The Man in the Back Seat

       He was a big man, with muscles like The Hulk and a fierce stare like the Terminator.  I don’t remember inviting him into the back seat of my car, but there he was intimidating me from the back seat.  He glared at me like I was some kind of idiot who didn’t know what I was doing but I’d been driving for years.  Because of his appearance I didn’t even question his authority to be in my car.

       “Turn here. You’re driving too fast. You’re driving too slow. Stop you idiot! What did you do that for? How did you get your license anyway? Just go through, no one’s looking…”  His endless, barking commands bombarded my head, giving me a headache and leaving my stomach in knots.  Worse, I’d followed some of his orders: some intentionally to shut him up, and others accidentally.  This back seat driver was the worst passenger I’d ever had in my car and I’d put up with him far too long.

       “Be quiet!  Not one more word,” I ordered, and to my surprise he didn’t utter another word.  Still, he glared from the back seat and used gestures to continue to irritate me, shaking my seat and threatening me with looks to get me to do what he wanted.  After catching myself complying with what he wanted once again, I had enough. “That’s it!”  I whipped over onto the side of the road and ordered him out.  This massive, intimidating man got out without a word or fight and stood as I drove away.

       For the first time in a long time I felt better… almost free.  In the quiet I heard a whisper, “What took you so long…”  I pondered the meaning of those five words for a long time and finally realized that I could have stopped the man in the back seat from speaking right from the start, and even kept the door locked so he couldn’t get in- in the first place.  It was all my choice in the first place.

                           *     *     *     *     *

        Though we can blame other people, our human nature or other factors in our decision making process, the truth remains: it is our choice.  We can allow back seat drivers (our own carnal voice, the enemy’s voice, even friend’s voices ) to affect our choices, to send us in the wrong direction, doing the wrong things, or not doing the things we should, but in the end, we have the authority to tell those voices to ‘shut up’ and ‘get lost’.  I didn’t say it’d be easy, but more and more I am finding, with practice, the word ‘no’ is easier to use.

… choose you this day whom ye will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Jos. 24:15 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Jam. 4:7 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph. 6:10-13

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Cor. 10:3-5

Refiner’s Fire

       The warmth of the fire came in waves and wrapped itself around my body like a well used comforter and my eyes closed to enjoy a few moments of quiet.  You could hear the crackling and hissing as the wood burned and I opened my eyes to enjoy the view again.  Few things in life are as relaxing as sitting close to a fire and watching it burn.  The brilliant colours drew my interest and the dancing of the flames held it there.  Eventually, my feet perched on the rocks by the fire became too hot to leave there and I pulled them back.

       You see, there is a well known and understood fact: the closer you get to a fire, the hotter it is.  That seems kind of basic, but important to know so you can avoid being hurt.  However, I find one fire irresistible of which I am drawn to as a moth drawn to the light: God, our refining fire.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver… Mal. 3:2,3a

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God. Zec. 13:9 

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Job 23:10

Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Pr. 25:4 

       God is like a refiner’s fire who burns the precious metals (us) using the trials of life in order to remove the impurities.  Now, I’m not trying to say I’m purified (not yet L ) but I’ve surely had a lot of dross removed with more to go.  What I am trying to say is I don’t mind being in the fire if the fire is my Lord.  I have found warmth and comfort right in the midst of Him. 

Oh my sweet Fire, burn in my heart.  Cause all the dross in me to bubble up and out so You can scoop it away.  Burn hot and bright in my life so that Your love shines out through me, because there are so many hurting people that need Your love.

A Moderate Christian- Part 2

David, not an example of a moderate believer!

And David danced before the LORD with all his might… 2Sm. 6:14 {When Michal, David’s wife, condemns him for dancing thus he states he would (laugh, play, rejoice) before the Lord, be more (abased, despised) than that and humbled in his own sight.} 2Sa 6:20-22 

Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of (adultery/murder) 1Ki 15:5 

And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: 1Ki 9:4 

With my whole heart have I sought you: I have longed for your salvation, O LORD; and your law is my delight  Ps:119:10,174

(David) a man after mine own heart Acts 13:22

       I think these scriptures, and many more in the Bible, show how passionate David was for the Lord God and how willing he was to publicly display this passion though it could demean him in man’s eyes.

Josiah, not an example of a moderate believer!

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left. 2Kn. 22:2

And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. 2Kn. 23:25 

       Wouldn’t you like to be remembered this way?  Like David, Josiah was a boy, man who wholly loved/ served the Lord with all his might. (Yes, even though he made a fatal mistake that cost his life!)  If you read about him from 2Kn. 21:24 to 23:28 and 2Ch. 33:25 to 35:26 you will see why this was said of him.  Josiah began his reign at 8 years old and reigned until he was thirty nine.  If he reigned today, it would be said he is a tyrannical, intolerant, judgmental king who does not display the ‘love’ of the Lord.

       Think about it…  He began to seek after God at 16 years old. (2Ch. 34:3) and at twenty he began to purge Judah of all idolatrous altars and idols.  At twenty six he delegated the high priest to find people to repair the temple.  A scroll was found, read to the king at which time he repented in humility.  He made all Judah gather to hear the king read the entire Law of God, (2Kn. 23) and they pledged to obey the Lord. (v.3)  Josiah ordered the Jews to observe Passover and contributed large amounts of animals to it.

       So, Josiah tore down other religion’s buildings, spent government money to repair Jehovah’s building, ‘forced’ everyone to listen to Jehovah’s Word, ‘forced’ them to participate in Jehovah’s festivals, and spent lots of government money for this festival.  Can you see North Americans today being okay with a president or prime minister that did all this!  Read again what God said about him.  Josiah was not a moderate believer.  He was bold in obeying the Lord and His Word.

       I am not advocated an annoying, in your face, or obnoxious pushing of our beliefs down other’s throats, but I am getting tired of believers having to be politically correct by repressing their own words- actions- beliefs in Jehovah God.  You know what I’m talking about.  I just can’t be a ‘moderate’ Christian anymore!

Lord, ignite a passion in every one of Your children… let Your holy fire burn in our hearts so it cannot be contained or remain inside.