THE REAL SECRET: REVEALED

 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:12-13

A few years ago millions of people devoted their lives to the teachings found in the best-selling book, The Secret. It seems there has always been a mystique about ancient wisdoms and teachings. Every once in a while, someone goes to the dark closet of human knowledge, blows the dust off an old book, and claims they have found the new “secret” to happiness, fulfillment, significance, wealth – or in this most recent example – the secret to everything!

Let me tell you about an old document I read recently. It is a letter between two friends written about 1700 years ago. In the third century, Cyprian, the Bishop of Carthage wrote these words to his friend Donatus, “It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered, in the midst of it, a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They have found a joy, which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians, and I am one of them.”

He is talking about the kind of peace that we experience as follower of our Lord Jesus. It is the kind of peace that people notice, especially when we demonstrate it in times of trouble. When everything is chaotic around us, when the world is tired and lost, we are the ones the world should look to for hope. Our faith cannot be hidden from the world. As Christians, we cannot operate a private, invitation-only club.

It is time the Secret to be revealed!

No longer can the world afford to have us sit idly by while others suffer or are ignored, wallowing in injustice. We must demonstrate the love of Christ to the world in all that we do. Yes, every moment of every day, in every way, we must be Christ to the world! This was never meant to be a secret or a closed religion, shut off from the world. We are called to be actively involved in the world, bringing love and healing to those in need.

The secret is that there is no secret. We are Christians. Through Him we have overcome the world. Like Him, we are here to love God and to love one another. None of this can be kept quiet any longer. We must make the declarations from the mountaintops. We must shout it as a war cry to the nations! Jesus is Lord!

This Week’s Prayer

Lord Jesus, Thank you. For you have given me everything I need to make the most of my life. Like lilies in the field, you have placed opportunity all around me. My life is surrounded by your bounty and the by the needs of your people. Allow me to work for you, Lord. Give me the job of lending a hand when someone needs to be lifted up. Show me where the hurting people are so that I may introduce the to you through all the things I do. Amen.

LIFE HAPPENS

Years ago in ancient Russian villages, at a time when many children did not survive infancy, it was the custom to have a “mourning hut” at the outskirts of every town. All the women who lost their young children were sent to live in this hut for one full month of solitude and grief. At the end of the month, the hut was set on fire – with the woman still inside. At that point she had to decide whether to live or die. If she came out of the burning hut, this indicated that she was prepared to live her life once again. Then, she would rebuild the hut for the next mother in mourning.

            I find the rebuilding of the hut by the woman is the most striking point of this old story. She was acknowledging that tragedy is a part of life we must accept and for which we must prepare. She was saying, “Sometimes there are happy endings, but life is not going to be filled with them.”

            In our world today, we often set ourselves up to be greatly disappointed. As a culture we readily buy into the theory that we should and can be happy all the time. And if life is not always wonderful then something is wrong with us. After all, aren’t we supposed to be constantly filled with joy! No wonder depression is so prevalent today.       

Even as Christians, we expect the path ahead to be a rosy one. But, just because you are a friend of Jesus does not mean that you will not get your heart broken. After all, who suffered more hardships than Jesus Himself? No, Jesus does not tell us we will be free from life’s tragedies, but He does promise to carry us through them and to always give us another chance.

100 years ago, the famed Polish pianist Arthur Rubinstein was lonely, hungry and in debt, his career as a musician was going nowhere. He felt there was nothing left for him but suicide. His problem was finding a way. He had no gun, no poison, and the idea of jumping out of the window was revolting because, "I might have to go on living with broken arms and legs."

Arthur chose to hang himself with an old belt from his robe. He went into the bathroom, stood on a chair, and secured one end of the belt to an overhead hook. Then he tied the other end around his neck and kicked over the chair. The worn-out belt immediately came apart, and Rubinstein fell to the floor with a crash.

He lay where he had fallen for a long time, weeping. Later, he stumbled outside to the streets of the city and felt the warm sunshine on his eyes. Suddenly, it was as if he were reborn. Later, the legendary pianist would never forget what the experience taught him. He said, "Love life, for better or for worse, without conditions.”

Is there any greater gift than the gift of having another chance at life? That was the gift Jesus gave Lazarus. New life. He said, "I AM the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. . . ." And that is the promise he has given you today. Jesus IS the resurrection and the life – the Ultimate Second Chance.

It does not mean you will not have your heart broken from time to time. But it does mean that you must make a choice, right now, today. Will you stay in your hut and watch it burn around you? Or will you choose to live, come out of your burning hut and help those who are coming down the same road you have traveled? Will you take the second chance that Jesus is giving you? Remember, if you are in Christ neither life nor death will ever defeat you, for the One who raised Lazarus from the dead will give you new life as well.

This Week’s Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the life you have given me. May I never take what you have given me for granted. I choose to live every day fully awake and alive, acknowledging that each moment is a gift. In good times and in bad, I know you will always be with me, my constant friend and my loving Lord. And through all the pain and broken hearts of life, please make me a stronger servant for you. Amen.

IT'S TIME TO GIVE UP!

The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58.11

I hate to give up on anything. Giving up goes against every fiber of my being. But sometimes, you just come to the end of your rope. You know the feeling. You have bills you can’t pay, you have kids you can’t understand, you have work that just won’t get done, you have weight you can’t loose, or you have a spouse you can’t get along with. There are so many things in life that make you just want to throw up your hands and give up.

Well, maybe it’s time to do exactly that.

I don’t mean to give in. And I don’t mean surrender to the situation and walk away hopeless. Don’t turn your back on anything that is important to you, no matter how difficult the situation becomes.

When you come to that critical point of despair when there is no where else to turn – this is the moment of decision. Do you give in? No! You Give UP! How? Just throw your hands in the air and give it all up to God!

Here’s something for you to remember. Paul Newman was an incredible actor, entrepreneur and even a race car driver. He won an Academy Award, raised hundreds of millions for charities and beat the competition on the race course. It seems some people are just born with exceptional abilities. I’m sure you know this kind of person. But, according to Paul Newman, he did not hold much ability at all. "I don't have a gift for anything. I've only had a gift of pursuit,” he said. "That is a gift I would recommend to us all: the gift of pursuit.”

Life does not come easy to anyone. It may appear that some people have it all and have it easy, but looks are deceiving. Life is hard. It is a marathon. And God will be with you every step of the way if you raise your hands and give it all up to Him. Our Lord Jesus does not want you to fail, despair or live in fear. He wants you to be victorious! And He knows the only way for you to realize every great victory in your life is to pursue the victory through Him.

Don’t try to do it alone. Yes, your bills, your kids, your work, and your spouse are all waiting for you. So, you need to attend to every aspect of your life and make the most of it. But, don’t go it alone. Take the time each day to raise your hands to God and invite Him to go along with you on your journey. I promise you will never regret giving it all up to God!

This Week’s Prayer

Dear Lord, I raise my hands in prayer to You. I worship You and praise You. There is nowhere else for me to turn. I have so many challenges today, Jesus. I can’t do it alone. I need You. I need to give up my life to You! Yes, take every aspect of my life, Lord, and guide me with Your awesome wisdom and strength. I promise I will never give in. I know I must You so that I can always pursue the victory You have promised. Take me with You and thank You for always guiding me and walking with me. Amen.