"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Living in Trying Times

By Shane Kastler

Let's face it: We live in very trying times. Whether it be the political scene, issues of health, finances, or international tensions; watching the news can be downright depressing. Add to that, whatever trials you might be facing in your personal life and you might start to wonder where God is through all this. The comforting fact is that He is still on His sovereign throne; and nothing happens beyond His control. National, and even global trials all factor in to what God is working out. And while we don't always know every aspect of His final plan; we do know that His final plan will be the only one that gets fulfilled to perfection. We needn't fear the evil that runs rough shod over our country. For God rules over everything (including evil); and in due time He will right every wrong.

If you are a follower of Christ, then you should take heart. Not only in God's sovereignty, but also in the peace He makes available to you in the midst of these trying times. If you focus on the worldwide insanity, then you are sure to lose your peace (and maybe your mind). But if you focus on the Lord and “set your mind on things above.” (Colossians 3:1) Then you'll be able to keep the lunacy in perspective. This world isn't really your home. It was never intended to be. And though it is painful to watch a nation we love get destroyed by evil; it is a sober reminder that our true hope doesn't lie in Washington. But in Heaven. We must never assume that God will always grant us peace by changing our circumstances. In reality, He will often grant us peace in the midst of trying circumstances. Indeed, He grants peace in spite of the circumstances.

Maybe you didn't realize Jesus was all you needed until Jesus was all that you had left. If so rejoice. You may lose it all in this world, but in Christ you possess a salvation and an eternal home that no amount of human chicanery can ever steal. May the Lord grant us all His perfect peace in these woefully imperfect and trying times in which we live.

From Darkness to Light

By Shane Kastler

All Christians should have a desire to attend church. Those who have been born again by the Spirit of God will want to worship and fellowship with other believers. They will have a desire to be spiritually fed from the Word of God. And to know and understand how to glorify God in their life by having a loving obedience to Christ. While it's true that circumstances might prevent a Christian from attending church; the desire should be there nonetheless.

Though church attendance is important for a Christian; it should be noted that merely attending church doesn't necessarily mean you are a Christian. Unfortunately, it is possible to attend church every Sunday of your life and still be spiritually dead and unsaved. Because Christianity involves more than merely adhering to outward acts. Christianity is a genuine, eternal, inward change of the heart. Inward spiritual change leads to a new life on the outside. Indeed, the Christian has been transferred by God from a place of spiritual darkness to place of spiritual light. The Bible says, “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)

We are all born in spiritual darkness. And even if you were raised in church and taught the truth from the cradle; there must be a change of heart brought on by the Spirit of God. Jesus said, “You must be born again.” (John 3:3) There comes a time in true believers, when their “faith” becomes there own, so to speak. Rather than going through religious rituals; the true believer will seek to have a daily relationship with Jesus Christ. On some level, the Christian will forsake sin and follow Christ. They will seek holiness and shun darkness. They will have their minds set on eternal things, rather than temporal matters alone.

Have you experienced this change of heart? Are you living in darkness? Or walking in the light? Examine your life today and prayerfully try to determine whether or not you truly know and love Jesus. Trust in Him and Him alone for salvation. Then spend the rest of your days glorifying the Lord and thanking Him for what He has done in your life.

Jude: The Kid Brother of Jesus

By Shane Kastler

Imagine growing up with an older brother who is perfect. And I don't mean “perfect” in the sense of merely being good at everything he does. I mean “perfect” in the sense of being morally perfect. A brother who not only never sins, but does not even have a sinful nature. Such was the case with Jude, the younger half-brother of Jesus.

Of course the Bible teaches us that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, and while Joseph raised him; Joseph was not his biological father (hence, the “virgin” Mary). But Joseph and Mary did go on to have other children. Once, when Jesus came back to visit his hometown of Nazareth, they said this about him: “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? (Matt. 13:55-56)

Based on this text, we can see Jesus had four half-brothers and at least two half-sisters (based on the plural use of “sisters.”) And if the brothers are named in order of age, then the “Judas” mentioned here would be the same “Jude” who wrote a later epistle. Jude is a shortened version of Judas, and was a very common name in first century Judaism. So Jude was probably the baby of the family. Of the five sons Joseph and Mary raised, Jesus was the oldest (obviously), and Jude was perhaps the youngest.

It must have been very unique growing up in a household with the Son of God. We do know that after they were grown, Jesus's brothers resented him. John's gospel records that they tried to get him to go to Judea where it was well known the Jewish leaders sought to take his life (John 7:1-5). Likewise in Mark 3 it records that his mother and brothers came to “take custody” of him, fearing that he had lost his mind. (Mark 3:20-35) But these hateful brothers, including Jude, became loving followers of Christ. In God's time and by God's grace, they came to see the brother they grew to hate, was in fact their only hope for salvation. They went from being haters of Christ to lovers of Christ; so much so that James becomes the pastor of the New Testament Jerusalem church, and Jude writes an epistle calling Christians to defend the faith.

Jude, who once despised his brother Jesus, referred to himself in this manner as he opened his epistle: “Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James.” (Jude 1:1) Bond-servant, literally means “slave” and Jesus was Jude's master. Are you a slave of Christ? Is Jesus your master? We typically see slavery as bad, but to be a slave of Christ is to be bought and possessed by him. And oh what a benevolent master He is!

My prayer for you is that you will come to see what Jude saw. Jesus is God. Jesus is Lord. And Jesus (and ONLY Jesus) saves. Come along and worship the King, just like Jude, the kid brother of Jesus.

Unregenerate Bible Thumpers

By Shane Kastler

As Christians, we believe the Bible to be the very “Word of God.” Rather than simply being a valuable, historical book; or even an example of classical literature, the Bible is divinely-inspired. This means that God led the authors of scripture to write what He wanted written. From a spiritual perspective, this makes the Bible a gold mine for sinners seeking salvation, and for believers seeking to know God's will. But simply believing the Bible to be God's Word is not enough. We should embrace what the Bible teaches, and live our lives accordingly.

In New Testament times, many Jewish leaders revered the scriptures but refused to live by what they said. Jesus confronted them, saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40) Notice the nuance in what Jesus is saying. The Jewish leaders believed that eternal life resulted from their “belief in the scriptures.” But simply believing the Bible does not save you, rather salvation comes from the content revealed within the scriptures. Owning a book that tells you how to build a house, will not give you a house. But owning a book that tells you how to build a house, will give you a house if you act upon that which is written. The same is true regarding belief in Jesus.

We are saved “by grace through faith” in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). The scriptures reveal this to be true. God graciously grants spiritual life to some people in an act known as “regeneration” (also known as being born again). The result of regeneration is that people are freed from their slavery to sin, turn from their life of sin, and submit their life to Christ by faith. This new life is then reflected in a lifetime of loving obedience unto the Lord.

Don't kid yourself into thinking a mere mental affirmation that you “believe in the Bible” is the same thing as believing in Jesus Christ. The Jewish leaders “searched the scriptures” and were the “Bible thumpers” of their day; as they added to God's law, so as to bind their fellow man with extra rules the Bible did not contain. Likewise, many wrongly assumed they would attain eternal life by their deeds, as they adhered to God's law. But the part they missed was the part about Jesus; and indeed this is ultimately what all of the scriptures are about. The Bible culminates in Christ, and rejection of him is eternally fatal.

Don't be an unregenerate Bible thumper. Search the scriptures, then act upon them. Trust in Christ to be saved, and enjoy the benefits of knowing him as you await the day you'll forever be in his presence.

Is Christianity “Fake News”?

By Shane Kastler

Opponents of Christianity sometimes claim that Christians are merely duped into believing a lie. Such fundamental Christian teachings as the resurrection, the divinity of Jesus, and the trustworthiness of the Bible are attacked as mythical. So, is Christianity based on fact or fiction?

Simon Peter would have been one of the best people to answer this question. Not only was he one of the twelve disciples, but was also part of a select group within the twelve (along with James and John); who frequently witnessed aspects of Jesus's life that others didn't see. Did Peter believe Christianity was based on a lie? Certainly not. He wrote, “For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”— and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18)

Peter is referring to the transfiguration of Jesus (Matt. 17:1-8). An event when the Lord began to gloriously shine, as Moses and Elijah appeared with him; while Peter, James, and John looked on. From the three disciples perspective, this put an end to any speculation as to who Jesus was. He was the Son of God; and they witnessed His glory with their own eyes. But did Peter merely make this story up to promote Christianity?

One major argument against this would be the fact that Peter (along with most of the disciples) was eventually killed for his faith. While someone might argue that Peter and others faked events in order to spearhead a movement; it would be highly unlikely for a person to continue the ruse unto death. Peter was crucified for his Christian faith. Would he have taken the lie to his grave? Very, very unlikely.

Furthermore, what about the other apostles? They too would have to be in on the lie; yet they too died martyr's deaths in a stubborn and unyielding allegiance to Jesus Christ and the truth of the Christian faith. If Christianity were fake, someone would have cracked. Someone would have come forth and outed the scam in order to save their own neck. But no one ever did. The only logical conclusion to come to..... is that Christianity is exactly what Jesus and the apostles claimed it was. Our faith in Christ is well-founded; and our belief in Him will be rewarded.

In a world full of “fake news” you can rest assured that the gospel is the real deal. Trust in Christ today, and let the naysayers howl as they will. Christianity isn't based on mythology. It's based on historical fact. The gospel is not “fake news” but rather “good news.” In fact, it is the best you will ever hear.

What God Owes Us

By Shane Kastler

When Jesus returned to Nazareth, the town where he was raised, the people were somewhat surprised at him. The Bible says, “All were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips.” (Luke 4:22) While you might think they were proud of a hometown boy who had made a name for himself; or that they benefitted from his teaching; the fact is neither of these statements were true. What they really wanted from Jesus was something that he would not grant them.

In the synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus said, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” (Luke 4:23)Since Jesus had done many miracles in the nearby town of Capernaum, the Nazarenes assumed he would do the same there. In reality, they did more than “assume” this, they “expected” this. One might even say, they felt entitled to it. At first glance, their reasoning might seem valid. Since Jesus was willing to bless the rival city of Capernaum, he would surely feel compelled to bless his hometown even more. But what Jesus did instead, was to “burst their bubble” and bring them down to size. He proceeded to remind them of two Old Testament accounts involving the prophets Elijah and Elisha. While there were “many” widows in need in the days of Elijah; the prophet was sent to help only one. Likewise, there were many “lepers” in the days of Elisha; but the prophet was only sent to help one. Jesus's point was unmistakable and the Nazarene response was dramatic.

Jesus would not be meeting every need that existed. In fact, he owed the Nazarenes absolutely nothing. This is true for us as well. As sinners before God, we have no leg to stand on when making demands of him. While we should certainly bring our prayers and petitions before him; we should do so in an attitude of humility, seeking his mercy. Not an attitude of entitlement, seeking our due. We are sinners by nature and sinners by choice, and as such God owes us nothing. Every good thing we receive from him is a gift of grace. As our creator, he can do with us as he pleases. And we should be grateful that he has been as merciful as he has to us.

The Nazarenes response to Jesus's words in their synagogue was that they got so mad they tried to kill him. They tried to throw him off a cliff that the city was built on; but he eluded their grasp. (Luke 4:28-30) What is your response to Jesus? Will you reject him in anger because he won't be your maid? Or will you submit to him in worship, pleading with him to be your savior? Both options lead to somewhere eternal. But only one option leads to Heaven.

If you're riding a high horse, thinking the Lord owes you something, come to your sense and step down a bit. God owes you nothing, but he provides everything, through his son Jesus Christ. Trust in him, and live daily in the grace that only HE can provide.

The Mist of Kobe Bryant

By Shane Kastler

Some people live to be 100. Some people die at 41. So it was for basketball great, Kobe Bryant who died along with eight others in a recent helicopter crash. Some people die at 80. Some die at 13. So it was for Bryant's daughter Gianna, the teenage daughter of the basketball phenom, who was embarking on her own aspiring career.

Some people die of natural causes. They know for months, or even years, that they are dying. Others die in accidents. Kobe and Gianna, along with seven others, died in a crash. They might have known for a few seconds that the end was near, or it might have happened so fast that they never knew what happened.

Sometimes other people die. Sometimes it's you. Today, thousands of “other people” died, tomorrow it might be you. Am I trying to use scare tactics to get your attention? No. Just stating the cold hard facts of life. You know what kind of facts I mean? The kind we all try to avoid and pretend they'll never affect us. We snooze our way through life. And then our time on earth is over. The Bible says our life is like a mist that is here for a while and then gone. (See James 4:14) Compared to eternity, it doesn't really matter if you die at 100, or 80, or 41, or 13. All that matters is whether or not you knew the Lord.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) The Bible teaches that we are all sinners and have disobeyed God. We do this both by nature and by choice, and the penalty for such disobedience is death. Both physical and spiritual death. One day you will die, but in truth you were born dead. At least in a spiritual sense. Only the Holy Spirit can give you spiritual life, and when that happens you are “born again.” (John 3:3) The result of this new birth is that you turn from your sin in repentance and commit your life to Jesus Christ by faith. It's not a one time “decision” but rather a lifetime commitment. And it's one you should consider while there is still breath in your lungs.

Kobe and Gianna Bryant took off in a helicopter one Sunday morning, planning to go to a basketball tournament. They never made it. Who could have guessed that two young, beautiful people would be taken out in the prime of life? But truly, death will one day come calling for you too. Maybe you'll be elderly and the cause will be natural. Or maybe you'll be young and the cause will be sudden and unexpected. Place your faith in Jesus, so you'll be ready either way.

The Battered King

By Shane Kastler

By the time Jesus went to the cross, he had lost most of his followers. The massive crowds that had once clamored to be near him had dissipated; and even become downright hostile. His own disciples fled, because of both fear and disappointment. Of course this was also prophesied, “Strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.” (Zechariah 13:7; Mark 14:27)

The disciples wanted Jesus to be a king and for them to help him rule an earthly kingdom. To them, this meant power, riches, palaces, and armies. Jesus would rule the world and they would serve in his cabinet. Getting executed on a Roman cross was not part of the equation in their minds. That was inconceivable and so when that happened, they seemed to have given up on a kingdom. But one man looked at the battered man and still saw a king.

The Bible records that initially, the two thieves crucified with Jesus were both hurling abuse at him (Matt. 27:44); but eventually one had a change of heart. In a moment of zero-hour grace, God granted a new life, and new spiritual sight to a dying thief. And he looked at the man dying next to him and saw him for the king that he was, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42)

You wouldn't think that a man so battered as Jesus would have a future kingdom. Many past kings have lost their kingdoms only to be executed by other governments. The fact that Jesus would soon be dead was obvious to all, even the thieves. But this one knew that there was still a future kingdom for Jesus. He declared Jesus to be divine (Luke 23:40), and then asked to be remembered. He wasn't disappointed. Jesus responded, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)

Do you recognize Jesus for the king that he is? He is not only the greatest king, he is the only eternal king, for of his kingdom there shall be no end. After dying, Jesus rose again and ascended unto a throne. The Bible teaches one day he will return. Will you be ready for that day?

Turn from your sin in repentant faith and ask the king to “remember” you. Place your faith in the Lord and devote your life to following him. The world doesn't see him for who he is. They may see an executed criminal, or a wayward Galilean, or a defeated spiritual leader. In fact Jesus was a battered king. But he'll come back a triumphant and victorious one. Trust in him today, and be ready to praise the king when he returns in his glory.

 

Another Year Closer

By Shane Kastler

What is your New Year's resolution this year? Have you made any? Do you plan to? They usually center around matters of personal improvement, like losing weight or exercising more. Some will make commitments to spend a little less time at work and a little more time with the family. All of these may very well be worthy causes. But in all your focus on temporal matters, do not neglect spiritual ones. How is your walk with the Lord? How was it last year, and how might it be better this year?

Maybe this year you can commit to waking up 10 minutes earlier so you can spend that time in God's Word. Or maybe you can take a few minutes to write down your prayer needs so to better govern your prayer time. Maybe you can make a daily commitment to be on the lookout for someone to help or to share Christ with. God provides a lot of opportunities for his people to be a witness, the question is: Are we paying attention?

I've never been a big fan of resolutions in particular. To my way of of thinking, if you should be doing it today, then why wait unto January 1 to start? But others find the New Year as motivation to make changes in their life. Stick with whatever works for you and plan 2020 accordingly.

One thing is for certain for all of us: the clock is ticking and our time on earth is one year less than it was 365 days ago. What will you do with the time you have left? I'll leave you with this pertinent admonition for the coming year, from the book of Proverbs: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart , and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) So look to the Lord and trust in Him today, tomorrow, this upcoming year, and for the rest of your time on earth. Love God now, and spend eternity with Him in the future. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all who faithfully read this column. Thanks for giving me another year! God bless you all.

Kanye the Christian? May It Be So

By Shane Kastler

“For this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.” (Luke 15:24)

The worlds of secular music and Christianity collided recently with the reported Christian conversion of infamous rap singer Kanye West, and his subsequent gospel album entitled, “Jesus is King.” Kanye has a long history of living a wild life, and writing trashy songs, but he claims to have been “radically saved” and has become a bold and outspoken proclaimer of the Christian faith. Is this a true conversion, or a publicity stunt? Many signs point to a true conversion, and as Christians we should celebrate and hope this is true, rather than smugly watching and waiting for him to stumble. And he WILL stumble, just like we all do.

Church history is full of surprising conversions, that no one expected to happen. In the 4^th century, Augustine was a womanizing pagan who had a child out of wedlock with his live-in lover. (If you thought this type of behavior was a modern day phenomenon, then you're wrong). But Augustine was converted at the age of 31, and went on to become one of the most influential theologians in history. John Bunyan was a drunken brawler, who by his own admission used so much profanity that he invented new ways to cuss. Yet the Lord saved him and he went on to become a pastor who wrote one the world's most famous books, “Pilgrim's Progress.” John Newton was a blasphemer and hater of God. But the Lord saved him and he wrote a song you may have heard of called, “Amazing Grace.” God specializes in saving sinners, and the depth of their depravity is irrelevant in the light of His grace.

One line from Kanye's song, “God Is” particularity caught my attention. I read the line to my wife, without telling her who it was and asked her if she thought it was written by Charles Spurgeon or Oswald Chambers. Then I sprung it on her that it was Kanye! Here's the line, “Christ is the fountain that filled up my cup.” This lyric is beautiful, no matter who wrote it. And it sounds very much like the worshipful fruit of a “born again” man.

Kanye's music style is not the same as mine. But the world is not forced to adopt my style. If Kanye's conversion is real, then he will no doubt continue to produce God-glorifying songs in his own style. And it will speak to a group of people that I might never be able to reach. For this, we should praise God. Kanye's conversion may prove to be false, and if so we should be saddened by it. But then again, this all may be legitimate; and if so then we should be thankful and supportive of this most unlikely new brother in Christ. The fact is that your sin is no prettier than Kanye's is. All sin is ugly, but thankfully, there is a Redeemer who is powerful enough to save even the Chief of Sinners. To God be the glory, great things He has done.