With modern medicine there are so many more ways to keep a person from dying than there ever was before. This has made bioethics very dicey. How far should a person go in order to save a life? Should extraordinary measures be taken to save a life and what are the consequences of taking those measures? It is easy when nothing can be done; when death is inevitable. Everyone involved can rest assured that they did everything in their power to save them, but couldn’t. But anytime good choices are met with bad results people get bent out of shape.
We really do expect to be rewarded for our good deeds. We expect that if we help someone that they will be thankful, that if we are friendly we will be accepted, that if we pour ourselves out we will be blessed. There is nothing so hurtful as when we are rewarded evil for good, or do justly and be accused of unrighteousness. Try teaching a child why they should not lie when the truth will surly bring them punishment. It makes no sense to do something you don’t want to do that will bring you or someone else pain. So why do we do it? Why do we feel the need to be honest or to confess our wrongs? The answer is simple: because it is right. God has created us with a need to be righteous.
So science has come up with fantastic life-sustaining techniques. But it is not a perfect science and it is not a perfect world. While someone’s heart might be kept beating, their brain cannot be kept thinking. It used to be when someone stopped breathing, you knew they were dead. But now science has us second guessing. We don’t like it when good intentions are met with evil consequences. A life is saved only to have them saying they wish they had died. A heart is kept beating, but instead of gratitude, the eyes only offer a blank stare. And insult is added to injury when faced with the fact that now we are responsible for taking care of a vegetable for the rest of our lives. We wish again and again we had not saved life, that we would have let it go.
But I offer a question: is there a difference in “not saving life” and “killing”? When Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees for healing on the Sabbath, he asked them,“ Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.” (Mar 3:4) Remember in school when you were given analogies: Apple is to fruit as carrot is to vegetable? Here Jesus is using a double analogy. Doing good is to evil as save life is to kill, and back on itself doing good is to save life as evil is to kill. Saving life is the opposite of killing. Not saving life is the same as killing. In caveman language that’s, “killing bad, saving good.” That is why science has sought after extraordinary life saving measures! We all know it deep down inside that we should save life. But are we man enough to face the punishment that might be ours in a world that many times rewards evil for good? Can we do right when it means heartache will follow?
I think that the real dilemma with medicine is not the modern techniques and whether God really meant for us to have them, but with a basic lack of integrity in modern society. If it means things will turn out the way I want, I will chose to do right, but if it will be easier for me to make a wrong choice, I will just have to find a way not to feel guilty. It is time for society to “man up” and do right forgetting the consequences. It is time for Christians to trust God that he will work all things for their good, and be the testimony to the world that Christ offers us abundant life even when life offers us evil.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Life More Abundant: The Valley of Achor
Valley of Achor is the place where Achan and his family were stoned after having stolen the spoil from the first victory of Canaan. The goods acquired at Jericho were specifically dedicated for the Lord and strict warning had been given not to take anything from there lest you would be accursed. Consequently, Isreal lost the next battle and suffered 36 casualties because of Achan's hidden sin. To remove the curse of the Lord from the camp, Achan and his family were executed. Achor means “causing sorrow” or “trouble”.
The Valley of Achor became something of a figure of speech to Isreal. Everyone knew what happened there and what it represented. Hosea used it to show an antithesis: “And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:15 God is able to take our occasions of trouble and sorrow and turn them into a door of hope and a place of singing.
Isaiah 65:10 says, “And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.” Here, in this place of curse and judgment, God will cause us to be safe at rest, satisfied with every need as a herd of sheep. Of course there is a disclaimer: “for my people that have sought me.”
It then lies in our power as to whether our Valley of Achors are a time of trouble, or hope and rest!
The Valley of Achor became something of a figure of speech to Isreal. Everyone knew what happened there and what it represented. Hosea used it to show an antithesis: “And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” Hosea 2:15 God is able to take our occasions of trouble and sorrow and turn them into a door of hope and a place of singing.
Isaiah 65:10 says, “And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.” Here, in this place of curse and judgment, God will cause us to be safe at rest, satisfied with every need as a herd of sheep. Of course there is a disclaimer: “for my people that have sought me.”
It then lies in our power as to whether our Valley of Achors are a time of trouble, or hope and rest!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Life More Abundant: Believing God is Good
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose. - Rom 8:28
Do we really believe as Christians that all things work for our good? Do we believe that God allows every thing in our life for a purpose? Why should we with our limited view get to decide which things are good and which things are evil? Take Joseph, for example: it was evil that he was sold in to slavery wasn't it? Evil that he was falsely accused by Potipher's wife? Evil that he was forgotten by the king's cup bearer? But all these things played a part in placing him in command of Egypt to save the nation of Egypt and her neighbors including the Jewish lineage of Christ and therefore the whole world. We cannot judge what things are for good and what things are evil because we only see a small part of the picture and are commanded to follow Joseph's example to have faith that God meant it for good. We have a promise after all that “All things work together for good to those that love the lord.”
Each time a doctor neglects to call, or an appointment cannot be scheduled in a timely manner, or the money is unavailable, every small upset is allowed by God to happen. It does not mean we should not fight or pray for things to come through, only that we should be at rest in our souls because God continues to be in control and it is part of his plan. He has something he is trying to accomplish in your Christian walk.
What was the most recent “evil” that happened to you?
__________________________________
How has the Lord used it for good? How can it be used for good in someone else's life?
___________________________________________________
Do we really believe as Christians that all things work for our good? Do we believe that God allows every thing in our life for a purpose? Why should we with our limited view get to decide which things are good and which things are evil? Take Joseph, for example: it was evil that he was sold in to slavery wasn't it? Evil that he was falsely accused by Potipher's wife? Evil that he was forgotten by the king's cup bearer? But all these things played a part in placing him in command of Egypt to save the nation of Egypt and her neighbors including the Jewish lineage of Christ and therefore the whole world. We cannot judge what things are for good and what things are evil because we only see a small part of the picture and are commanded to follow Joseph's example to have faith that God meant it for good. We have a promise after all that “All things work together for good to those that love the lord.”
Each time a doctor neglects to call, or an appointment cannot be scheduled in a timely manner, or the money is unavailable, every small upset is allowed by God to happen. It does not mean we should not fight or pray for things to come through, only that we should be at rest in our souls because God continues to be in control and it is part of his plan. He has something he is trying to accomplish in your Christian walk.
What was the most recent “evil” that happened to you?
__________________________________
How has the Lord used it for good? How can it be used for good in someone else's life?
___________________________________________________
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Life More Abundant: Thankful Hearts, Not Able Bodies
Micah 6:8 He has shown thee, O man, What is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.
Notice that everything listed here is right thinking. In the passages that lead up to verse 8, the prophet asks what should be brought to the Lord. Should we bring burnt offerings and a calf? How about thousands of rams and rivers of oil? Would God be pleased with THAT? A rhetoric “no!” Well then how about your firstborn? “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” I Sam. (15:22)
It is difficult for us to comprehend a world not based on productivity, especially in this humanistic society. Our worth is based on how much we contribute. When we cease to be “productive” and start to become a burden, we become despondent and depressed. But God is not looking for productivity. He is only interested in a clean heart, and every life has value. We have to change our thinking. We need to be a blessing even if it is by having a happy heart while we are suffering and letting others take care of us. Am I difficult to be around because I have a negative attitude? Do I cause people to wish they were somewhere else because I am depressed? It is hard to serve, but strive to make it easier on others by being thankful and pleasant. Of course, this is not something you can fake, but comes from a heart that is surrendered and thankful before the Lord. Infirmity is an opportunity to minister. Instead of you going out and finding people to be a blessing to, God brings them to you! Take advantage of the door that has been opened to you because of your trial.
In what ways can your trial be a potential blessing?
____________________________________
How is the success of my infirmity becoming a blessing dependent on my attitude of thankfulness?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Notice that everything listed here is right thinking. In the passages that lead up to verse 8, the prophet asks what should be brought to the Lord. Should we bring burnt offerings and a calf? How about thousands of rams and rivers of oil? Would God be pleased with THAT? A rhetoric “no!” Well then how about your firstborn? “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” I Sam. (15:22)
It is difficult for us to comprehend a world not based on productivity, especially in this humanistic society. Our worth is based on how much we contribute. When we cease to be “productive” and start to become a burden, we become despondent and depressed. But God is not looking for productivity. He is only interested in a clean heart, and every life has value. We have to change our thinking. We need to be a blessing even if it is by having a happy heart while we are suffering and letting others take care of us. Am I difficult to be around because I have a negative attitude? Do I cause people to wish they were somewhere else because I am depressed? It is hard to serve, but strive to make it easier on others by being thankful and pleasant. Of course, this is not something you can fake, but comes from a heart that is surrendered and thankful before the Lord. Infirmity is an opportunity to minister. Instead of you going out and finding people to be a blessing to, God brings them to you! Take advantage of the door that has been opened to you because of your trial.
In what ways can your trial be a potential blessing?
____________________________________
How is the success of my infirmity becoming a blessing dependent on my attitude of thankfulness?
_____________________________________________________________________________
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Life More Abundant: Surrendering your plans
Ecc. 9:10 ___________________ thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy _____________; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Sometimes we look for things to do on purpose for the Lord. We teach a Sunday school, or watch someone's children. Sometimes we are doing things out of necessity like working. Sometimes we are doing things strictly for our own pleasure. But sometimes, we have things which are dumped on us because that is what life has dealt to us. For example, I became most unhappy today when I went outside and found my tire flat. It was the second tire within the week (two separate tires might I add). It did not steal very much time out of my day, but because I had spend the evening before planning a schedule to turn over a new leaf and try to organize my days more efficiently, I was most irritated. But as I sat in the smelly waiting room of the tire shop with only a handful of auto magazines and a cheesy soap opera playing, I remembered that the Lord is good all of the time, and if we feel he has treated us unfairly, it is because we are not seeing all of the picture, and I surrendered my disrupted day to him again, which was still going according to HIS plan.
Most of our day is consumed with things we wish we did not have to do, even without the tragedies. But it is true that if we do whatever it is that requires our attention with our whole attention, we will enjoy it much more. If we submit to the Lord and say, “this is what the Lord has for me to do right this moment and nothing else,” we will find ourselves in a far happier state.
One of the steps to enjoying life is by submitting to the Lord: to the interruptions he sends us, the struggles, the hurts, the annoyances, and the wrongs. Even when that obstacle is a permanent fixture like when things can not be accomplished because of ailments and afflictions. We have to redirect our thinking and say, the Lord wills this for me, and I must ask for His strength to walk this way.
What is stealing your joy? What things would you wish to be out of your life that are out of your control to change?_______________________________________________________________
What daily chores have you been doing out of necessity and not “as unto the Lord”?______________________________________________________________________________
What “flat tires” have ruined your plans today and this week?
_________________________________
Ask the Lord to control your day. Surrender every hour to him, even if it means giving up every ounce of your leisure time. Ask him to help you see how you are serving him in the daily menial tasks.
Sometimes we look for things to do on purpose for the Lord. We teach a Sunday school, or watch someone's children. Sometimes we are doing things out of necessity like working. Sometimes we are doing things strictly for our own pleasure. But sometimes, we have things which are dumped on us because that is what life has dealt to us. For example, I became most unhappy today when I went outside and found my tire flat. It was the second tire within the week (two separate tires might I add). It did not steal very much time out of my day, but because I had spend the evening before planning a schedule to turn over a new leaf and try to organize my days more efficiently, I was most irritated. But as I sat in the smelly waiting room of the tire shop with only a handful of auto magazines and a cheesy soap opera playing, I remembered that the Lord is good all of the time, and if we feel he has treated us unfairly, it is because we are not seeing all of the picture, and I surrendered my disrupted day to him again, which was still going according to HIS plan.
Most of our day is consumed with things we wish we did not have to do, even without the tragedies. But it is true that if we do whatever it is that requires our attention with our whole attention, we will enjoy it much more. If we submit to the Lord and say, “this is what the Lord has for me to do right this moment and nothing else,” we will find ourselves in a far happier state.
One of the steps to enjoying life is by submitting to the Lord: to the interruptions he sends us, the struggles, the hurts, the annoyances, and the wrongs. Even when that obstacle is a permanent fixture like when things can not be accomplished because of ailments and afflictions. We have to redirect our thinking and say, the Lord wills this for me, and I must ask for His strength to walk this way.
What is stealing your joy? What things would you wish to be out of your life that are out of your control to change?_______________________________________________________________
What daily chores have you been doing out of necessity and not “as unto the Lord”?______________________________________________________________________________
What “flat tires” have ruined your plans today and this week?
_________________________________
Ask the Lord to control your day. Surrender every hour to him, even if it means giving up every ounce of your leisure time. Ask him to help you see how you are serving him in the daily menial tasks.
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