KLOVE RADIO FEATURES – MAY 2025
OBSESSED WITH EARTH? –
One of the silliest and saddest sequences of thought I tend to repeat unconsciously is my over-concern with the fleeting issues of Earth when I should be rejoicing in my life being lavished with the blessings of Heaven. Ephesians 2:6 says, “…God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms…” As followers of Jesus, we are seated with God in heavenly places. If we believe the Bible, we know that’s not an overstatement. In light of that unshakeable truth, how sad for us to be obsessed with Earth when God wants us to live, trust, and be fully persuaded that we are seated with Him in Heaven. So, the next time we freak out about one of the momentary light afflictions of Earth, remember where you are seated and Who you’re seated next to.
GOD NEVER FELT SORRY FOR HIMSELF
If you’re like me, you get a little uptight whenever you’re seriously inconvenienced. At the same time, when you read verses like Matthew 8:20, you see that Jesus, without any sense of being deprived, said, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Here is the God who owns the Universe, purposefully writing a script for His life on this planet that says He doesn’t know where He will spend the night. That’s self-inflicted deprivation! Somehow, He knew that how He lived on Earth would set the bar for how we should live. Not the specific details, but the essence that His surrender needs to be our surrender. Jesus also said, “A disciple is not above his teacher…” so let’s learn from His example. (Matthew 10:24)
BUILDING SPIRITUAL MUSCLES
It’s hard to build spiritual muscles, and in this age of easy everything, it’s nearly impossible to produce the grit needed to endure the hardships guaranteed in our Christian lives. That’s why the expression, “Everyone wants to live in a castle, but few want to start out living in a cave,” hits such a nerve. You can’t pull on leaves to make them grow. The patriarch Joseph took 13 years from slavery to nobility; David took over 20 years from the time he was anointed king to ascend the throne. Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before God used him to lead his fellow Israelites out of bondage in Egypt. You can’t crush grapes and get fine wine overnight. It takes time, and the longer I live, I realize God’s never in a rush.
THE BREVITY OF LIFE
Perhaps no verse in the Bible illustrates the brevity of our lives more than 2 Peter 3:8, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years…” If our average lifespan is 70 years, and a day with the Lord is 1,000 years, then our time on Earth, compared to God’s day, is just one hour and 41 minutes. Likewise, each day beyond that would be about another minute and a half of God’s time. Further emphasizing the exhortation in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time.” Our lives here are truly a vapor, a wind that passes away. (James 4:14) This truly is the shortest season of our everlasting life. May we each live fully awake to our God-intended lives.
FIVE HEALTHY PERSPECTIVES FOR SENIORS
Here are five healthy perspectives for seniors to believe: God has written an equally meaningful script for each of us. The riddle of life is to discern it and then walk it out by faith. Out of all possible options, your God-given script is divinely crafted and is a perfect blend of value, history, giftings, and grace. All of which is received by faith. Every response to life’s challenges is a test that will be repeated in eternity to form the character God intended, if not passed on Earth, all for our good. Comparing yourself to someone else will cause you to lose focus on the one-of-a-kind script God has written just for you. Long life is a gift from God, not a burden. Look forward to it! None of us have been short-changed. We’ve all been lavishly overpaid.
LOSING INTEREST ON EARTH
Are you losing interest in your life and future as you get older? Do you feel like what’s ahead is less valuable or exciting than what’s past? This perspective is not only misguided but unhealthy for your mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Nothing God intended for our lives on Earth is coincidental or pointless. It may require more discernment to perceive its value, but we should never lose sight of this biblical principle: God is saving the best wine for last. I can’t lose interest on Earth and hope to go to Heaven expecting God’s original intention for my life to remain unfulfilled. God’s script for each of us is not a random lottery ticket with few winners. Every one of our lives is a winning lottery ticket from God’s perspective, divinely crafted for our good.