Old Faithful

In Yellowstone national park, there is a geyser named Old Faithful. On the average it erupts every 90 minutes or so. When it erupts, it sends some 4,000-8,000 gallons of water squirting to the sky some 100-200 feet in the air. The outburst of this geyser lasts several for several minutes. This has carried on for over 150 years at least.

If you have seen Old Faithful erupt, you have also seen the many spectators who have gathered with their cameras engaged to catch this special event. There is something about this regular event that pulls in hundreds of spectators several times a day to watch.

The faithfulness of God is every bit as spectacular to watch. Jeremiah wrote,

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

When God makes a promise, he keeps it until the end. He made a covenant with Abraham to bless him and his offspring (Genesis 12:1-3). He repeated it to Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 26:4; 28:13). He remembered it 400 years later when he saw the persecution of the people of Israel (Exodus 2:24).

His promise was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, who brought the blessing of God to the Gentiles. Paul told us that “it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham” (Galatians 3:7). This promise has remained true for thousands of years. It is worthy of watching.

Taking Down the Ten Commandments

From time to time we hear of a news story where some atheists want a courtroom or a school or a business in a public place to take down a display of the Ten Commandments. These fights in court are merely a sign of the times. As a nation we are drifting from the religious roots of our heritage.

I am fully sympathetic to those who are fighting for these displays to remain. However, there is another thoroughly Christian perspective that would delight to see these displays come down.

The message of the Ten Commandments is not good news. The message of the Ten Commandments is a message of condemnation. We will never be able to live up to the law’s demands. They teach us that we need a Savior. Paul said it this way, “The law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith” (Galatians 4:24).

So, let us take down the Ten Commandments displays. But let us replace them with a cross.

When sports are taken too seriously

Last Monday night, the Green Bay Packers demolished the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 45-7.  The Vikings never had a chance.  The outcome devastated the little girl in the video above.  We may chuckle at her behavior, after all, it’s only a game.  But, how many of us do the same.  We’ve just learned how to hide it.  The second commandment applies, “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).

 

Rest Areas

Dotted across the highways of our land are designated places of rest.  It is wearisome to drive for long distances.  Sleepiness can come on.  For safety purposes, it is helpful to pull off the road, rest a while, and continue your driving with alertness.  So it is with life.  Life can become a wearisome task.  The grueling grind of everyday life can leave us physically and mentally and emotionally exhausted.  We need consistent rest, that we might live well.

God knows that we need rest.  From the very beginning of creation, God instituted a pattern which is good for us to follow.  He created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:3).  Following God’s example, Moses then commanded, “Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God” (Exodus 20:9-10).

This is wise counsel. Let us find refreshment in our rest.