God, Have You Forgotten Me?

Have you ever faced a trial or circumstance in life that left you asking questions?

"God, have you forgotten me?"

Let me back up for a minute. Today's culture is looking for the most comfortable moment or experience to find solace. We want the perfection of the Garden of Eden. We live for the next spiritual high that revolves around the environment, people and circumstance.

It is a restless appetite for a comfortable feeling or moment. It is a punching at the air for the perfect day.

It is trying to find solace in a vacation (or next year's vacation). It is wishing to have that "perfect" job. All of those desires are not wrong. My question is, "what is next?"  

God continually teaches me the gospel. I'm grateful for His patience. I remember a time in my life early in ministry. I started my first full-time job in student ministry. I was engaged to my wife Cassidy and my brother was fighting cancer (Read more HERE). I was overwhelmed with the job expectations, upcoming marriage, tough finances, and my brother's cancer. My health was affected by stress. My throat tightened up which caused me to have digestive issues. My mind was always racing. I was irritable. My stress turned into working harder and harder in ministry. Jordan was fighting cancer as me and my family did all that we could to help him. My brother went to be with Jesus two months after being married to my wife, Cassidy. I felt like I was in a whirlwind. My sails for ministry lost their wind. I felt as if I was scratching by to teach God's Word. I was tired of listening to people's ongoing explanations of why this had happened to Jordan. I remember the funeral and how my Mom and Dad took the lead to share the gospel in front of a packed church. I remember the silence and questions with no answers. My life was changed by the impact of Jordan. His overwhelming peace and encouragement amidst the pain revealed His relationship with Jesus.

The grace of the gospel has shown me:  - My Dad (Jimmy) has been faithful to leading people to Jesus as a Pastor for over 35+ years in ministry. I'm grateful He is faithful to  God and our family. He rarely hangs up the phone without praying for me. - My Mom (Jennifer) showed Jordan hour-by-hour attention. Her undying love for Jesus continues to flow through her life. She spends most of her week at the Piedmont Women's center where they help girls save their babies from the abortion clinic. I love hearing her share stories of girls coming to know Jesus. - My younger brother Justin has a clear passion in his life to make an impact for the gospel. He is an up and coming movie director who creates film that impacts people with Christ. He has turned his pain into passion.  Justin has formed a vision of living vicariously through the power of Jesus and an honor of Jordan’s life. - My older brother Jeff is faithfully leading a church in Virginia and finishing His PhD. at Liberty University. Jeff's passion to reach this generation with truth is contagious.  I'm grateful for an older brother that leads me by example.

What I am slowly learning is that the only way to find true life is to be at peace in my heart with Jesus. 

Knowing Jesus is an inner joy that flows out of "being still and knowing that He is God." The pain that life will bring can feel like a roller coaster. Life is a gift. Every moment is precious. Every person is special in God's sight.

It is almost as if God asks, "Josh, what do you really want?" 

I pray my response is that my heart's desire flows out of my relationship with Jesus. The life I plan is subject to His greater plans. What I want to be is the man God created me to become.

It reminds me of wise words from my brother Jordan. He told me even amidst the pain of cancer, "why worry about something I cannot control?" My heart hurts anytime I think of Jordan. But I know that Jordan lived for a person greater than the pain. His name is Jesus.

The gospel is much more than a comfortable seat on Sunday mornings. The gospel is much more than a prayer. The gospel is much more than a tract we hand out. The gospel is much more than winning a theological debate in seminary. The gospel is much more than our 401(k). The gospel is much more than knowing the right answers.

 The gospel is the grace of Jesus saving us and changing us to be His light to a lost and dying world. 

Has God forgotten me or you? No. He is simply working His gospel story through our lives. Earth is not our home, we are simply making Jesus famous!

The question we must ask is, "What will you do with the life I have given you?"

"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:13-14

Source SM Recap: Volume #7

 Teaching series: Doin Work

Main Thought: Words reflect what is in our heart.

Length of service: 60 minutes. We combined our group in one for a unified worship experience. We have small groups immediately after the teaching and response.

Messsage Explanation: James: 3:2-10. When God created man, he gave us two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and one mouth.  Our words reflect what is in our heart  Matthew 12:34 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Our words can either GIVE life or TAKE life away from others.  Words have the power to direct our lives (v. 3-5).  Words have power to destroy (v. 6-7).  We can assassinate others with our words. “Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble" Proverbs 21:23.

Ephesians 4:29: “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

Here are some action steps to WATCH OUR WORDS

1. Read and apply Scripture (Proverbs a day, James)

2. Think First - remember the acronym THINK, try to ask these 5 questions before you speak:

Is it True? Remember this rule about gossip: “The more interesting it is, the more likely it is to be false.”

Is it Helpful? Will your words help bring about a solution to a problem?

Is it Inspiring? Will your words build up someone?

Is it Necessary? Do we have to say anything at all?

Is it Kind? Are your words based on a desire to help?

3. Talk Less. Your chances of blowing it with your words are directly proportional to the amount of time you spend with your mouth open. Listen to the words you say.

4. Build Others Up - Proverbs 12:25 says, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.” Do your words destroy others or give life?

Element of fun: In honor of the 4th of July, we had a hotdog eating contest! Students had 2 minutes to eat as many as possible! I showed a clip to illustrate how we lose control of our tongue at the beginning of the message!

Music Set: We are the Free, Your Love Never Fails, Forever Reign, The Church (closing)

Favorite Moment: Sensing the excitement of the students and seeing the worship! We are pumped to head out on the mission trip in one week to Atlanta!

What's Next: We are off the next week to prepare for the mission trip to Urban Serve in downtown Atlanta!

Book Review: 4 Views on Hell

The importance of understanding the biblical and sound view of Hell is important to life and ministry. Different authors who have various interpretations on the doctrine of Hell compiled the book. John Walvoord argues that it is a literal place of smoke and flames. William Crockett defends a metaphorical view, punishment but not necessarily literal fire. Clark Pinnock presents conditional immortality - punishment but not forever. And Zachary Hayes explains the concept of purgatory. Throughout the book the four views are explained and later analyzed by the different authors. The overall goal of this book is to portray the differing views of Hell for the reader to take into account and make a decision. Basically, the book is split into four main themes: Literal view, metaphorical view, purgatorial view, and the conditional view. Each view is presented by a proponent and then critiqued by the proponents of the other three views. Walvoord speaks to the literal view of hell that is a simple, fundamentalist position of eternal fire. Crockett holds the metaphorical view where he explains that Hell is a real place, but the fire is symbolic of the punishment that will happen in eternity. Hayes holds to the purgatorial view where he defends the interim period until the last judgment. The last view is held by Pinnock and explains the conditional view that stems from annihilationism.

Reading through the book was enlightening to the fact that there are many interpretations of biblical passages. As the literal view is explained, the author gives a good explanation of the word, eternal. He shows that in the NT aio and nios is only used to mean endless. This word is used several times in reference to the punishment of the wicked. The metaphorical view is aligned with the traditional view but excludes the physical torment that is explained. This view pertains to the mental and depressing pain of being separated from God for eternity. The purgatorial view is explained as a Roman Catholic doctrine that is historical, fair, and unapologetic. The view on purgatory was based more upon human tradition than the words of God’s Word.

The conditional view is an interesting but unbalanced view on Hell. It explains that the ones that are “saved” will be, but those who do not will just die and there is no eternity. Pinnoock’s description of Hell and reasons for ignoring the traditional view is that God would not be loving and be “mean.” The view is explained to cater to the postmodernism that today’s culture holds fast in their minds. Sin and the punishment of it are left out of the picture on this view.

The views held in this book are well thought out and have many good points and insights that were challenging to take into account. One of the hardest realities to speak to people about is the truth of an eternal Hell. The book conveys differing views of different interpretations of eternal punishment and leaves the reader to evaluate and come to a conclusion. There are some differences between the authors on how they treat scripture or how they understand it to be authoritative. The purgatorial view is mainly held by Catholics and it has been accepted over time yet lacks biblical basis. The focus of all theological training must begin and end upon the authority of scripture. Without a standard set, all of scripture is up to interpretation based upon each person’s limited and experiential worldview.

The book made a good point, “The Bible also teaches about eternal heaven; few have problems with this concept if they accept the Bible testimony.” God’s love is true and unconditional but His disgust with sin is at the same level. God desires all people to know Him, but the evil in the world that began with the sin in the Garden of Eden can only be made right by the blood of Jesus Christ. The tension that forms between Heaven and Hell is explained clearly by Walvoord’s comments.

The metaphorical view is closely aligned with the traditional view, but leaves off the literal pain of fire in Hell for eternity. The problem with this view is that it does not take scripture in a literal sense and leaves room for relative interpretation of scripture (Rev. 14:10-11). The issue of inerrancy of scripture is a great response to this view. Scripture has more authority than historical figures and their writings on Hell. God inspired men to write down His words for the scripture and with the metaphorical view being held leaves the scripture as being “open for debate” on it being taken literal. Did Jesus actually ascend to Heaven in bodily form? Is Hell a real place where real people go with the lake of fire? It is clear that God’s Word is not fictitious in its explanations on Hell, but gives us a clear description of the torment and pain that will come to those without a relationship with Christ (Revelation 20:10). If God’s Word says, “the devil, the beast, and the false prophet will be tormented day and night for ever and ever”, what is that other than torment? It is the fire and punishment of Hell for eternity. God is loving and forgiving to those who have accepted salvation, but to those outside of Him there is no grace. This is important to understand in order to be a good student of God’s Word and know it in context. William Crockett's contribution is a good try at interpretation but exhibits many weaknesses often seen in defense of the traditional doctrine of Hell.

The purgatorial view is one that leaves the reader without a clear response from scripture. Hayes believes in a Hell of eternal conscious torment. He instead is simply defending the Catholic view that there is a purgatory, where the saved go for a time to be purged of any remaining sins before they go to Heaven. He does explain that his view does not have any scriptural basis. Upon this statement, the view of purgatory is deemed false and lends to a theology built only on man’s ideals and not upon God’s Word. God’s Word transcends the authority of Catholicism and the history of its founders.

The conditional view is focused mainly upon emotional and philosophical claims. It seems that Pinnock is clearly trying to lessen the traits of Hell and make it bearable for those that question it. God is viewed as one that loves unconditionally but does not have the strength to see people go to a literal Hell for punishment. Lastly, he doesn't even touch on Revelation 20:10. A person cannot be an annihilationist if one does not have a good answer for a verse that says someone will be "tormented day and night for ever and ever"!

The view of Hell that is closest to biblical truth is what Walvoord stands upon. The literal view simply takes God’s Word at face value and accepts it as truth. God’s love is shown through the cross and extends to all who accept Christ. At the same time, mankind is lost without Christ and is without hope because of their sin. If a person rejects Christ as Savior and dies, it will lead to eternal punishment and separation from God. God’s justice is the basis for the truth of Heaven and Hell.

In conclusion, this book gives an insightful and vivid reminder of the truth of eternal Hell. The differing views made for an intriguing look at the different interpretations on life after death. One of the hardest issues to tackle in today’s culture is the end of life and the beginning of eternity. The book gives many views, historical background and interpretations based upon many authors. Ultimately, it all begins and ends with the Word of God and its literal explanation of Hell. We are not left to make Heaven or Hell into our own mold, but to clearly exegete God’s Word to discover His plan for eternity. The world is dying and the greatest need is the saving grace of Jesus Christ. May we always speak of Hell with the compassion of Christ and the sobriety of knowing the truth that real people will spend eternity separated from God.