer everything he has to David free of charge. David replies back to him that he cannot offer something to God that didn't cost him anything. He buys everything from Ornan so that he can build the altar and give the wheat offering. This is usually where I stop in the story. I've always loved the words of David here in vs. 24. "I will surly buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing." I
It's like when I told my son one time that if he didn't listen and obey what I said, he was going to lose his Wii privileges. His response was, "but I can still play my DS right?" He was okay with the terms of the agreement because, in his mind, he wasn't really going to be sacrificing anything. Needless to say, he lost the Wii, and the DS right then and there. Daddy don't play that game.
But how often are we willing to give God certain areas of our lives that aren't really a sacrifice to us. That would be like me falling down at the altar and telling God that I will never drink again. I've never drank before, I don't plan on taking it up, so it's not really that big of a sacrifice. It wouldn't really cost me anything to give it up. David recognized the fact that he had sinned and to make this right, it was going to cost him something.
I said earlier that this is where I usually stop in the story but I continued on yesterday. This is what I saw. David offered the sacrifice on the altar. God responded with FIRE FROM HEAVEN. The thought grabbed me, when we offer something to God that doesn't cost us anything, why would He want to accept that. God sending down the fire was the sign to David that the sacrifice was acceptable. That song we sing suddenly burst into my head:
Fire fall down
Fire fall down
On us we pray
As we seek
Fire fall down
Your fire fall down
On us we pray
We pray for God's fire, but what are we offering? Is it worthy of God's fire? David offered this sacrifice out of a heart that was pleading for God's favor to end the plague that he had brought on the people of Israel. It made me think of what am I seeking God for and in return offering nothing. At least nothing that is of real cost or sacrifice to me. God's fire is a Holy response from a Holy God. I can't expect to do nothing and God respond. I can't expect to give a little and God to pour out all of His great power. I've got to ask the questions: "Am I really seeking Him, His favor, and His love?" Or. Do I just want Him to show up when I ask Him to with no questions asked?
I don't know, it challenged me. God looks at your heart. He knows if you are sincerly seeking after Him. That Fire isn't just going to fall, it's going to cost you. But not what you think maybe. I believe He looked at David's heart and saw a man that was desperate to be right with God. A man the was in pursuit of Him. What does He see when He looks at your heart?
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
Cloudy with a chance of Jesus
I'm currently serving as Campus Pastor for a new campus plant in White House, TN which is located about an hour and a half from my house. The Sunday morning service starts at 10:00am, which means I leave my house each week at 6:30am. (By the way, a greater testimony of my love for Jesus could not be shown. To say I'm not a morning person is an understatement.) My wife, Joy, recently gave birth to the newest edition of our family. A perfect little boy named Judah. So for the last few weeks I've been making the drive each weekend with just me and my other two children. It's the beginning of January as I write this, so as you know it's still quite dark at 6:30am. A couple of weeks ago Issac and I were driving to White House. I had woken him up and dragged him off the top bunk of his bed. After pushing him around the house to get him clean, dressed and somewhat presentable, we were on the road. As we were traveling he started to wake a little more, which for Isaac means he's about to start talking...and he's not going to stop. I actually really enjoy these little drives with him because it has created a lot of great opportunities to teach him about the things of God. Sometimes it's the lyrics of a song, sometimes it's something he heard at church or something someone said. Inevitably though, I know I'm going to get questioned about something. This particular day he looks out the window and asked why I woke him up in the middle of the night. (It was just before dawn when we left the house.) I explained it wasn't the middle of the night but that the sun was about to come up. We drove for a few minutes and as it began to brighten outside of his window, I saw him look out the front past me. "Where's the sun?" he asked. It was overcast that day and was probably going to rain later so I told him; "it's there, you just can't see it." This sparked a long discussion about the sun and the clouds. I assured him the sun was there even though it seemed hidden. I told him how we wouldn't be able to see anything if the sun wasn't there. It may be cloudy, and cold but the sun was still there. He got quiet after that and all of a sudden he shouts, "there it is." He point out the passenger side window at a beam of light cutting through the clouds. I'm not completely sure, but I think he didn't believe me until he saw the sun for himself. But then, he always thinks he knows more than me. He is almost 8 after all.
I started thinking that day about what we were talking about and honestly hadn't given it much thought until today. I was reading the story of Noah and I doubled back on the story because I wanted to make sure I was remembering right. I've always been amazed by the story of Noah. Read Genesis chapter 6 sometime. God asks Noah to build a ridiculously huge boat, in the middle of dry land. He tells him a flood is coming...there's never been a flood before. He says everyone will be destroyed. Imagine this! There is no context for what God is telling Moses. When we read a news article, or even watch movies and television our brain is affected by the idea of context. Because we have seen or heard things before, it allows us to relate to what we are seeing, hearing or reading better. For example, if I'm reading a story about being at a baseball game and they describe the crack of the bat, my mind immediately comprehends what is being said. I get transported there. Noah had never seen a flood. It had never even rained before. Now God is describing a flood. What is going through his mind? But the last verse of that chapter simply says; "Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did." It amazes me!
But now fast forward a little. Noah built the ark. He's got this monstrous boat sitting in his front yard. God speaks again and says a bunch of animals are on their way. Put them in the boat because in seven days the flood is coming. So Noah does it. Then, sure enough, it starts to rain. And it rains. And rains. And rains. This is that part that I went back to read. There was a window. Why is that important? Can you imagine being inside that boat listening to it rain and suddenly feel it go from sitting on dry ground to all of a sudden floating? Imagine this family huddled together in safety but probably still a little in awe of what was happening. Wouldn't you be tempted to look out the window? To try to catch a glimpse of what was happening. What would they have seen? Would they have seen homes being destroyed? People drowning as the last piece of dry land gets swallowed by the waters? What about the feeling of looking out the window and seeing nothing but water? There is nothing we have ever experienced that can put that into context for us.
As I read it today though I thought of the conversation between me and Isaac. Is the sun still there even when you can't see it, or feel it's warmth? When the clouds are blocking you from seeing the source of the light, is there still light? The answer of course is "YES". But how often do we feel lost and alone because we can't "see" God? Have you ever faced a tragedy and struggled to find meaning, or purpose or even to find peace and comfort? I'm sure we all have. We've probably all had something happen in our lives that we had no context for. We had never been through it. For some of you it may be happening right now. You feel like you are spinning trying to find direction. You are looking out the "window" and all you see is tragedy, hopelessness, and darkness. I'm telling you, God is still there. Even in the midst of darkness, Jesus is that light that shines in the darkness. I know that sounds corny and I even deleted it and rewrote it...twice. Because it's true. Isaac wanted to see the sun so that he knew it was there. I kept telling him, we wouldn't be able to see out the window if it wasn't there, just beyond the clouds. Whatever you are going through right now you need to realize, it's not as dark as it seems. God is there, He's never left you. He might be harder to see because of the clouds, but He's still there.
The bible provides context in our lives. It's because of what we have seen God do in the past that we know He can do it for us as well. Know this, God prepared Noah before tragedy struck. He had him build the ark, he had him bring his family in to keep them safe. He even had him bring the animals in because before it ever happened He had a plan on how they would rebuild. Your problems may come as a surprise to you, but they are not for God. He wants to work everyday of your life to prepare you for anything the devil may throw at you. That way, when the wind blows, the rain falls, and the sky looks dark you can look out the window and know that even though you can't see that Son, He's still there.
I started thinking that day about what we were talking about and honestly hadn't given it much thought until today. I was reading the story of Noah and I doubled back on the story because I wanted to make sure I was remembering right. I've always been amazed by the story of Noah. Read Genesis chapter 6 sometime. God asks Noah to build a ridiculously huge boat, in the middle of dry land. He tells him a flood is coming...there's never been a flood before. He says everyone will be destroyed. Imagine this! There is no context for what God is telling Moses. When we read a news article, or even watch movies and television our brain is affected by the idea of context. Because we have seen or heard things before, it allows us to relate to what we are seeing, hearing or reading better. For example, if I'm reading a story about being at a baseball game and they describe the crack of the bat, my mind immediately comprehends what is being said. I get transported there. Noah had never seen a flood. It had never even rained before. Now God is describing a flood. What is going through his mind? But the last verse of that chapter simply says; "Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did." It amazes me!
But now fast forward a little. Noah built the ark. He's got this monstrous boat sitting in his front yard. God speaks again and says a bunch of animals are on their way. Put them in the boat because in seven days the flood is coming. So Noah does it. Then, sure enough, it starts to rain. And it rains. And rains. And rains. This is that part that I went back to read. There was a window. Why is that important? Can you imagine being inside that boat listening to it rain and suddenly feel it go from sitting on dry ground to all of a sudden floating? Imagine this family huddled together in safety but probably still a little in awe of what was happening. Wouldn't you be tempted to look out the window? To try to catch a glimpse of what was happening. What would they have seen? Would they have seen homes being destroyed? People drowning as the last piece of dry land gets swallowed by the waters? What about the feeling of looking out the window and seeing nothing but water? There is nothing we have ever experienced that can put that into context for us.
As I read it today though I thought of the conversation between me and Isaac. Is the sun still there even when you can't see it, or feel it's warmth? When the clouds are blocking you from seeing the source of the light, is there still light? The answer of course is "YES". But how often do we feel lost and alone because we can't "see" God? Have you ever faced a tragedy and struggled to find meaning, or purpose or even to find peace and comfort? I'm sure we all have. We've probably all had something happen in our lives that we had no context for. We had never been through it. For some of you it may be happening right now. You feel like you are spinning trying to find direction. You are looking out the "window" and all you see is tragedy, hopelessness, and darkness. I'm telling you, God is still there. Even in the midst of darkness, Jesus is that light that shines in the darkness. I know that sounds corny and I even deleted it and rewrote it...twice. Because it's true. Isaac wanted to see the sun so that he knew it was there. I kept telling him, we wouldn't be able to see out the window if it wasn't there, just beyond the clouds. Whatever you are going through right now you need to realize, it's not as dark as it seems. God is there, He's never left you. He might be harder to see because of the clouds, but He's still there.
The bible provides context in our lives. It's because of what we have seen God do in the past that we know He can do it for us as well. Know this, God prepared Noah before tragedy struck. He had him build the ark, he had him bring his family in to keep them safe. He even had him bring the animals in because before it ever happened He had a plan on how they would rebuild. Your problems may come as a surprise to you, but they are not for God. He wants to work everyday of your life to prepare you for anything the devil may throw at you. That way, when the wind blows, the rain falls, and the sky looks dark you can look out the window and know that even though you can't see that Son, He's still there.
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