Celebrating the Legacy of C.S. Lewis

This date, 29 November 1898 Clive Staples Lewis was born. Forty-six years after his death, you can read not only numerous volumes of his writings, but even more volumes about him.

Why remember?

C.S. Lewis is an example of one whom God chose for a specific time and purpose. He had ignored God for years. God called to him, surrounded him with literature, and friends who told him over and over about the truth of God through Jesus. Finally, Lewis gave in.

I've heard first-hand stories of people coming to know Jesus through the writings of Lewis. Others, have returned to the Bible. Lewis was a brilliant scholar, but, in and of himself, he could never have built the legacy that he has left.

God is calling you also. He has created you to be born the day and place and way you were. He has a specific design for your life, a legacy for you to leave.

The first step of humbling yourself and accepting the sacrifice Jesus made on your behalf is vital. No amount of what we call "good" works will save you. They will never meet up to God's standards. But, once you are born into the family of God, you can begin to take on the character traits of our Father. From this relationship the good works bloom, to be remembered for all eternity.

"God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. It's not the result of anything you've done, so no one can brag about it. God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works, which He has prepared for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10

Your life can be a lasting legacy pointing a world in darkness to the Light. God made only one you. And, the little gift He gave you can impact the world, because your God is a great and powerful God.

Can My Faith Survive In the Twenty-First Century?

Our world gets noisier all the time. Have you noticed? So many messages: billboards, text, instant, skype, mobile phones, e-mail, Facebook, radio, TV, You Tube, Twitter, Ipods.... It's endless. Even if you just scan and don't take the time to study, your brain picks up a plethora of messages and many get filed away.

Most messages we'd classify as neutral. Yet even the neutral ones have a reason behind them, an angle on life that may or may not match up with your own. Once received, one must analyse the material: Is it true? Is it a lie? If one doesn't, the default is that whatever comes in becomes part of the filter for seeing life.

For example, morality. Is it only natural for a guy and girl to have sex? In fact, if you're listen to most messages, it is unnatural if a couple were not to have sex. If you hear it enough times, doesn't God's verses on waiting and keeping the marriage bed pure seem idealistic? Why wait?

At seven years of age, I watched my older siblings reading the Bible. That year a desire awoke in me to follow in their steps. Many years I struggled at being consistent. One of my best friends in high school was probably my greatest help. We not only kept each other accountable, but we'd wrote notes of encouragement for the other to find in the morning, we'd pray together for our favourite musicians wherever they'd be performing, and, on vacation, we'd wander of to a quiet spot and start the day in private devotions.

These times of constant practice have become a part of me. Routine is now calculated around the time needed to spend in God's Word. Are they always deep spiritual times? Sadly, no. Often I have read just to read and my prayers may sound more like wish-lists. I try not to let this be the case, but I come regardless of how mechanical it feels. Even those times, dry though I may be, have helped to build a solid wall of truth in my heart and mind.

I know they have, because of some questions on good and evil that have come to my mind. Questions that you'd know the answer to in Sunday School, but in the private of your heart you hear a voice that sounds so convincing. Then, suddenly, it's as if the light of God's Word shines on the question and you see it as the Old Serpent of Genesis. No direct verse may come to mind, but you know the truth, because it is daily filling you, renewing your mind.

"And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

Do we think that Satan sleeps? That he takes days off? Why then do we think that we can skip what God describes as the armour that protects us (Ephesians 6)?

I'm thankful that circumstances worked to make daily Bible reading and prayer part of my life. I don't take credit for that. But I am convinced that unless you spend time daily with God, your faith will die or become so sick, it will not function.

No, I do not believe in losing your salvation. I do believe that if you truly want to follow God, you have to make a disciplined effort to pursue Him ("You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" Jeremiah 29:12). If you do not seek Him daily, the messages all around you will crowd out His Word until your heart is cold and unbelieving.

We are in a constant spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12). If we do not pick up the sword of the Spirit, the shield of faith, the breast plate of righteousness (practicing giving, fasting, compassion, encouragement, worshipping in church), and the helmet of salvation daily, we will be exposed and hit by the flaming arrows of our enemy. He has no love for us. He does not have mercy on us when we are unprepared to fight. He'd gladly kill us in our sleep. To have us live without an active faith is his best weapon to hurt the heart of God.

It's much easier to hear those loudly babbling in our ears or before our eyes than it is to pursue the True and Living God. But is it worth it? Gain the whole world and yet forfeit our soul?

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about those who waste their life and then face God. Verses 14-15: "If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames."

Life is so short and eternity so long, let us do now what we will wish for all eternity we had the chance to do again.

Spiritual Lessons from Hockey

I attended my first professional hockey game Friday night. Hockey, like soccer or basketball, is a sport I can really get into. And I did. I'm not sure how I thought moving and gripping my hands were going to help the Griffins score points, but something worked. They won!

While watching them, I noticed the main weaknesses that have caused my home team so much grief this season.

1) They often didn't work at controlling the puck.

2) They didn't always work as a team. They would leave a player stranded at a strategic point, such as their goalie, thus giving the opposition a clear shot to defeat them.

3) One of them would try to work solo.

These are just a few, but the main and obvious signs of their Achilles heel. It also struck me that these have parallels in the Church today.

As the Griffins haphazardly hit the puck, often passing it to an area where only the enemy waited, so the Church often (maybe in zeal without knowledge) opens herself up to ridicule (and thus, more importantly, the reputation of God) by not properly using the Word of God. By claiming foolish actions as being based on the Bible, we give the enemy more opportunities to shut many ears to the truth. By hateful attitudes and actions to any sinner, not the least homosexuals, we have not shown a God of love, but a God of hate. Instead, we should love the sinner, while hating the sin.

As the players often did not work as a team, so the Church often becomes so divided by small differences that we fight each other. The battle isn't against flesh and blood, but against principalities and spiritual forces unseen. One sin God says over and over in Scripture that He hates is causing division amongst His people. How far could we spread God's Truth, if Christians loved one another and helped one another, irregardless of denominations and minor issues!

Lastly, going solo. As one player trying to shoot a goal from far away (instead of to a closer teammate) is counterproductive, so pulling away from the gathering of believers is counterproductive. We are in a spiritual war. Isolation of one means victory for the enemy. Whether you face hurt, bitterness, or disappointment with a church congregation, finding in God the freedom to forgive and join again (or another congregation) is essential to your growth, as well as you being essential to the work of the Body in the location God has placed you. No man is an island.

The huddle is over. Let's go out and play as a team!

Carping or Communing

I've been reading this week in the book of Numbers. Certain passages from chapters 11 and 12, especially, strike me each time I read them.

For any who may be unfamiliar with the history of Israel this far--briefly: the family of Jacob (aka Israel) moved to Egypt to survive a famine. God provided for them there through His surprise use of Joseph (a son of Jacob).

Four hundred years later, the Egyptians forced the Israelites into slavery. Yahweh, used Moses and Aaron, to come to their rescue. Through a miraculous escape, involving plagues and walking through the Red Sea on dry land, Yahweh led the people around the desert, sending food from heaven, of a kind not directly equivalent to earthly food. The people have grown tired of the food. Thus begins chapter 11.

What amazes me in these chapters, as elsewhere, is how Yahweh is always looking deeper. At first, on the page, it may appear that His anger is aroused at their discontent. However, it seems so clear as one reads on that the people grumbled, but Moses prayed. Yahweh answered Moses prayers, but He was angry with the grumbling of the people at His servant and, ultimately, at their God.

If God was impatient, surely such a complaint as this from Moses would have stirred His anger: "Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms as a nurse carries an infant...?" Instead of anger, Yahweh shows Moses who of the people can help him. He lightens Moses burden. Even when Moses confessed unbelief, God only replied, "Is Yahweh's arm too short?" He answered by showing His power to provide meat for millions of people.

Then, in chapter 12, Aaron and Miriam began to think in human terms toward Moses. Instead of seeing him only as an instrument of God, faithfully carrying out Yahweh's commands, they envied his position and the power of his word amongst the people. God heard this too. Again, this was not directed by them to God, but in grumbling against His servant. Because of how humble Moses was, I love how God stands up for him, how He reminds them that Moses is not just a man in a position but in a position created by God.

How easy it is to grumble! It is easy to criticize those in authority, particularly, spiritual authority. We take the leisure of observation to analyse how one is weak or not satisfying our personal requirements. I wonder how many thoughts and conversations we will find replayed to us before the throne of Yahweh when He defends the position of those He has placed where they are.

Instead of grumbling in private (where God hears anyway), how much greater the results could be, in our lives as well as in our churches and nations, if we brought all concerns and complaints to Yahweh now, expecting answers.

"I desire then that in every place men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling" (1 Timothy 2:8).

His arm is still never too short to bring about the impossible.