Over two thousand years ago one man voluntarily gave His life for all the world. In Romans 5:7-8 we read “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man, someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Our hope of eternal life was purchased by the blood of the Holy Son of God. This is something that I will choose to remember and never forget.
On April 19, 1775, in Lexington Massachusetts the first battle of the Revolutionary War took place. When the shooting ended and the smoke cleared, eight brave patriots lay dead. Their blood would join with the blood of many others as a priceless sacrifice to purchase our liberty.
Beginning with the eight men who died that day, about 3 million Americans have given their lives in the service of this great Nation. When I see the blood-red stripes on Old Glory, I am reminded that I must always remember and never forget the soldiers who died so that I might be free.
3 million is not just a number. It is a 19-year-old boy who will never see 20. It is a young father who will never hold his daughter. It is a young wife weeping over a flag-draped coffin. It is a mother hugging a folded flag to her breast. It is an old man burying his pride and joy. It is the sound of taps floating over the hills and valleys of this great land. It is a reminder that while freedom is a gift from God, it is not free. I will always remember and never forget that my freedom was purchased with the blood of American soldiers.
Abraham Lincoln once said, “ Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.” As Christians, we must honor Jesus who gave His life that we might live. As Americans, we must honor those who died so that we might live in freedom. On Memorial Day we are reminded to always remember and never forget that our God-given rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness have been sealed by the blood of many great American heroes.
The Israelites were slaves in Egypt. It was a hard life. The Egyptians were cruel and heartless masters. So the Israelites called out for God to rescue them. God heard their cry and sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt. They were promised a land of milk and honey but the journey was going to be hard.
Now the promises of God are sure and certain, but the road to receiving these promises can be difficult and often terrifying. For the Israelites, the journey to the promise land was hard. Their leader, Moses had to constantly deal with people who wanted to go back. These people would gladly have traded their freedom for melons, cucumbers, and safety. Because of the ones who wanted to go back, a whole generation of Israelites died without ever receiving the Promise of God.
In the Gospel of John, you can read of a time when Jesus had many followers. They followed Him because of the free food and healthcare that he provided. They also followed Him because of the miracles He performed. But then Jesus quit performing and in John 6, His teaching became difficult. They began to realize that following Jesus was going to be a dangerous journey. Many of them decided that the promise of God was going to cost them too much so they went back to their old life.
God has a promise for those who follow Jesus. It is a promise of salvation and eternal life. The road we travel when we follow Jesus is often intimidating and toilsome. Many people start after Jesus but fall away when His teaching demands they take up their cross and follow Him. Those who go back from following Jesus will never experience the promises of God, but for the ones who persist there is a crown laid up in Glory.
Jesus is the way. Following Him is not easy. But when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need not be afraid. His rod of protection and staff of guidance will give us comfort. One day we will lie down in the green pastures of His love and dwell in the presence of our God forever. This is the promise of God that will be received by the ones who follow Jesus and never go back.
In 1 Chronicles, the Bible speaks of Mighty Men of Valor. These men loved their families, their nation, and their God. They were willing to fight and die for their families and their faith
In America, we have our own Mighty Men of Valor. For many generations, brave American soldiers have laid down their lives for our freedoms. And we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the men and women who have sacrificed so dearly.
In a nursing home, a sweet lady spoke of her brother who died in World War 2. For many years her heart still ached and her tears honored her brother. She told me about the darkness of the bright sunshine when she learned that he was not coming home. I told her that her brother was a hero. And the truth is he was a Mighty Man of Valor.
I once worked with a man who served his country in World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam. He told about marching thru Europe when just a few feet away his buddy was obliterated by a mortar round. Years later in Vietnam, he was much older than most soldiers. As the helicopter landed, they jumped out running toward the enemy. Each soldier carried a heavy pack. Because of his age and the weight of his pack, he stumbled and fell. A black soldier stopped and picked up his pack and carried it along with his own. His story revealed the truth that when the bullets are flying there is no skin color among brothers who are Mighty Men of Valor.
Another Mighty man of Valor was my neighbor Mr. Thomas Rhodes. Like many true-life heroes, he was a gentle man who worked hard and never said much. It was only after he died that I learned that he had been a German prisoner of war in World War 2.
We have much to be thankful for. We set freely in our churches, worshiping without fear. We go to the polls and vote, without fear. We travel wherever we wish without fear. We live in the greatest country in the world and we are the most blessed people in the world.
So, with humble gratitude, I honor the great American heroes who are our own Mighty Men of Valor.
Have you ever thought about how ridiculous it is that every movie has to have a kissing scene in it? Think about it. In an action movie, cars are crashing and buildings are being blown up but the dirty sweaty hero has to take time to kiss a dirty sweaty girl. Or in a war movie with bombs falling and bridges being blown up the wounded soldier finds time to kiss a local lady. It is not realistic at all.
A while back I witnessed one of the most romantic kisses I have ever seen. It was not like one of those fake kisses in the silly movies. It was the real deal.
Of course, we have all heard the fairy tales about Snow White, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. Little girls grow up dreaming about being the beautiful princess whose handsome prince finally gathers her in his arms and gently kisses her. Then lifting her onto his white horse they ride to the palace where they live happily ever after. But those fairy tale smooches can never match the kiss I saw that day.
I have officiated at many weddings and told many grooms that they can kiss their brides. Those kisses are always special, but they do not compare to the taste of sugar that I saw this groom get that day.
Let me describe what I saw that day. This bride, the beautiful princess was an elderly woman in a wheelchair. She suffered from dementia and was fading fast. Her groom, the handsome prince was frail with age and cancer would soon end his time on earth.
Their daughter had brought the hero to visit his fair maid in the nursing home. As the time came for them to go, she said “Daddy let me get things fixed so you can get some sugar before we go”. I watched as she worked to position her mother’s wheelchair just right, then she turned and helped her daddy stand up and grip his walker. It took a few seconds to get him in position because he was very unsteady on his feet and could not afford to fall.
Then it happened, with one hand firmly gripping the walker the groom placed his other hand on her shoulder and he bent down and firmly planted a beautiful kiss right on his bride’s mouth.
Let me tell you, this was no dry brushing of the lips. This was a real kiss; I heard the wet smack and I thought to myself “This man knows how to kiss!” Then I heard him say very softly to his wife, “I love you”.
In the late stage of dementia, this precious lady may not have known what was going on but her good man did. Even if she could not answer him, his love for her was everlasting.
As I watched all this happen, I was reminded that yes, fairytales do come true and the prince and princess will live happily ever after. After all the Bible tells us that we have these three things; Faith, hope, and love and the greatest of these is love. Love is patient, love is kind and love never fails.
This week my daily Bible reading has me in the book of Job. As I read, it occurs to me that we may have missed something in this story. You see for years I’ve heard people talk about the patience of Job. However, I think it was God and not Job who was patient.
As I read the story of Job, I see God being very patient as Job’s wife tells him to “curse God and die.” God was patient with Job’s friends who gave long speeches but had nothing to say. Most of all I see the patience God had with Job himself. Job struggled with his pain and suffering. He charged God with being unfair. He wanted to meet with God in a court of law and he demanded answers from God. But through it all, God patiently waited until Job was ready to see Him with clear eyes.
God’s patience has been evident throughout all time. He was patient with Adam and Eve when they hid in the garden. He was patient when David cheated with Bathsheba. He was patient when Jonah ran from His calling. And He has been very patient with me when I have been everything but the man I should be.
I am thankful that the God of all grace has called me to His eternal glory in Christ. I know that even though I fail miserably, He will restore me and make me strong, firm, and steadfast. The patience of God is driven by His love and mercy. It is because of His merciful patience and not my goodness that I know He will never leave nor forsake me.
In Matthew 11:12 we read “ From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” For a long time, I did not understand this verse. I would read it, scratch my head and ask God “What in the world are you talking about?” The Bible says to ask and you will receive, so one day while I was driving He showed me what this verse meant.
I was driving up the road in my little pickup when I met a truck pulling an open-sided trailer hauling 10 or 12 cars. As the air went over, under, and around these cars, a forceful turbulence was created. As I encountered this turbulent air, it was like a violent force that almost stopped my pickup. To continue on my way I had to become more forceful than this wall of invisible air. So I grabbed another gear, stepped on the gas, and powered through the violence.
This is the lesson I learned. The kingdom of heaven and God’s children have always faced violent attacks from Satanic forces. These attacks have and will increase as the Great Day of the Lord draws nearer. God’s people must not be fooled by those who tell us we should be tolerant and compromising. Like David, we must fill our pockets with stones and like Jesus, we must prepare to turn some tables over.
Jesus told us in this world we would face turbulence. But we need not be afraid, He has overcome the world. Satan will continue to attack us with violence and force. But with God, we will gain the victory and He will trample down the enemy. So when the enemy comes at us with a wall of turbulence and trouble, don’t let it slow you down. Lean into it, grab another gear, step on the gas, and go.
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. (Psalms 127:1-5 NKJV)
Courage. Not the kind of courage that is portrayed in Hollywood movies, but real courage. The kind of courage that God honors and rewards. Many think of courage as the absence of fear. The courage that pleases God is the action of doing the right thing regardless of our fears. It is doing the right thing regardless of financial or societal costs. Courage is fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities to our families.
To be courageous we must stand on our convictions. To have God-pleasing courage we must have Godly convictions.
A Godly conviction is a basic Scriptural principle that we purpose to follow, whatever the cost.
What follows are ten scriptural convictions of a righteous man.
1. The Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the final authority for my life.
“Saying this means nothing if I do not cherish the Word of God. It is foolish to cherish a book. —- but this is not just a book. The Author of this Book is the Author and Authority of all of life. When I read this book I feel the breath that breathed these Words breathing on me.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16)
One of the best gifts you can give your children and grandchildren is to teach them to cherish God’s Word.
2. My purpose in life is to seek God with my whole heart and to build my goals around His priorities.
“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8)
Think of quality. Life must be lived. Things must be built. Living in the world means, living in the world, working, loving, playing, and living. If we do all these things for the Glory of God and the sake of His Kingdom. How great would be the Quality of the things we do?
3. My body is the living temple of God and must not be defiled by the lust of the world.
“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)
Think of health.
4. My church must teach the foundational truths of the Bible and reinforce my basic convictions.
“For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)
Any Church that does not hold to the Truth of God’s Word is not worthy of your presence.
5. My children and grandchildren belong to God, and it is my responsibility to teach them Scriptural principles, Godly character, and basic convictions.
“But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”” (Matthew 19:14)
6. My activities must never weaken the Scriptural convictions of another Christian.
“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” (Romans 14:13)
7. My marriage is a life-long commitment to God and my wife.
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24)
8. My money is a trust from God and must be earned and managed according to Scriptural principles.
“Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Luke 16:11)
9. My words must be in harmony with God’s Word, especially when reproving and restoring a Christian brother.
“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matthew 12:37)
10. My affections must be set on things above, not on things on the earth.
” “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21,)
February the fourteenth of course is Valentine’s Day. A day for celebrating the romantic love between men and women. It is also a day when Jared, Hallmark, and FTD Flowers celebrate an increase in their revenue. I don’t think that many people know the real story behind all the candy, flowers, and heart-shaped cards. While it is good that we celebrate love and marriage, we need to remember the man who was Saint Valentine.
Valentine lived during the time of Claudias II. This evil Roman emperor persecuted the church and outlawed marriage. The time in which Valentine lived was much like today in that it was a very permissive society. All lifestyles were permitted and encouraged, except traditional marriage. Valentine refused to submit to laws that subverted the will of God. He was eventually imprisoned and tortured to death for performing marriage ceremonies against the commands of Emperor Claudias.
We know that there are many similarities between the time of Valentine’s life and ours. In the permissive society that we live in, traditional and Godly marriage is under attack. Today the government and the court system have proven to be anti-God and anti-marriage. For this reason, now more than ever, we need people who like Valentine will stand and say no to an evil and corrupt culture. Remember this, when loving righteousness and serving God becomes a crime, then being an outlaw will be honorable.
Esther is a young woman who has a choice to make. Her family, friends and people face extermination. She must choose. Will she put her life in danger and try to save her people? Or will she do nothing and watch as everyone she loves is destroyed. Her uncle Mordecai tells her that she was born, “for such a time as this.” She chose to put her life on the line and she was used by God to help save her people.
You and I are here in this place and this time. You did not choose this time and maybe didn’t choose this place, but here you are. I would like to suggest that you may have been chosen for such a time as this. You were uniquely created for the responsibilities and opportunities of your life.
Like Esther you have choices to make. Maybe your choices are not as drastic as hers but they are yours to make. I take that back, your choices are just as drastic as hers. Your choices are life shaping for you and everyone in your life.
You may never stand before a king, but every day you will stand before someone. If you will be like Esther, you can make a positive impact on this world, but you must choose wisely. Today choose righteousness, choose wisdom and choose kindness because you never know whose life you maybe saving. After all you were born for such a time as this.
Pavement Ends Ministry 