Note: It’s Election Day. That photo was taken at our polling location at 6:40 a.m. The line goes down this side of the building and turns to the left in the distance. Never have I seen anything like this here.

Today – November 3, 2020 – is Election Day here in the United States of America. (And to my foreign readers, apologies, but I have some in-house stuff to deal with.)

Ever since I began this blog, my desire was this to be a safe harbor, a place where hope and encouragement ruled. I haven’t wavered from my own personal mandate.

So, if I use this space to talk about politics and this being Election Day, then you might say, “Dang, Tony. What’s encouraging about that?!”

Let me show you. You’ll feel better after I’m done with you.

There is no question that we are a house divided today. Opinions might vary as to the extent of that division, but we are indeed two different countries. You’d have to go back to 1861 or so to see such a division. (We were ultimately stronger after 1865, but that’s outside of the scope of this particular blog post. It might be something I could visit at another time.)

At any rate, since this is Election Day and all, I need to make a point (or two points) that you’d best not forget, especially if you’re wringing your hands:

If Joe Biden is elected president, it’s because God has allowed it.

If Donald Trump is reelected president, it’s because God has allowed it.

Read that again.

I could spend chapter and verse showing you why that is so. Carve this in stone:

There is nothing that can happen in any voting booth that will thwart the will of God.

As I write this, I haven’t voted yet. I’ll be a good citizen, exercise a right that is but a fantasy to some people in other countries, and vote my conscience and convictions.

”But Tony,” you say. “How could God be in favor of _____________ being president? Look at who he is and what he stands for. Where’s God in that?”

To answer that, we’re going to have a little biblical history lesson. If you’ve read this far, you really need to stick with me.

I need to take you all the way back to 558 B.C. Meet Cyrus II (The Great.)

Cyrus ruled Persia from 558 to 530 B.C. Whereas previous empires had dominated the Middle East with military might, Cyrus combined might with diplomacy by allowing various captive nations to return home and by setting up a decentralized government.

He was certainly not a believer in the One True God. That’s important to remember.

With that in mind this Election Day, check out what the old prophet Isaiah said in ancient script:

Isaiah 45:1
“This is what the LORD says to his anointed,
to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of
to subdue nations before him
and to strip kings of their armor,
to open doors before him
so that gates will not be shut.

See how Isaiah identified Cyrus? The “Lord’s Anointed?” Whaaa…?

Here’s this, from Ezra 1:2-4

“This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:
“‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’”

God’s anointed did that. Cyrus’ Persians conquered the Babylonians in 539 B.C. and he later allowed the Jews to return to their homeland.

You’re probably a couple of steps ahead of me by now, but that’s okay. Great minds work alike.

Point is – God used this really unlikely leader so that His purposes might be fulfilled.

Cyrus’ anointing is figurative, to be sure, but God was empowering him for the task of returning the Jews to their homeland. The word Messiah means anointed—because God would specially prepare that special One to redeem his people—but Cyrus was not the Messiah. He was just a leader prepared by God for a unique task.

I could make some other biblical cases of unlikely leaders God used. Pharaoh comes to mind. Herod, too.

Here’s the bottom line, and I  mean this.

If Joe Biden is elected, it’s because he’s anointed by God, and God’s purposes will be fulfilled.

If Donald Trump is reelected, it’s because he’s anointed by God, and God’s purposes will be fulfilled.

What are God’s purposes? Simply that, on this Election Day, He will ultimately be glorified.

It may be that the United States is under God’s remedial judgment even right now. Perhaps God is using these days to usher in a new dawn of hope for America.

I don’t know.

What I do know is that God is in total unquestionable control, and He will use whatever tools at His disposal, human and otherwise, to bring glory to Himself.

As a believer, I simply am submitting to Him because He has a perspective of history that I don’t. He knows the outcome. He keeps His own counsel. I trust Him because He is faithful.

If you turn in early tonight, or if you follow the election returns until you can’t anymore, know that the outcome is firmly gripped by God Himself.

And, as always, His will will be done.

Relax. He has His purposes. He is guiding us all toward the climax of history, when this country, and this world, will be rolled up like a rotten papyrus scroll and ended.

The United States is a drop in the bucket, resting on the rim, and moments away from dripping into the hot sands of time and vanishing.

Until such time, we watch, we pray, we do as we’re commanded, and we rest in the knowledge that the mighty God is directing history and the leaders of this time like a watercourse.

Sounds comforting to me. Be encouraged. Hopelessness is not an option.

I’m not sure where I first heard the term, “Do it scared.” That’s an interesting idea, and one I’d like to unpack today.

Michael Hyatt said, “More often than not, being brave means doing it scared.” And Mary Schmich wrote, “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

These are good thoughts.

I don’t have a lot to say that can replace these in their simplicity. What I have been thinking about, though, is what constitutes an “acceptable risk.”

At this writing, President Trump has been released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is back convalescing at the White House after being diagnosed with COVID-19. (And, by the way, just because I’ve mentioned the president this post is in no way intended to be political. C’mon. Don’t go there.)

“Don’t be afraid of COVID,” President Trump tweeted, on the same day that the White House outbreak spread further and another several hundred Americans died from virus complications.

According to the New York Times (and I did some fact-checking rather than depend on just one source – that’s a healthy discipline, I think), only cancer and heart disease will kill more Americans this year than Covid. Already, the virus has killed more than twice as many Americans as either strokes or Alzheimer’s disease, about four times as many as diabetes and more than eight times as many as either gun violence or vehicle accidents.

Does that scare you? Does that generate an urge in you to “do it scared,” whatever that means in your life?

I ran across the term “micromort.” Basically, it’s a measurement that equals a one-in-a-million chance of dying. For perspective:

• The risk of skydiving is 7 micromorts. Your chance of dying skydiving is 7 in a million. Those are really good odds. But the thought of skydiving makes my hands sweat, even though it is really, really safe.
• The risk of general anesthesia in the United States is 5 micromorts. I’ve been “put to sleep” many times and never gave it a thought.
• The risk of having a baby is 210 micromorts. It’s much safer to skydive than to give birth.
• If you contract the virus, the risk of dying from Covid in the United States is abound 1000 micromorts. A typical 40-year-old has around a one-in-a-thousand risk of not making it to their next birthday for any reason, and a British researcher determined Covid-19 poses an almost identical risk for someone’s who’s infected by the coronavirus. Please understand this is a VERY GENERAL estimate, not factoring in age, pre-existing conditions, and other factors. There isn’t a simple answer.
• The average American experiences one micromort daily, which for our purposes includes any death from unnatural causes – getting electrocuted, dying in a car wreck, or getting hit by an asteroid.

Here’s where I’ve landed, and it’s called (drum roll, please):

Tony’s Doctrine of Acceptable Risk

1. To do it scared is that you adopt the biblical admonition to “fear not.”
2. There is a difference in living in fear and being prudent.
3. It’s helpful, from a clinical standpoint, to simply play the odds. For instance, the numerical odds of you dying from COVID aren’t very good.
4. From a spiritual standpoint, you are leaning on the everlasting arms, safe and secure.
5. At some point, you simply have to do the wise thing, even if that means doing something another person might deem risky or stupid. For example, you might abandon a law practice and become a white water river guide, if you’re persuaded it will give you more satisfaction and be more in harmony with your call.
6. There is rational fear and irrational fear. Rational fear would be avoiding stepping out into oncoming traffic. Irrational fear would be staying indoors because you thought you’d be killed by ice falling from an airplane wing.
7. You do not control your final destiny. This is a good thing. It is best to trust in Someone Who knows every fiber of your being rather than totally depend on your own faulty reasoning. At the same time, you’ve been gifted with a modicum of sense and reason. Don’t abandon that.
8. Ultimately, when evaluating what is an “acceptable risk,” and what it means to “do it scared,” it is always appropriate to ask, “What would Jesus do?” Then do just that.

Do it scared? Well, yeah. It’s what will make you grow and thrive, accomplish goals, and leave the naysayers in the dust.

It’s ultimately understanding Who determines the outcome of your life.

Relax. And take action.

PHOTO CREDIT – President Trump removes his mask upon returning to the White House on Monday after undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Alex Brandon/AP

Tony’s Question: What is one thing you consider an acceptable risk that others might think is dumb? Share your response below. TIA!

Isn’t that an ominous phrase – “the End of Days?”

I’ve read a lot here lately on social media about the Second Coming, the Rapture, Armageddon, etc. (And if you aren’t a Christian, this may come across as inside baseball because those might not be terms you are familiar with. Keep reading anyway.)

The End of Days is an apocalyptic term which denotes the end of, well, everything.

I won’t get into the theology of this. I’m not smart enough, and you don’t have the time. But there’s plenty out there for you Googlers.

I’ve kept a journal for years. My journals are full of random stuff. It might be things that God is teaching me. You’ll find some prayers written out. There is some commentary on the state of the world. Personal reflections abound. There are some recipes, too.

Most of it would be of little note or interest to others.

I’d encourage you to keep a journal. Again, there are tons of tools out there to help you. Jim Rohn did significant work in that area. You’ll see why in a minute. You don’t want to miss any of what’s happening now.

So what is this about the End of Days?

In the past few weeks – okay, in pretty much all of 2020 to date, and today we’re halfway through the year – it’s reasonable to ask “what in the FAT is going on here?”

It isn’t random. It isn’t circumstantial. Something is afoot.

God is working earnestly in our society, our country, our world. On it’s face, you might think, “Man alive. God is sure confusing me.”

I believe He is more active than ever. His hand is in COVID-19, in wars and rumors of wars, in the mightiest halls of government, in the sea change happening because of George Floyd’s gruesome murder.

I have believed for some time that we’ve been under God’s remedial judgement in the United States. I can’t speak to other countries, but subjectively these days just “feel” different.

God is ministering peace to the remnant.

He is reminding us not just daily but hourly that we who are believers are strangers, foreigners, aliens and sojourners in this world.

Much of what we’re experiencing isn’t new. The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865. Some days, though, it seems that the last 155 years was just halftime. My first 14 years straddled the end of the 50’s and the decade of the 60’s, and Lord knows that was one forevermore upheaval in society. (And as much as it pains me to say this, a lot of the rhetoric today sounds disturbingly like what you might’ve heard back then.)

After these past few months, I still can’t get my head wrapped around the pandemic. Imagine a whole world facing a common foe. This is a universally shared experience. You’d think this would be a call for us to unite against something that threatens all of us. I’m gonna leave that thought right there.

Maybe you’ve suffered in recent days, for whatever reason. So much of what we consider suffering was the normal state for those first-century Christians. I wouldn’t presume to put your suffering somewhere on a continuum; if you think you’re suffering, you are.

We are naive, if not delusional, if we believe that we won’t have struggles and heartbreak aplenty in this life. Just because you’re hurting doesn’t mean this is the End of Days. Unless, perhaps, it is a universal suffering. That gets my attention.

Those early Christians understood what it was like to have the world facing off toward them. Make no mistake, there are lots of people from every tribe and tongue who are in silent agony. So to deny pain and suffering in yourself or anyone else is denying the whole counsel of scripture.

This is not popular teaching.

Well, pilgrim, you have plenty of reasons to not despair in these extraordinarily dark days. You have much reason to be comforted.

The God of all creation does not slumber or sleep. He is orchestrating events all around us in real-time.

In ways my puny mind can’t begin to fathom, His plans are becoming reality.

Where others see despair, I see His sovereignty. He is, in a way that is causing scales to fall from my eyes today, visiting His judgement not only on the United States of America but the entire world, and I’m not just talking COVID-19.

Which means … we are closer than ever to the climax of history, to the End of Days, when all the nations of the world will be rolled up like a rotten papyrus scroll and time will be no more.

I believe this.

I know that generations past have believed that they were the last, but I stand to testify that these days are different, somehow.

So, believer, don’t despair. We are privileged to see Him at work to bring about His redemptive purposes.

You just watch.

I believe that He has in store for us one last outpouring of His Spirit, when Christians in Name Only will be confronted with the truth of the Gospel and their own sinfulness.

Ultimately, judgement will come. And He is the God of white-hot rage. Perhaps judgement is already on us.

There is always a remnant. If I’m still breathing and He hasn’t returned yet, it will be interesting to read my journal and see what He’s done.

It will be something to behold, for good or bad. I can promise you that.

Oh, please, y’all – our hope is eternal, and it is not a hope grounded in the decisions and actions of man. We, of all people, have hope. Hope.

Be joyful. He’s got this. Live like you believe it.

Question: What is the number one thing in these days that gives you hope? Share your answer with others below. And I’d be grateful if you’d share this with others on social media, too.

“What would Jesus do?” That is one of the most significant questions I, as a believer, can ask.

I am an old man. I’ve made peace with that.

My memory may not be all that great, but I remember social upheavals before. I grew up in the 60’s. In that sense, much of what is happening around the horrific tragedy of George Floyd has a sick sense of history repeating itself.

Then there’s COVID-19. Hasn’t that been a joy?

In light of all this, I have returned to a bedrock question. What would Jesus do? And I’m asking that in the context of Mr. Floyd and all the myriad pieces that make up the days we are now in as Americans.

I am speaking for myself here and not in any other capacity. I am most certainly not trying to speak for Christ. He’s already done that. This is my personal reflection and nothing else.

What would Jesus do?

1. He would ask us to be peacemakers.

Matthew 5:9

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

What a sublime calling. To think that God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ trusts us enough to be peacemakers and peace-bringers. That is a beatitudinal mandate. We are to bring peace, not strife. Not confusion. Peace.

2. He’d ask us to find a common good.

Matthew 18:19-20

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The key word here is “agree.” I contend there are more things in life among believers that unite us than divide us. That common ground is “Jesus, and Him crucified.” Scripture teaches us that there can be no fellowship between darkness and light, and any agreement between the two is superficial at best. That is not me saying that we as believers can’t unite with non-believers against a common foe. God has routinely used wicked people for His own ends. He has done and is doing that now. There is a unique bond among believers that transcends anything else on earth, and that’s what we build on.

3. He would remain silent when appropriate.

Mark 14:60-61a

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.

Jesus does answer the high priest later in this passage, but at this point He chose not to reply. Sometimes being quiet is the best response ever – silence can be more eloquent than words. It’s a matter of being wise enough to know when there isn’t anything that should be said. Of course, it’s wise to listen if you’re being silent.

4. He would serve others.

Mark 10:43-45
Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

This means we’re to abandon our agendas if they are self-serving. You can’t neglect yourself, obviously. You can’t give away if you have nothing to give. I can assure you, there are plenty of people in much worse shape than you are, and you may be divinely positioned to come alongside them and give them supernatural aid.

5. He would acknowledge that all lives matter.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

The word translated “world” shows up four times in these two verses. I can’t think of a more universal, all-encompassing sentiment than the fact that God loved the world. Jesus also says “whoever.” I’ve seen folks raked over the proverbial coals for saying “all lives matter,” as if that were some sort of heretical statement. Jesus states that all lives matter. However, having said that … Let me share some scripture first, because it covers another three points:

John 4:4-11

Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

6. He would spend time with the one (or ones) most in need at a given point in time.

Here’s Jesus, and He simply sits down with this woman and listens to her story. He asks good, probing, non-threatening and non-accusatory questions. Were there other people within a fairly easy walk who had needs, too? Certainly there were. But at this point, in this place, Jesus went to the heart of this woman’s needs … and before He spoke with her, she didn’t even know what these needs were.

There’s this:

Matthew 18:12-14

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

I believe what Jesus is saying here is to simply go where the greatest need is. If the sheep owner had gotten back with the wayward sheep, and he realized another 25 had wandered away, he’d put the one sheep in the pen and strike out in search of the 25. Those outside the pen are at greater risk than those safely inside the pen.  That’s all.

7. He would spend time in the place of greatest need.

Hearkening back to the Samaritan woman – it’s hard to tell from their dialogue how much time Jesus spent with her. We do know the disciples had gone into town to buy food. He could have gone with them and possibly had more ministry opportunities, as I mentioned. The point is that Jesus invested in this woman, one-on-one. While I won’t negate the value of speaking to large crowds, to have personal attention from someone who will listen to you is potentially life-changing. (As an aside, don’t stand off at a distance and holler at me. That will be a one-way conversation, because I won’t holler back.)

8. He would reach out to those who weren’t like Him.

Jews don’t associate with Samaritans. It was simply not done. Well, guess what. Jesus absolutely shattered that taboo. If you want to drill deeper, He shouldn’t have even been speaking to a woman, especially one by herself and out and about at this time of day.

9. He would express white-hot rage at sacrilege and blasphemy.

Mark 11:15-17

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Does Jesus get angry? You bet. This is the most physical demonstration of His anger in scripture. What brought this on? I’d suggest that this isn’t blind rage. It was purposeful, focused, and meaningful.

Ephesians 4:26-28
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Certainly Jesus didn’t sin. The lesson is that we’d better get angry at sin, or else it’ll become way too attractive to us. We might find ourselves justifying anger in ourselves that is not of God. What a subtle satanic trap!

10. He would forgive His executioners whether they “deserved” it or asked for it or not.

Luke 23:33-34
When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Jesus forgave them. They didn’t ask for forgiveness. We don’t know if they received it and repented of their wickedness. But He forgave them anyway, with no apparent conditions attached.

Jesus would forgive Derek Chauvin. And Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng.

Read that again.

11. He would want us to experience peace and rest.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

There’s a sweetness and comfort in these verses that resonate with me as much, if not more, than anything Jesus ever spoke.

Say these words aloud: “Weary.” “Burdened.” “Rest.” “Learn from me.” “Gentle.” “Humble.” “Easy.”

Those are words to quench a thirsting soul.

As I’ve watched this sordid tale of the death of George Floyd unfold, I have yearned for peace. For rest. Not only externally in the tumultuous world, but internally in my own soul. I’ve looked as best I can at “what would Jesus do?” So my points aren’t necessarily grounded in proper theology. I have followed my own imperfect heart. I’ve been afraid to speak up for fear of saying the wrong, offensive thing. I’ve remained silent when perhaps I shouldn’t have. I have been encouraged to listen – to listen with the goal of understanding. There are a lot of competing voices. Where I have settled is in trying to hear the voice of Jesus, and He tends to speak to me in whispers. And His whispers are infinitely louder than the noise around me.

Shhh. Listen. What would Jesus do? He will tell you.

Tony Asks: What is one thing you need to learn and act upon in these days? Please leave your comments below.

And I’d be grateful that, if you found value in this, share it with your friends.

Today is blog day, and I woke up committed to say … something.

I have so much chaos in my head that it’s not gonna happen. Being an empath in these days is an awful state.

I will continue to try to put something coherent together that gives God’s hope to all of us. Today … sorry.

I do want to post a statement from the leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is simple, eloquent, and so so meaningful. I’d sign it in a heartbeat.

Be well, all. Let love motivate you, and I’ll be back in touch.

Statement on the death of George Floyd

As a convention of churches committed to the equality and dignity of all people, Southern Baptists grieve the death of George Floyd, who was killed May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minn.

While all must grieve, we understand that in the hearts of our fellow citizens of color, incidents like these connect to a long history of unequal justice in our country, going back to the grievous Jim Crow and slavery eras. The images and information we have available to us in this case are horrific and remind us that there is much more work to be done to ensure that there is not even a hint of racial inequity in the distribution of justice in our country. We grieve to see examples of the misuse of force, and call for these issues to be addressed with speed and justice.

While we thank God for our law enforcement officers that bravely risk their lives for the sake of others and uphold justice with dignity and integrity, we also lament when some law enforcement officers misuse their authority and bring unnecessary harm on the people they are called to protect. We further grieve with our minority brothers and sisters in the wake of George Floyd’s death, pray for his family and friends and greatly desire to see the misuse of force and any inequitable distributions of justice come to an end.

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the Bible speaks to matters of justice and human dignity. We are taught by Scripture that human beings are distinct among the rest of creation as those beings which bear the divine image. From the beginning of life to the end, all human beings, both male and female–of all ethnicities, colors and ages–are sacred beings that God values and loves.

Throughout the law, the prophets, the gospels and the entire canon of Scripture, murder is condemned and God’s people are called to protect the vulnerable. The Bible further condemns injustice and the misuse of authority and force. And in the example of Jesus Christ, God’s people are called to love others, care for their needs, grieve with them in brokenness and labor for the well-being of our neighbor. To follow Christ is to follow in these examples He puts before us.

Therefore, as a matter of Christian obedience and devotion, followers of Jesus Christ cannot remain silent when our brothers and sisters, friends and/or people we seek to win for Christ are mistreated, abused or killed unnecessarily.

Therefore, we pray for our local, state, and national leaders as they seek justice, and call on them to act quickly and diligently to ensure that these situations are brought to an end. As a people, Southern Baptists stand ready to help towards that end. May God give us His favor, help and strength in this effort.

Co-Authors:

James K. Dew, Jr.
President, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

J.D. Greear
President, Southern Baptist Convention
Pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, N.C.

Signatories:

Marshal Ausberry
1st Vice President, Southern Baptist Convention
President, National African-American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention
Pastor, Antioch Baptist Church, Fairfax Station, Va.

Noe Garcia
2nd Vice President, Southern Baptist Convention
Senior Pastor, North Phoenix Baptist Church, Phoenix, Ariz.

Kathy Litton
Registration Secretary, Southern Baptist Convention

John Yeats
Recording Secretary, Southern Baptist Convention
Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Director

Ronnie W. Floyd
Treasurer, Southern Baptist Convention
President & CEO, SBC Executive Committee

Paul Chitwood
President, International Mission Board

Kevin Ezell
President, North American Mission Board

O.S. Hawkins
President, GuideStone Financial Resources

Ben Mandrell
President & CEO, LifeWay Christian Resources

Jeff Iorg
President, Gateway Seminary

Jason K. Allen
President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Danny L. Akin
President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

R. Albert Mohler, Jr.
President, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Adam W. Greenway
President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Russell D. Moore
President, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Sandy Wisdom-Martin
Executive Director/Treasurer, Woman’s Missionary Union

Rick Lance, Alabama State Baptist Convention
Randy Covington, Alaska Baptist Convention
David Johnson, Arizona Southern Baptist Convention
J. D. “Sonny” Tucker, Arkansas Baptist State Convention
Bill Agee, California Southern Baptist Convention
Nathan Lorick, Colorado Baptist General Convention
Fred MacDonald, Dakota Baptist Convention
J. Thomas Green, Florida Baptist Convention
W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., Georgia Baptist Convention
Christopher Martin, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention
Nate Adams, Illinois Baptist State Association
Steve McNeil, State Convention of Baptist in Indiana
Tim Lubinus, Baptist Convention of Iowa
Robert Mills, Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists
Todd Gray, Kentucky Baptist Convention
Steve Horn, Louisiana Baptist Convention
Kevin Smith, Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware
Timothy Patterson, Baptist State Convention of Michigan
Leo Endel, Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention
Shawn Parker, Mississippi Baptist Convention
Barrett Duke, Montana Southern Baptist Convention
Kevin White, Nevada Baptist Convention
Terry Dorsett, Baptist Convention of New England
Joseph Bunce, Baptist Convention of New Mexico
Terry Robertson, Baptist Convention of New York
Milton Hollifield, Jr., Baptist State Convention of North Carolina
Randy Adams, Northwest Baptist Convention
Jack P. Kwok, State Convention of Baptists in Ohio
D. Hance Dilbeck, Jr., Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma
Barry Whitworth, Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania-South Jersey
Felix Cabrera, Convention of Southern Baptist Churches in Puerto Rico
Gary Hollingsworth, South Carolina Baptist Convention
Randy C. Davis, Tennessee Baptist Convention
David W. Hardage, Baptist General Convention of Texas
Jim W. Richards, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
Rob Lee, Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention
John V. Upton, Jr., Baptist General Association of Virginia
Brian Autry, Southern Baptist Convention of Virginia
Eric Ramsey, West Virginia Convention of Southern Baptists
Quin Williams, Wyoming Southern Baptist Mission Network

I want to share 4 hard facts for believers. This is against the backdrop of COVID-19. And, yes, I’m sick of having it brought up, too.

Still, this is what’s on my mind, and that’s what a blog is for, right?

4 Hard Facts

1 – Don’t act like God has fumbled the ball on COVID-19.

It’s not your responsibility to recover His fumble. He didn’t fumble. It seems that we feel that we need to be assistants to the Holy Spirit.

We fret. As if that would help. We may even cross the line over into obsessions. If the state of things occupies most of your waking thoughts, that doesn’t impress me as healthy. Of course, I’d never be guilty of that.

We research to find items that support what we’ve already chosen to believe. If your mind is already made up about some crazy-sauce conspiracy, then the tendency is to find “experts” out there who agree with you. It kinda makes you feel validated, or something like that.

If you spend a lot of time trying to figure out what’s “really” going on, then maybe you need to take up another hobby to occupy your mind … that is, unless you get warm fuzzies from worrying.

If you, as a Christian, believe “God’s got this,” then act like it.

2 – Guard your heart.

Don’t let things into it that corrupt your soul and mind. That’s more deadly than any virus. Try a news fast for a while. I’m not saying that you need to be ill-informed or uninformed. What I am saying is that if you evaluate your intake of news, how much of it is anything you can personally act upon? Don’t pay any attention to things you can’t do anything about. We can’t do anything about what’s already happened – there’s lots of blame to go around – but we can take steps to see it doesn’t happen again. You probably don’t know anyone in Wuhan, China. Don’t make yourself crazy exploring conspiracies.

3 – Be joyful.

This isn’t the same as being happy or content, of course. Joy is divine – happiness and contentment is temporal. If you aren’t joyful, it’s totally your own fault. God gives joy. If you aren’t joyful, then you are ignoring God’s grace and mercy. That is not a good plan. These are hard facts.

4 – Do NOT personalize this pandemic.

Are you ever struck while treading through social media just how selfish people can be? COVID-19 is not just about you. It never has been. We like to say “We’re all in this together.” That’s true, to a point. We are all citizens of the world. I had this fantasy about all of mankind presenting a united front against a common foe.

Maybe I forgot to factor in the fallen state of man. I don’t see a whole lot of support and affirmation among those who are of different minds as we navigate these waters. It’s like people have chosen camps and have retreated behind their barricades. The result? “If you don’t believe the same as I do regarding the pandemic, then not only are you wrong. You’re stupid.” (And if I hear the word “sheeple” one more time, I’m gonna throw up.)

So if you’re guilty of making this personal, as if the virus and all that goes with it is directed at you, you need to fix that. Other folks, other believers may not see things the same way as you do. A helpful exercise might be to stand in front of a mirror and say, “You know, I could be wrong.”

These are the hard facts of life in these days. I have spoken. Be blessed!

I honestly can’t remember where I heard this, or I’d give appropriate credit … but there are two types of time in life – alive time and dead time.

I’m guessing you may have some time on your hands, unless you’re an essential worker. And I’ll pause to give a big shout out and much love to:

• Health care workers and medical professionals
• First responders
• Truck drivers
• Grocery, convenience store workers and other necessary retail
• Sanitation workers

There are plenty of others. These folks do NOT have the same kind of time as I do, or you either, most likely. They are away from home and family, and having any time at all is a luxury. My love and admiration know no bounds. We are redefining “hero” in these days.

But back to alive time and dead time. Most people, if they have some excess time, choose to kill it.

Killing time is more than just a saying.

Examples?

• Netflix
• Mindlessly scrolling on their phone
• Complaining or wishing their current situation away

We know these kind of people because we are those people. Ouch.

Right now, you and most of the world is on lockdown. I have yet to be able to wrap my head around that. “Surreal” is the term I keep returning to. It’s like watching a movie with no ending.

So what are we to do? I have some thoughts. I’m ready for some positive.

We can use this time to:

• Invest in ourselves
• Learn and improve
• Learn new skills
• Develop more intimacy with God

We can’t control the situation we’re in, but we can seize the moment. And how we react and use this time will determine who we are as people.

What do these days mean to you? What are you discovering? Don’t waste this.

Make your dead time alive time.

Here are my five initial thoughts. I’ll probably think of some more, but this is a starter. Hey – make your own list, too!

1. Master the art of resting. One thing I’ve heard over and over is that people are challenged by trying to be still and quiet. Ancient script admonishes us to “be still, and know that I am God.” That’s an art we’ve simply lost. I’m thinking about one specific teenager right now who was involved in everything, and I mean everything – team and individual sports, other extracurricular activities, a part-time job, in addition to “regular” school responsibilities. That kid has gone from 60 to zero virtually overnight. I bet they’re losing their mind … unless … they learn to rest. Folks, take heed. I believe all of us, with few exceptions, don’t know how to rest. What if you took thirty minutes a day just to sit in silence and just listen? I can’t tell you what you need to listen for. All I know is that you’ll recognize it when you hear it. It takes that long for all the racket and distractions in your head to settle down. Maybe you’ll hear that “still, small voice,” perhaps for the first time.
2. Make something with your hands. I’m seeing a lot of folks on social media putting together complex, involved jigsaw puzzles. That’s not my thing, but if it’s yours, or if it’s something you’d like to experiment with, good. Maybe you have some rudimentary art skills with paint, clay, or even crayons. Maybe you have wanted to try your hand at woodworking. Or working in the yard (definitely not me, but knock yourself out.) I’d even consider cooking, or writing, or a hobby in this category. That’s a big step toward making dead time alive time.
3. Read. Don’t balk. “I don’t like books,” you say. Well, I can’t fix that for you – maybe it’s just never appealed to you, or you were forced to read in school. Because of that, you said, “I’ll never read a book again.” Fine. I’d just quote Harry Truman: “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” You can read some things that are nourishing and soul-satisfying. You can read just to learn. But don’t blow off reading for sheer entertainment. Don’t hate. Don’t judge. I’m sticking with my opinion on this.
4. Wrestle with a challenging or controversial subject. I hope this makes sense in the context of dead time and alive time. Have you had a question that troubles you? For me, it might be some sticky theological issue. How, for instance, do you reconcile God’s sovereignty with free will? (I’ve read plenty from folks a lot smarter than me on this one. And since this is a question that hasn’t been definitively answered in a couple thousand years, I don’t think I’ll come up with it. But it’s fun to wrangle it … and if I want your opinion on it, I’ll ask you for it!) There are plenty of other questions you may have but haven’t had the time to dig into. I can be looking for a recipe, and two hours later I realize I’ve learned all there is to know about the Byzantine empire. Going down a rabbit hole is easy for me. Point is – be intellectually curious; now you have time to find some answers. Or maybe get more frustrated. Whatever.
5. Make a difference for someone. This is a wide-open opportunity, isn’t it? I can assure you that there are people you know and love who are in worse shape than you are. Want to move dead time to alive time? Find a need and meet it. There is so much you can do from your own home. Simply calling and checking on people is a great move. Call a local nursing home and find out if there’s a client who is especially lonely, and call and talk to them. It may be that the difference you make can happen right in your own home. Play some board games. Do crafts together. You were created by a Creator to be creative. Now’s your chance. You might just be someone’s answered prayer. Seriously.

That’s my five. One more, as a bonus:

Make a plan to celebrate when this is all over.

Because it will be.

You can have hope. Change your dead time to alive time. You and your part of the world will be grateful for it.

Note: This is a reprint of a blog I wrote several months ago. I felt that it was worth sharing again. It applies to all sorts of life events. Be blessed.

The indifference of God. Maybe you know what I’m talking about.

If you’re a believer, you’ve been taught that God cares for you. You’ve experienced that care, perhaps.

There have been times when I’ve rested in the arms of Jesus. Storms wail, waves crash, darkness looms, and yet I feel perfectly safe. He’s got me, in other words.

Other times, it’s as though I’ve hung on for dear life. It’s like walking to the edge of the abyss, peeking over, and knowing that one misstep is certain death.

I was taught that I would never walk alone. What about those times when you don’t sense His presence at all? And before you climb up on your spiritual high horse and try to convince me that you’ve always known He’s there, I will tell you that part of your spiritual growth process is to experience the silence of God.

This is nothing new.

If you want to take this thought to its extreme manifestation, consider Jesus’ words from the cross:

“My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?”

Jesus experienced silence. His Father God was nowhere to be found.

How are we to respond to God’s silence? Is the indifference of God even a thing?

It is not. But that’s not to say that we should interpret God’s silence as His indifference.

In the bleakest of moments, you might have said to yourself, “No one cares.” The companion thought is, “No one understands.”

These are actual possibilities, I’m sorry to say. It’s unlikely, but there are people who genuinely don’t have anyone that cares about them. And to say “no one understands” is to some degree true of all of us. No one is going to completely “get” you because they aren’t you. If you don’t always understand your thoughts and actions, it’s not likely anyone else is, either.

My Sunday School diploma gives me the authority to say this: God cares. God understands.

Don’t blow that off as simplistic or just a t-shirt slogan. I don’t think the issue is believing those statements – the problem comes in making them a reality in your life.

What can you do, then? When God is silent, are there steps you can take to assure yourself that He is indeed there and is continually present?

Try these:

1. Understand that the silence of God is not the indifference of God. God, by His nature, cannot be indifferent. He is intimately involved in every aspect of your life.
2. If you’re wondering if God cares, let me direct you toward the Cross. That’s proof aplenty.
3. God routinely takes us to places of desperation. I’d be presumptuous to try to explain why. I think it has everything to do with our personal growth and maturity in Christ. He leaves us to our own desires, and we wander far afield. Like the prodigal in the far country, He engineers circumstances to take us to a place of hopelessness. If we’re reasonably intelligent, self-inflicted hopelessness should point us to repentance. Repentance leads to restoration.
4. Part of God’s strategy with us is when He seals up the heavens and you not only don’t “hear” from Him through scripture or prayer, you can’t even tell if He’s around.
5. This is much, much different from the human “silent treatment.” That passive-aggressive tactic is deployed to make someone feel guilty or unworthy. That’s not how God rolls. Quite the opposite.
6. God’s silence is intended to move us to a place of longing. We experience a leanness in our souls. We move into a place on dependence on Him. You don’t take Him for granted anymore.
7. When the time is right – and He determines the time – He’ll break through. It’s incumbent on us to put ourselves in a place where we can hear and discern clearly.
8. Just because you can’t feel His presence is no evidence that He isn’t there. Feelings are great betrayers. Don’t base your relationship with God on how you feel.

Can you trust Him no matter what?

It’s easy to trust God when the bush is burning and you hear His voice. You can easily trust Him when the waters part before you and you can cross safely on dry land. It’s those times of silence that are disturbing.

Guess what? You are not exempt from God’s silence.

If silence serves His purposes and causes you to yearn for Him, you can count on Him to be very, very quiet.

It’s easy for me to say “hang on.” It’s much tougher to have to be the one who’s hanging. I believe your best strategy is to acknowledge that we all experience those times of silence, from the weakest believer to to the strongest saint. God trusts you enough to let you experience His silence. There is no such thing as the indifference of God. When He refuses to speak, take comfort in knowing He’s up to something big. He is going to grow you in a totally unexpected fashion.

Go with that. He’ll never leave you or forsake you.

The coronavirus, aka COVID-19, is well upon us. I’m hesitant to add my voice to all the racket, but I need to unburden myself concerning the coronavirus reality. I don’t know if I have anything new to add, but here ya go. The picture I shared is an actual unstaged photo I took Thursday at  the Walmart in Flowood, Mississippi. It’s as eloquent as a still-life.

We are capable of greatness.

1. The coronavirus reality is that some politicians and their minions are using it to score points against their enemies. I find that sleazy and low. This is not a great time for people to make accusations about what should have been done. We can’t go back for a do-over on this one. We can make wise, measured, decisions going forward, but being snarky isn’t a solution. It divides us even more. That needs to quit. We need some grownups to handle this one.
2. I’m in a high risk category, they tell me. The coronavirus reality is that I need to be prudent, as do other people my age. I’m not diabetic, I don’t have heart disease, or any of those other nasty ailments. I’ll do what I need to to avoid getting sick. If I get sick, I’ll try to get well. And I will get well, either here or in eternity. I prefer the first option, but I’m at peace with the second.
3. This may be a fool’s wish, but historically Americans have shown themselves to be a resilient group. I know I have readers in other countries, and I’m not devaluing them. I’m just speaking to what I know. We have pulled together during the most challenging days before, and have done it in record time. What a divided country we live in! Wouldn’t it be something that part of the coronavirus reality might be that we genuinely cooperate and come together to fight a common enemy. I saw flashes of that immediately after 9/11. We are capable of greatness. What happens in the next few weeks will be teach a lot about who we are.
4. There are plenty of people out there smarter than you working on this. Experts can be wrong, but I’d rather listen to a flawed expert than an assured idiot. The coronavirus reality is that, as laypeople, we don’t have all the answers because we don’t have access to all the intelligence.
5. There is a huge spiritual component in the coronavirus reality. I’ll state the obvious: God’s got this. He is not wringing His omnipotent hands. He will most assuredly use this in a manner that suits Him. Folks are panicked, worldwide. Balk if you must, but for the believer, there is no reason to be anxious. Concerned and vigilant, of course. But mindless fret? Nope. God controls every germ, virus, molecule, and atom. God has sovereign control over all of creation.
6. This is a great opportunity to display peace, hope, and simple sanity. The coronavirus reality is that those virtues are going to be in short supply in days to come. Don’t go there. Be more than that.
7. Pray, and pray without ceasing. Mike Pence was flayed in the media for praying with a group over the coronavirus reality. I’m glad he prayed. I’m glad when we all pray. Praying that you can be a source of hope and comfort to others wouldn’t be a bad place to start. Remember, too, that health care professionals are good at what they do. All healing ultimately comes from God, the Great Physician, but He uses human agents for healing to take place.
8. Don’t be afraid to laugh. I am not, not, not making light of the seriousness of this disease. But there is humor in the darkest circumstances. I’ve seen plenty of really clever memes in the last several days. If I ignore the ones in poor taste, there’s a lot that are darn funny. If you’re offended, just move on. (And before someone stuffs my inbox with comments like “Would you think it’s funny if one of your loved ones died?”, I’d think, dude, you aren’t very bright to even ask that, trying to get a “gotcha” agains me – of course it wouldn’t be funny). But there are plenty of things about toilet paper that crack me up. Humor, and especially satire, is in the eyes of the beholder. So let’s go easy on each other – we all cope in different ways. Laughing at absurdity, whether I see it in someone else or myself, works for me.

I’d rather listen to a flawed expert than an assured idiot.

I’ll wrap this by sharing a quote from one of my heroes, C. S. Lewis. These are C. S. Lewis’s words—written 72 years ago—and it rings  with some relevance for us. Just replace “atomic bomb” with “coronavirus.” It’s all part of the coronavirus reality.

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 any 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: and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways. We had, indeed, one very great advantage over our ancestors—anesthetics; but we have that still. 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.

This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. 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.

— “On Living in an Atomic Age” (1948) in Present Concerns: Journalistic Essays

You better pay me some attention this morning. I’m about to save someone’s sanity.

It’s about this corruptible political season. My blog is not intended to be a place for political musings, but I’m breaking my own rule here.

Because, this corruptible political season has much to do with your personal well-being and giving you hope and encouragement.

I was with our Mississippi Baptist disaster relief team in NYC following 9/11. Because of that work, I was placed on the World Trade Center Health Registry, a project that tracks the health and well-being of all those responders.

A few times a year, I am contacted by this group via email. Sometimes there are surveys. My responses are entered into a database so that they can study the aftermath of being involved in such a tragedy. Many first responders have been diagnosed with PTSD, in addition to other physical health issues.

One thing has intrigued me. It’s been shown that people in places like Kansas and South Dakota that have never been to NYC, or even KNOW anyone in NYC, have shown symptoms of and have been treated for PTSD, just as though they had been present during or after 9/11.

What researchers have found that those suffering had watched so much television, camped out online, and had immersed themselves in images from the tragedy to the extent that they experienced the same struggles as those who were on the ground in Manhattan.

Flash forward. It’s now 2020. Donald Trump has gone through impeachment proceedings. That’ll probably be settled Wednesday. At this writing, he’ll deliver his State of the Union address tonite. The Iowa caucus is one big mess. There’s plenty of evidence that we’re living in a corruptible political season right there.

Much as was after the World Trade Center attack, the media has breathlessly reported everything that is happening in the last few days.

I don’t care to comment on the rightness or wrongness of what is happening – that’s not my point. My point, and my concern, is that we all take stock in what constant exposure, even obsession, of what is happening in these politically charged days is doing to our minds, to our hearts, all of us.

Because, you gotta ask yourself – are you happy? Are you at peace? Do you have an inner source of comfort that the world can’t take away?

What I’m talking about is totally independent of what is happening in our country.

My fear is that if you find yourself constantly checking the web for Trump news, that if you camp out on one of the TV news outlets, that if you perpetually read blogs from people with your same world view, if you find yourself texting back and forth with your peers all the time, and find yourself bemoaning the ignorance of those who don’t see things as you do … y’all, you are POISONING YOUR SOUL. I am seeing it over and over.

I’m not making a case against being informed. This isn’t about sticking your head in the sand. It’s about you stepping back, evaluating yourself, and OWNING the condition of your heart.

If you’re finding yourself in a dark place, do NOT blame external events or circumstances. It’s all on you, you alone, because you can choose the state of your life right now.

Forget for a moment political garbage. Are you in a better place internally than you were a year ago? Is your heart settled and at peace? Because if it’s NOT, it’s time to change, to stand down, to not fill your heart and mind with corruption.

Stand down. Don’t obsess. You become what you think about. Get the heck off any social media that drags you down. Fill your mind with what is good and wholesome. Maybe volunteer at a homeless shelter. Rake leaves for a widow you know. But get out of yourself, quit bemoaning the awfulness of your state because what is happening “out there,” get involved in something that is life affirming and positive.

For me, that’s Jesus.

Again – look at what you’re doing to yourself.

Eventually, what you do to yourself is going to affect those around you, those you love, and one day you’ll find yourself looking back on these days and realize that this was the time you allowed your heart to become small and bitter, to your everlasting regret. That would apply to ANYONE no matter what their ideology.

Take stock of how you feel RIGHT NOW. Is this how you want to live your life, with your mind and heart in this shape?

Act now. You can change the course of your life. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Here’s what I’m clinging to: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things… and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8 – 9b.

I don’t know how much of a Star Wars fan you have to be to recognize A New Hope as the title of the first movie in the canon. In 1977 the movie was simply Star Wars. Since that time eight more episodes hit the screens. Now Star Wars, aka A New Hope, is the fourth episode.

I’m not going to delve into a discussion of the series. Even if you’re a nonfan, you have to recognize how much of an impact the movies have had on popular culture. It is significant.

I wonder why it made such an impact?

There have been college theses written on Star Wars, and dorm room philosophers have debated “what does it all mean, anyway?”

My sense is that it all is built on the concept of hope. You know I’m all about hope.

Without descending too far into geekdom, here’s the opening title crawl from the movie:

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…

“It is a period of civil war. Rebel spaceships, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Empire. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DeathStar, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet. Pursued by the Empire’s sinister agents, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of the stolen plans that can save her people and restore freedom to the galaxy.”

The hope, then, is in the possibility that Leia’s people can be saved and freedom can be restored to the galaxy.

The substance of Episode Four, A New Hope, is something we can embrace. Because there is always hope.

At this writing, we are one day into 2020.

Carpe annum!

Because, although it’s simply another date on the calendar, we tend to look at January 1 as an opportunity to begin again. To revel in a new hope that what was doesn’t always have to be.

How does that hope become a reality in your own life?

It may be that we’re held hostage to our past. This is a theme you’ll find me returning to from time to time. Here’s my take on it today.

Ever wish anything bad you ever did could be wiped away? I don’t mean simply forgotten. I mean eradicated.

Then check this out. It’s from the ancient book of Isaiah, chapter 65, verse 17.

See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

And in that same vein, Isaiah 43:18-19:

“Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Man, there’s some good stuff here. Stuff to give you a new hope.

We’ve all done things we regret, but we don’t have to live in that regret. There is this amazing promise of all things being made new. It’s not just fixing things that are broken. It’s a brand new, clean slate start.

I like that. But there’s more.

God doesn’t hold our past against us. Nor should we. He commands us to forget the former things and not dwell in the past.

God even spells out what He wants to do.

Isaiah 43:19 tells us that God is making a way in the wilderness, and is placing streams in the wasteland.

It may be that the imagery conjured up by the words “wilderness” and “wasteland” resonates with you. You may have felt like you’ve been in the wilderness, just wandering around aimlessly, trying to find your way home. And the wasteland? Desolation. Loneliness. Maybe even abandonment.

Let me give you a new hope that comes from God Himself.

It doesn’t have to be this way, because He is God.

God is not bound by the same things that bind us. He has the vantage point of eternity. We are locked into the right now, and that’s influenced by what was.

Because God isn’t limited as we are, He has the power to do, well, anything. All of creation is available to God to bless us with.

Can He make paths in the wilderness? You bet. Just as earth movers and  bulldozers can make roadbeds, God can do the same thing for us. He clears life’s paths before us.

And streams in the wasteland, the desert? He’s got that too. He’s brought water from a rock. He’s fed people with manna. He placed a new star in the heavens to point toward Jesus.

In other words, He’s got the whole world in His hands. He can take all of the resources of the universe and deploy them to meet our needs.

So it doesn’t matter what our failures have been, or what our current shortcomings are. Those former things won’t even come to His mind. He has every intention of doing a new thing in all of our lives.

You want a new hope? There it is.

It’s 2020. What would your life look like if you let God make it new?

Be blessed, y’all.

(Note: Some of the thoughts expressed here were inspired by words from my boss, Dr. Jim Futral, earlier today in our building chapel service. He is retiring at the end of February, and I will miss him.)