Live Like You Were Dying!

Dr. Mike Murphy
July 24, 2018

As I heard him ask the question, I already knew the answers I would hear. The commentator asked, “What would you do if you found out that you only had a few weeks to live?”.  The answers did not surprise me.  Some told him they would take the trip of a lifetime, seeing things they had always wanted to see. Others told him they would check off as much of their bucket list as possible, doing all the things they had never found the time to do.  And others said they would spend the time with family, saying the things they always wished they had said.

As I heard the comments, a smile came to my face.  A smile that made me reflect on each of their answers.  A smile that reminded me of the reality of the question.  Three words made his question stand out to me.  Three words made his question a reality.  Those three words?  I am dying.  As many of you know, I am in the final stage of cancer.  My life is now counted by the months and the days, no longer by the years.  And as I heard the question asked, I could honestly hear the question being asked of myself.  What will I now do with the time I have left?  Will I spend that time doing all the things I had never done? Would I seek to spend time with those close to me?  Or would I seek to make right all the wrongs I have committed in my life?

It did not take me long to know my answer to the question.  I will live each tomorrow the Lord gives me the same as I have lived today.  I will spend each day I have left doing the things the Lord has called me to do today, praying I will have the chance to do more of those things tomorrow.  I will eagerly live each day the same as the day He gave me yesterday.  I will live each day as if I am dying!

Each day reminds me of what hope tomorrow holds, and what possibilities today offers.  The reality of my tomorrow does not change me, it encourages me to make the most of each of the opportunities the Lord entrusts me with today.  To not let those opportunities slip by, and to cherish the blessing that each of those opportunities bring.  Each day reminds me that I live for Christ today, and I long to spend an eternity with Him tomorrow. It calls me to cherish each moment I am allowed to serve my Lord today, knowing He has already done everything to make the most of what He has waiting on me tomorrow.

God’s Word tells us, “Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.”(Philippians 4:6).  Most look at this verse and will tell you Paul is telling us to not worry, to turn all our concerns over to the Lord. But if we look at this verse closely, it speaks so much more to us.  The word for “worry” actually means, “do not be anxious, do not let troubles change you”.  Our troubles should not be worries that causes change in us, but should do nothing more than change the opportunities that the Lord gives us.  Opening doors for us to speak with others about all that Christ is doing in our lives.  Not just speaking the words, but showing them firsthand, that no matter what we may face, the Lord is always there with us(1 Peter 5:7).

Cancer has shown me that nothing I will ever face is too small or too big for God. Each day He places His arms around me, and does not allow cancer to distract me.  He whispers in my ear reminding me of the call and purpose He has for me, not letting cancer redirect me from those plans.  The cancer may be spreading through my body, but it does not and cannot spread faster than the love He has for me.  A love that does the impossible, turning my cancer into a blessing.  A blessing that draws Him close to me, giving me the slightest glimpse of what eternity will be like, being able to spend each minute next to Him.

I sadly watch as the reality of death brings anxiety to the lives of so many. Leaving them so often filled with loss, and consumed by regret.  Feeling like they only have a few days to live a lifetime, only having a few precious moments to make right the wrongs that have filled their lives.  But Christ is taking this time to bring me back to that verse in Philippians.  Taking away the anxiety that death so longs to bring, and allowing me the time to thank Him for all He has done in my life.  As strange as the words may sound, cancer may have weakened my body, but it has allowed Him to strengthen my spirit.  Taking away my desire to go out into this world and do all the things I have never done, but instead, spending time with Him that prepares me for an amazing eternity that He has awaiting me.

Cancer has shown me each day just how real God is.  God’s Word tells me that He reveals enough of Himself for all the world to know Him(Romans 1:20).  But through my cancer, He has revealed to me so much more!  Each day, I feel the realness of His presence with me.  When the cancer overwhelms me, He whispers words of encouragement to me. When the cancer weakens me, I feel His arms surrounding me. Lifting me up, giving me the strength to face head on anything cancer may bring my way. And as the cancer takes the abilities of my body from me, He calls me in new ways. Showing me different and amazing paths where He can still use me.  His presence does not allow this disease to define me, instead He encircles me with a love and grace that only He lets define me. 

Each day, He takes my mind from the cancer, and focuses my eyes on the beauty of the work of His hand that is all around me.  He allows me to see through the eyes of David, showing me just what led him to write these words. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”(Psalm 19:1).  A beautiful work that leaves this world without excuse.  A beauty that holds every answer to every question this world could ever ask.  A beauty that holds out hope for this failed and flawed creature we call man.

A beauty that spoke to Solomon, and allowed him to explain it with a single verse. “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.”(Ecclesiastes 3:11).  Solomon tells us in these words, that all the beauty created answers for us the “Who”.  Every sight our eyes see answers for us the “what”. Each movement of His hand shows us the “how”.  And each word that He speaks answers for us the “when”. This beauty only leaves us with one word, and one question.  “Where”. “Where do you need me today, Lord?”  This beauty shows me that cancer will never be able to describe me, that I can only be described by each time I ask Him “where”.

The “where” does not lead me to last minute daredevil acts, or to see sights that I have never seen.  The “where” leads me to the beauty of His arms, and to an excitement and a rush that I can only find in those arms.  The “where” may no longer lead me to exotic places.  And with the cancer, the “where” often days no longer leads me out of my house. But each day the “where” still leads people into my path, giving me the words He needs me to speak to them.  And each day, the “where” still directs my hands, writing the words He calls on me to write.  The “where” still drives me back to the words of David, leaving me without excuse.

One day soon, the cancer will have left my voice a memory.  It will have left the words I write no more than a thought from a distant past.  While I still have a voice you can hear, and can write words that you will see, I pray each of you will always ask “where”.  Do not let a day slip by that you do not ask the Lord, “Where do you need me today?”  Cherish each place He leads you.  Speak loudly and with joy as you arrive, and never leave until you hear others asking “where”.  Make the most of each of the moments He gives you.  Always remember just how precious of a gift this life He has given you is.  Never forget to let everyone around you know, with Christ, it is never too late for a happily ever after!  And each day with Christ, live like you were dying!

In the words of C.H. Spurgeon. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble!

Bruises

Dr. Mike Murphy
June 11, 2018

“Life is a series of ups and downs.”

Recently, these words have taken on a whole new meaning in my life, as my “downs” have become far more literal than emotional.  As the cancer continues to weaken my body, I find myself frequently having an up close and personal relationship with the floor.  Often, I look like i got caught between a sumo wrestler and a dessert buffet. I tell others jokingly, my bruises now have bruises.  And I advise them with each fall I take, if they are smart, they will invest in bubble wrap.

As friends and family visit and talk to me, they often encouragingly tell me, it will not be my bruises they remember.  That they will one day look back on me, and remember the man they knew before the cancer. The man that did not need to lean heavily on a cane to walk across the room, or who did not have to think twice when getting up out of a chair.  But when that day comes, and others think back on me, I hope it is my bruises they remember most.

I want to be remembered by those bruises, because in the weakness of each of those bruises, is found my greatest strength.  With each bruise, I am reminded of just how weak I am, and just how much I need our Lord each and every day. Reminding me that it is not my cane holding me up, but His arms. That my next step is not possible because of my efforts, but because of His love. And reminding me, it is only because of His love that i do not remain a crumbled mess on the floor.  Instead, feeling those arms lifting me up, so I can take another step.

Each bruise, reminds me of an old hymn that is still sung many Sundays. Most of you will remember the chorus of “Count Your Blessings”, as we are told to count them one by one.  But it is in the last lines of the hymn that my bruises take me. “So amid the conflict whether great or small, do not be discouraged, God is over all;  Count your blessings, angels will attend, help and comfort give you to your journey’s end”. Each day, as this world looks on at the imperfections of my bruises, God still sees the perfection He created underneath those bruises. Bruises, that the Holy Spirit is not discouraged by, but knows He can use in the most powerful of ways. Bruises, that in His hands, are turned into a blessing, not seen on me as a curse.

I have often said, and will repeat as long as the Lord will let me speak the words, my cancer is not a curse, but a blessing.  Those around me, daily offer their prayers for me. Telling me that they are praying for the Lord to heal me, trusting the Lord will perform a miracle in my life.   Removing this cancer from me, and making the impossible, possible(Matthew 19:26). And I will never have the words to express how much each of those prayers mean to me.  But I pray that with each of their prayers, they will realize the Lord has not just heard their prayers, but answered them. He has already performed the greatest of miracles in me, and each day, He now makes the impossible, possible.  Every day, He removes the limitations that cancer would seek to place on me. When the cancer leaves my voice too weak to speak, He blesses me by allowing many to see His Word still being found in the words I have written. On the days I am barely able to walk, He still leads my path to those who need prayer, and blesses me to be able to offer them the words of encouragement He is calling on me to give.  Each day, He blesses me by showing me, cancer does not leave me with an excuse, but in His hands, offers me an opportunity to share His Word with others, and to bring glory to His name.

Through my cancer, the Lord daily brings to life the promises Christ has made me, that He will always be with me. And no matter what I face, He will not abandon me(Joshua 1:9, Matthew 28:20).  Each day, I am blessed to not just hear those words, but to live those words. Being allowed the blessing of fully understanding the depth of that promise. Leaving me knowing, without a doubt, that if I can count on these promises, just how much I can also count on the future promises He has given me.  And allowing me the absolute blessing and privilege of letting others see by the way His hand is moving in my life, just how real each and every one of His promises are.

My bruises do not leave me wanting less, but leave me knowing just how blessed I am, and how much more I have in Him.  A daily reminder in the mirror of just how precious this gift of life is, and how much each day He gives us means. A daily opportunity to share His love with as many as I possibly can.  Knowing the blessing He gives us today, may be a blessing that another will also cherish and share with us tomorrow. If you never remember anything else i say, please remember what a blessing each opportunity He gives us to share His Word is.  A blessing that is always perfect, and can never be seen as bruised.

As i look down at my bruises, i find a tear forming in my eye.  Not a tear of pain, not even a tear of sorrow. I find my eyes filled with tears of joy.  Joy that the Lord could still find purpose and perfection in someone as imperfect as me. Someone, that without Him, deserves the bruises far more than he could ever come to deserve that perfection.  And with each glance at my bruises, I find myself leaning hard on my cane to stand. Carefully balancing myself so I might raise my arms to the heavens. Finding what is left of my voice so I can make one more shout. Praising Him for the bruising He took for me.

“But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.”  Isaiah 53:5

Blessed

Dr. Mike Murphy 
July 20, 2017

As I held her with all my might, every emotion but one escaped from me. And as I got her to the ground, every instinct but one left me.  She was no longer breathing, and her pulse could not be felt.  My fears were overtaken by every action but one, to do what I could to help her.  And as I started working to revive her, I did the one thing I knew could make a difference.  I prayed.  With each action I took to get her heart beating again, I prayed.  I called out to the Lord as loudly as I could, begging Him to be with her.  To breathe life back into her.  And in those few seconds, that seemed to move like hours, I saw those prayers answered, as I watched her take in a precious breath.

As so many of you know, my mom recently suffered a stroke.  What few know, is just how close my family came that day to losing her.  It came on her suddenly, and within a moment she collapsed.  I happened to be next to her as the stroke hit, and was able to somehow catch her before she hit the ground. And as I hurriedly called 911, I could not feel her pulse, and her breathing had stopped.  With the 911 operator on the phone, I was able to put into place the CPR training I had learned many years before.  And as the paramedics arrived at the door, her breathing was light, and her pulse was again faint.  She had regained a slight bit of consciousness, and was able to barely squeeze my hand.  But with each squeeze, hope was felt, as I knew a desperate prayer had not only been heard, it had just been answered.

As I now look back on that day, I think to myself, “what if the situation had been different”?  Throughout that day, my concerns for her were countless.  But with each of those concerns, one constant remained.  That one constant was Christ.  Through each moment He was there, and His presence would strongly be felt.  No matter what she had faced that day, He had His arms around her, never leaving her alone for even a second. And a comfort and peace remained present in knowing He was there.  A priceless blessing that day, not only for her, but for all the family as we gathered around her.

The day will come in each of our lives, when our heart and our breathing will not be able to be revived.  A day when this world will no longer be called our home.  A day that no matter the tears that fill the eyes of our loved ones, is a day that we all know we will one day face.  And on that day, no matter what this world may throw at us, will our families know our life has been blessed?

With my own health, that day and that blessing has found its’ way to my thoughts often lately.  On a day when this world no longer hears my voice, and thoughts of me soon become nothing more than a memory, how will those feel who are drawn close to me? Despite knowing they will miss me, will my life leave a comfort and a peace in them?  Will they walk away from that day feeling blessed by me?  Or will they leave my side with nothing but worries for me?  On a future day, far after my last day, what will be the first thought they have of me?

As I sat with my mom that day, I realized what those memories of her would always be.  Many who know my mom, see the constant smile on her face, the kindest of words she is quick to speak, and the true concern she has for those around her.  A woman that would place the needs and concerns of a complete stranger above her own.  But as I sat with her that day, my thoughts did not bring me back to those times she shared with others, or even to times the two of us had shared, but to quiet times I saw her by herself.  Often, in those quiet moments, you can find yourself walking in on her, alone with her Bible in hand. Not worried about the world around her, but enjoying a few precious moments alone with the One who has always been with her.  Quietly reading His Word without a person seeing her, and praying for others without even a thought of herself.  It is in those moments, that brought me a comfort as I sat in the emergency room that day.  And it is in those moments, that I know just how blessed she is, and how my life is blessed by her.  And it is in those moments, that I pray others will one day also remember me.

Many today hear the word “blessing”, and they think of something that brings us happiness or stability to our welfare.  But when God speaks the word to us, He is saying so much more.  The Bible uses more than one word for blessing, using primarily two different words in both the Hebrew and the Greek.  When we look at both those words in Hebrew, we see not only the happiness and security of God directing us referred to, but we see it also mentioned as a congratulation and as a reward.  In the Greek, we see it referred to as the happiness that we find in purpose and fulfillment through our Lord.  And we also see it in Greek referring to the good works and good reports than those around us speak about us, and it is from this word that we get our word “eulogy”.  But to best understand this word, I do not think we can individually look at each root of this word.  I fully believe to understand what God means when He says “blessed”, we must look together at all the roots of the word.  It is only when we look at them together that we can begin to see what a “blessing” truly is.

To fully understand this, I think we can look at one of the most famous blessings in all the Bible, the blessing that God gave to Abraham.  “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."(Genesis 12:3).  Here we can see what a true blessing is, and the root of each word is brought into meaning.  Abraham was blessed because in him we can see a happiness and security that came from God directing his life.  Abraham was blessed by the reward his faithfulness brought him.  Abraham was blessed by the purpose and fulfillment that God brought to this world through him.  And Abraham was blessed by the memories of his good works that God did with him.  It is only when we look at the fullness of this word, can we begin to understand what a blessing from God means to our life.  A blessing we remember when we think of Abraham.  A blessing that was there with me in the hospital as i sat with my mom.  And a blessing I hope will one day also be present and understood when many are thinking of me.

On the day I draw my last breath, and as those close to me are drawn to my side, I pray that through the tears they realize just how blessed my life has been.  And as they think of me, I pray it is that blessing that quickly comes to their mind, drying away each of those tears.  I pray they remember and are blessed by the happiness and security that Christ brought to me.  They are blessed by remembering the amazing reward that His promise has given me.  That they are blessed and remember the purpose His love, mercy, and grace found in me.  And I pray their lives will always be blessed by the good works that only His hand could have done with me.  And as i leave this world, they will not find themselves filled with sadness, but a comfort and a peace will encompass them, as they know the One who now has His arms so tightly surrounding me.  And on a future day, as they think back on me, I pray it is not my face that they form an image of. I pray instead that it will be His face they will see, praying a glimpse of Him will always be remembered when they think of me.  And with each passing thought, I hope a smile comes to their face.  A smile they also desire to have others remember them by.  A smile that helps all to remember, just how blessed He has made my life. A smile, that through all my fears, was on my face as I sat with my mom that day in the emergency room.

Praying each of you are blessed.

Are We Socializing Jesus?

Dr. Mike Murphy
January 31, 2017

How often I have been taught, there are no coincidences with God!  And this past week, I was reminded of just how powerful a statement this is.  Each week, I often receive messages and emails asking questions about the Bible, and how His Word applies to all we see around us.  One of the questions I received recently asked me, “Did Christ teach a message of social justice?”.  At the same time I received this question, I had found myself in a discussion where I was being told that the need for social justice far outweighs our need to preach a message of salvation.  That this world is far more in need of a social Christ than a redemptive One.

During this discussion, I was told things I never thought I would hear from the mouth of anyone calling themselves a Christian.  Words telling me that we should “prefer” certain verses of Scripture over others.  That protest will bring far more needed change than prayer. And the thought that Christ would one day return was just a fantasy, that our calling as Christians was to create a “heaven” on this earth in the here and now.

Hearing these words would normally cause me concern, and lead me to seek God’s help in showing them what His Word truthfully says.  But part of those I was hearing these incredible remarks from, were those who called themselves ministers and pastors.  And as I would attempt to remind them of what God has told us in specific scriptures, they would tell me how those scriptures should just be ignored.  I found myself in a discussion with those who should know exactly what God’s Word says best, but with each of their replies, I found myself in a discussion with those who actually cared what His Word says the least.

Social justice is a term we often hear being discussed in many of our churches today.  The Bible teaches us that our Lord is a God of justice, and that all His ways and works are perfect, just, righteous, and fair(Deuteronomy 32:4). And each of His words show us that we are to reach out socially to those in need, those less fortunate than we find ourselves.  Christ, Himself, made it clear that we have a moral responsibility to care for the “least of these”(Matthew 25:40).  We are to reflect Christ, who had His hands always reaching.

But when we look at how many in the Church today seek to explain social justice, it is a justice that our Lord has never known.  The call that Christ gives us to care for those in need is an individual one, not a societal one.  The contemporary notion of social justice replaces the responsibility of the individual, with concept of the group or whole.  Often times willingly looking to give that responsibility to the government.  No longer looking to this as a call from God, but a mandate for continued faith.  A mandate that assumes that all wealth is evil, that the desire for comfort is a sin, and the idea of patriotism is an abomination.  

Under this misguided philosophy, the willful giving of charity becomes the force decree of taxes, no longer freely given by your hand, but lawfully forced from our wallets.  A philosophy that sees the wealth of one as an exploitation of those who have little, not the hard work and intelligence that success can often bring.  And a philosophy that sees the love of country as selfish and misguided, replaced with a universal approach that  would leave this world without borders. A philosophy that no longer looks at all this world has to offer as God-given, but man-centered.  A philosophy that sees government as their savior, and a utopia that only government can build as their heaven.

This social movement we see today, can best be described by a large word that has a meaning that is small.  The word, egalitarianism.  Egalitarianism is the doctrine that expresses the belief that all people should have the exact same.  The same not only economically and politically, but also civilly and socially.  It is from this word that demons have arose, demons that have led nations and people of this world to death and destruction. Demons that carry the name socialism and communism.

When we take a hard look at the heart of this social justice movement, we find ethical relativism, the belief that there are no moral absolutes.  Right and wrong are no longer a God-given standard, but based on what this world would see as social norms.  In other words, the justice that they claim to be fighting so hard for, becomes nothing more than situational and relative.  A justice that no longer looks to God’s standards, but to man’s circumstances.  A social gospel that twists the Word of God to try and fit societal problems like poverty, education, crime, and war. While ignoring the doctrines of sin, salvation, Heaven and Hell.  A gospel that sees its’ future more in political change and opportunity, than it does in the promised kingdom of God.  A gospel Christ never spoke, much less ever taught.  

Jesus never made the first call for political change while He walked this earth.  The gospel He taught had nothing to do with social change or social justice.  Christ came to change the heart of man, not the governments of men. Christ knew that our hope did not rest in government, but in the saving and transforming power of the Cross.  Not in institutions, but in His coming kingdom. Not in man, but in the Holy Spirit.  

Because this movement is so quick to look to man for answers, we see in it the absence of a biblical worldview.  A movement, followed and believed by many who claim to know Christ, that no longer claim the words of Scripture are inerrant.  But see the Bible as flawed, nothing more than the collective views of men.  A view that not only sees His Word as flawed, but does not see it as literal. And a view that leads many to no longer see salvation as personal, but collective. A collective view that believes that unless we are all saved, none of us are saved. A view that no longer sees salvation as belief based, but worked based. A movement where acceptance is replaced by requirements.

Because this movement has pushed God’s biblical worldview so far aside, we see words being spoken by this movement that should never be heard from the mouth of anyone who professes Christ.  Words that teach that the Trinity is not about being holy, but about being human. Words that try to tell us that the Bible is only great because it is in constant argument with itself.   Words that try to tell us the biblical doctrine is not like facts to be believed, but rather a way of expressing experiences.  And words that try to teach that a literal belief in the Bible kills itself by not being able to change through conversations and discussions.  In other words, God’s Word is dead unless it is willing to change what it says.  In all their words one thing becomes crystal clear, the Bible is not to be believed, and God is whoever we decide to make of Him.

We watch today as so many who are quick to profess the name of Christ, are incapable of even recognizing the face of Christ.  Who cause the words Christ spoke to echo through my thoughts, and to bring me to my knees in prayer. "Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.”(Matthew 7:21). Words of Christ that make my heart truly ache as I hear those who follow this movement. Because I know these words that echo in my thoughts, are words they will one day soon hear Christ speaking to them.  A movement filled more with excuses than purpose.  A movement that claims Christ, without even knowing Christ.  A movement that sees greater hope in the social than in the salvation.  A movement that thinks they are pointing at the Cross, without even realizing they are actually directing others toward Hell.  And what saddens me above all, a movement that is growing in numbers within our seminaries across this world everyday.  A movement that is so blind to the truth, it can only see hope in socializing Jesus.

Praying you make Christ your Savior, not just a part of your social cause.

The Measure Of A Man

Dr, Mike Murphy
January 17, 2017

As I have battled with cancer, finding myself coming home from the local hospital has become familiar to me.  But as I found myself again heading home, it was not my cancer that had brought me to the hospital that day.  It was a friend of several years, and the desire to spend a few moments with his family.  A couple of days before, he had suffered a massive stroke, and was now taking his last breaths in the hospital’s ICU.

It had been a few years since I had seen my friend.  Like so many, we still shared the occasional message, and would communicate through post on social media.  Always wishing each other a happy birthday and commenting on life’s events.  But it had been far too long since we had seen each other face to face. But as I arrived at the hospital that day, and looked into the faces of his family, I suddenly realized just how “too long” it had been.

Years before I would see him at least every week.  As I helped  prepare the church each Sunday morning for Sunday school and morning worship, I could always count on seeing his smiling face, being amused by his quick wit, and knowing he was among the first to always offer help.  Once each month, instead of having our regular Bible study on Sunday night, we would show a Christian family movie and invite the community and other local churches in.  And on each of those nights, he was always at the church long before the night would begin. He knew I was not the most technologically minded person this world has known, and would be there “in case” I needed any help.  With each church event, he was always there, sleeves rolled up, and hands at work.  Whether teaching a class on Sunday morning, or helping to set up a special event, I could always count on him.

Unfortunately, like way too many as life leads us in different directions, his face became more of a cherished memory that a regular sight.  But as I arrived at the ICU waiting room, and looked into the face of his family, each one of those cherished memories came rushing back again.  Each smile on their face, and hug they gave, reminded me of just how good of a man my friend was.

He was truly a good man.  Not because of all the great deeds he had done, but because of the faith he had shown and shared.  And as I looked into the faces of his family that day, it was his faith that was staring back at me.  He had three amazing kids, all of whom he had shared his love of Christ with.  A wife, whose faith is so strong that it would challenge anyone's, who smiled with certainty as she told me that my friend would soon be forever with Christ.  And a daughter-in-law, that is nothing short of a blessing, who I know he cherished as a daughter.  If God’s Word teaches us that the sins of a father can be visited on future generations, then it must also hold true that his heart would be felt by future generations of his to come.

In those past years, he would often come to me with questions as he prepared the coming Sunday School lesson and discussion, wanting to make sure that each of those present in his class got the most out of God’s Word.  But on the way home from the hospital that day, in the quiet of my car it occurred to, it was my friend who was now teaching me.

I well know, that on a day very soon, cancer will win its’ battle with me. And on that day, it will be my friends, family, and loved ones that will be gathering in a hospital waiting room.  On that day, what will they remember of me?  When I am no longer able to speak, how will their memories of me speak to them?  How will my life not only be remembered, but measured in their eyes?

Plato once said, “The measure of a man is what he does with power”. This world sees a man, and it is often that power that he is measured by.  The wealth he has gathered, the notoriety he has amassed.  Remembered in the highest of esteem by how many knew his name, not by the lives he touched.  But my friend was far from a wealthy man by this world's’ standards.  His passing would not make the front page of any newspaper, or be heard mentioned on the local news.  But in the hearts of more than I can count, his life would always be remembered.  And in the love he had for Christ, his life would live forever.

Eight words from C.H. Spurgeon I often love to quote.  “Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.”.  It is in these eight words that I think the life of a man can be measured. The impact of a man is not remembered by the size of his bank account, by how many followers he has on social media, or by whether a future building will be given his name. The measure of a man is counted by the hearts he has touched for Christ.  The love of Christ that he has shared.  And the joy in Christ that he has so often shown.  The measure of a man is seen in those waiting room moments, when family and friends are gathered.  And in the midst of all those gathered, it is beyond obvious that the Holy Spirit is there.

The measure of a man is not seen in the battles we have in this life, but in the victories we find through our faith.  Christ commanded of us, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind’(Matthew 22:37).  It is in each of those words, in the command of Christ, that true faith is found.  And it is in each of these words that our faith can be measured.  Faith is the true measure of a man.  Faith shows us that the measure of a man can never be found in values this world would show us, but will always be seen in the principles that God teaches us.  A man cannot be sized up by any tape measure this world might try to use, but can only be measured by a single question that Christ asked to all of us.  “Who do you say that I am?”

My friend answered that question with confidence.  And in his own special and quiet way, you could see the blessed assurance he had in his answer.  With each helping hand he had always offered,  With each lesson he had looked to get the most for the Lord out of. And with his love of Christ that he had shared with so many that filled that waiting room, you could all but watch the smile form on our Lord’s face as my friend was measured.  And on that quiet trip home in my car from the hospital that day, my friend spoke to me through the Holy Spirit for one last time.  And with each word I was reminded  what it meant to be measured as a man.

Praying your faith always shows you as measuring up.

Put Down The Santa, And Slowly Step Away From The Wise Men!

Dr. Mike Murphy
December 16. 2016

“If you move the ‘n’ in Santa to the end, you know you get Satan!”

When I heard this I knew I had heard enough!  This was the last straw in a series of outrageous statements I had heard surrounding Christmas this year.  “It is sacrilegious to place the Wise Men at the Nativity.”  “Santa is an agent for Satan that is destroying the minds of our kids.”  “I cannot believe anyone would put lights on their house, that is openly mocking the Star of Bethlehem.”  These are just a few of the statements I have heard made at Christmas this year. Normally hearing this I would just shrug it off, but it is who has been saying these words that trouble me the most!

These statements did not come from the masses, the media, or even from those who would be happy to see us stop celebrating Christmas.  These statements came from fellow Christians!  Christians who see the traditions we have come to cherish during this season as scandalous, only designed to lead us away from Christ.  So let us take a close and honest look at a couple of these traditions, and see for ourselves what they truly hold.

Let us start by looking at the Wise Men.  Many will tell you that it is wrong to place the Wise Men at your Nativity scene, as they were not present at the birth. They are right, the Wise Men were not at the birth of Christ, nor did they visit Him on the night of His birth. The Gospel of Matthew makes it clear, they would have came to Bethlehem up to two years after the birth of Christ)Matthew 2:1-18).  The words that Herod spoke, and the actions he took, make that very apparent.  We also see this in the words and the question of the Wise Men themselves as they spoke to Herod and the religious leaders that were present as they arrived in Jerusalem.  The Wise Men asked, “Where is the One who is born King of the Jews?”(Matthew 2:2).  If we read this in the Greek, we soon discover that it is past tense, meaning the birth would have already taken place.  And in the after events of the visit of the Wise Men, we read as Herod ordered the death of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two, leading most to conclude that Christ had been born months earlier.

So if the Wise Men was not present at the night of Christ’ birth, does that mean we need to remove them from the Nativity scene?  Of course not!  The purpose of a Nativity is to remind us of the early events of Christ life, to focus our hope and celebration on what those events brought and still brings.  If we want an accurate account of the dates and details of that glorious night and the events of His birth, we have the Word of God for that. Having the Wise Men at the scene as we lay out our nativities in our homes, is no more taking away from the glory of that night than seeing someone place a smooth, sanded Cross in the ground for an Easter sunrise service.   We place these scenes to honor and remember the event, not to try to recreate them.

For those who would say, we must keep them accurate or we are dishonoring the Lord, I have a few questions for them.  Do they remove the stable if it is a part of the scene? A quick study of Jewish history and the shepherds who lived in the area of Bethlehem, and you will see the birth would have taken place in a basement-like structure under the house, as that is where the shepherds of Bethlehem brought their valued animals to protect them at night. They did not have anything like a stable as we show it today, a barn-like structure.  Do they remove the wooden structure that holds Baby Jesus, what we call the manger?  Christ would have been placed in a rock “trough-like” structure that would have been built out of the wall, not a manger. And do they remove the blanket that we see in most modern day Nativity scenes covering Christ and keeping Him warm?  The Word of God makes it clear, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, which were narrow strips of cloth that bound a child so they would feel more like they did in their mother’s womb.

No one ever talks about removing these things from a Nativity scene, nor should they.  If the truth be said, we are incapable of replicated the miraculous scene that many saw in Bethlehem that night, nor does God expect us to.  The joy of a Nativity scene today is not found in the details, but in the purpose.  The reason that causes us to pause, and to smile at what we see.  The joy that comes to our mind as we remember the events of the early life of Christ.  The Nativity is in our Christmas decorations to remind us and to point our focus where God wants it.  To allow the images we see of that night to bring us into the Word of God, so we know why the Shepherds are in the scene, so we know why the Wise Men came, and so we know why Christ was laid in a manger.  If what we see leads us to spend time in the Word of God, then we will know each of the details of that night without question.  In each of those miraculous details, we will see just how incredible each day of that Child’s life was!   And we will have more reason to celebrate than we could ever imagine!

As we have looked at the Wise Men, let us also take a hard look at Santa Claus. The origins of Santa go back to a character of history many of us are very familiar with, Saint Nicholas.  Nicholas was born during the third century in the town of Patara, modern day Turkey.  At the time of his birth the area was still Greek.  Nicholas was born of wealthy parents, who legend says raised him as a devout Christian.  We are told that his parents died while he was young in an epidemic, but even at an early age Nicholas used his inheritance to help those around him.  One of these early legends of Nicholas says that a man in the town became very poor, and was about to lose his three daughters into slavery. To avoid the fate of his daughters, the man wanted to find a way to marry his three daughters off.  But being poor, he had no dowry to offer a husband of his daughters, a custom that was required for marriage in those days.  Upon hearing of the man, Nicholas went into action.  One night, Nicholas quietly came to the open window of the man’s house, and tossed in a bag of gold to serve as a dowry for the eldest daughter.  Legend says the bag of gold landed in the daughter’s stocking that was hanging by the fireplace to dry(sound familiar?).  Three nights we are told that Nicholas came to the man’s house, with a gold bag for each of his daughters.  On the third visit the man began to wonder who was helping him, so when he heard the bag being thrown he ran out to see who it was.  He caught Nicholas as he was leaving, but wanting to stay anonymous, Nicholas vowed the man to secrecy.

This is but one of the legends that made up Saint Nicholas, the man behind the origins of Santa Claus.  Through the years, as the legend of Santa continued to evolve and grow, many of the characteristics we see of him were added.  When we look closely at these characteristics, we may just be surprised what we see!  We see many of the prophecies, qualities, and teachings of Christ in the story that is told to children about Santa.  We always see Santa with pure white hair and beard.  The Bible tells us that Christ appeared to John with white hair(Rev. 1:14), and Isaiah describes the Messiah with a beard(Isaiah 50:6).  We always see Santa dressed in his famous red suit.  We are told that when Christ returns His garments will be as red(Isaiah 63:1-2, Rev. 19:13).  Any child can tell you that they never know what time of night Santa will come to their house.  We are taught that the time of Christ's’ return will be as a mystery(Luke 12:40, Mark 13:33).  Every child knows that Santa makes toys, he is a toy carpenter.  The Bible tells us that Christ was a carpenter(Mark 6:3). We all know that when Santa comes Christmas Eve night, he will be in and out of our house without us even knowing it.  Christ tells us He will come like a thief in the night(Matt. 24:43-44). Even in the famous songs about the “jolly ole’ man” that we have added to his fame, we sing the words, “He sees you when you're sleeping.  He knows when you're awake.  He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!”  In these words we see the Omnipresent, Omniscient and the all-seeing characteristics of God(Psalm 139:7-10; Ephesians 4:6; John 3:13), and the all-knowing characteristics of Him also(Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20).  Even when we look at the name of the man we are told is Santa, Kris Kringle, we see Christ.  His name is German for “Christ Child”.

Many will hear this and say that Santa is nothing more than an imitator, a ploy by Satan to take our focus off of Christ.  But if we take a close look at those who gave us the story of Santa Claus, we do not see a group of pagans in the forest being led by red-eyed demons, we see Christian like you and me.  People who read the teachings of Christ, and knew the power of the parables He taught. Knowing that these earthly stories with heavenly meanings was a way for us to easily understand the message He brought to this world.  So they did the same, seeing the story of Santa as a precious way to introduce the story, life and promises of Christ to children the world over.

Others will say that in telling their kids about Santa, they are doing nothing but lying to them, taking away from the trust they want to instill in them. That they do not want kids who will one day know the truth, and proclaim they have lied and misled them.  I know, for one, that is the last thing I think of my parents when I look back on my days of dreaming about Santa.  I do not see a mom and dad who tried to deceive me, but parents who loved me.  Parents who were willing to make great sacrifices of their time, efforts, and money for me. Parents who sat up to two in the morning not so they could deceive me, but because they were willing to do anything for me.  Is that not the very love our Father has for each of us?  Is that not the very love we hope to teach a future generation?

If many of you are led to keep Santa from the lives of your kids, I trust you in doing so, and firmly trust that you are looking to Christ in making that decision. But in doing so, you need to also respect and understand the reasons why many faithful Christians choose to accept the tradition of Santa.  I would even suggest that instead of us looking for ways to eliminate Santa, that we, the Church, reclaim Santa with all the morals and message we find in the story.  The we make Santa exactly what he was intended to be, an amazing parable to show all the nature of Christ.

And this year, as we pull out our nativity scenes, hang the lights on our house, and gather the children around to tell them about Santa, may we remember the miracle that brings us together for this season each year.  That we never forget the reason for the season, and make sure that with each blinking light we see, each Nativity scene we pass, and each cookie we put on a plate for Santa, we take every opportunity to teach about the glory that night in Bethlehem brought into this world  That in each light, scene, and story, Christ is both heard and seen.  That each day of this Christmas season, we do not become so logistic that we forget the purpose.  A purpose that should find us each day of this season worshiping and celebrating what that Child brought to this world, and to each of us!

Praying the reason for the season is seen in all your decorations, and heard in each of your stories this Christmas!

Somewhere Between Good And Evil

Dr. Mike Murphy
October 17, 2016

"My life is like everyone else I know, it is somewhere between good and evil. I know I have done more good than bad in my life, so in the end, I know that I am going to be okay.  God will see that I have lived a good life, and I know He will be proud of me for it.”

As I read the words, my head fell.  The words of a woman so lost, she did not even realize that she needed to be found.  Her words came in a reply to a question that a friend of mine asked online.  They had simply asked, “How do you know you are going to Heaven?” Many of the answers I saw astonished me, but the words of this woman troubled me the most.  And as I looked closely at her reply, the amount that agreed with her even troubled me more.
We live in a world today, that no longer sees morals and principles in black and white, but in unlimited shades of gray.  Images that are so mixed together, distinct color can no longer be seen, left only with impressions that are at best blurred.  Good and evil can no longer be identified clearly, because both have become nothing more than one’s own interpretation. And as our society so easily makes right and wrong a matter of one’s own opinion, then whatever I deem as right in my situation, can never be denied me.  Without us ever taking a moment to realize it, we have eliminated the standard by which our society judges right from wrong.  We have replaced God’s wisdom with our own logic, and placed our own purpose above God’s plan.

So what is good? And what is evil?  Good is simple to answer.  Good is everything that is God.  And to fully understand this, we only need to take a look at what is evil.  The dictionary describes evil as “morally reprehensible, sinful, wicked”, but as described, we now see evil as anything that is destructive to society.  But in our definition, we make evil a cause, not the effect that God’s shows evil to be.

To understand this, I would ask you to picture walking outside in Alaska in the middle of January with snow three feet deep.  As you walked out the door, what would your words be?  I can guarantee that one of those words would be “cold”.  But if you talked to any scientist, they would quickly explain to you there is no such thing as “cold”.  Cold is the word we have created to describe the absence of heat.  The less we feel the heat, the “colder” we say we feel.  

Evil is the same as cold.  It is the word we have created to describe the absence of God, and the goodness that can only be found in God.  This is why the farther we find ourselves separated from God, the greater the chance that evil will be seen.  When we watch a tragedy take place on the news, such as a mass shooting, our first impulse is to refer to what we see as evil.  But evil is not what we are seeing, it is the result or the outcome of the tragedy we see.  Evil is not an action, it is the effect or the outcome of the action.  The action that caused the evil, the tragedy we see, is sin.  And often we confuse sin, the act, with evil, the outcome.  

We easily forget, sin is the act of behaving against the laws and teachings of God, and living outside the plan of action He has for our life.  Sin is a choice each of us make, and in acting on that choice, we separate ourselves from God, not allowing His wisdom and love to guide us.  Evil is the outcome of that sin, and the effect and outcome of not choosing to allow God’s plan to lead us.  We must never forget, where God is present, evil cannot exist.  All evil separates us from God(Isaiah 59:2), and for that reason, we are told to reject all evil(1 Thessalonians 5:22).  We want our choices to lead toward the goodness that the presence of God offers, not the evil that separation from Him causes.

As we look at this nation and at our society, we see a move to define evil without sin, and goodness without God.  An attempt to make goodness nothing more than well being of conscience, with evil being the absence of that well being.  A move in which our logic has decided that we can create our own good, and can define our own evil.  Without giving a second thought as to where that will lead us.  If our logic is the deciding factor of good and evil, then good and evil become nothing more than opinion.  A moral vote where society decides for itself the principles that will lead them, and the values that will guide them.  But in our foolishness, we have quickly forgotten, opinions change daily.  The opinion we agree with society on today, may be the very opinion society uses to convict us with tomorrow.

Without a cause, a constant standard that possesses in it meaning and purpose, there can be no true values and morality.  For us to have true morality, or moral law, there must be a moral law giver.  One who is capable of understanding and giving us a standard of morality and purpose that all good and evil can be judged by, and defined within. The simple fact is, without God, man is incapable of defining good and evil, or even knowing what good and evil means.  

Honest atheists, like Friedrich Nietzsche, have admitted that without God there could be nothing we call good, nor anything we could understand as evil. Nietzsche knew that if there was such a thing as evil, then you must also accept that there is such a thing as good.  And if you assume that there is good and evil, then there must be an absolute and unchanging moral law by which man could differentiate between the two.  And if you accept that there is a moral law, then you have to accept there is a moral law giver.  And if you accept there is a moral law giver, then you must accept there is a God.  And if we accept there is a God, then only by His Word can good and evil be defined!

God’s Word makes it clear, “No one is good but God alone”.(Luke 18:19). You cannot look at God and not see good.  It is only when we know Him that true goodness can be understood.  We can look at many things around us and see some good in them, but there can only be One where all goodness can be seen. And that good and perfect God invites all of us to understand good by knowing Him(Psalm 34:8).

When we realize this, we soon begin to understand that salvation is not based on our goodness, but on the goodness that Christ brought to this world. Romans 10:9 tells us, “If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved.” Salvation is a gift, not something we can achieve through our own goodness, but a gift that God gives us because in His goodness, He has an unquestioned love for us. And praise the Lord for this gift!  It is not a gift I could ever do enough good to earn, no matter how hard I might try.  I could spend all day, everyday, trying to do nothing but good, and never come close to being perfect enough to earn that gift.  Like all true gifts, the gift of salvation is given, not earned(Ephesians 2:8-9). Only Christ alone was good enough to earn His way to Heaven, and no matter how hard I might try, I can never do enough good to earn my way there.

Despite everything this world might tell you, somewhere between good and evil, only evil resides.  An evil I can never do enough work to change, or do not have the wisdom to be able to redefine.  A good, that I alone can never achieve.  And a goodness that I can only show this world if my actions and words are allowing others to see in me a reflection of Christ.  1 Corinthians 13:6-7, says to us, “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Evil will seek to deceive us, keeping the truth from us.  And only in the love of His goodness can that truth be known and found.  The truth will never be found in the evil of our own logic, but only in the goodness of His wisdom. 

Evil would happily have us living somewhere between good and evil, thinking we are safe.  Living in a land of blurred morals and values, thinking each of our actions are making us good enough.  But in reality, leaving us in a land where only evil prevails, and good is nowhere to be found.

Praying His goodness will always surround you.