All That Glitters

All That Glitters

“I counsel you to buy from me gold refined
in the fire, so you can become rich.”

Revelation 3:18

Imagine the prospector tirelessly mining in the mountains out west, patiently pursuing the vein of gold that so many others have found, in search of a wealth that will bring security to him and his family for the rest of their lives. Finally, he sees the shiny, glittering yellow rocks he has been working so hard to find and the pace of his labor increases even more. Each rock dug out is carefully hidden from those who would get rich off of his discovery, his awareness of the dangers that are present to those who find gold in this lawless region of America’s west growing stronger with each shiny rock found.

The trip into the nearest town to cash in his treasure and to stake his claim to the mine he has been digging is filled with both apprehension at every sound and excitement thinking of his newfound wealth. The sigh of relief that comes from deep within when he enters the claims office is audible to everyone around and it is with deep pride that he places the bags of gold on the counter. But his joy is quickly turned to bewilderment followed by despair when he’s told that what he, like so many before him, has worked so hard to accumulate may look like real gold but its only pyrite, or fool’s gold as it has come to be known. Despite its shiny look, it is only a common rock worth nothing.

The Frenchman Alain de Lille wrote “do not hold everything gold that shines like gold” and Shakespeare coined the phrase “all that glisters is not gold”. And while we may have substituted the more modern word glitters in his phrase, the meaning is in no way lost. We far too often invest our time, energy and resources in what looks good on the outside and has the appearance of gold but which, in the reality of life, has no real, lasting, intrinsic value. J. R. Tolkien, in The Lord of the Rings, worded it another way saying “all that is gold does not glitter.” In the same way, all that God counts success does not look like success in the eyes of the world. And, conversely, what looks like success to the natural eye, the fool’s gold of life, is often not success in the eyes of God.

The Lord’s counsel to “buy from me gold refined in the fire” was given to a people who were saying “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” The Lord had to give them the bad news that all they considered wealth was worthless in heaven’s economy. One day, we will all lay our earthly accomplishments on the counter of heaven. Some will find that they have laid up priceless treasures in heaven by investing in that which moth and rust can never corrupt while others will face the disappointment of having been deceived by “all that glitters.” Let’s live our lives for that which is of great price in the eyes of God, investing in the lives of those He sent His only Son to die for.

God Bless,

Pastor Joe

Gateway Church

Into Training

Into Training

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get

a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown what will last forever.”

I Corinthians 9:25

Athletic competition of every kind and at every level, from high school sports to the current World Cup being played in South Africa, provides insight into the training and discipline required to be successful in any sphere of life. It is the type of training the apostle Paul was referring to in the above scripture when he wrote about each one of us developing personal discipline as we seek to run the race the Lord has set out for our lives. We will see that personal discipline, that which goes on out of sight of others, is critical to our finding success in life.

Going to the Buick Open in Warwick Hills during the summer in recent years showed a side of professional golfers that is not always seen on television. Walking past the driving range you would find it filled with golfers practicing shot after shot, trying to perfect their swing or to correct any flaws that might have developed. Some were out there before their round of golf while others had come back after playing in the tournament, all with the goal of improving what they were doing and being the best they could be at their chosen profession. And outside the clubhouse, away from the reporters’ microphones and the television cameras, the same was happening on the practice green; put after put was being taken to develop a rhythm and a discipline that could earn them a good sized paycheck at the end of the tournament.

We could talk about every sport and activity and look at the training involved and the discipline required for success. From the actor rehearsing lines before a play to the softball player going to the batting cages at Barrymores, we would find that the level of commitment to training and the degree of personal discipline are crucial determiners of success no matter what the endeavor or field. Before the whistle blows, the curtain drops, the anthem is played, or the service begins, much of what goes into determining what will be accomplished has already occurred, behind the scenes and out of sight yes, unimportant and trivial not in the least.

Paul took concepts that people of every generation could relate to and compared them to the personal discipline that is required in the Christian life. The work of changing the world for Christ really begins in our private devotional time behind closed doors, when we are meditating on the Word of God and seeking God in prayer. The quest to discover all God has for your life won’t occur in the pew at church; most likely it will take place in your bedroom or study, during a peaceful walk or on your knees in prayer. Paul opens up and says “I discipline my body”. If he hoped to make a difference, he knew that he had to develop personal discipline just like you and I do. Take a moment to realistically ask what personal disciplines are key to your excelling in your heart’s desire. And make that training your new priority!

God Bless

Pastor Joe

Gateway Church

The Last Period

The Last Period

“He also said to me, 'It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water.'"
Revelation 21:6

The last period on the ending sentence of the last paragraph of the final chapter of another school year was inscribed today, closing out opportunities and performances for students and teachers alike. Goodbyes were said to those students who, for one reason or another, won't be returning next year, and next week the same will be done to several teachers. Final grades will be input into school records in the coming days, becoming part of a permanent record that will be sent out to everyone from possible colleges and universities to prospective employers for many years to come. The finality of days like this can be thought provoking in so many ways.

For students, there is no more studying for tests, that opportunity has passed. Turning in missed assignments is no longer an option, the window for taking advantage of the extra credit offered has closed, and whatever grade has been earned, whether good or bad, is now final. For getting the grades they hoped for, there are no tomorrows. Teachers and students alike may never again see the students who aren’t returning. Whatever impact on their lives they had hoped to make has either been made or not made; the result is now unchangeable and the impression left indelible. Relationships were either formed or not formed, and, in the same way, the period has been placed on the sentence of that opportunity.

The patterns of a school year, with its beginning and ending dates, are not unlike many areas of our lives, only much more obvious and easy to follow. The finality of life’s many interactions with others is unavoidable and should sober us to the importance of living in the moment we’ve been given. Some last three months like several of my summer ones while in college, and others thirty years like many of our parents’ enjoyed, but jobs too always come to an end. The opportunity for relationship and interaction that they provide, for sharing our life’s story and testifying of God’s goodness, has a beginning and has an end. You rarely can circle the date on a calendar as many teachers and students do each year but its certainty is no less guaranteed.

The relationships you and I have on which a period has not yet been written are more precious than we often realize; they are gifts from God to be treasured and represent moments to be seized. Some opportunities slip away, lost without our really knowing how they went by so fast, chapters of a book that end far sooner than we had envisioned. Others are such a part of our lives that we assume they will always be there, only to leave us shocked when the unannounced ending date comes sooner rather than later. Today’s last day of school is just one more reminder for us to live in the moments we’ve been blessed with, to enjoy every chapter of our lives and the people we’ve been honored to share them with.

God Bless,

Pastor Joe

Gateway Church

Holding Back

Holding Back

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

Mark 8:34

Going to Finger Lakes Race Track in Canandaigua, New York was a regular summer activity in my B.C. (before Christ) days. Like any good Italian mother, my mom had educated me in the finer points of reading the racing forms, evaluating past performances, checking track conditions, and knowing who the best jockeys were, some of the essentials to successfully “betting on the ponies” as she referred to it. But there was one other important principle, the subject of today’s devotion, which may have worked in the betting arena but can be a serious hindrance in the Christian life.

Finger Lakes Race Track offered nine races every day with the later races featuring the best horses. And no matter how good a horse looked in the early races, no matter how sure of a bet it seemed to be, you always, always, always held something back just in case it didn’t work out as anticipated. Holding something back was a safeguard against the unexpected, a protection against losing everything, and a way to maintain a semblance of control over the funds that you started with. And it mattered because horse racing contained a few rarely talked about x-factors, like race fixing, and holding back a good horse, to name a few.

Herein is the problem: we do the same thing in our relationship with God, we hold back from Him, from totally trusting God just in case He does something we don’t really want Him to, or that doesn’t mesh with our plans for our lives. We surrender but don’t surrender all. We trust Him but our trust is not unconditional. We worship Him but it is not all out, unreserved and undignified as David did. And the reason is that we want to maintain control over our lives. Rather than God having the final say, we want the last word in our lives just as we do in our conversations. And who is the real loser in all this; it is unfortunately you and I.

Francis Chan wrote “God want to see His children stake everything on His power and presence in their lives.” God is looking for a people who will unconditionally surrender to Him, a people who will sing “I surrender all” and truly mean it. God is longing for men and women who will trust Him with all their heart, who will trust His plan for their lives and yield to it, holding nothing back. It is to that man or woman that the unsearchable riches of Christ become a reality. It is in those lives that Christ can truly rule and reign. And if that is you, if you can become that “hold nothing back believer”, God will direct your every step and surround you with His favor and blessing.

God Bless
Pastor Joe

Gateway Church