Psst. I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I know you. At least I know enough about you to say with confidence that what goes on in your brain is not unique to just you. There is something inside that asks from time to time - Why am I here? What is my purpose? How can I know?
I was blog trolling today and came across a story from Cambodia. A woman originally from South Africa was doing mission work in several countries of South East Asia and was scheduled to give a talk to some area churches. To prepare for that she had lunch with a local pastor who looked much younger than his years and was known for his great joy and wide smile. When prompted he shared the story of his conversion.
He was born Buddhist and was raised by his uncle in a Buddhist temple and eventually became a leader there. When the Khmer Rouge came to power (they butchered over 2 million people in a 4 year reign of terror) he took up Communism and was sent to spy on a Christian gathering. He was supposed to get the names of the local leaders in attendance so he could report them but when he got there he heard the speaker asking some simple questions. Who made the stars and put them in place and arraigned everything so perfectly?
At this point he couldn't concentrate any further. He had to know the answers. His heart longed to understand. He was confronted with logic so simple that it destroyed his Darwinian philosophy. Soon after he became a believer and subsequently spent several years in one of the Khmer Rough concentration camps.
As the missionary heard more of his story and witnessed his tremendous humility and wisdom she wondered what the Holy Spirit could possible add through her to the people she would be talking to. And yet the pastor was thrilled to have her there.
I often struggle with this thought. How can I present the truth about the Father, and Jesus and the Holy Spirit in a way so simple yet so clear that it will cut through to the core of those whose hearts are wrapped in thick callouses, layer after layer, year after year of hurts and lies and the muck of this world?
It was reported in the news that astronomers from Queen's University Belfast have discovered a white dwarf star (US704) leaving the Milky Way Galaxy traveling at 746 miles per second. According to my trusty solar calculator that comes out to 44,760 miles per minute or 2 million six hundred eighty-five thousand six hundred miles per hour which apparently is pretty fast. This is important because it provides astronomers a constant brightness on it's route that will help scientists more accurately measure distances in our galaxy.
Don't you just love how man is able to calculate something like the speed of a far away dwarf star down to the mile per second? But truth be told understanding the vastness of it all is really beyond my pea sized brain.
Scripture tells us that every star in the heavens is counted (God probably has a different name and/or number than US704 for that white dwarf). This assures us that He is in control.
He counts the number of the stars. He gives names to all of them. Great is the Lord and abundant is His strength. His understanding is infinite. Psalm 147: 4-5
Scripture also informs us that even the hairs on our head are numbered. This assures us that we matter.
Are not five sparrows sold for 2 cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; You are more valuable than many sparrows. Luke 12: 6-7
There is another tool, a gift actually, that is more accurate than a telescope linked up to a giant computer. We measure who we are, what is the purpose of our life and how we can know by the sure light of the Holy Word revealed to us by the working of the Holy Spirit.
I realized long ago that I am not smart enough or cleaver enough or good enough on my own to accurately measure my own life, to know right from wrong or to trust my eternity to my own devices. I also discovered that through compromise comes short term gain but long term loss. I testify to the truth found throughout scripture that things simply work better, feel better and are better being in a relationship with the One who not only has a plan for my life but who also loves me and provides me with peace and joy and love as well.
I want to say that He really does love you and that you have no idea what love can be, what joy can be and what deep peace can be without knowing Jesus. I've been on the other side but when I surrendered the lordship of my life to the One who loves me and actually does have a plan for my life everything changed.
I recently finished doing a 7 day scripture challenge on Face Book. There was a theme and certain verses that came to me when I started and that's the way it went but today I was thinking about what verses were the most influential in my life. Here is the one the Holy Spirit used to tip me over the edge from confusion to faith. It is good advice and my prayer for you, if you do not yet know The Good Shepherd, is that you will find that He will never disappoint and that His words are truth and life.
So I say to you,
ask and it will be given to you,
seek and you shall find,
knock and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives,
and he who who seeks, finds,
and to him who knocks, it will be opened.
Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish.
He will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?
Or if he asked for an egg,
he will not give him a scorpion, will he?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
Luke 11: 9-13
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