Milestone Birthday Reflections on the Brevity of Life

“You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure” (Ps. 39:5).

The Bible teaches us that life is fragile. The length of our appointed days is unknown. We cannot adjust the date of our birth or the date of our death. We only have control over the dash in-between.

For me personally, the shortness of life was illustrated most clearly when my dad passed away on his 64^th birthday in 2001. He had a heart attack and a stroke several days prior, and his life was gone.

In the 21 years since then, I have been anxious about the day I would turn 64. That happened today.

I have not been afraid of death. To the contrary, my faith in Jesus informs me that I have absolutely nothing to fear. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). I haven’t been dwelling on the possibility that the same fate awaited me as I haven’t had the same kinds of health risks that my father had. No, I have merely been focused on this: there are no guarantees. I wanted to ensure that I was faithful to God, fulfilled my calling, and finished strong.

This date has had my full attention, especially these past few years. This milestone was a primary factor in my decision to pursue writing a book that would get published by my 60^th birthday. God graciously allowed me to complete this major project with six months to spare. My book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession was published by WestBow Press in February 2018.

This looming birthday has also focused my writing ministry. I have desired to leave something of lasting value for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Over the last six years, I have written and posted over 260 articles on my blog, more than 180 of which address various theology of work topics. Just over 100 of these articles have been published on several Christian organization’s blogs or websites.

Lastly, I have also been intentional about building relationships with my amazing immediate family: my wife of over 40 years, my three dear children, and my five beautiful grandchildren. They are the joy of my life. I have been there with them since Day One. They all know they are loved.

I don’t take this life for granted. If I did die on my 64^th birthday, I would have entered the presence of God with my heart full. Like the Apostle Paul, I would know I completed the race well (2 Tim. 4:7).

May my prayer be like that of the humble psalmist who knew what was truly important in life. He wrote, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:12).

My earnest desire is that those who read this reflection will choose to leave something of eternal value behind for those whom God has placed in their path and that they also will finish strong.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 41 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of the book, Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth minister. He has completed 35 years of active federal service, including 20 years on active duty and over 14 years as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written over 180 articles on faith and work topics. One hundred of these articles have been published on several Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, The Gospel Coalition, and Christian Grandfather Magazine. (See list of published articles on Linktree.)

Here I am; Lord Send Me

(Note: This article was published on the Christian Grandfather Magazine.)

On the way to work yesterday, I chose a song to play on Spotify that means a lot. 

The song was “Here I Am”, by the group Downhere.  It is based on Isa. 6:8, where the prophet was asked by Yahweh, “Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?”  Isaiah humbly replied, “Here am I.  Send me!”  I would like to share some of the things I prayed about and meditated on as I listened to the song.  (I encourage you to watch this video to get a feel for what I am about to share.)

My story is a part of God’s plan

The day prior to attending the 2016 Faith@Work Summit, I played this song.  I was affected deeply by its message that “somehow my story is a part of your plan”.  I was filled with immense gratitude as I acknowledged that God had prepared me over a lifetime of working in His presence to begin a new season of ministry to help others to understand the theology of work.

The story of David and Goliath expresses a similar attitude.  He saw Goliath taunting God’s people, and he made himself available to be God’s man at that moment.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus also modeled this posture of total surrender to the will of His Father, and chose the cross. 

This “blank check” mentality of complete submission to God’s will for one’s life is one that every person coming to faith in Jesus would express at the time of their salvation experience.  I imagine that for some Christians, this simple prayer of dedication to God’s purposes might be a daily event.

My life is an offering

A line in the chorus that strikes me is “all of my life I make an offering”.  He is intentional about presenting himself to God in submission and trust.  This is a costly sacrifice that the Apostle Paul urged the members of the church in Rome to make also: “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1).  Unlike the OT sacrifices, where what was given to the Lord was dead, this is a living sacrifice, one we can make every day.

It occurred to me that this same humble attitude of yielding completely to God’s purposes for our lives could also be expressed at major milestones or critical launch points at every stage of our adult development (i.e., graduating from college and landing that first job, getting married, having a child, reassessing our careers at mid-life, and deciding what to do before we are about to retire).

Let me describe for you what this kind of deliberate submission to God’s plan might look like as we embark on each new calling throughout our lives.  As we begin our vocational journey after high school, college, trade school, or some other path, a young Christian man or woman might seek God’s blessing as they move into the work force to be God’s representative in their chosen field.  As a young couple becomes parents, they would certainly want to bring their desires to become a godly mother and father, and ask God to lead them and guide them along their perilous journey. 

All of this is based on the understanding that God has good plans which include our broken lives. In His grace and mercy, He allows us to be part of His work by preparing us in the womb, teaching us in the classroom, protecting us in the boardroom, and strengthening us all the way to the tomb.

Failures and fears

The songwriter mentions setbacks, failures, and upset plans and how God is able to use us in spite of them.  God takes the clay pots that we are and somehow turns them into something useful for His kingdom.  (See 2 Cor. 4:7.)  As the Apostle Paul states, “we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).

When we struggle, we learn to lean on God.  He is always there to give us what we need.  We are reminded that God will finish what He began, alluding to Phil 1:6, which is a promise I count on.

Later, the singer feels overwhelmed by his own weakness.  He is fearful of failing to accomplish the mission to which he is called.  Then he remembers that God is able to put the pieces back together.

I think that there are many Christians who can truly identify with this beautiful song as I do.

If you haven’t prayed this prayer or one similar to it in a while, I encourage you to humbly and sincerely take time to do so when the time and place are right for you.  

“Lord, here I am.  Send me!  I submit to whatever you have planned for me.  Use me in spite of my failures, weaknesses and fears as your representative in my family, at work, and in church.”

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 41 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth minister. He served 20 years on active duty. Russ works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Since 2015, he has written 170 articles on faith and work topics. Eighty of these have been published over 150 times on several Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, and The Gospel Coalition. (See published articles on Linktree.)

He Who Began a Good Work in You

(Note: This article was published in the Christian Grandfather Magazine.)

It is probably safe to say that most Christians have a favorite verse or passage that becomes an anchor for their soul.  It may define their walk of faith.  Philippians 1:6 has been my life verse.

I like this verse for a number of reasons.  It is theological, as you will see below.  It ties together at least three of the elements of standard systematic theology: soteriology, sanctification, and eschatology.  It is also personal.  It reminds me that the Creator of the universe is recreating me.

I am confident of this very thing

Why is Paul so confident?  Why is he so absolutely convinced and assured of these truths?

Paul’s confidence is not based on the strength of the faith of these members of the church in Philippi.  Paul’s certainty rests on the foundation of the character of the God as He revealed Himself to Paul through the appearance of Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6).

This confidence Paul had reminded me of that old hymn, “For I Know Whom I Have Believed”.  The writer of this hymn that was written in the late 1800s declares that he does not know why God’s wondrous grace was made known to him, or how this saving faith was imparted to him, or how the Spirit moves, or when the Lord will return.  However, he does know this:

I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able
to keep that which I’ve committed
unto him against that day.

He who began a good work in you

This first part of the verse links to the doctrine of soteriology, or things related to salvation. 

This article does not fall into the category of the theology of work, of which I have written and posted 160 articles to date in this blog.  However, I would be remiss if I did not highlight the fact that this verse does support the concept that Jesus, as the 2^nd Person of the Trinity, is a worker.

The Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary (vol. 2: New Testament) indicates, “Of course, it was God who had produced their transformed lives by the work of regeneration. . . The ‘good work’ refers to the salvation begin at their conversion.”  Let us explore God’s pre-conversion work.

We see a glimpse of God’s supernatural work in the heart of someone who is being drawn by God into an eternal relationship with Him in Jesus’s conversation with Nicodemus (John 3:3).  Jesus gently explains to him that no one, not even this Jewish leader, can see the kingdom of God without being born again first.  God must first remove the scales from our eyes to even see Him.

Will perfect it

This second part of the verse links to the doctrine of sanctification, or how we become holy.

The Amplified Bible states it this way: “He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it”.  The Good News Translation emphasizes that God will carry it on (the good work that He began) until it is finished.  The Living Bible interprets it in this manner: God “will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished”.

The point is fairly clear.  When we first come to faith in Jesus Christ, God begins the supernatural work of regeneration.  We are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).  His presence, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, causes us to increase in Christ-likeness and maturity over time as we consistently trust and obey and learn to walk with God, abide in Christ, and are filled with the Holy Spirit.  He continues to transform us internally for the rest of our lives or until Jesus returns.

Until the day of Christ Jesus

This last part of the verse links to the doctrine of eschatology or last things.

The Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary gives us an important perspective on our end state.  “God not only initiates this salvation, but continues it and guarantees its consummation at the glorious coming of Jesus Christ, which will vindicate both the Lord and his people.  Nothing in this life or after death can prevent the successful accomplishment of God’s good work in every Christian.”

The commentators list the five other places in the NT where “the day of Christ Jesus” is mentioned (1 Cor. 1:8, 5:5; 2 Cor. 1:14; Phil. 1:10, and 2:16).  They add, “This expression is similar to the ‘day of the Lord” (1 Thes. 5:2) and the OT ‘day of the Lord” (Amos 5:18-20).”

In reading these verses, I observe several things:  Jesus will come and it could come at any time.  It will be unmistakable, seen by all.  This will be a one-time event that ends life as we know it.

No other verses in the NT express this truth of eternal security better than the Apostle Paul’s beautiful description of God’s strong and permanent love for His children now and forevermore than Rom. 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Amen!

Conclusion

This verse is so central to my Christian faith.  It reminds me that it is not all up to me.  I do cooperate with the process, but my source of strength, growth, and maturity is God Himself.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 40 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. Russ received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth minister. He served for 20 years on active duty and now works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He has written 160 articles on faith and work topics on this blog since 2015. More than 70 articles have been posted or published 140 times on several Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, Acton Institute, and The Gospel Coalition.

God is the Potter and we are the Clay

This past Father’s Day, I was looking up some verses about God as our Father.  I landed on a short bunny trail in my study Bible that took me from the book of Psalms, to Isaiah, and then to Matthew. 

Psalm 68:5, was a verse I was familiar with.  It simply states that God is a father to the fatherless. 

In Isa. 64:8, the prophet indicates that Yahweh is “our Father.”  He continues, “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”  I had to stop and meditate on this idea a bit more.  (Jeremiah says something similar in Jer.18:6.  I will delve a little deeper into this passage below.)

Let me explore this metaphor of God the Father as a potter.  He creates us, recreates us in Christ, and invites us to participate with Him as He works His way in us, to shape us to be more like Jesus.

God is sovereign and we are not

We see this imagery used for the first time in the book of Job.  In his bitterness after experiencing tremendous loss, He pours out his complaint to Yahweh, asking, “Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands? (Job. 10:3.)  He continues, specifically using this imagery of God as a potter.  Job asks, “Your hands shaped me and made me, will you now turn and destroy me  Remember that you molded me like clay.  Will you now turn me to dust again?” (Job 10:8-9).

We also see this figure of speech used in Isa. 29:16.  Through the prophet, Yahweh questions His people, Judah, wondering how they got to be so proud and rebellious  He observes,  “You turn things upside down as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!  Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘He did not make me’?  Can the pot say of the potter, ‘He knows nothing’?”

Let us return to Jer. 18:1-6.  Here, we find a much more elaborate use of this key metaphor.  God tells Jeremiah to go to the potter’s house to receive a message that he is to pass on.  The prophet sees the potter working at his wheel, making and then remaking a pot, “shaping it as seemed best to him” (verse 4).  The Lord God asks, “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?”  He continues, “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.”

Finally, Paul uses this picture of God as the potter and His people as the clay in Rom. 9:20-24.  In this passage, Paul is expounding on God’s prerogative to show mercy to those he wants to show mercy to with respect to salvation.  He asks rhetorically, “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’  Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”  (Yes, He does!)

The intended meaning of this powerful metaphor would be hard for any believer to miss.  God is sovereign.  He is King.  He is in control of all He has made.  We are merely the clay in His hands.

God created us

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary indicates that the imagery found in Gen. 2:7 shows our Creator as a “Master Potter”, indicating that Yahweh “formed the man from the dust of the ground”. 

David, in Ps. 139:13-16, uses a different metaphor to show how God molds his unformed body.  He describes how God “knit him in his mother’s womb”.  His vivid description confirms what most expectant mothers know: a child developing inside their womb is a result of a divine design and miraculous processes, where God is intimately present and directly involved; a life full of purpose.

Just as God got His hands dirty to create Adam from the dust and put David together before he was born, God has a plan for each one of us, especially for those who were born twice.  (See John 3:3.)

This is personal for me.  I was the result of a problem pregnancy, a supposedly untimely conception by two intelligent young college students.  By God’s grace, I was allowed to be born.  When I look back on all the things God enabled me to do and the family I raised with my wife of forty years, I know that God had a purpose for me.  “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord … ‘Plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11).  My life was not an accident.  Neither is yours.

God re-created us in Christ through the Holy Spirit

At the moment of salvation, God begins to transform every believer into becoming more and more like Jesus.  We are not only declared holy (justification), but actually become holy (sanctification).

Paul speaks of this transformation often.  When we are baptized into Christ, we were identified with his death and resurrection so that we would live a new life (Rom. 6:4).  Paul teaches the church in Corinth that they are new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).  Paul also indicates that this divine work of becoming more Christlike that God began in us will increase until it is completed (Phil. 1:6).

We participate in the process of recreation

On the worship cassette I ordered in preparation for a Promise Keepers Conference in the mid-90s, there was this song that was a beautiful prayer of humility and submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.   In the second song of in a powerful medley called, “I Need You/Change My Heart, O God” we hear the line, “You are the potter, I am the clay.  Mold me and make me; this is what I pray.”

I share this to illustrate that this process of being remade into the image of Christ has both a divine and a human component.  It starts with us submitting to God every minute by faith.  It continues in the same way.  As we do this on a consistent basis, we will experience God’s presence in our life.

I trust that these words will inspire Christ-followers to rest in the Potter’s faithful and loving hands.

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein (Master Sergeant, U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 40 years, father of three, grandfather of five, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping other ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015. He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor. After serving 20 years on active duty, Russ now works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Seventy articles that he wrote have been posted or published 130 times on numerous Christian organization’s websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, Acton Institute, and The Gospel Coalition.

What is a Sanctified Imagination, and How do I use it?

(Note: This article was published on the Christian Grandfather Magazine.)

“Each day through my window I watch her as she passes by. I say to myself, ‘You’re such a lucky guy! To have a girl like her is truly a dream come true. Out of all the fellas in the world, she belongs to you.’ But it was just my imagination, running away with me.”

Many readers of my generation will recognize these lyrics from the 1971 song by the Temptations, “Just my Imagination (Running Away with Me).” (See video here.) It comes across as a bittersweet tale about a lonely man. We feel sorry for him. He fantasizes about a woman he likes, dreaming about getting married and raising two or three children with her in a cozy little home out in the country, but none of it is real. Near the end of the song, he confesses, “She doesn’t even know me.” So sad.

I think that many of us are discouraged from using our imaginations, especially as Christians. Verses such as Prov. 12:11, which states plainly that “those who chase fantasies have no sense”, and Jer. 17:9, which warns, “The heart is deceitful above all things” have been used by some to discourage those of us with active imaginations to stop wasting time chasing dreams or following our hearts. 

However, I think these well-meaning teachers forgot one critical point. Those of us who have accepted God’s free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ received a transformed mind and a new heart as part of the deal. Yes, we absolutely need to grow and mature, but we are no longer merely fleshly beings.

I am not sure where I got this term sanctified imagination. I may have picked it up from someone, but I can’t remember who. It is more or less synonymous with divine inspiration, but not in the way that the writers of the Bible were divinely inspired. The idea is that we see things through a new lens when we become Christians.

I invite you to explore this topic further with me, as I provide a biblical basis for the concept, show how we can be spiritually prepared to use it, and what it is we should be thinking about. Let’s go!

Biblical basis for a transformed mind

Let me highlight several verses that support the somewhat radical idea that Christians have access to a powerful tool as a part of their new nature that can be used to glorify God – a sanctified imagination.

• Jer. 31:33 – “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.”
• Eze. 36:26 – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
• Joel 2:28 – “Your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”
• John 14:26 – Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit, the Counselor, “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
• Rom. 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
• 1 Cor. 2:16 – “We have the mind of Christ.”
• 2 Cor. 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”
• 2 Cor. 10:5 – “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Let me summarize. Part of the New Covenant, as described in Jer. 31:33 and Eze. 36:26 is a spiritual transformation from within that irreversibly alters the hearts and minds of believers from the moment of salvation. God works in us by grace, and then we pursue Him by grace to grow in Christlikeness. Jesus taught that our main teacher would be the indwelling Holy Spirit, who would bring God’s Word to the forefront of our minds. When we meditate on the Scriptures, He teaches us, and we become more transformed into His likeness in our thinking. We actually have full access to the mind of Christ. We are new creatures in Christ; we are not the same. We must actively pursue this sanctification process by faith.

Imagination preparation

Now that we have seen that every Christian has been given a renewed mind as part of being new creatures in Christ, how can we prepare to put this new spiritual capability into gear? There are two things that we must do: flee from sin and be filled with the Spirit. 

Paul taught extensively in Rom. 6-8 that we have been set free from sin through faith in Jesus. However, but we will still struggle as believers with desiring to do sinful actions. Jesus taught this same idea in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). Sinful actions come out of the sinful thoughts in our hearts. We still need to actively participate in fleeing from sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Paul gives a simple illustration which I believe will help prepare our hearts and minds for a dedicated time to use our sanctified imaginations. In Col. 3:5-14, we read that we are to put off certain sinful behaviors and put on more righteous activities. Paul also commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit in Eph. 5:18, which means that we allow Him to control our thoughts, feelings, and actions. 

Free to dream about God’s purposes

So, what are those activities where we could be using our Christ-centered imagination? Here are some examples:

• Prayer – When we pray, we imagine by faith that God is here and is listening to us
• Meditating on Scripture – Exploring what it means to us and how we can apply it in our lives
• Evangelism – Thinking through how to share our faith with a coworker
• Reconciliation – Figuring out how to apologize to your spouse or an extended family member
• Preparing to teach – Rehearsing how to teach a child or a class a biblical principle or passage
• Mission – Dreaming about how God can use your gifts to make a difference in the Kingdom
• Creating – Making something special; Michelangelo, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used their sanctified imaginations to create art, literature, and speeches to glorify God

Let me illustrate this last bullet with a fun story from my own life and one from a project my wife dreamed up.

I worked at an amusement park in Kansas City in the mid ‘70s as teenager. One summer night, when the park was about to close and no one else was around, I gave a sermon out loud in the children’s petting zoo. I preached on Jesus’ parable of the sheep and goats to actual sheep and goats. 

My wife used her transformed mind two years ago to transform our home. She had a brilliant idea to switch our large family room with our small dining room. I was a little reluctant to consider this major project at first because I knew how much work and expense it would take. However, I also knew I could trust her, and that God had been leading her to pursue this to accommodate our growing family gatherings in our dining room. After a few months, the project was completed, and I rejoiced. I now enjoy our cozy, wee den, which used to be our dining room.

A new spin on this old record

Let me return to our opening song, and see it from a different angle, using just my imagination. 

What if we explored the possibility that this man is a Christian? Perhaps he is considering the idea (in pure thoughts) that God brought this woman into his life for a purpose. He has been praying for a wife for a very long time. He knows she is a single Christian. Rather than giving up this dream too soon because it is not based on reality yet, what if he continued to think about how he could turn this vision into something real? Maybe God has laid this special woman on his heart to pursue a relationship with her based on a 1 Cor. 13 kind of sacrificial unconditional love, centered on Jesus Christ. He then humbly prays for wisdom, asking God to give him the courage to meet her and the opportunity to get to know her better. Now, there is some power and purpose in his pondering. 

I hope this devotional was helpful to you and will encourage you to develop your own sanctified imagination as you pray, meditate on Scripture, or daydream. When we actively walk with the Father, abide in Christ, and are filled with the Spirit, our thoughts may very well be holy thoughts. These inspirational ideas that we come up with can be God’s way of leading us down the paths He has called us to walk. Over time, we will be able to distinguish between sanctified imaginations that bring glory to God and fleshly thoughts that only bring glory to ourselves and lead to inappropriate actions. 

Dream on!

About the author:

Russell E. Gehrlein is a Christian, husband of 39 years, father of three, grandfather of four, and author of Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He is an ordinary man who is passionate about helping other ordinary people experience God’s presence and integrate their Christian faith at work. He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.  He is a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor. After serving 20 years on active duty, Russ now works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.  Fifty articles posted on this blog have been published on numerous Christian organization’s blogs or websites, including: the Center for Faith & Work at LeTourneau University, Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, Coram Deo, Nashville Institute for Faith + Work, Made to Flourish, 4Word Women, Acton Institute, and The Gospel Coalition.

The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Yesterday was the seventh anniversary of the loss of our last family pet, Beardie.

I recalled that I had written something of theological value that I used in a Sunday School series I was teaching on the Psalms in the summer of 2012.  I wanted to illustrate how we can discover meaning in a passage through meditation.  I shared a powerful personal discovery that I had made while meditating on the 23rd Psalm right after my son’s bearded dragon lizard had died.

Perhaps this brief reflection on this old familiar psalm might bring some fresh comfort to someone who has recently gone through or is now going through the valley of the shadow of death themselves.

**************************************

It was July 3rd, about a month ago.  I was out taking a walk by myself that evening, as my wife was out with some friends.  Minutes earlier, we had discovered that my son’s bearded dragon lizard had died.  I had removed him from his cage, and had put him in a shoebox in the garage so that I could bury him the next day.  Needless to say, I was grieving over losing this pet that we had taken care of for over seven years.  He was the last of three pets that we had as a family.

The thing that I had forgotten about grieving until that very moment is that it often brings up memories of other major losses in your life.  I thought about our rabbit Pixie who we lost five years ago this month, our dog Boomer that we also had to put to sleep over two years ago, my father who passed away ten years ago last fall, and my mother who will have been gone five years this November.  I prayed for God’s comfort at that moment, acknowledging that I had always experienced it before during times of loss.

About halfway into the walk, the 23rd Psalm came to my mind.  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” (Ps. 23:1-2).

God’s Word is always a source of comfort.  Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit, our great Comforter, would remind us of His words.  (See John 14:26).  This was amazing timing because at that moment I was walking across a bridge that spanned a little creek that ran under the street where we lived.

I continued to recall David’s words of comfort.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4).

I began to meditate on just that portion.  I prayed, “Lord, I have been to that valley before.”  This time, though, I began to see it in a new light.  The Holy Spirit was illuminating Scripture through my meditation.

Shadow.  I had never really paid much attention to that word until then.  Somehow, I had overlooked it.  It almost seemed that the sentence would have the same exact meaning without it being there, as in “I walk through the valley of death”.  Or would it?  Was this word necessary in this verse?  If so, why?

Then, I remembered what causes a shadow, and its meaning became clear to me.

I  can only see a shadow when something comes between the sun and I.  The “shadow of death” appears only when “death” is either coming, is here now, or is leaving my presence, and it comes between the sun (Son) and I.  I was amazed that I’d never considered this before in all of the years I had read this familiar passage.

I concluded that death’s visits are indeed painful, but they are temporary, just like a shadow.  The entire valley is not characterized by death; death is only a passing shadow in that valley.  All of these thoughts brought me much hope.

Another key word that I meditated on was “walk”.  I walk through this valley of the shadow of death.  I don’t just sit there weeping, or lie on the ground, or stand still.  I keep on walking.  And so does death.  Our paths may cross for a season of indeterminate length and I may be in its shadow right now, but I will continue to choose to walk by faith.  As I walked, as I was doing at that moment, I actually feared no evil, for I knew that God was present with me.  His rod and His staff, they comforted me in the form of His Holy Word.

**************************************

Each one of us will walk through the valley of the shadow of death at some point.  Remembering God’s presence as we work through our grief will enable us to press on.  We will grieve, but not like those who have no hope.  One of my wife’s favorite life verses reminds us, “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing’” (Ps. 16:2).  Our hope is in God alone.

Master Sergeant Russell E. Gehrlein (U.S. Army, Retired) is a Christian, husband of 38 years, father of three, grandfather of four, blogger, and author of “Immanuel Labor – God’s Presence in our Profession: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach to the Doctrine of Work”, published by WestBow Press in February 2018. He received a B.S. in Mathematics from Colorado State University in 1980 and an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in 2015.  He is also a former junior/senior high school math and science teacher and youth pastor.  Russ currently works as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.