How about Some Consistency?

Have you flown any kites yet? As we know, ‘tis the season. When I was walking into the church office a couple days ago, the wind was surging across the back of the building. There were a few leaves piled up in the corners and so I thought I would get a broom and loosen the leaves up and let the wind do the rest. In those few short minutes, however, when I opened the door again with the broom in hand, the wind had completely changed direction and would not achieve my desired goal. Foiled again!

I doubt if any of you are surprised by this. That’s what the wind does. It’s unpredictable and inconsistent. While that inconsistency is okay in nature, God considers it a flaw in His followers. Last Wednesday night in our adult Bible class we were studying about the church in Laodicea. Jesus uses some strong words in reprimanding them, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16 NKJV). It was remarked that at least they weren’t cold, so why is Jesus so angry with them? Point: inconsistency. God hates it.

James reaffirms this in his remarks about prayer, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:6-8). Are you unstable because you can’t make up your mind about your relationship with God? God hopes you’ll figure that out sooner rather than later.

One of the goals God has in mind in the organization of the church, the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23), is “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4:14-16). If we would truly grasp the unity to be had in Christ, the inconsistency would end, and we could accomplish so much more for the Lord.

We can do that! “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Not only does this benefit God, it gives us all peace of mind and confidence in our lives. Will you be strong against Satan’s winds of doubt?

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ

Pray for Forgetful Squirrels

Have you been looking out your windows lately? Lots of things are going on as we transition to winter. As I have been told many times over the years by fellow Christians, “Watch out, Jeff, the squirrels are gathering nuts for the winter.”

God has given squirrels amazing talents. I have been observing them checking out some black walnuts I dumped in the yard a few weeks ago. It seems that after just a few sniffs, some they take and others they leave, and there are still a couple laying there. We see the same activity from humans in the produce section of the grocery store. I still can’t figure out what differentiates a good cantaloupe from a bad one, and I used to work in the produce department.

Squirrels are an excellent example of the symbiotic world God created. Like bees spreading pollen, they spread the nuts, and don’t always dig them up, and thus we have more trees. I don’t know how often they forget. I’ve seen them digging through six inches of snow for a buried nut. How’d they know where to dig? If you want more hardwoods, pray for forgetful squirrels.

If you think about it, God created one incredible universe. Psalm 104 elaborates on this in some detail and sums it all up with verse 24a, “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all” (NKJV).

Not only did our Almighty God make it all, but there is one more important detail brought forth in His Holy Word. “Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast” (Ps. 36:6). God keeps all this going. Not only is He the Great Creator, He is also the Great Sustainer of life! Isn’t it amazing that he created squirrels to save up nuts for future use?

We must remember this in those critical times when we get anxious about the future. Did your favorite politicians win? Are the COVID numbers going up? Are you worrying? How much toilet paper is in your closet?

We will be all right. Remember Jesus’ words, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Luke 12:6-7).

When Jesus addressed these earthly anxieties in the Sermon on the Mount, he emphasized priorities, “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33). All I can add is, “Go and do likewise!”

 Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ

Chicken of Change?

Did you know that Reynolds Wrap, originally owned by Richard S. Reynolds, Sr., was connected to the cigarette manufacturing of R. J. Reynolds? The special aluminum wrap was designed to keep the cigarettes dry. Richard was RJ’s nephew.

Reynolds Wrap originally was made (or based) in Louisville, KY, then New York City, then Richmond, VA; and now, back in Louisville. However, after being part of the Alcoa company, it is now owned by a company based in New Zealand. New Zealand!

Changes are interesting, aren’t they? But if I was an employee for Reynolds Wrap in Richmond in 2008 and was told they were closing the plant and moving its operation to Louisville, I don’t think I would call it “interesting.”

Changes can be very hard. A few years ago, a young mother was telling me about her husband accepting an offer for his engineering skills . . . in China. They packed up and moved there, but even though he was well paid, after a few short weeks, she couldn’t handle the cultural transition any more. They were back in the States by the end of the year.

We’ve all heard, “Change is a part of life,” but how should we handle it? “Just roll with it,” we’ve been told, but what if the change isn’t our choice? What if the change is even caused by tragedy?

The classic words of “The Preacher” in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven,” are summed up with the fact that God “has made everything beautiful in its time” (3:11 NKJV). Therein lies the solution to our anxieties about change. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

In Hebrews 11 we have an overview of some amazing, godly people and their lives. A common thread that connects them all is how they responded to change. Over and over in that chapter we are reminded of the solution: “By faith.” “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (11:8).

Did you catch that? “He went out, not knowing where he was going”! That sounds like life. We like to think we have it all figured out, but we don’t. The only way to achieve success and peace of mind is to completely trust our “Helper.” Will you?

Jeff Greene, minister for the South Stokes Church of Christ