Quitting Too Soon?

In Genesis chapter 18 we have an account of a visit God made to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre. That's the day that Abraham was told that a year later he and his wife Sarah would have a son, despite the fact that they were well past the age of childbearing. As the visit was ending, God told Abraham that he was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah.

There is an interesting dialogue that takes place between Abraham and God beginning in verse 22. Abraham calls on God's righteousness, suggesting that he wouldn't wipe out the silly survey found 50 righteous people within them. God agrees that he will not destroy cities for the sake of 50 righteous. Abraham then asks if he would spare them if they found 45 people who were righteous. God says of his 45 righteous that the cities would not be destroyed. Abraham then appeals to God not to destroy the cities if 40 righteous were found. God agreed. Abraham proceeded, asking that the cities be spared if only 30 righteous were found. Again God agrees. Abraham persists. This time asking that if 20 righteous were found that the cities be spared. And God agreed.

Abraham comes to the end of his admonition and says to God, "Oh let not the Lord be angry and I will speak again but this once. Suppose 10 are found there." And God consents to this request as well, saying "For the sake of 10 I will not destroy it."

The question I want to ask here is "Did Abraham quit praying before God quit answering?"

Abandon

This post is part of the Great Blogging Experience hosted by the ever gracious and hard working Alicia. Everyone is welcome to participate!
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I am not at all sure that I like the word abandon, not that it has ever done anything unkind to me. I just do not care for the ideas that it brings to my mind. Abandon friends, abandon ideas, abandon projects, abandon faith, abandon hope. Or being abandoned.

Perhaps it is because as a boy I was quick to quit if I thought I was going to fail. And I did not like the feelings quitting produced in me. I was about 25 before I truly embraced the idea that I should always do the best I could and never give up. Up till that time the only place I was dogged was on the baseball diamond, but probably that is because I never expected to be beaten there.

I can easily attribute my growth in perseverance to the relationship I have with my bride. We married young and she had to put up with a lot of immaturity and selfishness on my part in the early years. I am glad she took her vows, “for better or worse” seriously. I am committed to see that she gets the “better” the rest of the way.

Our youngest daughter was abandoned by her birth mother at 18 months. She has made some bad decisions and had some bad breaks in the past ten years and we are raising her boys, 8 & 7. We will never abandon her, or them. I can think of no greater cause than providing them a place of security and safe haven.

My God did not abandon me to my sinful self, and I will never abandon Him and His will for my life. He has to pick me up quite often, but He knows I will keep trying to reflect His love and light to those around. I don’t want anyone to be abandoned in the darkness.

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More Than Conquerors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In going through Mom’s things after her death, Dad found a little thought jotted on a piece of yellowing paper tucked away in her Bible. It said, “Do the most. Say the best. Leave the rest.” No doubt she had heard that in a sermon or a Bible class lesson ad thought it worth preserving. Not only that, but I think she must have thought it worth living.

My mother was like anyone else, human, with her weaknesses, but her faith was strong in difficulty. And she seemed to have a handle on her eternal destination. It occurs to me that she was on God’s side. Some people try to get God on their side through their actions. Their worship, their offerings and their prayers are aimed at securing Divine approval. But that will not work.

On the other hand, a man on God’s side can’t lose. He may have some failures or be overcome in the battle with disease or other struggles, but each o these contribute to the ultimate success and sweetness of the final victory.

Satan appeared to have won at Calvary. But then the resurrection came and God resoundingly turned Satan’s worst to a glorious triumph for both himself and man. Redemption was made possible for those who would align themselves the plumb line of the Testament of Christ. That’s what Mom did and she taught some very vivid lessons of faith and courage in her fight with cancer. I hope they are truly learned.

Thank goodness that, “in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”

(originally written in November, 1983)

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Am I Really Any Different?

I was watching a DVD by Ray Vander Laan a little while ago. He is a scholar and teacher associated with Focus on the Family. The DVD is a recording of some classes he presented in the Holy Lands, describing some of the activities of the prophets and kings of Israel in Old Testament times.

When describing the brazen way in which the nation of Israel would offer their children to idols in hope of personal gain, I thought to myself how could folks do that or even stand by and watch it being done. Then I realized that it is not much different than a modern couple aborting a baby because of inconvenience. That happens every day and I stand by and do nothing.

In watching the video I was outraged that the Israelites could in the one moment participate in paganism and then on the same day go to the Temple to present themselves and their worship to Jehovah God. But then I had to stop and consider how often my personal actions do not really fall in line with my practice of Christianity.

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