Running Out of Time (1)

Running Out of Time (1)

Author Cindy Dees posted the following Tweet on Twitter:

“Life is always shorter than we want it to be. That’s why you have to live it like you’re running out of time.”

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5: 16 – NASB)

People laugh at me when I say I am going to die at 75 years old. They rightly tell me no one knows the day of their death, but God.

So let me assure you, I am not predicting the day (or year) of my death.

What I am doing is reminding myself how little time may remain for me to accomplish what God has called me to do. I have already passed the three-score years and ten, the length of days Scripture indicates we are allotted. While many in our day live longer than that, there are no guarantees.

I have found it helpful to make five year plans; writing a list of what I hope to accomplish in that time-frame. It keeps me focused, and reminds me constantly to redeem the time, and not be lax in my approach to the work of God.

Someone asked me what would happen if I live longer than the seventy-five years I expect to live.

My response?

“I’ll just make another five year plan.”

Whatever time you and I have left of this life, and make adequate preparation for the next.

We are all of us “running out of time.

Time

(© 26^th May 2015 – by Christopher Shennan)

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5: 16 – NASB)

The time God has allotted me

I do not know and cannot guess;

I only know – the time I have –

I want to give more, not less.

Time may be running out for me,

Or I may have a little more;

I may have time to do some good

Before I gain that distant shore.

Whatever time that I have left

Is a precious commodity;

A gift I can share with others.

As they, in turn, share theirs with me.

Oh, fellow pilgrims use your time,

As a gift from God above;

A gift for which we have the choice

To spend on self – or spend for love.

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Wooden Hourglass 2 by S. Sepp. Copyright. Used under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; please note the Disclaimer at this link. No changes were made to the image.

Our Heart’s Condition

Our Heart’s Condition

The Parable of the Sower is familiar to most Bible readers.

The Sower (representing Jesus Christ) sows the seed of the Gospel) scatters His seed indiscriminately over the earth, without regard to whether the place the seed is receptive to it, or not. He gives every kind of soil a chance to be fruitful.

The central idea of this parable is that the soil (representing the human heart) either has the capacity to receive the seed and be fruitful, or it does not. That is the core issue here.

You see the seed is how God initiates a relationship with men and women. It is all about the seed. Jesus is the sower and he scatters the seed of the Gospel to everyone. If this seed finds an entrance in the human heart, He can establish a connection – a relationship with the, Once he does that he can begin transforming their lives.

If, however, something comes between and prevents that seed from gaining entrance, that man or woman is prevented from having a meaningful relationship with God. It is all about the seed, (God’s Word), and the soil, (the condition of the human heart) that determines whether we can know God or not.

This is a basic reality. You cannot know God if you do not receive His Word and believe what it says. If you receive this seed, you can know Him; if the condition of your heart prevents the seed from entering your heart, you will be excluded from having a meaningful relationship with Him. It’s as simple as that.

I should point out that this Parable of the Sower does not tell us how to prepare our hearts to receive God’s seed; it merely states the present condition of the soil, and its consequences. This information is provided elsewhere in Scripture.

So, if I detect my heart’s condition is not receptive to the seed of God’s Word, can it be changed, and if so, how?

Hosea and Jeremiah together have the answer:

Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12b – NASB)

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock? (Jeremiah 23:29 – NASB)

• The hard, unreceptive ground of our hearts must be broken up.

The responsibility to do this is ours.  God tells us to; Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord. Don’t put it off; time is of the essence.

• God’s promise is that, once the fallow ground is broken up, He will rain down righteousness upon us:

Until He comes to rain righteousness on you.

• The means to break up our fallow ground has been provided.

not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock? (Jeremiah 23:29 – NASB)

All we have to do is to seriously engage ourselves with God’s Word, and a process of transformation will begin. The fire will burn up the thorns and the hammer will break up the rock hard condition of our hearts. In time, the soil of our hearts will become more and more receptive to the seed of God’s Word. It is certain to be a painful process, but the rewards will justify any pain and anguish endured.

A Change of Heart

(© Friday 17^th April 2015 0 by Christopher Shennan)

…Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. (Hosea 10:12b – NASB)

“Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock? (Jeremiah 23:29 – NASB))

Some think that their heart’s condition,

Is beyond their power to change;

They accept their wayward nature,

Is beyond their scope and range.

Its true God alone can change you,

But He’s called you to play your part;

He’s called you to make an effort

To prepare the ground of your heart.

There’s a process you must follow;

There’s a sowing of seed you must do.

The fallow ground must be broken,

Before God’s seed can enter you.

How can I break this hardness?

How can I dig up this hard ground?

How can I make my heart answer

To God’s Voice I hear all around?

God’s Word is just like a fire,

Like a hammer that shatters stone;

Has power to make my heart listen,

And to receive God’s seed alone.

So I’ll let God’s Word disturb me;

I’ll let it fertilize my soul –

It will change my disposition,

And make my broken spirit whole.

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The Sower (Le semeur) by James Tissot. This image is in the public domain.

Seeing People as Trees – CONFESSING to it

(Picture credits at end of post)

Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” ²⁴ And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”  (Mark 8:23-24 – NASB)

Jesus waited to complete the miracle of full sight until the man told him what he saw after the first touch.  He had to tell Jesus exactly what he saw. Likewise, the miracle of full sight will only happen to us after we admit that when we look at people they don`t appear more important to us than trees.

Once we come to that place of total honesty, Christ will take us to the next level  and cause us to see people as they are, living, breathing creatures of God, with real needs and desires.

As a result our hearts will, like the heart of Jesus, be moved with compassion, seeing them as sheep without a shepherd.

What do you really see when you look at people? Are they simply part of the scenery, part of the background to the life that is really important to you – your own? Sure, Jesus has touched your life, but still, you can relate to your own loved ones, your own children, your own kin, but the rest of humanity is of no real concern to you. Perhaps it is time for you to come to Jesus for a second touch and admit to Him you see people merely as trees.

Ask Jesus to give you the ability to see people as He sees them – as sheep without a Shepherd and as precious souls upon whom God longs to bestow His Love and Grace.

I had to Confess

(© Monday 19^th January 2025 – by Christopher Shennan)

And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

                                                                                        (Mark 8:24 – NASB)

I had to confess what I saw:

I saw people merely as trees,

To be used and admired and then,

Forgotten or not as I pleased.

Before I confessed what I saw,

No hope of correction was there;

My blindness continued to be,

Until I confessed it in prayer.

Once it was out in the open,

My Lord, in His mercy and love,

Touched my blind eyes with compassion,

And full sight came down from above.

So, if you see people as trees,

And are blind to what they are worth,

Just tell God and ask Him to grant

His power to correct your soul’s dearth.

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Photo by Joe Mabel. Copyright. Used under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; please note the Disclaimer at this final link. No changes were made to this photo. Photo also used under the GNU Free Documentation License, version 1.2

Seeing People as Trees – The CONSEQUENCES

Seeing People as Trees – The CONSEQUENCES

(Picture credits at end of post)

And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and *implored Him to touch him. ²³ Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” ²⁴ And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” ²⁵ Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. ²⁶ And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” (Mark 8:22-26 – NASB)

This is a remarkable incident and the life and ministry of our Lord and deserves some special attention.

Could not Jesus have healed this blind man completely to begin with, instead of performing it in two stages? Why did Hi first touch only give the man only partial vision? Why let him see people as trees walking about when He could have given him perfect sight to begin with?

First let us establish that Jesus did nothing by accident; He did everything with a purpose. Therefore there was a reason Jesus healed the man in two stages. He had something to teach us. He appears to have intended for us to see this miracle as a parable of some spiritual principle; He wants us draw a parallel physical and spiritual vision. He wants us learn a practical lesson that will aid us in living the Christian life, and in interacting with the people around us.

What is that lesson? How can we make this passage speak to us in a manner that will transform our behaviour, rather than just pass through our minds as an interesting occurrence in the earthly ministry of our Lord?

I have thought and prayed much about this and believe there is one central message Jesus would convey to us, and it seems to me to be a message both simple and obvious: He does not want us to see people as trees.

• If we see people as trees we may want to cut them down
• If we see people as trees we may admire them but not value them
• If we see people as trees we may want to use them
• If we see people as trees we may want to re-shape them

People as Trees

(Tuesday 11^th May, 2010 – by Christopher Shennan)

And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”

                                                                                 (Mark 8:22-26 – NASB)

I mostly saw people as trees;

Just part of the scenery where,

If standing too much in my way,

Could be cut down – so there!

I could cut them down with my tongue;

A very effective means,

Of making these folks go away,

For daring to hinder my dreams.

The people as trees were not all,

In my way, some were really quite fair;

I admired them, inspired them;

And found them quite easy to bear.

There were some, these people like trees,

Who were useful, fulfilling my needs;

When done with them, had fun with them;

They were hardly more valued than weeds.

Some of these people like trees,

Were like pieces to carve and design;

Like works of art on display,

I could proudly claim them as mine.

This state of affairs was before

I admitted my vision was flawed;

I knelt before Jesus and wept,

And received Him once more as my Lord.

Since then, by the touch of His Hand,

My Master has opened my eyes,

And I see each one who’s been born

As a precious, incredible prize.

 My website: http://www.christophershennan.ca
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Photo by Joe Mabel. Copyright. Used under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license.; please note the Disclaimer at this final link. No changes were made to this photo. Photo was also used under the GNU Free Documentation License, version 1.2

He’s Not Heavy

Picture by Christopher Shennan

He’s Not Heavy

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 – NASB)

What is “the law of Christ”?

It is found in the Gospel of John:

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (John 15:12 – NASB)

How does one keep this commandment?

By bearing one another’s burdens.

The picture above was taken 33 years ago and made it into a poster with the caption “He’s not heavy, he’s my brother.” The girl and boy in the picture (all grown-up now) were having a wonderful time. The little girl does not appear to mind pushing the boy around. It was not a burden to her, but a delight.

This is how Jesus wants us to love one another – by taking responsibility to lighten the load a brother or sister in Christ. And while we lift the burden, the amazing thing is the burden does not feel like a burden. Love lightens the load.

It is a kind of a paradox.

I have found it true in my own experience that, after I have spent some time encouraging someone going through some trial, I have come away feeling lighter. My own burdens have seemed much easier to deal with than before.

I believe Jesus helps share our load when we are willing to share another’s load.

Someone said to me, “Won’t you suffer burn-out if you keep on carrying everyone else’s burdens”

My answer? “Not in the least. I simply do what we are told to do in Peter’s first letter:

…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 – NASB)

You can cast your own burdens upon Jesus, as well as any number of others you may pick up during the day. Jesus can carry them all.

My Brother’s Burden

(© Friday 28^th November – by Christopher Shennan)

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 – NASB)

There was no way I could carry

The load that weighed my brother down,

Or even to make it lighter;

I carried enough of my own.

But my Lord said, “Lift his burden,

Just take it by faith and obey;

You’ll find your own grow lighter,

And you’ll walk with joy on your way.”

I lifted my brother’s burden,

As my Lord had told me to do;

I found that His yoke was easy –

And the words He had said were true.

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The Source of Power

The Source of Power

Public Domain CC0

Read: Zechariah 4:1-6

Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:16 – NASB)

I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself,

Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23 – NASB)

A television preacher kept on repeating like a mantra: “You have the power! You have the power! You have the power! He kept this up through most of his allotted time. I am sure he impressed his audience, but his declaration was a half-truth that was completely untrue.

If we have the power, it follows we can use that power in any way we like. We can use it to gain wealth, honour, or even revenge. This is what the ancient art of sorcery promised; it is the “unlimited human potential” doctrine. It is New Age and totally unbiblical.

What then is the Biblical view?

The Bible teaches that born again Christians have the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is the One Who has the power.

…but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 – NASB)

The Holy Spirit has the power, and He works His power in us in order to enable us to witness to the Gospel. The power of the Holy Spirit enables us to do only what He is comfortable doing. He will only work in us, through us, and for us those things that are consistent with the will of God. He does not give us power to wield at our own discretion.

You cannot separate the power of the Holy Spirit from His character. He is holy and He will only perform holy deeds. You can have all the power from God that you want, so long as you are totally surrendered to do His will, and not your own. For it is not your power you receive, but the power of the Holy Spirit,

It Is Not In Me

(31^st December 2011 – by Christopher Shennan)

Joseph was a man

With an excellent spirit, true;

He had many dreams and visions,

And mighty deeds to do.

He interpreted for Pharaoh,

And the future he could see,

But then he said with fervour,

“This power, it is not in me.”

Now, many gifts and graces

May on your spirit rest,

May fill your heart with fervour,

And help you pass each test.

Though these may bring you honour,

Let there be humility;

Say, like Joseph said to Pharaoh,

“This power, it is not in me.”

It is not in me to vanquish

The powers sent from hell,

Or even to guide my footsteps

In the paths that serve me well.

I cannot bless my brother,

Or my sister, this I see:

Though I give them many blessings,

I know it did not come from me.

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A Listening Ear

A Listening Ear

 

Read: Luke 8: 16-18

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

²⁵ For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. (Mark 4:24-25 – KJV)

Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:18 – KJV)

Mark reports Jesus message as being careful what we hear, while Luke reports Him cautioning us to be careful how we hear.

Both what Mark reported and what Luke reported are vital maxims for followers of Christ. We have to be selective in what we allow ourselves to hear, and we have to be careful of the manner in which we hear what God has to say to us.

First we have to select what is worthy of our attention, as the apostle Paul urges in his letter to the Philippians:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 – KJV)

Once we have decided what is worthy of our attention, we need to go one step further: We need to give attention to how we hear what we have decided is worth listening to. We must take it seriously; we must make sure it does not slip from our grasp.

The worthy things must be applied to our lives, or they become nothing more than sentimentality. We end up loving the words, but neglecting the work those words are designed to accomplish in our lives. We are deceived into imagining we are growing spiritually, when all that has happened, is that we have given mental assent to the words worthy of our attention.

If we are serious about following Christ, we need to do more than that; we need to ruthlessly apply the truth we hear to specific areas of our lives that need attention.

Give Me Ears to Hear

(© Tuesday 5^th May 2014 – by Christopher Shennan)

Give me ears to hear that filter

All of the worldly chatter out;

All of the vain philosophy

The world is excited about.

 

Give me ears that can discern

What is false and what is true,

So my heart can be directed

To the path that will lead to You.

 

Yet once I know what is worthy,

I need to know just one more thing;

Know just how to apply it, dear Lord,

To the path I am following.

 

I want the words I listen to;

Those that have been tried and are true,

To be the words that are changing,

And making me become like You.

Picture by Joanne Shennan

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