Chuck Liddell and Hope for Your Day

Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

These words are powerful. They are God's words. They are penned by men, but inspired and directed by the Spirit of God. These words are meant to fuel hope, encouragement, and joy.

Our citizenship, as followers of Jesus Christ, is heaven. And from heaven we await our Savior. He's coming back. He is coming to restore all things. He is coming to redeem creation and establish his kingdom forever. 

Then he will do something amazing. He will transform our lowly, sickly, dying bodies, into glorious, perfected bodies, like his own. We will be raised to new life and never sin again. Never die again. Never get sick again. This is the hope of the Christian life. We long for and await this day. 

But what causes us to believe in this hope? 

What makes us think this can actually happen?

The answer: because the power that enables Jesus to subject all things to himself is the power that cause these dead bones to live. 

This verse packs a Chuck Liddell to the temple type ending. Jesus, who was raised from the dead, ascended to the right hand of God, now rules and reigns over the unviverse, and every molecule in it. He upholds the universe by the Word of his power (Hebrews 1:3). The same power that enables him to subject all things to himself is the very power that will one day cause these lowly bodies to be glorious. 

Oh friends, the Christian hope is an incredible hope. Set your eyes on your citizenship in heaven today and the Savior we await to come from there. For in a blink of an eye he is coming. He leaves us in the closing words of our Bible's with the promise, "Surely I am coming soon."

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You're a Christian, huh? Hmm...

 I know what some of you were already thinking as you read the title of this post, "Who are you judge who is or who is not a Christian?" This is a natural question to ask, I suppose, but I do not believe it is really what you are asking. "Who are you to judge," is really seeking to find out by what authority I can make a definitive claim about somebody being a Christian or not. The answer to that question is easy: nobody. I'm nobody. I do not carry any inherent authority which makes what I say the rule of the day. However, before you type another domain into your browser and move on, that does not dismiss the issue.

Just because I am nobody, and lack inherent authority in myself, does not mean the right to identify as Christian is a free-for-all. Fundamentally, "Who are you to judge," is the wrong question. The more appropriate questions begging to be asked: is there any way to judge who is or who is not a Christian? Is there an objective standard by which Christians can be identified or is it simply a subjective endeavor? I believe the Bible and historic, orthodox Christianity answers without hesitation: yes, there is an objective standard!

So what?

Why do I raise this issue? We currently live in a cultural climate of debate and division over many hot-topic issues. Things including homosexuality and abortion are a couple of mainstream examples. In the midst of many of these debates the line drawn is between Christian beliefs vs secular beliefs. As a Christian, I find myself distinctively on one side of the dividing line in these arguments. Yet surprisingly, I often will have someone who is taking a stance distinctively rooted in secular philosophy claim to be a Christian. This makes no sense to me. 

**WARNING: This is the point in the article where your modern sensibilities may get aggravated, a seat belt or bit in your mouth may assist you in finishing** 

For someone to claim they are Christian, though they hold distinctly non-Christian views and have non-Christian behavior patterns, is absurd. Again, this raises the vitriol of folks to say, "Who are you to say?" My previous answer remains, "nobody," but that doesn't void my claim. There is a standard, an objective standard, by which a Christian can be deciphered. We do not make or move that standard. It is given through Scripture's revelation and teaching. "Yeah, but interpreting the Bible is so subjective; one group believes this way and another group that way," you quip. However, again, there is an objective standard on interpreting the Bible. You do not approach the Bible and impose your view on to it (though many do), there are rules and guidelines which inform interpretation (this is the discipline and field of hermeneutics).

But back to my point. To claim to be a Christian, while holding very clearly stated (from Scripture) non-Christian beliefs and behaviors, is a contradiction. The Bible would call this person a hypocrite. The word 'hypocrite' is from a Greek word meaning 'actor.' In other words, people who claim to be Christian while holding non-Christian beliefs and behaviors are actors. They are posers. Pretenders. I'm not afraid to say this. It may ruffle your feathers and send your politically correct alarms off, but it is only because you have been conditioned to respond this way. In actuality, it's nonsense, and there needs to be a recovery of the ability to call out nonsense. 

An Analogy

Suppose you met a guy at a crowded dinner party and proceeded to strike up a conversation. The two of you have a lot in common and are mutually enjoying the conversation. But at some point in the discussion he informs you he is a football player for the Tennessee Titans. He claims he is a tight end for the Titans, your favorite NFL team. You think to yourself, "this is amazing." Eventually the conversation is halted by his need to go to the bathroom and he lets you know he'll be right back. In your excitement, you pull your phone out and begin looking up the Titans roster to find your new pal (and to send out texts and tweets bragging to your friends). However when you pull it up, he's not there. You keep digging and looking, you search Google, nothing, he's nowhere to be found. You scan NFL.com, which lists every NFL player, nothing.

You think to yourself, "I bet none of his information has been loaded to the internet yet." No you don't. You think to yourself, "I've been duped." Most of you, if this happened to you, would conclude very quickly, this guy was a fraud. He was a pretender. He claimed to be a NFL player with the Tennessee Titans; however, all the things that objectively determine that (a contract, access to team facilities, on the team roster) are missing.

Your fake NFL player friend returns and begins to strike up conversation again. At this point you are attempting to probe deeper into his identity and whether he is telling the truth. Eventually you point blank ask him, "Did you actually have a contract with the Titans, because I tried to find you and couldn't?" 

To your surprise and dismay, he answers back to you, "No, I haven't signed any contracts." 

You fire back with frustration, "Then you're not really an NFL player or on the Titans." 

Thinking you could not be shocked by anything else he could possibly say, he hits you with, "Well who are you to judge whether or not I'm on the Tennessee Titans?" 

Unable to continue acting like this is a reasonable conversation, you passionately explain, "I'm nobody to judge, but the issue is very clear. If you have not signed a contract with the team or are not on the roster, then you're not a part of the team. Period. That is not debatable. That is a fact. It is an objective standard."

As you walk away you hear him mutter, "Well, that's your opinion and interpretation."

Not An Unfamiliar Scene

What I have described is a made up story, but the scenes and logic in this story resemble every day life. In the same way this guy claimed to be a NFL football player, but did not meet the objective standards for validating such a claim, many today profess to be Christians while believing and behaving in definitiely non-Christian ways. Many fail to meet the objective standards.

Some will say, "Well, those people claim to believe in Jesus, doesn't the Bible say that is sufficient for salvation? Doesn't that make them a Christian?" True, we are called to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus for our salvation, but that belief, true belief, transforms us, not leaves us the same as before our belief. Believing a set of facts or premises is not what makes you a Christian. Even the Devil believes the right facts about Jesus. Doing this thing or that thing, or believing this fact or that fact, makes you no more a Christian than being in a garage makes you a car. 

Jesus says in Matthew 7 that a tree is known by its fruit. In other words, your life will tell the story of who/what you are. If you are a Christian, your life should reflect the beliefs and behaviors that are distinctively Christian. You are not free to make up your own rules or forge your own way and call it Christian. You are not free to slap your own operators manual to this thing we call the Christian life, it has already been written.

The Objective Standards

What is a Christian? Am I a Christian? These are not subjective questions. There is a distinction between being a Christian and not being one. This distinction is not determined by an individual's feelings or personal interpretation. It is objective. So what is it?

To determine whether someone is truly a Christian there should be evidences of two events in their life. First, there is the event of being born-again. Jesus himself teaches that unless a person is born-again he or she will not enter the kingdom of God (John 3:3). This event is also described as regeneration (Titus 3:5) or being saved (Romans 10:1-13). When we are born-again, saved, and experience regeneration, we are justified before God, pardoned of our sin, adopted into His family, and indwelled by the Holy Spirit, who testifies to our spirit that we are children of God (Romans 8:16). This is not a subjective feeling, this is an actual event. This is not believing a few facts about the Bible or Jesus, this is a profound changing of our heart of stone with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26-27). It has either happened or it hasn't, no in-between.

This leads to the second event, transformation. Not only are we saved, born-again, and experience regeneration, this first event leads to the second event, we begin to change. Believers do not remain the same upon conversion. We do not go back to our old ways of living. We begin the process of transformation (Romans 12:1-2). We take off the old self and put on the new (Colossians 3:1-9). We pursue and strive for holiness, without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). We do not go back to our former ways when we walked in ignorance, but instead, we seek to be holy in all our conduct, just as the One who saved us and called us is holy (1 Peter 1:14-16). This event of transformation is not one time, but ongoing. We continue transforming in godliness for the rest of our lives. This is not subjective, it is measurable. (See Galatians 5:16-24)

Two events. We are born-again and we are transformed. These things are non-negotiable, objective standards of determining a Christian. If you have not been born-again, you are not a Christian, Jesus says so. And his opinion on the matter trumps your feelings about it. If your life is not being transformed to reflect more and more of God's will, as revealed through Scripture, then you are probably not a believer. True believers do not seek to justify their sinfulness by misinterpreting or reinterpreting the Bible. They humbly submit to God's Word and are transformed by it.

Who's Arrogant?

Finally, in the midst of all these debates in our culture, true believers will side with the Bible, not against it. True believers will reflect a biblical worldview, not the latest whims of the culture. True believers will see their lives transformed to reflect God's will, not remain in rebellion. True believers submit underneath God's Word, not stand above it.

John Piper has pointed out, and I believe him to be spot on, that believers are often charged with being arrogant because we try to teach everyone what the Scriptures teach concerning God and His will for mankind. But they are wrong. The opposite is true. Real arrogance is found in those who refuse to submit to an authority outside themselves, and instead, do whatever they please. Real arrogance is believing you make the rules. Refusing to submit to Scripture's teaching, and thinking you have the right to decide what a Christian is; that my friends, is the height of arrogance.

Amidst all the debates happening in our culture, it is time we call phooey on claims to be Christian that do not meet the criteria. As much as this raises the blood-pressure of some, it is time to give the Family Feud [X] (cue annoying buzzard sound) when folks self-identifying as Christians are living in habitual sin, without remorse, and holding distinctively non-Christian beliefs, without regard. Just ask them, "So you're a Christian, huh? Hmm..."

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I welcome your reactions and thoughts in the comment section below. Keep your responses mature, reasonable, and constructive.

Rays of Sunshine Through Clouds of Gray: Remembering the Legacy of Sadie Davis

One year ago this day, I received a text from one of our elders at The Journey Church that caused my heart to sink in my chest. "Sadie went to be with the Lord" were the words that met my eyes. The text had been sent by her father, Tim Davis. I was devastated. She had been fighting a rare form of leukemia for nearly two months. She had undergone surgeries and chemotherapy and was battling against this sudden and unexpected diagnosis. The church had rallied behind Sadie. The community had rallied around Sadie. Folks from around the country and world were hearing about this girl. And just like that, she was gone.

I told my wife and children and we all cried together. We sat down and prayed for Tim and Amber and the entire Davis family. Through sobs of sorrow we petitioned the Lord to be gracious to the family and comfort them with supernatural comfort. I then prepared to go to the hospital to be with the family.

The ride there was a blur. I was crying, praying, collecting my thoughts, and driving down I-40 in a daze, zoned out as I looked forward. When I arrived at the hospital, I went to the floor where Sadie had been and upon coming out of the elevators I ran into Amber, her father, and her step-mother. We all embraced and began to cry. They had all their belongings that had collected over time during the stay loaded up on a cart and were taking it out to the car. It was time to go home.

We reached the floor that leads you out of the hospital and we stayed there to wait for Tim. Tim had personally carried his daughter's body to the hospital morgue. My heart ached and mourned. We finally saw Tim coming up the hallway, a man to be most pitied, yet walking with a strange sort of faith and strength, though he probably did not recognize it. When he reached us, he and I embraced and sobbed together. As a father of two daughters, one daughter at the time, I could not imagine what this man was going through and feeling. The arms of this man around my shoulders were just moments ago carrying his diseased daughter. I had no words. Only tears. My heart was in a million pieces. 

We all grabbed hands in the middle of the crowded and busy hospital lobby and prayed. I don't remember any of the words spoken, just some mumblings and groans and sobs, it was the closest thing I had ever experienced to Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."

The Aftermath

The coming days would be difficult for everyone, but most especially for the Davis family. They quickly made the funeral arrangements and began to share those details out. The flood of support and love being shown to them was amazing. People were not just mourning for the Davis', but with them. Sadie's life and battle had left an effect on many people. The Davis' faith and courage throughout the entire process had resonated with countless thousands who were observing it through personal interaction, social media avenues, and blogs. 

When the funeral visitation arrived, me and a few other Journey pastors and leaders arrived before the public would be able to visit. We joined the Davis family in the viewing room after giving them some time together as a family. We then gathered and prayed together. We asked the Lord to give the Davis' strength and courage to endure the embraces, memories, and sadness. That night was amazing. I do not know the final count of visitors, but the line was out of the door the entire evening as hour after hour passed, and the line was unrelenting. A flood of love and support had come rushing in to remember Sadie and embrace the Davis'. 

The funeral was held at The Journey Church in Lebanon. We all knew it would be a difficult day. The visitation prior to the service was, once again, lined out the door with people. Pastors from other churches, people who had never met the Davis', and many friends and acquaintances showed up to pay their respects. When time for the service arrived, the place was absolutely packed. There was not an empty seat in the building. The parking lot and field across the street were filled with cars. The livestream broadcast we were providing had over 300 people who were watching from around the country. It was a sight to see.

The service was absolutely amazing. There were video slideshows, special songs, friends who shared words of encouragements, worship, and perhaps the most amazing part, Tim Davis' eulogy for his daughter. Oh friends, if I heard a million more sermons, eulogies, and speeches in my lifetime, none would surpass what was spoken that day. To witness a man stand with such courage, grace, wisdom, sorrow, and faith was a sight to behold. I felt as though I were seeing an act of God up close and personal.

He spoke about a night, the last where Sadie would still be able to walk and have energy to play. That night they played trains, did the hotdog dance, had a tea party, she rode in the play car, and they strolled the halls. Tim said he will always remember that night. That night, he took a lifetime of rides with his daughter, a lifetime of tea parties, a lifetime of walks together, he even danced at his daughter's wedding. The place melted. I still melt, even as I write it.

Lessons to be Remembered

All of these things I have described happened a year ago today. Ms. Sadie Caroline Davis went to be with the Lord. Her life of sixteen months has made more of a difference than many who will live to be seventy. But as we remember Little Sadiebug, I believe there are still important lessons for us to keep in focus. Her life and the Davis family have provided us with some incredible truths to ponder on, so I want to share them for us to consider.

1. Life can change forever in an instant

We all know this in our minds, but we do not actually live like this. We know that it can happen, but we do not live like it will happen. Sadie's life and death is a reminder that things in this life can and will happen. The Bible says our life is like a mist, here in the morning and then gone (James 4:14). We should cherish both the life we have and the life of our loved ones. We are not promised a certain number of years. We do not have the security of always having our loved ones around. Things can change from the normal in the blink of an eye. It did for the Davis family, and things have never been the same. Let this reminder cause you to mend broken or damaged relationships. Let this stir you to express your feelings to loved ones that perhaps you have a hard time sharing them with. Let this cause you to hug your children a little tighter or kiss your spouse a little longer. Say "I love you" often and cherish those God has given you. 

2. God is sovereign over our lives and He is good

I spoke about this point at Sadie's funeral. We must not see Sadie's life as being tragically cut short. Her life was not cut short. She lived the number of days the Lord so decreed from the beginning (Psalm 139:16). She did not live one less day than she should have, and she did not live one day more. Sadie's life has always been a part of the sovereign plan of God. This was not a wasted life, nor a senseless loss. Yes, we mourn her loss. And we do so rightfully. But we do not mourn as those who are without hope, for we know it is our God who reigns. He reigns over the life of Sadie and everyone else. 

Our God is sovereign and rules over all things, and He is good. God not only rules, but He does so out of His goodness. Yes, there will be things that hurt in this life. Yes, there will be trials and tribulations, but God is sovereign over those trials, and according to Scripture, uses them for our good (Romans 8:28). Would the Davis' love to have Sadie back? Yes, absolutely. But they also rest peacefully knowing that Sadie's life has always belonged to God. God was Sadie's Creator. He had rights over her life, to accomplish His purposes. We do not always see what those purposes are, nor do we have to, but we know from Scripture that neither her life nor death were senseless, they were a part of the sovereign plan of a good God from the foundation of the world.

3. These present sufferings should point our eyes to future glory

I also spoke about this at the funeral. Nothing in this life has ever caused me to long for heaven and the return of Christ like Sadie's death. It was through her death that God sealed in my heart the reality that believers are not to cling to this life, but to long for Christ's coming and for the City of God to be established for eternity. The City of God is our eternal dwelling place with God. In glory there will be no more tears, no more death, no more cancer; God will wipe away every tear and we will reign with Him forever. We must remember that as we live presently on this earth. We were made for heaven. We were made to be with God forever. Earth is not our home. We are merely sojourners, passing through. Yes, we have work to accomplish here, but we are citizens of heaven, through Christ. 

In this life we will experience troubles. Jesus told us to expect this. Be also told us to take heart for he had overcome the world (John 16:33). Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18 that these present sufferings are not worth comparing to the eternal weight of glory awaiting us in heaven. Paul reminds believers that the sufferings on this earth are real, but the troubles and hurts, do not measure against the glory of heaven. One day we will see with perfect vision just how small our trials were, compared to all-surpassing glory to be our inheritance in heaven. Believers in this life must live with our eyes on the city of God. It is how we fight through the trials we face today. 

4. Our God is the God of all comfort and He is faithful

One thing that I have witnessed first-hand in the life of the Davis family is that God is faithful. God, by His grace, has kept this family in tact. He has supplied them with the graces needed to carry on each day. He has provided for them the strength to keep standing in days of sorrow. God has been faithful. He has comforted this family with a comfort that only He can provide. We should expect this, for the Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 1 that our God is the God of all comfort who comforts His people in their afflictions. Yes He does! Sometimes His hand is undetected, but it is there. He caresses, embraces, pats, and grips with His comforting hands. He upholds His children in their afflictions. 

Whatever you may be facing today in your life, stand firm on this: our God is a comforting God and He's faithful. He will not leave you nor forsake you through your trial. He is there. He provides rays of sunshine through clouds of gray. He is faithful to do this, not once or twice, but continuously for His children. Lean on Him today, friends. Those who mourn Sadie's loss today, rest in the God of all comfort. Seek the One who promises to give sufficient grace in the hour of need (2 Corinthians 12:9). He will meet you in your suffering and He will carry you through it. 

Closing Words

One year later, I still cannot believe that little blue-eyed beauty is gone. My heart aches today for Tim and Amber and family. Nobody can ever understand what their daily life must be like, the ebbs and flows of emotions that come. The nights of waking up, only to be unable to return to sleep. This family has been through so much. Let's pray for them today. Let's ask God to continue providing comfort to this family. Let's thank God for the gift of Sadie. She was a gift to our own lives. For God has providentially used her life to teach us more powerful lessons than a 30 minute sermon can provide. Her life is still speaking. The lessons are still being taught. God has and is still being glorified in this precious child's life. One year after her passing, we still have much to say when it comes to the legacy of Sadie Davis.

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Poof! It's Gone.

At some point every person will make the statement, "Life is short." It is true that life is short. What we usually mean by the statement is not necessarily the number of years someone has, but the fragile and very temporary nature of life itself. Life can end quickly, without warning. Life should be considered precious.

The Bible says in James 4:14, "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

Our lives are like a mist, a vapor. It is here for a moment, then gone. Just like the morning dew that lingers for a short time, but soon evaporates, our lives are here today and gone tomorrow.

The curious thing about all of this, is that while many of us agree with such statements, we do not live like it. We do not live like we believe life is short. We do not live like we think life is fragile and precious. Sadly, many people take this one life they have been given, and they waste it. 

How do you waste your life? You live it for yourself. You live it for your comforts, your wants, your dreams, your safety, your entertainment, your popularity, your riches, your power, and on it goes. This is the wasted life. 

The Bible calls us to live for something different. Something greater. The unwasted life is the life lived for God and His glory. The unwasted life is about submitting to the Kingdom of God, dying to yourself, taking up your cross and following Christ. The American dream says "Make a name for yourself," while the Kingdom of God says, "Die to yourself and live for one name - Jesus." 

There could not be two more contrary philosophies of life. Yet many churches and Christians have somehow convinced themselves that living and pursuing the American Dream is pursuing the Kingdom of God. Oh how deceived are we!

If you don't want to waste your life, seek first the kingdom of God. Give your time and talents and resources to God's mission. Redeem your time at work and home to advance the kingdom of God. There is nothing wrong with making and selling widgets, unless you only do it to make money to buy stuff. You are made for more than producing widgets for spending money. Approach your job as a mission field. See your co-workers as people made in the image of God in need of Christ. See your workplace as a ministry. 

There is nothing more terrifying or sad than someone who wastes their life. You only have one. One! You do not want to wake up one day as an old adult or reach your deathbed and realize you wasted it. You can't recover it at that point. You can't undo it. You have one life, then poof, it's gone. 

For more on this, check out this sermon: The Unwasted Life

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Are You Saved? A Vital Examination

Exams are important. An exam is defined as an exercise designed to measure progress or test qualifications.

Everyone has taken exams. From youth to adulthood we take exams. However, there is one exam in life that everyone should take. It is a pass/fail exam. What you make on the exam is of eternal consequence. This examination is to determine whether you are saved. By "saved," I mean whether you are forgiven of your sins and justified before God, thereby in a relationship with Him.

The basis for taking this exam is found in the Bible.

2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV) - Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? - unless indeed you fail to meet the test.

Paul writes to the church in Corinth to examine themselves. He wants them to examine themselves for the purpose of seeing whether they are in the faith. This is a crucial exam. The goal is to determine whether Jesus Christ is in you. If not, you fail to meet the test.

As a pastor, I hesitate to tell people they are saved. It is not because I'm skeptical of other people's salvation, I just don't want to be someone's assurance. I never want someone to be lost in their sins, yet think they are saved because at some point I told them so. Assurance of salvation comes when we pass the exam. It is imperative for everyone to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. The role of the pastor is not to assure people of their salvation, but to exhort them to exam themselves.

So that is my argument for why we should examine ourselves. Let's look at how to examine ourselves.

1. Have I put my complete trust and faith in the finished work of Jesus?

The question demands that we look at where our hope for salvation lies. If we believe that God will forgive us of our sins through any other means than Jesus' death and resurrection, we fail to answer this question correctly. Salvation comes to those who wholly submit to what Jesus has done for us. We do not try to save ourselves via some behavior, action, work, or deed. We push all the chips forward and declare we are "all in" with Jesus. Has this taken place with you?

2. Do I submit my life to God and the authority of His Word?

This second question demands we look at what authority governs our lives, our thoughts, our beliefs, and our actions. True believers do not go on living their lives according to their own opinions. Real Christians come under the authority of the Word of God and align their lives accordingly. This means that what we determine to be true, moral, good, and so on is informed by the Bible. If you have not submitted to the Bible's authority, you fail the test. Is the Bible your authority?

3. Do I treasure and love Jesus?

This question gets to the heart of what salvation means. So many people wrongly believe salvation to be about believing all the right facts about the Christian claims. Instead, salvation is about a new love. We begin to love Jesus. True believers go beyond simply believing in Jesus, and begin to treasure him. Treasuring Jesus is about our yearnings to be with him. Treasuring Christ is about our affections for who is and all he has done. Many people believe in Jesus, but no everyone who believes in Jesus treasures him. What about you?

4. Are confession of sins and repentance regular aspects of my life?

The Christian life is one continuous pattern of confessing sin and repenting from it. Believers are called to be striving continuously for holiness. We do not want to continue in our former ways, but instead, we want to live holy lives. We want to be dedicated to God. This requires a constant turning away from worldliness and passions of the flesh. True believers do not live in habitual sin. They turn from it. This confession of sin takes place in private prayer, but also in a community of believers (James 5:16). Repentance is a turning away from sinful habits and turning to Christ. Do these things mark your life?

5. What Who do I live my life for?

This last question gets to the core of who we are living for each day. What characterizes your life? Does your faith in God mark your life? Does your allegiance to Christ and Kingdom show in how you live? There are many professing beleivers whose lives do not match their profession. Do not be decieved, friends. God will not be mocked. He does not desire for people who claim to know Him, but live for themselves. Those who are in Christ live their lives for Christ. We do not continue on living for our own dreams, wants, plans, and goals. We recognize that we were bought at an incredibly high price - Jesus' life - and we lay down our own lives for His glory. So what about you? Who do you live for - Christ or yourself?

Conclusion

After answering these questions, one final question is in order: am I being honest? You must answer the questions honestly in order to know if you pass the exam. If you are truly a believer, you should be able to answer "yes," to the first four questions and "Christ and his kingdom" should be how the last question is answered. Paul tells us in Romans 8 that the Spirit of God testifies to our spirit that we are indeed children of God. The Spirit of God will affirm in our hearts if we have answered these questions accurately. 

There is not a more important exam we will ever take. Passing or failing is of eternal significance. My challenge for you is this: if you pass the exam, then praise God for the gift of salvation that you have received. If you failed the exam, plead for God to save you, to forgive your sins, and to turn your life around. Turn to Christ and find life. Believe and you will be saved. 

Question: what additional questions would you add to this exam? I would love to hear your thoughts below.

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Problems with Neighbor breed Problems with God

Let me ask you a question: are there people in your life that you are less than cordial with? Let me ask a better question: are there brothers and sisters in Christ that you would say that you don't like very much? I ask the question rhetorically because I already know what the answer is: YES!!! I know there are people that get on your nerves. I know there are people who's personality gets under your skin. As a pastor I witness this reality between people, but I also fall victim to it as well.

If the Word of God, and not our emotions, opinions, and broken assessments, are to lead and guide us, then we need to take caution to what it says. When our lives don't align to its commands we should repent, meaning, turn from. We must ask the Spirit of God to stir our hearts toward change and we must go to our brothers and sisters in which we are not in right standing and reconcile. Take a look at what the Bible says about this subject:

1 John 2:9 (NIV) Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.

1 John 2:11 (NIV) But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

1 John 3:15 (NIV) Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.

1 John 4:20 (NIV) If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

These are but a few verses that are contained in one book about this subject. These words are convicting. If you say you love God, but you have problems with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, then the love of God is not in you. No eternal life in he who hates his brother. So at the end of the day, God doesn't care about your excuses or reasons for why you don't like somebody. How do you combat this type of thinking?

Be reminded regularly that while you were still a sinner and enemy of God, Christ died for you (Romans 5:8). If God could love you, in all your sin, in all your rebelliousness, in all your wicked ways, how is it that you, who has been forgiven, cannot seem to find love for your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. In God's eyes this is unacceptable. Take time today to reflect on what people in your life you have had a hard time loving and repent today. If necessary, talk to this person and reconcile with them. Make a vow to God to love them with the same measure of love in which you were given through His Son.

Why do you think this is such a problem in our churches and lives?