Month: July 2025

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A Birthday Wish for Wisdom

In two days I will be 79 years of age. I don’t know what profound statement I can make about that except that I am old. It is useless to pretend otherwise.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s, shaking, balance, choking, dizziness, are bothersome but they are not as bad as they might be. I am able to exercise by walking, stretching, golfing, and bicycling. I look forward to an afternoon nap.

The blessings of life far outweigh the burdens! Connie is a loving companion and God’s best gift to me. We are approaching our 57th wedding anniversary. God has blessed us with five wonderful children and 13 grandchildren, all of whom are accomplished and intelligent.

I have had the privilege of travelling to Europe, Africa, Asia, and South and Central America as a Bible teacher. Three times I have had the joy of visiting the Holy Land.

It has been an honor to serve as a pastor in two great churches. The Lord’s people in those congregations have been an encouragement to me by their love for the word of God and their faithfulness to Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for good friends, good books, and good music. My dear parents gave me a godly heritage.

My birthday wish is simple. I want to live a life of wisdom. “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). I want to be an example to the young. “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your heart to wisdom . . . then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1-5).

I want to avoid the pitfalls of folly. There is no fool like an old fool. “The folly of fools is deception” (Proverbs 14:8). I want to grow more, not less, wise as time goes on. “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance” (Proverbs 1:5).

Experience is not the same thing as wisdom. Lots of people get older without getting wiser. It is possible to accumulate years of living without accumulating knowledge. Lots of people get older without getting smarter. I want to have the wisdom that comes from reverence for the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

As the past stretches out behind me, and as I think about the future on this birthday, I want to take to heart Proverbs 24:14:“Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.”

Pastor Randy Faulkner

 

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Saved Through His Life

“For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10)

An examination of Romans chapter 5 reveals our need of salvation, and what God in Jesus Christ has done to make it possible for us to receive salvation. It says that sin renders us alienated from God and helpless to do anything about it (v. 16).  It says sinners are enemies of God (v.10).

Furthermore it says that the Lord Jesus solved the problem of our alienation from God when he died on the cross. He made it possible for ungodly people to be objects of God’s love (v.8), justified by his blood (v.9), saved from God’s wrath (v.9), and reconciled to God (v. 10).

Added to all this is the promise that “we shall be saved through his life” (v.10). This means that the Jesus who died for our sins was also raised from the dead. His resurrection life is given to his people now and in the resurrection on the last day. This is salvation.

Consider some practical implications of the phrase “saved through his life.” Think of it this way: Christ outside the empty tomb, Christ inside our hearts, and Christ beside the Father in heaven.

Outside the tomb

We are saved by believing the gospel, the message of Jesus’ death, burial and  resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is the basis for our assurance of resurrection life. The resurrection was prophesied in the Old Testament, recorded by eyewitnesses in the New Testament, and is the reason for the existence of the Christian faith today.

The empty tomb challenges philosophy: “explain this event.” It challenges history: “repeat this event.” It challenges time: “erase this event.” It challenges faith: “believe this event!” We  are saved through his life.

Inside our hearts

“Saved through his life” means that those who believe the gospel have the living Christ living in them. Paul the apostle wrote, “You, however, are controlled, not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9).

This verse, and many others, tell us that we are being saved by the power and presence of the risen Christ in our lives, This union with Christ is our hope of eternal life. So, when the Father judges us, he does not look on us alone. In God’s sight the believer is one in union with Christ. Believers are declared righteous by faith in Christ. This is a new legal standing or position before God. We are justified by faith. We are saved by his life. “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Beside the Father

“Saved by his life” also points to the present ministry of our risen savior at the right hand of God the Father. This means that believers are kept saved by the intercessions of Jesus our great high priest, who prays continuously on their behalf. It is through him that we are invited to draw near to God in prayer. He is the guarantor of our forgiveness and of our heavenly inheritance.

The Bible records numerous instances of Jesus praying for his disciples. One of my favorite examples is when our Lord spoke directly to Peter and warned him that Satan desired to claim him and sift him like wheat. Then Jesus gave Peter an assuring word, “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail” (Luke 22:31-32).

Peter failed the Lord when he denied him. But through the intercessions of Jesus God brought him through the failure to restoration and fruitful ministry. I believe this is how Jesus is praying for his people now at the Father’s right hand. He is seated in the presence of God  on our behalf as advocate and representative (1 John 2:1-2).

In the future, as you read the phrase “saved through his life” in Romans 5:10, think of the living Christ outside the tomb, inside your heart, and beside the Father in heaven interceding for you.

Pastor Randy Faulkner

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True Worship

I once heard about a man who lined the walls of his house with posters picturing Elvis Presley. He dressed in Elvis costumes. He attended conventions of Elvis tribute artists. He made a pilgrimage to Graceland every year. I wonder if he was wishing for the second coming — of Elvis! Here was an individual who worshipped Elvis as one worships an idol.

The psalms tell us that we become like what we worship. This man tried to imitate Elvis in every way he could. He was consumed and obsessed with Elvis. This is what it means to worship.

What is true worship? It has been defined as an active response to God whereby we declare his worth. It is attributing worth, value, and honor to our creator and savior. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs the church about worship. He says we may worship God in at least three ways.

The word of Christ

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). When we reverently read and study the scriptures, it is an act of worship. When we listen attentively to the preaching of the word, it is an act of worship. When a faithful pastor prepares and proclaims the word it is, for him, an act of worship.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “The believer’s mind ought to be so saturated with divine truth that it can determine the divine perspective on any question, issue, or decision.” We show our reverence for God by the way we welcome his word into our minds and hearts.

Singing God’s praise

“Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16). Music is an incredibly powerful medium for expressing our love and devotion to God. It impresses upon our hearts the truths of what we are singing. Music is one of the ways the Lord has chosen for his people to know him and to honor him.

Our text implies that God accepts a variety of cultural expressions in music. I think he welcomes many different styles and preferences, from classical anthems to African rhythms, from Pentecostal hand clapping, to traditional hymns, old and new.

All of life

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). This recognizes the supreme authority of Jesus Christ in every part of our lives. We can and should do all that we do for his glory. This attitude sanctifies every word we speak, and every activity of our lives as acts of worship.

The story is told of a humble janitor who worked in a large church. He wasn’t a preacher. He didn’t sing. He never stood on the stage. But he came in every morning to clean restrooms, wash windows, sweep floors, set up classrooms and make sure everything was ready for Sunday services.

One day the young pastor stopped to thank him. The janitor smiled and said, “I’m not just cleaning floors, I’m preparing the house of the Lord. Every sweep of my broom is for him!”

The pastor was struck by the man’s attitude. What others saw as a chore, he saw as worship. Later, when the church honored him for his years of service, he said something that stayed with everyone: “Worship doesn’t begin with music or a sermon. Worship is how you drive, how you work, how you love your family, and how you treat people who can’t give you anything in return. I clean like Jesus is walking in next.”

Worship is not only what we do in church, but it is how we live outside of it. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Pastor Randy Faulkner

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Thinking About Suffering

Not long ago I was asked to teach a Sunday school class. The assigned topic was suffering. I had to admit to my friends that although as a pastor I had spent much time with people who were suffering, I have had little personal experience with suffering. At this point, my Parkinson’s symptoms are not as severe as they might be. My past injuries and surgeries do not compare with the serious health problems others have experienced. I am a novice when it  comes to suffering, so I was not teaching from my own experience.

Suffering is part of the human condition. That is why the apostle Peter wrote his first letter. He wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials” (1Peter 1:6). He also said, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you” (1 Peter 4:12). In fact, every chapter in 1 Peter has a reference to suffering or persecution. He wrote to prepare the Lord’s people to face suffering with courage and hope.

There are various ways to think about suffering. Escapism and denial are one way. Some preachers want you to believe that suffering is never God’s will and that healing is always God’s will. Just say the word, name it and claim it, and instantly be free of sickness or trouble. If deliverance doesn’t happen, it is because the sufferer does not have enough faith to be healed. This flatly contradicts 1 Peter which says that suffering is sometimes the will of God for a believer (1 Peter 4:19).

Suffering is inevitable because we live in a world that is broken. Innocent people suffer because of wars, accidents, injustice, disease, natural disasters, and other tragedies. I was living in Oklahoma City thirty years ago when the Murrah Federal Building was bombed by domestic terrorists. 168 people lost their lives, 19 of them little children. Hundreds more were injured. What are we to think of events like this? Jesus told his followers that tragedies happen in our world but victims should not be thought of as greater sinners than anyone else (Luke 13:2-5).

In some parts of the world believers are being persecuted and martyred because they are Christians. I am humbly grateful that I live in a nation where we are still free to express our faith. I fear that we may become so used to our comforts and freedom, that we have no theology of suffering. We American believers have much to learn from fellow-Christians in places like North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Afghanistan.

God has a purpose in our sufferings. 1 Peter 1:7 says that one purpose is to refine our faith. James 1:2-5 says that suffering tests our faith and produces maturity, if we respond with perseverance. We should never doubt the goodness of God. He does have a good purpose in whatever he allows to reach us (Romans 8:28).

Many New Testament passages tell how the church’s sufferings identify us with Jesus. When Peter tells us to follow in the steps of Jesus (1 Peter 2:21), he was talking about following in the way of suffering. “Rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).

One of the sacred responsibilities of being a local church pastor is accompanying God’s people as they experience suffering. I have witnessed great fortitude and courage in the face of overwhelming pain and sorrow in ordinary folks who had entrusted their lives to Jesus. I hope my presence and prayers reminded them of the compassion of Jesus. I also hope that when I am called to suffer, that I may do so with the same faith that I saw in them.

Pastor Randy Faulkner