Life - Line Devotionals

PILE OF LIFELESS DUST

Has God revealed his plan for you, or are you trying to make your plans his?

Copyright 2003 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

A young boy, returning home from a funeral, asked his mother what the preacher meant when he said, “Dust to dust.” His mother explained the story of Adam’s creation from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7), and Solomon’s observation that we return to dust when we die (Ecclesiastes 3:20).

Later the lad announced to his mother, “I just looked under my bed and someone’s either comin’ or goin’.”

David Brollier, a Life Lines reader who keeps my on my toes, remarked that the Hebrew word for spirit is <ruach>. It is also translated wind and breath. The Greek word <pneuma> means the same thing. He noted that God created man from the dust of the earth, but it wasn't until God breathed into -- ruached -- him that man became a living soul (Genesis 2:7). “The thought is this,” said David, “it is God's breath that keeps us alive every moment of every day. Without it we would simply be a pile of lifeless dust.”

Many years ago a neighbour's three-year-old daughter had a temper tantrum on the front lawn. She laid on her tummy, pounded her fists on the ground, and held her breath. Her mother screamed in terror.

Taking matters into my own hands I ordered the mother to go into the house. "But she'll die," replied the mother. "Into the house," I commanded. At last she complied. Moments later her daughter forgot her tantrum and was swinging merrily on the front-porch glider.

Mother thought her daughter would hold her breath until she died. What she didn't realize was God, in his wisdom, created us so that wouldn't happen. The worst-case scenario is she might have passed out. Then her body's automatic breathing control would have taken over.

God wanted the little girl not to be a three-year-old pile of lifeless dust, but to grow up and fulfil whatever plan he had for her. And that's what God wants for you and me. Oh yes, the time will come when we'll return to the dust of the earth, but not before we have fulfilled God's will for us, or have purposely chucked him out of our lives.

Are you fulfilling God's will -- his plan -- for you, or have you discovered it yet? If you're waiting for God to give you a whack on the side of the head and say, "Hey, there. I want you to do this or that," you'll wait a long time. Often God's will is revealed slowly and gently.

A young person, hearing a missionary tell of life in an exotic country, decides to become a missionary. But morning comes, and the zeal cools. Soon his aspirations lead him elsewhere. The young person's plans obviously weren't in God's plan.

God has plenty of time, and may wait for years to unfold his plan for you. In my life he let me have many jobs: salesman, wedding photographer, labourer, journalist. The idea of writing for him never crossed my mind until I was well into my fifties. Only when I wrote about an itinerant who pushed all his worldly goods through Ourtown on a decrepit bicycle, did my calling as a Christian writer begin. Even then it was sporadic, until our newspaper floundered on the shoals of bankruptcy. My home computer became the medium through which God really began to use me. Life Lines was born, and was sent to twelve people. Now, ten years later, thousands of people read God's messages each week.

But God has an even greater plan for me, and for you. We will, in the natural course of events, become a pile of lifeless dust. But beyond that, God's glorious plan is that you and I should be resurrected and become members of his family, heirs with Jesus Christ of the entire universe. His plan for us is eternal life in a world beyond our most vivid imagination (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Come, share a living eternity with me.

PORTRAIT

An essay

© 1986 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

A man of modest means visited the Master Painter and asked him to paint his portrait. Before the sitting the artist spent considerable time with his client, asking questions and observing his answers.

At the appointed time the man returned for the unveiling of his picture.

Imagine his astonishment when, instead of the man’s face, the canvas was a colourful montage of children playing happily in well-kept parks, of families strolling along quiet streams with sunlight dancing on the ripples, and of aged folk telling stories to their wide-eyed grandchildren.

“It’s a beautiful painting,” said the man, “but it’s not me. I’m afraid you have the wrong canvas.”

Replied the Master Painter, “But it is you, sir. You talked of peace and beauty, and love and family. This is the portrait you painted of yourself. I merely put it on canvas for all the world to see.”

Another man also asked the Master Painter for a portrait, and they too sat and talked. At the unveiling the man shouted, “You fool. That’s not my portrait, You’ve got the wrong canvas.

“What’s all this garbage?” he demanded. “There’s a fight going on in this corner. And a couple brats crying over there. And who’s this ugly hag? The whole picture’s drab and grey. And why are these filthy words written all over it?”

“But that is you, sir,” replied the Master Painter calmly. “While we talked you painted your own portrait of lust and hate, of greed and selfishness and violence, of hungry, frightened children, of your once-beautiful wife now aged before her time. And I had a difficult time separating your conversation from your obscenities and cursings.

“This is the portrait,” continued the Master Painter, “that you painted of yourself. I merely put it on canvas for all the world to see.”

Day by day we paint a portrait of ourselves. When the Master Painter puts yours on canvas, what will the world see?

POWER OF A KISS

Inspired by Betty Anne Turvey

Has the spark gone from your marriage? A little kiss may be all it takes to light the flame again.

Copyright 2005 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

“Don’t kiss the boys. That’s how you get babies.” There is power in a kiss but, having fathered four sons, I know it takes more than that.

The mother’s advice to her daughters was not totally misguided. The power of a passionate kiss can lead the way to pregnancy, as many young people have sadly discovered.

There’s all sorts of kisses. When Dad arrives home his kids may squeal with delight, and smother him with kisses. Mom may have to do with hubby’s quick peck. And the family mutt will likely give him sloppy, tail-wagging kisses.

Some nationalities kiss on both cheeks, and their men even kiss men this way. Then there’s the thing in which two women touch their cheeks together and kiss the air, sometimes making a ridiculous “Mwah” sound.

Kisses can be enjoyable, but to the little boy who’s told to kiss aunt Martha, a kiss is simply a “Yech.” In childhood it’s usually the little girl who kisses her favourite boy. “Yech,” again.

When she gets a little older the little girl may send him a love note with S.W.A.K. (Sealed With A Kiss) on the envelope.

Kisses can raise memories, some happy, some sad, and some funny as Betty and I discovered. Old Harry, who had a lifetime aversion to bathwater, drove his rattletrap truck past our country home and threw Betty a big, toothless kiss. We’ve laughed about that often.

The apostle Paul adjures us to greet the brethren with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26). There’s been much speculation over the meaning of a holy kiss, or a kiss of charity as Peter called it (1 Peter 5:14), but it certainly isn’t a homo or lesbian kiss. God doesn’t look kindly on that.

Kisses can say “Hello” or “Goodbye.” And a gentle peck, when she least expects it, can leave the lady of the house with an inward glow. One marital counsellor suggests kissing her -- the wife, not the counsellor -- on the back of the neck three times a day. Imagine the effect that can have when wifey is feeling a bit blue, or is busy preparing supper, or is generally alone in her little world. Try it, husbands. It’s dynamite!

Kisses can go the other way, however. A husband tells a sweet young thing his wife doesn’t understand him. Little Missey kisses his cares away, and gives him the kind of understanding he desires.

A wife blubbers to her paramour that her husband never shows her any appreciation. He gives her appreciation with kisses and more.

It’s a rare married couple that has no problems, but problems are not solved by seeking solace in another person’s kisses. The power of such kisses have resulted in half the American marriages ending in divorce.

Throughout the bible we read of many kisses. The aging Isaac kissed his son Jacob, and blessed him (Genesis 27:24-27). Jacob kissed his cousin Rachel, and later married her (Genesis 29:11). Despite earlier chicanery, Esau greeted his brother with a kiss (Genesis 33:4). Joseph kissed his brothers (Genesis 45:14-15); Israel kissed his grandsons (Genesis 48:8-10); Joseph kissed his deceased father (Genesis 49:33-50:1); and Naomi kissed her daughters-in-law (Ruth 1:9).

The most famous biblical kiss, of course, is the kiss of death given Jesus by his betrayer (Matthew 26:48-49; Mark 14:44-45; Luke 22:47-48).

Indeed, there is power in a kiss: power to cheer; power to hurt; power to strengthen or destroy, marriages; and power to kill. But the best kiss is the one that says “Thank you,” or “You’re special,” or “I love you.”

PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD

God offers our nations the opportunity to repent and be spared the great tribulation yet to come. But do we listen?

Copyright 1998 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

The message on the sign was ominous. Prepare to meet thy God.

That doesn’t mean me. I always (well almost always) drive within the speed limit. I never drink and drive, and I don’t do drugs. But that guy who just passed me like I was in reverse, maybe he should read the sign.

But is the message from Amos 4:12 directed at the drunk driver, or the speeder, or the fellow who’s high on drugs?

The message to ancient Israel applies to us today. Several verses prior to the one on the sign, tell of the abominations Israel had committed. And in verse 12, God warned the Israelites of the approaching dreadful day of the Lord.

But it wasn’t a message of fear. A few verses later Amos told Israel, “Seek good, and not evil, that you may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgement in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph (Amos 5:14-15).”

God offered Israel, both as a nation, and as individuals, the opportunity to repent and be spared the great tribulation yet to come. And through Amos he gives our nations the same opportunity. But do we listen?

Some people say the tribulation will come in our lifetime. The apostle John thought it was nigh when he wrote the visions he saw on the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:3). And Amos may have thought he would see the day of God’s wrath. But it hasn’t come yet. When will it come?

Jesus warned, “Watch. Be ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the son of man will come (Matthew 24:42,44.),”

Karla Faye Tucker, will not go through the tribulation. Karla Faye was executed for murder in Texas, February. 4, 1998. She had repented before God, and was confident in her salvation. Witnesses to her execution, said she was calm and poised, despite not being sedated. During interviews prior to her execution she displayed the same calm. Karla Faye died as any Christian should be prepared to die.

But many people will go through the tribulation. They say, “My Lord delays his coming (Luke 12:45).” Assured in their assumption that Christ will not return in their lifetime, or that he may never return, or that God doesn’t even exist, they beat the menservants and maidens, and eat and drink and are drunken.

In Jesus’ day the beatings were physical, as in the slave days of the Confederate States. Today, however, many beatings are financial, mental, and spiritual. Governments ignore the poor, lay heavy tax burdens on the middle classes, and give financial favours to the already wealthy.

Society plays mind-games with its youth, and many people find themselves at the receiving end of bullets fired by teens who don’t know which way to turn.

Even the religious leaders, no longer obeying God as did their colleagues of earlier centuries, teach traditions of men rather than the truth of the bible. They have literally beaten the masses with spiritual fables.

But here and there people have returned to God, and like Karla Faye Tucker can be confident they will live, not just for today, but into eternity.

READING WHAT ISN’T THERE

Why did Jesus spend so much of his time warning his listeners of the coming judgement and hell? Or did he?

Copyright 1998 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

Boy did I catch it from one of my readers!

A lady wrote a scathing letter to one of the newspapers that publishes Life Lines. My column “Is Old Charlie Burning In Hell?” hit her like a toothache. I guess she couldn’t believe God would make it possible for everyone to be saved.

Although she read the article twice to be sure she hadn’t misread the message she went on to ask, “...why did [Jesus] spend so much of His time warning His listeners of the coming Judgement and Hell?”

Perhaps the lady should read the bible twice. A quick research of the words “judge, judges, judgement, and judging” in the gospel accounts reveals 52 references, of which 42 refer to man’s judgement of his fellow man. Of the rest nine refer to Christ’s righteous judgement, and none speak of judgement to an everlasting torment. The final one refers to Christ’s judgement of satan. In truth Jesus spent almost no time warning people of a coming judgement and hell.

It seems my reader missed Jesus’ assurance, “I am come as a light to the world that whoever believes on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words and believe not I don’t judge him, for I didn’t come to judge the world but to save the world. (John 12:46-47)”

But that’s the way it goes when someone challenges the cherished traditions of people calling themselves Christian. Too many get on their soapbox and defend their traditions, rather than searching the scriptures to see whether the traditions can stand the scrutiny of the light of God’s word.

A gentleman I once heard said, “Most people change the meaning of God’s word to conform to their belief rather than changing their belief to conform to God’s word.”

It takes courage for Christians to challenge the traditions they have believed all their life. However, when the bible is studied according to Isaiah 28:10, “...precept must be upon precept...line upon line...here a little, and there a little,” most traditions disappear like dandelion down blown away by a little child.

My reader stated, “...people would like to believe there is no consequence for rejecting the Son of God,” and I agree wholeheartedly. But that was not the message, nor was it even implied in “Is Old Charlie Burning In Hell?” She chose to read into my column things that were not there.

And that’s how erroneous traditions begin. People read into the bible things that are not there. Then they preach their version of the bible to others and the error spreads like fire through a parched forest. The new version is told so often that it’s easier to believe the lie than to believe the truth when it’s first told.

And even when the truth is revealed most people would rather hang on to their traditions than repent of having believed the lies.

My reader seems to be like that. Maybe she likes the idea that a loving God would punish some people -- not her, of course -- in hell forever. How much better to believe what Peter said, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise...but is patient with us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).”

TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT? THAT IS THE QUESTION!

Did God tell Noah he could eat anything he desired?

Copyright 2006 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

Almost every living animal is looked upon by at least one of this world's cultures as a food source. What one culture may consider disgusting, another calls a delicacy. Are all animals fit for human consumption, or are some actually poisonous time bombs?

In Genesis 9:3 God told Noah, “Every moving thing that that lives shall be meat for you.” Although that gives the impression Noah could eat anything he desired, did it include cannibalism?

The second part of the verse is vital: “Even as the green herb have I given you all things.”

God created many green things for food, but he also created others which, like digitalis and belladonna, are deadly to humans.

The adverb “as” means “in the same way.” Just as God gave man certain herbs which are good for food, and others which are not, in the same way he gave us birds, animals, and marine life.

Although the popular children’s song says the animals went into the ark two by two, Genesis 7:2-3 states otherwise. Two of each unclean animal was taken into the ark, but of the clean animals there were seven. Of birds, clean or unclean, there were to be seven.

Nowhere are we told Noah needed coaching in what was clean or unclean. He knew, and obviously observed the dietary laws of God, else he may not have found grace with God (Genesis 6:8; 7:1).

Hundreds of years later God gave Moses a list of clean and unclean things. The Israelites had been enslaved for several generations. By the time they were freed from Egypt they knew only the Egyptian gods; the true and living God was unknown to them. They had worked seven days a week, so had to be shown which day was the sabbath. They even had to be commanded to take a day off work each week (Exodus 16:14-30). The Israelites were used to eating the same flesh the Egyptians ate, whether clean or unclean, so God introduced them to his dietary laws.

Several plants are poisonous, and often kill within minutes. Since they are readily identified as poisonous, – even wild animals will not eat them – God did not enumerate them. The flesh of many animals is also poisonous, but the poisons generally act much more slowly and subtly, often taking several years before displaying their effects. Because of the long incubation period, the blame for illness often gets placed on things other than what was eaten.

Dr Amin A Nanji and Samuel W French authored "Relationship Between Pork Consumption and Cirrhosis," which demonstrated the correlation between eating pork, and cirrhosis of the liver. The study included beef consumption as well, but no correlation was found (Lancet / March 23, 1985).

Poisons may sometimes appear to be good, and may be very palatable. They may even contribute some useful components to the system. Just as a glass of milk laced with cyanide has many useful nutrients, nonetheless the poison still has its effect.

God knew which animals are harmful to the human body. In his love for us he revealed which ones they are. But he also left us free to turn our backs on him and his instructions. He gave us free choice to show our rebellion by feeding ourselves poisons, just to remind him of our independence.

You may ask, "If some animals are really poisonous to eat, why did God create them?" The answer is simple: they have other purposes. Just because he created something, it does not mean it was intended for every conceivable use man's mind could conjure up.

HAVE YOU COMMITTED THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN?

Is the unforgivable sin your ordinary, garden-variety of sin? Or is it something more?

Copyright 2005 / Leslie A Turvey laturvey@becon.org

The day is coming when people will say to Jesus, “Lord. Lord. Haven’t we prophesied in your name? Haven’t we cast out devils? And in your name, haven’t we done many wonderful works?”

Then Jesus will tell them, “I never knew you. Depart from me into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, you who work iniquity (Matthew 7:22-23; 25:41).”

Terrifying words which no one wants to hear. But some will hear them, and many Life Lines readers fear they may be included. They ask, “Have I committed the unforgivable, unpardonable sin?”

Is there a sin God will not pardon if the sinner repents? Years ago ministers taught that playing cards was a sin. “God will never forgive that!” they thundered. Others touted sins of the flesh as being unpardonable. Drinking the devil’s brew -- beer and wine and whisky -- was punishable by being cast into unquenchable fire.

But there’s good news: None of these are unforgivable. In fact, if you have to ask whether you’ve committed the unpardonable sin, chances are you haven’t.

Jesus tells us, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men…And whoever speaks a word against the son of man, it shall be forgiven him….”

So does this mean we can keep on sinning, or using God’s name for no good purpose? Paul asked the same question, albeit rhetorically, then answered, “God forbid (Romans 6:15).”

Jesus, himself, tells us what to do: “Repent -- turn away from your sin -- for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17).”

Wait a minute! Does this mean we must never sin again? Well, if you are born of God you don’t commit sin. Indeed, you cannot even sin (1 John 3:9). But, so far, I’ve yet to find anyone who is born of God, except Jesus Christ.

Considering this, John wrote, “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8).” But he continued, “If we confess our sins [Jesus] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (vs 9).” So John recognizes we are able to sin, and we do sin, but Jesus Christ is able to forgive us. Except…..

there is a sin which he will never forgive. It’s the one we know as the unforgivable, unpardonable sin. Jesus identifies it as blasphemy -- vilification, railing, evil speaking -- against the holy spirit (Matthew 12:31). Even speaking a word against the holy spirit is unforgivable (vs 32).

Now what? How can we know whether we have done such things? Let’s check an example from God’s word:

Jesus had healed a blind and mute man, so he both saw and spoke. The pharisees who witnessed the event refused to admit, however, the healing was of God’s spirit. They blasphemously claimed Jesus used Satan’s power to cast out the demon (Matthew 12:22-24).

Was this a simple misunderstanding on their part, or giving in to a momentary temptation as we are prone to do? Not at all. The pharisees’ statement was a premeditated, determined blasphemy of which they were not about to repent -- likely could not have repented of if they wanted to.

Why? Sharon Lovell puts it this way: “The unpardonable sin is the consistent, wilful choice to deny the holy spirit and his leading. God leaves us to our own ways because he cannot reach a closed and hardened mind and heart.”

Does this include you? Not likely. Else you wouldn’t have read this far to learn what Jesus calls the unforgivable sin.