"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Tears Without Number

By Shane Kastler

 

Tears without number, Suddenly fall.

Anguish arises, Pain comes to call.

Each step in the Valley, Ends on the ground.

The shadow of death, Where no hope is found.

 

Keep striving. Keep praying. Keep looking above.

For when it is darkest, He sends forth the dove.

The Spirit that comforts and gives perseverance.

The Lord and His power; He hastens to heareth.

 

Struck down, but not out.

We are crushed, not destroyed.

A new day doth dawneth.

New vigor employed.

 

Tears without number, Suddenly fall.

Though now it is different, He beckons us all

Once it was anguish. Now it is peace.

Once countless sorrows. Now pleasant relief.

 

So lift up your head; For redemption draws nigh.

Though darkness it smothers, Soon comes the light.

All trials are temporal, in this life below.

All joys are eternal, and soon we shall know.

 

God's Sovereignty & Man's Action: Paul's Journey to Rome

By Shane Kastler

The Apostle Paul was preordained to proclaim the gospel in Rome. This was not in doubt; because the Lord Himself appeared to Paul and told him this would be so. The book of Acts records, “But on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “Be courageous! For as you have testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.” (Acts 23:11 NASB)
Paul's circumstances at this time were extremely rough, yet they were ordained of God. He was a prisoner, in what appeared to be imminent threat of death. The Jewish leaders were set to assassinate him, with several having taken a vow to not eat or drink until they had killed him. He was being held in Roman custody, albeit as a prisoner of the Jews. It was a very unique situation, in that Paul had a direct summons from the Lord saying he would testify in Rome. Yet from a human perspective it's hard to see how he will escape Jerusalem alive. And in this seemingly impossible situation, we see both the sovereignty of God and the actions of Paul transpiring. With the ultimate result being his testimony at Rome. Just as the Lord had said.

God's sovereignty and man's action are not equal in their certainty or power. God is always supreme to man. Yet doesn't always (or even often) “miracle” things into being. Typically he uses the course of human events to bring about His divine will. Such is the case here.

Paul's nephew gets wind of the plot to kill Paul and tells him. At this point, Paul could have just played the “sovereignty card” and ignored the plot, surmising that the Lord told him he would appear in Rome, so the plot against him was destined to fail. But this is not what Paul does. He has his nephew report the plot to the Roman commander. Who in turn orders a large detachment of soldiers to transfer Paul to Caesarea for his safety. The commander is not purposely trying to fulfill God's will; but fulfill it he does. Caesarea is not Rome; but it is the next step in Paul's ultimate destination.

In Caesarea, Paul is questioned by the governor and accused by the Jewish leaders. Once again, he asserts his innocence and once again the Jews hatch a plot to kill him. They request his trial be moved back to Jerusalem, since the charge against him is essentially a religious one. And the governor is willing to consider this; but Paul is not. “If, therefore, I am in the wrong and have committed something deserving death, I am not trying to avoid execution; but if there is nothing to the accusations which these men are bringing against me, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar.” (Acts 25:11 NASB) The governor, Festus confers with his advisors and then declares, “You have appealed to Caesar; to Caesar you shall go.” (Acts 25:12) The die was cast. The decision was made. The Lord's will would be fulfilled. Paul was going to Rome.

Anywhere along the way, Paul could have refused to act; knowing that the Lord told him he would appear in Rome. When his nephew told him of the plot to kill him; he might have blown it off and said, “They can't kill me because God says so.” He could have waited for his miracle. But instead he used “human means” to accomplish God's will. Indeed, it is usually through human means that God accomplishes His will.

When faced with the prospect of returning to Jerusalem (to be killed) or appeal to Caesar (and go to Rome); Paul used his status as a Roman citizen; both to spare his life and to set his sights on Rome. He wouldn't be coming to Rome as a conquering Christian hero; but as a prisoner of the Jews. Nevertheless he would do exactly as the Lord told him he would do and he would testify in Rome.

Sometimes God uses means we know nothing about to accomplish His will. But sometimes we are very aware and active in the outworking of God's will. Our job is not to passively wait for God to “miracle” us into His will; but rather to purposely seek His will and act accordingly. Sometimes His will is hidden from us and we're uncertain how to proceed. During such times we prayerfully trust that God will “work all things for good.” (Rom. 8:28) Other times, God shows us clearly what we are to do and we are faced with a decision of obedience or disobedience. Ultimately, God is big enough to accomplish His purpose with or without our obedience. He is not reliant upon us. But what a privilege it is to be used of God in such a way that we can boldly yet humbly say, “The will of the Lord be done.” And rest in the knowledge that this is so.

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.

Hurricanes & Heart Attacks

By Shane Kastler

Anyone who is reading this knows that life often throws you unexpected events. Living 25 miles from the Louisiana Gulf Coast led to such an event for my family and I. When Hurricane Laura hit, our home took a direct hit, but in a strange way there was something comforting about it. After all, the radar told us days in advance that the storm was coming right at us, and that it was going to be a monster. With that type of advance notice, I was able to get my family to safety and let the chips fall where they may; so to speak. I could protect my wife from the hurricane. But I could not protect her from a heart attack.

My wife Erin, who evacuated to Oklahoma, suffered a heart attack two weeks after the storm hit. To say we were shocked would be an understatement. Erin has no problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, or diabetes. She's the last person you would expect to suffer such a fate at the ripe old age of 44. But providence is what it is. Erin survived and is recovering, for which we are very thankful. Though sometimes the questions arise as to why so many trials seem to pile on at once. From a spiritual perspective, the answer is that God has ordained them for our good, regardless of whether or not we understand why. That doesn't necessarily make the trials any easier, but it does give proper context to the circumstances we are facing.

The fact is that all people, both Christians and Non-Christians, face hard times in life. The question is what do you do about the hard times? How do you respond? As Christians, we don't allow the circumstances to inform what we believe. Our faith informs us; and in so doing, our faith tells us that a sovereign God is in control and He ordains whatever comes to pass for His glory and our good. Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” And since we love God, and are called according to His purpose, we can rest assured that He has a plan. How much of that He reveals to us, is His department not ours. Our job is to trust Him.

If you are a Christian, then rest assured that your trials have a purpose. Even when you cannot make a lick of sense out of them, God is still at work and He is still orchestrating things with His ultimate cause in mind. Pray daily for the strength and patience to trust in Him; and then cautiously (and prayerfully) walk through life seeking His will and trusting in His grace. God's will always prevails in the end. And for the believer this is our greatest hope and comfort. May it be yours today as well.

Hurricane Laura: Finding Good in the Bad

By Shane Kastler

Living in Lake Charles, Louisiana as I do; I have gotten to see first hand what its like to live through a major catastrophe. Like most people, I saw the forecast projecting a potential Category 5 hurricane, with Lake Charles as the bullseye; so I boarded up the windows on my house, tied everything I could down, and took the family inland before the storm hit. It was quite surreal to watch the Weather Channel broadcasting live just blocks from my house. And to see them zoom in on the radar as I watched the eye wall pass right over my neighborhood.

The devastation is mammoth. Making landfall as a Category 4, with sustained winds of 150 MPH, Laura was the strongest hurricane to hit Louisiana since 1856. When I went back to my house a few days later, the neighborhood was unrecognizable. With large oak and pine trees down everywhere; and so many houses either destroyed completely or roofs missing. Then there is the power line situation. The Lake Charles area lost 6600 utility poles and 338 miles of power line, and every substation that supplies electricity to the city was either destroyed or damaged to the point of being inoperable.

The local National Weather Service office and the local news station both evacuated moments before the storm hit. I've never seen that happen before, but it's good they did. Both buildings were destroyed. But in the midst of all the carnage, lots of good things have happened.

Just moments after the storm passed, I began getting contacted by churches, individuals, and businesses from all over the country asking how they could help. Including the First Christian Church in Pleasanton, KS where I pastored several years ago. There's too many gracious churches to mention; but when this is all over I plan to mention them all.  We are grateful.  The outpouring of love from God's people has been truly humbling and greatly appreciated. I've been able to deliver generators and window air conditioners for lots of stranded people; and spent the week delivering them to their homes. The recipients are eternally grateful as they thank me for providing for them. But I tell them, this gift is not from me, it's from God and His people.

The examples of kindness are endless; as I drive around the city and see neighbors helping neighbors; and numerous charities setting up their mobile units to provide food, water, and supplies. I'll admit my heart was touched when I saw a convoy of Kroger trucks bringing food in from Texas. One of the trucks had a sign on it that read: “Dear Lake Charles. Texas Loves You.” All I can say to that is, “God Bless Texas.”

We've got a long road ahead of us in terms of rebuilding; but as people inevitably ask the question of “Why would God allow this?” I have the opportunity to tell them of a “city not built with human hands, eternal in the Heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1) Hurricanes remind us that we live in a fallen world; but for the Christian; this world is not our home. We look to Christ to provide the strength for today; and an eternal home tomorrow. A home that no hurricane can touch.

Faith Over Fear

By Shane Kastler

It is easy to get very anxious about the world's events right now. Be it pandemics, or civil unrest, or the political wackiness that always seems to accompany an election year. And while we should do our part to make this world, and the nation we live in a better place; we must always remember that all things on earth are temporal. At least in their current state.

This might sound depressing when you hear it. Indeed, believers and unbelievers alike long for a happy and peaceful life on earth. But believers and unbelievers alike are marked for death eventually. This world is not going to continue down this same path forever. God will bring your life to an end one day; and in fact He will bring the world as we know it to an end one day. Are you prepared for this reality?

The Bible says, “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) No city on earth will last. No state will last. No nation will last. In the end, you'll have Christians and Non-Christians. And you'll have Heaven and Hell. And your relationship to Jesus, or lack thereof, will determine your eternal destiny.

The Bible calls us to repent of our sin and submit to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life, placing our complete faith and trust in Him. He is the only route to the Father, and the only way to Heaven. And once we come to a place where we know Him, then we can rest in the assurance of our forgiveness and the reality that this world is not our home. But that we have an eternal and perfect home, in glory with the Lord. While we still seek to do the right thing regarding temporal affairs, we cling loosely to this world, and know a better life is awaiting us.

David's Earlier Days

By Shane Kastler

Theoretically, the longer we are Christians the more we should grow in our faith. Certainly our knowledge of the things of God should increase; but our devotion to Him should grow deeper and deeper as well. This should be our goal, but this is not a guarantee. As time goes on our faith can waver, and no matter how long we've been believers, we can still fall into sin.

The Old Testament kings give us several examples of this. The Bible speaks of King Jehoshaphat in a positive way, by describing him like this: “The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did.” (2 Chronicles 17:3-4) It is interesting to note that “David's earlier days” were what Jehoshaphat was to emulate. David was renown for his great faith and love for the Lord, as a young man. But as he grew older, he fell into sin on numerous occasions. His affair with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his most loyal soldiers, was a permanent stain on his legacy. Moreover, David sinned at other times by performing a census, against God's wishes. And allowed a rebellion from his son Absalom to flourish much longer than it should have. Still, the Bible tells us that through it all, David was “wholly devoted to the Lord His God.” (1 Kings 11:4)

David's son Solomon is another example of one who started strong, then wavered. His wisdom as Israel's king was second to none in his younger days; as he sought the Lord and walked with him. But time has a way of turning your focus away from what is good; and Solomon let his heart be led into idolatry. By the end of his life he had returned to the Lord; but much of his life was marked by a drifting heart.

The lesson for us is simple. Like Jehoshaphat, we should seek to imitate “David's earlier days” and recognize the fact that, while we should be growing daily in Christlikeness, this reality is not a given. We should guard our hearts and our habits, and try to avoid the traps that David and Solomon fell into. As we grow older, we should also grow stronger in our faith, relying upon the Lord as more and more trials come our way.

Take inventory of your life today, and see to it that your devotion to God is strong and increasing. In short order, this life will be over; and you will want to know that instead of careening off course, you finished strong. In your last days, be able to say as the Apostle Paul did, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7)

Remembering the Past

By Shane Kastler

“I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.” (Psalm 77:11)

Sometimes we forget how God has taken care of us in the past. This is especially true when we're in the midst of hard times. The problem that lies before us, blinds us to the God who is above us. This leads to fear, sadness, and anxiety. For this reason, we need to constantly be reminded of how God has taken care of us in the past; and will do so in the future.

In Old Testament times, God instructed the nation of Israel to do an annual event called “The Feast of Booths.” For one week, they would live in makeshift, temporary houses; kind of like our version of a tent. This was to remind them, that when their ancestors were in Egyptian bondage, God had delivered them. And while they were in the wilderness, they had lived in these temporary structures. Indeed, the wilderness was not their home. The promised land would be. But for the time being, they lived in booths.

In one sense, this feast might make Israel be thankful for how much God had blessed them. Unlike their ancestors, they were not living in temporary structures as they awaited a future land. They had arrived (so to speak), and had this annual reminder that things weren't so bad for them.

In another sense, the booths their forefathers lived in were actually a great blessing from God. After all, a freeman living in a booth is better than a slave living in a mansion. And much greater than a slave living in Egyptian bondage. God had delivered Israel, and in due time they would inherit the promised land. The Feast of Booths reminded Israel how faithful God had been, and how much He had blessed them.

If you are reading these words, then God has blessed you too. The ability to read alone sets you apart from much of human history. Illiteracy and poverty have marked all places and all times. But relatively speaking, 21^st century Americans are better educated and have more material possessions than their ancestors did. Yet often, we are still not happy. Why is that? Perhaps we need to be reminded of how much worse things could be, and of how much better they are today.

Of course, I cannot speak to your personal situation. But chances are, you are far more blessed than you realize. Walk with the Lord today. Seek His will for tomorrow. And remember what He has done in the past. Pray that God would remind you of all the ways in which you are blessed; and respond by living in the eternal faith and hope that knowing Christ can provide.

Fear vs. Faith

By Shane Kastler

The natural reaction to death is fear; but the supernatural reaction to death is faith. Being afraid to die is normal. But Christians aren't called to be normal. By God's grace they have been changed from the inside out. With a new heart that loves the Lord and longs to be with him; Christians shouldn't fear death the way the world does. In one sense, Christians should even embrace it.

The Bible tells us of a time when a man named Jairus asked Jesus to come and heal his dying daughter. While they were still speaking, the man received news that his daughter had already died and thus he should forget about Jesus's help. Jesus's response to Jairus is profound,  “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” (Mark 5:36)

In these words, we see fear and faith at war with one another. Once again, the natural reaction to death is to fear. Whether it be the prospect of your own death, or the news of a loved ones; we fear the unknown. And we fear the idea of living life without them. But Jesus calls Jairus (and us) to “believe” (or to have faith). Belief in Christ leads to a decreasing fear of death, because Jesus has overcome death. Though physical death may still be in your future, it is merely a doorway by which you enter the Lord's presence. And in one sense, an act that leads you to the eternal presence of the Lord would hardly be thought of as “death.” In fact, physical death is the means to much greater life, for the Christian.

Is your life governed by fear or by faith? Most people are living in fear because they are enslaved to the idea that they might lose their life. When the media tells you that you might die if you leave your house, then you can respond with fear or with faith. When politicians tell you that you'll be arrested if you leave your house, then you can respond with fear or with faith. Faith rests in Christ and his providential control over all things, including our life. But fear focuses on the here and now; and the temporal powers that seek to control you.

Fear and faith are mutually exclusive. You can't really exhibit both at the same time. Only one will be dominant; and only one will win the day. Make up your mind which way you'll go. You can live in fear or you can walk by faith. But you can't do both. So trust in the Lord and leave the fear behind. He knows the future and he controls the present. Rest in him by faith, rather than running for your life in fear.

Tears in a Bottle

By Shane Kastler

Sometimes, during severe trials, we might wonder if God cares about us. Everyone has days in which they feel like the whole world is against them, and it's easy to assume God must be as well. But the believer should never be given up to such hopelessness.

In Old Testament times, David was once so alone that he could have easily despaired. He fled for his life, trying to escape the maniacal King Saul who wanted him dead; and he ended up in the rival city of Gath. This was the hometown of Goliath, the Philistine giant who David had killed on the battlefield. If there were ever a place where David had no friends, it would have been Gath. Yet even there, the Lord was with him. During that time, David penned these words, “You have kept count of my wanderings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8)

The phrase, “tears in your bottle” is an interesting one. It is a symbolic picture of God, not only knowing about David's severe trial, but deeply caring about it as well. Imagine loving someone so much that you not only SEE their tears, but you COLLECT them in a bottle. Indeed, this speaks of a level of compassion that man is simply not capable of. But God is constantly showing toward His people.

In times like these, you need not assume that God doesn't care. He does. You also need not assume that God is powerless to stop the hard times you are facing. Not only does God exhibit care, but He also exhibits control. He is the sovereign king of the universe, who will bring your trial to a close when He sees fit. For the Christian, this should be a source of tremendous comfort. “If God is for us, then who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

If the coronavirus pandemic has your nerves rattled, remember to focus on the Lord. And remember that nothing transpires without his knowledge, permission, and ordination. His ways are all powerful, and His will cannot be thwarted. And while we should fear Him with a reverent, respectful, adoration. We should not wrongly assume that God doesn't know or care about our situation. Your tears are in His bottle, just as the hairs on your head are all numbered (see Matthew 10:30). Fear not. Trust in the Lord. And rest in Him as you await the ultimate conclusion of this, your latest trial.