We all remember where we were 20 years ago this morning:

I had just arrived back to my church office after an exciting kick-off to a men’s morning Bible study – over 200 men were there, hearing a short lecture, then processing it around tables. We were excited. Then, I received an email from one of the news services: “A plane had crashed into the World Trade Center.” And, as we all remember, events and our reactions unfolded from there.

At the one-year anniversary, I was still on church staff, and one of the local television stations asked one of us to comment on the state of church attendance one year later. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but it had something to do with the fact that for a few weeks, church attendance was up…for answers, for comfort, for encouragement…but one year later? Not so much.

How about 20 years later? We’ve just left Afghanistan in essentially the same state it was on 9/11 – harboring organizations that will continue to promote terrorism and jihad. In fact, if we look around we see, essentially, business as usual:

• Deception
• Wars
• Earthquakes
• Famines
• Plagues and epidemics
• Cataclysmic storms
• Religious persecution

And this list is precisely what Jesus told us to expect – not during the “end times,” but before the end times – that is, any time:

Jesus responded, “Deception will run rampant with many who will appear on the scene, saying I have sent them, or saying about themselves, ‘I am the Messiah!’ And the doomsday deceivers will say, ‘The end of the age is now here!’ But listen to me. Don’t be fooled by these imposters. “There will also be many wars and revolutions on every side, with rumors of more wars to come. Don’t panic or give in to your fears, for these things are bound to happen. This is still not the end yet.” Jesus continued, “There will be upheavals of every kind. Nations will go to war against each other and kingdom against kingdom—and there will be terrible earthquakes, seismic events of epic proportion, resulting in famines in one place after another. There will be horrible plagues and epidemics, cataclysmic storms on the earth, and astonishing signs and cosmic disturbances in the heavens. But before all of this happens, you will be hunted down and arrested, persecuted by both civil and religious authorities, and thrown into prison. (Luke 21.8 – 11, TPT)

Check, check, and check – Jesus is right as usual. But it’s not “the end.” It’s life on this earth before his return. An event like 9/11 wakes us up to what others experience daily as a matter of course. Whether it’s COVID or another 9/11-type event, C.S. Lewis’ advice that I posted last week still holds:

If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb [or COVID or a terrorist attack or an earthquake or a hurricane], let that bomb, when it comes, find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds. – C.S. Lewis, “Living in an Atomic Age”

¹  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
²  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
³  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. (Psalm 91.1 – 6, ESV)

⁶  Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever.
⁷  They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
⁸  Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. (Psalm 112.6 – 8, NIV)

Paul, writing to Titus, couldn’t be more clear about what believers should be about:

The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. (Titus 3.8, 9, ESV)

The leader insists on “these things” – what things? Here are the preceding verses, Titus 3.1 – 7, bulleted out for clarity: 

• Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. (Be well behaved)
• For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. (Not be given to passions and hatred)
• But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Understand the gospel)

Back to verses 8 and 9: remind them of these things so that:

• Believers may devote themselves to good works – profitable for people
• Believers avoid foolish controversies…dissensions, and quarrels about the law – that is, discussion of details of scripture or theological practice. Such things are “unprofitable and worthless”
• Also, “avoid quarreling.” Social media is nothing but quarreling these days. Avoid it! It’s a medium for malice, hating others, etc. Believers have no place engaging in those activities.

Wow. He leaves no doubt…

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful. (Titus 3.14, ESV)

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: big events are not enough:

For again, the Scriptures say, if only today you would listen to his voice. Don’t make him angry by hardening your hearts, as you did in the wilderness rebellion. The same people who were delivered from bondage and brought out of Egypt by Moses, were the ones who heard and still rebelled. They grieved God for forty years by sinning in their unbelief, until they dropped dead in the desert. (Hebrews 3.15 – 17, TPT)

Delivered from bondage and brought out of Egypt by Moses… These people witnessed and experienced:

• Nine plagues on Egypt
• Passover (the tenth plague)
• The Exodus
• The parting of the Red Sea
• Sinai

They experienced all those things and still hardened their hearts and “dropped dead in the desert.” 600,000 men went out. Only Joshua and Caleb went in.

It’s a daily decision every day.

• Read the Word
• Pray
• Be obedient
  • Love God
  • Love my neighbor
  • Love my enemy
• Don’t complain – don’t harden my heart
• Keep encouraging each other

This is the time to encourage each other to never be stubborn or hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3.13, TPT)

³³  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
³⁴  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
³⁵  For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD. (Proverbs 8.33 – 35, ESV)

I read Esther in one sitting as it should be read. Always a great story. Esther contains clear evidence of God’s sovereignty from first to last. Consider the following “coincidences:”

• Queen Vashti is deposed (Esther 1)
• Esther is chosen the new queen (Esther 2.1 – 18)
• Mordecai discovers a plot against the king (Esther 2.19 – 23)
• Esther receives the king’s favor when she starts to work against the threat (Esther 4.1 – 5.8)
• The king can’t sleep and has the book read that credits Mordecai. Haman appears in court at that instant. (Esther 5.9 – 6.11)

(These are snippets of the book: I encourage you to read all of it in one sitting. It takes less than 30 minutes.)

God recently orchestrated two “chance” meetings for June and me:

• We were packing up to leave Mt Elbert Lodge after our week in the mountains. The lady in the next cabin was outside enjoying the scenery. I started talking with her and showed her pictures of the day before when there was a bit of snow on the mountains. June came out, and, to make a long story short, talked with her for over an hour. It turns out the lady had just been diagnosed with a tumor and was understandably upset. June promised to pray for her and when the time was right, be her spiritual director. (The lady is already a believer.) A God-led appointment and conversation.

• The next week, I stopped by the driving range to knock out some golf balls before heading into Colorado Springs for a haircut appointment, CostCo visit to follow. I hadn’t been hitting all that well, and there were about a dozen balls that someone left on the range. I decided after I hit my balls that I would go down and hit those balls – I had time to spare. Just as I hit my last ball, another fellow came to the range and took that position! So, I got in my car and got to the barbershop early, thereby arriving at CostCo earlier than I had planned. In the lobby, I was flagged down by a friend and his wife, and we talked for 20 minutes. I won’t go into detail, but it was a significant conversation. If I had knocked out those additional dozen balls, I would have missed the rendezvous.

In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will. (Acts 4.27, 28, NLT)

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30.21, ESV)

We interrupt this blog series for an important announcement…

Today is our 53rd anniversary: September 7, 1968, in my parent’s home in Greenville, SC. We had a simple ceremony with family and a few friends in attendance and then went to our apartment in Clemson (no expensive, exotic honeymoon). We were in church Sunday morning, and I was teaching math as a graduate assistant at Clemson Monday morning.

Actually, the honeymoon continues by God’s grace.

¹⁰   An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹  The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
¹²  She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31.10 – 12, ESV)

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always struggled with the story of the “rich young ruler.” Here’s a portion of Luke’s narrative:

“Ah,” Jesus said, “there’s still one thing you’re missing in your life.” “What is that?” asked the man. “You must go and sell everything you own and give all the proceeds to the poor so you will have eternal treasures. Then come and follow me.” These words devastated the rich leader, for he was extremely wealthy. (Luke 18.22, 23, TPT)

Jesus calls the young man (who said he’d kept a good many of the commandments (see Luke 18.20, 21) to sell all his possessions. Matthew the tax collector left all his possessions (dramatized beautifully in The Chosen, Episode 7). Is Jesus calling me to sell all my possessions, too?

Peter, on the other hand, was married. He left his business, but he didn’t sell his house – his wife was still in it! And here’s another interesting contrast, not far from the Luke 18 account of the rich young ruler – Zacchaeus:

Zacchaeus was amazed over his gracious visit to his home and joyously welcomed Jesus. Zacchaeus stood in front of the Lord and said, “Half of all that I own I will give to the poor. And Lord, if I have cheated anyone, I promise to pay them back four times as much as I stole.” Jesus said to him, “Your repentance shows that today life has come to you and your household, and that you are a true son of Abraham. (Luke 19.8, 9, TPT)

He left Zacchaeus in place! As a tax collector! But he put a very high demand on the other young man who, unlike the tax collector, was proud of the way he lived.

Different people, different calls.

Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?” Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.” (John 21.20 – 22, MSG)

As COVID surges again, my son David sent me this piece by C.S. Lewis, which I had not seen. I’m not the first to apply this essay, “On Living in an Atomic Age” to today’s coronavirus.

In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. ‘How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: ‘Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague visited London almost every year, or as you would have lived in a Viking age when raiders from Scandinavia might land and cut your throat at night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, an age of syphilis, an age of paralysis, an age of air raids, an age of railway accidents, an age of motor accidents.

In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented… It is perfectly ridiculous to go about whimpering and drawing long faces because the scientists have added one more chance of painful and premature death to a world which already bristled with such chances and in which death itself was not a chance at all, but a certainty.

If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb, when it comes, find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

What the atomic bomb has really done is to remind us forcibly of the sort of world we are living in and which, during the prosperous period before, we were beginning to forget. And this reminder is, so far as it goes, a good thing. We have been waked from a pretty dream, and now we can begin to talk about realities. – C.S. Lewis, from “Living in an Atomic Age”

C.S. Lewis spoke to our age from 1948; Isaiah, from centuries before Jesus came. Same message.

For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary… (Isaiah 8.11 – 14, ESV)

I wrote yesterday about Nehemiah’s “Great Project” focus that helped him say no to meetings he didn’t need to attend. It’s tied to the idea of Essentialism: the disciplined pursuit of less. Here’s a verse with the same idea:

Run as fast as you can from all the ambitions and lusts of youth; and chase after all that is pure. Whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love must become your holy pursuit. And live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts. (2 Timothy 2.22, TPT)

Run…chase after…holy pursuit

• Run FROM ambitions and lusts of youth
• Run TO all that is pure
• Pursue whatever builds up your faith and deepens your love
• Live in peace with all those who worship our Lord Jesus with pure hearts

“Pursue” suggests intentionality and focus: whatever builds up your faith and deepens our love must become our holy pursuit. “Holy Pursuit” sounds a little more intentional than, say, “casual interest.” 

What builds up my faith and deepens my love? If I am to pursue those things, I need to know what they are. Here are some ideas:

• The disciplines
  • Daily Time with God
  • Scripture memory
• Prayer! Always a weak area for me
• Time with good people

Think straight. Awaken to the holiness of life. (1 Corinthians 15.34, MSG)

So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants. (Ephesians 5.15 – 17, MSG)

I’ve already written that Nehemiah led the people on a successful wall-building project. This is one more quick look at the last attempt of his enemies to derail the work.

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates—Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer. (Nehemiah 6.1 – 4, NIV)

“I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down.”

Do we have a “great project” mentality that enables us to say no to distractions?

As I think about it, there may be two primary reasons that people don’t do (or finish) what they ought to do:

• They don’t start now. I call this Labanizing after Laban’s actions in Genesis 24, and I’ve written two blogs on it – please check them out here.
• They have too much to do. Here’s where Nehemiah’s “Great Project” mentality comes in. “If I come down and talk to you, I can’t finish what I’m supposed to be doing.” There’s an entire book on this concept: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. Strongly recommend. Here are a few snippets:
  • “Am I investing in the right activities?” There are far more activities and opportunities in the world than we have time and resources to invest in. And although many of them may be good, or even very good, the fact is that most are trivial and few are vital. The way of the Essentialist involves learning to tell the difference—learning to filter through all those options and selecting only those that are truly essential. Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done. – page 6
  • If you don’t prioritize your life, someone else will. – page 10
  • I challenge you here and now to make a commitment to make room to enjoy the essential. Do you think for one second you will regret such a decision? Is it at all likely you will wake up one day and say, “I wish I had been less true to myself and had done all the nonessential things others expected of me”? – page 28
  • You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything. – page 45
  • Essentialists see trade-offs as an inherent part of life, not as an inherently negative part of life. Instead of asking, “What do I have to give up?” they ask, “What do I want to go big on?” – page 56

Nehemiah had it right. So did the Apostle Paul:

This one thing I do… (Philippians 3.13, KJV)

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent… (Philippians 1.9, 10, ESV)

I owe a lot of my understanding of Nehemiah to a sermon series I heard decades ago by Frank Tillapaugh, then pastor of Bear Valley Baptist Church in the Denver area. Frank also wrote an “everyone on the wall” kind of book: The Church Unleashed, now hard to get. Anyway, among other things, Frank pointed out that while ridicule, threats, and discouragement did NOT stop the work in Nehemiah 4, something did stop the work in Nehemiah 5:

Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brothers…Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.” I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say. So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? (Nehemiah 5.1, 5 – 9, ESV)

I wrote about this just a couple of months ago in the context of the Southern Baptists, but it’s a message worth repeating. Taking care of the poor and oppressed is NOT a distraction from our mission. It’s part of our mission:

And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” (Zechariah 7.8 – 10, ESV)

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (James 2.15 – 16, ESV)