Echoes From the Campfire

[Don Adkisson]

       “How much was one supposed to tolerate till it was enough?”

               --Jesse Storm  (Last Stand at Redwood)

       "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

               --1 John 2:17 (NIV)

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               "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.  For the LORD is a God of justice.  Blessed are all who wait for him!"

                          --Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)

You ever get disgusted with the perversion of justice?  How about the disintegration of law?  The lack of respect for God's creation, most notably the dignity of mankind?  Hold fast to that middle statement:  "For the LORD is a God of justice."  If what you're seeing happen in this country doesn't appall you, it might be an indication that you have grown cold to the things of the Lord.  Are you doing your part?  Being a good citizen is one of the best ways to help this land; voting according to the precepts presented in the Bible rather than whether or not the candidate appeals to you.

     Paul tells us that we are to be a living sacrifice.  That means that all of us are to be on the altar--our whole being.  I shared the words of Helen Roseveare, a medical missionary to the Congo, yesterday:  "To be a living sacrifice will involve all my time.  God wants me to live every minute for Him in accordance with His will and purpose, sixty minutes of every hour, twenty-four hours of every day, being available to Him.  No time can be considered as my own, or as 'off-duty' or 'free.'"  The words of the old hymn come to mind when speaking of being a living sacrifice, the chorus simply asks some questions.

               "Is your all on the altar of sacrifice laid?

               Your heart, does the Spirit control?

               You can only be blest and have peace and sweet rest,

               As you yield Him your body and soul."

                         --E. A. Hoffman

     We get upset, even angry at what we see happening in our country.  The social unrest, the lies being spewed out, the lack of unity in the halls of Congress, the hatred, the bitterness, and yet we haven't placed our lives on the altar giving everything to the Lord.  Read again, for the Lord is a God of justice.  Yes, He will and is judging this country, but He is also judging each of us as disciples.  

     Work as unto the Lord, rest as unto the Lord, worship as unto the Lord.  The whole person, body--mind--spirit should belong to the Lord.  What are you holding back?  And don't use the excuse that you can't take it into the workplace.  You can!  John Owen said, "A spiritual attitude of mind is no hindrance to secular work:  even though a pot is full of chaff (the secular) you can still pour a lot of water (the spiritual) into the same place."  As I have written many times the quotation by Francis Schaeffer, "True spirituality covers all of reality."

     "Free time" what is that?  I used to have to deal with teachers when they would say that they had a "free period" some free time.  Yes and no!  That "free time" so to speak was not theirs to run their errands, or to be on the phone.  It was there for a purpose.  It was to prepare lessons, grade papers, record grades, and all the "stuff" that goes with teaching; it was not free.

     I want again to use the words of John Owen that I used this summer.  He says, "Some may suggest that if we really try to live spiritually, then it will be impossible for us to find time to do anything else--no time will be left for lawful employment and leisure!  There have been those who withdrew from normal life in the mistaken belief that this was essential to spirituality.  But spiritual mindedness does not mean withdrawing from life; it means bringing spirituality into every part of it.  I repeat that believers who do not cultivate the habit of spiritual thinking will not enjoy life and peace."

     We have the warning from Isaiah that even though God is full of compassion and is gracious that He is a God of justice.  The words of James should also be a warning, "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (4:4, NIV)  Do your part!  Be salt, be light, be a good worker by being punctual, producing quality work, and having a good attitude.  Be a good citizen not only of the kingdom, but also of the country.  Put your all on the altar.

D.C. Adkisson