Sherry Sharp

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20, NIV

On September 11, America along with her friends around the world remembered the victims of the attack on freedom and those who gave their lives that day, twenty years ago. Of the almost three thousand who died on that one-day in the World Trade Center twin towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the empty field in Pennsylvania, countless thousands more have been affected forever. We have camera footage showing the towers as they imploded, and smoke and debris pushing its way down the narrow streets of New York. People covered in ash from the incinerated buildings scattered haphazardly, running, tripping, and falling trying to escape. Many of us watched on the television in real time, stunned, looking at the disaster and devastation in disbelief. Over and over the past couple of days as we honored this memory for the twentieth time since 2001, we have heard the words, “never forget!”

On a hill called “Calvary,” one man, Jesus, gave His life for all of humankind. No cameras were rolling to capture the horrid images of Jesus being beaten, smacked, and spit upon. Technology did not exist two thousand years ago that would allow humanity a way to see in real time the man, Jesus, walking through the narrow streets of Jerusalem dragging a wooden cross and wearing a crown of thorns cutting into his skin. When He tripped and fell under the weight of the cross, Jesus was beaten again and again, but no images remain for the world to replay in remembrance. In front of a hostile gathering, Jesus had nails driven into His hands and feet as He was lifted up in shame and rejection. But Jesus did not expect, nor did He ask for accolades; He just finished what He came to do, which is offer salvation to anyone who would receive it.

Yes, it is true that no cameras were rolling on that awful, yet necessary day. And there were no cameras anywhere around three days later when Jesus walked out of His tomb, alive with the promise of eternal life for all who would believe. Nevertheless, the grave is still empty! Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He basically said, never forget!

While we commemorate the occasions that affect us in this world, I pray we will remember the one occasion that will affect us for all eternity.

“Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:29, NIV.

“Seeing is believing.” Have you ever made this statement? The declaration seems like a reasonable deduction; when you see something with your own eyes, it is a little hard to deny. After Jesus conquered the grave and appeared to His disciples the first time, Thomas was not with them to see Jesus for himself. When the others tried to tell him that it was true, “Jesus is alive!” Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25). Scripture tells us that a week after Thomas makes this statement, Jesus makes a return visit to his disciples and this time, Thomas is with them. The passage depicting the incident is almost amusing, were it not so profound.

As the disciples are all gathered, inside a locked house, Jesus appears, saying “Peace be with you” (26). If Jesus miraculously walking through locked doors is not enough to convince Thomas that He is alive, Jesus invites him to touch His hands and side as Thomas said it would be the only way he would believe. But, Thomas, I am certain was overcome by Jesus’s presence and simply said, “My Lord and my God” (27).

Switching gears, a bit, allow me please to ask you a question. Do you believe that God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh or do you think this Scripture in Genesis is merely symbolic? This past week, a dear friend, who is not a Christian said he has read where a lot of Christians believe this to be “just a nice story, rather than factual.” I could not help wondering if those same Christians, to which my friend was referring, and to which he believes are more rational, believe that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven as Scripture relates?

Dear Friend, if one cannot believe that God can create the world in six days, then how is it possible to believe God has power over the grave? I pray that if you are a Christian and find yourself in the camp that doubts the Creation Story, then, like Thomas, ask God to show you how it is possible because the Bible is either all truth or no truth at all. Humans are finite and God is infinite. I am glad there are mysteries concerning God that are just too vast for human understanding because not being able to solve every mystery also means God is Mightier than we could ever imagine!

“Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17, NIV.

Life is very hard at times. Very few people, if any, get through an entire lifetime unscathed by the elements of this fallen world. Sometimes, we must suffer the consequences of our own actions but other times, we must endure the ravages of illness or the uninvited collateral damage resulting from the actions of those around us. These, by no means, make up an exhaustive list of how our circumstances might cause us pain and heartbreak but they are enough to make the point.

Without getting into the nitty-gritty, suffice it to say, that my family is going through some of our hardest challenges now. I told a friend recently that it feels like we are in a horrible reality program that never comes to an end. Another statement I have made to people who question why God would allow the circumstances is that God does not owe me anything. While this is indeed a true statement, the words might lead someone hearing them to think that God is indifferent to our pain, or worse, that He is nothing more than a Deist who put us on earth and then exited, leaving us to fend for ourselves. So, let me set the record straight here and now. God does not owe me anything because He has given me everything!

The Scripture in 2 Kings leading into this writing is evidence that when we feel hemmed in by “the enemy” or an enemy like sickness or something else that is overwhelming, God is with us even if we cannot see Him. The next time you wonder, “where is God?” during your pain and suffering, I ask God to open your eyes to see His provision. The picture of Jesus on the cross reveals God in His grace; the empty tomb reveals God at His best for our good and His glory and this “reality program” offers the hope of eternity.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our Lord will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8, ESV

One of my new favorite activities is to delve into reading some of the classic literature, like Dante Alighieri’s The Inferno. Other writings I enjoy are poetry and short stories that have managed to survive for centuries. On a recent assignment for one of my English courses at Liberty University, the question was posed, “what makes ‘good literature’ good?” Of course, there are no doubt many answers that might follow this question, like literature is good if I enjoy it. Or maybe good literature has a lasting message. Both answers and others give hints as to what makes good literature, good.

This morning, while watching the pastor teach on the Holy Scriptures, I am reminded, that The Bible is one of the longest gifts of literature to stand the test of time. On September 7, 2010, The Huffington Post in an article naming the top 16 most sold books in the world stated that the Bible was the top seller. Is it still, you might ask? According to a survey in April 2020 by the Guinness World Record “the Bible is the best-selling book of all time, with over five billion copies sold and distributed.” Friend, think about this statistic for a minute. How many books have you read more than once? Okay, maybe you have a few of them, but how many books have you reread time and time again, only to discover something new each time?

Every day, people read the Bible and the wisdom found within the pages transforms their lives. The Bible has been a lifeline in my life for forty years. The Word never gets old or boring! To the contrary, the Word of God is so rich that it is like a treasure chest without a bottom. Some read the Bible because it is “good literature;” others read it because its message is timeless, trustworthy, and true. The next time you are searching for a Good Book, check out the Bible!

“The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, MSG.

Water. Fire. Guns. Knives. Sex. Money. Freewill. The list is inexhaustible. What do these things have in common? They all have the power to be both useful and destructive, depending upon in whose control they find themselves. At their basic core, perhaps we should say that this short list is even necessary to human existence for survival. Water and fire provide life. Guns and knives provide protection and the means with which to hunt for food. Sex provides for procreation. Money provides wellbeing. Freewill provides strength for the spirit.

As I sit writing this devotion, I am looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean. The day is beautiful, and the waves are gently rolling upon the sandy shoreline. The sun is glistening across the water like stars I have imagined as falling from the sky when night gave way to the morning. I have, however, looked out on this same ocean during a hurricane when the view was quite different. The wind blew and the water swelled violently breaking over the dunes put in place as a boundary intended to hold back rushing water that now refused to abide by the “rules!”

“We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.” We live in a time when “warped philosophies” have taken control and threaten to smash over the very boundaries set up by God for our protection.

So, what are the “powerful God-tools” given to “tear down barriers erected against the truth of God?”

Ephesians 6:10-18 explains the “…full armor of God…Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray…” (NIV, emphasis mine).

Friend, make no mistake. The “god” of these “warped philosophies” is as old as the Garden of Eden, when he said to Eve, Did God really say…? God loves us and has given us boundaries for our protection. To which God are you listening? Pray in these days, that we will not be deceived.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13, NIV.

A friend was visiting with me recently, along with her precious three-year-old daughter. When lunch time came, the little one asked for water to drink along with her sandwich. Since all of my grandchildren are grown up, I no longer have the sippy cups or plastic child-proof dinnerware in my cabinets. When I opened my cupboard and pulled out one of my porcelain cups, the mom, standing next to me said, “Oh, maybe something unbreakable!” After rummaging through my stash of travel mugs, I found just the perfect small size cup for my little friend. However, I couldn’t help thinking to myself about how pretty my cups are but if they only sit in the cabinet and just look pretty, then they aren’t fulfilling their purpose, even at the risk of getting broken.

The Scripture in the book of Matthew are words spoken by Jesus as He encourages His followers to be salt and light in the world. In other words, what good is salt if it “loses its saltiness,” or as He says in verses 14 through 16, what good is a light if it’s “hidden…under a bowl?” Just like my pretty cup is meant to be useful as a drinking vessel; just like salt is meant to enhance the flavor of food; just like a light is meant to illuminate the darkness, so are we, as followers of Jesus Christ meant to make a difference in the world, even if it means taking risks.

What were you created for? Every person has been given a gift/gifts by God, not to enhance who we are, or illuminate ourselves before others. Rather every strength you and I possess is meant to identify us as a lifeline to the One Who changes lives. Technology makes having a platform on which to stand and stand out, precariously easy. Will you be salt and light in a world that desperately needs to know Jesus? If so, use your gift or talent in a way that is useful in the work of God’s kingdom. The rewards are eternal!