Month: October 2024

Star Trek.

It is an iconic television series that has blossomed into a billion-dollar industry that shows no signs of stopping. Since its debut in 1966, it has lived in syndication, as a cartoon series, several new television series, and multiple movies. Avid followers, proudly dubbed “Trekkers,” overflow convention centers, often wearing remarkable costumes and makeup of their favorite characters. 

I love Star Trek and although I would not consider myself a “Trekker”, I have a very special place in my heart for each incarnation. I recently watched a documentary that provided an intimate behind-the-scenes view of the show, interviewing the producers, directors, writers, and many of the actors. I was amused by the last-minute finagling of the studios as they desperately labored to bring each production on time. Incomplete screenplays, missing actors, At times, the final cut and rewrites were done a few days before the movie would be delivered to theaters, which were booked over a year in advance. All I saw was the completed product and I thought it was wonderful. 

What about God’s Creation?

Critics and naysayers look at this world and conclude that an intelligent and omnipotent being could not have possibly made this. Death, pain and suffering. Natural and man-made disasters. Racial and religious injustice and intolerance. If the creation reflects the creator, then the creator must be flawed. Like the last second behind the scenes manuevering, perhaps the creator was flawed and could not finish everything as perfectly as he imagined. Is this the reason for our flawed world? Was six days an insufficient amount of time to complete the rewrites?

The answer is simple. This is not the creation that God intended for us. God, our Creator, created a perfect world. It was our disobedience that ruptured the perfect relationship between Creator and creation. Our sin led to this fallen world, replete with the pain and suffering that we continually encounter. 

There were no last second indecisions or rewrites by God when He created the universe and all living creatures. God loves us and gave us a perfect world. We disobeyed Him and chose our plan for living over His. But God did not abandon us. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins and receive the punishment we rightfully deserved. 

God is rewriting His Creation, not because of His imperfection but because of ours. If we confess and repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will restore the relationship with God, our Creator, and gain eternal life and salvation. We will have a new life, rewritten by the Holy Spirit, and sealed by the promise and power of the Resurrection. 

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

“A moment like this is what you dream about as a kid.”

This is the memorable quote of Dodger Freddie Freeman after hitting the only walk-off grand slam home run in World Series History. For those who have not seen or wish to relive this historic event, here is a link.

https://www.espn.com/video/clip/_/id/42006539

Childhood dreams. 

Freeman’s quote and spectacular performance encapsulate what we have all aspired. For a budding basketball player, it is making the game-winning shot at the buzzer. Or perhaps for a budding golfer, it is winning the Masters with a clutch put in a sudden-death playoff. When I was in elementary school, a friend of mine said he dreamed of sitting behind a great desk as the CEO of a company. All of these are admirable. For some of us, these dreams do come true. For others, it continues to drive them forward, hoping to achieve it.

What about the great saints of the Bible? Do we know of the childhood dreams they had? The Bible is silent on this. We do not know if Abraham ever dreamt he would become the patriarch of the Jewish people. We do not know if Moses ever thought he would lead his people out of slavery in Egypt. However, there is one great saint who probably thought he had achieved his childhood dream. The Apostle Paul was living his dream.

We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.

Philippians 3:3-6 (NLT)

Paul could recount his accomplishments with great pride. He was a Rabbi of Rabbis. He had trained under Gamaliel, one of the most respected Rabbis of his day. Paul’s zeal was unmatched to rid the heresy of the nascent Christians. Yet, all of that changed when he met the risen Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. In three days, Paul’s world turned upside down. Instead of persecuting Christians, he became one, the greatest missionary to the Gentiles. In the next verses, Paul describes his change of heart and attitude.

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Philippians 3:7-9 (NLT)

Paul’s childhood dreams were no longer important. He discarded everything he had worked and dreamt for to follow His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Childhood dreams. For many of us, we live for a moment when the dream can become reality. However, for some of us, like the Apostle Paul, his childhood dream was turned upside down when he gained Jesus Christ. 

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

I still remember the moment when I heard the news. I was a medical student and every radio and television broadcast the same news story. “The Space Shuttle Challenger has exploded killing all of the astronauts aboard.” Everyone was devastated. President Reagan voiced the sorrow of an entire nation as he honored these fallen heroes with this poignant tribute, “The crew of the space shuttle honored us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them nor the last time we saw them — this morning — as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye, and slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.”

President Reagan’s words reverberate to this day. It was a poetic metaphor and expressed an innate longing in all who desire certainty and comfort about the afterlife. When we slip the surly bonds of this earth, will we truly be in the presence of God? 

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 

Numbers 6:24-26 (ESV)

Only in Heaven, will we be able to see the face of God, Jesus Christ. This will only happen if we confess and repent of our sins and place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. But this can only happen in this lifetime. Once we have slipped the bonds of this earth, it is too late. 

I truly desire that all will come to know the saving grace, love, and mercy of Jesus Christ. This is the only certainty to know we will touch the face of God when we die.

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

“Son, can you take this to Mr. Jake’s house?”

“Sure thing, Dad!” I leaped to my feet. Mr. Jake was our neighbor and a close friend of the family. When I visited his home, his wife always served me a special treat, always different and delicious: Japanese crackers, French pastries, and exotic candies. None of my neighbors were ever as generous and thoughtful as the Jakes. It was as if she shopped to find these delicacies for me to savor and no one else. And she knew exactly what I would enjoy.

Many years later, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Like my visits to the Jake’s, I  soon began to experience unexpected treats and delightful surprises by serving Him. It was more than a coincidence. I saw the Hand of God directly intervene in my life in the most unexpected ways. The evangelist, Ravi Zacharias, wrote, “God has put enough into this world to make faith in Him a most reasonable thing. But He has left enough out to make it impossible to live by sheer reason alone.”

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

As a child, I looked forward to visiting my neighbors for the treats they gave me. In my spiritual walk with God, I look forward to spending time with Him and when I do, the treats He gives me are the desires of my heart. Whether it is a delicious morsel of food, answered prayers, or peace of mind, God knows my heart better than I know myself. God delights in giving me what I need rather than what I want.

May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans! 

Psalms 20:4 (ESV)

Amen!

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.