YOU and GOD

How To Be Happy Though Human

On September 14, 1982, the “story-book life” of Princess Grace Kelly, wife of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, came to a sudden, tragic end. On the day following her death, The Washington Post described Princess Grace as follows: “Absolutely beautiful; immaculate, perfectly groomed; a first-generation American beauty.” Most women so described, married to a prince, would be expected to be happy! But, a reporter once asked Princess Grace, “Are you truly happy?” She replied, “I don’t think any of us is ever truly happy.”

Webster defines happiness as a state of “pleasure, contentment, joy.”

Angus Campbell, Professor of Psychology and Sociology at the University of Michigan, in a 1979 U.S. News and World Report interview, revealed that his extensive research indicated that Americans then were generally less happy than were Americans who lived in the early 1950’s. Also, contrary to popular thinking, he found that: (1) Older people, for the most part, were happier than younger people (18-30 year-olds); (2) that happiness, generally, does not depend upon economic status; (3) that the most unhappy people were single adults in the 18-30 age bracket; and (4) that women who work outside the home are no happier than women who stay at home and are traditional housewives. Dr. Campbell described the “happiest American woman” as being under the age of 30, married, yet childless; and the “happiest American man” as being between 50 and 70 years of age, with children grown and gone from home.

So much for what the sociologist says about happiness—it is interesting but far from infallible! God’s Word has a lot to say about happiness:

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.” (Provs.3:13) “Happy is the man whom God correcteth.” (Job 5:17) Happy is the man that hath his quiver full (of children). (Psalm 127:5) “He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.” (Provs. 14:21) “Whoso trusteth the Lord, happy is he.” (Provs. 16:20) “Happy is the man that feareth alway….” (Provs. 28:14) “Where there is no vision the people perish, but he that keepeth the Law, happy is he.” (Provs. 29:18) And, “Happy is that people whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15)

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most people are about as happy as they choose to be.” Probably no one reading this has gone through the grief Lincoln suffered through. He had experienced the death of dear loved ones, the loss of more than a few elections, a nation-splitting Civil War as well as many other personal losses. Yet the 16^th president of the United States could attest that happiness was not a matter of circumstances, but rather a matter of choice! You can choose to be happy! Dr. Tim LaHaye wrote a book on “How to be Happy Though Married.” So, this is not a book, but some encouraging words based on God’s truth that will let you know “How to be Happy Though Human.”

Be Sure You are Prepared to Meet God

But, you must understand that becoming one of His children by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8–9) will not make all your problems vanish!
Nor will “being saved” insulate you from having problems in the future. (i.e., sickness, death, financial problems, family disruptions)
But, when you are “saved,” “regenerated,” “born again,” you can rejoice in that your sins—past, present, future—are pardoned!

“Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him: as far as the east is from the west: so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11)

And, when you are “saved,” you will experience the peace of God.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

Riches, fame, power, pleasure cannot buy or bring this “peace that passeth all understanding!”

“Pleasures are as poppies spread: You seize the flower, the bloom is shed.” (Poet Robert Burns)

Stephen Foster, famous American composer, died a drunkard’s death at the ripe old age of 37.

Surrender your life to God daily, Romans 12:1-2

Lose your own life: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall save it.” (Luke 9:24)
Die to self: “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me, and the life I now live I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Gal. 2:20) A dove can land on a “live” high wire, clutching it firmly with both feet and not be “fried!” We too must land on Christ fully (nothing grasping the world) in faith as we “die to self.” One foot in the world and one trying to hold on to Him, and we’re “fried!”

Serve the Lord with gladness. Here are a couple of ways to do that:

Witness for Him: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy; he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with REJOICING, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:5–6) Nothing will make you happier than bringing another soul to Christ and His kingdom!
Work for Him. “Serve the Lord with gladness….” (Psalm 100:2)

“And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you….” (2 Cor. 12:15) Exercise the spiritual gift that God’s Holy Spirit has equipped you with!

“The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but rather how many men he serves.” — D. L. Moody

Lorne Sanny, founder of the Navigators, answered the question “How do I know when I have a servant’s heart?” with these wise words: “You will know whether you have a servant’s heart by how you act when you are treated like one.”

Our Lord and Savior said that even He did not come into this world to be served, but to serve and give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

Pretty basic, yet very doable, formula for being happy though human. Be sure you are ready to meet God (i.e. that you are a “born-again” believer); then if you are, live a daily surrendered life as you walk with Him; finally, find your place of service in His vineyard and serve the Lord with gladness. If you follow these simple guidelines for happiness, you will be able to sing the song that A.H. Ackley penned, “I am happy in the service of the King; I am happy, Oh, so happy; I have peace and joy that nothing else can bring, in the service of the King.” Go for it, friend!

“Happy is that people… whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 144:15)

Christian Fellowship—Vanishing Virtue

“One of the best ways to emasculate our faith is to cut ourselves off from other Christians.” Those words are a commentary on the 20^th/21^st century churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Church that Jesus promised to build, begun on the Day of Pentecost as recorded Acts 2, was birthed in “doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) Most Bible-believing, New Testament churches today are careful to “cross their doctrinal ‘t’s’” and “dot their doctrinal ‘i’s,’” but with almost unlimited options for “things to do” before and after our worship gatherings, the fellowship that was so foundational in that mother church in Jerusalem is not so prominent in many of our churches today.

Oh, in the pattern and spirit of the early church, we still, when receiving believers into our church membership, extend the “right hand of fellowship.” That precedent was established when Paul and Barnabas were given the right hand of fellowship by James, Cephas and John. (Gal.2:9) It was and is a gesture indicating you, as a church, are identifying with the person(s) you are receiving into your communion. But, what do we do after this? To that early Jerusalem assembly, the extending of the right hand of fellowship was more than symbolic; it was an act of genuine love, demonstrating that the church and the persons being received would be bonded together as one from that day forward.

Most churches that are Bible-centers of preaching today are not deficient in the proclamation of doctrine. Paul’s words to Timothy have been taken seriously: “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (I Tim. 4:13) We have done that because we do not want to be guilty of being “…children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness….” (Eph. 4:14)

But what about fellowship? In Lev. 6:2 Moses listed the “sin of fellowship” as a transgression that the Israelites were committing against their neighbors. Are New Testament churches committing—in a different way—the “sin of fellowship” today?

Well, what exactly do we mean by “fellowship?” What is it? First, the question, “What is it NOT?” Fellowship must not be confused with “friendship.” There are people with whom we can be friends, but with whom we can have no Christian fellowship. Fellowship is not realized by being a member of the same community club or social group with others with whom we may enjoy camaraderie.

The word fellowship comes from a word that, in its original form, looks and sounds like our English word “Coin.” A coin, a common coin, is used in transactions involving common currency. Fellowship is sharing what we have and hold in common. Christian fellowship is sharing our common faith, beliefs, hope, convictions as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, Christiann fellowship must be based upon sharing communion and oneness with those who are also members by grace through faith in the Body of Christ, His Church. This fellowship is first, “With the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ,” then “with one another.” (I John 1:3-7) It is a fellowship we were “called unto,” and a fellowship “in the gospel.” (I Cor. 1:19; Phil. 1:5) Paul warns, too, that there is no fellowship between righteousness and unrighteousness (believers and unbelievers), nor is there any possibility of fellowship with devils. (2 Cor.6:14,15; I Cor. 10:20) We cannot fellowship with “works of darkness.” (Eph. 5:11) To the contrary, Christian fellowship is that which is “in the Spirit,” between people who are “likeminded,” and “of one accord,” and who are people walking in “lowliness of mind.” (Phil.2:1-3)

We surely need continuous fellowship today, just as did our forbearers of faith. We need it because of the strength of the World, the Flesh and the Devil. Fellowship affords us the power of united prayer against these ancient foes, and it encourages us to keep on keeping on. (I Cor. 16:9) We can accomplish much more through fellowship—more in our efforts in world missions; more in Christian education endeavors; more in evangelism and soul-winning, and more in the building of His kingdom.

World renowned evangelist, Billy Graham, was once asked what his greatest satisfaction was in his ministry: was it meeting many presidents, kings, queens and dignitaries; or was it preaching to millions of people? He answered without hesitation: “It has been my fellowship with Jesus….that has been my greatest joy.” (From a devotional by Joe Stowell) There just is no substitute for this privileged communion! With the Father, with the Son, and with the people of God!

We can achieve fellowship today, as in the days of the infant church, by “bearing one another’s burdens.” (Gal. 6:2) We can do it by sharing the Word, sharing God’s blessings upon us; sharing testimonies of answered prayer; sharing material blessings; and, of course, by sharing our love as we share ourselves—our time, our treasures, our talents.

A lady once wrote these desperate words to her pastor’s wife: “I was so pleased to receive your card and the tapes. I felt so lost and alone. I honestly thought no one was lifting my name to the throne room. And, I was starving, so starved for God’s Word…Have you really prayed for me? I am also starved for fellowship with God’s saints.”

To all who read this post today: you can always, night or day, experience the blessing of pure fellowship—with the Father and with His Son. Jesus knocks at your door, saying, “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20) That is step one! Open your heart’s door to Him now; He will come in and “sup” with you—He will share with you what you have in common! Having done that, you will be ready to fellowship with other believers of like precious faith, members of His body.

“Jesus has a table spread, where the saints of God are fed; He invites His chosen people, ‘Come and dine.’ With His manna He doth feed, and supplies our every need; O ‘tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time!”

“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, ‘Come and dine.’ You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time; He who fed the multitudes, turned the water into wine, to the hungry calleth now, ‘Come and dine.’” (Widmeyer; Bolton)

Fellowship…let’s not forget today the New Testament model of doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer!

“Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.” (2 Cor.8:4)

An Evil Heart of Unbelief

Drop out, cop out Christianity is an accurate way of describing late-20^th century and early 21^st century mainstream Christendom. From the pulpit to the pew, defections are widespread through the ranks of the soldiers of the cross. Recent reports about the movement back to church—especially among youth and young adults—is encouraging if not hopeful.

But even before the canon of the scripture was closed; in fact, even before the apostolic era of the church had passed—in the almost earliest days of the church—there were alarming trends of large numbers of professing Christians who looked back over their shoulders to life before their public confession of Christ, thinking that life was simpler—even “easier”—then. It should not have caught anyone off guard. Paul had explicitly warned that believers would depart from the faith. (I Tim.4:1)

But the severest warnings to Christians, in scripture, come in the Book of Hebrews, chapters 3, 4, and 10.

God does not want us to grow weary and to give in, and give out, on our life with Christ. He yearns for us to keep on keeping on. He earnestly desires for us to “enter into rest”—even on this side of heaven. We could call this the “rest” of living a victorious Christian life, as opposed to a constant defeating struggle with “the flesh”—or the “old man”—with whom we must deal with until we breath our last breath.

But that “rest” can come NOW. With the greatest urgency, the writer of the book of Hebrews warns first century saints (and us) that if they are not careful they will miss the “rest” of which he writes. That which will rob them of their “rest” as saints, and that which will rob us today of our “rest,” is “an evil heart of unbelief.” It robbed the children of Israel in the wilderness; it robbed the nation of Israel year after year until they were taken captive by Assyria and Babylon because of their evil hearts; it is robbing many today, and, if we are careless, it will rob us of our faith-rest, too. Note with me the characteristics, causes, consequences and cure of the “Evil Heart of Unbelief.”

The Characteristics of the Evil Heart of Unbelief, Hebs. 3:12

• Discounting the works of God on behalf of His people
➤ He divided the sea while they passed through, making the waters to stand as a heap on either side of them;
➤ He led them by His presence by a cloud in the daytime and a pillar of fire by night;
➤ He brought water out of rocks to give them a drink in the wilderness;
➤ He rained manna down from heaven so that they ate “angel’s food!”;
➤ He rained the flesh of fowl upon them as the sand of the sea for meat to eat;
➤He guided them 40 years in the wilderness, and neither their clothes nor their shoes waxed old upon them! But,
➤“For all these things they sinned still and believed not His wondrous works.” (Ps.78:32)

• Disregarding His Word, Hebs. 4:2—They had “heart trouble!”
➤Their hearts were hardened, Hebs. 3:8
➤Their hearts erred from the truth, Hebs. 3:10
➤Their hearts were unbelieving, Hebs. 3:12

The Cause of the Evil Heart of Unbelief (the deceitfulness of sin), Hebs. 3:13

• The deceitfulness of sin says, “Just this one time won’t matter; go ahead, do it!”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “Everybody’s doing it!”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “God is loving; He will understand.”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “You owe it to yourself; if you don’t look out after yourself, who will?”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “I’m only hurting myself by doing this.”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “This is just a little sin; it’s not any big deal.”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “I know it’s not right, but just look at the good that is going to come of it.”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “If I don’t do it, someone else will; I will do it, and God knows my heart, He’ll understand and He will forgive.”
• The deceitfulness of sins says, “All right, go ahead and do it, but just this one time only!”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “It’s OK, nobody will ever know.”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “All I want to make me happy is just this little bit more.”
• The deceitfulness of sin says, “It isn’t right, but after all I must provide for my family.”
• Yes, the deceitfulness of sin says all of this and more. But God says, “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7)

The Consequences of An Evil Heart of Unbelief: “Failing to enter into rest.”—Hebs. 3:19 (Note: this rest is not talking about salvation, cmp. I Cor. 10:11)

• All were under the cloud (led by God’s presence), I Cor. 10:1
• All passed through the sea (delivered by God’s power), I Cor. 10:1
• All were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (i.e., all identified with God’s man and with God’s message), v. 2
• All did eat the same spiritual meat (i.e. the Word of God), v. 3
• All drank of the Rock Christ, I Cor. 10:4
• All were saved, but many did not enter into rest, or the promised land of victory; all over the age of 20 died before stepping into the promised land, because of an evil heart of unbelief. (This is also identified as “the sin unto death.” ) I John 5:16,17

The Cure for An Evil Heart of Unbelief

• Appropriating victory through faith, Hebs. 4:2 (This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.) I John 5:4
• Appropriating the quick and powerful Word of God, which is sharper than any two-edged sword, Hebs. 4:12
• Appropriating the intercessory work of Jesus on our behalf, Hebs. 4:14,15
• Appropriating the power of prayer, Hebs. 4:16

So, the stern warning, as well as the way of escape, was sounded to these early Hebrew converts that were thinking about turning back to Judaism. The urgency of the appeal was reiterated often by the word “today!” (Hebs. 3:7, 3:13, 3:15) The plea should not fall upon deaf ears even now. Today, harden not your hearts; dispel unbelief by victory through faith, the Word and prayer. “Let us go on to perfection.” (Hebs. 6:1)

“For we know Him that hath said, ‘Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebs. 10:30, 31)

Grace Today

Last week (Oct. 27, 2025) Ellen and I attended a beautiful banquet, prepared and served by Grace Today Ministries for pastors, missionaries, Christian workers, and wives. It was hosted by Lew Hunter, Founder and President of Grace Today Ministries, and his wife Pam. Designed as a gesture of genuine appreciation for God’s servants in vocational ministries, it was the 8^th such banquet. The delicious meal and dynamic message—plus Christ-honoring music—all came at “no charge” to any of the guests.

Dr. Bud Steadman, Missions Mentor and former Executive Director of Baptist World Mission, delivered a stirring Bible message from the Gospel of Mark. Brother Hunter presented a Faithful Servant’s Award to Rev. Wayne Denton, the President of Indiana Baptist College. The fellowship around the beautifully decorated tables as we enjoyed the scrumptious food was, as one might expect, rich! I hope that, if you live within distance of this banquet venue next October, you will put it on your calendar as a “must do!” There were 80 adult guests, so it is growing each year. Appropriately, the banquet was held in October—a month set aside by many as “Pastors Appreciation Month.”

Now, no matter where you live, as a Grace Today board member, I’d like to introduce you to this ministry of helps that Lew Hunter was burdened to start several yeas ago. His introductory brochure says, “There are many needs in the lives of pastors, servants, and churches today. One of the greatest needs is that of encouragement. The burdens of ministry are heavy and the pressures our people face are difficult. Let’s face it, we live in trying times. Pastors, their families, and churches need the sweet encouragement of God’s Word.”

He continues, “Pam and I are grateful for the journeys which God has carried us through. He has given us the opportunity to minister in a number of settings. Through them we have learned the burdens are real, the struggles are great, yet God’s grace is sufficient. All too often though, Pastors feel they have nowhere to turn, and no one to share their innermost struggles with. Grace Today Ministries seeks to meet these needs through preaching/teaching, personal counsel, writing and music; all with the understanding that it is the Bible, God’s Word, which holds the answer to all our needs.”

In another section, Brother Hunter highlights the severity of the problems that are surfacing today in ministries and in the lives of ministers:

80% of pastors feel they are on call 24/7
80% of pastors believe ministry has negatively impacted their families
65% of pastors feel they have not taken enough vacation time with their family
22% of pastor’s spouses report the ministry places undue expectations on the family
95% of pastors report not praying daily with their spouses
57% of pastors report being unable to pay their bills
54% of pastors find the role of a pastor overwhelming
40% of pastors report a serious conflict with a church member at least once over the past year
35% of pastors battle depression or fears of inadequacy
26% of pastors report feeling fatigued
27% report not having someone to turn to for help in a crisis situation
34% of pastors wrestle with the temptation of pornography—or visit pornographic sites
57% of pastors feel fulfilled yet discouraged, stressed, and fatigued
84% of pastors desire to have close fellowship with someone they can trust and confide in
42% of pastors were thinking of leaving the ministry in 2022

Lew Hunter pleads, “Don’t be a statistic.” He wants to reach out to those who need a helping hand and a hearing heart. You can confide in him and he will give you beneficial and Biblical counsel. There is no cost to you! Lew says, “If you can get to us (the Indianapolis area), we will take care of the rest.” The rest would include housing and meals, etc.

Grace Today Ministries exists to encourage, strengthen and restore. It is endorsed by Brother Hunter’s local church pastor, Bert Bunner of Grace Baptist Church in Coatesville, Indiana; by Dr. Harry Ramsey, Bible Teacher/Evangelist; by Pastor Warren Dafoe, Pastor Emeritus of Crosspointe Baptist Church in Indianapolis; by Pastor Mike Abbott, Brownsburg Baptist Church of Brownsburg, Indiana, and many, many others.

If you (or someone you know and love) need an encouraging word to pull you through a difficult place in your ministry, please contact Brother Lew Hunter at lew@gracetodayministries.org, or call him at (317) 908-9418.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13)

Last Stop, Next Station

In Plato’s Republic, that ancient philosopher had a dream of a utopian society in which everyone would be useful, everything would be controlled, and “heaven on earth” would rule.

Dreamers have, since the time of Plato, tried to revive his ancient paradise. The political system known as “communism” started out as the dream of an idealist, fashioned upon the principles propounded by Plato. But the machinations of social planners have turned out to be nightmares, not utopias!

Looking for that perfect city? Well, in case you have not yet discovered it, our town cannot come close to qualifying—nor can yours! All cities, to a lesser or greater degree, are plagued with severe problems of spiritual pollution.

New York City (soon to have a “utopian” mayor, it appears, as of the time of this writing!), London, Rome, Paris, Copenhagen, and any other city on the face of this present planet—all are reeling from the effects of the curse of sin.

We read in God’s Word of some men who looked for the perfect city, though, men who had their sights adjusted to realms above: Abraham looked for a city “whose builder and maker is God.” Paul, in Galatians 4:6, spoke of “the Jerusalem which is above—free, which is the mother of us all.” Perhaps Paul had gotten a glimpse of this when, as he relates in II Cor. 12:1-5, he was “caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” Jesus, in Rev. 3:12, promised to the overcomers in the Philadelphian church that He would write upon them the name of God and the name of the city of God which is Jerusalem, which cometh down from God.

We need to look no further for the perfect city! It’s already in existence; and, if you’ve been bought by the blood, you already own a one-way ticket to that grand place! My Travel Agent, the Holy Spirit, has taken care of all the arrangements for me; there will be no cancelled or overbooked flights; and the Pilot of Salvation’s ship, the Lord Jesus, has made the trip before me. He will lead me safely there. I look forward to going Home to Heaven to be with Him. I want to show you what our home on high is going to be like:

The Persons of Heaven: God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit, Rev. 21:1-22. Then also, men and women, raptured members of the Church, (Rev. 21:9b), the Redeemed of all ages, out of every tribe, kindred, tongue, people, and nation (Rev. 5:9); Israel, the elect of God, (Rev. 21:12); Gentiles who were “grafted in” to His body—all (Rev. 21:24a,26) will be in that Holy City! Interestingly, God specifies who will not be there: “The fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars.” (Rev. 21:8)

The Place of Heaven: It is a great city, (Rev. 21:10) a city of pure gold, a city the foundations of which are precious stones, and the gates of pearl. (Rev. 21:10-21) More than that, even, it is a city of spiritual grandeur where the glory of God is, the presence of Christ, and the absence of evil. There will be, in that city, no death, no sorrow, no crying, no pain—all things will be new! (Rev. 21:11-27)

The Provision of Heaven: Comfort, satisfaction, light, safety, healing, holiness! It will take some time getting used to heaven, it might seem! There will be fruits without specks; orchestras without discord, violins without broken strings; harps all in tune; no more property or income taxes, no grey hairs, no gas shortages or inflation; no riots or lawlessness; no more slanted news reports, no wars, no world-wide sports, no church splits, no heartburn, no cancers, NO heart-ache…and need I say more?

Once, a radio minister announced that he would speak on heaven the following Sunday. During that week, he received a beautiful letter from an old man who was very ill. It read:

“Next Sunday you are to talk about Heaven. I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 50 years. I did not buy it; it was given to me ‘without money and without price.’ But the Donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation, since the title is not transferable. It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century I have been sending materials out of which the great Architect and Builder of the universe has been building a home for me, a home which will never need to be remodeled nor repaired, because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old. Termites can never undermine its foundations, for they rest upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it; floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed on its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that Land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and almost ready for me to enter into and abide in peace, without fear of being ejected.

There is a Valley of Deep Shadows between the place where I live now in California, and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in that city of God without passing through this dark valley of shadows. But, I am not afraid because the best Friend I ever had went through the same valley long, long ago, and drove away all its gloom. He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first became acquainted 50 years ago. And, I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake me or leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the Valley of Shadows, and I shall not lose my way. I hope to hear your sermon next Sunday, but I have no assurance that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to Heaven has no date marked for the journey; no return coupon and no permit for baggage. Yes, I am all ready to go, and I may not be here when you are talking next Sunday evening, but I shall meet you over there…someday!”

And so it is! Fanny Crosby, the blind gospel hymn writer, put it this way: “When my life’s work is ended and I cross the swelling tide; When the bright and glorious morning I shall see; I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side, And His smile shall be the first to welcome me.”

How about it, dear reader: Do you have that hope of seeing Him? If not, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31) “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:9, 10, 13) When the last station is the next stop for you, you will be ready…for Heaven!

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” (John 1:12)

Of Angels, Dogs, and Hogs

The three nouns comprising this post’s title are a rather unique combination of words—to be sure! One might well ask if they have any connection to each other whatsoever. The answer to the question would be, “Yes!” Each is mentioned in one chapter of God’s Word. Follow along with me as we examine II Peter, chapter 2.

Dogs and hogs (v. 22) are names given to a group of people identified as false prophets and false teachers. (v. 1) The name most commonly applied to this kind of person today is “apostate”—a name that nearly sends cold chills up your “spiritual spine.” Angels are mentioned in verse 11 in contrast to these religious renegades.

Many have asked, “What is an apostate?” Let me begin to answer by stating what an apostate is not: (1) He is not a Christian who has made an about-face, having renounced his faith in Jesus Christ; (2) He is not a person who was once a greatly used man (or woman) of God who has now departed from the faith; (3) He is not someone that was once saved but has now fallen into gross sin—“fallen from grace.”

What, then, is an apostate? Basically, he/she is an unsaved person who, through persuasive speech and charismatic personality, deceives people into following him by making them think he’s saved—and who, by deception, leads many souls away from the truth and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The fruit of the apostate is apostasy. As we near the end of this age, the apostasy is deepening. Evidence abounds. For instance, a teacher of long tenure in one of the oldest Southern Baptist colleges addressed an organized group of atheists and said, “I see Jesus as really a Jew. I don’t imagine for a minute He would have the audacity to claim deity for Himself. Jesus never claimed to be God or related to Him.”

A Washington, D.C. minister was quoted as saying, “So far as we are concerned, it makes no difference whether Christ was born of a virgin or not. We don’t even bother to form an opinion on the subject.”

An Arlington, Virginia, clergyman said: “We have closed our minds to such trivial considerations as that of the resurrection of Christ. . . . We have more important things to preach than the presence or absence of an empty tomb 20 centuries old.”

A leading D.C. minister said candidly, “In our denomination what you call ‘Faith of Our Fathers’ is approaching total extinction. Of course, a few old ministers still cling to the Bible, but among the younger men, the real leaders of our denomination today, I do not know of a single one who believes in Christ or in any of the things you classify as fundamentals.”

David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prophesied of such an age when, in Psalm 12, he spoke of such apostasy in these words: “Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men; they speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips and the tongue that speaketh proud things; who have said, ‘with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is Lord over us?’”

The day of which David spake is not coming; it is here! The dogs and hogs are trying to scatter the sheep. In II Peter 2, several characteristics of apostates are given to us. Then, a statement concerning their condemnation is made by the Apostle Peter; and, in one very important sentence, Peter sets forth his major concern surrounding these dogs and hogs who, in their rebellion, did things even angels would not take upon themselves to do:

Characteristics of Apostates (II Peter 2):

▶︎ They bring in damnable heresies, v.1

▶︎They are covetous, v. 3 (cmp. v. 14)—exercising covetous practices

▶︎They speak with feigned words, v. 3, 18—“great swelling words”

▶︎They walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, vss. 10, 18

▶︎They despise government, v. 10

▶︎They are presumptuous, v. 10

▶︎They are self-willed, v. 10—“self-pleasing”

▶︎They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities, v. 10

▶︎They speak evil of things they do not understand, v. 12

▶︎They sport themselves with their own deceivings, v. 13

▶︎They have eyes full of adultery, v. 14

▶︎They beguile unstable souls, v. 14

▶︎They allure through false promises, vss. 18, 19

Condemnation of Apostates, vss. 12, 13

▶︎They shall utterly perish, v. 12

▶︎They shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, v. 13

▶︎The angels that sinned, v. 4a

▶︎The “old world,” v. 5a

▶︎The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, v.6

Concern of Peter re: the apostates:

▶︎Many shall follow their pernicious ways: covetousness, idolatry, feigned words, walk after the flesh, v. 2

▶︎Many shall be made merchandise of, v. 3

Conclusion: “What shall we do?”

▶︎Acts 20:38-31: “Watch and remember!”

One more thing: In verse 1, referring to false prophets and false teachers, Peter says that they shall bring in “damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.” Some might wonder, if they denied the Lord that “bought them,” whether they were indeed saved at one time. The answer is “no, they were never saved.”

The Lord Jesus Christ is said by the apostle John to be “the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:2) Therefore, Christ’s shed blood was sufficient for every person. He did not die for any one race, nor did He die for any group of “elect” people. He died for all. His shed blood, which is sufficient for all, becomes “efficient” only for those who believe. Paul answered the question this way in 1 Timothy 4:10: “Because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.” Christ’s death was for “all men,” so that any man who ends up in Hell for eternity will do so in spite of the fact that he had a Savior who died for him—a Savior that he rejected—or failed by faith to accept—as the deliverer from his condemnation. These false prophets and false teachers will “receive the reward of unrighteousness,” (v. 13); and, indeed, “it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” (v. 21)

“We have a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” (II Pet. 1:19)

Holy Heartburn

It was on the afternoon of the day that the Lord Jesus Christ put His foot upon the Serpent’s head, having been raised from death and from the grave—victorious over Death, Hell, and the Devil.

Two followers of Jesus, one named Cleopas and the other unnamed (we’ll call him Zeke) were walking from Jerusalem to the little town of Emmaus, where they would spend the night. Their heads were swimming due to the turn of events over the previous 72 hours—beginning with the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of the man from Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth, and culminating with the reports now of the early morning disappearance of His body from the tomb.

Their countenances were fallen. Long periods of silence were broken only by an occasional child shouting at play. The distressed twosome reminisced over the events of the past days. Perhaps their conversation went something like this:

Cleopas: “It seems so unreal; Jesus was with us just a few days ago. We could see Him, touch Him, hear Him, and ask Him questions; now….”

Zeke: “I know…and every time I think of that trumped-up trial it turns my stomach! He said He was God’s Son, and I truly believed Him, but I still cannot believe that God would let His Son hang there on a tree and suffer so cruelly. Why didn’t He intervene?”

Cleopas: “Well, I suppose if I were to be absolutely honest, I would have to say that I too have some doubts, but this latest thing about His body being gone from the tomb—this has really got me baffled!”

Zeke: “I know what you mean. But now the soldiers are saying that His disciples came and stole Him away while they were asleep. And they are trying to discredit Mary Magdalene’s story that she saw Him alive by reminding everyone of her history of demonic possession. Do you really think He could be alive now, Cleopas?”

Cleopas: “Well, it’s possible. After all, remember what He did when He visited Lazarus’ tomb? I think it’s very possible.”

Just then, the two travelers were joined in their journey by a third person, who said, “Excuse me, I could not help overhearing part of your conversation. May I join you? Now what exactly was it that you were saying about Jesus?”

Cleopas: “What? You mean you have not heard what has been taking place in Jerusalem lately?”

Jesus: “What things?”

Cleopas: “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people; and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death; and have crucified Him? But we trusted that it had been He which should have redeemed Israel.”

Jesus: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?”

And the Word of God tells us that, beginning at that point, the Lord Jesus began to expound to these two disciples the things concerning Himself in the Scriptures—beginning at Moses and all the prophets. Those disciples had heartburn that day—holy heartburn. (“Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?”- Luke 24:32) And, too, we will have holy heartburn if and when we see Jesus like they saw Him. Consider with me the cause of their heartburn, the character of their heartburn, and the cure for their heartburn:

The Cause of their Holy Heartburn

They learned of Christ from Moses: that God would have a seed that would destroy the Serpent. (Gen. 3:15) They learned that the offering of Jesus as the Lamb of God was typified in Genesis, when Isaac was taken by Abraham to Mt. Moriah and put on the altar. “My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” (Gen. 22:8)
They learned that Abraham was taught early the doctrine of the resurrection, for of him we read in Hebrews 11:19: “Accounting that God was able to raise him up (Isaac), even from the dead, from whence also he received him in a figure.”

They learned from the life of Joseph that one would come who, having been rejected by His brethren, would one day bring deliverance to not only His own people, but also to “strangers.”

They learned from the book of Exodus: from the man Moses, his ministry and call from the One who is I AM; from the Passover night on which lambs without blemish were slain and blood was sprinkled on the door posts of houses wherein lived men and women of faith;
They learned from the book of Leviticus, with its feasts and offerings, wherein Christ was typified;

They learned from Numbers, the book of the preparation for conquest, wherein they saw the Captain of the Hosts of the Redeemed leading His great army of soldiers of the cross onward into battle;

They learned from the book of Deuteronomy where the Law was given and reiterated, and where they saw Jesus, the One made under the Law to fulfill the Law;

And they learned from all the prophets, such as Isaiah 53: “He is despised and rejected of men…wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.”

The Character of their Holy Heartburn, vss. 28-31

They had a new fervency, v. 29—both their attitudes and actions were changed.

They enjoyed a new fellowship: Jesus sat with them, and Jesus “gave” to them, v. 30. The Bread of Life was given to these faint followers—bread which “came down from Heaven.”

They had a new vision, v. 31—wherefore before they had looked at Him; now they “saw” Him; before they knew of Him; now they knew Him!

The Cure for their Holy Heartburn

The cure involved “rising up,” v. 33.
The cure involved “rehearsing,” vss.33b-35.
The cure involved “returning,” v. 33.

In our 21^st century world, events unfolding daily on the world stage can cause us wonder and even bewilderment, just as those events impacted Cleopas and his friend on the weekend that changed the world forever, Friday through Sunday, when the Son of God, Son of Man, was crucified, buried and rose again. Our help, hope, and holy promises—found in God’s Word, from Genesis to Revelation—are where we will find that anchor that keeps our soul. Let us be driven there daily, moment by moment, and never let us get past—no, never let us get over—the holy heartburn that spending time with Jesus, walking and talking with Him, will give us.

“And they worshipped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God.” (Luke 24:53)

Why I Am A Fundamentalist, Pt. 2

I finished the first blog on this topic (Oct. 16, 2025) by referring to the Modernist-Fundamentalist controversies of the 1920s and 1930s, following the publication of The Fundamentals. That series of essays (1910-1915) was an answer to the German rationalism and “higher criticism” that had infected American theologians/churches—thus weakening belief in the Scriptures as totally inerrant and infallible and giving rise to theological “modernism/liberalism” in American mainstream seminaries, pulpits, and denominations.

I want to continue this discussion by restating what Fundamentalists have historically believed and preached: (1) An immoveable allegiance to the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible: (2) “whatever the Bible says is so;” (3) the foundational truths of historic Christianity: the doctrine of the Trinity; the Incarnation of Jesus Christ; the Virgin Birth of Christ; the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross; His death, burial and bodily resurrection from the tomb; His visible ascension into heaven, and His Second Coming; the New Birth through regeneration; the resurrection of saints to life eternal, and of the ungodly to final judgment and eternal death; (4) the fellowship of saints, who are members of the Body of Christ, the Church; (5) fidelity to the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3); (6) separation from all ecclesiastical denials of that faith through compromise and/or apostasy; (7) and an earnest contending for the faith (militant orthodoxy set on fire with soul-winning zeal).

Now I want to address some of the perceived deficiencies of Fundamentalism. These are from my heart, born out of a lifetime of embracing this movement. As an Indiana pastor, I have been involved for 40 years in the Indiana Fundamental Baptist Fellowship of Churches, serving as an officer for several terms. So I speak from experience, not merely from a “theoretical” viewpoint.

First, doctrinal. It is true that some who fly the banner of “Fundamentalist” have held certain stances or methods, based upon a “doctrinal” tenet, somewhat out of balance. Soul-winning might be one example. True Fundamentalists have always been soul-winners at heart, striving to win and disciple believers “in all nations.” But, to make “soul-winning” of greater importance than prayer, Bible-study, and “doing good to all men, especially those who are of the household of faith,” is an imbalanced approach. The same could be said of other imbalanced approaches—such as eschatology, external adherence to forms and traditions in neglect of inward spirituality, etc. Doctrinal deficiencies will lead one to practical abnormalities, so that Fundamentalists—some, not all—have been caught up in the “numbers racket;” the “music mania”; the “suspect cycle”; and the “mediocre mentality,” to mention a few. If you wonder what I mean by each or all of these, just use your sanctified imagination and you’ll probably land on dead center. For instance, the “suspect cycle” is doubting whether “Brother so and so” is really a fundamentalist if he doesn’t dot every “i” the way we think he should, etc.

Finally, a word about the defense of fundamentalism. I understand that, over the course of a lifetime, attitudes and actions, positions and viewpoints, can take on different meanings. Men or ministries that I once would have labeled “New Evangelical” I might—by today’s light—consider to be “Evangelical,” i.e. closer to a Fundamental position than they once were, but still not decidedly “Fundamental.” The most significant difference is probably a lack of “militancy” in their approach. Speaking of “militancy,” not many who still want to be known as “Fundamentalists” are, in practice, very militant about their defense of the faith. Many reasons could be stated for this “watered down” militancy—one of them being the “crackpots” who call themselves Fundamentalists who, for instance, march at funerals of soldiers with placards that read “God hates Fags,” and so forth. Who wants to be in that camp? There have been, and still are, those who fly the flag of “Fundamentalist” with whom one would not want to be identified in any way, shape, or form.

But, I will defend historic Fundamentalism. Bible colleges have been started; mission boards have been raised up, sending thousands of ambassadors for Christ to the far-flung corners of the globe with the gospel; independent, Bible-preaching churches have been planted in major cities as well as jungles that can only be reached by arduous travel. I defend Fundamentalism for what it has done and for what it is doing. It highly regards the Scriptures as the Word of God; it believes in, and practices, the power of prayer; it emphasizes the imminent return of Christ; it preaches and teaches holy living, empowered by the Holy Spirit of God; it believes in a pure church; and it lives out a practical Christianity.

As a young pastor, I had the privilege of attending not a few meetings where some of the older, revered men of this movement were gathered, usually after the lunch hour or in a committee room waiting for the next meeting to begin. It was not unusual, as I “listened in” to the discussion of some of these old warriors of the faith of “yesteryear,” to hear them reminisce about some of the “battles” that they had either witnessed or “warred” in. I did not then fully appreciate what these men, scarred by hard-fought conflicts in the defense of the truth, had lived through. They had often stood alone against the denominational machinery as compromise began to rear its ugly head in (first) seminaries, colleges, mission agencies, and, finally, local churches. Men and movements were often divided up, while the Devil seemed to be too often winning the day. But there they stood. Alone. Tall. Son-tanned for truth upon the authority of God’s Word.

I have lived long enough to thank God for those men and their love for the Word and work of God. Men like J. Gresham Machen, Robert Ketcham, Bob Jones, J. Frank Norris, Lee Roberson, Lester Roloff, W.B. Riley, Richard Clearwaters, Monroe Parker, Myron Cedarholm, and many others. I unashamedly call myself one of them. May God give the generation to come—in the arena of theology, missions, and church planting—the tenacity and love for truth evidenced in a tireless preaching and proclaiming of the Gospel of God’s love. It may—just may—fuel the flames of another Great Awakening. “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26)

“Behold I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Rev. 3:11)

Why I Am A Fundamentalist

The following is a message I preached in 1978, one year before I became pastor of Thompson Road Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, where I would serve for the next 40 years, retiring in 2019 as senior pastor. I was, in 1978, a young pastor; I am now 82 years of age—and still a Fundamentalist. Some quotes may need to be updated in the message, but not the core of it. Here is why I was and still am a Fundamentalist:

“Modern man is a great innovator, and the day in which we live is a day of innovation. New machines, new ideas, new methods, new styles, new philosophies—who among us is not captivated, momentarily at least, by the sight or sound of something new?

Actually, wise King Solomon warned that there is nothing new under the sun. What is being tried by the new generation—and paraded and promoted as “the latest”—more than likely is nothing but a “revived relic” that had been tried and discarded already by past generations.

Therefore, when I hear of something new, I am at once dubious about it, and especially so when it relates to the theological arena. For instance, new-evangelicalism and neo-orthodoxy are terms describing modern movements in Christendom. But, an examination of both movements will reveal that neither is new. Rather, both are old forms of compromise and liberalism under new guises.

There are some things that should never be made new! There are some things that should never be changed! To change what God has declared is absolute is to violate the Word of God.

In Proverbs 22:28, we read of ancient landmarks that were set by the fathers. These were to be changeless, for they were literally God-ordained boundaries. This proverb has its foundation in the law, recorded in Deut. 19:14: “Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor’s landmark—which they of old time have set in thine inheritance.”

This law was to be taken seriously. In Deut. 27:17 we read: “Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor’s landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.”

In Job 24:2, the patriarch Job placed this high on a list of sins committed by wicked men who rebelled against the light.

Of these ancient landmarks, which were boundaries, C.H. McIntosh, in his commentary on the Pentateuch, says: “The landmarks were not to be meddled with…Jehovah had given the land to Israel—assigned to each tribe and family a proper portion—marked off with perfect precision and indicated by landmarks so plain there could be no confusion, no clashing of interests—no grounds for lawsuits or controversy about property.”

Thus, the landmarks were border lines that were rigid and non-negotiable. They were never to be moved!

Just as the nation Israel had certain boundaries that were permanent, so the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has certain defined boundaries within which she is to move freely. These boundaries are not to be moved. The great doctrines of the Christian faith—the historic landmarks of Christianity—are not to be tampered with. They are non-negotiable!

As a pastor and as a believer, I want to speak now to the landmarks of the Christian faith, and to the thesis: “Why I am a Fundamentalist.”

First, I will mention a few ideas or “charges” against Fundamentalism—what I choose to label “the defamation of Fundamentalism.”

Fundamentalism has been defamed through misrepresentation. George Dollar, in his book A History of Fundamentalism in America (Bob Jones University Press, 1973, p.176) speaks of the popular use of the word “Fundamentalist.” He says it “included all those who defended the Bible against attacks of liberalism. The popular use of the word has continued so that even today those believing that the Bible is the very word of God and that it should be taught and defended as such are generally labeled ‘Fundamental.’” So, Dr. Dollar was saying that the label “Fundamentalist” conveyed the idea of a movement that was, in his thinking, too broad. He later, in his book, spoke of a group of “evangelicals” that he would call “modified fundamentalists.” Of these he wrote: “Most of them have a fundamentalist background and affirm the inspiration of the Bible, the sinfulness of man, the deity of Christ, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection, and the return of the Lord. They are basically evangelical, but because of their surrender to New Evangelicalism, they are outside the mainstream of Fundamentalism. This they have not announced, and they go on getting money and students from churches and groups because they have not announced their new-evangelical character.”

Fundamentalism has also been “defamed” through the years by misleading labels. To merely mention a few, we have been labeled as “anti-intellectual;” embracing “Bibliolatry,” “anti-social,” “too negative,” “unloving,” and “obscurantists.”

Second, a definition of Fundamentalism: Historically, a book series called The Fundamentals (1909) marked the beginning of the Fundamentalist movement. The publication of The Fundamentals was preceded by a revival movement in the late 1800s, characterized by a renewed interest in eschatology, the birth of Bible Institutes, and the birth and rise of the 20^th-century Sunday School movement.

Close on the heels of these historic happenings came the Fundamentalist-Modernist controversies of the 1920s-1930s, in which dividing lines were drawn over the authority and inspiration of the Bible, the ability of man to deal with his own problems, etc. Modernist leaders were men like E. Stanley Jones (“I do not believe in the Virgin Birth, and I do not know of any intelligent person who does”), Harry Emerson Fosdick, Elton Trueblood, James Pike, George Buttrick, and others. Arguing for the authority and inspiration of the Bible were notables such as J. Gresham Machen, J. Frank Norris, Robert Ketcham, H. A. Ironside, W.E. Dowell, Bob Jones, Sr., W. B. Riley, Harry Rimmer, R.A. Torrey, and others.

Here is what Fundamentalists have historically believed and affirmed: (1) An immoveable allegiance to the inerrant, infallible, verbally inspired Word of God (i.e., the Bible); (2) “Whatever the Bible says is so;” (3) All things should be judged by the Bible and only by the Bible; (4) the foundational truths of historic Christianity, including the doctrine of the Trinity, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Birth; the substitutionary atonement of Christ on the cross, His bodily resurrection and visible ascension into heaven, and His Second Coming; the New Birth through regeneration, the resurrection of saints to life eternal—and of the ungodly to final judgment and eternal death; (5) the fellowship of saints who are members of the Body of Christ, His Church; (6) fidelity to that faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3); (7) separation from all ecclesiastical denial of that faith through compromise and/or apostasy; (8) earnestly contending for the faith (a militant orthodoxy set on fire with soul-winning zeal).

(To be continued…)

Reclaimed Failures

All of us know the agony of failure, for as long as there is life, and as long as the human spirit exists, there will be those who achieve success, and there will be those who fail; and sometimes, those who have achieved great success have done so only after they have tasted the bitter dregs of failure.

Failure is something most every believer, at some time or other, has experienced. Most of us have at one time or another tried and failed. We have probably failed hundreds of times. We have failed in big things; we have failed in small things. We may have failed so big and so often that we have been tempted to quit! John F. Kennedy said, “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan no one wants to claim.”

Businessmen know what it is to succeed—and what it is to fail. Athletes, too, know something of both. Churches experience seasons of success and periods of spiritual draught. I am glad to say that God’s Word gives us the record of several—yes, many—men and women who failed, as big or bigger than anyone who may be reading this just now. Yet, God reclaimed them and used them even after they had failed, sometimes miserably!

Examine a few of these “failures” that were reclaimed for service, so that we might be encouraged to go on; to try again; to bounce back; to keep on keeping on, even though we have failed in past efforts.

Peter, whose confession Jesus said He would build His church upon, on the way to the Cross—through the Garden—insisted that he was ready to go to prison with Jesus, or even to death. Jesus, having warned Peter that Satan had desired to sift him, then announced to His fisherman-follower that on that very day, before the cock would crow, Peter would deny Him thrice. (Luke 22:32-34) It happened around an early morning fire. In the midst of the hall in the Jewish High Priest’s house, where some had gathered, Peter was identified as a follower of the Galilean by a maid and a couple of others. He adamantly denied the accusations and, upon his third denial, the cock crowed immediately, as Jesus had forewarned. The Bible says that Peter—seasoned fisherman, leader of the 12— went out and wept bitterly. Game over? Not at all! Jesus had not only predicted Peter’s denial; He promised that He had prayed for Peter and that he would have the opportunity to “strengthen thy brethren.” For the rest of the story, read Acts 2 and I and II Peter! Peter failed, repented, and was reclaimed by God for fruitful service to His glory!

The list is pretty remarkable: Abraham, “Father of the Jews,” failed to wait patiently on God’s promise of an heir; he fathered Ishmael by Hagar, thinking that at the age of 86 he would not have a son by his wife, Sarah, who also endorsed the failed plan. When Ishmael was 13 years of age, Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah—just one of the many times that Abraham took things into his own hands, failing to wait patiently upon the Lord; but God reclaimed this giant of faith, who looked for a city whose builder and maker is God. We could also mention Moses, and David, Jonah, Elijah, John Mark, and many more. Men who failed, sometimes with disastrous ramifications, but whose lives were reclaimed by a longsuffering, merciful God of the second chance, and third, and….

There are examples not only from the Bible but, of course, from history as well.

David Livingstone, in the heart of Africa, considered himself a failure as a husband, a father, a missionary—but most of all as a liberator. It was through his fault that his wife died an untimely death; through his neglect that his children were orphaned; and he blamed himself that all hope for the liberation of slaves was abandoned. There was nothing to show for it all. But today, his remains are in Westminster Abbey. A failure? History has been the judge. (From an article in “Pulpit Helps,” by Austin Sorenson—adapted)

The co-founder of Apple Computer, the late Steve Jobs, was actually fired from his position as CEO of the company before he came back to lead its renaissance. Jobs said, “I didn’t see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have happened to me. It freed me to enter into one of the most creative periods of my life.”

Thomas Edison maintained that there was really no such thing as failure. He said, “Suppose I make a thousand experiments, and every one of them fails. All right—I have learned a thousand things that won’t work.” One can learn by failures. Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, said of success and failure: “Not having a goal is more to be feared than not reaching a goal. I would rather attempt to do something great and fail, than to do nothing and succeed.” Teddy Roosevelt believed that to try and fail was better than to never try. He said, “Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy life much nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

You have failed! You may be failing just now. But God cannot fail, and you can rest assured that He is not finished working in your life.

The Devil would like for you to think that because you have failed, you are now useless to God. Remember John Mark, nephew of Barnabas, who accompanied the Apostle Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary trip all the way to Perga, and then returned home—an apparent quitter. Paul was so disappointed with John Mark that he adamantly refused to agree with Barnabas that Mark should be given another chance to go with them as they were planning their second missionary trip. So serious was their difference on this that Paul took Silas with him, and Barnabas took Mark, the original team parting ways. John Mark, a “quitter?” A “Momma’s boy?” We do not know why he returned to his mother Mary’s house in Jerusalem, but we do know that what he did brought upon him the decided disapproval of Paul. Game over? Not at all! Years later, as Paul was writing his final words, waiting imminent martyrdom at the hands of the Romans, he wrote from prison (II Tim. 4:11), and the last person that he asked to see was Mark: “Take Mark, and bring him with thee, for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Talk about a reclaimed failure!

And God is still in the reclamation business! God can and will use you! He prayed for Peter. He prays for us, too. Just keep on keeping on! Out of ashes can come beauty.

“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again….” (Proverbs 24:16)