21

Jump Start # 695

Posted on September 21, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 695

Ecclesiastes 1:4 A generation goes and a generation comes, But the earth remains forever.

 

Generations. We have been looking at grandparents these past few Jump Starts. To have someone called “grandpa” necessitates three generations. A walk through O.T. history shows that these generations can be very different from each other.

Ahaz– Hezekiah– Manasseh-Amon-Josiah…five generations. All related to each other. All reigned as kings. Ahaz reigned 16 years. Hezekiah reigned 29 years. Manasseh reigned 55 years. Amon reigned 2 years. Josiah reigned 31 years, a total of 133 years covering 7 chapters of 2 Kings. In this list of kings, only Hezekiah and Josiah were considered “good.” The rest were corrupt, wicked and ungodly. Ahaz trashed God’s house and gave the gold to foreigners. Manasseh built idols. Good kings and bad kings. All related.

 

There are some lessons to be considered here:

  • First, some will put family before God. They will defend family, even if family is wrong. The policies of Hezekiah and Josiah were radically different than the rest of their forefathers. They tore down what dad and grandpa built. They disagreed and would not walk where their parents walked. It takes courage to do that. It takes faith in God to do that. Few will. Many would just as soon go along with family than anything else. It causes a scene in the family when one travels a different direction, even when that direction is with God.

 

  • Each person is responsible for the choices that they make. Manasseh was wicked, not because he was raised that way, but because he chose that. He chose to build idols. He chose to ignore the good his dad had done. Our parents are no excuse for the way we are. Don’t hang your hat on that nail. These kings show you otherwise. You dad may not have been righteous or even church going. What about you? It’s your choice. You can follow his steps or you can be different. If you follow, it’s your choice, not his.

 

  • Some of the things we do will out live us. The book of Hebrews tells us that Abel speaks though he is dead. His influence still speaks. His stand with God still speaks. It would be good for grandparents to write a letter to each grandchild. These letters can be words of encouragement, teaching and hope. Good can outlive us if we use it properly.
  • Each generation faces the same concerns. Technology, innovations, science, medicine, travel, communication all change from one generation to the next but some things never change. The need for Jesus never changes. The struggle with worry, fear and doubt never changes. Temptation continues to knock on our doors, as it did our grandparents door. The Bible reads the same for us, whether we read it on our smart phone, ipad or computer as it did in the book form our grandparents held. We talk to the same God that our grandparents talked to. Some things never change. God never changes.

 

  • Every family has princes and duds. We are proud of those that shine. We are embarrassed by those who fail. We sometimes think only our family tree has nuts, but most do. The genealogy of Jesus had David who committed adultery. It contained Rahab, who was a prostitute. Horse thieves, bank robbers and drunks can be found some where in most families. Family reunions, weddings and funerals can be stressful and tense when the whole family gathers. The nutty cousins always show up, eat all the food, make a mess, say something obnoxious and leave. Most families have to deal with these things. There are Hezekiahs and Manassehs in every family.
  • We are in the generation that came. Someday we will be in the generation that goes. My grandfather was born in the late 1800’s. I always thought that was so cool. As a boy he would have met men who fought in the Civil War. Today, we don’t know anyone like that. They are all gone. That generation has gone. The last veteran from World War I has passed away. Now there is a young generation that may know someone who fought in World War II. The time is coming when they will all be gone. A generation comes and a generation goes. Genesis 5 gives us the genealogy of man, starting with Adam. Names and  names and ages are listed there. A common word that is used over 8 times in that chapter is, “and he died.” And he died. A generation goes. Our time is coming. Knowing this ought to make us get about the important things in life and ready ourselves for the other side. Beyond that, it ought to remind us that there are family members who are coming after us. Leave big footprints that they can see and follow. Show them what is important.

A generation comes and a generation goes…God remains!

We are one day closer to Heaven.

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 694

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 694

Proverbs 17:6 Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

We continue our brief look at passages about grandparents. This is a fun study but it ought to also be revealing, eye opening, and challenging, as each study of the Bible is. One thing we are doing is illustrating the many varieties of ways to study the Bible. The most obvious way is to go through a book of the Bible, looking at words, context and purpose. For some, that is the only way they ever study. Use your imagination some and find some fascinating ways to study. For instance, I once studied the questions asked of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark and how He answered them. That led to another study, the questions that Jesus asked, and how the crowd answered Him. Another study, also in Mark, was to recognize the reaction of the crowds to Jesus. Another study focused upon what Jesus referred to Himself, what did He call Himself. Those studies open your eyes and teach you things.

Our verse today tells us that grandchildren are the crown of old men. We don’t see many crowns on heads in our country. Usually the fair queen is about the only time we see a crown. We give rings and trophies to our victors. There was a time when crowns were worn by kings, generals and those who won contests. The first Olympians wore a crown of garland on their heads. Crowns are symbols of dignity, honor and prestige. This is what grandchildren are to old men, the grandparents.

 

  • When King Saul was killed in battle, his crown was returned to David.
  • The royal crown was placed upon Esther’s head
  • The Psalmist says that God crowned man with glory and majesty
  • The virtuous wife is a crown to her husband
  • A gray head is a crown of glory
  • Jesus wore a crown of thorns
  • A crown awaited the apostle Paul at the end of his life

 

Grandchildren are a crown of old men. Here are some things I have noticed in life. Parents often sigh and seem stressed out with their kids. Grandparents smile. Parents worry about who their kids are hanging out with, whether they are eating right and doing their homework. Grandparents smile. It seems that by the time you get to grandparent status, you are allowed to play, take naps, spill your food, and not be too worried about things. Grandparents get away with acting like grandchildren.

I don’t think the Proverb writer necessarily had those things in mind. I expect he was looking at it from the standpoint of legacy and continuation of a family line. Women without children, especially sons, were in a pitiful way in the Old Testament. Children and grandchildren not only continued the cycle of life, but they became the means of taking care of grandparents. We’ve moved away from that in this country. The government, private savings are the means of taking care of grandparents today. Many do not feel the tug of responsibility toward their family as in early days. That’s sad. There was a true circle in Bible times. Parents raised children who later took care of the aging parents. Some do not have that relationship with their grandparents. Others are not in the position to do anything.

 

The Amish communities continue this heritage. When a son gets married, instead of getting his own place, they add on to the house. In time, the grandparents move to a smaller room in the house and their grown child and his wife take over their room. As the grandchildren get married, more additions to the house. One big happy family taking care of each other.

Grandparents connect us to our family heritage. That’s important. Grandparents are living witnesses to life’s trials and endurance. They have gone through those long dark valleys and have come out on the other side. Their words are worth listening to.

 

Recently, I had breakfast with a couple of older preachers. They were both past 80 and still preaching. The names they talked about were heroes to me. They talked about preaching long ago. We laughed and laughed. They then turned the conversation to some concerns that are taking place now. I listened. I learned. What a rich and rewarding hour that was. I left feeling like I had been in the presence of spiritual giants. Their love for the Lord and His way was obvious. They refused to be sour grumps. They weren’t hopelessly stuck in the past. Their thoughts were fresh and vivid. Retiring was not in their vocabulary. They talked of plans and goals. More articles. More travels. More preaching. More teaching.

 

You don’t have to be a preacher to have that kind of spirit. Grandparents, your crown is not what you have done, nor your past. It is your grandchildren. Your spirit can motivate them and help them connect with the Lord. Wear your crown proudly and use it wisely. Many young people today want nothing to do with old things and old ways, including Biblical things. They need to learn. They need to know. They need to see that grandparents were once 16 years old. Grandparents struggled with money, politics, jobs, weather, and raising a family. They fought temptation, just like the rest of us do. They worshipped and worshipped the Lord. They have left footprints in the sand of time for the rest of us to follow.

 

I don’t have any grandparents around anymore. I’m a granddad myself now. I’d love to sit down with my grandparents and ask them some questions about church life many years ago. I’d love to know if they heard certain preachers and what they thought about them. I missed those conversations. Maybe you haven’t. Maybe an afternoon lunch and visit with your grandparents would be just the thing that your heart needs. It would do you good and they’d love to see you. Grandparents are like that.

Crowns…victory crowns…crowns of honor…crowns of dignity. Grandchildren and old men…what a connection. What a pair! What a blessing from our Lord.

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 693

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 693

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.”

Ten days ago I became a grandpa for the first time. Everyone tells me that it is a wonderful journey. The thought of me being a grandfather is scary. Grandfathers are supposed to quote wise sayings and be a bit philosophical about life. I guess I’ll have to quit being a goofball and step up to the plate for my little granddaughter. All of these things have made me think about Bible verses about “grandparents.” I’ve not given that much thought before. Well, I am now. I’m there. It’s amazing how life opens up new sections of the Bible to our eyes.

 

I will take a few days to look at passages about “grandparents.” For our readers who are not there, hang in there. I tend to find something to fit all of us.

Our passage that we start this journey with is very interesting. Specifically, the writer is talking about money. A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren. There are two thoughts here:

1. A person must be thinking about this while he is working, earning and saving. It’s before the grandparent years kick in that the steps are taken to fulfill this. Far too many need to take a serious look at how they spend and what God says about stewardship and contentment. My generation loves to spend. I’m part of that. Given a dollar, we’ll find a way to spend two. That catches up after a while. Living paycheck to paycheck is dangerous. Someday our boat will go over the falls if we don’t make some adjustments. The only way a good man can leave an inheritance to his grandchildren is by saving as he works and earns. Spending everything is going to leave grandparents broke and in need of help from the kids. That’s not being fair to them. Following the pattern of Congress is a path of doom. Spend less than you earn. Write a budget every month and stick to it. Invest and don’t touch it. Get out of debt quickly. Don’t be defined by what you have. Be generous as God is to you.

2. There is a far greater inheritance than money—it’s spiritual. I see the upside and downside of this in many places. The upside is when you see three or four generations all worshipping together. It’s awesome. There have been lessons taught at home and examples that have been followed. I have seen grandfathers baptizing grandsons. Tears flow. It’s sweet to witness.

 

The downside of this is when you see grandparents worshipping but there is a generation missing—their kids. Something happened. Maybe it was at the church…maybe it was at home…maybe it was just the decision of these grown kids. But a generation was lost. There is no interest. I have seen grown children drive up to the church building and drop off their aged parents who can no longer drive and then the kids drive off. They show up after services. No desire to park the car and come in with mom and dad. And now, the grandkids are around. Grandparents try to get them to Bible classes and VBS. Sometimes they are allowed to come. Other times they are at home with their parents. How sad.

One of my precious memories is going to Coal City in the summers and going to worship with  my grandparents. It was a very old church building, bright red on the outside, with old pews and old people, but I sure loved it. I could look out the windows of the church building and see cows grazing. For a city boy, that was cool. My grandma got to hear me preach before she passed away. That’s precious to me. My dad has heard my son preach. That legacy and memory is special to those of faith.

It is an important inheritance to pass on to the grandkids, the love of God and the ways of the Lord. Telling them the stories of the Bible, answering their questions and letting them hold your Bible is special.

 

There is a spiritual torch that grandparents are handing to their grandchildren. There is something special in knowing that the future includes those who love and follow the Lord. Take time to talk about the Bible to your grandchildren. Teach them to say prayers to God. Teach them the songs and hymns that we sing. Help them to know the books of the Bible. If they don’t have a Bible, that makes an incredible gift to them. Be sure to sign your name in the Bible. That will always be dear to them.

A good man will do these things…

Roger

 

 

18

Jump Start # 692

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 692

2 Corinthians 2:15 “For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?”

Paul reveals how he, and in many ways, all Christians appear to the world. Among Christians, the fragrance of Christ is the aroma of life, and to the lost, the aroma of death. At first, it seems odd that the very opposite reactions could take place, but it demonstrates the heart of the people they came into contact with. It is not that Paul and Christians change. Around Christians they are one way and around the lost they act a different way. That is not the thought at all. They were the same. They were the fragrance of Christ. Those that loved Christ and were saved, rejoiced and loved to be with Paul and more so, they loved the message and the truths Paul was teaching. Those that are lost got no benefit. It was a dreaded message to them.

These verses tell us that no everyone is going to relate the same to us; not everyone enjoys being in the company of Christians, not everyone likes what we say or what we do. Now that’s just hard for some to grasp. How can anyone not like goodness? How can anyone not like people who care and want the best for them? Jesus answered that earlier when He said, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light…” (Jn 3:19, 20a). We cannot change or compromise who we are because of this. We are not after the favor of men but rather the favor of God.

 

As Christians we are the fragrance of Christ. That image is of the OT priests who burned incense to God. The smoke who rise Heavenward and the area would fill with the fragrance. It is a pleasant and pleasing aroma. This is what Paul is wanting us to see. The world stinks. The world is rotten and polluted, yes physically, but more so morally and spiritually. The world laughs at the wrong things. It ridicules goodness and elevates wrongness. But to be around Christians, what a breath of fresh air, what a pleasant aroma. Our world is filled with both pleasant and unpleasant aromas. High on my list of unpleasant smells is a dirty diaper or road kill that has been in the sun a few days. UGH! But then there are the pleasant aromas, a wood fire, the smell of baked bread, the scent of a rose.

As Christians we are to be that sweet fragrance of Christ. But I have found that among Christians come some of the worst smells: the foul smell of bitterness and arrogance; the stench of indifference and apathy; the dreaded smell of lukewarmness. How can it be that when the Gospel is preached, Christians, of all people act bored, pained and longing to be elsewhere. That hurts the preacher trying His best. That hurts other Christians who notice. But above all, it hurts our Jesus. Just being a Christian doesn’t mean you are a sweet fragrance. It comes about by your attitude and actions. As the Psalmist said long ago, “I was glad when they said, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord’” (Ps 122:1), is that you. Can’t wait till Sunday. Can’t wait until we are with each other.

 

Fragrant smell…or putrid smell…which are you, and which do you want to be?

Roger

 

17

Jump Start # 691

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 691

Psalms 40:1 “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.”

This is one of David’s Psalms. It speaks as the voice of experience. David has witnessed the help of the Lord. The passage illustrates this: “He brought me up out of the pit of destruction,” “He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm,” “He put a new song in my mouth.” David is joyfully proclaiming the praise of God. In verse 5 he writes, “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done, and thy thought toward us; there is none to compare with Thee..”

The opening statement is what especially catches our eye and attention, “I waited patiently for the Lord.” The KJV and the NIV both use the same words as the NAS does here. Waiting patiently for the Lord is not something most of us do very well. Waiting in general is hard. We become impatient in traffic, the checkout line, and when put on hold while on the phone. We like things to run smoothly, swiftly and efficiently, and of those, especially swiftly. It is the baby boomers who invented “fast food.” We are the age of high speed, microwave, lightning fast. Waiting is hard. Have you ever noticed people who are having to wait? I see them in the long lines of traffic when there is some road construction and lane closures. I see them at the airport waiting their turn to go through security. Folks don’t wait very well. They sigh a lot. They look around. They play with their phones. They get bothered, and that’s just reflecting upon what  I generally do (sad to admit). Some complain. Some just give up. I’ve seen people walk out of a store if they thought the line was too long. I’ve seen cars turn around in the grass because the drivers became tired of waiting

Here David is waiting on the Lord. And the text says, “I waited patiently.” You wonder what David was waiting for? Was it the answers to his prayers…it may have been deliverance from his enemies (he prayed often about that)…could it be that he was waiting for God to give him the crown as He promised? Many years passed from the time God promised David that he would be king until he actually was made the king. Abraham had to wait a long time for Isaac, about 25 years.

Waiting on God. That is a truly fascinating thought. Some have waited on their kids to finish up with practice. Some men wait on their wives to get ready to go someplace. But how many times have we thought about waiting on God. Waiting for God to answer your prayers. Waiting on God to deliver you. Waiting on God to open the heart of a loved one to receive the gospel.

David didn’t just wait on God, he waited patiently. He didn’t grow weary. He didn’t complain. He didn’t sigh and turn around, giving up. His wait was a patient wait. What wonderful thoughts and example David gives us.

The righteous are waiting on Jesus to come. He will someday. What a glorious day that will be. But we must wait. And how will we wait? Patiently, of course. There is a wonderful song that we sing, “In His time…in His time.” It’s not, “in our time,” but rather, in His time.

How are you doing waiting?  Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Roger