When

It is written: “ As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
-Roman 14: 11,12 (NIV)

What caught my eye in the USA Today, Tuesday, April 27, 2010, was a front-page article entitled “Young Adults Less Devoted to Faith: Survey shows steady drift from church life.” In the outset, the writer pointed out “that most young adults today don’t pray, don’t worship, and don’t read the Bible. If this trend continues, ‘the Millennial generation will see churches closing as quickly as GM dealerships.” The columnist based her findings from a survey conducted by a Lifeway Christian Resource group. The intent was to focus on 1,200 members from18-29-year-old in order to see their views on spirituality and faith; amazingly the results showed that 72% said they were “really more spiritual than religious.” Among the 65% that called themselves Christian, “many were either mushy Christians or Christians in name only – most of them were just indifferent. As far as measuring their Christianity, the fewer were found to be committed to faith.”

Key overall findings from the survey, highlighted the following:

1) 65% rarely or never pray with others, and 38% almost never pray by themselves either,
2) 65% rarely or never attend worship services,
3) 67% don’t read the Bible or sacred texts,
4) Many are unsure Jesus is the only path to heaven: half say yes, half no.
5) even though some believed that they will go to heaven because they accepted Jesus Christ as savior:
a. 68% didn’t mention faith, religion or spirituality when asked what
was ‘really important in life,’
b. 50% didn’t attend church at least weekly,
c. 36% rarely or never read the Bible. Only 17% read it daily.

These findings are astounding (to strike with sudden wonder-to amaze) in that it is a challenge to clergy and laity to grow “passionately Christian dynamic churches.” Why is this necessary? As the survey pointed out, many in the Millennial generation are veering (turning aside from a course) to “moralistic therapeutic (having healing or curative powers) deism – ‘God wants you to be happy and do good things.’…this isn’t what Christianity is all about.”

After reading the article several more times, I felt an alarm system go off as these question kept cropping up, just why are young people as a whole steadily drifting away from church life? Why has there been a steady rise of doubt that Jesus is the only way to Heaven? Why is there a steady stream of people being alienated from following the examples of Jesus as passed down from the patriarchs of the Old Testament?

Following the poetic style of Rudyard Kipling, I composed the following poem as a means to see into perhaps the real hindrances to faith in the 18-29 group:

When

When you can look within yourself and question what really takes place; finding out what keeps your nerves on edge, realizing all that matters is how you can keep your cool and nor hindering others to lose theirs; coming to grips that you can’t be influenced by facts unsorted, blinded by the lust of the eye that sway logic and brings on spiritual death; or tempted to get what you want without realizing the harm it brings to others;

When you can lay aside your cares and worries, hear the mocking bird chirp melodies on limbs near and far, touch a rose petal, notice the rippling movement of water in a stream, or take a deep breath of fresh air and look up to the sky and mull with a sound: “Wow! What a view!” Taking stock of the moment from nature that surrounds cannot change the will of the soul dampened with doubt and confusion;

When you can move away from those that unthinkingly and purposely belittles the poor, the disenfranchised, the alien, or those that blasphemes the name of God without a flinch or shame to be found; When even your closest friend that you call a buddy, a pal that sticks closer than glue; invites you to question what you know is right and leads you down a road filled with enslavement – become the wiserand run away as fast as you can.

When the stand you take for good causes you to be alone and forsaken, as loneliness creeps in and no peace can be found; your pockets seem to have holes and the refrigerator is bare – the automobile becomes a snare and you cry out in a moment, “is there hope anywhere?”

When you’ve reached the end of your rope, breathe in and breathe out; realize that even this is a miracle from the God who loves you beyond a doubt and is still waiting for you, my child, to come around; taking stock of who He is, just as putting confidence in a chair that you sit in, or trust in a pilot that flies a plane; this loving God -in- Christ can be yours! It’s just that simple and plain; for there’s hope in no other name.

When faith takes hold like a seed in the ground; doubts will disappear and your eternal future secured, then and only then will you have grown up and become a man or woman - transformed never to doubt again!

Selah

Sooner or later

No one can live forever; all will die. No one can escape the power of the grave. – Psalm 89:48 (TLB)

It was just a month or so that I received a phone call early in the morning from a former co-worker and friend at Guilford Technical Community in Jamestown, North Carolina that had me reeling and rocking with some strange news. Margaret said, “Fred! I’m glad to hear your voice. Let me tell you why! The art department staff was all messed up along with just about everyone else at GTCC because the word had gotten out from the Greensboro News & Record as well as the High Point Enterprise that you [a long time resident of High Point] were declared dead at 67 years old. Yeah! I told my folks that I was going to call you directly regardless of the rumors I heard. You’re talking to me right now; so you aren’t dead - that’s all that matters!” Well! I was rattled for a moment, but realized that the Frederick Jones of High Point {even though his age and mine are the same} wasn’t me. On the other hand, it felt good especially to chat with an old friend that I hadn’t heard from in a long while. Before hanging up, we talked about getting together over lunch to reminisce a bit about the good old days. Sooner or later…by and by our paths would cross.

Sooner or later. There is something worth exploring from this. Perhaps the best place to begin is by asking the question, is there anyway to align it with the Scriptures? I reached a conclusion based on two findings. First of all, Hebrews 9:27, 28 point out that “And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all times as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”

From this, I see that I [like you] will die a physical death; there is no escaping it, just as there will be not escaping judgment. As sure as death is itself, judgment awaits. At God’s judgment there will be no higher court of appeal should the verdict not be to our liking. Yet if one should hope for a favorable verdict in God’s court, he or she should hope entirely on Jesus. This is [or should be] the ultimate cry or prayer for the unsaved – for the freedom and pardon Jesus has won for them. Reality truly sets in! Then there is reason to rejoice that God’s judgment of them will be based on the perfect life of his Son, Jesus. So when this comes full circle spiritually, they can tell others. For many will face an unfavorable judgment without Jesus.

The second result grew out Hebrews 9:27,28 regarding the inevitability of death, God’s judgment against those who refuse to accept Jesus atoning sacrifice for sin, and Jesus’ second coming. This led to the issue of transformation. How important is this? Check out what 1Corinthians 15:51-53 has to say about it.
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Give attention to such phrases as “we will not all die,” “we will all be transformed,” “when the last trumpet sounds,” and “for our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die.” Mercy! The Reverend John Love, Pastor of Webb’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Denver, North Carolina, opened my eyes to this (the significance of dying, eternal life, etc) on April 25, 2010 – the fourth Sunday of Easter. His sermon was entitled “2012,” which was taken from Revelation 7:9-17. As Rev. Love pointed out, the year 2012 is none other than Hollywood’s interpretation of what the end times will unfold – it is a fear inducing thing based entirely on the “sci-fi Method,” which always has an element of terror or fright.

There were several points that he brought out: (1) God will be with us regardless of our circumstances, (2) define yourself by the promises of God and not your own predicament, (3) life is linear; first there is birth and then there is death, (4) this is God’s world. He is in control of what is and what is to come, and (5) whenever it become difficult to understand life’s perplexities, put whatever it is into God’s mystery bank. He knows the past, the present, and the future. Hey, I like this! Reverend Love can put it together!

For the Frederick Jones that died and was not I, my prayer is that he met God in Christ before leaving this earth. As for me, the real Frederick N. Jones, Sr. who is living right now, my goal is to anticipate that sooner or later I will be transformed from death into life and to be with Jesus through all eternity. Selah

Great Day in the Morning

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For every since the world was created, people have seen the earth and the sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. – Roman 1:19,20 (TLB)

I remember it well! Five days after my oldest granddaughter’s 13th birthday on March 24th, I had to drive to Charlotte, NC to ensure arrangements for a post birthday party for Ashley, her sister, and two of her girlfriends at the Wolf’s Lodge off of the Dale Earnhardt Boulevard. I took the scenic route from Mooresville to Charlotte on highway 150 East. With the anticipation of leaving early enough in the morning, I felt I would beat the heavy traffic on I85 South. I am glad I stuck to that route because as I peered over my dashboard, I saw some clouds form against a reddish-pink sky and trees on the ground. With the sun rising in the East [it was around 6:40 a.m. (?)], the sight was breathtaking! The clouds moved in such a way that as the light broke through {at certain spots}, those higher up had the top part illuminated while those lower only had the bottom portions lit. I kept looking with a note of praise to God. Wow! Great day in the morning!

My artistic juices kicked in as the light blue and pinkish colors danced in the adjoining light of the sun. I didn’t want that experience to die; so, I made up my mind to do something about it the very next day. I’d charged up my trusty camera and placed it on the front seat of my car determined to capture the beauty of clouds and sky. Well! I never had highway 150 all to myself, but it just happened that I found the right spot to pull off the road and snatch my camera out of the bag. A country store was near and there was a wide view of the landscape.

The Holy Spirit reminded me what King David said in Psalm 19: 1-6:
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

Beyond a doubt, King David responded both to God’s creation and how God’s word revealed God’s greatness. What lesson should it teach us? We are surrounded by fantastic displays of God’s craftsmanship – the heavens give dramatic evidence of his existence, his power, his love, and his care. To say that the universe happened by chance is absurd. Its design, intricacy, and orderliness point to a personally involved Creator. I’m reminded that when I look at God’s handiwork in nature and the heavens, I can immediately thank him for such magnificent beauty and the truth it reveals about him.

Along that same line, the apostle Paul pointed out something worth thinking about in Romans 1: 18-20. As I see it, although nature reveals God, people need to be told about Jesus and how [through him] they can have a personal relationship with God. Knowing that God exists is not enough. People must learn that God is loving and that he sent his Son to demonstrate his love (Romans 5:8). They must be shown how to accept God’s forgiveness of their sins. Selah