Heartlight Articles - Hope for Life

I Love My Shredder

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

I admit it. I love the office shredder. It might be because I am mesmerized by loud machines that destroy things. But I am also fascinated by the process. After a document is run through, there is no way to reconstruct it, no way to put it together again, and no way to know what was originally there. We use it to destroy sensitive documents, addresses, and any material we do not want seen.

I also use it for something else. I use it to destroy my mistakes. If I print the wrong form, misspell a name, or use the wrong name -- a quick trip to the shredder and it is as if it never happened. It is gone forever.

But I also enjoy the shredder because there are times when see it as a reminder of what God has done for me. I envision lists of my mistakes and sins kept somewhere by the Devil himself. And I picture Jesus taking those lists and running them through the shredder. The evidence of my guilt is destroyed. The list of my sins can never be reconstructed. They are gone forever.

That is exactly what God did when He sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins. Because I believe in Jesus, because I decided to die with him, my sins are gone forever. The devil cannot use them against me to keep me out of heaven.

So I enjoy using the shredder. It reminds me how grateful I am that God has wiped away my sins forever. He can do that for you too. If you want to visit more about this, check out our blog at www.hopeforlife.org.
Or write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

God Knows

tim@hopeforlife.org (Tim Archer) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600

Late in his life, the apostle John finds himself in a prison of sorts, exiled to the island of Patmos. The island is tiny, only 25 square miles (64 square kilometers). It is a barren place where political prisoners are sent to contemplate their actions. John's crime is a simple one: he is a follower of Jesus Christ.

There on Patmos, John has an impressive vision of Jesus, risen from the dead and standing triumphantly. Jesus shares with John a message of hope and encouragement for his followers that are about to suffer a time of persecution. This message, contained in the Book of Revelation, is couched in symbolic language, a style of writing commonly used at that time. While much of it seems strange to us, the symbols used in Revelation would have been familiar to the original readers.

John sees Jesus standing in the middle of seven golden lampstands, which Jesus later explains: "The seven lampstands are the seven churches" (Revelation 1:20). John then receives seven letters for seven churches in the Roman province of Asia, an area where the Roman emperor was about to make problems for the Christians. Jesus begins the first letter by saying: "These are the words of him who ... walks among the seven golden lampstands" (Revelation 2:1).

The message of this image is as simple as it is important: when Jesus' followers face difficult times, Jesus is there with them. He stands in the middle of his churches, not far from them. In each of the seven letters, Jesus uses the phrase "I know ..." He knows what they've done, he knows their circumstances, he knows the enemies they face and the struggles they have. He writes to them as one who is infinitely familiar with every aspect of their lives. He walks among the lampstands.

None of that has changed. God knows you. He knows the good things you've done and the mistakes you've made. He knows the obstacles you've faced and what you've had to face them with. He knows your abilities and your possibilities even better than you do.

And he's not far away. He's nearby, waiting for you to turn to him and ask him for help. Whether you are facing persecution from the government or temptation from a co-worker, God wants to give you the strength to face whatever it is that threatens to pull you away from him. He's close. He knows. And he cares.

I'd love to tell you more. Visit our blog at http://hopeforlife.org or write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org)
© Herald of Truth

Tim works for Herald of Truth and writes for HopeForLife. He is the co-author of Letters From The Lamb. You can reach him by writing to tim@hopeforlife.org.

Website: HopeForLife

Which Way Does Your Name Tag Face?

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600
I was at a large convention recently where all the participants wore name tags around their neck. This is a really good idea. It lets people know who you are, prompts you when you cannot remember names, and gives you a visual aid when you are meeting people. Name tags identify the company people work for. They let you know who you are talking to. But they only work when they are facing the right way. If they are turned around, they are absolutely useless.

Why would you wear a name tag no one is able to read? Why would you forget to check and be sure it had not twisted the wrong direction? Maybe they do not care if anyone knows their name. Maybe they do not want anyone to know who they are. Maybe they are ashamed of whom they are, or the company they work for.

I have known Christians who want to keep their identity secret. Maybe they are ashamed of things in their life, or they are embarrassed to be seen as a Jesus follower, or perhaps they do not even realize they are hiding their identity.

Jesus did not call us to live as "hidden" believers. The very act of coming to Jesus is not done in secret. It involves confession and baptism. From that point on, Christians serve as light in a dark world pointing to Jesus.

If you believe in Jesus, but are still living as if it were a secret, let me help you turn your name tag around. Visit our blog at www.hopeforlife.org.
Or write me at steve@hopeforlife.org

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.
© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

Jesus Holds the Keys

tim@hopeforlife.org (Tim Archer) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Near the end of his life, the apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos, sent there because of his faith in Jesus. While there, John received a vision. That vision contained a message for his fellow Christians who were also facing persecution. That vision is recorded in the book of Revelation.

In the first chapter of the book, John sees Jesus. Not baby Jesus in a manger or half-dead Jesus hanging on a cross. John sees a triumphant Jesus, dressed in shining white robes. This Jesus has something to say to his followers:

Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:17-18).

To these Christians who faced the very real possibility of dying for their faith, Jesus says, "Don't be scared. I've been there. And I'm back." Then he tells them something important: he holds the keys of death and Hades.

Maybe I should explain that Hades in the Greek-speaking world didn't refer to a place of punishment. It was merely the dwelling place of the dead. It was the great unknown, the mysterious place everyone went after leaving this world. Jesus says, "Don't be afraid of death nor what comes after ... I've got the keys to let you out of that place!"

Are you scared of death? You don't have to be. In the book of Hebrews, the author says that Jesus destroyed the power of death by his own death so that he could "free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (Hebrews 2:15). We don't have to live our lives fearing death. Jesus died, but he's alive now. He went into the place of the dead and came out with the keys. We can enter that mysterious realm without fear, knowing that our Jesus holds the key to let us out again.

Jesus promised his disciples that he would build his church "and the gates of Hades will not overcome it" (Matthew 16:18). Those gates can't hold us in because Jesus holds the key.

Don't be afraid! Jesus is the resurrection and the life (John 11:25). He has freed us from the fear of death. If you'd like to know more about how to face death without fear, write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org or leave a comment at http://hopeforlife.org/blog .

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org)
© Herald of Truth

Tim works for Herald of Truth and writes for HopeForLife. He is the co-author of Letters From The Lamb. You can reach him by writing to tim@hopeforlife.org.

Website: HopeForLife

What Good Is One Puzzle Piece?

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500
One of the grandchildren brought me one puzzle piece the other day. I am not sure exactly what she wanted me to do with it, but I found myself attempting to explain how one puzzle piece is not good for much. It's true. It does not matter how pretty, or how intricate it looks -- there is just not much you can do with one puzzle piece. It needs the rest of the pieces to make a picture. That is the way puzzles are designed.

Christians are that way too. The Christian life was never intended to be lived in isolation. In fact, one of the great attractions of following Jesus is that you live in community with other believers. So when we are not in community with other believers, we are like that puzzle piece. We are not going to function the way we are supposed to function. And if God's plan for His people is like a puzzle ... we do not want our piece to be missing.

Christian community is where we find support, encouragement, and accountability. The Christian family -- the church -- takes care of each other. We provide for needs, we provide resources to help strengthen weaknesses. We show up at weddings, funerals, hospitals, and living rooms. We are there for each other. We rejoice together, we cry together, we pray together, we sing together, and we remind each other that we are not alone.

This is one of the reasons Christians meet together. We get to know each other. We demonstrate our unity around the Communion meal as we remember together the death and resurrection of Jesus. We are inspired to love God and His Son Jesus. We express our love to each other. We are motivated to do good works for the glory of God.

If you believe in Jesus, but are not connected to a body of believers, I want to encourage you to find your place in the family of believers. If you want to visit more about this, join our blog at www.hopeforlife.org. If you are looking for a group of believers near you, I can help you find one. Write me at steve@hopeforlife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article.
© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!

The God Who Cares

tim@hopeforlife.org (Tim Archer) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500

"Jesus wept."

That verse, John 11:35, is the shortest verse in the English Bible (in the original Greek, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 is shorter). Two words. Three syllables. But that verse conveys a world of meaning.

Jesus wept.

Jesus was watching Mary and Martha, dear friends of his, weep for their brother. He knew that Lazarus would live again, that the moment of his resurrection was only moments away. But Jesus wept. Not for his own sadness. Not from any sense of despair. He wept at the grief of people he loved.

Jesus wept.

Mary and Martha knew that Jesus could have kept their brother from dying. They also knew that he hadn't done so. They wanted to believe in him, yet he seemed to have failed them in their moment of need. Did his tears mean that their faith was misplaced, that he was actually powerless in the face of death?

Jesus wept.

Moments before, Jesus had shared a secret with Martha when he said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25) He had also promised her that Lazarus would live again. Still, he wept upon seeing Martha and Mary's tears.

Jesus weeps.

We face that same internal conflict. Sometimes it feels like God is far away when we are hurting. It can even feel like he doesn't care. He could prevent all death and suffering, yet here we are, drowning in a sea of grief.

Let me tell you that Jesus still weeps. He still hurts. He grieves with us. He knows that death is not the end, that resurrection and life will soon triumph. Yet he sees our pain and weeps with us.

Jesus weeps.

God cares. I can't explain every aspect of pain and suffering, but I want to assure you that God cares. And we Christians, as the body of Christ, also care. Your hurt is our hurt. Your pain is our pain. Those of us who seek to live as Jesus lived are called to weep alongside those who are grieving.

Jesus weeps.

God cares. Jesus weeps. And his church wants to stand by you in your time of need. No, Christians aren't perfect, and we will sometimes let you down. But we have been called to imitate the man who wept at the pain of his friends. If you aren't part of a community of believers, I'd love to try and help you find a church. Write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org or visit our blog on HopeForLife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org)

© Herald of Truth

Tim works for Herald of Truth and writes for HopeForLife. He is the co-author of Letters From The Lamb. You can reach him by writing to tim@hopeforlife.org.

Website: HopeForLife

I Never Dreamed It Could Be This Good ...

steve@hopeforlife.org (Steve Ridgell) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0500
I was checking in at London Heathrow airport for a trip back to the States when the most amazing thing happened. The ticket agent told me that they had overbooked the flight and would I take a complimentary upgrade to Business class. My first reaction was to look for the hidden camera. I was sure it was a prank. But it was real. I flew across the ocean in Business class. I never dreamed anything could be that nice.

I had seen glimpses of that section of the plane before, and I had heard stories about what it was like. But I had no idea. I could stretch my legs out. I could recline my seat in four different configurations. Flight attendants kept bringing me drinks and snacks. The meal was like something I would expect at a nice restaurant. I never even waited in line to use the restroom. I just never imagined.

That is exactly what it is like to live in Jesus. Our world is full of those who cannot imagine a life full of joy and peace. They have no idea concerning the hope within each of the followers of Jesus. They only dream of a life of purpose, glory, and immortality. So I am reminded not to take this life for granted. I am so thankful for abundant life now. I am even more thankful for the life to come.

I doubt I will ever fly in Business class again. I cannot pay the price for that ticket, and it may never be given to me again. And I certainly cannot provide that service for my fellow airplane travelers. But I can help others know the life they only imagine. The ticket for that life has been paid for ... they just need someone to tell them the good news.

If you are reading this, and have wondered about the life fully given to Jesus, it is better than you have ever dreamed. There is a life of joy, peace, purpose, and hope available to you. I can help you find it. Write me at steve@heraldoftruth.org. Or join our discussion blog on HopeForLife.org.

(Expressed written consent must be obtained prior to republishing, retransmitting or otherwise reusing the content of this article. Contact us at info@hopeforlife.org)

© Herald of Truth Ministries

Steve Ridgell serves as the Director of Ministry for Herald of Truth Ministries in Abilene, Texas and writes for Hopeforlife.org. You can reach him by writing to sridgell@heraldoftruth.org.

Website: Hope for Life!