When the Rubber Meets the Road

Posted on March 4, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

This idiom dates back to 1950 in a jingle for Firestone Tires, wherever wheels are rolling / No matter what the load / The name that’s known is Firestone / where the rubber meets the road!  In 1975, a European newspaper wrote; the church has to move out where the rubber meets the road. It has become a common expression meaning the point at which a plan, an intent, or a belief is put to a practical test. Long before rubber tires, the impulsive and overconfident Apostle Peter provided a dramatic picture of this concept. Jesus told His disciples “You will all fall away because of Me this night (Mat 26:31). Peter boldly declared, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away” (v33). But when the rubber met the road, and his declaration was tested—Peter failed. And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man” (v72). 

It’s easier for me to write and for you to read these lessons every week than to live them out. We can leave church excited from a sermon telling ourselves, “I know I will be victorious this week and not fail God.” Yet, on Monday we put the rubber back on the road of practical reality. It’s not as straightforward as we assumed in the worshipful atmosphere of a service. Believers can attend Bible classes for years or even graduate from Seminary with a Master’s Degree, but everyday living is the place faith becomes real. James says, In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (2:17 NIV). Not all test of our faith come from an unexpected event as Peter’s challenge. In fact, most occur over an prolonged period leaving us with time to consider our situation, an opportunity for Satan to tempt us with doubt, or for us to second guess if it is God’s will.

Abraham wasn’t unacquainted with putting the rubber to the road when his ultimate test came. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac (Heb 11:17). His journey with the Lord started with a step of faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place . . . not knowing where he was going (v8). Then, by faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise for 25 years before the birth of Isaac (v9). His greatest expression of faith came when God told him, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him [Isaac] there as a burnt offering (Gen 22:2). So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him (v3). Yet, it was three days of travel before they arrived at the place of sacrifice. We can only imagine what went through his mind with every step for over 72 hours. Did he even sleep during those nights? 

Put yourself in Abraham’s shoes. Consider the thoughts that might pass through your mind. “Was that really God’s voice?” “God doesn’t tell us to do things like this.” “My son is the fulfillment of Yahweh’s promise. He can’t take the promise away now.” “I should turn around, go back home, and pray about this.” “I’ll camp here for a couple of days and make sure I heard right.” “Lord, give me a sign.” “Everything I hoped for will be gone.”  However, somewhere in the journey Abraham by faith concluded God was able to raise him up, even from the dead (Heb 11:19 NKJV). Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham” . . . now I know that you fear God (Gen 22:10-12)! Abraham hadn’t merely said he had faith in God and do nothing. He put the rubber to the road with his faith in action in an actual situations. Because of this God accredited him righteousness.

Serving Christ involves more than words, doctrines we learn, and assertions we make concerning our faith in Jesus. Think of the people you know who say they are Christians, even though they never do anything but attend church. We must never forget our works will not save us however true faith will move our beliefs into action. Faith without deeds is dead (Jam 2:26). There is truth in the old saying, “Don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk.” Words come cheap. John sums up everything I’ve said in one verse addressing the three most misused words in the English language. “I love you”. John wrote let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth (1 Jn 3:18). If we see someone without clothing and in need of daily food, it is not enough to says “I love you; I’ll pray for you” and leave doing nothing.        

Abraham had to take action for the first step toward the Promised Land. He had to take action for the first step toward the land of Moriah. It required action to build an altar and lay out the wood, then bind Isaac and lay him on the altar. The rubber met the road when he raised the knife.

Sustaining Word for the Week: This week put your beliefs and faith into action. Put the rubber to the road.

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A Window of Opportunity

Posted on February 25, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

During our semi-annual trip to South Africa, rebel fighters bombed the oil pipeline in Zimbabwe. It left thousands of people on their Christmas holiday stranded for weeks without fuel. We managed to get across the border just before everything shut down. When our two-week stay at the mission headquarters and shopping neared an end, we knew we had to plan for an alternate route back north to Zambia—not an easy task. We headed home through Botswana and across the Kalahari Desert. After an exhausting two days down dusty unpaved bumpy roads, we were nearing the border crossing into Zambia. It was late afternoon as we rushed the final few miles praying we would reach the ferry across the Zambezi River before it closed for the night. We had only one remaining opportunity for crossing that day. If we missed this window of time, we faced staying in our vehicle overnight in the war tore Caprivi Strip bordering Angola. Thankfully, we arrived just in time to cross the half-mile wide Zambezi River. This was an adventure in itself. With our truck full of supplies and with our two children, I drove on the ferry constructed from old oil drums with a worker who would pull it across with ropes. Yet, this was far safer even with the crocodiles than waiting for a morning opportunity.

We know the Lord is the God of second chances. However, some opportunities may come around only once. These occasions may never happen again or will take a lengthy time before it recurs. After Cyrus released the exiles to return to Israel, a group of Jews remained in Persia. Under the reign of Artaxerxes, Haman, his prime minister, devised a plot to exterminate all the Jews. Through God’s providence, the King chose Esther, a young Jewish girl to be Queen. When the plot was about to come to fruition, her uncle Mordecai told her she must intervene to the King because this may be the reason she had become Queen. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this (Est 4:14)? The Hebrew word for such a time means ‘window of opportunity’.

We all face ‘windows of opportunity’. But remember windows not only open, they also close. When God opens a window for us, we may have a limited time frame to act before the window will close. When the Lord made a way for Israel to cross the overflowing Jordan River, it lasted only long enough for the Children of Israel to enter Canaan. When the priest stood in the water on the river’s edge, the water began rolling back. They advanced step by step as it dropped until they were standing with the Ark of the Covenant on dry ground. God provided a ‘window of opportunity’ for Israel to cross. However, a point arrived and their window of opportunity closed.  The waters of the Jordan once again returned to flood stage. Imagine for a moment if there had been a family doubtful of crossing and decided to think about it one more day. They would find themselves stranded and alone on the Eastern banks with no way of across or wait for months until the waters subsided.

All believers encounter opportunities and decisions. First, we must decide if it is an opportunity from God or is it only an open door not His will. Two extreme reactions can take place. A person with an impulsive attitude might jump immediately through the window. Others ponder endlessly and over analyze until the opportunity is gone. Jesus said we are to count the cost. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it (Lk 14:28)? Esther acted responsibly. Her most challenging cost was no one could enter the King’s presence without being asked. The penalty resulted in death. Esther requested the Jews to fast and pray for three days. She and her maidens would do the same. She committed to her task. And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Est 4:16). Esther didn’t act impulsive or take a lengthy time to decide. Had I waited to rethink crossing the Zambezi on this rickety ferry until the next opportunity, we would have been stranded in a dangerous war zone and possibly killed by rebels.

When Jesus was entering Jericho, a blind man heard he would pass by. He saw an opportunity and cried out even through the crowd tried to stop him. He would not miss this change of gaining his sight. Jesus heard him and healed him. Traveling on to town center Zaccheus, the chief tax collector, determined to seize this opportunity to see Jesus. He climbed up into a sycamore tree; Jesus saw him and stayed at his house that night. What the blind man and Zaccheus didn’t know, this window of opportunity was closing. This was the last time Jesus passed this way. He was on His journey to Jerusalem where He would be crucified.                                                                                                                            

Sustaining Word for the Week: Has the Holy Spirit given you a window of opportunity? Who knows for such a time as this it has opened. It is time to take action before it closes.

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Don’t Let Others Bury Your Talent

Posted on February 18, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

When their boss left for a prolonged trip, he entrusted three workers with varying sums of money.  One received five talents, one received two, and one received one. He didn’t hand-pick ‘who received what’ by arbitrary choice but each according to his own ability (Matt 25:14-30). Conservative scholars estimate by today’s standards a talent of gold equals one and a half million dollars. That’s means the owner trusted his servants with twelve million dollars—five talents equal to $7,500,00; two talents equal to $3,000,000 and one talent equal to $1,500,000. But note in Jesus’ parable of the talents the master did not instruct them what to do with the money, he distributed it and he went on his journey. However, we can ascertain they knew their master as a man harvesting where he did not sow and gathered where he did not scatter seed (v25) and he would expect increase from his investment. Two double their portion, but the man with one talent, $1,500,000, was so afraid, he buried his money. The master condemned him as wicked and lazy servant.

You might be saying, “Well, God has never given me even half a million dollars.” Jesus provided us something far more valuable than all the gold in the world—salvation. In addition, the Holy Spirit gives every believer at least one spiritual gift. As each one has received a special gift (1 Pe 4:10).  A spiritual gift is simply a special ability beyond one’s natural talents and skills given by the Holy Spirit for service in Christ’s Kingdom. As with the parable of the talents, He gives believers different gifts and a varying number of gifts. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us (Rom 12:6). God has gifted some Christians with several abilities while for others, He gives only one. Here the world’s value system has caused many to stumble especially those with only one gift. The Lord’s system doesn’t place more or less value on those with several and those with one. God has given us the gift/s we have and placed us where He can use us best. The Spirit distributed to each one individually just as He wills (1 Cor 12:11). God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired (v18).

Just as the one talent servant buried his talent, Christians bury their spiritual gift. Believers fill churches who do nothing because they have only one God-given ability and feel inferior—“If only I had gifts like Joe, I could do so much. Mine doesn’t matter and won’t make a difference.” The result leads to the Joes with three gifts doing four ministries or those with five gifts struggling to keep up with six tasks or even more. Often these additional ministries are outside their gifting. When we minister with what God has given us and where He has placed us, everyone will be far more effective in their ministry areas.         

Numerous reasons cause believers to bury their gift, but I’ve recently realized another way—other people. Their flesh can lead them to tear down anyone who appears more successful. My mom was a gifted youth teacher. Others resented that, verbally attacked her until she gave up and buried her gift. Sadly, a few pastors will suppress people’s gifts. They may not see your value because you can’t do all they desire, even if it’s outside your gifting and bury what you can do. One reason that I have observed, if a multi-gifted person joins their church, the pastor may be intimidated by the person. I’ve experienced this more than once. Immature leaders fear that a gifted Christian wants to take their position.

The Jews feared because Jesus was performing signs and wonders, they would lose their place. “If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation” (Joh 11:48). The main cause is envy and jealousy rooted in pride. They handed Jesus over to Pilate who was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy (Mar 15:10). The Apostles using their gifts faced the same scenario. But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy (Acts 5:17). Paul and Barnabas exercising their gifts encountered the Jews in Antioch in Pisidia who became jealous and took wicked men from the marketplace in order to destroy them (Act 17:5).

The lesson: don’t bury the gift God entrusted to you, it’s important.  Don’t allow other people, even leaders, to bury what God has invested in you. The value of the talents in Jesus’ parable stresses the value of even one gift. Jesus has gone on a long journey and divided the work of the Church among us and entrusted us to make an increase on His investment. He will hold you accountable. Will you hear Him say, Well done, good and faithful servant! or You wicked, lazy servant! Use your gift or gifts where He places you.

Sustaining Word for the Week: Be faithful with a few things and He will put you in charge of many things. You will enter the joy of Jesus for all eternity.  

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‘No’ Isn’t a Sinful Answer

Posted on February 11, 2019 by drgause@agause.com

WARNING LABELS: Do Not Overload; Refer to Maximum Load Chart; or Not for Continuous Use. Before entering Bible College, I worked for a business where we used hand drills constantly, often for projects beyond their capacity. The supply room stocked drills because life expectancy was short before their motor burned out. Through the years of ministry, I’ve wondered if we should place similar WARNING LABELS on Christians. Many pastors will teach their staff, “If you want something done, find a busy person.” Problem with this thinking is that in around 18 months that busy person wears out. They either stop doing everything or cannot do anything effectively.

No student ever went through my courses, regardless of the subject, without hearing the most important word they would learn is ‘no’. Saying no doesn’t mean we refuse to do everything. People can use it as a copout when they don’t want to get involved. Yet, Christians can develop a subtle belief it is a sin to tell a leader no even knowing they are already overloaded or outside their abilities. Recently, I heard a pastor tell his congregation, “if staff ask you to do something, don’t say ‘it is not my gifting’ or ‘I don’t have time’, you must do it.” Ministering for the Lord doesn’t mean we never get tired or stretched beyond our comfort zone. Spiritual growth can be demanding, and the Holy Spirit will always lead us into new areas of the gifts He has given us. The key for a strong and balanced Christian life depends on knowing and living within our boundaries and limits.

In the 1970s a psychologist coined the term “burnout” to describe a state of emotional, physical, social, and spiritual exhaustion. A person loses interest in normal activities and even life. Moms can be overcome with raising her family; dads can be consumed with earning a living, many times more than needed. Before the term burnout, people referred to this state of exhaustion as ‘a nervous breakdown’. Regardless of what we call it, I’ve been there, done that, and got the tee shirt and almost earned a second one. It is no fun. I’ve known believers who have reached this point but praise the Lord, most have healed. But I know several who never recovered. They attend church but merely occupy a pew; a close friend has lived in a half-way house for the last forty years.

Next to overload, a second cause comes from running out of fuel. At the 1984 Daytona 500 auto race Donnie Allison driving a $250,000 car unexpectedly rolled to a stop. The crew found no mechanical problem or health related issue with Allison. In their scramble to make everything perfect someone forgot to put gas in the tank. The car ran out of fuel. Believers must guard again getting so busy that they do not stop and refuel, recharge, or re-energize. Refueling comes from devoting time to the Word, to prayer, and fellowship with trusted believers. When we are low on fuel and can’t continue the pace, we feel like we are failing God. 

Elijah’s life shows the best biblical example of running out of fuel. From warring with the enemy, he ended up physically worn out, mentally overwhelmed, and believing he was all alone. Before his meltdown, Elijah had prophesied three-and-a-half-year drought, ministered to the widow of Zarephath, challenged the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets Asherah to a face-off at Mount Carmel. The challenge ended with God raining down fire on Elijah’s altar consuming the offering, the wet wood, and the stones of the altar. The people seized the prophets of Baal . . . Elijah led them down to the Kishon Valley and executed them there (1 Kings 18:40). The power of the Lord came upon Elijah . . . he ran ahead of Ahab [in his chariot] all the way to Jezreel (v46)—25 miles.  All this left him physically exhausted. One preacher described Elijah as fatigued, frazzled and frantic. Then when Jezebel threatened him, he became afraid. He went a day’s journey into the wilderness sat down under a shrub and asked the Lord to take his life: “I’ve had enough! Now, O Lord, take my life (19:4).

First step in recovery was physical rest.  He went to sleep, and an angel brought food and drink. He ate and drank and then slept some more (19:4). After more food and drink, God led him to a cave at Mount Horeb where He instructed Elijah, not through wind, an earthquake, or a fire but through a still small voice, a gentle and quiet whisper, or a gentle blowing. God may not bring your spiritual recovery through something spectacular but a gentle quiet leading. Simply put, He told Elijah, “I’m not done with you yet. Get up and go back the way you came, I have an assignment for you.” Elijah continued having a powerful ministry.

Some reading this may not have learned to say no or how to pace yourself. Now you are overload, out of fuel, depressed, or even praying to die. God didn’t answer Elijah’s prayer but led him through recovery of his physical, emotional, and spiritual plight. He’ll do the same for you.

Sustaining Word for the Week: Learn to say no when you are overloaded, running out of fuel, or struggling outside your Spiritual gifts. Let the Holy Spirit lead you through recovery; He’s not done with you yet.

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