Work of Man or Miracle of God?

We all know the story of David and Goliath – the famous Bible story of boy versus beast, hero versus villain.  Boys in particular like this story because they can picture themselves on the battlefield like David getting ready to fight the giant in front of all of the armies watching.  I wonder if George Lucas got his idea of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from the Bible?

While the battle scene is likely the most exciting scene in the story, I am drawn to the part of the story that leads up to the dramatic conclusion.  I like to ask the question “how in the world did a little boy, David get in that spot to fight Goliath in the first place?” 

The reason David is the hero of the story is that someone else did not step up; that someone else should have been Saul.  Saul was the King of Israel.  He was anointed and appointed by God to lead and to protect Israel. 

However, Saul relied too much on his own skill and strength.  Saul came from a prominent family.  He was tall and strong and was a natural leader.  So, when this monster, Goliath comes on the scene, Saul retreats to his tent and tries to figure out how he is going to defeat the giant.  Saul acted like he was trying figure out a strategy, when in reality, he was paralyzed by fear. 

David, on the other hand, did not hesitate.  He spoke up against the giant and faced him head-on in the battlefield – with no fear! Though David was just a young boy, David had developed a great faith in His God.

At one point, just before David rushed on to the battlefield, Saul instructed his men to fit David with Saul’s armor and weapons.  Saul was trying to help David.  However, the armor only constrained David.  David insisted on fighting without it.

Saul saw only a physical battle

David knew it was a spiritual battle

Saul saw a giant

David focused on God

Saul thought it would take a work of man

David knew that it would take a miracle of God

The battle scene is epic.  It’s breath taking.  It’s why I always wanted to be Luke Skywalker.  With only a sling shot in his hand, David stood before Goliath and said:

 I Samuel 17 “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin,but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel!"

David slung a stone at the giant hitting him right between the eyes! The giant fell and David killed him by cutting off his head!

However, unlike Luke Skywalker in the movie, Star Wars, it’s not just some “Force” that guides David – 

it’s God, the GREAT I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who fights for Him!

Put your faith in God.  Stand up against the giants in your life – through the power of God.

Surrender your life to Jesus Christ today.  He will make you a Victor!

Don't Beat the Messenger

In the Bible, there is a story about a prophet and his donkey.  In Bible times, before the Bible was assembled, God would speak to people through prophets, those called by God to speak specific words at specific times.  God wanted relationship with His special people, Israel.  However, Israel was always straying away from the commands of God, thinking they knew better how to live.  In order to save His people from self-inflicted pain or defeat by enemies, God would speak words of warning to Israel through His anointed (or “called-out”) prophets.  Many times, the prophets had to speak against evil rulers of Israel and call them out on their sin or even compromise from what God had asked them to do.  

In the book of Numbers, chapter 22, Balaam is charged with speaking God’s Word to an evil ruler.  However, Balaam is intimidated by this ruler and is fearful to give the true Word of God.  Balaam is more afraid of a man than he is God.

Balaam is headed to meet with this ruler, when the donkey he is riding on changes direction.  Balaam beats the donkey until it gets back on the road.  The donkey keeps getting off course, so Balaam gets more frustrated and beats his animal.  Suddenly, the donkey TALKS back to Balaam! “why do you beat me?” Balaam is so frustrated that he almost passes by the fact that his own donkey is talking to him.  “You have made a fool of me.  if only I had my sword, I would kill you right now!” shouts Balaam.  Numbers 22:29-30

Suddenly, God opens Balaam’s eyes to reveal a huge Angel standing right in front of Balaam, blocking his path.  The Angel said to Balaam, 

“Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me.  The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.” Numbers 22:32-33

Balaam immediately confessed his sin and repented, deciding to give the ruler God’s true Word.  Balaam was INCHES away from sudden death by God’s Angel, only because he had ignored God’s signs from his donkey!

God has been teaching me listen for His voice in my life.  He has been challenging me to not have to re-learn the lessons that He has been trying to teach me.  

My tendency is to not listen, but to go down the path I think is best.  What drives this tendency is not healthy - it’s not God-honoring.  It is fear of failure, a desire to receive attention and applause from others.  It’s anxiousness and worry.  

I have found that many times, God begins to speak to me through other people (prophets).  God also sometimes has to speak to me through things going hay wire in my life (a donkey going off path.)  God probably has to use these other “voices” because I am not always in tune with His Voice.  

If you want to hear God’s 

voice, read His Word

(the Bible)

When I read God’s Word, or when I can see God speaking to me through someone else, or when I sense that God is trying to get my attention through a change in my schedule, I stop and thank Him.  The fact that a Great and Awesome God chooses to speak to me is thrilling.  God wants relationship with me.  He wants to show me a better way to live, to love, to laugh.  God wants me to have a full and rich life, and He wants to walk closely with me.  

May we learn to stop, look and listen for God’s Voice today.  May we be quick to let go of our

fears and anxieties, 

and embrace our Loving, Faithful God.  

Kellie & I with our daughter, Madison after Middle School Graduation

God’s Not Dead Movie

I am SO GLAD this movie has come out the SAME TIME that the Russel Crowe movie, Noah premieres in theaters.  I’ve read that the director of the Noah movie, Darren Aronofsky is an atheist.  I’ve also read that “God” is never mentioned in the movie.  This is typical Hollywood agenda to twist and edit the Holy Bible to deceive people.

The movie, God’s Not Dead, conversely is about a young student who finds himself in a class where the professor denies the existence of God, and consequently, asks the class to deny God.  When the student does not comply, the professor argues with him in the class, and puts the burden of proof on this lone student.  The student is forced to defend the God of the Holy Bible, and builds a case using real evidence.

I’ve heard some followers of Jesus say “I respect other people’s views”- they are trying to be kind to those they are debating – they want to appear reasonable to people who have differing views.

I disagree with that notion. 

I do not respect other people’s views when it comes to what the Holy Bible says.

I do respect people who disagree with me, most certainly.

I do respect people’s right to disagree with me.

But I do not respect other views contrary to the Word of God (the Bible), because I think they are ridiculous.

When I see creation – the earth, the sky, the stars, humanity –

I see the design of God. 

Psalm 8:3-4 (New King James Version)

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him,
 And the son of man that You visit him?

Scientists have determined that our precious planet earth is placed in a particular orbit around the sun at the exact distance needed to sustain life.  It rotates slightly off axis in an elliptical pattern, which affects our changing seasons.  The moon rotates around the earth, which affects the changing tides in the oceans.

Consider our atmosphere and the concept of gravity:  It holds our earth and all that is created together.  On a micro level, it works somewhat like an atom.  Electrons rotate around the nucleus holding the atom together.  The Bible teaches that it is God who holds all things together:

Colossians 1:17 (New Living Translation)

He existed before anything else,
and he holds all creation together.

These are but two of many examples that we see in our world that point to the existence of an “Intelligent Design”.  In my opinion, it is illogical and even ridiculous to try to explain creation in any other way. 

More specifically, I believe that this “Intelligent Design” comes from none other than what the Holy Bible teaches.  It is the God of the Bible – the One true, living God.

The Bible has been proven over and over as a true and trustworthy book.  It has stood the test of time, even after being scrutinized.

God has not hidden His nature or His intention from us, His creation.  He has willingly revealed Himself to us.

Colossians 1:15 (New King James Version)

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.

Romans 1:20 (New International Version)

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

This story in the movie, God’s Not Dead is inspiring.  Seeing a young student have the courageous and the audacity to stand up to a professor who discounts our God of the Bible is awesome!

I am raising my two children to have that same passion for God, to know His Holy Word, and to speak up for what is true!

Chutes and Ladders

January 1st, and .... the Pilot family has proudly taken down the Christmas Decorations! 

Don't get me wrong - we LOVE Christmas and all of the decorations.  But we love getting everything put away and having the house straightened up.  It gives us a sense of starting the new year fresh and ready.

My wife and I have an agreement - a clear wall of separation on who does what at "teardown." She does the inside, I do the outside.  (although I end up helping with some of the heavy stuff on the inside. :)

So, it's my job to get the extension ladder and take down the Christmas lights.  Also, I put all of the packed up decorations back in the attic in the garage.  

My only problem is: I tend to be scared of heights.  I hate the feeling of being at the top of the ladder, because I never feel like I have a solid footing.  The ladder could slip! It's really hard climbing up and down from the roof, because there is nothing really to hold on to - those roof tiles are loose!

So, I break our rule and yell for Kellie to come hold the ladder while I reach to the top lights.  It gives me a sense of security knowing that she is holding the ladder and watching me.  

This made me think how thankful I am that I have Jesus Christ "holding the ladder" for me in my life journey.  He has always been there to make me feel secure:

Isaiah 33:6 NIV

He will be the sure foundation for your times,

    a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;

    the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

As I was at the top of that wobbly ladder, the thought crossed my mind:

How do people go through the tough times in life without Jesus as their foundation? How do people take a step into uncharted territories without the assurance that Jesus is with them?

Jesus shared a story to His followers about people who have the foundation of God and those that do not:

Matthew 7:24-27 NIV

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Jesus knows that you are not strong enough go through life on your own.  You are not wise enough to know how to handle the storms of life with you being in charge.  Jesus wants to lead you and help you.  It’s in the tough times that He will show You His strength.  It’s in the lonely times that He will show You that He will never leave You.  It’s when you have failed that He will show His lovingkindness. 

Don’t resist the leadership of Jesus Christ in your life.  Declare Him Your Lord and Saviour and let Him hold you secure through this year.  When you do, you can face the challenges and uncertainty with great confidence – Jesus is holding the ladder.