Randy Alcorn's Blog, page 94

The Problem of Evil and Suffering, as Faced by Vaneetha Rendall Risner, Whose Perspective May Surprise You

Please take nine minutes to watch this video, beautifully produced by Desiring God, featuring a woman crippled because of a doctor’s mistake, who lost her child’s life because of another doctor’s mistake, whose husband left her for another woman, and who has surely faced far more than her share of grief. If that sounds depressing, watch it anyway, and see your heart encouraged:

Please don’t skip the video, or if you read first what I’ve written below, end by watching it. If you wish to think further about the problem of evil and suffering and how it affects believers and unbelievers alike, you might be interested in the excerpt below from my book If God Is Good. (In my next post, I’ll share about Bart Ehrman, a well-known “Christian” who lost his faith in Christ due to the problem of evil and suffering, in contrast to Vaneetha.)

While people living in relative comfort reject faith in God due to the problem of evil, those subjected to the worst evil and suffering often turn to God. Isn’t it remarkable that from Sudan to China to Cambodia to El Salvador, faith in God grows deepest in places where evil and suffering have been greatest?

While Western atheists turn from belief in God because a tsunami in another part of the world caused great suffering, many brokenhearted survivors of that same tsunami found faith in God. This is one of the great paradoxes of suffering. Those who don’t suffer much think suffering should keep people from God, while many who suffer a great deal turn to God, not from Him.

Imagine eavesdropping on a conversation between an atheist and the very peo­ple whose suffering He uses as an argument for disbelieving in God. After hearing the atheist’s case, someone says, “You’ve lost your faith because of my suffering? But my faith in God has grown deeper than ever. Why would I turn away from the only one who can comfort me, the only one who has planned eternal life for me, the only one who suffered immeasurably, beyond any of us, so that one day I need suffer no longer?”

You won’t find the strongest Christian churches in the world in affluent America or Europe, where the problem of evil has the most traction. In Sudan, Christians are severely persecuted, raped, tortured, and sold into slavery. Yet many have a vibrant faith in Christ. People living in Garbage Village in Cairo make up one of the largest churches in Egypt. I have interviewed numbers of people who take comfort in knowing that this life is the closest they will ever come to Hell.

As an army of brutal invaders demolished his nation, a man who wrestled with the problem of evil and suffering said this:

Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign LORD is my strength. (Habakkuk 3:17–19)

Many Christians who have faced evil and suffering embrace their faith with greater conviction. While researching If God Is Good, I interviewed Scott and Janet Willis. An unskilled truck driver who obtained his license through bribery allowed a large object to drop onto a Milwaukee freeway in front of their van. Their gas tank exploded, killing six of their children.

Scott Willis said,

The depth of our pain is indescribable. However, the Bible expresses our feelings that we sorrow, but not as those without hope. What gives us our firm foundation for hope are the words of God found in Scripture.... Ben, Joe, Sam, Hank, Elizabeth and Peter are all with Jesus Christ. We know where they are. Our strength rests in God’s Word.

The Willis family’s story is exactly the kind that atheists feature as overwhelming evidence for God’s nonexistence. Yet, when I interviewed this couple fourteen years after the tragic event, Janet said, “Today I have a far greater understanding of the goodness of God than I did before the accident.” This might have taken my breath away, had I not already heard it from others who’ve also endured unspeakable suffering.

At the end of our two-hour conversation, Scott Willis said, “I have a stronger view of God’s sovereignty than ever before.”

Scott and Janet did not say that the accident itself strengthened their view of God’s sovereignty. Indeed, Scott’s overwhelming sense of loss initially prompted suicidal thoughts. Rather, their faith grew as they threw themselves upon God for grace to live each day. “I turned to God for strength,” Janet said, “because I had no strength.” She went to the Bible with a hunger for God’s presence, and he met her. “I learned about Him. He made sense when nothing else made sense. If it weren’t for the Lord, I would have lost my sanity.”

I asked Scott and Janet, “What would you say to those who reject the Christian faith because they say no plan of God—nothing at all—could possibly be worth the suffering of your children, and your suffering over all these years?”

“Eternity is a long time,” Janet replied. “It will be worth it. Our children’s suffering was brief, and they have the eternal joy of being with God. We and their grandparents have suffered since. But our suffering has been small compared to our children’s joy. Fourteen years is a short time compared to eternity. We’ll be with them there, forever.”

French philosopher La Rochefoucauld may have best captured the difference between lost faith and the deepened faith of those like Scott and Janet Willis and Vaneetha Rendall Risner: “A great storm puts out a little fire, but it feeds a strong one.”

By the way, I appreciated this video update on the Willis family produced in 2014, 20 years after the accident, and featuring some of their surviving 3 children and their 34 grandchildren.

Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash

Is the New Jerusalem a Literal, Massive City?

In describing the New Jerusalem, the apostle John writes, “The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21). The pearls John describes are gates set in walls that are two hundred feet thick.

Commentators routinely suggest, “Of course, these are not actual streets of gold.” But why do they say that? In part, at least, because of their christoplatonic assumptions. Disembodied spirits don’t need streets to walk on. Incorporeal realms don’t have real cities with real streets, real gates, and real citizens. But isn’t John’s description of gates and streets further evidence that Heaven is a physical realm designed for human citizens? Why wouldn’t a resurrected world inhabited by resurrected people have actual streets and gates?

Likewise, most books on Heaven argue that the city cannot really be the size it’s depicted as being in Revelation 21:15-17: “The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. . . . He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man’s measurement, which the angel was using.”

Twelve thousand stadia equates to fourteen hundred miles in each direction. According to one writer on Heaven, “It would dishonor the heavenly Architect to contend that its dimensions were meant to be taken literally.” He doesn’t say why it would dishonor God, and I have no idea why it would. But, as usual, taking Scripture allegorically or figuratively is considered the high ground, whereas literal interpretation is considered naive or crass.

If these dimensions are not literal, why does Scripture specifically give the dimensions and then say “by man’s measurement, which the angel was using” (Revelation21:17)? The emphasis on “man’s measurement” almost seems to be an appeal: “Please believe it—the city is really this big!”

Suppose God wanted to convey that the city really is fourteen hundred miles wide and deep and high. What else would we expect Him to say besides what this passage says? Is it possible for God to make such a city? Obviously—He’s the creator of the universe. Is it possible for people in glorified bodies to dwell in such a city? Yes.

I have no problem believing that the numbers have symbolic value, with the multiples of twelve suggesting the perfection of God’s bride. However, most commentators act as if we must choose between literal dimensions and ones with symbolic significance. But we don’t. My wedding ring is a great symbol—but it’s also a real object.

Some argue, “But this city rises above the earth’s oxygen level.” Can’t God put oxygen fourteen hundred miles high on the New Earth if he wishes? Or can’t He make it so we don’t have to breathe oxygen? Such things are no problem for God.

Some argue that nothing could be that big. It would cover two-thirds of the continental United States. If the great pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall of China amaze you, imagine a city that extends five miles into the sky—let alone fourteen hundred miles! Envision the city disappearing into the clouds.

Some claim anything that big would weigh so much it would disrupt the earth’s orbit. Of course, the New Earth could be much bigger than the present one. In any case, issues of mass and gravity are child’s play to the Creator.

That the dimensions are equal on all sides is reminiscent of the Holy of Holies in Israel’s Temple (1 Kings 6:20). This likely symbolizes God’s presence, because the city is called His new dwelling place (Revelation 21:2-3). By suggesting there’s symbolism, am I contradicting my suggestion that the measurements are literal? Not at all. Many physical objects, including the Ark of the Covenant and the high priest’s breastplate and its stones, had symbolic significance.

Is it possible that the city’s dimensions aren’t literal? Of course. The doctrine of the New Earth certainly doesn’t stand or fall with the size of the New Jerusalem. However, my concern is this: If we assume the city’s dimensions can’t be real, people will likely believe the city isn’t real. If it doesn’t have its stated dimensions, then it’s a short step to believing it doesn’t have any dimensions at all. Then we think of the New Earth as not being a resurrected realm suited for resurrected people.

Christoplatonism produces certain interpretive assumptions, which in turn reinforce the Christoplatonism that Scripture argues against.

Browse more resources on the topic of Heaven, and see Randy’s related books, including Heaven, Picturing Heaven, and We Shall See God.

Photo by Chor Tsang on Unsplash

Where Is Real Peace Found?

Many thanks to those who have prayed for and left comments for Nanci and me after I shared about her then upcoming CT scan, which was done last Monday. At the follow up appointments, we received some challenging news about the results. Two different surgeons believe Nanci's cancer, which they saw no more sign of until recently, has spread to her lungs. (The suspicious spots can't be easily biopsied because they are too deep, and will need to be removed with surgery, and Nanci will probably need to go through more chemotherapy as well. You can read the full update on her CaringBridge page.)

While Nanci and I are disappointed, of course, we had talked beforehand and were prepared to accept this from the hand of a sovereign and loving God. God is in control, and we really are at peace. We’re fully trusting the One who said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NIV).

Nanci and I have both found that great peace comes in meditating on the attributes of our God and His care for us. Puritan Thomas Watson noted, “God the Father is called the ‘God of peace’ (Hebrews 13:20). God the Son, the ‘Prince of peace’ (Isaiah 9:6). God the Holy Ghost, the ‘Spirit…of peace’ (Ephesians 4:3).” It’s really true that “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace” (Psalm 29:11, NIV).

A dear friend recently shared with us this excerpt from Paul David Tripp’s New Morning Mercies. Paul’s words about how we can find peace really resonated with both Nanci and me. These thoughts have been great for us right now, and are great for everyone facing challenging and uncertain circumstances:

Biblical literacy does not dispel all confusion and mystery from your life because while God reveals his will for you in the Bible, he does not reveal all the things he will do in your life for your good and his glory. God surprises you.

So you ask, “Where is peace to be found?” This question is answered clearly and powerfully in Isaiah 26:

You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. (vv. 3-4)

This passage tells us where peace is found. It is never found in trying to figure out the secret will of God. It’s not to be found in personal planning or attempts to control the circumstances and people in your life. Peace is found in trusting the person who controls all the things that you don’t understand and who knows no mystery because he has planned it all. How do you experience this remarkable peace—the kind of peace that doesn’t fade away when disappointments come, when people are difficult, or when circumstances are hard? You experience it by keeping your mind stayed on the Lord. The more you meditate on his glory, his power, his wisdom, his grace, his faithfulness, his righteousness, his patience, his zeal to redeem, and his commitment to his eternal promises to you, the more you can deal with mystery in your life. Why? Because you know the One behind the mystery is gloriously good, worthy not only of your trust but also the worship of your heart. It really is true that peace in times of trouble is not found in figuring out your life, but in worship of the One who has everything figured out already.

Here are some more reflections from other Jesus followers about the peace Christ offers us:

“I know, perhaps as well as anyone, what depression means, and what it is to feel myself sinking lower and lower. Yet at the worst, when I reach the lowest depths, I have an inward peace which no pain or depression can in the least disturb. Trusting in Jesus Christ my Savior, there is still a blessed quietness in the deep caverns of my soul.” —Charles Spurgeon  

“Just think: Every promise God has ever made finds its fulfillment in Jesus. God doesn’t just give us grace; he gives us Jesus, the Lord of grace. If it’s peace, it’s only found in Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Even life itself is found in the Resurrection and the Life. Christianity isn’t all that complicated…it’s Jesus.” —Joni Eareckson Tada

“There is no true or solid peace to be enjoyed in the world except in the way of reposing upon the promises of God.” —John Calvin

“All your security, freedom, rest, peace, and happiness consist in the goodness and love of your Maker towards you.” —Wilhelmus à Brakel

 “Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ.” —Sheila Walsh

“Our Lord says to you, ‘Peace, child, peace. Relax. Let go. I will catch you. Do you trust me so little?’” —C. S. Lewis

“Jesus was napping in a boat when a storm came. Jesus’ friends, the disciples, woke him because they were terrified… Then Jesus looked out at the storm and said, ‘Peace, be still.’ And it was. …He didn’t say, ‘If you follow me, you’ll never have problems,’ because even Jesus faced big problems. …Jesus was always getting himself into trouble. Eventually he got killed. Peace doesn’t come from finding a lake with no storms. It comes from having Jesus in the boat.” —John Ortberg

Photo: Christianpics.co

Russell Moore on American Prosperity Theology vs. the Gospel of Crucifixion and Resurrection

Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, “It is not a true gospel that gives us the impression the Christian life is easy, and that there are no problems to be faced.” The true gospel is about Jesus, and therefore a gospel that’s about health and wealth is a false gospel. Part of Jesus’ gospel is the promise of eternal life, guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection. That life includes everlasting health and wealth. That is Good News!

I recently read the following in Russell Moore’s book Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel, where he points out how the prosperity theology that can show up in more subtle and “culturally appropriate” forms in America is opposed to the real gospel of Jesus:

Years ago, I happened upon a television program of a “prosperity gospel” preacher, with perfectly coiffed mauve hair, perched on a rhinestone-spackled golden throne, talking about how wonderful it is to be a Christian. Even if Christianity proved to be untrue, she said, she would still want to be a Christian, because it’s the best way to live. It occurred to me that that is an easy perspective to have, on television, from a golden throne. It’s a much more difficult perspective to have if one is being crucified by one’s neighbors in Sudan for refusing to repudiate the name of Christ. Then, if it turns out not to be true, it seems to be a crazy way to live. In reality, this woman’s gospel—and those like it—are more akin to a Canaanite fertility religion than to the gospel of Jesus Christ. And the kingdom she announces is more like that of Pharaoh than like that of Christ. David’s throne needs no rhinestone.

But the prosperity gospel proclaimed in full gaudiness in the example above is on full display in more tasteful and culturally appropriate forms. The idea of the respectability of Christian witness in a Christian America that is defined by morality and success, not by the gospel of crucifixion and resurrection, is just another example of importing Jesus to maintain one’s best life now. Jesus could have remained beloved in Nazareth, by healing some people and levitating some chairs, and keeping quiet about how different his kingdom is. But Jesus persistently has to wreck everything, and the illusions of Christian America are no more immune than the illusions of Israelite Galilee. If we see the universe as the Bible sees it, we will not try to “reclaim” some lost golden age. We will see an invisible conflict of the kingdoms, a satanic horror show being invaded by the reign of Christ. This will drive us to see who our real enemies are, and they are not the cultural and sexual prisoners-of-war all around us. If we seek the kingdom, we will see the devil. And this makes us much less sophisticated, much less at home in modern America.

For more on the health and wealth gospel vs. the true gospel, see Randy’s books Money, Possessions and Eternity, If God Is Good, and Happiness. Also see these articles on prosperity theology.

Photo: Christianpics.co

Suicide, Heaven, and Jesus—the Final Answer to Our Sorrow

Since it made national headlines, many of those both inside and outside the church are familiar with the story of Jarrid Wilson, the vibrant, passionate, Jesus-loving, 30-year-old associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California who took his life. That happened on September 9, the day before Suicide Awareness Day (September 10). He left behind his wife, Juli, and two young sons.

Over the years I’ve spoken at Harvest four times with my good friend Greg Laurie, at both the Riverside and Orange campuses, and consider it to be on my short list of churches I dearly love. In his ministry, Jarrid had been vocal and vulnerable about his own depression and mental health struggles. Together he and Juli founded “Anthem of Hope,” an organization to help those dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts.

In the wake of Jarrid’s death, much has already been said about suicide and mental health and the need to address them within the church. But I want to highlight some things Greg Laurie, the senior pastor at Harvest, has said, and also share some more thoughts related to suicide. This is an issue that will not go away until Jesus returns. Countless Christian families have been profoundly affected by suicide and the constant threat of and vulnerability to suicide.

This issue is very personal for me, too. Three years ago a close friend—a godly brother who loved Jesus and loved to share his faith—took his life, and it rocked my world. A month earlier Nanci and I had talked with him and his precious wife about depression, stress, and sleep deprivation, and had encouraged him to get medical treatment and qualified counseling, and he had taken steps to that end. He had a great family, church, and support system. He drove me to the airport just three days before taking his life, and I talked with him directly about his struggles.  He told me the depression was still there, but that he was feeling better about his life and state of mind, and he assured me all would be well. We hugged and said goodbye on a Sunday evening, and that Wednesday afternoon I got the call telling me he had died. That weekend I spoke at his memorial service.

Does Suicide Keep Someone from Heaven?

Because I’ve written a lot about Heaven, over the years I’ve been asked by readers whether those who have professed Christ but take their own lives would be turned away from Heaven.

Greg Laurie shared in a blog post after Jarrid’s death, “One dark moment in a Christian’s life cannot undo what Christ did for us on the cross.” Based on what Scripture says, I agree.

Suicide is the unjustified killing of a human being, and is therefore included in and forbidden by the commandments not to murder. Scripture says very little directly about suicide. However, it says much about God’s character and we can certainly trust in His love, fairness, and judgment. “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Abraham asked in Genesis 18:25, and it is a rhetorical question that assumes and demands a “yes” answer. 

At Jarrid’s memorial service Greg said, “I believe Jarrid Wilson is in Heaven. He put his faith in Christ, and Romans 8:38 reminds us that nothing will ever separate us from the Love of God. ….When you stand before God, you won’t be judged by the last thing you did before you died but by the last thing Jesus did when He died.”

If someone truly knows Christ, then regardless of what they do, they cannot be snatched out of the Father’s hand (John 10:28). Ephesians 1:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:22 speak of believers being sealed in Him. Only God knows a person’s heart and if they were truly were a believer.

In the same passage that says we can’t be snatched out of the Father’s hand, Jesus made it even more emphatic: “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27). Eternal life could not be called “eternal” if it doesn’t last forever. The promise that Christ’s sheep “shall never perish” would not be true if by choosing suicide they would perish in hell. If people could snatch themselves out of Christ’s hands or the Father’s hands, or be snatched out by others, then that too would make Jesus’ words false. His words are true and the three-fold assurance of John 10:27 should inform our thinking about suicide.

Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, was asked by the family of a woman who took her own life, “What does God say to a Christian who’s committed suicide?” She tenderly replied, “I once heard someone say, ‘God did not call her home, but He welcomed her.’”

God has already forgiven our sins, past, present and future when we trust in Him as our Savior and Lord. But He wants us to confess our sins to restore fellowship with Him, as 1 John 1:9 says. A person who commits suicide, if it is instantaneous, wouldn’t have opportunity to confess that sin before dying. Presumably that would mean having to confess and repent upon meeting God after death. Christ died for sins of suicide, so suicide is forgivable—but it is also tragic, unnecessary, and cruel and debilitating for loved ones left behind. (These loved ones need help and support. See David Powlison’s booklet Grieving a Suicide: Help for the Aftershock.)

Love Gets the Last Word

Greg Laurie and I first connected eleven years ago when he called me after his son Christopher, then 33, died in a tragic car accident. Greg and I talked a lot about Heaven then, and have continued that conversation over the years, and we’ve also talked about the problem of evil and suffering, and the fact that Jesus is the only answer bigger than the questions. (See our first and second conversations at Harvest.)

Greg said at Jarrid’s service, “We shouldn’t be spending too much time wondering ‘Why.’ Better than asking ‘Why?’ We should be asking, ‘Who do we turn to at an hour like this?’ The answer is Jesus Christ.”

In situations like these, we should remind ourselves Jesus has not broken any promises. He never promised that everything in this life would go well. He specifically promised that it wouldn’t. He said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV). He also said in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Those are God’s promises.

In his last tweet, Jarrid wrote,

Loving Jesus Doesn’t Always Cure Suicidal Thoughts.

Loving Jesus Doesn’t Always Cure Depression.

Loving Jesus Doesn’t Always Cure PTSD.

Loving Jesus Doesn’t Always Cure Anxiety.

But That Doesn’t Mean Jesus Doesn’t Offer Us Companionship And Comfort.

He ALWAYS Does That.

Not only in Heaven but also while we are still here on Earth, our God is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Any sorrows that plague us now will disappear on the New Earth as surely as darkness disappears when the light is turned on. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain” (Revelation 21:4).

Jarrid’s wife Juli wrote on Instagram, “Suicide doesn’t get the last word. I won’t let it. You always said ‘Hope Gets the last word. Jesus does.’”

She’s right. Our sorrow will not have the final say. In the eternity that awaits us, God will replace it with everlasting good and happiness: “And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11). Consider these great words from Jason Gray’s song “Love Will Have the Final Word”:

Sorrow may close the chapter
But the story will end with laughter
Cause the worst thing is never the last thing
No, the last thing will be the best thing

Of all the things I've ever heard
Let me remember when it hurts
That love will have the final word
As long as God is on His throne
I am carried by the hope
That love will have the final word

A Word to the Depressed

I can’t leave out something I felt was vital to say in my book Heaven. If you are facing depression and especially if you have ever contemplated suicide, please read this:

The fact that Heaven will be wonderful shouldn’t tempt us to take shortcuts to get there. If you’re depressed, you may imagine your life has no purpose—but you couldn’t be more wrong.

As long as God keeps you here on Earth, it’s exactly where He wants you. He’s preparing you for another world. He knows precisely what He’s doing. Through your suffering, difficulty, and depression, He’s expanding your capacity for eternal joy. Our lives on Earth are a training camp to ready us for Heaven.

I have faced depression and I know it can be debilitating. Many godly people have experienced it. But if you are considering taking your own life, recognize this as the devil’s temptation. Jesus said that Satan is a liar and a murderer (John 8:44). He tells lies because he wants to destroy you (1 Peter 5:8). Don’t listen to the liar. Listen to Jesus, the truth teller (John 8:32; 14:6). Don’t make a terrible ending to your life’s story—finish your God-given course on Earth. When He’s done—not before—He’ll take you home in His own time and way. Meanwhile, God has a purpose for you here on Earth. Don’t desert your post. (And by all means, go to a Christ-centered, Bible-believing church, get help to find a wise Christian counselor, and also explore medical treatment as an option.)

If you don’t know Jesus, confess your sins and embrace His death and resurrection on your behalf. If you do know Him, make your daily decisions in light of your destiny. Ask yourself what you can do today, next week, next year, or decades from now to write the best ending to this volume of your life’s story—a story that will continue gloriously in the new universe.

By God’s grace, use the time you have left on the present Earth to store up for yourself treasures on the New Earth, to be laid at Christ’s feet for His glory (Revelation 4:10). Then look forward to meeting in Heaven Jesus Himself, as well as all those touched by your Christ-exalting choices.

Additonal note:

I’ve been reading comments and getting private messages regarding my post about Jarrid Wilson and suicide, claiming I am not recognizing suicide is a sin, and that I am promoting and minimizing it. This is false. Here’s what I actually say in the blog:

“Suicide is the unjustified killing of a human being, and is therefore included in and forbidden by the commandments not to murder. [In other words, suicide is a sin.] 

...The fact that Heaven will be wonderful shouldn’t tempt us to take shortcuts to get there. If you’re depressed, you may imagine your life has no purpose—but you couldn’t be more wrong....

Don’t make a terrible ending to your life’s story—finish your God-given course on Earth. When He’s done—not before—He’ll take you home in His own time and way. Meanwhile, God has a purpose for you here on Earth. Don’t desert your post.”

Randy

For more on Heaven, see Randy’s books Heaven and 50 Days of Heaven. For more on suffering, see his books If God Is Good and 90 Days of God’s Goodness.

Photo by Ahmed Hasan on Unsplash

What It Means to Look upon God’s Goodness (an Update on Nanci)

Many people have asked me how Nanci is doing since our last update in early September on her CaringBridge page. There has been nothing new to report since the outcome of her last test, but she'll have another test soon. I rarely repost the latest updates and prayer requests from CaringBridge on my blog, but since this test is significant, I’m posting this one since we would love your prayers. This is also a reminder that further updates after the test will be posted on that page not on the blog. It’s the best way for us to keep everyone current with what’s happening. (I wish CaringBridge didn’t require a signup, but you can also log in with Facebook or with your Google account. CaringBridge is a great service, and we’re grateful for it.)

It’s been four weeks since the great news that there was no indication of cancer in Nanci’s colon. Nanci has a CT scan scheduled this coming Monday, October 7 at 10:30 AM, after which we have an 11:30 appointment with the thoracic (lung) surgeon, who will give us his interpretation of the results.

As mentioned previously, the concern is a nodule in one of her lungs. If that nodule has grown, or new ones have developed, it is presumed that the cancer has metastasized in her lungs.  The location prevents a needle biopsy and would require extensive surgery to remove. The likely treatment would be more chemotherapy.  If, however, the nodule has not grown or has shrunk, the indication would be no cancer at this time.

Our prayer of course is that the nodule would be gone or at least not growing and not malignant. As always, we trust God to do what He knows is best and we want Him to be glorified, but our prayer remains the same—that He would keep cancer away and that Nanci would be restored to full health.

In any case, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him” (Psalm 28:7).

Nanci wrote what follows and we’d like to share it with you to keep in mind not only as you pray for her but also as you walk with Jesus and bring yourselves and your own loved ones before Him:

“I believe that I shall lookupon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (Psalm 27:13-14, ESV).

To “look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” does not mean all of us will live as long as we want or that all will go according to our wishes and desired diagnoses in this life. The LORD’s goodness toward us is what He knows to be the best good, for now and forever, not what we think to be the best good for us.

His good may not always feel pleasant, or even fair in my limited perspective, but the truth is: His good is always perfectly designed for me. The LORD’s good carries His plans for my life; and His plans are better than I can imagine.

God often blesses us by revealing some of the purposes which propel His goodness in our lives. These are times when it is easier to continue walking the path He has chosen for us. He sometimes withholds the reasons for His choice of goodness in our lives until we see Him face to face. This too is part of His goodness toward us.

He desires that we trust in His character rather than our circumstances. For me to believe with all my heart in the goodness of God—under all circumstances—blesses my Father, my Savior, and my Comforter. That is to say: it causes God to rejoice in me. What could possibly be better?!

We both thank you SO much for your prayers!

Randy and Nanci

Photo by adrian on Unsplash

Delighting in Him

Have you been sitting at the feet of Jesus, as Mary of Bethany did (see Luke 10:38–42)? Have you been turning your back on a thousand distractions to enjoy the presence of your Bridegroom, the Carpenter from Nazareth, the One who said He was going to prepare a place for you and is coming back to get you so you can be with Him forever (see John 14:2–3)?

Time with God is the fountain from which holiness flows, along with joy and delight. It reminds us who we are and whose we are. Paul tells us, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). We are “aliens and strangers on earth,” who are “longing for a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:13, 16, niv).

If we delight ourselves in God, that will transform the desires of our hearts. We will want what He wants. We will want His closeness, and the desire of our hearts will be to hear Him say to us, “Well done.” And when that day comes, He will flood us with more joy that we can imagine. He will say, “Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Perspectives from God’s Word

“I long for your salvation, O Lord, and your law is my delight” (Psalm 119:174).

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).

Perspectives from God’s People

“God’s greatest interest is to glorify the wealth of his grace by making sinners happy in him.” —John Piper

“God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” —C. S. Lewis

This blog is excerpted from Randy Alcorn’s Seeing the Unseen: A 90-Day Devotional to Set Your Mind on Eternity.

Right now, you can purchase Seeing the Unseen for $7 (53% off retail $14.99), plus S&H. Sale ends Thursday, October 3 at 12 pm PT (noon). 

"I have really been enjoying this. I love how it has perspectives from God's word, people and then further reading/teaching if wanted. I am always a little hesitant about devotionals, sermons, books, etc. that are not based in Scripture, but this has it for every day. Randy Alcorn really captures the essence of eternity and I love listening to what God has to speak to me while reading this. I plan on buying copies for friends and family!” —Reader review

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Giving Is an Adventure

Sometimes I meet Christians who seem utterly bored with their lives. There is a great cure for boredom, although it’s one people don’t typically consider: giving more time, money, and energy to God’s Kingdom work, and inviting God to open our eyes to the needs surrounding us.

One hot summer day I stopped at a store for a Diet Mountain Dew, but when I saw the price, I changed my mind. However, as I often do, I prayed that God would connect me with someone in the store. The few people inside didn’t look like they needed anything, so I thought, Next time, and walked out the door.

Outside, six feet from me, stood a young man who was probably in his early thirties. With long, stringy hair and worn sandals, he looked like he’d been living on the streets. He hadn’t been there three minutes earlier when I walked in. I knew he was my answer to prayer.

“Hey, it’s a hot day,” I said. “Can I get you a bottle of water? Something to eat?”

He looked at me.

Reaching out my hand, I said, “I’m Randy.”

He shook my hand. “I’m John.”

I was unprepared for what happened next. He looked at me intently and said, “Are you a servant of Yeshua Adonai?”

Recognizing the Hebrew words for Jesus and Lord, or Master, I responded with a stunned, “Yes, I am.”

He immediately put his hand on my shoulder and prayed for me—as if I were the needy one, which in fact I was that day. He asked God to use me to do great things for His Kingdom. His prayer was insightful, biblically resonant, and articulate—in fact, one of the most powerful prayers I’ve ever heard.

Then I prayed for John. When I finished, I asked him again if I could get him something in the store. He chose a small water bottle, but I pulled out a large instead (next to the Mountain Dew I was too cheap to buy). “Why don’t you pick out something to eat?” I said. He chose some chips, and the total came to $4.50.

When we walked out the door, I tried to engage John further. But it seemed he had some place to go, so we said good-bye. I went to my car and wept, overcome with the deep sense that I’d met an angel. Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it” (NIV).

If John wasn’t an angel, I knew he had been sent by God to pray for me. Who knows—maybe he was Jesus Himself, given his age and general appearance—and anyway, Jesus said whatever we do to the needy we do for Him (Matthew 25:37-40).

After thanking God and regaining my composure, I headed home, deeply touched. At a stoplight, I looked to my right and saw John thirty feet away, leaning against a building, drinking from his large water bottle. With a big smile, he waved at me in a way that seemed to say, “See you later.”

No matter who John really was, I knew without a doubt that I would, in fact, see him later. I suspect we’ll sit together at a banquet on the New Earth, and I’ll find out who he really is and hear his story. The thought of it thrills me even now.

And I suspect that $4.50 will turn out to be one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

Giving Is the Good Life: The Unexpected Path to Purpose and Joy

Wouldn’t it be great if we could do what pleases God, helps others, and is best for us―at the same time? Can we live the good life without being selfish?

In Giving Is the Good Life, bestselling author Randy Alcorn teaches life-changing biblical principles of generosity and tells stories of people who have put those radical principles into practice. Each story is a practical application that can help stimulate your imagination and expand your dreams of serving Jesus in fresh ways. These real-life models give you not just words to remember but footprints to follow.

Giving Is the Good Life reveals a grander view of God and generosity―one that stretches far beyond our imagination and teaches us what the good life is really all about.

And coming soon: Are You Living the Good Life? (booklet)

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Joe Rigney on How to Be a Doer of the Word, Not Just a Hearer

I really appreciated this article by Joe Rigney, assistant professor of theology and literature at Bethlehem College & Seminary and author of The Things of Earth: Treasuring God by Enjoying His Gifts. It’s a great and practical explanation of what it means to obey the command in James 1:22 to be a doer of God’s Word. —Randy Alcorn

What It Means to Be a ‘Doer of the Word’: Looking in the Mirror of God’s Royal Law and Living in It

Christians often struggle to distinguish Christian obedience from its legalistic counterparts. What makes godly obedience different from the moralistic efforts of non-Christians? The apostle James offers us an important window into the particular quality of Christian obedience. It comes in the first chapter of his letter:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22–25)

James contrasts doing the Word with being a mere hearer. Hearing without doing, he says, is like looking at your face in a mirror and then walking away and forgetting what you look like. In other words, “hearing” equals looking in the mirror, and “not doing” equals walking away and forgetting. Simply hearing the Word isn’t the same as obeying it. If all you do is hear, with no doing, you’re kidding yourself. You’re self-deceived. There must be something more.

Now the key question is: What’s the “something more”? Is it just our self-wrought efforts? Or is there something distinctive in Christian obedience? According to James, the “something more” is looking in the right mirror and doing what you see. The right mirror is the law of liberty, what James also calls the Word of truth by which we’re born again (1:18), the implanted Word that saves us (1:21), and the royal law of liberty (2:8–12). In other words, the mirror that we should look carefully into is the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, understood in light of the good news of King Jesus. That’s the Word that we’re to do—which means, Christian obedience is a kind of “gospel-doing.”

Now what does that mean?

Gospel-Doing as Good Pretending

The gospel-doer looks into the mirror of the royal law of liberty. He sees himself reflected in the living and abiding Word of God. Doing the Word, or “gospel-doing,” means that you look to Jesus and to yourself in Jesus for the strength and supply for all of your deeds. You have been raised with Christ. You’re seated with him in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:5–6). Your life is hidden with Christ in God. One day, when he appears, you also will appear with him in glory. Your true self, the fullness of who and what God made you to be, will be revealed and made manifest. But for now it’s hidden (Col. 3:1–3).

Gospel-doing means that you see yourself in the royal law and then you live into that vision. You look into that mirror, and you do what you see. This is more than just moral exemplarism. It’s not simply “What would Jesus do?” That’s often too abstract and distant to be of much use. It’s, “What would I do, if I were full of Jesus?”

C. S. Lewis called this “good pretending,” and it’s one of the ways we use our imagination to further our holiness. Bad pretending is simply hypocrisy. It’s when we pretend to be something we’re not. Good pretending is when we practice being who we already are in Christ legally and positionally, and who we one day will be in Christ morally and perfectly. Good pretending isn’t hypocrisy; it’s a Spirit-led attempt at consistency. Bad pretending is a substitute for reality. Good pretending is when the pretense leads up to the reality. It’s what children do when they pretend to be grown up so that they can grow up. And it’s what Christians do, in our pilgrim condition, when we’re told to do the Word.

Practically speaking, it works like this: Imagine what you’d be like if you really did experience deep, gospel renewal. If you really believed that the living God was for you and that he would meet all of your needs. That you didn’t need to use people to get what you want, because you know God accepts and approves and embraces you, and so you overflow with his kind of love. Imagine that version of yourself, the one who is free and happy and stable and full of love. Now take that imaginary you and put him in the situations of your life. What would that imaginary, gospel-you do? If you really did love God deeply from the heart, and if you really did love your neighbor sincerely, what would you do?

When you have the answer, ask for God’s help and then go and do it (even if you suspect your motives are mixed). In other words, do the deeds of love even when (some of) the substance is lacking. Don’t wait for your motives to be fully pure. Repent of your impure motives, sinful preferences, and spiritual apathy. Look at yourself in the mirror of the gospel, the liberating law of King Jesus. See what you are in light of the good news. Now don’t walk away and forget. Remember. Persevere in that vision of yourself in Christ. Walk away and do what you saw, even if you don’t fully feel what you saw. And, James says, you will be blessed in your doing.

That’s what it means to “do the Word.” For the rest of your life, be a doer—a gospel-doer—of the Word.

Two Case Studies in Gospel-Doing

The concept may still be somewhat abstract, and as any mason will tell you, concrete makes a sure foundation. To really understand “doing the Word,” we must see it in the concrete situations we’ll face throughout our lives. I’ve chosen two to lay the foundation.

Success

How do we face success as a gospel-doer of the Word? When everything we touch turns to gold? The family flourishes, the ministry is fruitful, the job is fulfilling, and our hearth and home is happy. When that happens, we’re tempted to boast—to lord it over others, either by flaunting it outright, or finding subtle Christian ways to remind everyone of our success. Instead of looking into the mirror of the royal law, we collect mirrors. In fact, we turn other people into mirrors for our glory. We build kingdoms for ourselves built on the praise of others, or the envy of others, or the admiration of others. We derive a twisted sense of pleasure in provoking people to want the life we have (and a further sense of satisfaction that they can’t have it).

So when God forces us to face fruitfulness and success, what should we do? We should do the Word. We should look into the royal law of liberty and ask ourselves, “What do we have that we did not receive? And if we received it, why would we boast as though we did it ourselves?” (1 Cor. 4:7). We must remember that life doesn’t consist in the abundance of our possessions, or the wealth of our accomplishments (Luke 12:15). That it’s hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom (and that there are more kinds of wealth than money) (Matt. 19:23; 1 Tim. 6:6). We must remember that Paul treats facing plenty and abundance as a challenge (Phil. 4:12).

In our success, it’s far too easy to say, “I can do all things through wealth which strengthens me.” It’s hard to be fruitful and successful in such a way that shows that our strength comes from Christ alone, and not our wealth. We must always remember what defines us: “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10). And in that understanding of ourselves, we do the Word.

Other People’s Success

On the other hand, sometimes we don’t succeed. Our dreams don’t come true. We watch other people move farther up and farther in to our hopes and dreams. The friend gets the job. The rival gets the promotion. Someone else has the golden opportunity. We watch our friends get married, and feel the ache of being left out. Or we get married and watch our friends have children, and feel the ache of being left out. Or we go into ministry, and watch a neighboring church flourish while ours languishes. Someone else’s platform is raised, and our neck hurts from looking up so often.

And when that happens, what should we do? We should do the Word. We must not allow their success to be our stumbling block. We can’t receive their blessings as a personal wound. We must resist the poison of envy and rivalry (Matt. 20:15). We must put to death malice and bitterness. As we look into the law of liberty, we remember that God’s kindness knows no bounds. It will take him an eternity to pour out all of his blessings on us. And so we can bless God for the blessings of others.

The imaginary gospel-you in the mirror of God’s Word—that person rejoices in the fruitfulness, success, and blessing of others. The gospel-you revels in God’s grace on other people, especially those who succeed in things that you care about. The gospel-you overflows with gratitude for others’ gifts. And so we see ourselves in light of God’s glad-hearted embrace of us in Christ, and we do the Word when others succeed.

So in our successes and in our (temporary) failures, may we all have the grace to look deeply into the royal law of liberty, to see ourselves in Christ, and with his help, do the Word.

This article originally appeared on The Gospel Coalition and is used with permission of the author.

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Modern Research about Happiness Repeatedly Parallels Biblical Principles

In the late 1990s, Martin Seligman, the president of the American Psychological Association, noted psychology’s emphasis on the negative side of life, including depression and anxiety, while ignoring the positive, including happiness and well-being. His observation spurred new research and hundreds of articles on happiness.

One of the central topics addressed in these studies is this simple question: Can people become happier? The resounding answer is yes—to a degree. Researchers say there are limits on human happiness, some genetic and some relating to humanity’s general condition (which, from the Christian worldview, is caused by sin and the Curse).

Though in my books on happiness (including Does God Want Us to Be Happy?) I emphasize an understanding of happiness based on the Bible, theology, and church history, I’ve also read a dozen or so secular books on happiness. Many writers document remarkable discoveries about happiness that conform to biblical teachings—though few appear to realize the connection.

For instance, modern happiness studies demonstrate that wealth, success, power, and popularity are not indicators of happiness. People who choose gratitude and engage in respectful, others-centered relationships are happier than those who are self-focused and driven by feelings of entitlement. [1]

With their talk of being thankful, serving others, and giving generously of time and money—accompanied by the assurance that money, sex, and power won’t buy happiness— progressive secular psychologists sound remarkably like old-fashioned preachers!

Consider the results of a Duke University study that concluded happiness is fostered by eight factors:

Avoiding suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.
Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.
Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions that can’t be changed. People are happier when they cooperate with life instead of trying to run from it.
Staying involved with the living world. Happiness increases when people resist the temptation to become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.
Refusing to indulge in self-pity when handed a raw deal. It’s easier for people to achieve happiness when they accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.
Cultivating old-fashioned virtues—love, humor, compassion, and loyalty.
Not expecting too much of oneself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and a person’s ability to meet the goals he or she has set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.
Finding something bigger to believe in. Self-centered, egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness. [2]

While reading this study, I found myself often writing Bible verses in the margins, summarizing the findings: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), “[Forgive] each other . . . as the Lord has forgiven you” (Colossians 3:13).

Compare this list point by point to the study’s eight-part conclusion:

Jesus said this about not holding grudges: “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25).
The apostle Paul embraced not living in the past: “One thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Jesus instructed us not to worry about things we can’t change: “Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. . . . Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:25, 27).
Solomon spoke of the importance of engaging in human relationships: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
Paul knew that contentment is the antidote to self-pity: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Philippians 4:11-12).
The list of virtues described by the secular psychologists looks very similar to this one: “Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).
We’re reminded of our limitations and that we’re constantly in need of mercy and grace. God has willingly showered these gifts on us: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Jesus said we should focus on what’s bigger than ourselves: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Furthermore, we are better off with others-centered humility than self-centered arrogance: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” (Philippians 2:3, NIV).

Secular studies, naturally, say nothing about our need to know and love the God of the Bible. Sonja Lyubomirsky may be the best-known happiness researcher in the world. She admits, “I don’t have a religious or spiritual bone in my body.” [3] But, she says, the studies clearly show that religious people are happier. Her advice? “If it seems natural for you to practice religion and spirituality, then by all means do it.” [4]

She’s speaking in the best interest of people’s happiness. But of course, the solution isn’t pretending to believe something if we don’t. Without a personal relationship with God, we won’t enjoy true peace and happiness.

A naturalistic worldview that embraces randomness, ultimate meaninglessness, and survival of the fittest doesn’t lend itself to happiness. People can borrow certain values from a Christian worldview, but without faith in Christ and the indwelling Spirit as an agent of change, they’re left without a solid foundation for happiness.

Psychologists and self-help books offer proven methods for increasing our subjective sense of happiness. However, this marginal contentment can numb people into complacency. A self-achieved, tolerable happiness can anesthetize us into becoming mere sin managers, distancing us from our desperate need for God. Even when this strategy appears sufficient for now, it can’t survive the Day of Judgment.

The question of how to reconcile evil people with a God who hates evil is the greatest problem of history. It calls for no less than the greatest solution ever devised—one so radical it appears foolish to the sophisticated—and that is the cross of Christ. “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Psychologist David Powlison said, “Don’t ever degenerate into giving good advice unconnected with the good news of Jesus crucified, alive, present, at work, and returning.” [5] Good advice is always better than bad advice. Yet those trapped in a burning building need more than advice—they need good news coupled with practical action. People who are Hell bound need someone who will brave the searing flames, rescue them from sin’s destruction, and bring everlasting happiness.

[1] Sonja Lyubomirsky, The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want (New York: Penguin, 2008).

[2] “Peace of Mind,” Duke University sociological study, cited in Rudy A. Magnan, Reinventing American Education (Bloomington, IN: Xlibris Corporation, 2010), 23.

[3] Sonja Lyubomirsky, “Happiness and Religion, Happiness as Religion,” How of Happiness (blog), Psychology Today, June 25, 2008.

[4] Lyubomirsky, How of Happiness, 234.

[5] David Powlison, Seeing with New Eyes (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing, 2003), 43.

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