Genesis 12:13, Abram in Egypt

“Say you are my sister”

They say you can put lipstick on a pig…and it’s still a pig.

We live in a culture that claims all sorts of sin are fine. That doesn’t make it so. What it does accomplish however is it confuses our understanding of the truth. Once we lose sight of the truth we have lost the ability to make navigational adjustments.

Abortion is not OK, No matter how many times it is said. Neither is a homosexual lifestyle. Neither is divorce. neither is…well, you get the point. We think we can speak an alternative truth into existence but we can’t. Only God can do that.

Abram asked his wife to tell a lie…which, of course, was only half a lie. Sarai was technically his sister. But, the technical truth was only being used to cover the other truth that Sarai was Abram’s wife. The Pharaoh was fooled but God wasn’t. When disease broke out it was the consequence of violating the truth…even when they didn’t know they had done anything wrong.

Here’s the question. Are we being truthful with ourselves and others? Consequences will bear it out. God will not be mocked. I guess I’d rather suffer the wrath of man now rather than the wrath of God later.

Live boldly out there today…

Genesis 12:1, Abram

The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

I’ve moved 59 times in my life. Most of those times I didn’t have a choice. Either my parents or my Uncle Sam decided for me. So, for good, or bad, nothing accrues to me…credit or blame

Some moves were my own choice…assuming Mali was listening to my input.  One, or two, was purely between me and God. As I look back, the easiest ones really were the ones that I didn’t, or couldn’t influence. The really difficult ones were just me…and God.

The choice to follow wasn’t so tough. It was living with the consequences of that choice. When I agreed with God to enter the ministry He didn’t really mention I would have to go to school. When I agreed with God to become a military chaplain I didn’t pay attention to the fine print…3 years of seminary. Those were some very challenging years.

God rarely provides a road map. This is what a life of faith is all about. The story of Abram is a story of “following his “YES” to God” no matter where it led. It’s a story of inspiration for all of us. Many of us have said yes to God…many years ago...and our current circumstances don’t seem to bear out God’s promise. Please remember this. When God said “go to a land I will show you” He didn’t reveal just when he would “show” Abram. Sometimes it’s just in time.

I promise you…if you’re approaching a fork in the road…God will show you the right direction just in time. Until then, keep following. Because, the choice to follow God is never past tense. It is always in the continuing present tense.

Live boldly out there today…

Genesis 9:6, After the Flood

“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”

When we’re tempted to think our culture couldn’t get any more depraved we should think…

Before the flood things had become pretty chaotic. Men and women did pretty much as they pleased and, for the most part, got away with it. It was like the “wild, wild west”.  God let this go for quite some time because there really weren’t any established rules of conduct. But, when things got so odious that even a loving God couldn’t tolerate it…He decided to do some housecleaning.

When we think of the flood we think of the Rainbow. We forget the rainbow was NOT the first consequence of the flood. The first consequence of the flood was God “laying down the law”.

What this means should be self-evident. God did not send the flood simply to punish people. That would be cruel. God sent the flood because He needed a new beginning. That new beginning meant new rules…foremost being “I will demand an accounting…”

 Under these new rules God offered a rainbow. The rainbow isn’t a free pass for you and me. The rainbow reminds us that if we life according to God’s rules a flood is not necessary.

Live boldly out there…

Genesis 6:8, Noah

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

The story of Noah is amazing…

Out of all mankind, God picked one man to preserve the human race. Noah built the Titanic before the word was associated with disaster. He gathered together all species of created animals into one spot. He and his family survived the greatest disaster in history…when nobody else did. Because of this, we are all related to one another through Noah. Nobody in recorded history, with the exception of Jesus, comes close to Noah’s accomplishments and importance.

Why…? Exactly.

I can’t help asking…when was the last time God did something truly amazing through us? Coincidence? Probably not…

Live boldly out there today…

Genesis 4:9, The Big Lie

“Am I my brother’s keeper?”

We all know what Cain was doing. He was changing the subject.

Straightforward question: “Where is your brother, Abel?”

Oblique answer: “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Of course “lying dead over there” was not the answer that made Cain comfortable. So, he changed the subject as though God wouldn’t find out.

Or…didn’t already know.

Occasionally, when I would have to confront my children…but wanted to give them the opportunity to offer an honest answer, I’d say “Son, before you answer my question I want you to ask yourself…why would dad ask me this question?” It usually worked.

God doesn’t have to ask…He knows. Still, He wants to give us the opportunity to participate in an honest relationship. That being the case, it makes so much sense to simply answer truthfully.

Live boldly out there today…

Genesis 3:22, The Eviction

“And the LORD God said, the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

I’m always curious about the trade-off…

Would we want to be like God even if it cost us our very lives? Many people say yes…and they spend their entire (though, brief) lives pursuing the goal.

This, of course is a perversion of God’s intent. God intended that we NOT be like Him and that we live with Him eternally. Mankind prefers to strut around like God and die trying.

Jesus actually restored the original balance. He has reminded us that we are NOT God…and welcomed us back to an eternal relationship.

What? I’m not God? It’s a rude awakening for many. So rude they prefer to dwell in their misplaced dreams of grandeur. It’ll be the death of them.

I like the original design. Being God was always so exhausting and frustrating. Life is so much more peaceful when I’m not…and so much longer.

Live boldly out there today…