Pastor Randy’s Blog

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more…”   1 Corinthians 9:19 (NKJV, 1982; Nashville: Thomas Nelson).

As we again take time to recognize and celebrate this Day of American Independence, I wanted to take a moment to stir some thoughts about freedom.  In particular, I want to get those of you who claim to follow Jesus Christ to take stock of the reasons why you value freedom.

In recent days, Christian activism has become the rage in our country as many Christians who, concerned with what appears to be a steady erosion of our Nation’s values and freedoms, are letting their voice be heard.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  Like many of you, I love our Nation and what it has long represented in the history of mankind.  In fact, I have felt so strongly about what our Nation represents that I gave 24 years of my life actively serving and defending the values and freedoms of our Country, both as an enlisted member of the U.S. Army, and as an Officer.  I honestly believe that the United States has been a gift of God not just to the people of this nation, but to the world as a whole.  Like you, I am also concerned about the direction we are now heading.  Yet, as I watch what is happening today - the growing desire that Christians have to preserve our traditional values and freedoms- I must ask what the real motivation is?  Why do Christians want to maintain the freedoms that this Nation has long provided?  For what purpose will they use them?  

I fear that the freedom that many Christians are moblizing and fighting for, is really about what it brings to their lives personally and materially.  For example, if honest, many would admit that they are fighting to maintain the American way of life because they want to ensure that they and their children can continue to enjoy the ”American Dream.”   But, what is the “American Dream” they’re fighting for?   For most, it’s the ability to live successful lives personally and professionally - to have a good job, to raise a family in a nice neighborhood, to earn a decent salary, to own a nice home, to have things in their homes and in their lives that bring pleasure (i.e., cars, TV, stereo, video games, Blue-Ray player, etc.), to ensure that their kids have the ability to attend a good school or University, and then for their children to be able to pursue the same things for their lives and for their childrens’ lives.  Some will also add that they want to preserve the freedom to attend a good Church without being hassled by the Government or anyone else. 

Now please don’t misread what I am about to say, I am not against material things, nor am I against careers, career success, recreation, educational opportunities, or any of these things.  But, if these are the reasons you are fighting to preserve the traditions, values, and freedoms long associated with America, I would challenge you to think about whether these motives are truly aligned with God’s heart for you as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.  Why do I say this?  Because these are things that are about, and important to your life - but not necessaily about God or important to His eternal plans and purposes that He wants to work out in your life and this world.  

Let me ask you - why is it that God established this Nation and so richly blessed it?  Is it just so that you and your children could be blessed by having things in this life?  Again, I am not suggesting that God is opposed to any of these things in moderation and in proper perspective, but an objective reading of the Bible clearly indicates that God has greater things in mind for this world and for your life as His child.  Freedom is a blessing from God, but it is a blessing given so that we might use it to further His purposes - not just to bring satisfaction and contentment to our own lives!  I must be honest with you, I enjoy my TV, video games, and the home in which I live, but I must also admit that I realize that these are valueless things in light of God’s eternal plans and purposes for my life and for this world.  They are just “THINGS” - things that I can use and enjoy - but ”THINGS” none-the-less.  Like you, I too am concerned about the direction our country is heading and the erosion of freedoms that seem to be accompanying this move.  Like you, I want this Nation to continue to enjoy the freedoms of Democracy, but I want it not to futher my own comfort and pleasure, but ultimately to enhance the work I can do in a free envioronment for the Lord.

What are you doing with the freedoms you have as a citizen of this great Nation?  If you’re using your freedom to serve and advance yourself in this life, you are squandering the freedoms you’ve been given by God.  Don’t waste freedom - it’s a precious gift of God to be used to advance His purposes and plans, not your own.   Fight for freedom - but fight for it for the right reasons!

Today my mom (who now lives with my wife and I) turned 93!   I cannot tell you the number of people who upon learning of her age are quick to remark:  “That is truly amazing - she is really defying the odds!”  And they are right, she has abosolutely defied the odds by living this long.  But, these aren’t the only odds my Mom has defied. 

You see, when my Mom was 91 she made a decision to personally place her faith in Jesus Christ as her only Lord and Savior!  By all statistical standards this was an even more amazing thing - a greater defiance of the odds.  Why?  Because statisticians tell that the older we get, the less likely we are to accept Christ.  If you think about it, this makes sense.  As we age, our tendency is to become more rigid and ingrained in the things that are most familiar to us.  Therefore, if we grow up with a particular religious belief system, the older we get, the less likely we are to make a change to this system because this is what we have grown accustomed to.  But praise God - my Mom defied the odds.  She was willing to reject many of the false religious teachings and rituals that she had grown up with in favor of something that she came to realize to be true.  At the age of 91 my Mom began to understand the truth stated so clearly in John 14:6 where Jesus says:  “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” 

You see, this was a major concession for my Mom because, like so many other people, she grew up beleiving in a religious system where she, not Jesus, was the determining factor in her right standing before God.  What do I mean?  Just this - like many people, Mom lived a system of religion in which she believed that ultimately her salvation would be based upon the quantity and quality of good works that she did throughout her life, and upon the religious duties and rituals which she kept.  The problem with such a system is that although it might seem reasonable to us, it’s not something that God supports in His Word (in the Bible)! 

The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is a gift offered to us by God Himself, and not something that we can ever acheieve by any level of good works or religious effort.  The Bible plainly tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9:    “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  The Bible also goes on to clearly tells us that the gift of God that can ultimately save us (the only thing that can save us) is Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross (i.e., His death and resurrection)!  Speaking specifically of Jesus Christ, John  1:12-13 tells us:  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 

So you see - these Biblical truths were not at all in line with what my Mom grew up believing, but they are the truths which led to her salvation as she defied the statistical odds at the age of 91 by yielding to Christ alone as the only source of her salvation.  And she did not do this a moment too soon, because within one year after having made this commitment to Christ, my Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, and as a result she has steadily been declining in her ability to think and reason clearly.  Had she waited much longer in her decision to accept Christ, the door might have closed and she would never have come to know Him and be saved.

When I hear people say to me that they are thinking about accepting Christ, but they’re not quite ready yet, I think of my Mom, and in my heart I want to beg them to accept Him now, while they’re still able.  Because as time passes, although I know that the odds can be beaten, the odds are still against them.  The longer they wait, the less likely they will be to make this change, and the greater the odds that something will happen that will close the door on them before they can ever make this most curucial decision of their lives.  

If this you, I  leave you with the Divinely inspired words of the Apostle Paul as found in 2 Corinthians 6:1-2:   “We then as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.  For He says:  “In an acceptavle time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”  Don’t wait a minute longer, because by waiting you might find that it will be too late!

It has been quite some time since I have written and I want to apologize to all of you who have been tuning in to my blog to find nothing new there.  I can assure you that it was not a lack of desire, or a loss for words (I am rarely at a loss for words - just ask anyone in our congregation!), that kept me from adding any new articles, but simply a technical glitch with access to my blog program.   I have finally been able to access the site again - and I will begin adding new articles shortly.  Please keep checking in as I hope to add articles that will both bless and encourage you!  In the meantime - why not check out one of my recent teachings from 1 Corinthians or Judges?

Yesterday was a bittersweet day for many of us in Calvary Chapel.  You see, yesterday we honored the life of a brother and fellow servant in the Lord who many of us have come to know and respect, but whom the Lord has now chosen to call home to Himself.  That brother is Pastor Bob Chappell of Calvary Chappell of Greece, NY.

You didn’t have to know Bob  long in order to realzie what a great man of God he was.  I met Bob a number of years ago at a Pastors’ retreat, and then over the years I had the opportunity to hear him teach at various conferences and events.  There were few men that I have heard teach the Bible with the grace and authority with which Bob taught it.  I think the effective way he taught it was the result of the way he lived it in his own life.   You see, Bob was “the real deal.”  He didn’t teach things that he wasn’t personally living himself, albeit imperfectly (as he himself would be quick to admit), but living it none-the-less.   Bob loved the Lord, and out his love for Him he determined to live in a way that honored Jesus - and it was evident to everyone who knew him.

As I’ve thought about Bob’s life over the past several days, and as I listened on-line to the testimonials at his Memorial Service yesterday, one thing has been on my mind:  ”Can the same be said of me?”   When people look at my life, do they see a man who is so completely and so fully in love with Jesus that his life evidences that love?   I don’t know, I fear sometimes this is not the case.  Like many of you, I get so distracted with life in general and with my own worldly affairs that I fear that far too often I am more a reflection of myself than I am of Jesus.

There is a scripture that speaks of the transforming effect Christ should be having in the lives of those who have genuinely given their lives to Him.  It says: ^{ “}But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (The New King James Version. 1982 (2 Co 3:18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson).  I can say without question that this scripture was absolutely true of Bob Chappell’s life, but is it true of my life?  I don’t know - I think it would spiritual arrogance and hypocrisy on my part to say that it is.  So, with this in mind, I am seeking the Lord daily and asking Him to make me a man like this.  A man who, when all is said and done, it can be said that he truly honored Jesus, not just with his words, but with every aspect of his life.

Thanks Bob for challenging me like this (for challenging all of us like this).  We will miss you, but the Lord is using your example to impact all of our lives, even in your death.  You have been the example for all of us as to what it means to truly follow Jesus.

We all long for that day when we will see you again, and together we we will worship our Lord Jesus.  Until then, may you enjoy the wonderful embrace of our Lord as you live in His presence.  Blessings to you my brother!