A New Puppy

Our children have been asking to get a dog for a while a now, so yesterday we got them a puppy. She is eight weeks old, and a beautiful Aussie/Winnie mix. Since we are a Star Wars family we named her after the iconic Princess Leia. My wife and I talked through all the pros and cons of getting a dog before we made the decision, but there was something I overlooked. I forgot how hard the nights are with a new puppy in the house. It has been a few years since we had to get up with our babies during the night, so we weren’t used to having to get up and take out a whimpering puppy. 

We got her on a Saturday, and that night from about 1:30-4:30 we were up with our new dog. Even when she was asleep I was still worried about her. I felt like a zombie trying to preach the next morning. While I have never considered myself to be a lazy person, I do require a certain amount of sleep in order to function, and that first night I didn’t get it. Some people toss and turn at night, and it isn’t because of a puppy. Some haven’t slept well in years. There may be a medical condition, but it also may be spiritual. The Bible seems to associate restful sleep with being at peace with God. 

In Psalm 4:8 David said he could lie down in peace and sleep because the Lord allowed him to dwell in safety; in the previous psalm he said could lie down and sleep because the Lord sustained him (3:5). Proverbs 3:24 says the person who keeps God’s commandments can lay down and sleep in peace. Even Job’s friend Zophar encouraged Job to repent of his sins (even though Job was innocent) so that he would be able to once again sleep in peace (11:18-19). Isaiah had a similar thought, saying that God gives peace to those who trust Him: “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you (26:3).”

I believe that is why Jesus was asleep in the boat during an unusually violent storm. The disciples—many of whom were professional fishermen—were terrified, but Jesus was sleeping peacefully. It was His way of showing those young men that He was at perfect peace with the Father. We too can be at peace with God. Many can’t sleep because of the guilt they carry over their actions. Many can’t sleep because they know deep down they need to make some changes. Many can’t sleep because they know they aren’t right with their Maker. But those who are living right, who are at peace with God and man, can sleep soundly. I hope Leia allows us to sleep better tonight. Maybe your better sleep will come if you make peace with God. 

The Big Picture

A college freshman wanted to please his father by following in his steps. His father had been a star on the track team, so even though the son had no athletic ability, he tried out for track. At the tryout that freshman was put in a two-man race against the fastest returning runner from the previous season. The poor boy got smoked, but when he sat down to write his father a note about the experience, he said, “Dad, you will be happy to know that I was in a race with the fastest guy in school. He came in next to last, and I finished in second place.”

Much of life is about perspective. We can see the glass as half empty or half full. We can view ourselves as losing a two-man race, or as finishing second place. Paul had his ups and downs in life, but he was always able to keep the big picture in mind. We frequently see him beaten and imprisoned for his faithfulness to the Gospel, but he was always able to rejoice because people were being saved, and he knew that was more important than his own comfort in life. In the first chapter of Philippians Paul wrote a classic paragraph, saying he was determined to honor Christ, whether through his life or by his death. He concluded, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (v.21).” Paul said he was hard pressed between the two, having a desire to live his life and share the gospel, but acknowledging that it is “far better” to die and be with the Lord in heaven. 

As Christians we find ourselves in that same position. We want to live. We want to watch our grandchildren grow up, and we want to be there for our children. We want to serve in our church and pursue our hobbies. But when this life comes to an end we understand that it is far better for us to be with the Lord. That is why Christians are able to stare down death and never flinch: we have the right perspective. We see the big picture. 

In verse nineteen of the same chapter Paul says something that seems a little odd. He said he knew that, “this will turn out for my deliverance.” Many people miss this as an Old Testament quotation because that phrase does not appear in the Hebrew Bible. However, Paul was quoting the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) verbatim, so the Philippians would have understood the reference. The quote comes from Job 13:16, and Paul was identifying with Job.  

We know that Job’s suffering was for the glory of God, and Job seemed to have a knowledge of that as well. Although he maintained his innocence, Job’s friends tried to convince him that God was punishing him. His friend Zophar had the nerve to tell Job he was getting off easy, and he actually deserved worse that what he was enduring. In 13:16 Job told Zophar that he knew his suffering would turn out for his deliverance. He knew that God would either deliver him from his suffering by healing his body, or else God would deliver him by taking his spirit to Paradise. Either way, Job was good because he trusted in God. 

In the previous verse (v.15) Job seemed to realize that God was behind Job’s suffering, so he said, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” Even if God took Job’s life, Job was going to rejoice because he would go to heaven. Similarly, Paul knew that he may lose his life for the Gospel (he would soon lose his head for the 

Gospel), but he was still going to serve God with what time he had left. 

That is a good perspective. Paul and Job had the big picture in mind. Many think that death is the worst thing that can ever happen to someone, but when we keep eternity in mind we understand that death has no sting. We do not need to worry or stress about the temporary because we know what is in store in eternity. In the meantime, as long as we are here, there is work for us to do, so let’s keep working for the Lord until He calls us home. 

Smile

Have you ever seen a chimpanzee smile? Let me answer that for you: you haven't. You may have seen them make silly faces, but you have not seen them smile because they do not posses the ability to smile. They lack the necessary muscles and nerves required to smile and laugh. 

While humans have about 50 facial muscles, apes have fewer than 30. Among the 20 fewer muscles are the ones at the corners of the lips needed to lift upwards into a smile. Even if they had those muscles they still would not have the nerves that work in conjunction with the muscles. 

Have you ever seen a baby smile? Let me answer that for you: you have. Babies are born with the ability to smile, even if it is several months before they smile out of happiness. Smiling is something humans have hard wired into our DNA from birth. 

Why can humans smile but not chimps? According to Darwinian evolution, anything humans have that lesser creatures do not have has evolved out of necessity. In other words, those extra facial muscles are only present because humans cannot survive without them. But how do primates survive just fine without the ability to smile? Why would humans have evolved the extra muscles and nerves? What does that have to do with survival of the fittest? 

The evolutionary answer would be that animals simply don't need to smile in order to survive, but the natural question arises: why do humans need to smile? Humans were created in the image of God, and we are the pinnacle of His creation. He made us last and set us apart, and we are the only redeemable part of Creation because we are the only ones He died for. He made us emotional beings and gave us the ability to communicate non verbally. Whenever we smile we are testifying to God’s magnificent creation, and even on our worst day, we have a lot to smile about. 

If you find yourself having a bad day, say with Job, “I will forget my complaining; I will put off my sad face and smile (9:27).” Smile, if for no other reason, because you can.

False Statements in the Bible

Does the Bible contain false statements? Of course it does! It might surprise some of you to hear me say that, but please let me point out four undeniably false quotations found in Scripture.

Ananias and Sapphira each made a false statement in Acts 5; after selling property and making a donation to the church, they withheld a portion and lied about the price. Peter asked, “Did you sell the land for this price?” The wife replied, “Yes, for that price.” That lie was a false statement, and they paid dearly for it.

Job’s “friend” Eliphaz the Temanite also made a false statement in Job 4-5 when he concluded that Job’s suffering was a punishment for some secret sin he would not confess. The truth was that God allowed Job to be tested, and he passed the test.

A third false statement can be found in Isaiah 14:14: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.” That lie was spoken by Lucifer, who thought he could challenge El Elyon, the Most High God. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Finally, the Bible contains this false statement: “There is no God (Psalm 14:1).” While Descartes may agree with such a claim, we need to remember that the above quote is attributed to “the foolish man.”

I hear from critics who like to remind me that the Bible contains false statements; sure it does. It accurately contains false statements made by fools, liars, fair-weather friends, and the devil himself. But the Bible is never inaccurate in what it says. If the Bible says it, you can take it to the bank. There may be critics and scoffers out there trying to make you doubt, but we have faith. When your faith in the Bible may waver, just read it a little more; after all, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).”