There-Was a Man

In todays population I can understand a little how God must have felt when He told Ezekiel, “I sought for a man among them…but I found none.” I’m not speaking of what the world defines as manly, but God’s description. The former always looks on the outward appearance, while the latter views the inside. And so, let us be clear, we’re not addressing a physical roughness, but ruggedness of character. It is possible to be big on the outside, with a midget of a man on the inside. On the other hand, I’ve met many a man who was small of stature, but who was a giant of a man within.

We have so-called Christian writers today who, while posing as a man, stand hiding themselves behind a fountain pen. And many in our pulpits want to pass themselves off as real men, who stand for something, but are actually only kept up by the starch in their clothes! My personal description of a man is one who does what needs to be done, simply because it needs doing, regardless of the cost. My Grandpa Morrison worked as a night-watchman forty years at a paper mill, and he never missed a day in all that time; while raising a family of seven. He proudly received his gold pocket-watch at retirement. He was 5’2’’ and weighted 125 pounds. WHAT A MAN HE WAS!

When a male was born in Bible times he was referred to as a, “Man child.” In other words, every male child was born with the potential of being a real man. Only by either neglect, or by training and conditioning, will he be otherwise. Feminization of the male spirit is unnatural! This is why a single mother must keep her son(s) around manly men. Timothy’s mother and grandmother did a super job; but it was Paul who put the icing on the cake. From childhood, I cannot remember a day that I have not admired manliness, and wanted only to be a part of their clan. On a mans tomb-stone, I know of no greater epitaph to have than what was said of John the Baptist, “There was a man.”

Empty Lives

“When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.”

Jesus tells us there can be no neutrality in one’s life; you are either for or against; hot or cold. The reason so many Christian lives are tasteless and unfulfilled is because they’re empty of what gives life meaning: GOD. Augustine said, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” 

An empty life is an invitation for Satan to fill it. You can’t leave God out of your life and not expect Satan to move in. He’s always searching for passivity in the lives of God’s children. You can be sure if your life is void of God, something or someone will fill that vacuum. A life without the fullness of God is of no use to ourselves or others. 

And let no professing Christian boast in the fact he or she has cleaned up their life. This in itself does not prove one has a God-filled life. Satan, we’re told, comes as an angel of light. He doesn’t care if a life is clean just as long as it is a self-cleaning life. What he fears is when God does the scrubbing.

The Great Exorcism

The words exorcist or exorcism, are not found in the Bible. They’re used in our present day, almost exclusively, by the Catholic Church and media. One definition is: one who drives (forces) out evil spirits. Jesus had power to cast out devils, and He gave this authority to the Seventy and His Apostles. Also after the accession, His followers exercised this gift. But they or the event were never referred to as exorcists, or exorcism. Many superstitious professional exorcists existed both in Jesus’ and Paul’s day. They were known as “vagabond Jews.”

We hear much in our contemporary age, in certain segments of religion,  of the casting out of demons from individuals. But would it shock you to know  there is coming a world-wide “exorcism” ? Old John on Patmos tells us, when Christ returns to this earth, “the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone...and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”  This is the reason, no doubt, Satan’s anger grows and his efforts increase as he sees this great and dreadful day approaching! Thus ending the global war between God and His elect against him.

Although Christ conquered Satan at Calvary, his final sentencing will not take effect till His glorious appearing the second time. Until then, we are to reckon our Lord’s victory over the devil as our own. Just as high school students say, after a victorious sports event, “We Won!” meaning, their representatives won it for them, on their behalf, if you please. Wonderful it is that weak, sinful saints as ourselves have the means to overcome the Wicked One. And how is this accomplished? “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

And this, dear reader, is what you call, “Undefeated Optimism!”

Something I've Learned

The old Methodist Evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Sr. wrote a book entitled, Some Things I Have Learned. Every Christian ought to obtain a copy of this book, and then spiritually devour it.

On October the 15th I turned eighty-two years of age, and there is something I’ve learned in my fifty-eight years as a child of God. That is this: Jesus Christ is the sum total of all things. If He is not the final answer to all things, then your life adds up to nothing. Not only can you do nothing without Him, but you are nothing without Him!

A Sunday school teacher taught a class of six year olds. She made Jesus the main character in every story she taught. Before presenting an object lesson on one Sunday she asked, “Class, what has a bushy tail, lives in a tree, and hides away its food for winter?” Little Johnny raised his hand and answered, “Teacher it sure sounds like a squirrel to me, but I know the answer is Jesus.”

Parental Needs

“…and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.” This is Mark’s moving account of the healing of a young man, devil-possessed (Mk.9:14-29). One would think that our compassionate Lord would have immediately taken care of this crucial situation. But, instead, He begins a conversation with the boy’s father about the lad’s history and the father’s belief. All this, while the man’s son is wallowing at their feet, foaming at the mouth, gnashing his teeth in pain.

At the close of the story, we find the purpose of this time interval. It is apparent that the Great Physician cured more than the patient. He helped the parent, also. During this waiting time, the father’s faith was tested, and he was taught parental patience. Often we parents think our children’s sad condition is the only issue. But, at the end of the ordeal, embarrassed, we find we were not in too good of spiritual shape ourselves!