We’ve all been there.  The DMV.  Maybe you’re like me, and would rather do stuff online.  But, sometimes, you just have to go there.  A little while ago I bought a used car, and had to get a license plate.  In the old days, there was just one license plate.  Today, there are hundreds from which to choose.  Really.  You can get just a license plate, white background with blue numbers and letters.  Or, you can get a license plate with your college logo, your professional affiliation, your favorite local sports team or a political theme.  Most of these cost a bit of extra money, but I just don’t want that generic plate on my car.  I like a plate that says something.  Thankfully, there is a free plate background that says “Virginia.”  It’s called the scenic plate, and it shows Virginia for what it is…a beautiful state with the waves washing up on the eastern shore, and the peaceful mountains all the way at the western border.

Not many states have seashores and mountains.  I live about two hours away from either.  This is a real blessing for my marriage, as my lovely wife enjoys spending time at the beach, soaking in the sun’s rays, while I like to wander through the high mountain woods.  I’m not sure why I like the mountains better.  Maybe it is because I grew up near the mountains.  Maybe it is because I love to drive through the winding roads as fast as my courage will allow.  I’m not sure.

When I go to the mountains, I go to experience something.  I’m sure you have enjoyed a day hike before, maybe even an overnight campout somewhere.  Driving to the mountains, you can enjoy that brief glimpse of the mountain from afar, as you approach it on the highway.  The closer you get, though, the less you can see.  Finally, you meander to a parking area at the trail head.  You feel that sense of anticipation…I’m here…I’m about to head out…I’m going hiking.  You check your belongings, put your water bottle in those special pouches on the backpack, find the food bars you bought just for this occasion, and maybe even pull out a walking stick with a compass on top.  Where’s your camera?  Oh yeah, it’s in the backpack.

And then, the hike.  In your initial rush, to get out of that car, to get going, there’s just happiness.  You’re on the mountain.  The trail is wide and smooth.  Soon enough, if you’re anything like me, you find yourself walking a bit slower.  The roots begin to get larger and more challenging to step over.  The rocky path becomes a path of rocks, no boulders.  Your legs begin to protest a bit.  You did want to get in better shape, didn’t you?  Soon enough, the path becomes all you can see.  You focus on the next few steps, and maybe even take time out to try out that tree that fell over and looks as comfortable as your family room couch.  The beautiful day is strangely dimmer and darker, as the trees growing block out the warm sunrays.  You can do it.  You can do it.

Blue.  Blue sky again!  You’re almost there.

Then, the moment.  The trees step back.  The bushes bow down.  The sky meets you.  The breeze cools you.  You’re at the top!  Your eyes take in a view unlike any other.  There are other views, of course.  Just not like this view.  Miles and miles of beauty surround you.  There’s nothing like it.

The Bible tells us of a man who hiked a mountain.  It was after a particularly difficult time.  He was leading a large group of refugees, who had recently been rescued from years of oppression.  He had experienced many unusual, if not unbelievable things as he and the group left their enslavers.  In the difficult terrain, he had dealt with the lack of food, the lack of water, military battles against other groups, and even the continual disagreements and disputes within his community.  God rescued them, giving food, giving water, giving victory over the enemy, and giving him wisdom to judge.  But now, it was time.  It was time to hike up that mountain.

This hike unlike any we could take.  The mountain was not quiet and peaceful.  It was covered with a thick and dark smoke.  At one point, the entire mountain trembled, as God came to the mountain top.  Of course, everyone wanted to rush up the mountain to see, but he was the only one allowed to take the hike.  There, he heard from God.  Can you imagine?  He reached the top, and heard from God!

Over the next few weeks, the mountain hike became more familiar to him.  He went up and down the mountain, sometimes staying for a short while, and sometimes staying a long long time.  Each journey brought new insight, new revelation, and new understanding.  On a few occasions, his leadership team was permitted to join him as he approached the mountain, to see a glimpse of God’s incredible nature.  But alone, he reached the summit and heard directly from God.

One day, after hearing from God many times, he asked God to reveal Himself, to show Himself.  It would only be natural, to want to see God.  What he asked, though, was not as you and I might ask.  He didn’t say “Let me see you.”  He pleaded “Show me Your glory.”  Glory.  It’s something we don’t really understand.  It’s a word that tries to convey something that can’t easily be understood.  Glory.  Show me your Glory.

God was pleased to show him, with care, His Glory.  God allowed the man to rest carefully protected in a rocky fold in the mountain, as He passed by.  In answering the man’s plea, God replied that he would show the man “all my goodness.”  His Glory was seen in His goodness.  God is good!

When we read of these journeys, as the man hiked up and down the mountain, we might focus on a single important event.  Here, from that mountain, God gave His people ten rules for living.  But, He gave so much more!  If we look at the entire experience, which covers many many chapters, we can be overwhelmed with the breadth and depth of God’s revelation.  Let’s look instead at what we see across these passages.

We recognize God’s desire for purity.  God, in His purity, demanded that man approach Him only in that purity.  God gave instructions to His people to be pure.  To be pure in our relationship with Him.  To be pure as we relate to one another.  The ten rules for living cover in just a few words how these relationships are created and how they are continued.  The other directives speak distinctly about many different aspects of life, but in all, they speak of purity.

We see God’s purpose for His people.  God desired that His people represented God in all His goodness to everyone.  His instructions to create a tabernacle, a dwelling place for His glory, gave His people a special way to let others know of God, through their worship.  The nature of offerings, the sacrifices for sin, and the centrality of worship for this community let everyone know of God’s glory.

We tremble at God’s protection of His people, in a hostile land.  He offered His strength and His power to keep His people free from harm. He promised to drive out those who would oppose His people, those who were living in opposition to God himself.  God protected His people not only by strengthening the people, but by actively fighting for them, through His angel.

We wonder at God’s provision for His people.  He gave a place, defined by natural borders, to them.  He slowly moved His people to that land, through a series of acts that prevented the land from becoming barren and unfruitful.  He shared with His people that this would occur over many years, to ensure that the people did not lose heart that the land was not yet theirs.

We marvel at God’s passion for His people.  On the mountain, the man asked God to show him His Glory.  Now, in this special time, God’s Glory was made known to everyone, as it resided in the tabernacle within the large community tent of meeting.  God’s Glory was evident day and night, and as it moved from place to place, the people followed.  Clearly, God desired to be with His people, to dwell with them, and to enjoy a fellowship with them.

Today, life is so so different.  Thankfully we are not in a time of transition, between a land of slavery and a land of peace.  The lessons of times past are still meaningful, though.  Do we relate both to God and our community in purity?  Do we live out God’s purpose for us, showing God in His glory to everyone?  Do we trust in God’s protection in times of trial?  Do we recognize God’s provision in every aspect of our lives?  Do we share in God’s passion for His relationship with His people?

Like the man who hiked up that special mountain long ago, time and time again, we can hike our mountains.  Our mountains are those times when we journey to meet God.  Each time we walk the path, our way becomes more certain.  Our tired legs become stronger.  The drudgery of stepping over rocks and roots changes to strong leaps over any obstacle.  As we move toward the top, we stop looking at the path, and begin searching for the sky.  Each time we hike, the path becomes more familiar.  Each time we hike, we reach the summit sooner.  There, at the top, we see God. We see His Glory, and we see His Goodness.

Climb every mountain!

There is a familiar story in the Bible, about a coat of many colors.  It is familiar not only as a Bible story, but as a successful Broadway musical — Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  It is a story that one can read over and over, or enjoy at a theatre time and time again.  I remember seeing it while in college many years ago, and watching it again recently on DVD with Donny Osmond as the star.  While there is some curiosity about exactly what the coat was, way back then, we can be certain of the intent of the gift.  The father wanted to give special favor to a son, and in the gift, to let others know of the son’s special status in the family.  When people saw Joseph, in this multi-colored coat, they knew.

Today we might not think of coats being all that important.  Back then, coats were.  Coats were so important that they were taken from their owner when the owner made a pledge to another person, as collateral.  But, as collateral, the coat was not allowed to remain with the other person overnight, as the owner would literally freeze without it.  The coat was functional, as a warm covering, but also, of value, sufficient to ensure a promise was kept.

Thinking about the story, I realized that I don’t have a coat of many colors, but I do have coats of many colors.  My coat closet is jammed with coats, from one side to the other.  Some are used often, while some seem to gather dust.  Three of my coats are worn quite a bit.

One coat is brown.  Just brown.  Not coffee brown, more like a warm tan.  I’ve had it for a long long time.  So long that the brown is fading from the cotton threads.  If you look closely at the coat, you’ll find a few dark spots.  Those spots are dirt, mud, and even one or two from dried blood.  It’s my hunting coat, you see, and sometimes the spots from hunting won’t come out.  When I wear this coat, those who see me recognize me as an outdoorsman.  It’s a coat that quietly says “I’m rugged, not afraid to work, and enjoy the woods.”

One coat is grey.  It’s a nice grey, with a bit of sheen to it. It’s my motorcycling jacket.  I wear it as I swoosh through the country on my Honda Interceptor.  The silvery grey jacket blends well with the aluminum features of this motorcycle.  It’s a neutral color, to be sure, but it’s a bit unusual.  Best of all, it adds to my protection, as it has armor in the shoulders, elbows, and back.  It fits closely, with adjusting straps at the waist to get it out of the wind.  When I wear this coat, everyone knows one thing–I’m dangerous.  I’m one of those guys that ride motorcycles.  Fast.  I’m not like everyone else.

One coat is black.  Just black.  It’s wool, it’s long, and it’s just heavy enough.  It is the coat I wear over my business suits when I’m on those trips to see customers.  Usually those trips take me to places with millions of people.  Big cities, big airports, and often bad weather.  A long black wool coat helps me avoid the chills of the biting winds.  And, it does something different than the motorcycle jacket.  It makes me look like everyone else.  There are literally hundreds of business travelers wearing this coat.  I am like them.  I am one of them.

So, my coats of many colors, like Joseph’s coat of many colors, highlight to others who I am.  I am an outdoorsman.  I am a motorcyclist.  I am a businessman.  These coats give me an identity, that anyone can see.  These coats also remind me of who I am.

In the Bible, we read about another coat.  It is described as a “robe of righteouness.”  It is, in Hebrew parallel prose, a “garment of salvation.”  This coat is not one you can find in an outdoors emporium, the motorcycle shop, or that downtown big name department store.  It is a gift, from God.  It is an act by a loving Father to give us something we need, most desperately.  I can’t reach into my closet to grab this coat!

This “robe of righteousness” is a gift I receive from God when I accept Christ.  It’s a “garment of salvation” that comes only when I recognize my shortcomings and sin, and realize the penalty for them is death.  As I look to Christ as taking my place, as I see Christ on the cross bearing the punishment I deserve, I fall to my knees in a moment of surrender, and a moment of joy.  At that time, when I accept the gift, God places on my shoulders this most colorful of coats.

For in giving me a coat that covers me, God gives me a coat that identifies me.  It’s a coat that I wear in His presence, without which I could not enjoy His fellowship.  I am, just as Joseph was, His son.  I am, just as Joseph was, favored.  I am, just as Joseph was, set apart for His use.

What’s even more amazing is that God has coats for everyone!  In the perfect size, no matter how short or how tall, how big or how small.  Not everyone wears one.  I think I know why.  I think it is because we cover our “robe of righteousness” with other coats. I think we hide our garment of salvation under another–maybe a hunting coat, maybe a motorcycle jacket, or maybe a black wool coat just like everyone else wears.  Our friends can identify us in these ways, but can’t see the cloak God placed on our shoulders.

For if they could see God’s gift, they would know.  They would know the peace we feel of our certain future.  They would know the joy we have in being a child of God.    They would know the love of God.  You see, the only way our coat can be seen is in love.  Love that is selfless.  Love that is kind.  Love that is faithful.  Love that is forgiving.  At first, we must accept God’s Love in Christ, to accept His garment of salvation.  Once we don that cloak, our calling is to make Him known, in that same love.  Our robe of righteousness can cover any of our coats of many colors, but only if we love.  Only if we love.  Today, you may need to wear that warm wool coat against that bitter northerly wind.  But today, remember that over everything, to put on love.  Love one another, as God has loved you!  As you love, allow God’s Love to draw others to Him.  May our love for others bring them to God, so that they too may wear His coat of many colors.

Last night, on motorist assistance duty with the local police, I was once again reminded to be resilient, to be patient, to consider other’s circumstances before judging, and to be thankful that things are not worse. In one evening, we assisted with three events that got me thinking.

A motorist was stranded on a busy four-lane bridge over the interstate. She was hoping and praying that she could make it another 1/2 mile to the gas station. She didn’t, and her insurance-paid assistance service never came. She was there so long that her battery died just flashing the four-ways. One of our officers stayed with her, behind her car with his blue lights blazing, to protect her for about an hour, and we brought a bit of fuel to get her going. And, we used our battery jump box to restart her car. Her attitude? Pleasant. Her face? A smile. Was she upset? Not a bit. She was patient and kind in the face of adversity, and the very real danger in the darkness on that bridge. She was thankful, not for our service, but thankful in spite of the circumstances.

A motorist was driving on a very busy thoroughfare at night, going up a slight incline, just after crossing over the interstate, when his transmission failed. The car simply wouldn’t go. The engine ran fine, but the transmission was slipping. One of our officers was there for a while, and then our unit stayed there for about an hour waiting for a tow truck to come, long enough for two sets of emergency flares to burn out. The gentleman came to our unit to thank us, with a smile on his face, just glad that in spite of his trouble, things were going to be better. He took the time to walk back in the cold to our car, to say “thanks,” even though he could have jumped in the wrecker and headed on. His personalized license plate suggested his profession–Reverend.

At a very busy T shaped intersection of two four-lane streets, an accident. Three cars, a typical rear end crash. As we arrived, first on scene, we saw a civilian directing traffic away from the danger. Who was this guy, risking life in the twilight and traffic? The gentleman whose car had been smashed from the rear. The wind was knocked out of him, but after recovering, he knew there was more danger if he didn’t act. There he was, waving his arms to alert oncoming traffic to slow down and move over. The young driver, so upset at her smashing into another car, tried hard to maintain her composure. She worked through what we see time and time again, that flood of adrenalin that brings muscle shakes and emotion. She checked on people and was concerned for others well-being. The fellow with the most damage (always the middle car) was on the way to the hospital to be with his daughter, who had just given birth to a preemie at less than five pounds. He had already had two back surgeries, in the past, and here was rear-ended. His attitude? It’ll be okay. Was he upset with the young driver? No. He maintained a sense of calm even though he was not really himself at that moment. The lady in the first car? Nearly three decades of driving school buses with nary a scratch on a bus. Her first accident. She was in a brand new car, and the bumper had just a blivet on the bumper from a license plate bolt. She made sure to go to the young driver and encourage her, and remind her that life is filled with lessons.

As we go through life, we make choices in how we respond. Those choices are made based on our beliefs and our worldview. If we have a firm foundation, if we are certain of our future, the craziness that we all face becomes less crazy. The curveballs fly a bit straighter. The load we bear is somehow lessened. My prayer and hope is that I become more and more able to respond in love, in kindness, and in faith when I face these situations. May this be your prayer as well.

Most of us have heard of “The Lord’s Prayer.”  Millions of people around the world can recite it from memory.  In our recitations, we take comfort in the words as those given by God’s Son, for His disciples.

As a youngster, as we learn, we often accept the tutelage of our parents.  Let’s read this passage, and try to say it all by ourselves!  You can do it!  Here, let’s review together.  That’s right…”who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name…” Mommy, what does “hallowed” mean?  Daddy, where is heaven?  Even without our understanding, we can and do remember these words, for years to come.

And so, in our memorization, we glibly restate one of the several pleas made to our Father…”lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” We say it.  We trust that the Father would not lead us into temptation.  Why would we want to ask the Father not to lead us into temptation?

In a logical view of the phrase, one could imagine the opposite plea, to be led into temptation.  Obviously this prayer request makes no sense at all.  We wouldn’t ask the Father to move us into a place of temptation.  In fact, the Bible teaches us exactly what temptation is.  It’s a pretty simple definition, and worthy of our attention.

Temptation is usually thought to be a place, a person, or a thing that is attractive in some way, yet a place, person or thing that will ultimately harm us.  We can look at the first book of the Bible to learn of the temptation of Eve.  Here, Eve sees the fruit of a tree forbidden to eat, and of course, takes a fateful bite.  We we read of Eve’s decision, we read that Eve “saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.”  Truly, the fruit appears to be the temptation.

But, before Eve makes her decision to eat the fruit, we can read the real temptation Eve faced…she is told if she eats the fruit, “you will be like God.”  Wow!  I can be like God?  One can only imagine…and in fact, we’ve all likely laughed at the movie Bruce Almighty where an unsuspecting TV reporter does become like God.  Bruce, having the joy of being able to do whatever he wants, gives us all the perfect view of ultimate power in the hands of the everyman.  It’s not pretty.

Temptation.  What is it?  Looking at a passage written some years after the Lord’s Prayer, we read that “each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.”  This is temptation.  This is all it is.  Desire that drags us away.  Desire that entices us.  Temptation is desire.  Our own desire.

It’s hard to believe.  It’s hard to accept.  Our temptations are not fruit growing on a tree, in a garden, available to us whenever we walk through it.  Our temptations are not fruit that would sustain us physically, as apples or oranges do.  Our temptations are not fruit that would give us wisdom, as avocados and blueberries can do.  Our temptations are simply our desires, and ultimately, our desire to be like God, in His ultimate power and dominion over all creation.

And in the prayer that our Lord taught us, that phrase “lead us not into temptation” now has new meaning.  In a way, it is the same meaning as the phrase “thy Kingdom come.”  Our Lord taught us that the Kingdom was not earthly–not a renaissance of the nation of Israel.  In fact, God’s Kingdom is clearly described as being inside us.  It is the relationship we have with God, His kingship over our lives.  That Kingdom, His Kingdom, is a place without temptation!  It is a relationship free from temptation, as our desires are replaced by His!

We read that we are to pray “lead us not into temptation.”  Truly, a relationship with our Father can free us from temptation.  So why do we pray “lead us?”  If we take the meaning that our Father would be at the front of the line, and heading in the right direction, we are once again curious as to why we would pray something so obvious.  Of course our Father would go in the best direction.  We can even read about our Father leading the nation of Israel in a trackless desert with a pillar of fire at night and a column of smoke during the day.  Is this the leading we ask of our Father?

Looking once again at the destination, it appears more likely that “lead us” has a much deeper meaning.  If our Father leads us “not into temptation” He is not leading us to a place.  He is not leading us to something that will feed us and sustain us.  He is not leading us to knowledge of good and evil.  Since temptation is by definition our own evil desires, our Father is leading us away from these!  Our Father is leading us…to Himself!

And so we can see why our Lord asked us to pray “lead us not into temptation.”  Father, show us Your desires!  Father, replace our desires with Yours!  Father, bring us to You!  Father, lead us, not into temptation.

 

In reading Genesis, we encounter many incredible passages. The recounting of the lives of the patriarchs and their families is often more intriguing than the stories created for modern soap operas or reality TV shows.  Reading of Isaac, his wives, and his sons we find ourselves drawn into a brother vs brother conflict as old as, well, as old as Genesis!

In years past, a beautiful young maiden was chosen to be Isaac’s bride, as an answer to the prayer of Abraham’s servant who had been sent to find a worthy woman.  Now, in a society valuing above all else a woman’s ability to bring forth sons, she faces despair as she is childless.  You can imagine how she felt, knowing from the time of her engagement that she was the Lord’s choice for her husband, yet she remains childless.

Rebekah’s husband Isaac prayed for his wife, relying on God to provide children for them, and in another answer to prayer, Rebekah becomes pregnant.  Isaac married Rebekah at 40 years of age, but waited for twenty years before Rebekah became pregnant.  During the pregnancy, unusual physical sensations led Rebekah to ask the Lord for understanding, and in His answer, the Lord revealed that two children were inside her womb.

In His answer, more information than the medical diagnosis also was revealed.  In a few sentences, Rebekah learns that she is carrying two boys, that the boys would be fathers of two separate peoples, and that the older would serve the younger.  Think of today, where families visit medical doctors and learn of many wonderful things about the baby inside…gender, size, due date, and health.  Even with sonograms, computers and medical tests today’s mothers don’t know the future as well as Rebekah did.

Two more different brothers could not be found.  Appearance, voice, size, skills, and occupations were completely opposite.  As we think about the story, we can visualize what life might have been like for Isaac.  One son, a fearsome hunter, capable with weapons, able to sustain himself in the harsh wilderness would likely be a source of pride.  The second son, preferring to stay in the camp with the women, might be introduced as if he were not even a relative, perhaps even with some embarrassment. For Rebekah, having one son remain in the camp, learning from her, and treasuring time together would have been incredibly rewarding.  Rarely seeing her older son, her heart would be saddened as he returned with the bounty of the field.  Years of this upbringing have created an uneasy family tension between parents, between father and sons, and between brothers.

In that difficult family dynamic, we can see an arrangement that probably kept the family together over the years.  The older brother prefers to work outside the camp, providing for the camp by hunting wild game, yet relying on the camp for a base of operations.  The younger brother stays in the safe area, learning and becoming proficient at the skills of women, benefiting everyone there.  But, he in turn enjoys the bounty brought in from the outside.  One might call this a “win-win” situation, and from the outside, it appears that all is well.

Anyone who has hunted wild game has often been unsuccessful, and at the end of the day, returned home completely whipped.  Even when game is harvested, the effort takes so much out of the hunter that he collapses at the door, just glad to have made it back. Modern hunters feel great empathy for the older brother, and also understand what it is like to have someone at home making a delicious meal as a welcome back gesture. Today driving our 1/2 ton pickup trucks through the suburbs after hours in the field, we can’t smell the welcome aromas of the camp kitchen, but the older brother might have sensed the satisfying smells of a wood fire and fragrant food for a half-mile or more.  Think of how he must have felt, trudging one foot in front of another, just trying to make it there, guided in part by the smoke and the smell.

In a moment of utter exhaustion, after much time in the field, the older son demands of the younger a portion of this hearty stew.  If we quickly read the story, without pause, it is possible to overlook details of the event that were obvious to those of the culture. Instead of willingly providing a brother in need with what is obviously necessary, the younger demands something in return. Instead of asking for something tangible, like the best portion of the next successful hunt, he asks for legal standing in the family order. Instead of trusting the brother’s response, he demands a contract, an obligation, a binding oral agreement.  Obviously this family is fractured, and is only remaining together out of necessity and tradition.  The “win-win” arrangement here shows a lack of love, a lack of trust, and the lack of brotherhood.

We read next “So Esau despised his birthright.”  The story ends with a sentence so short, we can take it to be both the climax of the tale, as well as the most valuable observation.  In the oral tradition of the time, those hearing this might have covered their mouth in shock, and began to whisper “can you believe this?”  Why does the story end so?

Most of those listening would not have a birthright, and would also have enjoyed having this valuable asset.  The value of the birthright at this time was two–as in two for one. When the father died, two of everything would be given to the older, with only one of those going to the younger.  Two goats for one.  Two sheep for one.  Two chickens for one.  The older would receive double the property of the younger.  Today, in our last wills and testaments, the language often reads that property is divided equally between children. Not so in this time and place.

And in this shocking moment, where something of great value was sold for the price of a McDonald’s value meal, we see the obvious practical advice.  Don’t allow yourself to get overtired.  Don’t push so hard that you run out of energy. Don’t work so hard that your judgment is impaired.  Don’t agree on something without taking time to think about it. Don’t sell your birthright! Ever!

To be sure, this practical advice has some benefit.  As we think about the outcome of the story, it is possible to see greater principles, as we consider different ways these brothers might have lived.  Rather than living apart, could they have lived in harmony? Instead of becoming proficient in different professions, could they have shared in each other’s tasks?  In place of time primarily spent with one parent, could they have sought to fellowship with both father and mother?

God has, in giving us a family, and siblings, a way to become as He desires us to be.  Let us remember that this journey of discovery of self can be ever more fulfilling when we put aside our selfish nature and share.  Share in life’s hardships.  Share in life’s leisure. Share life in love.

As many people read the account of the flood, found in Genesis chapters 6 through 9, they focus on the technical details of a huge boat and the nature of the deluge. They wonder how a boat of a given size could be built, by someone who never made one. They puzzle over the number of animals, the need for animal food, and of course, where the animal waste went. There are many seemingly logical questions.

As I reread the passage today, I realized that the message is not in the details of the event, but in the beginning and ending verses. God saw man, now evil in every way, and decided to end humanity in His justice.  After the flood, as Noah sacrificed to Him, God saw man look to Him in worship. Independent of man’s acts, He decided to maintain the earth in His mercy.

In the account, what is more important is that God is revealed to us! It is not the ark, not the animals, not the flood. God is holy and just, but most importantly, merciful. We see ourselves as by nature evil, sinners, and even though redeemed, likely to sin again.  God is shown to be eternal, powerful, inspiring, righteous, just, and forbearing.

As we read the flood account, let us focus on God and His nature, rather than on the story of the ark, its size, the animals, and the water. Let us rejoice that God has granted us a brief moment on earth to enjoy fellowship with each other and to worship Him.

In the interconnected world, the free exchange of ideas, images, icons, idioms, and even intrigue means we are all subjected to a never-ending stream of digital data.  The sharing of music and its power is made simpler by social media and streaming sites.  On social media, I am frequently encouraged to listen to an a capella singing group, and at this Christmas season, I enjoyed their rendition of a sacred song.

The comments on the song were predictable.  Many were mean, disparaging, and critical of the group for singing a sacred song when at least two of the members are practicing a lifestyle that many describe as sinful, based on an understanding of the Bible. Others came to the group’s defense, claiming that judgment is God’s alone.

The song itself proclaims the truth of Christ, in an imaginary dialog with Christ’s earthly mother Mary.  The song is without doubt one of the most beautiful and memorable melodies of this canon of work.  It was written many years ago by a distinguished artist, and has been covered a multitude of times. This version was truly delightful, and reminded me of my Lord in a moving way.

And, in so doing, it reminded me that we all fail.  We fail in ways that some consider small and inconsequential, and we fail in ways that would shame us even in this day and age.  No one is pure.  Today, I failed to be charitable and kind.  Tomorrow, I will fail again, in some other way.

I can’t answer the question “should a person in sin proclaim the Gospel of Christ?” without asking “who is without sin?”  I can, though, even without sinless purity, proclaim Christ as my risen Lord and Savior!  May He bring me closer to His intended creation of man in fellowship with God, as He covers my sin by His sacrifice.

I encourage us all to reflect on our relationship with God and family in this wonderful time of year.  May Christ come to you this season, and remain with you forever more.