“Pressure makes diamonds…dragons make heroes”. Fact & fiction both agree that adversity has the potential to bring out the best in those who endure it. Folks who want to be great are a dime-a-dozen, but those who will do what it takes to get there are one-in-a-million. If you want to be remembered in the future, you’d better be ready to embrace pain in the present. History reveals that some of this world’s most notable characters were forged in some of life’s least comfortable climates.

For Joseph it was a prison. With Moses it was the desert. For David it was the wild. Jonah went through a great fish, Shadrach went through a fiery furnace, and Job went through a figurative hell. Each of them enduring their own private agony & bewilderment before finally emerging as Kings, Prophets, & Patriarchs.  

Greatness & glory have their prerequisites. Always have…Still do.

GOOD AS GOLD

People like these are scarce, but every generation has them. They are, what the Scriptures would call “GOLD” (Zech. 3:9)…a small minority of men & women who’s faith in God doesn’t turn to ash when they’re put through the fires of adversity. A ‘remnant’ who stays loyal to the Lord in spite of the cost involved. Those who stand out among their contemporaries for choosing pain over pleasure when God’s will involves pain. They serve Jesus in good times and in bad, for better or for worse, and are memorialized for doing so.

Remarkable men & women don’t just come out of nowhere…

But where is this remnant today? Gold in the hills has always been hard to find, but faith among men, even more so. Jesus Himself wondered, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Lk.18:8). It’s alarming to realize that the closer we come to Christ’s return, the softer the Christian community is getting. Buried beneath 21 centuries of cultural sediment, it’ll be a wonder if Jesus finds us at all.

PRICELESS GEMS

How many modern Christians are missing their chance to become the next Joseph simply because they won’t “let themselves be cheated” (I Cor.6:7)? How many believers are still living in worldly bondage just so they can avoid a trek through the desert? Or how many of us are bowing at the feet of man-made idols because we’re too scared of being thrown into the proverbial furnace?  

We fail to see hardship & privation for what it really is: A gift from God that keeps us from becoming the kind of person we all know is wrong. And if you’re not careful, you too could turn into the very person you’ve long despised. It all begins when your attention shifts from pleasing God, to protecting self.

Greatness & glory have their prerequisites

How many have suffered a stunting of their spiritual growth as soon as they found a spouse and secured a decent “nine-to-five”? They’ve grown more and more comfortable, while becoming less and less commendable. Their schedule is full, but their life is empty. Instead of turning into gemstones & dragon-slayers, they’ve become feeble & forgettable. It happens all the time.  

IN THE CRUCIBLE

The Christian faith is God’s invitation to an “abundant life”, but that abundant life includes pain and distress. Genuine Christianity is meant to bring a person to their melting point because it’s designed to produce great men and women, not people marked by mediocrity. If you want your life to count, you’ll have to carry your cross.  

Every golden ring is born in a crucible. Apart from a little heat, even the most precious of metals remain hard, unattractive lumps. Without any spiritual fortitude, a life gets ugly. Tomorrow’s church will be void of prophets & patriarchs if today’s Christians are void of patient endurance. 

PRECIOUS FAITH

I was recently asked, “Is there more to life than this?” The answer is “yes”, permanently yes. God always has more for you than what you currently enjoy of Him. The question isn’t whether God has more in store, but whether you’ll continue forward in the right direction despite the pain that awaits.

David did it, Joseph did it, and with a little faith of your own, you can do it too (as long as you’re willing to face the heat). Remarkable men & women don’t just come out of nowhere…they come out of adversity.

The only way into the Kingdom of God is “through much tribulation” (Acts 14:22), so don’t pawn off what could have been a 24-karat faith for a handful of fool’s gold.

“Trials show that your faith is genuine. It gets tested as fire tests & purifies gold (though your faith is far more precious than mere gold). So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world”

–I Peter 1:7

The term etcetera is commonly used at the end of a list indicating that farther similar things are included that are too tedious to list and unworthy of any kind of special attention or note. One man, C.T. Studd took hold of the term as a call to fulfill the commands of Christ to enlist in his mission with no promise of earthly reward, fame, or glory. C.T. Studd was an English missionary who had a rarely matched passion to see the evangelization of the world. He faithfully served the lord in China, India, and Africa, some of the hardest mission fields of his day. His life motto was, “If Jesus Christ is God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” Around our church we know him for some of his well known quotes such as, “Some wish to live within the sound of church or chapel bell. I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell!”

This quote sounds good doesn’t it? Yet I wonder how many of us are willing to truly embrace the totality of this quote’s repercussions.  Explaining this directive, Studd wrote a short pamphlet entitled Christ’s Etceteras. In it he encouraged Christians to take the mission of Christ seriously and rebuked those who lived their Christianity with no sense of urgency. 

An Excerpt from Studd’s writing

“Believing that further delay would be sinful, some of God’s insignificants and nobodies, but trusting in our Omnipotent God, have decided to make a definite attempt to render the evangelization of the world an accomplished fact. For this purpose we have banded together under the name of “Christ’s Etceteras,” and invite others of God’s people to join us in this glorious enterprise. We are merely Christ’s nobodies, otherwise Christ’s Etceteras. We rejoice in and thank God for the good work being carried on in the already occupied lands by God’s Regular Forces. We seek to attack and win to Christ only those parts of the devil’s empire which are beyond the extremest outposts of the regular army of God. Our method is to search and find out what parts of the world at present remain unevangelized, and then by faith in Christ, by prayer to God, by obedience to the Holy Spirit, by courage, determination, and supreme sacrifice, to accomplish their evangelization with the utmost dispatch.”

What’s in it for us?

He needed no recognition, he was fully aware that he was insignificant, a nobody, Christ’s etcetera. He traded fame for anonymity and obscurity, ease for great pain and trials, wealth for extreme poverty. And in doing so he gained an extraordinary legacy that has changed entire countries for generations.

We are not to faithfully obey because we have some desire for fame and recognition. We faithfully obey to promote the cause of Christ and to bring glory to HIS name. For the Christian the legacy that we leave really is not for us, but for Jesus. Like John the baptist says in John 3:30 Jesus must increase, and we must decrease. 

We are to spend our life increasing Christ whatever the cost. In doing that we will live a life worth living. Whether we are remembered or not, one thing is certain, Jesus won’t forget. Spend your life for Him. You won’t be forgotten, at least not by the one person whose remembrance of us will count for anything in the end. In the end, who do you want to know your name, do you want the world to tout your name to the masses or do you want Jesus to look at you and say “well done.” What a privilege it is to be one of Christ’s insignificant nobodies. What a privilege it is to be counted as one of His “etceteras.”

CT Studd’s closing thoughts

Below is the conclusion of Studd’s pamphlet. (edited slightly for readability)

“Who will enlist for Jesus Christ today, to fight to a finish, to crown HIM Lord of all the world? I come to do Your will, O my God. I enlist in Your army for this definite purpose. My one ambition in life shall now be to seek by all the means and powers at my disposal to live, pray, work and die to bring about the evangelization of every unevangelized part of the world, and every creature therein, and so crown Christ Lord of all. I admit to being the biggest fool on earth. All the better, for no other can henceforth fear being too small, too weak, or too foolish for the job.

God loves to use such, that all the glory may be Christ’s. Consecrate yourself this day unto the Lord for this cause.

Dare you refuse? You must ere long meet your Lord and Saviour face to face! How will you do so if, when you had the chance, you refused to fight for His Coronation?”

I’ve never been as interested in working for McDonalds as I have been recently. Not because of a long-suppressed desire to wear a polo shirt & headset, and not because I want out of the job I’ve already got, but because operating the griddle at Mickey D’s is more lucrative than ever. And I’m qualified.    

In order to get my last job I first had to invest 2 years of my life and several thousand dollars to secure an associate’s degree. It required a professional resume, character references, and a full background check. I even wore a suit to the interview. After all of that, I felt pretty lucky to get the position. It was the highest paying gig I’d ever landed, even though it offered me no health, no dental, and no PTO. Yet even after 7 years of faithful service, it still paid less than McDonalds is offering me right now as a walk-in. It felt like a fair-shake at the time, until I drove past the Golden Arches yesterday and saw that sign in the window.

And it’s not just McDonalds either. Gas stations, factories, & businesses all over town are doing the same thing. Not because they have gobs of money to spend on their staff, but because they can’t even find people to pay. I still remember the olden days when education & experience were mandatory for any position that offered more than fifteen bucks an hour. Now, the top two requirements are your physical presence and a pulse.

HAVING IT YOUR WAY…

Have we suddenly become a people that won’t serve without a bribe? That might explain why hiring incentives have doubled since last year, and why companies have to ‘bait’ people into employment. The industries that offer the biggest kickbacks right now, are driving-related occupations and personal/home health care. Cash bonuses on those fronts range from $100 to $30,000. Other places are offering bonuses of $100 to $2,500…just to prepare food!

Some would blame this trend on the pandemic. Others might point their finger at a covert political agenda. But what if the real problem was nothing more than personal irresponsibility? Selfishness & sloth weren’t born yesterday, but they certainly seem to be growing stronger with every passing generation. When offered a choice to serve or to be served, many nowadays are choosing the latter. The last 18 months have really exposed some underlying health conditions in our country.

This crisis, however, isn’t unique to America. The church faces a similar predicament, and it’s nothing recent either. Jesus once said, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few”. There’s always been more work to be done than there are personnel willing or able to do it. We’re surrounded by piles of unmade money, unpicked fruit, and unsaved souls, all for a shortage of laborers. Maybe we’re all waiting for bigger incentives.

YOU DON’T DESERVE A BREAK TODAY…

What would you do if there were no incentives? What if serving Jesus garnered you nothing at all? No praise, no promotion, no actual wage. How much does it take to convince you that the giving of your time is worth the time you give? Be careful of withholding or discontinuing your service just because it doesn’t seem ‘worth it’ anymore. If you require a fifteen dollar bribe just to serve Jesus, you’re already halfway to betrayal without even realizing it!

Instead, let’s appreciate the opportunities we have to serve the Lord no matter how unprofitable they seem. I know it can sometimes feel like the investment we make far outweighs the return, but that’s just because we haven’t seen the full return yet. “Don’t get tired of doing what’s good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9).

WE’RE LOVIN’ IT…

It’s never been easier to be counter-cultural than it is right now. All it takes is a little service. Giving of your time and energy to help out where help is needed. Working yourself to exhaustion for no greater incentive than the pleasure of knowing that God is pleased. We’re called to shine in this world, and one of the ways it’s done, is through our work. “So, my dear brothers and sisters, always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless” (I Corinthians 15:58).

While Kwik Trip struggles to find someone who’ll get out of bed and run their cash register for $30,000 a year, the servants of Christ are gladly giving up their evenings & weekends for free. Because we love our Employer. We aren’t in it for the money, but for joy.

Keep up the good work.

On November 16th, 1992 Peter Whatling lost his hammer while working in a field. There was nothing exceptionally noteworthy about said hammer, however having always liked that particular tool he called his friend and amateur metal detectorist Eric Lawes to come and give him a hand. In the search for the hammer, Peter and Eric discovered a treasure trove from over 1,500 years previous. Treasure troves are treasures hidden to be recovered at a later date. As a reward for finding that treasure they received an equivalent of five million dollars from the British Historical Society and the treasure found its new home in the British Museum. Unfortunately, there was a catch, Peter’s hammer was also recovered and became part of the exhibit and the British Museum. There is no indication that Peter or Eric had any hesitations in trading in the once valued tool for the fortune that they received.    

A Treasure More Valuable

One of Jesus’s shortest parables and yet also one of His most powerful contains a similar story. In the Parable of the Hidden Treasure in Matthew 13:44 Jesus tells a story of another treasure trove that Christ likens to the Kingdom of Heaven. A man is out in a field when he stumbles upon an unexpected and very valuable treasure. In great joy, he covers it up, returns home where searches high and low for every last possible possession he owns. He sets up his folding tables and sells all he has ever owned and worked for in order to purchase the field with the once hidden treasure.

Christ tells this story to teach us the value of the kingdom of heaven. And just what is that value? It is more precious than we can begin to fathom because it is worth more than everything else that there is or has been. Whatling gave up a rusty old hammer and got millions, seems like a good deal. Receiving the Kingdom of Heaven even at an exorbitant cost would be an even better one.

What Treasure?

The treasure is what made all the difference. Letting go of everything would be ridiculous if the return was not of greater value than the investment put in. Rest assured there is no need for concern here. We are talking about salvation, eternal life, about Christ’s rule and reign, about the literal perfect heaven that is to be enjoyed for eternity beyond this life.  

Philippians 3:8 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake, I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

What is this treasure? Jesus himself. The Kingdom of heaven is far less about a place and more about a person. Paul said that everything else in the world should be counted as a loss because of the far greater worth of knowing Jesus. All treasures under heaven fail to measure up to Him.  

Remember Why You Sold Everything

For the man in the parable, there was a cost to obtain the treasure. Viewed one way the treasure seemed costly. It took him everything he had. But viewed another way, the trade would seem like the best deal ever. The value of everything in the world could never equate to this prize, let alone his meager belongings. Only a fool would not do whatever necessary to purchase that field.  

You will have dark days where you question the worth of this new found treasure. Pain, hardships, frustrations, and disappointments will abound. You will find yourself wondering if instead of receiving an amazing deal you may have just been ripped off. Your mind will be full of thoughts such as this isn’t what I signed up for, this is too hard, this just isn’t worth it. They aren’t true. Remind yourself of that as often as is necessary. Don’t allow yourself to be tempted to abandon your fortune to return to your old rusty hammer.

Because we do not currently get to experience the fullness of what the Kingdom of God will one day entail, there are times we forget that it is worth the cost. There are times that we doubt it, but the truth remains. This is a treasure worth it all because this treasure is no earthly fortune, but instead a person. It’s a person who paid it all. If anyone got the short end of the bargain, it was Him.

Let go of your rusty hammer. You’ll be glad you did.

Would you feel safer in a city where the penitentiaries are overflowing with crooks & criminals of every sort, or in a city where the prisons are half-empty because the judge liberally pardons them?

A FRIGHTFUL SCENARIO

Imagine coming home to find your entire family slain in cold blood (a quick Google search revealed that this scenario has been the grim reality for some, but I’ll spare you the sorrow by sharing no links). Shocked, you somehow manage to alert the authorities, and in short order, a man is brought into custody. His clothes are covered with the blood of your loved ones, and they, likewise, have traces of his. There is no doubt that the murderer has been caught.

Time passes, and at his arraignment, the suspect pleads ‘not guilty’. You’re insulted to say the least.

Time passes. At his trial, heaps of incriminating evidence is presented, along with multiple witnesses, all testifying against him. You are one of those witnesses, and you gladly honor your family by showing no mercy.

More time passes. You’re informed that an unexpected guilty plea was submitted. A glimmer of optimism washes over your soul. You’re thankful & relieved. You & your family have gotten the justice they deserve. Or so you think.

AN UNEXPECTED VERDICT

Again, time passes. At his sentencing, the defendant is asked to affirm his guilt before the court, which he readily does. The judge then declares his verdict: “I have seen the evidence, and I have heard the witnesses. Let the record show that I am a gracious & compassionate man. A judge who abounds in mercy and in love. I have decided to blot the crimes of the defendant from the record entirely. He is exonerated in full”.

The courtroom is stunned, the prosecution is outraged, and you feel like life has been taken from your family a second time.

The judge continues, now addressing the killer directly: “I declare you not guilty. You are innocent of all charges. Your crimes have been fully expunged from your record, and you are free from every penalty of the law. In addition, any future crimes you might commit are hereby forgiven as well. This court will always, only, consider you to be innocent. Further, I, personally, will lavish my love, care, and protection upon you for the rest of your life. I have decided to treat you as if you were my very own son, and I will bring to justice anyone else who fails to honor my decision. This case is closed”.

A MORAL DILEMMA

Is that the kind of judicial system you would prefer? Or would you feel better if criminals were brought to justice every time? Be careful answering that question.   

It’s hard to imagine such a scenario. Even if a judge or magistrate like that were somewhere to be found, it’s likely that he’d be removed from the bench in the blink of an eye. Few people would tolerate a judge who not only dismissed criminal offenses, but unduly honored the lawbreakers of that community. If you’re like most people, you’d rather take the risk of living among crooks who attack the innocent than with a judge who acquits the crooks.   

Unless, of course, you were the crook.

A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE

When we’re sinned against, we instinctively want justice. But when we commit the sin, its mercy we look for. Culpability changes everything. A person’s appreciation for God’s mercy depends on which side of the law they believe themselves to be on. Are you the law-keeper, or the law-breaker? Do you most often see yourself as the victim, or the culprit?

The hypothetical murderer of your family would have a different reaction to the judge’s verdict than you would, simply because he’s the one who committed the crime. He’s the one on trial. He’s the one facing punishment. You might not value leniency for your family’s assassin, but you’d want some for yourself if you were the one in court.  

A BIBLICAL REALITY

This explains why the Apostle Paul labors in Scripture to prove our guilt like he does (see Romans 1-3 in particular). Only guilty people can appreciate the clemency of a Judge like ours. It’s for this reason that “God has consigned everyone to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all” (Ro.11:32).

When we fail to see ourselves as criminal, we fail to see our need for mercy, and God’s free gift of salvation offends us. But when our sins are ever before us, we recognize our own personal need for God’s pardon, and the free gift of salvation becomes so much more attractive.

We’re all guilty. And until we submit that plea, innocence is out of the question.  

Case closed.

On May 6th, 1910 Hailey’s comet passed by the Earth. Never getting any closer than 13.9 million miles, it posed no real threat and yet many people were convinced the comet was responsible for the death of the king of England. One man, Camille Flammarion, caused mass hysteria around the world by convincing anyone that would listen that the comet’s tail was full of a gas that was going to “snuff out all life on planet Earth” as it passed by. (Spoiler alert: You and I are living proof that he was wrong.)

Despite the absurdity of Flammarion’s claims, many were convinced. A shepherd in Washington State was reported to have gone insane with worry about the comet. Churches found themselves packed with people preparing for the end. People were frantically packing all the nooks, crannies, and even keyholes in their homes in an attempt to keep the toxic gas out. Gas mask sales soared and a new market of “anti-comet pills” sprung up. One brand even promised “an elixir for escaping the wrath of the heavens”

Evidence of Belief

For good or bad our lives are shaped by what we believe. Your life will prove what you believe. These foolish individuals believed toxic fumes were headed their way. The only reasonable thing to do when convinced of that truth is to take whatever means necessary to be prepared for the impending doom. These people believed a lie and their life was evidence of it.

There can be no claim of belief if life remains unchanged by the truth claimed to be believed. Real belief necessitates real action. As the illustration goes, don’t claim to believe that I can walk a wheelbarrow on a tight rope if your unwilling to be sitting in the wheelbarrow. Over and over God says to believe in Him, trust him, and place our faith in Him. If a silly belief in a lie about a comet leads to such widespread observations, how much more so a belief in the truth and reality of God? Belief in such a weighty truth cannot help but be verified by the changes, and actions it causes.  

Look to the Examples

In Genesis 6:13 God told Noah of His plans to wipe out mankind and in verse 14 tells him to build a boat to escape the coming judgment. If Noah had claimed belief, but that belief had never led him to act he would have drowned like the rest of mankind, but he didn’t. God told Him the truth of what was to come, and Noah believed. He obeyed despite looking like an utter fool to the entire surrounding world for decades. He believed despite the decades of seemingly unrepaid hard work that lay ahead of him.   

Moses “believed God” so much so that he gave up his life of comfort and ease in Pharaoh’s house. His belief in God made him chose to have troubles along with God’s people rather than “enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” His belief in God took him on a journey of difficulty and despair that he undoubtedly never would have undertaken if he wasn’t convinced. Moses believed God and his life proved it. (Hebrews 11:23-28)

Christian history is full of examples of people who believed God enough to risk their reputations, comfort, welfare, and even lives. At first glance, it might seem crazy that these people would endure all of what they have, but in reality, if they really believe what they say they believe, it would be crazy not to. This world is broken, and mankind is desperately lost in their sin. There is no hope apart from the truth of Christ. Our lives shouldn’t just exhibit this reality in little discreet ways. They should shout it in a way that is unmistakable and impossible to miss.

Not all Examples are Good

Some claim this belief, but their lives prove that to be untrue. Remember the nation of Israel after the exodus from Egypt came to a turning point. It was time to cross over into the land that God has promised them. They claimed to know God and believe in Him. They also “knew” the truth that God had promised this land to them. But the time had come where their life could verify said faith. Instead, they believed a lie and their wasted life spent wandering in the wilderness showed it. (Numbers 13-14)

What about You?

What does your life show that you have faith in. Is your life evidence of deep conviction and faith in the truth of scripture, the reality of sin, and power of Christ? Or instead is your life evidence that sin is no big deal, church is moderately important and the mission of Jesus deserves halfhearted devotion? What lies are you believing? If you find your life is failing to measure up to what you claim to believe You can choose now to instead trust the truth, and live in light of that reality.