YOU and GOD

On Christmas Day, 2000, Rick and Jennifer Wilkerson were hit on the passenger side of their car in a snow-related crash that left Jennifer—after multiple surgeries and months in three different hospitals—with minimal upper-body movement and complete paralysis from her waist down. Jennifer shared their story in A Hope and a Future, a booklet she wrote 15 years after this life-altering event.

Through excerpts from this testimony, I want to let Jennifer open her heart up with insights gained from something that neither she nor her devoted husband, Rick, both faithful servants of God, would have ever asked for. Yet both trust that God, who is daily guiding and guarding them through life’s journey—one day at a time, one moment at a time—allowed it. Hear Jennifer’s insights in her own words:

Everyday Stuff—“The hardest part of living like this is seeing how my appearance has changed. I often don’t like the way I look in clothes, and my swollen feet prevent me from wearing most kinds of shoes. Then there’s my protruding ‘quad belly’ caused by lack of muscle control and an overly curved spine.

Little (and Big!) Victories—Ever since childhood I couldn’t even swallow an aspirin. By the end of my hospital stay I was taking medication five times a day and knew this had to change. So…Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” NKJV) was quoted every time a pill was swallowed whole. I can take as many as eleven with a few gulps of water without a second thought!

Pain—A condition called autonomic dysreflexia, which affects some spinal cord patients, is a frequent intruder in my life. Below my shoulders I have some sensations but cannot (with one exception) consciously feel pain. If something happens to my body in this area (such as a sore) that would normally cause pain or discomfort, I sometimes start to sweat, at times profusely. The exception I just mentioned is a constant companion—nerve pain (neuropathy) similar to that which diabetics struggle with. Why do spinal cord-injured people struggle with these symptoms? Well, compare the human body’s nerves to its wiring. When an injury happens that disturbs these nerves, they get confused and ‘short circuit.’

Matters of the Heart—The accident, though not consciously remembered, has nevertheless had a profound effect upon my emotional well-being. Undoubtedly the accident scene that day was jarring to my senses, with the harsh sirens and glare of headlights coming from multiple vehicles. To this day, exposure to the cold (especially when combined with bright lights and loud noises) frequently causes anxiety. I still have a vivid memory of a day shortly before I came home from the hospital when I looked directly at the sun, closed my eyes and (literally) soaked it in as it infused me with strength, courage and reassurance. Ever since then, I crave the sun on my face.

I longed so much to be able to get down on the floor and hold our dog, ‘Mr. Bear,’ who was the closest thing I’d ever had to a child at that time.* After his death, we adopted ‘George,’ who I eventually bonded with as well, but there were still many things we could not do together.

Relationships—Over the past years, many have commented about what a good ‘support system’ I have. Relationships have certainly become deeper as others see the ‘real me,’ stripped of pretension (and make-up!). Memories of waking up and weepy after too much morphine, and friends helping with my nursing care come to mind. And, I often have had (many more times than I want to admit) a micro-managing, demanding, controlling and selfish mindset.

Trusting—For a long time, I’ve been a planner and assumed that I was the one who arranged for all my needs to be met. When much of my life suddenly became very dependent on others and there were so many circumstances that I had no control over—it was frustrating—but at the same time actually freeing as I learned to receive God-given ‘manna’ each day.

Meaning—A friend told me one day that he was almost jealous because I’d had the chance to know Jesus in a way that many others do not. It is true that the spiritual and emotional growth He has brought about through all this would not have happened any other way! My walk with Him is so much closer, and life is so more meaningful.

Purpose—I’ve had to confront my purposes in life and realize God’s purpose instead! I’ve had to learn that there is something much bigger than myself going on here, and although the present (earth) is the only reality we’ve known, the future (eternity) is vastly more important.

‘Life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in heaven…God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that’s not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ-likeness.’ (Note: These words are from Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Life, published by Zondervan, used by permission. Rick Warren’s excerpts used here express the message I’m trying to convey so well! However, I do not always agree with his views on other topics. JW)

To Be Continued…

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

*Jennifer was 35 years old when the crippling crash occurred.

A missionary was visiting with Mahatma Gandhi, and at the close of their visit Gandhi said, “Before you leave, would you sing one of your hymns?” When asked what hymn he would like to hear, Gandhi replied, “Please sing a hymn that expresses all that is deepest in your faith.” After a few moments, the missionary broke out in

“When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of glory died;
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Often, we who have been redeemed from the curse of the law ought to go back to where, for us, life began. “Lead me to Calvary” should be our constant prayer: “Lest I forget Gethsemane, lest I forget Thine agony, lest I forget Thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.”

Come back with me for a few moments today as we kneel at the cross.

Paul, the Apostle, in his epistle to the Galatian saints, made three references to the cross. In each of these we can find something significant about the cross—the emblem of suffering and shame, and of the Christian’s faith.

(1) The Offense of the Cross: “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offense of the cross ceased.” (Gal. 5:11) The cross is the source of shame: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.” (Gal. 3:13) In Deut. 21: 22,23 Moses gave instruction that if a man committed a crime worthy of death, and he was put to death by hanging on a tree, his body should not remain all night upon the tree, “but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day, for he that is hanged on a tree is cursed of God.” Cicero, a Roman statesman and orator, said of the cross and crucifixion: “The very name should be excluded from the thought, eyes and ears of a Roman citizen: no word can adequately describe such a nefarious thing.”

The cross was also a source of stumbling. (I Cor. 1:23) To the Jews, looking for a Messiah, it was a stumbling block since they were awaiting the appearance of their King. Pilate, interrogating Jesus, asked, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” He would later have the superscription written on the cross, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” And, while the cross was a stumbling block to the Jew, it was just plain foolishness to Greeks—lovers of wisdom, beauty, and bodies. The cross, to the Gentile, was not wise; nor was there beauty in a body that was beaten, bloodied and bruised. “Human nature, whether of the philosophic mind of the Greek, the religious mind of the Jew or the analytic mind of the Roman, or the intellectual mind of modern man, recoils from the thought of seeking salvation from a crucified messiah.” (MacArthur)

Contrast what Harry A. Ironside—the 20th-century Bible commentator and one-time pastor of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago—said about Isa. 53:6, a verse which paints the picture of our suffering Savior as he pays the price for sin at Calvary: “To me verse six (‘All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all’) is the most wonderful text in the whole Bible. I have been trying to preach for sixty years and that is the first text I ever preached on. I was just a boy 14 years old, and out on the streets of Los Angeles with the Salvation Army. I started speaking on that verse, meaning to take 5 minutes, but a half hour later the captain leaned over and said, ‘Son, we should have been in the Hall twenty minutes ago; you’ll have to tell us the rest some other time.’ I have been trying to tell the rest all through these years since, but it is a text I never get beyond.”

(2) The Persecution of the Cross, Phil.3:18: “I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” Lucifer, of course, is the ancient and age-old enemy of the cross of Christ. He has been—and is to this hour—joined by unbelievers, modern religion, false prophets, and the masses of the world who are simply indifferent to the Cross. Rembrandt, the famous Dutch artist, in painting the scene of the crucifixion of Christ, painted himself in a corner scene, suggesting that he himself was just another interested but indifferent part of the crowd that crucified the Christ. “When Jesus came to Golgotha, they hanged Him on a tree…when Jesus came to Birmingham, they simply passed Him by.” (Studdert Kennedy)

(3) The Glory of the Cross, Gal.6:14: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Our Lord, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, “and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) We can and should then “glory” in the cross, as did Paul. “And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses. Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” (Col. 3:13-15)

When Portuguese traders, following the trail of the explorer Vasco da Gama, settled on the south coast of China, they built a massive cathedral on a hillcrest overlooking the harbor. In time, though, typhoons and three centuries wreaked havoc on the structure, leaving only the front façade. That part of the cathedral stood long after most of the structure had crumbled to dust. Left “high on its triangular top, clean cut against the sky, and defying rain, lightning and typhoons, is a great bronze cross. When Sir John Bowring, Governor of Hong Kong, visited Macao in 1825, he was so impressed by the scene that he wrote the famous hymn, ‘In the Cross of Christ I glory; towering o’er the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story, gathers round it head sublime.’” (Samuel Zwermer, The Glory of the Cross, 1928)

Think of hamburgers and you might think of a golden arch; think of the Olympics and a burning torch might come to mind; think of freedom and the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island may loom large in your thinking; think of politics and a donkey or an elephant might be the physical emblems of what you have in mind. We do not have a golden arch or a burning torch or a Statue of Liberty or an elephant or donkey; BUT we have an “old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame.” May we ever glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ!

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)

To understand the apostle who is called “the zealot,” it is necessary to know something of the party after which he was named, the Zealots.

The Zealots were a nationalistic group of extremists before and after the time of Christ’s ministry on the earth. The main goal of the party was the overthrow—by any means possible—of Roman rule in Palestine. They were fiercely bent on restoring “divine” rule, and they were intensely “religious.”

Whereas the Scribes and Pharisees—religious groups that were also prominent in the same time period—were either indifferent or resigned to Roman rule, the Zealots refused to accept and acknowledge foreign domination of their motherland. They despised Rome and thought of them as “the enemy.”  One of their leaders gathered about himself a large and mostly young following at about the time that Jesus was 10 or 11 years of age. Their slogan was “No God but Jehovah, No tax but the Temple tax, No Friend but a Zealot.” To advance their cause, they resorted to terrorist tactics.

It was one of these Zealots, named Simon the Canaanite or Simon Zelotes (Matt. 10:4; Acts 1:13), that Jesus called to follow Him—one of the chosen 12. His name occurs only four times in the Bible, and each of these times he’s only mentioned in a list of the 12 Apostles.

Yet, though nothing of significance is said about Simon, the Zealot, there are several things a careful contemplation of God’s Word will reveal.

First, he had a saving faith in Jesus Christ. He knew that his “good works”—even on behalf of his beloved motherland, if indeed those works could have been considered “good”—were not going to “pass muster” at the Judgment Bar of God Almighty. He was saved, like every other person who has ever been saved, by believing through faith in Jesus as Lord, and then by confessing Him and calling upon Him for salvation—all of grace. (Eph. 2:8,9)

After Simon was called and ordained by Christ as an apostle, he was sent out with the other apostles on preaching missions, during which endeavors Simon exercised the “signs of an apostle.” (II Cor. 12:12) These included casting out demons, raising the dead, healing the sick and, on occasion, speaking in tongues. But none of these apostolic wonder-works saved Simon; he was only a sinner, saved by grace!

Simon, when called by Christ to be His follower, left family and friends. He was, like his compatriot apostles, willing to forsake all to follow Christ. (Matt.19:27) When the time came, he obeyed Christ’s commission to go on a preaching/healing/miracle-working tour for His kingdom’s sake. (Matt. 10:5,6) The field for these men was the Jewish field of Israel—which, Jesus said, were “lost sheep.” (Matt. 10:6) Their message: “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

There is never an indication that Simon, having put his hand to the plow, ever looked back. His life as a Zealot was past; his mission as an apostle was ever and always present and future. On the first appearance of Jesus to the apostles after the resurrection, Judas Iscariot and Thomas were absent; Simon, though, was present. He was with the Apostles watching Christ ascend up into the heavens. (Acts 1:11) He met with the 120 in a room in Jerusalem, waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit, as Christ had instructed them to do. Simon was in the number of willing, watching, waiting followers of Jesus.

Simon the Zealot met Christ, was converted—and his life was radically transformed. His battles with blades would be abandoned for a fight for the faith with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. His greatest ambition after conversion to Christ would no longer be national, but spiritual. His first concern would be about a heavenly rule rather than an earthly reign. His affections would be set on things above and not on things of the earth. Now he would not be a zealot against something; he would be zealous for Someone.

Simon would recognize Caesar as someone to whom he ought to pay taxes, as Christ had wisely taught; but he would bow to Christ as One for whom He would be willing to die and, like Paul, his mantra would be “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)

Those whom Simon at one time hated and felt murder in his heart for, now—as one of His—he loved and longed to see accept the One as Savior Who would make them “new creatures.” Rather than working against them, Simon would—with his heart, head, and hands—work for their deliverance from Satan’s bondage.

Simon would never write a New Testament epistle or preach a powerful message recorded for the ages, as did Peter on the day of Pentecost. But he was faithful unto death and, like most of the apostles, he died, according to history, a martyr’s death.

His mark—many may have thought to have been minor—but forevermore his name will be engraved on one of the 12 foundations of the heavenly, holy city, the New Jerusalem.

Not too shabby for a former Zealot, huh?

“And the wall of the city had 12 foundations, and in them the names of the 12 apostles.” (Rev. 21:14)

On one occasion while I was senior pastor, the church chose to mark an anniversary with a special reception. That is always a humbling experience because, as any pastor knows, the honors should go to a whole lot of people, starting with his wife and family as well as scores of others. Paul spent a lot of ink in the last chapter of the book of Romans expressing his heartfelt appreciation for all who had helped make his ministry possible—people who for the most part were unknown. More about that later.

Let me share with you a bit of what I said when honored on the above-mentioned anniversary:

“Actually, you folks are the ones who ought to be receiving the honor here today. Without you, I would not be here. Without faithful parents, I would not have had the opportunities, the encouragement, and the direction necessary to pursue God’s calling as I have. Without good people who’ve influenced me—pastors, teachers, friends along life’s way, I’d not be here speaking to you today.

Without a devoted wife and helpmeet, I could not have given myself to the ministry as I have desired and done these past years, with Ellen always by my side. Without children who have honored me through obedience and respect, who have believed in my Savior and made my God their God, and who have lived their lives in a way that has not brought reproach upon our Lord, I could have no ministry to you or to any of the Body of Christ at this hour.

Without faithful deacons who’ve supported me through bad times and good—through thick and thin—I’d not have any effective ministry in this church. Without a faithful and Bible-loving flock who have loved and obeyed the Gospel and the whole counsel of God, and who have followed the leadership of their God-appointed under shepherd, I would be a pastor without a congregation, a man without a church.

And so, you’ve honored me and for that reason I am indeed appreciative, BUT you are also deserving of much honor. I think a fitting scriptural lesson in this regard is Romans 16. Paul, in writing to the saints at Rome, which place he had at that time not yet visited, singled out many people who were to be greeted, saluted and commended on his behalf. I could single out many of you by name and commend you and salute you. Many who have gone more than the 2^nd mile. Many who have labored behind the scenes to make the public ministry of your pastors more effective. I will not do that, but I would direct your attention to this passage and to some thoughts from Paul concerning such helpers—then and now.

• Their number—about 30 or so individuals were mentioned, both men and women. These were unsung heroes. These kinds of people are the backbone—the nerve center under the guidance of the Holy Spirit—of any church that is alive. It has been said by astute observers that 90% of the work in a church is done by 10% of the people; but to get the job done for Jesus today, it is going to take everyone doing what he or she can. Those of extraordinary talents and those of ordinary skills; those who work with their hands, and those who work with their tongues (as in teaching); those who have money and those who have none; those who are employed and those who are unemployed; those who have been to Bible college, and those who have not; those who have been saved many years, and those who are new-born babes in Christ.

• Their names—some were well-known; some were unknown to most. In God’s church, there are no “Big Shots.” God keeps His own list of “Who’s Who.”

• Their necessity—Paul could not have done what he did for Christ without them! Without Acquilla and Priscilla; without Mary, Phebe and Urbane. And each and every one. No preacher can buy love, loyalty and faithful, dedicated servants. Paul: “And this they did, not as we had hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” (II Cor. 8:5)

Their nature—they all had one thing in common: all were servants (succorers, helpers, laborers and/or fellow prisoners, Romans 16:2, 3, 7, 12).

As such, they were in good company: ‘Paul, a servant of Christ,’ ’James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,’ ‘Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ,’ and ‘Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James.’ (Rom. 1:1; James 1:1; II Pet. 1:1 and Jude 1) “And whoever will be the chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matt. 20:27)

So, that was my message then and remained so until September of 2019 when I then delivered a “farewell” address—but that will be the subject of a later post. Many who were serving with me on that anniversary were still faithfully serving their Savior alongside of me when I spoke my last words to them as their pastor. Now, almost six years later, many of them are still serving Jesus Christ our Lord alongside their new pastor, Joel Stevens. “Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Eph. 3:21)

“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Hebrews 6:10)

When God created the world, on the fourth day He made a greater light to rule the day and a lesser light to rule the night—and He made the stars also. (Gen. 1:16)

In so doing, the Creator of the universe set in place a principle that seems to govern all of life on this planet: namely, that there are greater lights and there are lesser lights, each in their place, each fulfilling God’s ordained purpose for their being.

This is true in the natural world, it seems, and it is true in other realms also. There is the Lion and there is the lamb; the first chair and the other chairs; the captain and the corporal; the supervisor and the supervised.

John the Baptist knew this in the spiritual world. He spake of himself as the one sent to bear witness of the Light, the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John was merely a lesser light. John had to decrease and Jesus had to increase, the Baptizer announced.

In the apostolic corps, there were greater lights and there were lesser lights. James, Peter, John, and Andrew were lesser lights compared to the greater Light, Jesus; yet they were brighter lights than some of the other apostles.

Thaddaeus, also known as Lebbaeus and identified as “Judas, not Iscariot”—and also as “Judas (Jude) the brother of James”—was a lesser light. He hardly appears in the pages of the New Testament. But, as is true of the other apostles, his name will be forever engraved on one of the 12 foundations of the New Jerusalem, the eternal heavenly city of God.

Thaddaeus was unknown but not unfaithful. He followed Jesus in the beginning and never betrayed his Lord, Master, Messiah. He was with Jesus to the end and, after the end, gathering in the room where 120 of His followers waited for the coming of the Holy Spirit and the genesis of the Church that Jesus had promised the apostles He would found. (Acts 1:13)

Thaddaeus exemplified the first and foremost requirement of a steward, that of faithfulness. (I Cor. 4:3) So, he never became well known; in fact, most people would struggle to come up with his name when attempting to name all of the 12 apostles. He was, at best, faithful over a “few things.” (Matt. 25:23) He was never famous, but he was ever faithful. Jesus, in His letter to the church in Smyrna (Rev. 2:10) did not command the Smyrna saints to be “successful,” or “influential,” or “accepted,” or “diverse,” or “powerful,” or “wealthy.” But He promised them a crown of life if they would be faithful unto death.

Thaddaeus might well have echoed those now-famous words of the apostle “born out of due time” who, in the face of certain death, said: “I have fought a good fight; I have finished my course; I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 4:6,7) Tradition records that Thaddaeus was clubbed to death, joining all the other apostles, except John, in the ranks of the martyrs.

Thaddaeus, on one occasion recorded in John’s gospel, seemed to have been unclear: “Judas, saith unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord how is it that Thou wilt manifest Thyself unto us and not unto the world?” Jesus answered, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:22,23) So, this apostle may have appeared to be unclear at times, but he was never accused of being uncertain. He was ready to leave that Upper Room and follow Him to the garden—and on to Golgotha.

Thaddaeus may have been undistinguished, but he will never be forgotten. As has been mentioned, his name will be on one of the 12 foundations of the New Jerusalem. Most of our Lord’s followers—then and now—will forever be “undistinguished.” But none of His faithful followers will ever be forgotten: “God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love which ye have showed toward His name.” (Hebrews 6:10)

Thaddaeus—aka Lebbaeus and Judas, not Iscariot—was unpaid, but like His faithful servants throughout all ages, neither he nor they will be unrewarded.  Peter, spokesman for the 12 on one occasion, reminded Jesus that “we have forsaken all, and followed Thee; what shall we have therefore?” (Matt. 19:27) Jesus replied with words that must have plowed through the thick aura around Peter’s heart: “Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His glory, ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt. 19:27)

Thaddaeus, finally, on the way to Calvary, appeared to have been unsettled, but he proved not to be untrue. Like every other apostle, Thaddaeus forsook Jesus momentarily. (Mark 14:50) But like the women at the cross, the apostles came back to “watch Him there.” Most of us have, at one time or another, forsaken Him in a weak moment in some way. Maybe by just clamming up when we should have spoken up. But Solomon gives us hope: “A righteous man falls seven times, and riseth up again.” (Provs. 24:16) And, Thaddaeus rose up again and was with Him to the end.

“And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matt. 19:29)