“We Won’t Put Down Our Arms!”

Photo source: BBC

Fellow Traveler,

“We won’t put down our arms!” is echoing around the world as Ukraine’s President Volodomyr Zelenskyy vows to continue resisting Russian troops that have invaded his country. The former comedian, turned politician, turned soldier is facing the realities of war with steadfastness and honor. He and his countrymen’s fate is yet to be determined, but their legacy has already been preserved. Standing in the face of the enemy and fighting to the last breath deserves the highest earthly praise. 

As believers, we are also at war, but it is not against “flesh and blood.” The Apostle Paul tells us, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12. We must take a stand and fight. There is no room for the coward. We are in the Lord’s army. Granted, it is a spiritual war that we’re engaging in, but real nonetheless. Jesus told Peter, “Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail.” Luke 22:31,32. We have an enemy who is otherworldly – an invisible killer who wishes us dead and taken to hell with him. But we are encouraged to stand, go to battle, and be victorious.

The Apostle goes on, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints . . . ” Ephesians 6:14-18.
 
The bottom line is this: our faith and God’s word will ensure that we win each battle. We will fail the test without them. We will lie slaughtered and broken unless we ply our weapons and call upon God to help us. 

Let us be brave in heart today as we raise our swords against the evil forces that seek to destroy us. May we know and love God’s word more. May we know and love God Himself more and more. May we be able to say with Paul, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57.

Old Davy

The Principal Thing

Fellow Traveler,

When I was on the trail this last week, taking pictures, my old age was catching up on me in more ways than one (don’t you love clichés? I do). After walking some miles and heading back, my eyesight was starting to de-focus a bit and my body was getting tired. At the main water pump on Middle Slough, I heard little voices ahead of me where the trail went to the right. A herd of four energized munchkins, far ahead of their mom’s calls to stop, was running down the trail before me, but I couldn’t see them. Then one of them said, “Stop, there’s an old man!” As they rounded the corner and saw me with my camera, monopod on my shoulder, and camo hat with floppy brim coming towards them, the troops halted – but just for an instant. One of them bolted by me while I grabbed a shot of him from another camera that I carry around my neck. 

And my reaction to being called an “old man?” Not one of surprise, but sigh worthy nonetheless. I accepted its reality some years ago when I started losing muscle strength and stamina. But there’s been a trade off. Less strength, more wisdom. The mirror doesn’t lie – looking like your grandpa looked when you were ten years-old happens to all of us if we live long enough. Hopefully, we’ve been given the gift of wisdom, understanding, and the big picture along the way to our silver curls and furrowed brows.

Moses wrote a song that’s recorded for us in Psalm 90. Beginning in verse 9, it says, “For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; [note: he’s writing while the Israelites are wandering in the desert, disobeying God, and reaping judgment] We finish our days like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we might gain a heart of wisdom.”

True wisdom is a precious treasure. You only have to read the book of Proverbs to see that. There is a head knowledge in life, and many can boast of being Jeopardy champions or experts in this or that, but true wisdom is knowing right from wrong, best from worst, foreseeing an action’s consequences, and judging from a wide perspective before thinking about issues or making decisions. 

Unfortunately, my wisdom grade isn’t that high yet. I’m still working on it. With God’s help, through reading His Word, and through understanding the world around me in a deeper way, I look forward to increasing its store in my feeble brain and heart. Solomon has the last word here, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7

Old Davy   

A Valentine’s Day Card

Fellow Traveler, 

It’s long past the time when we received those poorly printed love tokens in grade school. Valentine cards were the rage then, picturing a little brunette oohing over a little blonde boy who’s standing on his head in front of a large heart that says, “My Valentine! I’m heels over head in love with you!” She’s standing there looking at him with her mouth open in surprise, thinking he is so talented and wonderful. In those days you may have been told by your teacher to give one to all your classmates, which really watered down that “just for you only” card you picked out for that cute girl or boy to receive. It was an “everyone gets a trophy” exercise in the name of a weird holiday for us kids. But as we got older, the day was much more meaningful, especially in high school when mushy cards and gifts were targeted for a one and only special person. And now that we’re married or soon to be, Valentine’s Day affords a true expression of the love we have for our life long soul mate. We can all say with the age-old expression, “Ain’t Love Grand?!”
 
This mutual attraction wasn’t invented by human hearts. It was in God’s mind when He created us. This capacity to love and know that we are loved in return is part of God’s image that He’s stamped on each one of us. It is a picture of His great love for His creatures, and a compelling reason for us to love Him back in return. Jesus tells us, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

God’s love extends to everyone in the sense of His undeserved earthly blessings. We all experience the pleasures of this life by a wonderful, beneficent Creator. But there is a special “Valentine’s Day” love that He extends to all who have received Him personally by faith in His Son Jesus. We are adopted into His spiritual family and can declare with the Apostle John, “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” I John 3:1, 2. 

No earthly love can compare to that heavenly love God has revealed in the person and work of Jesus the King. The Gospel of forgiving, merciful, and gracious love is the pure expression of tender affection from our faithful Lord and Savior. Let us freely love Him in return, giving Him thanks and praise. It will be that special, heavenly Valentine’s card of endearment we can give Him today.
 
Old Davy  

Idle Words

Fellow Traveler,

Yesterday’s little project of recording old cassette tape memories of little Elizabeth, then putting them in video format and posting them on YouTube, was an adventure. Listening to forty year-old words and music was a true joy. Technology is a wonderful thing, isn’t it? Few of our great grandparents and fewer still of our gr-gr-grandparents heard their recorded voices. And yet we think nothing of it. The dial has turned; the techno machine is louder than ever, and we can envision a day when our very thoughts will be translated and archived.
 
Of course, God has always been the heavenly recorder. Our every thought and action are written in his mind. His justice demands an accounting for everything we do, including the words we say. Jesus castigates the unbelieving Pharisees who wanted to kill him, saying, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:35-37. Few words are more sobering than those. John MacArthur comments: “There is no truer indication of a bad tree than the bad fruit of speech. The poisonous snakes were known by their poisonous mouths revealing evil hearts. Every person is judged by his words, because they reveal the state of his heart.”
 
All of us are guilty and stand condemned for the evil that has spewed out of our mouths. The good and loving words we have said will never erase the unloving and bad. Our hearts are self-centered crime factories. The Lord’s earthly brother James tells us, “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be.” James 3:5-10. 

Let us walk humbly today, praying that we might think before we speak. Let us only say those things that are loving to others and leave an earthly legacy of kindness. God will help us when call upon Him for forgiveness, renewed hearts and loving words.

Old Davy