Disposing of Disposable Living

flash cubeWe live in a disposable world. I shave with a disposable razor, we use disposable batteries in our electronics, when our printer runs out of ink, we dispose of the cartridge and replace it with a new one. Out with the old, in with the new.

One of the first disposable items I remember from my childhood was the disposable flash bulbs in our family camera. It was in the shape of a cube and attached to the top of the camera. When you used the flash, the cube rotated a readied a fresh bulb for the next flash. Once you used it four times, you could pop it out, dispose of it, and replace it with a new one.

One of the greatest disposable inventions is the disposable diaper. Thankfully, I began my parenting responsibilities in the disposable age. I can’t imagine rinsing out a soiled diaper and taking it to the wash pile. Now, when Precious makes a boo-boo, you pop off the soiled diaper, dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Viola! Powder fresh!

Unfortunately, the disposable mentality has bled over into areas of our lives where permanence should prevail. If our car no longer pleases us, all we have to do is dispose of it (via trade-in), and replace it with a new one. Never mind the increasing monthly payments. If we get tired of a relationship or it no longer serves our purpose? Too easily we can dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Never mind the messy emotional destruction left behind. If our religion or church no longer makes us happy, all we have to do is dispose of it, and replace it with a new one.

Let me encourage you not to give up when that seems to be easiest thing to do. When you’re test or tried, hang in there. Stay faithful and let God finish the work He started in you. How many times have we given up on something when God was on the verge of showing us His breakthrough? Hang in there, whatever you are tempted to give up, don’t dispose of it, and replace it with a new one. Let God finish.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. – Galatians 6:9

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

Before You Give Up, Read This

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What tempts you to give up?  In whatever desired activity – fitness, sports, reading, relationships, getting your life in order, anything that requires a sustained effort – we all face the occasional temptation to give up.

The same holds true of our Christian life.  Most of us meet the subtle opposition and obstacles of our enemy as he tries to derail our Christian life.

In just 52 days, Nehemiah and his helpers rebuilt from rubble the broken down walls of the once great city Jerusalem. You can read the story in Nehemiah 6.  From his experience, let me offer three challenges to help us face our opposition.

First, don’t be DISTRACTED.  Nehemiah had work to do, and to meet with his enemies, as they offered, would mean he would have to stop working.  Beware of the devil’s attempt to get you busy doing so many good things that you have no time, energy, or resources to do what God specifically wants you to do.  Every good thing is not necessarily God’s thing for you.

Second, don’t be DISCOURAGED.  Nehemiah’s enemies started a nasty rumor about him, intending to get him in trouble with the Persian king.  Nehemiah recognized their attempt to intimidate him and halt his work.

Winston Churchill famously said, “You have enemies?  Good.  That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.” 

The Bible reminds us in 2 Timothy 3:12 that all who desire to live Godly lives for Jesus will be persecuted.  Nehemiah did not pray that God would deliver him FROM the opposition but that God would strengthen his hands to keep working IN SPITE OF the opposition.  Good advice for us.

Finally, don’t be DECEIVED.  Nehemiah’s hired a local to convince Nehemiah to hide in the temple.  The problem with that was that Nehemiah wasn’t a priest and didn’t belong in the temple. His enemies tried to make him become something he was not.  Don’t allow your enemy to use subtle rationalization try to get you to deviate from who God is making you.

Even after the project, Nehemiah’s enemies didn’t give up.  Our enemy doesn’t give up either.  But then . . . neither should we.

For Those Who Hate to Wait

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waitI am by nature an impatient person.  I hate to wait.  Doesn’t matter if it is a traffic light, check-out line, delivery, or even a date on the calendar; I find waiting to be one of my life’s most difficult tasks.

Yesterday morning while reading in Genesis 7, I came across something I have missed in my previous readings, something that made me stop and think.  There it was in black and white in Genesis 7:10 –

And after seven days the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

For seven days after Noah, his family, and all the animals boarded the ark they had to sit there on that waiting for God to deliver on a promise.

  • Just like the blind man to whom Jesus restored sight could only see men looking like trees walking about and had to wait a little longer for his full vision to come to him.
  • Just like Mary and Martha had to wait four days for Jesus to come to Bethany while their brother laid in a tomb developing the stench of rigor mortis.
  • Just like Jesus’ disciples had to wait three days after His death to see the fulfillment of the promised resurrection.

Waiting is never easy and seldom fun, but we can rest assured that while we wait God works.

  • Perhaps we wait while God prepares us for the greater work He desires to do in us.
  • Perhaps we wait while God arranges circumstances so that He will receive greater glory.
  • Perhaps we wait while God tests our faith and in that testing strengthens us.
  • Perhaps we will NEVER know why we wait, but if He says wait, then wait we must, and that waiting is good.

So on what promise of God do you wait today?  Don’t get bored, distracted, or discouraged.  Trust God and seek Him all throughout the moments of your wait.  AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME God will deliver the goods.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6