The grim reality of dying and death filled the news this week with the poignant announcement that Sen. Edward Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Some reports indicated that the Senator might pass into eternity as soon as six months, while others speculate he might live as long as five years. Regardless of amount of time he has remaining on this earth, it brings to mind the sobering reality that all of our days are numbered. No matter the power, the prestige, the wealth, or the number of friends one might have accumulated, he is subject to the same inevitable consequence that all of humanity has experienced since Adam - death. And no matter how many times the axiom "he who dies with the most toys wins" is promulgated, the fact is material possessions are meaningless in the next life.

Think for a moment if you will. If you passed today, what would your legacy be? How would you be remembered? Would the memory of your life be sate with scandal and chaos, one who devoted his entire life to the pursuit of money, or would others remember you as one who labored for Christ and endured much suffering for His name? The problem is that we so often neglect to keep our eyes heavenward, instead focus on temporal things which take our attention away from the ultimate prize. It is all too easy to become distracted and fail to set aside time for the Lord. He is our number one priority, and we should never forget that our chief aim is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. 

The late missionary Jim Elliott gave one of the best exhortations when he said that we need to make sure that when we are faced with death, ensure all that is left to do is die. In other words, our lives should be lived so that we can claim with the apostle Paul that we too have fought the good fight. That should be the legacy for which all of us strive -- and not tomorrow, but today, for no one knows the day nor the hour when we will draw our final breathe. Do not waste the time the Lord has granted you.  Instead, make each moment count for Him with an eye heavenward. 

The controversial topic of same sex marriage is once again in the news, and California is at the epicenter of the dispute. Only eight years removed from an overwhelming decision by residents to prevent California from recognizing same sex marriage (Proposition 22), four liberal judges in the state's supreme court ruled in favor of homosexual marriage. Within the next 30 days, homosexual couples will flock to courthouses across the state to apply for and receive marriage licenses. 

Setting aside what this new law portends about the moral decay of our country, the defilement of marriage in general, and the manifest depravity of mankind, I want to point out something that seems to be overlooked by so many in the media. At a time when Ellen DeGeneres and countless other practicing homosexuals are lauding this unconstitutional and morally bankrupt decision, few people are asking how can four individuals usurp the will of the people of California? How does a so called arbiter of justice dispense his depraved machinations on the people of California and be allowed to get away with it? The people of California have already spoken to this issue and have overwhelming rejected homosexual marriage. Nevertheless, four rouges in robes have taken it upon themselves and have seen fit to disregard the will of the people and have imposed their licentious desires on the people of America. They have spit upon God's law and have trampled the constitution under foot, while justifying their nefarious decision. Truly, this decision brings to mind the words of the Apostle Paul to the Churches at Rome when he penned, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient." (Rom 1:28).

The chief concern all Christians should share is the way by which homosexuality is being accepted and flaunted. Society tells us it is normal for people to behave in such a manner, and anyone who opposes this "alternative lifestyle" is bigoted or narrow-minded. If people continue to believe there is some constitutional right for homosexual marriage and continue to draw moral equivalences of gay rights with the black rights movement of the 1960's, then before we know it, there will be overwhelming support for homosexuality and countless laws against the protest thereof and to speak out against it will be seen as hate speech or a hate crime. 

I cannot but help to recall how Hitler slowly imposed his wicked ideas on the people of Germany. He did not first come out and build his concentration camps, but rather, appointed judges of like mind, those who harbored the same anti-Jewish bigotry he did. Once he had them in place, they ruled in favor of suppressing Jewish freedom and liberty -- justifying their deprivations by claiming they had a constitutional right to do so. And it was by degree that he usurped the rights and liberties of the Jewish people until they were seen as subhuman vermin. We are in an analogous situation with the homosexual movement. There is a small, but growing militant population that is waging a propaganda war in America. We are told there is nothing wrong with their lifestyle; we are told their behavior is normal, and that they have a constitutional right to act according to the desires of their flesh. But once the majority has bought into this rubbish, it will only be a matter of time until the Christian will be forbidden to decry openly this anti-biblical lifestyle. Don't be surprised when you one day wake up and realize that it is the Christian who has to fear speaking the truth...in some ways, it does seem as if we are a nation already under judgment from God, and this is just one more step in our slouching towards Gomorrah.

Some time ago, I came across the following letter. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and thought it would be worth sharing:

Rev. Saul Paul

Independent Missionary

Corinth, Greece

 

Dear Mr. Paul,

 

We recently received an application from you for service under our Board.

 

It is our policy to be as frank and open-minded as possible with all our applicants. We have made an exhaustive survey of your case. To be plain, we are surprised that you have been able to "pass" as a bonafide missionary.

 

We are told that you are afflicted with a severe eye-trouble. This is certain to be an insuperable handicap to an effective ministry. Our Board requires 20/20 vision.

 

At Antioch, we learn, you opposed Dr. Simon Peter, an esteemed home missionary and actually rebuked him publicly. You stirred up so much trouble at Antioch that a special Board meeting had to be convened in Jerusalem. We cannot condone such actions.

 

Do you think it seemly for a missionary to do part-time secular work? We hear that you are making tents on the side. In a letter to the church at Phillipi, you admitted that they were the only church supporting you. We wonder why.

 

Is it true that you have a jail record? Certain brethren report that you did two years time at Caesarea and were imprisoned at Rome.

 

You made so much trouble for the business men at Ephesus that they refer to you as "the man who turned the world upside down." Sensationalism, in missions, is uncalled for. We also deplore the lurid "over-the-wall-in-a-basket" episode at Damascus.

 

We are appalled at your obvious lack of conciliatory behavior. Diplomatic men are not stoned and dragged out of the city gates, or assaulted by furious mobs. Have you ever suspected that gentler words might gain you more friends? I enclose a copy of Dalius Carnagus' book, "How to Win Jews and influence Greeks."

 

In one of your letters, you refer to yourself as "Paul the aged." Our new mission policies do not envisage a surplus of superannuated recipients.

 

We understand that you are given to fantasies and dreams. At Troas, you saw "a man of Macedonia" and at another time "were caught up into the third heaven" and even claimed "the Lord stood by" you. We reckon that more realistic and practical minds are needed in the task of world evangelism.

 

You have caused much trouble everywhere you have gone.

 

You opposed the honorable women at Berea and the leaders of your own nationality in Jerusalem. If a man cannot get along with his own people, how can he serve foreigners? We learn that you are a snake-handler. At Malta, you picked up a poisonous serpent which is said to have bitten you, but you did not suffer harm. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk!

 

You admit that while you were serving time at Rome that "all forsook you." Good men are not left friendless. Three fine brothers, by the names of Diotrephes, Demas and Alexander, the coppersmith, have notarized affidavits to the effect that it is impossible for them to cooperate with either you or your program.

 

We know that you had a bitter quarrel with a fellow missionary named Barnabas. Harsh words do not further God's work.

 

You have written many letters to churches where you have formerly been pastor. In one of the letters, you accused a church member of living with his father's wife, and you caused the whole church to feel badly; and the poor fellow was expelled.

 

You spend too much time talking about "the second coming of Christ." Your letters to the people at Thessalonica were almost entirely devoted to this theme. Put first things first from now on.

 

Your ministry has been far too flighty to be successful. First Asia Minor, then Macedonia, then Greece, then Italy and now you are talking about a wild goose chase into Spain. Concentration is more important than dissipation of one's powers. You cannot win the whole world by yourself. You are just one little Paul.

 

In a recent sermon, you said "God forbid that I should glory in anything save the cross of Christ." It seems to us that you also ought to glory in our heritage, our denominational program, the unified budget, our Cooperative Program and the World Federation of Churches.

 

Your sermons are much too long for the times. At one place, you talked until after midnight and a young man was so asleep that he fell out of the window and broke his neck. Nobody is saved after the first twenty minutes any way. "Stand up, speak up and then shut up," is our advice.

 

Dr. Luke reports that you are a thin little man, bald, frequently sick and always so agitated over your church that you sleep very poorly. He reports that you pad around the house praying half the night. A healthy mind in a robust body is our ideal for all applicants. A good night's sleep will give you zest and zip so that you wake full of zing.

 

We find it best to send only married men into Foreign Service. We deplore your policy of persistent celibacy. Simon Magus has set up a matrimonial bureau at Samaria, where the names of some very fine widows are available.

 

You wrote recently to Timothy that "you had fought a good fight." Fighting is hardly a recommendation for a missionary. No fight is a good fight. Jesus came, not to bring a sword, but peace. You boast that "I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus." What on earth do you mean?

 

It hurts me to tell you this, Brother Paul, but in all of my twenty-five years experience, I have never met a man so opposite to the requirements of our Foreign Mission Board. If we accepted you, we would break every rule of modern missionary practice.

 

Most Sincerely yours,

 

J. Flavious Fluffyhead,  

Foreign Mission Board Secretary

Special note. In the developing countries of the world to which I have gone there is an expectation on the part of many young men that the ministry is a way to riches and glory. The Health and Wealth Gospel in particular is taking the continent of Africa with a vengeance for certain aspects of that movement imply promises that are neither realistic nor scriptural. For the pastors of Africa in particular, and even those in other nations, here is a question to consider: "Am I called to be a pastor?"

Every man going into the ministry or one currently serving in the ministry must ask himself at some point this question: "Am I called to be a pastor?" Finding the answer to that question is not always easy.  There are many tests involved in determining a pastoral call, but one is of particular concern to me. Christ gave and passed the test Himself. We read of it in John 10:11-14.

 

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine."

I understand this passage, by way of application, to mean that it is possible for individuals to want to be in the ministry or be a pastor simply as a career choice or even worse for the money they see can be made. In short, they are hirelings and will flee when the pressures (wolves) come.

In 1974 I knew a chaplain who wanted to be reassigned to the reception center of a US Army training camp. He told me that all he had to do was come up with 5 sermons, one a week for 5 weeks for the soldiers were rotated out?and the rest of the time was his. It was easy money.

In 1987 I knew a young man who went into the insurance business. He was very excited about the prospect of making a lot of easy money. But then he found out how challenging the insurance business was. The pressures came - and he left.

If I hear any potential pastor or acting pastor say in effect, "I may not be suited emotionally or constitutionally for the pressures of the ministry," I can appreciate that honest self-evaluation. But I can also be concerned on a Scriptural and practical basis.

If I hear someone in the ministry say in essence, "If the pressures of this job get too great I will just leave," I can understand what is being said, but I can also be concerned on a Scriptural and practical basis.

If I hear someone become animated at the prospect of making a lot of money outside the ministry I can appreciate that honest longing of the heart to provide well for the family and have a chance to enjoy the toys of time, but I can also be concerned on both a Scriptural and practical basis. 

Christianity was not started because the apostles began to set their priorities of wanting to provide financially well for their families first and foremost or have days off or a secure future. In fact, knowing the hardships of the ministry many men have delayed getting married. Christianity was not started because the apostles prioritized getting a retirement plan. Christianity was not started because the apostles wanted health insurance. Christianity was not started because the apostles wanted job security.  Instead, their goal was to seek first the kingdom of heaven and give themselves through the day and into the night to advance the kingdom.

Therefore, there is a growing self-awareness to those who are considering the call to the ministry. Self-examination asks, "What are my priorities? Do I have a pastor's heart?"

No man can judge the heart of another. If a person were to tell me that God has called him to the ministry and he will endure whatever the pressures of the job entail then I want to work with such a man of commitment, especially if I am going to sacrifice myself and my resources on his behalf.

I personally need to know if I am working with a hireling or a fellow pastor. The church needs to know if it has a hireling, which is someone taking money from the ministry but their heart is elsewhere, or if they have a pastor.

 

Recommended reading: Lectures to My Students by Charles H. Spurgeon