A 2008 Report Card

As the New Year approaches I think it is a natural human thing to review the year past as we anticipate the year ahead. I believe it’s one of the things that sets us apart from God’s other creatures. As we reflect on the year past we Christians naturally, and I think rightly, begin by reflecting on what God has done in our lives this year. This process is analogous to what Samuel did in placing an Ebenezer Stone – recognizing that “thus far the Lord has helped us” (see previous post). As I look back on 2008 I do clearly see God’s hand of provision and protection in so many ways, in so many places in my life. I also know that there have been battles fought and victories won that I have no awareness of. For that I am as grateful to God as I am for his more evident work in my life.

But as we reflect back on the year we not only remember God’s goodness and faithfulness, we also reflect on our own responses, accomplishments and results. Here in South Africa the school year coincides with the calendar year and so provides a very fitting analogy. Tomorrow the senior high school “matric” students (matriculates) will be able to go to their schools and receive their test results from their teachers, finding out if they passed the tests. At this time of year we are like the “matrics” getting our final report card for the year. As we evaluate ourselves on this past year we are also receiving the evaluation of our Instructor.

How did I do? How do you think you did? If we are honest with ourselves I think we all conclude as I have, that I did OK in some areas but I know I fell down in other areas. But what does my Instructor think? Does it depends on the "curve"? What will the standard be and did I make the passing cut off?

I believe the only place we can get a look at the standards that will be applied is in the Bible. And the standard I see there is an extremely high one. The curve is steep. The standard that was applied to the Ephesian church will also be applied to me. In Revelations chapter 2 we find Christ’s assessment of the church in Ephesus.

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men… You have persevered and have endured hardships in my name, and have not grown weary.

Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place.

Did I pass this test in 2008? Or have I forsaken my first love? My first love that is described in Psalm 73:25. “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you?” Why do I desire heaven? Is it only because God is there? Are there other people or things that I desire when I think of heaven? And what does it look like (feel like) to desire nothing besides God on earth (in this life)?

I'll share some more thoughts on this last question in the next post, but obviously I am convicted that I have not received passing marks on a critical test this year. Fortunately just as those "matrics" who failed to pass all the tests get a second chance to take and pass those tests again in the next few months, so God is giving me another chance, a New Year to improve on my results from 2008. I praise God for his patience and grace. Lord I want Psalm 73:25 to be true of me. I desire that I would desire nothing besides you. Lord make the needed change in me.

An Ebenezer Stone

One of our main partners in doing AIDS work here in KwaZulu-Natal is Project Positive Ray (PPR), a ministry of a local congregation of the Evangelical Church in South Africa (ECSA) and SIM (Serving In Missions). This past week we were asked by PPR if we could help arrange and host a children’s Christmas party for one of its sister congregations in the district. As we work with several community children’s projects we were able to assist even though we had already had Christmas parties at all our projects. We knew another party would be an additional blessing for these kids that have so little at Christmas.

We arranged a local Zulu church in the community as a venue and made plans to transport approximately 20 children from the nearby crèche to the church for the party. The visitors coming from the ECSA church would bring presents for the children and KFC (yes that KFC) for the meal. On the day of the event the heat and humidity were very high. We managed to get all 19 children and 3 or 4 helpers to the church on time and I went to meet our visitors to bring them to the rather remote site. At the agreed upon meeting time I received a call from the visitors saying one of them had some medical problems and they would be an hour late. Meanwhile Robin, Onnie, the children and the women were cooking in the small church with little ventilation and almost no nearby shade outside. I offered to pick up the KFC to save some time (15 min drive each way). Fortunately Robin had planned a couple games for the kids and brought some music to dance to (they love to dance). The sweat was rolling by then!

Eventually our visitors arrived and the event was a blessing. One of them named Mike could hardly walk due to his back problem but he was committed to come and so was there and shared a message with the children. We had a time of prayer for Mike’s healing and the kids loved the food and gifts.

- Kids with their Christmas gifts

We learned that our visitors came from a church named Ebenezer Church. Obviously being Christmas time and giving a party for children brought to mind Ebenezer Scrooge from “The Christmas Carol”. An interesting name for a church we thought but Robin and I remembered it was a Biblical name and that at one time we had studied (and forgotten) its meaning.

Back home we looked up the “Ebenezer” passages in 1st Samuel and found this reference to an Ebenezer Stone in 1 Sam 7:10 & 12: “Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered with great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel. … Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen and named it Ebenezer saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’” A footnote in my Bible says Ebenezer means “stone of help”.

“Thus far the Lord has helped us”. The truth and significance of that statement rings deep in my heart. Where would I be on this journey if the Lord had not helped me? How many Ebenezer stones should I have erected this year, this month, this week? I mentioned in an earlier post that I believe I am in a war, that we are all in a war. What battles have we come through recently? Did we recognize the Lord’s thundering in our defense? Do we realize we are only here standing because “thus far the Lord has helped us”? We probably don’t feel like the enemy has been routed but he has, time and time again. What will be my Ebenezer stone that I and others who see it may remember his help and victory?