Life This Side of Heaven

If you've ever stood in the delivery room at the moment of childbirth, you'll recall that the one giving birth cried out.  And shortly after, the one who is born cries out.  Here in Isaiah, God uses this colorful image to describe His promise to restore righteousness and bring salvation to His fallen and sinful people. And with joy, you and I know behold the result.

Chances are good that you and I often struggle under guilt, shame and depression deep within.  And no matter how hard we try to keep it buried, it tends to well up to the surface and show itself in our lives in tears, pain and grief. Jesus assures you that His mercy is ever deeper. It flows into our lives through faith in the salvation He has accomplished for us at the cross. It lifts us up, spill...

When we're facing struggles, it's encouraging to hear a friend say, “Hang in there. There’s light at the end of the tunnel.”  It’s a means of encouraging hope.  But there’s still that little voice of doubt that tends to linger.  What if things don’t get better?  What if they get worse?  What if that light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train? Here in Romans, Paul extols God's gift to us o...

Like the Israelites, we’re on our way to the Promised Land.  I just doesn’t feel that way sometimes.  And when the events in our lives get rough we may wonder if God hears our prayers or is even aware of our distress.  In a medical crisis, family trouble, or difficulties at work, we may throw up our hands and ask “Is the Lord among us or not?”

There’s a growing number of people who look around the mess we've made of this world, condemn humankind and wish that there were no people at all.  If anyone has reason to feel that way it should be God. So here's what makes these well-known words of our Savior, then so astonishing. God, who has every right to hate this world, doesn’t.  In fact, He assures us that God loves this world. He assures...

Have you ever taken a shower and found that the hot and cold taps were reversed? Sometimes this happens when the supply lines are reversed. Here in Romans, Paul takes great care in revealing the source of our righteousness.  He’s particularly careful to make sure we know what to expect when it comes to our works and to faith in Christ.

Who is the least likely person you could imagine will one day will be in heaven?  Who is the unlikeliest person I would ever picture in paradise?  Okay, let’s reverse that question.  Who is the person, living right now, that you’re confident will one day be in heaven?  This second person may be a far cry from the wretched individual that came to mind when I asked that first question.  But, for how...

I wasn’t even there!  Why should I get blamed for somebody else’s sin?  It’s tempting to stamp our feet and get angry at Adam for getting us into this mess.  After all, as Paul points out, “as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men.” If you have ever felt this way, or even wondered about it, then you won’t want to miss what the apostle has to say next. Episode art Creative Commons...

Have you noticed that in our culture, rich deserts are sometimes labeled as “tempting” or “sinfully delicious”?  It’s easy to blur the definition of sin and decide for ourselves what is right or wrong based on how it makes us feel. The adversary is very good at tempting us to believe that sin isn’t really that bad, it’s just a guilty pleasure.  And here’s why he’s often successful in tempting you...

As you and I consider the guilt and shame of our sins it's hard not to want to run and hide. So, listen to the wonderful words which came next after Adam tried to conceal himself from God’s sight.  They tell us a lot about the incredible love God also has for you and me.

With the cloud of God’s glory enveloping them, as Jesus was transfigured on the mountain, the disciples heard the voice of the Father declare “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”  And, although it doesn’t always show up in English translations, this part of the event is also prefaced with the word, “Behold.” But, as you hear that word, have a listen to what it...

In our last devotion, we heard why Jesus took Peter, James and John to witness as He was transfigured before them.  If it was simply to see Jesus revealed to them in glory, the glory that was His from all eternity, the could have waited.  After all, the day would come when the rest of the disciples would also Jesus in glory.  And so will you and I. But on this occasion, as the time would soon come...

Behold!  In the short space of nine verses this word is heard, not once but, three times.  It’s like a trumpet blast heralding what comes next to catch your full attention.  What comes next will not simply leave your jaw open and fill you with awe.  It signals that something so spiritually significant is about to take place that it’s crucial to understanding everything which follows.  Over the cou...

You may not have heard of it.  It’s based on artificial intelligence.  And although it sounds new, the desire behind it can be seen going back as far as the Old Testament.  It’s the attempt to talk with those who have died.  In this case, it uses sophisticated computer algorithms and it’s called “Digital Immortality.” As Christians, we can rejoice that instead of settling for this, God Himself has...

As remarkable as it sounds, there were many in Isaiah’s day who looked to God the way we might look at a vending machine.  Isaiah records their muttering for us.  “‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it?  Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?’”  Instead of kicking a vending machine they were shaking their fist at God.  They felt cheated. Now think of how easy...

Mankind has been chipping away at the commandments from the very day God Himself carved them onto stone tablets and presented them to Moses.  And the results are obvious.  Among a growing number of professed-Christians they’re often regarded as antiquated relics of the past. It's tempting to look at them as no big deal. But Jesus reminds us that they are a big deal. And that's what makes what our...

You could almost imagine the disciples shaking their heads when Jesus looked over the crowd, saw the same faces they saw, and described them as “Blessed.”  In fact, it’s the very first word that came from our Savior’s lips.  And He would repeat it again an again.  Blessed!  They must have been wondering, “What does Jesus see that I’m missing?”

“You have been served.”  You may be thinking to yourself, “Oh, oh.  This doesn’t sound good.”  To be served means that you’ve just received formal notification of legal action. Here in Micah, the prophet presented formal notification to Israel. God has brought a charge against the nation. But, instead of repenting for their sins, and looking to Him for mercy, they were interested only in a quick s...

It’s popular today to hear people describe being a Christian as a matter of choosing Jesus. Sometimes the matter of that decision is held up as the assurance of their salvation.  But if that was the case then the matter of our eternal salvation would be little different than choosing up sides for basketball.  But here’s some good news – really Good News!  You and I didn’t choose God. He has chosen...

As astonishing as it sounds today, this message was once considered to be foolishness. In dismissing it, many perished as a result. Now this message is credited with saving lives. You and I have a similar message and it saves lives for eternity. We have good reason to be bold in sharing it. (This is presentation aired originally on January 25, 2023.)

Christianity without Christ? Many today make the mistake of assuming that the purpose of religion is simply to help people become moral and feel good. And if that’s the case then Jesus isn’t necessary. It reduces Christianity to a pamphlet instead of a person. However, if you notice, when Jesus called the disciples, He didn’t say, “Follow this lifestyle.” He said, “Follow Me.” (This is an encore p...

Nothing that travels faster than the Holy Spirit’s Good News of our salvation on the lips of those whom God has rescued.  Here in Isaiah, the prophet recorded words that have become famous. And they're a great reminder of how nothing could stay Jesus from completing the work of your salvation and mine. Episode Art:  Jim. Henderson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

An article published not too long ago explained what you should do if you won a lottery jackpot. As the odds of you winning the grand prize for either is 1 in 290 million, I’m guessing that this isn’t a question that keeps you up at night.  However, it may stir your imagination. Announcing our Savior, John said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”  This includes your sins...

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to base your eternal hope on you –your strength, your resolve – instead of on your Savior?  Just like failed New Year's resolutions it can lead to real frustration and discouragement. What a great time of the year it is to hear God's wonderful Good News that Paul announces here in 1 Corinthians!

Here in Isaiah, God reveals something that can only be described as breathtaking.  And He does it by using this brilliant phrase, “The Servant of the Lord.”  And like a science teacher, he holds it up –like a prism– to reveal that it refers not just to one servant, but to three of them! And wait until you hear how He shines the bright beam of His mercy to you and through you.